Got to read this news about Air Asia (AK) going into India's market. Read on.
Mumbai: Low-cost carrier AirAsia India maiden is all set to launch operations from June 12 with a Bangalore-Goa maiden flight. The airline is offering a promotional fare of Rs 990 ($17) for flights between the two cities, cheaper than a second-class train ticket.
‘Our first flight is on Bangalore-Goa route,we are committed to making air travel affordable,’ said Mittu Chandilya,Air Asia. This is the fourth budget carrier in the country, after IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir.
AirAsia India reportedly sold out 25,000 promo seats within 48 hours of opening for bookings, the airline said in a release. Tickets for its inaugural service were sold out within 10 minutes.
The carrier's founder and chief executive Tony Fernandes, a millionaire former music executive, was in a celebratory mood ahead of the flight. Tony Fernandes further twitted "It's a proud day for me as my dad was from Goa," on Twitter.
More from here: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140612/business-latest/article/low-fares-choose-how-you-want-fly-airasia-set-maiden-flight
Showing posts with label airlines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label airlines. Show all posts
Friday, June 13, 2014
Monday, September 19, 2011
New airline to operate in Zamboanga
This is a great addition to the Philippine airline industry. Check this news about a new airline in Zambonga:
The Aero Majestic Airways is set to start operations from Zamboanga City to Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga City to Dipolog City and vice versa on September 19, 2011.
Aero Majestic Airways Ticketing Officer Jenny Delo Santos Hau said their airplane is a YS 11, 64 seater and will be piloted by Capt. Maximo Vallejo.
She said flights for Zamboanga City to Cagayan de Oro will start on September 19 while the Zamboanga City Dipolog route will start on September 27. The promo fare will be P999 for both routes.
“El routes diatun nohay na otro airlines. This will help the senior citizens, businessmen lessen their travel time.” Hau said.
If a passenger will take the bus, it will take more or less 12 hours to reach Cagayan de Oro, while the same distance will only take one hour by plane. For Dipolog, the bus will take about 8 hours while it will only take less than one hour for plane.
Zamboanga to Cagayan flights will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Zamboanga to Dipolog flights will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
According to Hau, more than 30 tickets were already sold for the trip to Cagayan and Dipolog.
For those interested, they can get their tickets at Jet Travel Zamboanga City International Airport with telephone number 991-8118 and Aero Majestic Airways Inc. with telephone numbers 955-0955 and 955-0517.
More from here: http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/news/13-top-stories/6253-new-airline-to-operate-in-zamboanga-.html
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Time to snatch those winter deals is now
Here's a very helpful trip for Filipinos in the US as the winter season approaches. Take a look at this article:
Thanksgiving or Christmas in August? Well, when it comes to searching for reasonable airfares, the time may actually be perfect to do that holiday and winter shopping.
First the bad news: Airlines are now generating revenue from every possible source, and at least two, American and Delta, have already implemented peak-travel surcharges for November 19-29 and December 17-31, excluding Christmas Day.
The deals are certainly not happening like they were in 2009, when the industry was reeling from the recession.
According to Priceline's data on 2009, Thanksgiving fares started to increase after mid-September and didn't look back. Christmas fares spiked in mid-September, then dropped before climbing back up in the beginning of October.
This year, with reduced capacity (fewer planes and flights), waiting until the last minute to purchase your holiday tickets probably won't get you the best fares.
But the good news is that the carriers and other travel providers are trying to lock in travelers by rolling out the deals NOW.
Tip: Most of the time, the best time to travel is when everyone else isn't. And in my opinion, holidays like Thanksgiving are nothing more than an obligatory dysfunctional family get-together. So instead, look for deals that fall around the holidays, but not ON the holidays.
Several airlines have launched fare sales through mid-December.
For example, American Airlines is offering a domestic fare sale from $44 each way through December 15, but you must book by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on August 24. We're talking savings on travel between major cities like Atlanta to Miami from $69 each way, and Dallas to Ft. Lauderdale from $89 each way. link=http://www.aa.com>www.aa.com
Always, always read the fine print before you book: Those advertised prices are for one-way travel, but you're required to purchase a round-trip ticket. Blackout dates apply over Thanksgiving and other peak days (specifically Nov. 20, 23-24, 27, and 29). Advance booking is required, taxes and fees are not included, and for the lowest fare, travel must take place Monday through Thursday and Saturday.
