Intelligence – February, 26 2003

Intelligence – February, 26 2003

US Airways and GlobalPass have gone their separate ways. Members of either program can no longer earn reciprocal miles on US Airways or GlobalPass flights. If you were planning on redeeming an award through the partnership, you have until the end of the year … Delta SkyMiles has withdrawn from the Hilton HHonors Rewards Exchange program … Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan has added Cathay Pacific Airways to its list of program partners. Mileage Plan members can now earn one mile for each mile flown on Cathay Pacific, plus a 25-percent bonus for business class and a 50-percent bonus for first class. Later this spring, members also will be able to redeem miles for travel on Cathay Pacific … This one falls under the “attention to detail” category — an angry customer, who had discovered that he would not qualify for elite status under his program’s new rules, wrote to the airline asking to be upgraded based on his past loyalty and various other (perfectly sound) reasons. The airline responded, explaining (again, for perfectly sound reasons) why such an upgrade was impossible. Frustrated, the angry customer noted the name of the representative who’s signature adorned the correspondence and, in the process, was amused to find a tag line reminding him to vote for the program for a Freddie Award … Finnair Plus has joined up with Hilton HHonors. Finnair Plus members now get 500 points per night at qualifying rates when staying at Hilton hotels and presenting their Finnair Plus card at check-in … The San Jose Mercury news reports that when United Airlines declared bankruptcy and withdrew its major sponsorship of Cinequest, the San Jose film festival, organizers were worried. United had previously picked up the bill for flying in directors and actors — a fairly important contingent for a film festival. “But festival boosters have stepped in to take up that slack,” reports Cinequest’s Jens Hussey. “They’re donating their extra or unused frequent flyer miles to bring in the filmmakers who otherwise couldn’t afford it.” … Air New Zealand has expanded its current code-sharing relationship with Air Canada to include seating on Air Canada flights between Los Angeles and four Canadian cities. Air Canada will code share on all Air New Zealand’s services between Auckland and Los Angeles and on those between Sydney and Los Angeles. The announcement came on the heels of United’s announcement that it would pull out of New Zealand by the end of this month … Speaking of Kiwis, Air New Zealand has also partnered with Asiana Airlines. Airpoints members will be able to earn and redeem Airpoints on Asiana.