Frequent Flyer Program News

Budget TripRewards. The newest loyalty program on the scene, TripRewards, will allow budget travelers to earn hotel points or airline miles for stays at Cendant owned hotels. TripRewards has become the world's largest loyalty program based on the large number of participating hotels. You can earn TripRewards points at 6,000 Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Travelodge, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Villager, Wingate Inn, and AmeriHost Inn hotels. Although the program features fewer ways to earn miles than hotel points, travelers should pay close attention to mileage-earning options in order to maximize their miles. For more information or to enroll, see http://triprewards.com

CHINA SOUTHERN

China Southern Airlines announced on June 23 2004 that its Sky Pearl Club frequent flyer program is partnering with Best Western International. The announcement was made at the official signing ceremony here in Guangzhou. The Sky Pearl Club is the largest frequent flyer program in China, with more than 2 million members. Approximately 700 people join the Sky Pearl Club every day. Best Western's guest loyalty program, Gold Crown Club International, has approximately 4 million members worldwide and offers one of the most generous reward structures in the lodging industry.

China Southern Airlines has added the new Shangri-La Hotel in Zhongshan to its Sky Pearl Club frequent flyer program. Sky Pearl Club members earn miles and special room rates throughout China and Asia under the program. This is the second Shangri-La in the Guangdong Province to join the program. It is the first international deluxe hotel in the city, located 15 minutes from the Zhongshan Ferry Port, which provides access to Hong Kong. Rack rates start at $118 for a superior room on weekdays and $130 on weekends.

CHOICE HOTELS

Choice Hotels' Choice Privileges program will earn a 5,000-point bonus for every two qualifying stays at Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, or MainStay Suites hotels in the United States between September 1 and December 31 2004. During the same period, stays at Choice's lowest-priced brands, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn, will earn double America West FlightFund miles (300 instead of 150) and triple Southwest Rapid Rewards credits (1.5 rather than .5). See details at http://choicehotels.com

CONTINENTAL ONEPASS

Continental is making a few changes to its OnePass frequent flyer program, including a dedicated priority desk to help Elite members. On Oct. 1 2004, it will have the staff on hand seven days a week to process requests by those members. The airline also is making it easier for all members to book reward travel online. Users can search for standard rewards on a calendar that will show seat availability over a two-month period based on the date of the preferred flight. But, due to the decline in international fares, Continental will be raising the cost to upgrade to BusinessFirst on discounted economy tickets, effective Jan. 1 2005. One-way upgrade fees for tickets booked in B or O class will cost $350, up from $300. Those in V or U class will have upgrade fees of $400 instead of $300, and tickets in Q, I, S, W, T, X or L class will cost $450, up from $400. The upgrade fee for K class stays at $200. Sep 14, 2004