Budget carrier AirTran has a similar deal, but with one twist: no round-trip purchase is required. Book by Aug. 24 for travel by December 15, and prices start from $49 each way. Blackout dates are Nov. 23-24 and 27-29, and of course, the standard advance purchase and weekday travel apply for the lowest fares. (Note that sale dates for certain routes may apply.) www.airtran.com/sale
Delta has also launched a fare sale, from Atlanta and Minneapolis. Same deal here: Book round-trip tickets by Aug. 24 for travel by Dec. 15, with blackout dates Nov. 23-24 and 26-29. If you can deal with the restrictions, you'll be rewarded with fares as low as $44 each way between Minneapolis and Milwaukee, and Atlanta to Chicago from $60 each way.
Or, you can skip seeing your demented uncle and crazy aunt altogether and head to Europe this fall! Delta is offering sales from New York and Atlanta to major European cities from $239 and $339 respectively, each way. www.delta.com/planning_reservations/deals_offers/index.jsp
Continental has a similar sale if you're traveling BusinessFirst to Europe -- and this deal includes holiday dates! Departure must take place Nov. 21 - 27, 2010, returning Nov. 25 - Dec. 1; or depart Dec. 20, 2010 - Jan. 7, 2011, and return Dec. 24 - Jan. 13. This deal is valid on Continental as well as its partners, such as Air Canada, Lufthansa and United. www.continental.com/web/en-us/content/deals/offers/businessfirst.aspx
My advice: There will likely be one more airfare sale that will sneak out on Sept. 8, two days after Labor Day. But after that, my guess is there won't be another major airline sale for the rest of the year that will apply to holiday travel.
Then, there are the deals being rolled out by specific properties, based on the same philosophy that you'll be rewarded if they can lock in your business now.
Several RockResort properties, including The Lodge at Vail, Keystone, The Osprey at Beaver Creek, and Hotel Jerome in Aspen, are offering a free night of lodging during the holidays when you book by Oct. 31, 2010. The Holidays on Us program means you can book two nights and get the third for free on Thanksgiving Day, MLK Day, and Easter Sunday; buy three nights and get the fourth free over Christmas Day, Valentine's Day or President's Day.
For example, at Keystone, a studio condominium rental that falls over Dec. 21-26 will cost about $664.64. When you factor in the one free night, that works out to $119 per night for five nights. Not a bad deal, especially when you consider the package also includes free activities like admission to an ice-skating rink, a snow bike lesson and yoga classes. www.holidaysonus.com
And, going back to the theory that if the going gets tough, the tough go to Europe, Uniworld is offering discounts for early birds. Book a European holiday river cruise by Aug. 31, 2010 and save up to $300 per person. uniworld.com/Destinations/Offers
If you're in the market for cruises, here's what you want to do: Sail in early December.
Here's why:
A quick look on cruise discounter CruiseBrothers.com shows that a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean starts at an ultra-affordable $569, departing in the "dead week" after Thanksgiving, and from from $588 on Dec. 5. However, a holiday cruise departing Dec. 26 doubles to $1,119 per person.
Similarly, a seven-night Mexico cruise on Princess starts from just $499, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, and jumps up to $799 on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. If you can swing early December travel (that's what vacation days are for!), then that's the time to get more bang for your buck.
