• Ski Cam: Châtel, France
• La Jolla, CA

*BONUS MILE OFFERS*

• Alliance points: Radisson SAS and Radisson Edwardian Hotels formed a partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. KLM frequent-flier members receive 500 points for each stay, and double points through Jan. 31.
• Sky alliance: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines formed an alliance with China Southern Airlines. Frequent-flier members can earn miles when flying either airline.
• Miles for taxes: America West frequent-flier FlightFund members can earn 500 to 2,000 miles by using H&R Block tax-preparation services. Details at www.hrblock.com/taxes/partners/ama/special.html.

• LUFTH YOUR WAY TO EUROPE: Lufthansa Airlines is offering a Web-only sale for travel this winter. Sale fares are valid for departure from February 1 through 28. Return travel must be completed by March 15. Purchase tickets online only and no later than January 31. Note rates: $232 from New York (JFK or Newark) to London (Heathrow), $271 from Boston to Barcelona, Spain, $280 from Philadelphia to Frankfurt, Germany, $282 from Chicago (O'Hare) to London (Heathrow), England, $326 from Atlanta to Madrid, Spain, $358 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Amsterdam, Netherlands and $376 from San Francisco (SFO) to Rome, Italy. To take advantage of this offer, visit
• TAKE A 747 FOR $747 ON MALAYSIA AIRLINES: Price includes round-trip economy-class fare between Los Angeles and Kuala Lumpur, plus economy-class travel to any or all of the other 23 listed cities you want to fly to within a 30-day period. You can add cities in Australia, India, New Zealand and South Africa for a small additional charge. You can even extend the 30-day period or upgrade to first or business class at a special low rate as well. Fly to any or all of these cities for only $747: Bali (Denpasar), Bandar Seri Begawan, Bangkok, Beijing, Cebu, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Langkawi, Manila, Medan, Penang, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Shanghai, Singapore, Surabaya, Taipei, Tokyo and Yangon. Log onto www.malaysiaairlines.com or call Malaysia Airlines at 800-552-9264 for more details and specific regulations.
• AirTran brings back X-Fares
• Sky saver: Board Alaska Airlines flights for up to 30% less until June 7. Buy tickets at least seven days in advance and by Jan. 16. Some fares require travel on certain days. Save more at alaskaair.com. Restrictions.
• Hotel bargain: Some Hawthorn Suites cut rates Monday-March 17. Stay for as little as $59 a night Friday through Sunday. Go to hawthorn.com or call 800-527-1133. Restrictions.
• Tickets for fewer miles: Until April 30, Northwest frequent-flier members can redeem tickets online for 1,500 to 3,000 fewer miles, depending on destination. Go to www.nwa.com.
• Flight gift: Fly Upper Class round trip on Virgin Atlantic and receive a $250 Sharper Image gift card; fly Premium Economy, earn a $100 card. Deal ends Feb. 28. Register before travel at virgin-atlantic.com/sharperimage.
• 2-For-1 Rooms Or Nights At Colonial Williamsburg Ho Jo
• Delta, US Air Begin Year with Double Miles:  Happy New Year from Delta and US Airways. Both are offering double miles for all flights. And if you're traveling on an unrestricted fare (most first- and business-class fares, plus Y/B/M coach fares), the bonus will count toward elite qualification. The executive summary -- Offer: Double Miles Period: Jan. 10 through Mar. 20, 2002 Miles Qualify for Elite: Yes (unrestricted fares); No (restricted fares) You must pre-register for both offers, as follows: Delta Online at or by calling 1-888-558-3358 and entering promotion code 2023.
• US Airways Online or by calling 1-800-872-4738 and entering promotion code 8145.
• >From Joe Sent ME: US AIRWAYS: A Big International Business-Class Deal:  Deals on international business-class flights used to be unthinkable, but U.S. carriers are beginning to test the concept. The latest to dabble: US Airways (800-428-4322). Fares for its Envoy Class international business-class service are as low as $1,800 roundtrip for travel between January 19 and March 24. Tickets must be purchased by February 28. Of course, there are substantial restrictions: a 7-day minimum stay, a 30-day advance purchase, a $300 change fee, and fares are nonrefundable 72 hours after the initial reservations.
• LONDON: How Low Can They Go in the Off-Season?: Traffic between the United States and the United Kingdom is down sharply since September 11 and that makes British marketers nervous about the prospects for London tourism during the off-season of January and February. The result? Give-away pricing such as the $399 “Super Six-Night Fling” from Virgin Atlantic. The bundle includes roundtrip airfare from New York, Newark or Boston; six nights of lodging; daily breakfast; hotel taxes and service charges. Departures from other Virgin gateways are available for a small extra charge. A word to the wise: The hotels offered at the $399 price are extremely basic, so consider upgrading. At these prices, you can afford it. Prices are valid for mid-week departures between January 8 and February 28. Travel must be completed by March 15. Information: 888-YES-VIRGIN or the Virgin Website
• CONTINENTAL AIRLINES: Major carriers continue to up the ante in their relentless attempts to convince you to book your flights directly at their proprietary Websites. The latest salvo in the bonus war comes from Continental Airlines: Book five electronic tickets at Continental.com and earn a total of 20,000 additional OnePass miles. You receive 2,000 bonus miles for the first ticket, 3,000 for the second, 4,000 for the third, 5,000 for the fourth and 6,000 for the fifth. You must register for the promotion using code TB0M01 and all travel must be completed by February 15.
• Fly Free to Puerto Rico offer extended
• Concorde deal: Air France offers its Fréquence Plus frequent fliers two Concorde tickets for 160,000 miles, instead of the usual 320,000, until March 15.
• Free tickets: British Airways Executive Club members can earn two tickets anywhere the airline flies after flying full-fare round trip in business class between North America and Great Britain. Restrictions.
• Switzerland: Swissair cut fares from U.S. gateways to Switzerland until Jan. 28; fly through March 26.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>WHERE'S JOHNNY JET?<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The big news for the week is that Johnny Jet made his first online chat!  Yeah baby!  It was on USA Today.com and it went great.  Thanks to Kathy, the informed traveler, for organizing and hosting it.  In case you missed the chat, you can read the transcript here.

