An interesting blog discussion on the economics of corporate travel and competition for corporate travel management by major online travel sites like Expedia and Orbitz.I recently participated in an online survey on the subject (handsomely compensated for my brief time), and it’s clear that the major online services are pushing into business travel management. While Orbitz snagging McDonalds as a client is big news, the more significant opportunity may be in small and medium size businesses that cannot create and inhouse travel department but that can outsource it online.
ANA Offers a US-based Visa
ANA has a co-branded Visa for the U.S. market which comes with a $70 annual fee and 10,000 bonus miles with first purchase. Offer is valid through September 30, 2004. Details are also available on the ANA website.For U.S. domestic flyers, bear in mind that ANA is a partner of United Airlines (and the rest of the Star Alliance) so there are plenty of redemption options for ANA Mileage Club miles.
You get what you pay for
I haven’t verified this myself, but a reader writes that Jay Leno’s monologue on Thursday night included the following: Police in Miami have detained 3 men who entered the U.S. by shipping themselves in a container on a cargo flight. Don’t worry, they weren’t with al Qaeda. They were with Priceline.com.
Prospect for an Iraqi National Airline
The US is pushing to create a new Iraqi national airline and Delta has surfaced as a potential codeshare partner. Delta is already Royal Jordanian to provide air-mail service to Iraq.The expected case is that the existing Iraqi carrier will be liquidated, along with its outstanding debts to Kuwait and Airbus, and that it would lease aircraft with USAID and World Bank financing.
Low Fares, Low Perks, But They’re Supposed to be “Fun”
The Wall Street Journal‘s Weekend Journal carries a piece on low fare carriers and their perks.While American Trans Air is adding a business class cabin to their planes, United’s TED carries no first class offering. Ted’s introduction at Dulles, where flights will go as far as Las Vegas, is a real disappointment to this United flyer.I told the Journal’s Paula Szuchman that gimmicks and marketing wouldn’t get me to fly Ted, and that the loss of a first class cabin was a huge disincentive. For Gary Leff, it’s no contest. Low-fare carriers rarely match the majors on offerings that matter most to him, the 29-year-old finance director says, and he won’t be tempted when Ted expands flights to his hometown airport, Washington’s Dulles. He’ll fly Continental to earn flier miles and get business-class upgrades not…
Earn Miles for Buying Elite
Earn 5000 bonus Delta miles when purchasing elite level Ambassador status with Priority Club.
Double BA Miles for Starwood Conversions
It’s really a good idea to read WebFlyer’s Notiflyer regularly. There’s a new one revealing a huge conversion bonus for moving Starwood point into British Airways miles. Through March 31, 2004, Executive Club members who convert Starwood Preferred Guest points into Executive Club miles will be able to do so at a 1:2 rate (one Starpoint converts to two BA miles), double the standard 1:1 conversion rate. What’s more, British Airways will also double the standard 5,000-mile bonus Starwood awards when transferring in 20,000-point increments, meaning a transfer of 20,000 Starpoints, which would normally convert to 25,000 Executive Club miles, will now convert to 50,000 miles. In effect, this calculates to a 150 percent conversion bonus! Before you rush to convert all your Starwood Preferred Guest points, be aware, British Airways has set a limit…
USAirways comes onboard
USAirways joins fly 3 fly free – with a requirement that tickets be booked online to qualify.
Free Frequent Flyer Miles
Gary Steiger’s website address has changed. Bookmark freefrequentflyermiles.com.
More free travel for business flights
Continental and Northwest have jumped on the “Fly 3, Get 1 Free” bandwagon. Be sure to register.
