Intelligence – November, 17 2009

Intelligence – November, 17 2009

Best Western has joined the AIR MILES Reward Program and Best Western Rewards members can now earn 20 AIR MILES per stay at Best Western locations in Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean. Register at bestwestern.com/amfall and stay by Dec. 31, 2009 to earn triple AIR MILES …

Low-cost carrier Germanwings is the newest airline partner to join Lufthansa’s Miles & More and effective Dec. 1, 2009, Miles & More members can redeem miles for award flights on Germanwings …

In 2008, American AAdvantage members redeemed more than 155 billion miles to claim more than 4.8 million awards for flights, upgrades and car rentals …

US Airways is shrinking its flight network and refocusing on its hub cities. The airline will reduce its Las Vegas flights from 64 to 36 daily departures in February 2010, eliminate all flights to Colorado Springs and Wichita and suspend international flights from Philadelphia to Birmingham, U.K.; London (Gatwick), Milan, Shannon and Stockholm. Seasonal service to Brussels and Zurich will become year-round service in late 2010 …

According to a supervisor at the American AAdvantage service center, miles will begin posting to members’ accounts within 24 hours effective Jan. 1, 2010 …

Frontier Airlines will begin daily nonstop service from Denver to New Orleans on June 15, 2010 and Louisville, April 19, 2010. Beginning in mid-January, Frontier will begin nonstop seasonal service from Oklahoma City to Orlando and Tampa …

AirTran Airways has announced several new destinations including Lexington, KY, Key West, Fla., Aruba, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Nassau, Bahamas …

Continental Airlines has recently launched new daily nonstop flights from Houston to Frankfurt, Germany, Washington (Dulles) and Edmonton, Canada …

Astral Media Radio’s advertisers can now earn Aeroplan miles when purchasing airtime and Web space on one of Astral’s 83 radio stations across Canada …

JetBlue plans to increase its operations out of Boston by 30 percent. There will be more flights to Chicago and Raleigh-Durham and there are plans to add service from Boston to San Francisco and San Diego …

We noticed this rumor on SmartMoney.com: In a recent earnings call, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly hinted that 2010 could bring fees to a revamped version of the Rapid Rewards program …

American Airlines has moved up the launch date for new service between Chicago O’Hare and Beijing. The first flight will be April 26, 2010. The date was originally May 1 but has been changed to accommodate those travelers who would like to attend China’s International Labor Day activities on May 1 …

United Airlines has announced its first-ever service to Africa starting in 2010, with one daily, same-plane service from Washington to Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria; subject to government approval …

Delta plans to eliminate another 10 percent of its flights at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport …

Groupe Aeroplan Inc. has acquired U.S.-based loyalty services provider Carlson Marketing. Both companies will continue to operate separately and independently.