As you might expect, hard-hit Gulf Coast properties are also discounting to attract visitors. Sandestin Resort in Florida is bringing back its popular "Buy Two, Get One Free Night" promotion for winter travel, which gets you a 33 percent savings. In addition, you can sign up for the property's e-mail alerts to be the first to know about its winter 48-hour sales, and expect even deeper discounts during its slower period in late November and early December. www.sandestin.com
New Orleans celebrates all December long with Christmas New Orleans Style, featuring caroling and choirs, cooking demos and restaurant price-fixed menus and, most importantly, hotel discounts. For example, last year The Roosevelt, a Waldorf Astoria property, offered rates from $139 for a deluxe guest room and from $199 for a luxury suit between Dec. 9 - 29, and rates this year are expected to be comparable. Hotel Monteleone is offering as much as 50 percent off normal rates starting from $99 a night, based on availability between Nov. 22 and Dec. 29. www.neworleansonline.com/christmas
In the mood for a Caribbean getaway? Sandals has its popular "Save up to 65 percent" sale in Jamaica: Book before Aug. 26 for a minimum of three nights for travel between Sept. 1 and Dec. 28 (blackout dates Feb. 19-26, 2011 may apply) and save between 55-65 percent. www.sandals.com/promos/hot-sale
Tip: When it comes to booking hotels, don't be afraid to go beyond the quoted price. Pick up the phone and talk to a human being to ask for unadvertised value-added perks. Ask targeted questions like, "Can my kids eat free? Can kids stay free?" If it's an urban hotel, ask for free parking, which can add up to as much as $50 a night in major cities. After all, if you don't ask...
Last, but certainly not least, there are the destinations where the U.S. dollar is gaining strength.
Right now, the exchange rate in Europe is about $1.26 to the euro. Here's hoping that remains the same into winter, when much of Europe is on sale.
For example: Berlin offers exceptional value in the off-season. Although you may have to deal with cold weather, winter in Berlin means Christmas markets, fixed-price restaurant menus as part of the Culinary Wintermagic program, and various festivals, concerts and other cultural events. If that's not enough for you, a recent study from Hotels.com comparing hotel rates paid from January-June 2009 showed that Berlin's average hotel rate of €76 (euros) per night is significantly lower than other major cities: (New York paid an average of €139, while the rate was an average of €108 in London, and €111 in Paris.)
And one of my favorite examples of value for your travel dollars is Argentina, where the dollar continues to be king. At current rates, it's about three-to-one, which means exceptional deals whether you're hanging out in Buenos Aires or heading west to wine country in Mendoza.
read more from here http://www.eturbonews.com/18074/time-snatch-those-winter-deals-now
Thanksgiving or Christmas in August? Well, when it comes to searching for reasonable airfares, the time may actually be perfect to do that holiday and winter shopping.
First the bad news: Airlines are now generating revenue from every possible source, and at least two, American and Delta, have already implemented peak-travel surcharges for November 19-29 and December 17-31, excluding Christmas Day.
The deals are certainly not happening like they were in 2009, when the industry was reeling from the recession.
According to Priceline's data on 2009, Thanksgiving fares started to increase after mid-September and didn't look back. Christmas fares spiked in mid-September, then dropped before climbing back up in the beginning of October.
This year, with reduced capacity (fewer planes and flights), waiting until the last minute to purchase your holiday tickets probably won't get you the best fares.
But the good news is that the carriers and other travel providers are trying to lock in travelers by rolling out the deals NOW.
Tip: Most of the time, the best time to travel is when everyone else isn't. And in my opinion, holidays like Thanksgiving are nothing more than an obligatory dysfunctional family get-together. So instead, look for deals that fall around the holidays, but not ON the holidays.
Several airlines have launched fare sales through mid-December.
For example, American Airlines is offering a domestic fare sale from $44 each way through December 15, but you must book by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on August 24. We're talking savings on travel between major cities like Atlanta to Miami from $69 each way, and Dallas to Ft. Lauderdale from $89 each way. link=http://www.aa.com>www.aa.com
Always, always read the fine print before you book: Those advertised prices are for one-way travel, but you're required to purchase a round-trip ticket. Blackout dates apply over Thanksgiving and other peak days (specifically Nov. 20, 23-24, 27, and 29). Advance booking is required, taxes and fees are not included, and for the lowest fare, travel must take place Monday through Thursday and Saturday.
Budget carrier AirTran has a similar deal, but with one twist: no round-trip purchase is required. Book by Aug. 24 for travel by December 15, and prices start from $49 each way. Blackout dates are Nov. 23-24 and 27-29, and of course, the standard advance purchase and weekday travel apply for the lowest fares. (Note that sale dates for certain routes may apply.) www.airtran.com/sale
Delta has also launched a fare sale, from Atlanta and Minneapolis. Same deal here: Book round-trip tickets by Aug. 24 for travel by Dec. 15, with blackout dates Nov. 23-24 and 26-29. If you can deal with the restrictions, you'll be rewarded with fares as low as $44 each way between Minneapolis and Milwaukee, and Atlanta to Chicago from $60 each way.
