The Ticket Newsletter

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NEW PLANE. AirTran is now flying the first of 100 new Boeing 737's it recently ordered at a cost of nearly $45 million per plane. The 137-seat aircraft (125 coach and 12 business class seats) will allow the carrier to phase out the older, leased Airbus planes it has been using for long-distance west coast runs. Eventually, AirTran will have an all-Boeing fleet of both 717's and 737's. Speaking of an all-Boeing fleet, later this summer, AirTran will stop using those 50-seat JetConnect RJ's in short haul markets. Frequencies on these routes may decline but flights should be more comfortable on the larger planes. Check out AirTran's new livery (paint job) below. The most noticeable change is the new white fuselage, a clean departure from that funky beige. Like it or don't like it? Let us know what you think. (See Frequent Flyer News below for info on new A-Plus Reward travel to Australia, or anywhere else in the world.)

AirTran's new Boeing 737-700 with new livery, will soon go into service on the ATL-LAX run.

CAPITAL IDEA. If you've got business or vacation plans in the DC area, there's never been a cheaper time to go, especially if you are willing to fly into Dulles Airport. (Downside: the airport is 40 minutes from downtown DC.) With the launch of Dulles-based Independence Air, which says it will have 16 daily RJ round trips between Dulles and ATL by August, Delta (also using some RJ's) has bumped up frequencies to hourly, and matched IA's lowest fares of $79 each way. Delta’s flights from Atlanta to Washington-Dulles will begin at 7:15 a.m. and depart hourly at 15 minutes past the hour, with the last flight departing Atlanta at 10:15 p.m. On the return, flights depart on the hour from 6 am to 9 pm. In the meantime, AirTran will add a fourth daily non-stop to Reagan National Airport on July 1.

TRUST ME. The TSA has announced that it will test its long-awaited "trusted traveler" program for those who submit to a thorough pre-screening to bypass long security lines. The pilot program involves 5000 to 10,000 members of airline frequent flyer programs (nominated by airlines) who take more than two trips per month. Unfortunately, ATL is not part of the pilot program. But we should not feel TOO left out. THE TICKET did a little digging and found that "trusted travelers" are still required to go through the same shoes-off, computer-out-of-your-bag drill—all they get is a card that allows them to get to the front of the line quicker. The screening process (at least in the testing stage) is identical to what you get if you are an elite level flyer at ATL right now. TSA will be launching the pilot in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport later this month. In late July, it will add LAX. In early August, Houston (IAH) starts up. By the end of August, Boston Logan and Reagan Washington National will join in the test.

FIRST COMES TUMBLING DOWN. Prodded into action by our recent NEWSBITE, TICKET readers jumped on the chance to buy first class tickets on AirTran and Delta at HUGE discounts during a recent sale. As a matter of fact, TICKET readers bought nearly $30,000 in Delta tickets in the two days after we sent out the alert! Other airlines are slowly realizing that sensible prices can fill up those big seats at a premium—Continental just announced that it's offering all first class seats from Newark to SFO, LAX and San Diego for just $499 each way.

STILL DROPPING LIKE FLIES. Two more high profile execs have joined the parade of departures from Delta. SkyMiles manager Rob Borden has left the carrier—Borden is credited with the recent changes that reward SkyMiles members more based on the money they spend than the miles they fly. Also, Delta Song spokesperson Stacy Geagan recently followed Delta president Fred Reid to the newly formed Virgin America. The new carrier has announced that its corporate HQ will be in New York City (in SoHo, natch) but that its main hub will be at San Francisco International. Stay tuned. This will be fun to watch.

UNITED LOSES ANOTHER ROUND. For the second time since United entered bankruptcy, the feds have rejected United Airlines plea for $1.6 billion in loan guarantees. Since this loan guarantee was a key part of United's turnaround plan, travelers should brace for more radical changes and cut backs. Scary stuff—however, many observers feel the carrier can still survive the snub. However, low fare carriers are jumping into United strongholds at SF International (Virgin America) and Washington-Dulles (Independence Air).

SPEAKING OF RADICAL CHANGES. "While the situation is extremely serious and I cannot minimize that, the marketplace has just simply undergone a fundamental, structural and permanent change and we recognize it," said Delta's CEO at a transportation conference in New York. Could that mean that Delta is about to undergo a fundamental, structural and permanent change? Stay tuned. The company's top-to-bottom audit results are due in September and the proof will be in the pudding.

ROCKY MTN HIGH. Delta will once again offer winter season nonstops from ATL to Jackson Hole, Steamboat Springs, Vail and Crested Butte (via Dallas using an RJ into Gunnison). The flights will operate from Dec. 18, 2004, until April 2, 2005. Now's the time to redeem SkyMiles for these trips.

