Amtrak and Continental are making tracks with their new codeshare agreement. Travelers will be able to transfer easily between Amtrak’s northeast rail service in four major cities to air service via Continental Airlines at Newark. Continental Airlines will place its designator code on Amtrak’s Acela Regional and Keystone trains for connecting itineraries between Newark International and Philadelphia, Pa; Wilmington, Del; Stamford, Conn. and New Haven, Conn. Travelers on codeshare segments who are members of either OnePass or Amtrak Guest Rewards will be able to earn OnePass miles or Guest Rewards points when they travel. And get this, members will also be able to exchange miles and points between the programs starting in mid-March. In addition, guests traveling on Amtrak’s Metroliner and Acela Express services between New York and either Boston or Washington can earn miles or points …
Priority Club Worldwide is welcoming four new partners to its program: Airborne Express, Dining by iDine, NetBank and Earthlink. When members use Airborne Express, they will earn four Priority Club points for every dollar spent and 1,000 bonus points with the initial purchase of envelopes and packs. Call (800) 636-2377 and mention promotion code 1005. Register a credit card of your choice with Dining by iDine and earn 15 points per dollar spent on food, beverage, tax and tip on your first visit each month to a participating restaurant. Call (877) 475-3463 to register. Thirty days following initial funding, Priority Club members who are new NetBank customers will receive 40 points per dollar spent on their account balance, up to 10,000 points. Members who open up new accounts with EarthLink will receive 5,000 bonus Priority Club Worldwide points, no term commitment and dial-up Internet service for $21.95 per month. To receive service, call (800) 327-8454 and mention promotion code 400065217 …
Southwest Rapid Rewards has added wireless provider Nextel to its partner list. Members will receive four credits for every phone they purchase and activate, up to a maximum of four phones. Additional credits may be received with subsequent contract extensions and other activities …
KLM has resurfaced as the preferred partner of British Airways in Europe. While merger writing is on the wall, where will this leave Northwest, KLM’s partner for most of the last decade. British Airways was left in disarray after it refused to pay the price demanded by U.S. regulators in return for antitrust immunity for a far-reaching alliance with American. The price: British Airways and American Airlines would have been required to give up 224 take-off and landing slots for flights by new competitors between U.S. cities and Heathrow airport. No doubt the oneworld alliance will be one of the biggest losers in this decision.
