Triple Mileage Mania

It seems that few people were happier to ring in the new year than most major U.S. airlines.

The arrival of 1989 meant that the airlines could, for the moment at least, call an end to many of their frequent-flier mileage promotions, limit new mileage awards and severely restrict others.

First to go in 1989: triple mileage. It began, you might remember, with a joint promotion hatched by Delta Airlines and American Express.

Last year in a mailing to its frequent fliers the airline promised that members would receive triple mileage for any Delta flight that had been charged to the member’s American Express card.

Eastern Airlines, which competes with Delta on many major routes, immediately countered with a program of its own.

If you were a member of Eastern’s One Pass mileage program and flew Eastern, the airline would award you triple mileage for your flight regardless of your matter of payment--credit card, cash, sacks of coal, whatever.

Other Versions

Once Eastern jumped in, it was only a matter of time before all major airlines had versions of a triple mileage program.

And the frequent-flier programs, already burdened with billions of unclaimed mileage awards, were now even more encumbered. A coach ticket for a 2,400-mile one-way trip to New York City, which normally would reward a frequent flier with 2,400 miles, now gave him 7,200 . . . each way.

On some airlines, if he flew first or business class, that mileage could easily soar to more than 10,000 . . . each way.

It wasn’t long before “mileagemania” became a national pastime. The airlines, clearly worried about mileage liability that was multiplying faster than they ever imagined, tried to do something to lessen the financial impact.

But the airlines were quite limited in what they could do in 1988. Airline executives remembered the famous--and ill-fated--Pan Am mileage decision.

In 1985 Pan Am tried to ease its mileage burden by informing its World Pass members that they had to use mileage awards accrued in 1984 by a specific date in 1985 or lose them. It was an unfortunate ultimatum. Thousands of Pan Am frequent fliers, who had not until then thought to use their awards, maybe at all, were suddenly determined not to lose them.

As a result, so many people cashed in their awards that Pan Am planes filled up quickly with people using free mileage tickets. It contributed greatly to one of Pan Am’s worst years on record.

Several airlines were firmly rebuffed in 1987 when they tried to change award mileage levels without notice on some popular European and Hawaiian travel awards.

Accede to a Mandate

When the carriers tried to raise the number of miles needed to qualify for certain awards, so many frequent fliers complained that the airlines (TWA, United and American) were forced to retreat to original mileage levels and accede to a mandate of the National Assn. of Attorneys General not to change eligibility or mileage award levels without proper notice (in most cases, one year). While the guidelines are not law, they identified “unacceptable” practices.

In 1989, what can the airlines do to change things?

Plenty. And most of the news isn’t good.

Here’s what has already happened in the new year:

--No more triple mileage. While some airlines have still kept bonus miles for first- and business-class travel, triple mileage has been abolished.

--Minimum mileage reductions. Until this year most major airlines awarded a minimum of 750 or 1,000 miles per flight--even when the mileage of the flight was less. Now you can expect minimum mileage credit from most airlines, including American, Continental and United,

to drop to 500 miles. (At this writing, Eastern and Delta are still giving 1,000 minimum miles per flight.)

--New route and flight blackouts. This is by far the worst of the frequent-flier award news. Airlines are restricting the number of frequent-flier awards that can be used on any one flight route, and are also controlling the times of the year that some of the awards can be used.

For example, until recently if you earned 60,000 miles on TWA you could get two free coach tickets to fly TWA to Europe and/or the Middle East. You still can, but here’s the catch: Until recently that award gave you the tickets, and with the exception of a traditional Christmas blackout period you could use the award any time.

Not any more. Now your 60,000 mileage award still gives you the tickets, but you are only eligible to use them between October and April.

Between San Francisco and Hong Kong, United has restricted its top business and/or first-class mileage awards. You can no longer fly the airline’s nonstop service. If you want to use your frequent-flier award to fly between San Francisco and Hong Kong, the airline insists that you fly via Tokyo and change planes.

American Airlines has begun a two-tier program with increased mileage award levels.

Plan Ahead Program

For example, fewer miles are required for those passengers who can plan their trips well in advance and during slow traffic periods. Only 40,000 miles are needed to get two free domestic coach round-trip tickets within the continental United States under the American “Plan Ahead” program. At other times, the same tickets require 80,000 miles.

Some carriers, including American, have announced that mileage earned after July 1 by its frequent fliers can be carried for only three years. After that the passenger loses those miles.

But not all the news is bleak. Remember, the airlines want to unload their massive mileage liability and even these new, more restrictive programs may not be enough to do the trick.

Some airlines are beginning to offer other mileage deals to entice frequent fliers to cash in.

Some airlines, such as TWA, are looking at combination mileage/ merchandise awards. What you could have, for example, is a set of luggage discounted to $100 and 50,000 miles.

Other airlines are beginning to offer discount vacation packages for mileage.

One offer from American, effective until April 27, offers a five-night vacation in Singapore, transportation on Singapore Airlines, a hotel, two tours and airport transfers for $799 plus 10,000 miles per person (based on double occupancy). Flights leave from Los Angeles or San Francisco.

For those needing connecting flights to the West Coast, the same deal is offered for $799 and 22,000 miles per person (single occupancy is also offered for $894). The deal offers side trips to Penang ($235), Bangkok ($270) or Bali ($364).

Limited Mileage Bonuses

The other good news is that not all frequent-flier promotion mileage is dead. As each airline begins new service (or routes), look for limited mileage bonuses. When American opened its hub in San Jose, bonus miles were offered. (United countered with bonuses for those flying through airports such as Oakland.)

And, in a few highly competitive markets, some mileage wars are still being fought. For those triple-mileage junkies going through withdrawal symptoms, head north. In Canada the major carriers are slugging it out.

Canadian Airlines International and Air Canada are offering sextuple mileage--that’s right, six times normal mileage--in an effort to land passengers and battle Wardair, another Canadian carrier that started the battle when it began offering quadruple mileage.

Perhaps the best remaining frequent-flier mileage deal belongs to Virgin Atlantic Airways, which flies between London’s Gatwick Airport and Newark and Miami in the United States.

It rewards passengers flying in its “upper class” section with free one-way coach tickets on future flights for each upper class ticket bought. The tickets are restricted only to space available on the plane, and can be used by the passenger, his family or his friends.