CARIBE. Delta will begin nonstop service between Atlanta and Belize on December 11 with a single B737 flight each Saturday. Delta is also increasing its service between Atlanta and Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, to year-round, daily service starting Sept. 15.

DOING THE BUMP. Delta's ASA and Comair lead the pack when it comes to bumping passengers. In the latest DOT report, the two carriers reported bumping three to four times as many passengers as the industry average ( just over one passenger per 1000). ASA was also the carrier most likely to lose your luggage.

SO LONG DELTA RJ's? Bloomberg reports that Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein enjoyed a "rousing applause'' from pilots at meetings in April when he criticized previous management's use of the regional jet, saying it was an inferior product on longer routes. In addition, JP Morgan airline analyst Jamie Baker said, "Delta is revisiting its commitment to 50-seaters and in our opinion would probably like fewer than are currently on order." Delta has the largest RJ fleet of any major carrier.

SONG FLIES ATL TO TPA & LAS. For operational needs Delta is flying a spare Song-branded Boeing 757 aircraft on two daily roundtrip flights – ATL-Tampa and ATL-Las Vegas for the month of June. The flights will operate with Delta flights numbers, depart from Delta gates and be staffed by Delta flight attendants. The two flights provide the full complement of Song’s entertainment: 24 channels of free - live, satellite television; audio programming and an interactive video game. Plus, shaken cocktails and in-flight food for sale will be available for sale on the LAS segments. (Thanks to reader Bob Neil for tipping us off to this newsy nugget.)

CHOO. On July 1, ASA will add an additional round-trip RJ flight (operating Sundays through Thursdays) between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tenn.

NEW HANGAR. Have you seen AirTran's new hangar? It's located next to the old Eastern Airlines hangar between the runways and I-85—look for the big white tarp roof.

AIR TRAVEL: THE BEST OF TIMES OR THE WORST OF TIMES? Check out TICKET Editor Chris McGinnis's recent CNN.com column and decide for yourself.

JULY 16: Write it down. Get ready. The Airport Big Dig is on. Starting on July 16, ATL officials will radically change the way autos enter the so SOUTH terminal pick up/drop off lanes. Curbside check in booths will be relocated to the third level of the parking deck. The detours (through the short term parking decks) are necessary while the airport builds new rooms for bomb detection machines underneath the airport roadways. Our advice: use the NORTH terminal for airport pickup and drop off until the construction is over—in late 2005! Upside? The baggage screening equipment which currently clogs the ticketing area will be move underground. And the canopy covering the passenger pick up and drop of area will be extended another 20 feet.

SOLDIER CITY. The army is now using ATL as the first stop for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan on R&R, so expect to see

more boots and camo the next time you are there. QUESTION TO READERS: Have you ever approached a soldier and asked where he was coming from or what it's like over there? TO SOLDIERS PAST AND PRESENT: How would you like civilians to treat you when you are at the airport? Do you want to talk, or just be left alone? LET US KNOW what you are thinking about this and we'll get it in the next issue!

SEATTLE: SeaTac airport opened a fab new terminal, which will now house Delta operations. All Delta gates now have the plasma screen flight info display units. A new Crown Room club near gates 11 and 12 offers T-Mobile high speed Wi-Fi, dataports and a conference room.

MONDAY MORNING WARNING. By now, everyone has heard about the awful delays at security checkpoints at Hartsfield, and they are only expected to get worse as the peak summer travel season unfolds. In many cases, the airport will open up ALL lines, including those normally reserved for elite frequent travelers, to everyone. BEST ADVICE: Avoid early Monday morning departures like the plague. Just don't do it. Or fly out Sunday night, or drive. Although the TSA says that it will hire additional screeners to meet demand, don't count on it making much difference. The only other day that is bad for morning departures it SATURDAY—when the airport fills with those taking last minute weekend trips.

PEAK TRAVEL TIME. Beware of the MONDAY and TUESDAY (July 5&6) after Independence Day weekend as well as the Tuesday (Sept 7) after Labor Day Weekend. Morning gridlock is almost a certainty.

CROWDS ARE BACK. Expect Hart-Jack parking lots to fill up fast as the peak summer travel season approaches. ALWAYS call on your way to the airport to determine if you need to park in off-site lots. 404-530-6725, then press 2 for an automated update.

RISKY BIZ? From TICKET reader Eric Ericson "The lines at the security checkpoint at the Atlanta airport are a big security risk. Can you imagine the number of dead and injured if someone detonated a bomb in the lines before the security check? Either a suicide bomber or someone just leaving a bag there. There are probably thousands of people on Monday or Tuesday morning lining up for the security check. I always feel very uncomfortable waiting there. But I assume the authorities have already thought of all this and considered it safe as it is?"

