Airlines Unveil New Frequent Flier Programs

The airlines’ battle for passengers took a new turn Friday when carriers announced special travel awards for frequent fliers.

“The airlines have bled themselves dry with the fare wars,” said Randy Petersen, editor and publisher of Inside Flyer, a newsletter covering frequent flier programs. “This is an effort to stop costing themselves real money.”

The carriers haven’t used frequent flier programs recently to stimulate business, Petersen said. Now, they’re making up for lost time.

United on Thursday announced a new program that offers two free Connoisseur Class round-the-world tickets to passengers who make 25 round-trip flights on the airline over the next two months.

Through Dec. 18 this year, passengers earn credits for round-trip tickets--one credit for each economy fare and two for a first or Connoisseur class ticket.

* Four bonus credits earn one free economy round-trip within the continental United States or four 1,000-mile upgrade certificates.

* Seven bonus credits earn one free economy class round-trip between the continental United States and Hawaii, Europe, the Caribbean or Latin America, or eight 1,000-mile upgrade certificates.

* Eleven bonus credits count toward one free economy class round-trip between the United States and Asia or the South Pacific, or twelve 1,000-mile upgrade certificates.

On Friday, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and USAir all announced award programs of their own. Like United, the awards are in addition to regular miles earned through airline frequent flier programs.

Continental said it announced a similar program to members of its frequent flier program, OnePass, in August. Trans World Airlines and Northwest Airlines said they were studying the offers.

American will award one certificate good for one free coach class ticket for travel within or between the continental United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean for every 10 flight segments or 12,000 miles flown.

Two award certificates can be redeemed for one round-trip coach class ticket to Hawaii, Europe, Latin America or Japan. All the special awards must be used between Feb. 1, 1993 and May 31, 1993.

USAir’s bonus awards are similar to American’s, although they are good for travel between Jan. 15 of next year and May 15. They are also subject to blackout dates and capacity controls, the airline said.

Under Delta’s program, two award certificates will be given for eight segments traveled. One will be good for a domestic upgrade, two for one free coach ticket in North America or an upgrade to Europe or Asia.

With four certificates, a passenger earns a coach ticket to Hawaii, Europe or Asia; with six, a business-class ticket to Europe or Asia and with eight, a first-class ticket to Europe or Asia.

Like American, Delta award tickets are valid February through May of next year.

Fall season is traditionally the slowest for the airlines, which have lost billions of dollars in the last two years of recession.

And airlines have said they expect this summer’s fare wars will mean large losses in the third quarter, usually their best.