Intelligence – December, 17 2002

Intelligence – December, 17 2002

Effective June 1, US Airways’ Dividend Miles members will be able to earn 250 miles for every stay at a Best Western. Perhaps there is a little more to this partnership than meets the eye. This is the first new partnership Dividend Miles has forged since the announcement of the takeover by United. We are wondering if US Airways is giving up on its ambitious plan. Lending support to this theory is a press release from United stating that the airline has suspended the work of a merger preparation team. The press release goes on to state that the decision reflects the fact that the airline is ready for the first 100 days of operations as an expanded airline. Is the lofty plan starting to evaporate? … Airlines don’t seem to learn from each other. No sooner have we finished researching the possible demise of the US Airways/United deal than we hear about the perennial American Airlines British Airways partnership. British Airways may have flitted with a takeover of KLM, Swissair etc., but it never takes long for the airline to revert to talks with American Airlines. American Airlines impetus may stem from its foothold at New York/JFK via the TWA takeover … It certainly didn’t take Midway Airlines long to find a replacement after getting the boot from American Airlines. The airline is now partnering with Continental OnePass and Northwest WorldPerks. Members can earn miles with OnePass or WorldPerks and these miles count as status miles. If you are a heavy-duty flyer with Midway Airlines, you might want to check to see if OnePass or WorldPerks will match your elite status … Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan now partners with www.Points.com. It joins Air Canada, American Airlines, America West and Midwest Express. We are still not convinced of the value of this partnership for Mileage Plan members, or any member for that matter … Northwest Airlines is now a partner with Thrifty Car Rental. Members earn 250 miles per seven-day rental or less and 500 miles for rentals of eight days or more. A good rule of thumb when it comes to this car rental partnership — if you are renting for up to five days, collect your miles from Thrifty with Northwest. If you are renting for longer, opt for another car rental company … Membership Rewards members can now earn points when paying insurance premiums to Geico Direct Auto Insurance. Costco, Publix Supermarkets and H-E-B Grocery Company have also signed up.