CONSISTENCY? From TICKET reader Dave Skotarski: "Do you have any idea as to when all airports will follow the same rules for screening? This past weekend on my return trip from West Palm Beach I was told I had to remove my sneakers to pass through security and my wife had to remove her sandals (the soles were not very thick). When I asked the screener why, he said those were the rules." Response from THE TICKET: Consistency is a big problem with the TSA and supposedly it is working on making the rules/procedures more uniform-- however, they say that they leave some discretion up to the screeners when it comes to shoe removal.

Having a tough time redeeming those SkyMiles? You are not alone. See the MAILBAG at the end of this issue for your feedback on this subject!

BREAKING NEWS: Later this month, AirTran will add some sweet new redemption opportunities for high flyers in its A-Plus Rewards program.

· For 50 credits AirTran will buy you one coach roundtrip ticket on any airline from any AirTran Airways city to any other city not served by AirTran Airways in Hawaii, Mexico, or Canada (AirTran buys your ticket on another carrier, so there's little problem with blackouts or sellouts).

· For 100 credits, AirTran will buy you one coach roundtrip ticket on any airline from any AirTran Airways city to any other city not served by AirTran Airways anywhere in the world – e.g. Air France to Paris, QANTAS to Sydney. (In an ironic twist, this means that when AirTran buys your ticket on say, Delta, you'll also earn SkyMiles for your AirTran reward flight.)

· Also, for 100 credits you can get a free companion pass for one year (take someone with you for free each time, and you can change that person once each quarter). Also new, Elite level members can transfer flight credits to anyone, anytime.

DELTA HIGH FLYERS GET SOME, TOO. SkyMiles Medallion members earning 40,000, 75,000 or 125,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) by the end of this year can select from a menu of benefits that may include (depending on your mileage balance): Up to 45,000 bonus miles, Silver or Gold Medallion status for a friend or family member, Crown Room day passes, discounted SkyChoice awards and up to a 150 percent mileage bonus for qualifying flight activity in the first quarter of 2005. Not bad. For more info, see www.delta.com/medallionoptions

TRANSFER BONUS. American Express and Delta are offering members who convert their AMEX points into SkyMiles before July 15 a 15-percent bonus. As usual, you've gotta sign up for the program here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! AWARD TRAVEL 2005. Having problems redeeming those miles for summer trips? Start thinking about NEXT summer. To get first dibs on the best award seats, it pays to book as early as possible—specifically 331 days before your desired travel dates when Delta enters the seats into its reservation system, and you'll be first in line.

DOUBLE MILES. Don't forget that from June 15 through July 15 Delta/Amex SkyMiles cardholders can earn double miles on all eligible retail, restaurant and entertainment purchases. To get the bonus, you must first enroll here: www.americanexpress.com/deltaenroll by July 15.

CASH VALUE. Independence Air, the upstart at Washington Dulles is basing its frequent flyer program solely on dollars spent, NOT miles flown. Members earn on point per dollar spent on airline tickets, taxes and fees. Spend $1500 and you get a free trip to any destination within 1500 miles of home.

For trips beyond that, you need to first spend $3000 to earn the 3000 points needed. See www.flyi.com

HHONORS CHOICES. From July 1 through December 31, 2004, Hilton HHonors members can choose from three different ways to Double Dip. If you tend to have longer stays, you should elect Points & Variable Miles - 10 HHonors Base points plus one airline mile per eligible dollar spent during your stay. If you are on a quick trip, select the current Double Dip offer of 10 HHonors Base points plus 500 miles per stay (100 miles at Hampton Inn). Or if you just want Hilton points, you should choose 10 HHonors Base points plus five bonus points per eligible dollar spent.

The AJC recently said that this north metro N'awlins outpost has "perfect beignets and café au lait plus classic Creole dishes..." Check out this month’s “Taste” and see if our fearless taste-tester agrees in her latest dispatch from the Hotlanta food scene. See the TASTE OF THE TICKET

PARIS. The recent collapse of terminal 2E at Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport may have you wondering where you'll dock after your next flight across the pond. TICKET reader Joel DeRoy just returned from Paris with this report: "The Delta flights into and out of Paris have reverted to their old terminal, the 2C, and the old business lounge in 2C. As a result, you now have to board a shuttle, both to and from the airplane over to the Terminal because of a lack of available gates... The whole of 2E is currently closed to the traveling public, including check-in, business lounge, etc..." Delta says that its ticket counter at CDG is now located in the center of Terminal 2C between terminal entrances 5 and 6. There is a departure lounge at 2C, but the arrivals lounge is CLOSED. (This is all a shame since arriving at the brilliant 2E was quite impressive—it's also a big blow to SkyTeam's grand plans for CDG.)