Or, you can skip seeing your demented uncle and crazy aunt altogether and head to Europe this fall! Delta is offering sales from New York and Atlanta to major European cities from $239 and $339 respectively, each way. www.delta.com/planning_reservations/deals_offers/index.jsp
Continental has a similar sale if you're traveling BusinessFirst to Europe -- and this deal includes holiday dates! Departure must take place Nov. 21 - 27, 2010, returning Nov. 25 - Dec. 1; or depart Dec. 20, 2010 - Jan. 7, 2011, and return Dec. 24 - Jan. 13. This deal is valid on Continental as well as its partners, such as Air Canada, Lufthansa and United. www.continental.com/web/en-us/content/deals/offers/businessfirst.aspx
My advice: There will likely be one more airfare sale that will sneak out on Sept. 8, two days after Labor Day. But after that, my guess is there won't be another major airline sale for the rest of the year that will apply to holiday travel.
Then, there are the deals being rolled out by specific properties, based on the same philosophy that you'll be rewarded if they can lock in your business now.
Several RockResort properties, including The Lodge at Vail, Keystone, The Osprey at Beaver Creek, and Hotel Jerome in Aspen, are offering a free night of lodging during the holidays when you book by Oct. 31, 2010. The Holidays on Us program means you can book two nights and get the third for free on Thanksgiving Day, MLK Day, and Easter Sunday; buy three nights and get the fourth free over Christmas Day, Valentine's Day or President's Day.
For example, at Keystone, a studio condominium rental that falls over Dec. 21-26 will cost about $664.64. When you factor in the one free night, that works out to $119 per night for five nights. Not a bad deal, especially when you consider the package also includes free activities like admission to an ice-skating rink, a snow bike lesson and yoga classes. www.holidaysonus.com
And, going back to the theory that if the going gets tough, the tough go to Europe, Uniworld is offering discounts for early birds. Book a European holiday river cruise by Aug. 31, 2010 and save up to $300 per person. uniworld.com/Destinations/Offers
If you're in the market for cruises, here's what you want to do: Sail in early December.
Here's why:
A quick look on cruise discounter CruiseBrothers.com shows that a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean starts at an ultra-affordable $569, departing in the "dead week" after Thanksgiving, and from from $588 on Dec. 5. However, a holiday cruise departing Dec. 26 doubles to $1,119 per person.
Similarly, a seven-night Mexico cruise on Princess starts from just $499, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, and jumps up to $799 on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. If you can swing early December travel (that's what vacation days are for!), then that's the time to get more bang for your buck.
As you might expect, hard-hit Gulf Coast properties are also discounting to attract visitors. Sandestin Resort in Florida is bringing back its popular "Buy Two, Get One Free Night" promotion for winter travel, which gets you a 33 percent savings. In addition, you can sign up for the property's e-mail alerts to be the first to know about its winter 48-hour sales, and expect even deeper discounts during its slower period in late November and early December. www.sandestin.com
New Orleans celebrates all December long with Christmas New Orleans Style, featuring caroling and choirs, cooking demos and restaurant price-fixed menus and, most importantly, hotel discounts. For example, last year The Roosevelt, a Waldorf Astoria property, offered rates from $139 for a deluxe guest room and from $199 for a luxury suit between Dec. 9 - 29, and rates this year are expected to be comparable. Hotel Monteleone is offering as much as 50 percent off normal rates starting from $99 a night, based on availability between Nov. 22 and Dec. 29. www.neworleansonline.com/christmas
In the mood for a Caribbean getaway? Sandals has its popular "Save up to 65 percent" sale in Jamaica: Book before Aug. 26 for a minimum of three nights for travel between Sept. 1 and Dec. 28 (blackout dates Feb. 19-26, 2011 may apply) and save between 55-65 percent. www.sandals.com/promos/hot-sale
Tip: When it comes to booking hotels, don't be afraid to go beyond the quoted price. Pick up the phone and talk to a human being to ask for unadvertised value-added perks. Ask targeted questions like, "Can my kids eat free? Can kids stay free?" If it's an urban hotel, ask for free parking, which can add up to as much as $50 a night in major cities. After all, if you don't ask...
