New US Airways To Upgrade Frequent Flyer Program
Following their recently completed merger, America West and US Airways in early 2006 will combine their existing frequent flyer programs into a relaunched US Airways Dividend Miles program. In the interim, reciprocal mileage accrual and redemption went into effect this month, giving America West customers access to US Airways' East Coast network and transatlantic destinations, and providing US Airways customers with access to AWA's western network, including Hawaiian and
Mexican destinations.
The new program will not require any Saturday-night stay requirements—unlike the legacy US Airways program—but does include a 25,000-mile threshold for basic domestic roundtrip reward redemption, which is higher than the minimum redemption level in either previous program.
The airlines also have integrated their airport club programs by bringing AWA's Las Vegas and Phoenix facilities into the US Airways club
network. A new US Airways club is being built in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, America West and British Airways announced the timetable for the phase-out of their partnership. The two airlines had maintained a relationship for a decade, but AWA's merger with US Airways brought it into the Star Alliance, a rival to British Airways' Oneworld alliance. Codeshare flights will end Oct. 29, while reciprocal frequent flyer mileage accrual will cease at the end of the year. Reciprocal frequent flyer reward redemption will continue to January 2007.
Southwest To Make Alterations
Other significant loyalty program adjustments are set to take effect next year at Southwest Airlines. The carrier altered its Rapid Rewards program to include an extended expiration date, making credits valid for 24 months, up from the traditional 12-month window. Southwest also will eliminate all blackout dates, effective Feb. 10,2006.
However, as part of these program changes, Southwest on Feb. 10 will retreat from its longstanding policy of providing an award as long as a seat is available on the requested flight. Like
most other major carriers, Southwest will use seat restrictions to limit the number of award seats available. "You may find it more difficult to travel on an award around holidays as well as other peak travel times," the airline told its frequent flyers. "Restricting the number of seats for awards helps us
maintain our low-fare leadership and keeps the program lucrative for you."
Southwest also said it is exploring new functionality for its Web site that would help members determine when and where award seats are available, and late last month announced a new loyalty program partnership with InterContinental Hotels Group.
Meanwhile, Delta and Northwest said their frequent flyer programs are unaffected by recent bankruptcy filings. If recent history is any guide, those assertions should stand up throughout Chapter 11 proceedings, unless either airline is forced to liquidate.
"I can state with confidence that I do not believe that the Delta SkyMiles program nor the Northwest WorldPerks program is in any imminent danger," said
InsideFlyer publisher Randy Petersen on the magazine's Web site. Members of both carriers' loyalty programs should "continue to earn and burn as you normally would,"though Northwest's labor challenges could prompt Petersen to issue new advice "in as little as six months."