AMSTERDAM. In March, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (now a SkyTeam member) announced plans to re-enter the Atlanta market during the third quarter of 2004. KLM is scheduled to resume operations at ATL with a daily roundtrip between Atlanta and Amsterdam beginning Sunday, Oct. 31.

NICE DISCOUNTS. During summer when business travelers stay home, hotels that normally cater to the briefcase-toting crowd lower their rates to stay full. For example, now through Sept. 5, you can get into InterContinental's most luxurious hotels in big city destinations like Madrid, Rome, and San Francisco at low rates that include breakfast for two and a late check-out. The Luxury Escapes rate begins at $99 a night for New Orleans. Other deals include: Bangkok, from $130; Budapest, from $135; Los Cabos, from $140; Vienna, from $163. For participating cities and hotels, visit www.intercontinental.com/luxuryescapes.

PRIORITY CLUB REWARDS. Through Aug. 31, Priority Club members get double points or miles for every stay at InterContinental Hotels Group properties (InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge and Candlewood Suites) worldwide, beginning with the second stay. During this same period, members earn 500 extra bonus points for every reservation booked online through www.priorityclub.com or any of the brand Web sites when that reservation is paid for with a Visa card.

MARRIOTT REWARDS has reduced (by up to 33%) the number of points needed to bunk at some very popular destinations. All Marriott PointSaver hotels are discounted one category. For example, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort is a category 5 hotel and usually requires 25,000 Marriott Reward points for one night but with Summer PointSavers, it can be redeemed for category 4 points, 20,000 Marriott Reward points. Awards may be booked now, and stays must take place between July 1 and Sept. 30. For participating properties, see the Member Specials section of www.marriottrewards.com

HEY SLEEPYHEAD. Radisson says that it switch out 90,000 regular mattresses and replace them with the famed Sleep Number mattress between now and 2006 (249 hotels in North America should have them by the end of this year). Currently, Sleep Number beds are available in select rooms at Radisson hotels in Minneapolis, Chicago, Moline, Miami, Cleveland, Augusta, Ga, Corning, N.Y, Research Triangle Park, N.C., San Antonio and Palm Beach, Aruba. Ask for one!

VACATIONING W/ KIDS? Now through Sept. 6, parents receive a voucher worth up to $24 ($12 per person maximum) at a Holiday Inn restaurant each night of their hotel stay when booking the "Dinner's On Us" rate. Parents that pay with an American Express card get a SpongeBob SquarePants plush toy for their child at check-in.

GAS PRICES/BIZ TRAVEL: Runzheimer International, the company that determines the IRS per- mile driving rate has this to say about gas prices: "We do not expect gasoline prices to drop to lower levels quickly. Worldwide fear of supply disruption, summer driving demands, environmental requirements, and increased demands from business - in general will continue to keep gasoline prices high. Although prices may dip slightly in July, we anticipate continued volatile pricing across the country with August and September prices potentially reaching an all time high." What can businesses do to fairly manage drivers reimbursement needs? "It helps to understand that with a vehicle producing 20 miles-per-gallon, it takes a 20-cent increase in fuel prices to generate another one cent-per-mile in costs. This means $1.00 more for every 100 miles driven, or $5.00 for every 500 miles driven. Most organizations are doing their best to be fair with business drivers, but it is difficult to keep up with the changes taking place with fuel prices unless there is a standing company policy to follow." Runzheimer does not expect the current 37.5-cent IRS mileage rate to be adjusted until January 2005. More info:http://www.runzheimer.com/corpc/news/scripts/060904.asp

LAS VEGAS. MGM recently bought Mandalay for $7 billion, making it the largest player in Sin City's high-end market. The company's combined roster of well-known hotels

now includes: Luxor, Bellagio, Mirage, Treasure Island, New York-New York, Mandalay Bay, Excalibur, Monte Carlo and MGM Grand. (Stephen Wynn, who sold the Bellagio and Mirage to MGM in 2000, is now building a mammoth $2.5 billion resort on the north end of the strip called Wynn Las Vegas.)

TURN IT OFF. Starting July 1 drivers in New Jersey and the District of Columbia face a $100 fine for talking on wireless phones without using hands-free devices. A similar law is already on the books in New York State.