Last, but certainly not least, there are the destinations where the U.S. dollar is gaining strength.
Right now, the exchange rate in Europe is about $1.26 to the euro. Here's hoping that remains the same into winter, when much of Europe is on sale.
For example: Berlin offers exceptional value in the off-season. Although you may have to deal with cold weather, winter in Berlin means Christmas markets, fixed-price restaurant menus as part of the Culinary Wintermagic program, and various festivals, concerts and other cultural events. If that's not enough for you, a recent study from Hotels.com comparing hotel rates paid from January-June 2009 showed that Berlin's average hotel rate of €76 (euros) per night is significantly lower than other major cities: (New York paid an average of €139, while the rate was an average of €108 in London, and €111 in Paris.)
And one of my favorite examples of value for your travel dollars is Argentina, where the dollar continues to be king. At current rates, it's about three-to-one, which means exceptional deals whether you're hanging out in Buenos Aires or heading west to wine country in Mendoza.
read more from here http://www.eturbonews.com/18074/time-snatch-those-winter-deals-now
Monday, August 2, 2010
Seair acquires 3 new planes
Got across this news article from Philippine Star. Seair is expanding and is offering promo fares. Read on:
MANILA, Philippines - Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) has announced that it is boosting its operations in the growing markets of Batanes, Boracay, and Romblon by adding three 32-seater Dornier 328s to its fleet starting August 2010.
The acquisition of new planes is part of the SEAIR fleet expansion program. One of the three new aircrafts will start operating in August while the two will fly in October, bringing the total fleet count to five by the end of the year.
SEAIR president Avelino Zapanta said that they have received positive responses in these destinations that translated to a 100-percent increase in sales for the first half of 2010 compared to the same period last year.
He said that by adding more planes, they will be helping in the tourism development in the Philippines, especially in the niche leisure market segment where SEAIR is a pioneer.
Featuring the latest German technology, the Dornier 328 is the fastest and most advanced jet-prop in the region. The aircraft enables SEAIR to offer the fastest flights from Manila to Boracay at just 35 minutes. It has large seat pitch and is designed with more interior volume per passenger than the 100+ seat Boeing 737, and has the feel of a big jet.
Dornier 328s are capable of short take-off and landing (STOL) in about 750 meters with full pay load and are the most appropriate for the small runways of Caticlan, Batanes, and other hard-to-reach destinations where bigger commercial planes cannot land.
Some of the major international airlines that use Dornier 328s include British Airways, KLM, United Airlines, US Airways, and Minerva Air (Alitalia).
Meanwhile, SEAIR also recently announced its special lean season promo for flights from Manila to Tablas, Romblon and vice versa. One-way airfare can be availed for as low as P 1735 ++ for travel until Oct. 15, 2010. SEAIR flies from Manila to Tablas, Romblon v.v. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and in just 30 minutes via the Dornier 328.
Romblon is a cluster of 20 islands, with Tablas being the largest. The province offers panoramic views reminiscent of the Mediterranean islands and has some of the most breathtaking unspoiled white sand beaches in the country. Romblon is nicknamed “Marble Country” and experts say that Romblon marble is comparable to Italian marble in terms of quality.
SEAIR has also increased flights from Cebu to Caticlan and vice versa to six times a week. Flights are offered once a day except on Mondays. One-way fare is for as low as P 1235++. SEAIR is the only airline that brings passengers directly to Boracay via its complimentary transfers from Caticlan airport to Boracay and vice versa.
More from here: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=598825&publicationSubCategoryId=66
MANILA, Philippines - Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) has announced that it is boosting its operations in the growing markets of Batanes, Boracay, and Romblon by adding three 32-seater Dornier 328s to its fleet starting August 2010.
The acquisition of new planes is part of the SEAIR fleet expansion program. One of the three new aircrafts will start operating in August while the two will fly in October, bringing the total fleet count to five by the end of the year.
SEAIR president Avelino Zapanta said that they have received positive responses in these destinations that translated to a 100-percent increase in sales for the first half of 2010 compared to the same period last year.
