Marriott Rewards members can now earn miles with Japan Airlines when staying at Marriott hotels and can choose to convert their Marriott Rewards points into JAL miles starting at 10,000 points for 1,500 miles …
Recent news reports cite that United Airlines is closing its call centers in India and Mexico. By the end of April, when customers call 1-800-UNITED-1, they will be directed to send emails or letters with their concerns. Customers may continue to make reservations, track lost bags or seek refunds via the phone. With this change, most of the customer service representatives will now be based in Chicago …
Aeroplan has entered into a partnership with The Futura Loyalty Group Inc. to offer members the opportunity to earn miles through more local retailers and service providers across Canada such as home furnishings, health and fitness, landscaping, catering and business services …
Southwest Airlines has announced that it will begin service to Boston Logan this fall. The start date has not been set and the airline has not released details of the destinations that will be served by non-stop flights from Boston. And although the airline is expanding to several new airports, it still plans to reduce seat capacity by approximately four percent in 2009 …
BusinessWeek reports that Virgin America’s new Boston to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco and San Francisco to Orange County, Calif. routes will be the only routes introduced this year and that the airline has only one new city planned for 2010, with no mention of the destination …
Alaska Airlines will inaugurate daily service between Seattle and Austin, Tex., starting Aug. 3, 2009. Customers can earn double miles on these flights from Aug. 3 through Oct. 15, 2009. You must register to get the miles. Alaska is also expanding its service to Hawaii, from Portland, Ore., starting Aug. 7, 2009 …
Gulfstream International Airlines has started nonstop service between Palm Beach and Tallahassee. Members of Continental OnePass can book the flights through the Continental Web site and earn miles for travel between the two cities …
India’s Jet Airways and Malaysia Airlines are now frequent flyer program partners. Members of both programs will be able to earn and burn miles on either airline …
Rumor has it that Ethiopian Airlines will apply for membership with Star Alliance in 2010 …
Frontier Airlines has joined e-Miles where members can earn EarlyReturns miles by viewing and responding to advertisements …
Delta is adding destinations available from its Salt Lake City hub including Bismarck, Des Moines, El Paso, Fargo, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville and Sioux Falls …
BusinessWeek reports that analysts say US Airways is the most vulnerable U.S.-based airline. American Airlines is also considered to be in a tough position financially while Alaska Airlines and Continental are considered to be in stronger financial positions …
Aeroplan has seen its stock plummet and with Air Canada scaling back its seat capacity, the airline is expected to buy fewer Aeroplan miles this year. As reported in the Globe and Mail, one analyst, Neil Linsdell at Versant Partners Inc., says that Aeroplan’s plans for expansion will be modest this year.
