United Site Now Allows Star Alliance Award Bookings

OK, at least partially. United frequent flyers will appreciate the latest Mileage Plus site update. When searching for award travel, other Star Alliance (domestic) carriers will appear in the search results. For instance, if you are trying to book an award seat from San Jose to New York, availability for United, Continental and U.S. Airways may be displayed in the results. Previously customers had to call United directly to book seats on other airlines - which is still the case for international flights.

Ends Soon: Get $300 in coupons for future travel with a qualifying hotel stay when you book on Expedia! - Expires 6/30/10

Earn 1500 Bonus Miles By Joining U.S. Airways FF Program

For a limited time earn 1500 bonus miles by signing up for U.S. Airways frequent flyer program - Dividend Miles. Simply click here, complete the form, and you're set. Miles will appear within 48-hours. Free miles here folks - what are you waiting for? =)

Travel Tool for Star Alliance Members Booking Award Travel

By Mike Grasso

If you accrue miles with a Star Alliance carrier such as United or U.S. Airways, you probably have a goal at some point to cash in those miles. Today I'd like to recommend an amazing resource (hat off to the Flyertalk forums) I've used for quite some time enabling a quick and easy search for award seats.

First, a good reminder that you are not limited to redeeming with the airline you bank your miles with. Generally you can redeem with others within the alliance. For example, you have a mountain of miles with United Airlines which can be used on Singapore, Lufthansa, and Continental, to name a few. But how do you know award availability on these partner airlines? Often, your "sponsoring" carrier may have website limitations showing award availability of Star Alliance partners. So here's the workaround (other than just calling the airline):

-Join ANA's Mileage Club (free).

-Visit the award availability page.

-After logging in, select the "Use Star Alliance Members" button

From here, you can search award availability for most Star Alliance members worldwide. This is particularly useful when trying to build a complicated itinerary, or one in which you desire some creative routing's. This tool is good preparation, homework if you will, before contacting the airline directly to book your award ticket. Too often phone reps don't take the time to search all possible options (ie: something as simple as routing from Oakland, if no seats are available from San Francisco).

A word of caution though: Although results showing availability are generally accurate, there may be a few instances when they are not bookable. For an interesting, long discussion on this problem, read this Flyertalk forum on StarNet blocking. In sum, use the ANA award availability page as a tool in your award search, but realize occasionally availability and bookability may be slightly off from each other.

Full URL for award availability tool linked above:

https://aswbe-i.ana.co.jp/p_per/sky_ip_per_en/preAwdSearchLogin.do

Continental and Mexicana Join New Alliances Soon

Continental Airlines joins Star Alliance (United, U.S Air,et al. ) effective October 27, 2009.

Mexicana Airlines joins OneWorld (American Airlines, et al.) eff November 10, 2009.

If you have flights planned with either of these carriers, be sure you are receiving proper mileage credit in the corresponding airline/alliance program.

Earn 2,000 Bonus Miles Signing Up for U.S.Airways FF Program

Through August 31, 2009, new members who join the U.S. Airways Dividend Miles frequent flyer program and book & fly one flight, will earn a whopping 2,000 bonus miles. Promo code f109. Click here to register.

San Francisco to Tokyo/Narita $454 "All In"

HOT! Late Tuesday Air Canada released a great fare between San Francisco and Toyko (NRT) airports; just $454 roundtrip, taxes included!  We haven't seen many great fares to Asia lately, but this is definitely an exception. Books as an Air Canada Tango Plus fare, so members earn 100% Status miles. All flights connect in Vancouver. Valid for travel through June, three night minimum stay, and outbound travel Monday-Thursday only. Visit Orbitz to check availability. 

Example dates: 6/18-6/21 and 6/17-6/24

Earn Double Elite-Qualifying Miles on United Airlines

United Airlines has matched American's double elite-qualifying miles promotion earlier this week. Under the terms of the promotion, United Mileage Plus members can earn double EQM for United and United Express flights purchased and traveled now through June 15, 2009.

Registration is required prior to travel.

San Francisco to Vietnam $854 RT "All In"

From the FareCompare flight alerts Monday evening, Asiana Airlines dropped airfare from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to just $854 roundtrip, taxes included. Valid for Sunday through Thursday departures February 3 to May 4, 2009. This is a pretty good fare between San Francisco and Vietnam, which often sells for well over $1000. Asiana is part of the Star Alliance Network.

United Premier Exec Members Receive New Boarding Priority

According to an email from United, effective Wednesday, Premier Executive and Star Alliance Gold members will now enjoy an even higher level of boarding privileges when flying United.

Global Service, 1K's and First Class passengers will continue to board first, followed by Business Class, all via the Red-Carpet Lane. Then all Premier Executive and Star Alliance Gold members will be invited to board, through the main Economy lane. After all the "most valued" customers have boarded, boarding with resume beginning with Boarding Area 1 - including lower level Premier members.

The change essentially elevates the Premier Exec status to a level one notch up from Boarding Area 1, at least in terms of boarding order. This enables Premier Execs and those with equivalent access from partner airlines, to have more overhead space available, get adjusted to their seat, and simply relax, before the boarding of the masses.

United Announces 2009 Mileage Plus Changes

In a press release Monday, United announced some fairly significant changes to Mileage Plus, its frequent flyer program. Depending on your specific travel habits, you will find the changes either favorable or as yet another example of the devaluation of frequent flyer miles. 