He said that by adding more planes, they will be helping in the tourism development in the Philippines, especially in the niche leisure market segment where SEAIR is a pioneer.
Featuring the latest German technology, the Dornier 328 is the fastest and most advanced jet-prop in the region. The aircraft enables SEAIR to offer the fastest flights from Manila to Boracay at just 35 minutes. It has large seat pitch and is designed with more interior volume per passenger than the 100+ seat Boeing 737, and has the feel of a big jet.
Dornier 328s are capable of short take-off and landing (STOL) in about 750 meters with full pay load and are the most appropriate for the small runways of Caticlan, Batanes, and other hard-to-reach destinations where bigger commercial planes cannot land.
Some of the major international airlines that use Dornier 328s include British Airways, KLM, United Airlines, US Airways, and Minerva Air (Alitalia).
Meanwhile, SEAIR also recently announced its special lean season promo for flights from Manila to Tablas, Romblon and vice versa. One-way airfare can be availed for as low as P 1735 ++ for travel until Oct. 15, 2010. SEAIR flies from Manila to Tablas, Romblon v.v. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and in just 30 minutes via the Dornier 328.
Romblon is a cluster of 20 islands, with Tablas being the largest. The province offers panoramic views reminiscent of the Mediterranean islands and has some of the most breathtaking unspoiled white sand beaches in the country. Romblon is nicknamed “Marble Country” and experts say that Romblon marble is comparable to Italian marble in terms of quality.
SEAIR has also increased flights from Cebu to Caticlan and vice versa to six times a week. Flights are offered once a day except on Mondays. One-way fare is for as low as P 1235++. SEAIR is the only airline that brings passengers directly to Boracay via its complimentary transfers from Caticlan airport to Boracay and vice versa.
More from here: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=598825&publicationSubCategoryId=66
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
'The Points Guy' Shares His Secrets for Maximum Frequent Flyer Miles
This is an interesting interview by Eric Rosen with Brian Kelly a.k.a The Points Guy. Read on and learn on how he's able to be the master of the airlines' loyalty programs:
A few weeks ago, we dished over at HotelChatter about our friend Brian Kelly, who successfully made a transition from lowly desk jockey to jetsetting superhero with the Ryan Bingham-esque moniker, The Points Guy. He dished on the best hotel reward points programs, told us which ones to avoid, and shared his favorite tricks for getting suite upgrades.
This week, we queried him on airline loyalty programs to discover his picks of the moment, where he sees the industry trending in general, and what you, the average traveler, can do to fly business class while everyone else is getting stuck in coach. Here’s what he had to say.
Jaunted: The news out of the airline business seems to be getting worse every day. What does that mean for points loyalty programs?
The Points Guy: Airlines have decreased capacity by taking planes out of service and downgrading aircraft size in order to fly fuller planes, meaning it’s only going to get harder to find those awards seats. Airlines will also be focusing on high-yield business fliers as the economic recovery gets underway. Delta, American and United are already running bonus promotions for full-cost business and first-class fares. So unless you’re racking up those business miles, elite status will be harder to come by.
Jaunted: What are your favorite points programs and why?
TPG: Each program is so different!
· American's AAdvantage is wonderful because I've found that they have the most awards seat availability. It might not be a direct flight, but you can always find a seat if you’re flexible, especially in first and business. Their ace in the hole is the one-way awards. Not everyone’s trip is roundtrip, so for half the price, you can get where you need to go.
· Before the merger with United was announced, I was in love with Continental’s OnePass Program. Since joining Star Alliance, their redemption opportunities increased, and they had a 1:1 direct transfer for American Express Membership rewards, so topping up your account to achieve an award was instantaneous. Continental has also been heavy on the promotions, like their offer of 25,000 miles per checking account per year with Chase (max two accounts: one personal, one business per year). I earned 50,000 OnePass miles for opening checking accounts, which don’t even affect credit. However, now that it will be merging with United, the combined frequent flyer program will be worse thanks to more people trying to redeem miles on fewer flights. The Amex relationship will probably end, and United’s practice of blocking partner awards will continue. The only silver lining will be one-way awards which you can’t do on Continental, but you can with United. I’d like them to combine the best aspects of both programs, but if the Delta-Northwest merger is any model of things to come, we’re all going to be sorely disappointed.