PRICEY PAPER. If you aren't one of the millions who get it free under your hotel room door, USA Today has announced that its newsstand price will rise to 75 cents from 50 cents on Sept. 7. It's the newspaper's first price increase in 19 years.

If you are cutting and pasting COPYRIGHTED information from THE TICKET into your internal publications, we ask that you do the right thing and credit your source with the following line:
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Each time you click on an airline website link, button or banner ad from this newsletter or elsewhere on our site, and end up buying a ticket, we earn a few dollars. (Same web sites, same online booking bonus miles, just a different way of getting there!) Each time you want to visit an airline site, do so via a link from this newsletter or via our portal page.

Your thoughtful responses to our query last month in THE TICKET regarding your ease/difficulty redeeming SkyMiles award seats at the lower SkySaver rate.

BOOK EARLY/BOOK LATE. As an insider from Delta Reservations I KNOW for a fact that Delta allocates very few seats per aircraft for award travel. However, the closer they get to the departure date if they have seats available that have not been sold they will at that time allocate more seats into FF award seats. Trouble is if you don't book your award seats at least 15 days in advance they whack you with a $50 last minute booking service charge. You just can't win. –Anon

NO PROBS. Delta has never let me down on requests for SkyMiles redemption free travel. --J Donovan

BLUE MONDAYS. The strategy is obvious – no blackouts or restrictions; no seats available when you really want to use them - not even a few. Delta has a huge mileage liability and continues to sell additional miles with credit cards and various promotions. Only one way to reduce the liability – make everyone who flies on anything other than a blue Monday use double miles. --G Nathan

331 DAYS? I have been unable to find award tickets on Delta to anywhere at any time. I've used alternate airports, varied my travel days, and started looking 331 days out; NOTHING! Skymiles or Skychoice awards, it doesn't matter, they don't exist. --RL Ramus, DDS

DOUBLE MILES. I have only been able to redeem miles for the SkyChoice tickets over the past 6-9 months. Of course, these are 2X miles and it's akin to Delta doubling the redemption miles required for frequent fliers. I'm a Million Miler and Platinum for 8 years in a row. It's almost impossible to get SkySaver redemptions on flights - it's like Delta is holding its frequent travelers hostage on redeeming miles. --M Willey

INSIDER INFO? I happen to know someone that works for Delta and inquired as to why so much difficulty. Even if I try to book 331 days ahead, I am having great difficulty. I asked if the American Express SkyMiles card was causing some of the difficulty. This person told me that Delta considers the SkyMiles seats as Zero revenue and therefore the seats never replenish automatically. Delta's competitor American considers Advantage seats as a lower class fared ticket and therefore a dollar value is assigned and the inventory can be adjusted automatically. In addition, the American Express SkyMiles program is a $1billion a year business for Delta. For anyone that does not know what that means for Delta, it means that Delta receives a percentage of the purchases that are made on this card for awarding mileage. That percent is likely 2% or greater ($20 million). I am told that there are far fewer seats today to redeem with SkyMiles than ever before. There should have been $20 million worth of seats that were bought and paid for by American Express program loaded into the system and then the usual seats that are loaded from frequent flyers at a minimum. Now both Continental and Northwest frequent flyers have access to these free seats as well. Yielding even less seats for Delta's flyers. --RJ Schlitt.

50,000 MILES PLEASE. I was trying to book four award seats using Delta's D111 ticket certificates which I had in hand back in January. The ATL-SLC trip was for July 2-10 using 767's. Back in January, there were over 200 empty seats on the flights according to Delta's website. Yet, amazingly enough, there were no SkySaver inventory seats available. When I called the SkyMiles desk to inquire, they promptly informed me that there were plenty of SkyChoice seats in inventory and they would cost me 50,000 miles each instead of the 25,000 each that I was expecting. –B Poole

USE 'EM WHILE YOU CAN. I have been saving miles for years for a rainy day and last year I needed to get to Reno and there were just no cheap flights. I looked at every routing I could find about 5 months in advance and finally decided to just use the 25,000 miles. Delta told me that it would cost 50,000. I decided to go ahead and do it as I didn't know how long they would honor the miles anyway. --J Robertson

TICKET ED SUCCEEDS. I must say that after reading your emails, I was skeptical when I set out to book a trip to Costa Rica for this coming August. However, I was able to get the SkySaver rate of 60,000 miles for first class—on the exact flights and days I requested, on my first call. (And the agent was friendly and attentive.) –C McGinnis (your editor!)

PLEASE JOIN IN and provide us with your questions, observations and comments about your travel experiences or topics in this issue! Send your questions and comments to us at ticketatl@travelskills.com and look for your postings in the NEXT issue of THE TICKET.

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