{"id":172,"date":"2008-12-31T10:26:06","date_gmt":"2008-12-31T16:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/12\/delta-northwest-to-merge-frequent-flier-programs\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T13:45:27","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T19:45:27","slug":"delta-northwest-to-merge-frequent-flier-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/12\/delta-northwest-to-merge-frequent-flier-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Delta, Northwest to merge frequent flier programs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"airline<\/a> By Joe Brancatelli<\/em><\/p>\n

MILEAGE METER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Delta Lining Up SkyMiles and WorldPerks Before the Mileage Merger<\/strong>: Delta Air Lines<\/strong><\/a>, which gobbled up Northwest Airlines<\/strong><\/a> this year, is moving to absorb Northwest’s WorldPerks program into Delta’s SkyMiles plan, too. The official mileage merger won’t hit until late next year, but a few changes become effective immediately. Most notably, SkyMiles<\/strong> will allow members to qualify for elite status with segments<\/strong> as well as miles. Silver Medallion will require 25,000 miles or 30 segments; the Gold level will require 50,000 miles or 60 segments; and Platinum will need 75,000 miles or 100 segments. Meanwhile, WorldPerks will adopt a three-tier award structure that mimics the SkyMiles award chart. And both SkyMiles and WorldPerks will offer a minimum of 500 miles for each segment flown. \u2026 Holders of American Express cards tied to the Hilton HHonors and Delta SkyMiles programs take note: Amex has changed how it awards points and miles for many purchases. The result? Lower earnings for most non-travel categories.<\/p>\n

AIRPORT REPORT<\/strong><\/p>\n

More Perks, More Amenities, More Greenies<\/strong>: A pay-per-visit lounge called reLAX<\/strong> has opened in the Bradley International terminal at Los Angeles International Airport<\/strong><\/a> (LAX). The entry fee ($10-$35, depending on length of stay) covers club access; snacks and beverages; and free Internet. \u2026 Heineken has opened its first bar in the United States at Newark Airport<\/strong><\/a>. The so-called Heineken Lounge<\/strong> is located in Terminal C. \u2026 Starwood Preferred Guest<\/strong> and Clear<\/strong>, the sputtering airport-security "line cut" program, have struck a deal. Platinum level members will receive a free year of membership and other members will receive three free months if they enroll in the $199-a-year Clear plan. \u2026 A 169-room Hilton Garden Inn<\/strong> has opened at the airport in Liberia, Costa Rica<\/strong>. Liberia is the closest airport to the increasingly popular Guanacaste Peninsula.<\/p>\n

CAR TALK<\/strong><\/p>\n

Car Sharing is the New Car Rental<\/a><\/strong>: Everyone’s heard of Zipcar, the urban car-sharing service — and so has Hertz, the world’s leading car-rental company. Hertz<\/strong> is beginning its own car-sharing club in New York<\/strong>, London<\/strong> and Paris<\/strong>. The program, Connect By Hertz, has an annual membership fee and hourly rental rates start at about $8.50. \u2026 Speaking of Hertz, the car-rental giant has changed its refueling policy. Instead of the old plan — the market rate for the gasoline plus a flat $6.99 service fee — Hertz has reverted to a much-disliked policy: charging as much as $7.50 for each gallon it pumps into the vehicle you’ve just returned. The best way to avoid the high price? Fill up at a nearby station outside the airport before youreturn your car. \u2026 Advantage Rent-A-Car<\/strong> has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed almost half of its locations. \u2026 The mixed-blessing of "consolidated rental facilities" — one big building that houses all car rental<\/strong> firms at an airport — has been gaining ground in recent years. But the trend has run smack into the financial realities of the credit crunch. The first casualty? Seattle\/Tacoma<\/strong><\/a> has suspended work on its $400 million consolidated rental center. \u2026 The Internal Revenue Service has set the 2009 per-mile driving rate at 55 cents<\/strong>. That means you can deduct 55 cents for each mile of business-travel driving you do.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n