· US Airways, while one of the most customer-unfriendly airlines, actually has a great frequent flyer program. They often run promotions where members can buy miles and receive a 100% bonus—meaning you get double the miles you buy. US Air sometimes runs a “Share Miles 100% Promo,” which means someone can “share” 25,000 miles with a friend for a fee, and then the friend would receive 50,000 miles. US Air is also very lax with routing of award tickets, so you can go to Europe via the Pacific and return over the Atlantic while on most other airlines, these round-the-world routings are generally prohibited.
Jaunted: What are common mistakes people make when redeeming their points?
TPG: People generally undervalue their points. They get frustrated and end up shortchanging themselves for easier, yet less valuable redemptions, like merchandise they don’t need, gift cards, or “Flexible” awards that cost twice the points. The simple tips I give people are:
· Don’t always believe what you see online. Airlines don’t make it easy to see true award inventory using online search engines on their sites, so pick up the phone and call your airline. But don’t expect them to do all the work for you. Arm yourself with knowledge—know what other alliance airlines fly to your destination and be prepared to give flight numbers.
· Don’t always believe what you hear on the phone. If an agent sounds exasperated with your request, hang up and call again. Helpful agents are hard to get, but you’d be surprised at what they can find.
· Be flexible with dates and routing. Are flights to your destination sold out? Get creative and fly to a nearby city and then take a regional jet or train to your destination. The more flexible you are the better chance of being able to use your points.
Jaunted: What are some of the tricks you use to find fares that the average consumer doesn’t know about?
TPG: For low fares on certain routes, set a Travelocity Farewatcher Plus alert. You can also follow both Airfare Watchdog and FareCompare on Twitter. Most important, once you find a really low fare, don’t be afraid to book. Many airlines offer 24 hour cancellation or hold policies, so you should act quickly. Many fare sales go quickly, so if the price is right, go for it.
Jaunted: What is the best awards deal you've ever gotten?
TPG: Delta was running a new city promotion to Zurich, so I got a ticket for $232 and earned 15,000 bonus miles, plus 10,000 for buying the ticket with an Amex, plus a 5,000 per flight loyalty bonus Delta was running, plus my Medallion program bonus. {Drum roll please!} I ended up with 45,928 miles from a $232 fare.
Jaunted: Any last tips?
TPG: Harnessing true point potential allows you to enjoy a nicer lifestyle and more destinations. Not only can I travel more, but I can experience each destination more. In this economy, everyone’s discretionary spending is limited, but the desire to travel has not subsided. If people are savvy, they can use their points to live out their travel dreams!
And that is where The Points Guy comes in. Brian will consult with clients on their loyalty program points, and even book their itineraries for a $50 charge. If he can get you from coach to business—or even first—that’s six times the value of the reward you would have gotten yourself. And as we mentioned, you can even pay for Brian’s services using Amex Rewards Points rather than cash. Now that’s putting your points to good use.
see more from here: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/5/24/144848/583/travel/'The+Points+Guy'+Shares+His+Secrets+for+Maximum+Frequent+Flyer+Miles
A few weeks ago, we dished over at HotelChatter about our friend Brian Kelly, who successfully made a transition from lowly desk jockey to jetsetting superhero with the Ryan Bingham-esque moniker, The Points Guy. He dished on the best hotel reward points programs, told us which ones to avoid, and shared his favorite tricks for getting suite upgrades.
This week, we queried him on airline loyalty programs to discover his picks of the moment, where he sees the industry trending in general, and what you, the average traveler, can do to fly business class while everyone else is getting stuck in coach. Here’s what he had to say.
Jaunted: The news out of the airline business seems to be getting worse every day. What does that mean for points loyalty programs?
The Points Guy: Airlines have decreased capacity by taking planes out of service and downgrading aircraft size in order to fly fuller planes, meaning it’s only going to get harder to find those awards seats. Airlines will also be focusing on high-yield business fliers as the economic recovery gets underway. Delta, American and United are already running bonus promotions for full-cost business and first-class fares. So unless you’re racking up those business miles, elite status will be harder to come by.
Jaunted: What are your favorite points programs and why?
TPG: Each program is so different!