• Restoration of 500-mile minimum accrual for elite members. This past summer United eliminated this benefit for short-distance flyPublish Posters. The policy changes is retroactive for flights dating back to July 1, 2008.


• Mileage Award Adjustments. UA will maintain the 25,000 mile requirement for economy saver tickets for flights within the U.S. But, it will increase the mileage requirement between 5,000 and 25,000 additional miles for flights between the U.S and different regions throughout the world.


• Co-Payment and reduction in miles requirement for upgrades effective July 1, 2009. If you purchase an economy class ticket, United often allows you to upgrade that flight with miles. The airline will lower that mileage requirement, but institute a co-payment of up to $500 for this benefit. Additionally, the airline will allow international upgrades, regardless of the fare class purchased. Previously, only higher cost fares were upgradeable.

10% Off Air Canada Flights When Using AMEX for Payment

Visit www.aircanada.com/seetheworld to receive 10% off your next international flight to Europe, Asia, and South America. Must take advantage of this offer before November 15th for travel between now and December 13, 2008. Valid for select city departures, including San Francisco - and you must use American Express to purchase your ticket.

What are 'Round The World' Tickets?

By Mike Grasso

'Round The World' tickets offer internationally travelers tremendous flexibility and often big savings when visiting to several destinations. Of course, it is simple enough to purchase point-to-point tickets, say San Francisco to Tokyo, Tokyo to Delhi, Delhi to Singapore, and so forth, but such one way fares often become costly. And, if you decide you are having a grand ol' time in Delhi and want to stay a few extra days, think the airline will let you escape without paying a hefty change fee? This is where 'Round The World' tickets become your traveling companion.

Each airline alliance is different, but in general, you are permitted to fly in one direction (West or East) and visit between 3 and 15 cities around the globe within a certain window of time - usually 12 months. You have some flexibility of flying to Northward or Southward destinations as well. Total mileage caps start at 26,000 miles - meaning you can fly one direction around the globe as long as your total mileage doesn't exceed 26,000 miles. The cost? Not as bad as you might think. The One World alliance quotes $3,900 for a 3 continent trip. Star Alliance at $4069 for up to 26,000 miles.

For example, using the Star Alliance online calculator, I priced San Francisco to Atlanta to Rome to Vienna to New Delhi and back to San Francisco. The total cost was $4069 in economy. In Business the fare is slightly more - only $7,880.

A key benefit to 'Round The World' tickets though is the flexibility. Other than your initial departure from San Francisco, you often need to provide the airlines little notice, as little as 24 hours, when you are ready for the next destination.

With these tickets, remember to think big and exotic. Easter Island, Africa, Tahiti, go someplace that would otherwise cost a fortune to purchase separately.

And, as if it doesn't get any better, you can earn frequent flier miles for most of your flights. Be sure to check with your alliance for a few exceptions.

Finally, we are currently living in a time where airline fees have reached uncomfortable levels. When you get a quote for a 'Round The World' ticket, be sure all international taxes and applicable airline fuel surcharges are included.

I've provided links below to the three global alliances' 'Round The World' websites.

Star Alliance

One World

SkyTeam

San Francisco to Asia flights from $789 "all in"

Pretty good deals just released for flights into Asia. If you haven't had much luck recently finding good airfares, consider repricing your ideal itinerary. Other destinations have had price reductions as well. Here are a couple inFLIGHTout confirmed deals:

• Asiana Airlines, San Francisco to Hong Kong (HKG) flights from $789 round-trip, tax included. "V" booking class.
• Northwest Airlines, San Francisco to Shanghai (PVG) $874 from round-trip, taxes included. "K" booking class.

The fares about were found for 9/2-9/9, though the low fares are available all the way through early December.

Click below (for Travelocity use the flexible date option) to search for fares.

United To Drop San Francisco to Toronto Route

The current once-daily United Airlines flight between San Francisco to Toronto, Canada (YYZ) will end come November 2nd. With the change, flyers will now need to connect in Denver or Chicago or consider flying Star Alliance partner Air Canada, which utilizes Toronto as a major hub, operating four daily non-stops between San Francisco and Toronto.

Air Canada To Drop San Francisco to Montreal Route

San Francisco to Montreal routing will soon be part of history as Air Canada has plans to discontinue the route later this Fall. The route will be discontinued on November 2nd.

San Francisco to Hong Kong $598 RT/taxes included

Hot Deal from one of the top airlines in the world - Singapore Airlines
San Francisco to Hong Kong (non-stop) $398+$200 taxes=$598
Purchase tickets by March 19th, and fly between March 24th and April 30th.
Departure travel is permitted Monday-Thursday only.
"V" class fare; typically does not earn frequent flier miles.

Three global airline alliances include 82% of the world's top 60 carriers

Oneworld 21.6% (ie: American Airlines)
Star Alliance 27% (ie: United Airlines)
SkyTeam 22.5% (ie: Northwest Airlines)
Unaligned 28.9% (ie: JetBlue)


All three airline alliances are seeking to sign carriers out of such emerging markets as China and India.

For the consumer, the added benefit may be more opportunities to earn and spend frequent flyer miles with airlines in each alliance without having to belong to each airline's frequent flyer program.
Contributing source: Business Travel News