Randy Petersen has a new post up on his blog, imagining what an America West-USAirways tie-up would mean for integration of the two airlines’ frequent flyer programs. He believes a merger or acquisition would be on the whole good for members miles would be far safer integration would happen over a couple of years with reciprocal space available upgrades for elites introduced quickly new redemption options would be introduced partners would be streamlined so some current relationships would disappear
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What would an America West-USAirways Merger Mean for Frequent Flyer Mileage Redemption
Keith Alexander speculates on what would happen to frequent flyers in an America West-USAirways tie-up. He quotes Randy Petersen saying that USAirways members could finally relax about the future and stability of their miles. Separately, if the combined corporate entity remains as USAirways, and its existing partnerships continue, then America West flyers will gain access to international awards like they’ve never known before through USAirways’ membership in the Star Alliance. Currently, America West’s premium international redemption options are hugely limited. Of course, this is all speculation. If a merger were to go through, and if it were to cause the combined entity to exit the Star Alliance (after all, America West is a significant competitor to United on the West Coast of the U.S. and to the best of my knowledge America West management hasn’t…
Thoughts on USAirways/America West Merger Rumors
Rumors of an America West-USAirways linkup have been all over the news. The two carriers are certainly in talks. There’s a certain logic to it: USAirways has a strong East Coast route network, America West has a strong West Coast route network, together they’d be a true national carrier (the nation’s 6th largest). But America West is close to profitability and is winning analyst plaudits. USAirways remains in bankruptcy for the second time since 9/11, is short on cash and on life support. USAirways has a much more senior workforce than America West. Integrating union labor pools is always a difficult task and one which can lead to significant acrimony. It’s really unclear to me how America West would make USAirways’ assets profitable. Rumors of the two carriers combining go back to 1997 (or at…
Diners Club Award Changes and Bonuses
Starting April 1st 2500 Diners Club points will yield only 1500 Priority Club points, down from the current 2000. It will also take 3000 Diners Club points for 1 Southwest Rapid Rewards credit, up from 2000. Club Rewards members have until March 31 to redeem at the current rates. Meanwhile, transfers of Club Rewards points between May 1 and August 31 will receive a 50% transfer bonus just like last year. This is something of a disappointment because previous years had seen a 100% summer bonus. Between March 1 and May 31, transfers to USAirways earn a 25% bonus. (Registration required.)
Quadruple Miles for USAirways Ticket Purchases
A bit of a limited audience for this one, but still quite generous: Register to earn quadruple miles for your spending with USAirways (e.g. tickets, club memberships) when paying with the USAirways Visa between March 1 and March 15.
USAirways Club Signup Bonus
Through February 11, USAirways is offering 10,000 Dividend Miles for signing up for a lounge membership with promo code CLB10. That’s a pretty good bonus offer, but while USAirways has some breathing room to operate I’m not sure I’d be investing in anything that last’s a full year with them. They may well be around, but I’d rather fly to Vegas and put the money on black. Better return that way. Besides, it still offends me that USAirways charges extra for accessing partner lounges. If I just wanted access to the club on the carrier that I was flying on the day that I was flying with them, I’d probably buy an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge membership.
Double Miles on USAirways
USAirways is offering double miles for purchases made through the end of the month on all flights through the end of 2005. Business class flights to Europe earn 40,000 bonus miles (like American and British Airways) and all flights to the Carribean and Latin America earn 10,000 bonus miles. Registration is required, and again the bonus applies only to tickets purchased by January 31.
USAirways Gets Some Breathing Room
Members of the machinists union at USAirways approved pay cuts. They were the last union to do so. Coupled with the bankruptcy court’s decision to allow USAirways to draw on the cash behind its federally back load guarantee, the airline has been given a few more months of life. There’s currently no indication that they’ll return to profitability, especially since March is generally their lowpoint in cash for the year. But I don’t see an immediate liquidation threat. In other words, it should be fine to book February flights on the airline.
USAirways: Up to 20,000 Miles Towards Elite Status
USAirways is offering up to 20,000 bonus miles that count towards elite status for booking tickets on its website. The offer requires tickets to be purchased and flown between November 16, 2004 and February 16, 2005. Registration is required.The offer is ostensibly to ‘celebrate the 20th anniversary’ of the USAirways mileage program. From their email: Celebrating 20 years of Dividend Miles: 1984 Piedmont Airlines Frequent Flyer Bonus Program was born. 1985 USAir unveiled the Frequent Traveler Program and launched the co-branded credit card. 1989 Piedmont Airlines is integrated into USAir. 1997 USAir became US Airways and the program is re-launched as Dividend Miles. Chairman’s Preferred status is created. 2004 US Airways joined the Star Alliance™ network with access to over 770 destinations in 133 countries.
Free miles
Since I have so many new visitors, I thought I’d take a moment to summarize some of the quick ways to click for miles that I’ve posted: 1000 Continental miles for completing a survey 2000 Hilton points for updating your profile Up to 2500 Delta miles for referring new Skymiles members 500 USAirways miles for signing up for their free golf newsletter 1000 United miles and 500 American miles Up to 300 American miles for taking a survey 1500 Alaska Air miles for email signup