· American's AAdvantage is wonderful because I've found that they have the most awards seat availability. It might not be a direct flight, but you can always find a seat if you’re flexible, especially in first and business. Their ace in the hole is the one-way awards. Not everyone’s trip is roundtrip, so for half the price, you can get where you need to go.
· Before the merger with United was announced, I was in love with Continental’s OnePass Program. Since joining Star Alliance, their redemption opportunities increased, and they had a 1:1 direct transfer for American Express Membership rewards, so topping up your account to achieve an award was instantaneous. Continental has also been heavy on the promotions, like their offer of 25,000 miles per checking account per year with Chase (max two accounts: one personal, one business per year). I earned 50,000 OnePass miles for opening checking accounts, which don’t even affect credit. However, now that it will be merging with United, the combined frequent flyer program will be worse thanks to more people trying to redeem miles on fewer flights. The Amex relationship will probably end, and United’s practice of blocking partner awards will continue. The only silver lining will be one-way awards which you can’t do on Continental, but you can with United. I’d like them to combine the best aspects of both programs, but if the Delta-Northwest merger is any model of things to come, we’re all going to be sorely disappointed.
· US Airways, while one of the most customer-unfriendly airlines, actually has a great frequent flyer program. They often run promotions where members can buy miles and receive a 100% bonus—meaning you get double the miles you buy. US Air sometimes runs a “Share Miles 100% Promo,” which means someone can “share” 25,000 miles with a friend for a fee, and then the friend would receive 50,000 miles. US Air is also very lax with routing of award tickets, so you can go to Europe via the Pacific and return over the Atlantic while on most other airlines, these round-the-world routings are generally prohibited.
Jaunted: What are common mistakes people make when redeeming their points?
TPG: People generally undervalue their points. They get frustrated and end up shortchanging themselves for easier, yet less valuable redemptions, like merchandise they don’t need, gift cards, or “Flexible” awards that cost twice the points. The simple tips I give people are:
· Don’t always believe what you see online. Airlines don’t make it easy to see true award inventory using online search engines on their sites, so pick up the phone and call your airline. But don’t expect them to do all the work for you. Arm yourself with knowledge—know what other alliance airlines fly to your destination and be prepared to give flight numbers.
· Don’t always believe what you hear on the phone. If an agent sounds exasperated with your request, hang up and call again. Helpful agents are hard to get, but you’d be surprised at what they can find.
· Be flexible with dates and routing. Are flights to your destination sold out? Get creative and fly to a nearby city and then take a regional jet or train to your destination. The more flexible you are the better chance of being able to use your points.
Jaunted: What are some of the tricks you use to find fares that the average consumer doesn’t know about?
TPG: For low fares on certain routes, set a Travelocity Farewatcher Plus alert. You can also follow both Airfare Watchdog and FareCompare on Twitter. Most important, once you find a really low fare, don’t be afraid to book. Many airlines offer 24 hour cancellation or hold policies, so you should act quickly. Many fare sales go quickly, so if the price is right, go for it.
Jaunted: What is the best awards deal you've ever gotten?
TPG: Delta was running a new city promotion to Zurich, so I got a ticket for $232 and earned 15,000 bonus miles, plus 10,000 for buying the ticket with an Amex, plus a 5,000 per flight loyalty bonus Delta was running, plus my Medallion program bonus. {Drum roll please!} I ended up with 45,928 miles from a $232 fare.
Jaunted: Any last tips?
TPG: Harnessing true point potential allows you to enjoy a nicer lifestyle and more destinations. Not only can I travel more, but I can experience each destination more. In this economy, everyone’s discretionary spending is limited, but the desire to travel has not subsided. If people are savvy, they can use their points to live out their travel dreams!
And that is where The Points Guy comes in. Brian will consult with clients on their loyalty program points, and even book their itineraries for a $50 charge. If he can get you from coach to business—or even first—that’s six times the value of the reward you would have gotten yourself. And as we mentioned, you can even pay for Brian’s services using Amex Rewards Points rather than cash. Now that’s putting your points to good use.
see more from here: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/5/24/144848/583/travel/'The+Points+Guy'+Shares+His+Secrets+for+Maximum+Frequent+Flyer+Miles
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