Frequent-flier programs offering less for more

ByJoe Brancatelli

The new reality — you’ll pay more and get less: The current airline crisis has led the carriers to reexamine their
frequency programs and they’ve decided to charge us new fees and give
us fewer freebies. It’s the way of things, unfortunately. Two notable
devaluations have come from Continental and Alaska Airlines. Effective
mid-August, Continental OnePass has increased fees, including those for
award changes and redeposits; awards claimed within 21 days of
departure; and the upgrade co-pay. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines announced
substantial changes to Mileage Plan beginning November 1. The basic
award will rise 5,000 miles to 25,000 miles and there will be a $25 fee
for claiming an award on a partner airline. Most importantly, Alaska is
switching to a three-tier award structure. The new top level, Full
Flex, will be unrestricted, but awards will require substantially more
miles than ever before. And Northwest Airlines is adding a $25-$100 fee
for the privilege of claiming a WorldPerks award. Northwest claims the
fees are a fuel surcharge and take effect with awards claimed beginning
on September 15.

AIRPORT REPORT

Big changes at the airline club lounges: United Airlines says it will shutter four more Red Carpet Clubs by
October 10. Gone will be the lounges in Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington,
Dallas/Fort Worth and Minneapolis. Speaking of airport lounges, the
Priority Pass program has added two dozen more clubs, including three Delta Crown Rooms at New York/Kennedy and one in Atlanta. Also new to
the network: the American Admirals clubs in Honolulu; Santiago, Chile;
Bogota, Colombia; and Panama. … British Airways says that its
remaining flights to London’s Heathrow Airport from North America will
switch to Terminal 5 on October 22. The move from Terminal 4 affects
flights from Boston; Calgary; Denver; Montreal; and Seattle. …
Advantage Rent A Car has opened a car rental location on West 63rd Street
near Chicago’s Midway Airport. … JetBlue Airways says it will slash
its capacity by about 10 percent this fall and doesn’t expect to grow
at all next year. Most notable casualty: All of itsflights to Ontario,
California.

NEED TO KNOW

On-the-road intelligence to help you travel smarter: The Big Six domestic airlines all own a piece of a new company
called Sojern. What’s it mean to you? Advertising on boarding passes
you print. Delta is already using the system on some routes. Sojern
says you’ll still be able to print your boarding pass on a single page
if you desire. … … Go!, the Hawaiian inter-island carrier owned by
Mesa, now charges $10 to check a first bag. … Northwest Airlines is
also piling on the new fees: It becomes the fourth of the Big Six to
charge $15 for the first checked bag. Also upped: the change fee,which
is now $150 for domestic tickets. … Speaking of baggage charges,
Delta Air Lines said again late in July that it would not impose a
first-bag fee. … Egyptair has joined the Star Alliance. … US Airways says it will remove the in-flight entertainment units from its
longer-haul domestic aircraft.