All About This Site

Since this website is brought to you in the form of a blog — daily commentary offered with the most recent items first — older items quickly fall off the page. I only display the most recent week’s worth of content at any one time. I like to think, though, that some of the entries retain their value even after the week has passed. And you can still read them — just click on the Archives link or pick one of the entries labeled “Greatest Hits” at the right (under my picture).Don’t want to miss a single deal or offer? Just be sure to enter your email address under Subscribe for Updates and each night you’ll receive an email with the day’s content. And I will never use your email for any other purpose. For…

Continue Reading »

Delta Member Get Member

Delta is running a new “member get a member” promotion. Refer a friend to join Delta Skymiles and if they complete a paid flight by December 15 you both get 1000 bonus miles.

Continue Reading »

The details on United’s low cost carrier

The announcement confirmed Airbus A320 aircraft, based in Denver. It also made clear that there will be no first class but will have an economy-plus section. The LCO fleet will launch with 4 Airbus 320 aircraft in Denver, and expand to 40 A320s by the end of 2004, 19 of which will be based in Denver. Each plane will have 156 seats, including a section of Economy Plus seats with extra legroom. From Denver, the LCO will fly to Reno, Las Vegas, Phoenix, New Orleans, Tampa, Ontario, Calif., and Orlando. Additional destinations will be announced at a later date. All seats will be pre-assigned, and food and beverage service will be available on board.

Continue Reading »

History and News

The very first issue of The Economist — from 1843 — is now online. I especially liked reading about the Movements of the Anti-Corn-Law League.

Continue Reading »

Continental drops a bomb

So the anticipated announcement of EliteAccess may have been no big deal… but just a day later Continental dropped a bombshell:Beginning in 2004, miles flown on discount fares will only count 50% towards elite qualification. There’s a semi-out, though. You can continue to earn full elite qualifying mileage on discount fares for flights through June 30, 2004 by booking online. After June 30, 2004 it appears as though all low priced tickets will accumulate one elite mile for every two that are flown.For non-elites, this is a non-issue … this change only affects elite qualifying mileage. Regular miles that are used for award tickets are unchanged. (You still earn one of these for each mile flown, even on cheap flights.)One additional change is more expensive mileage upgrades. International K fares (the third from highest fare…

Continue Reading »

JetBlue to test CAPPS II

When details of new testing for Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-screening System II (CAPPS II) profiling were disclosed last week, the TSA refused to say which airline(s) would be participating. The new system, called Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-screening System II (CAPPS II), has sparked so much controversy among both liberal and conservative groups that the TSA has struggled to get it going. Delta Air Lines backed out of a testing program with the agency earlier this year, and now the TSA will not reveal which airlines will participate when it tests a prototype early next year. If all goes as planned, the TSA will begin the new computer screening of some passengers as early as next summer and eventually it will be used for all domestic travelers. Now, however, Wired reveals that JetBlue has agreed to…

Continue Reading »

Continental goof

Continental mistakenly handed out 250,000 miles — sometimes multiple times — instead of 250 miles to OnePass members who played an online game. They promptly took the points away and cancelled any award bookings that travelers had made with the miles.When Kellogg’s made a mistake at the beginning of the summer informing masses of American frequent flyers that they had won 25,000 miles when all they had done was enter a contest, they made a gesture of 500 miles as an apology.Continental has made no such apology.

Continue Reading »

Continental enhances travel for full fare passengers

Continental Airlines had the frequent flyer world waiting with baited breath for a ‘big announcement’. In the end, it wasn’t big news at all. It was some small and nearly costless service improvements for full fare flyers that don’t really do alot to make Continental more attractive than its competitors. A disappointment, really. Continental’s offerings are: Full fare passengers will be able to upgrade if there’s space available after elites have been upgraded. But that won’t happen most of the time, so they won’t be given a middle seat in coach. Well, not really. They’ll be given an aisle seat or window seat if one is available, which is how things work already. The enhancement is that when a full fare passenger is stuck in a middle seat, they’ll get 1000 frequent flyer miles. Full…

Continue Reading »