A funny story: My sister, Carol, calls me Saturday and says her friend in L.A. has an extra ticket for me to attend Mohammed Ali's 60th birthday party (it aired tonight on CBS).  I wasn't going to pass up the champs party so I threw on my tuxedo and was out the door in minutes.  I drive up to Hollywood and parked next to the Kodak Theater, where it was held.  I didn't realize how big a deal it was until I walked around the corner.... There were news vans, stretch limos, and thousands of people lined up and down the street.  I asked a security dude where "Will Call" was and he pointed down the red carpet and let me beyond the velvet ropes.  For those of you who have never walked down the red carpet it's long, I mean real long.  This one had press on the left and screaming fans on the right.  Literally there must've been a thousand screaming fans.  I took a deep breath and began my journey down.  It was hard to concentrate with all the bright lights, flashes, and crazy fans. While walking down, a fan yelled, "John", then another yelled, "JOhn" and reached out.  All I heard was "JOHn", "JOHN".  Everyone was yelling JOHN!  I thought how cool is that?  They know MY name!  I then started to waIk with a little strut and started to give these little hollywood hello waves.  Then I looked closer at a fan yelling my name and I thought this woman was either cross-eyed or someone is behind me.  I took one of those non-chalant-turn-around looks and who is it but Jon Voight!  They weren't yelling my name, they were yelling for him.  I quickly came crashing back down to Earth and my high was over.  I sped up my walk down the carpet and soon I reached the end of it.  With the lights off, and an eerie quiet,  I started to think how much more I could  look like a loser?  I began thinking what if my ticket wasn't at "Will Call"?  I walked up to the window and gave the guy my ID.  I see him flipping through the stack, and you know it's not a good sign when he starts shaking his head and doubles back through the pile.  My stomach drops and my mini nightmare begins.  "Sorry sir, there is no ticket under that name."  I can't believe this is happening to me, I thought.  I tried to stay cool and get the embarrassed look off my face and said maybe it's under a different name?  He asks, "Who left the tickets for you?", I swallowed and realized I didn't even know my sister's friend's last name.  Monica didn't cut it.  I thought cool, I will just call my sister, and pulled out my cell phone out and it doesn't have a signal.  The ticket dude says cell phones only work outside in the front.  Are you kidding me?  I had to walk back down the red carpet (except this time against traffic).  Now I really stuck out, I  just pretended I forgot something in my car. Trying to look cool I say hello to some of the big guns walking by me, like Samuel Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, Will Smith........ I am sure they thought I worked there.  Too make a longer story short, I walked back and forth up the Red Carpet at least 4 times.  I mean by the fourth time I started to look familiar to the fans.
I decided to check "Will Call" one last time before leaving in embarrassment and the ticket guy says, "They just dropped it off."  I wiped the sweat off my brow and went through security, and I WAS IN!.
The show was great and I even got to attend the after party!  There had to be around 700 hungry and thirsty people because the bar and food lines were long.  It's weird waiting in line with all these people you think you know (from TV), but you don't.  I was able to save a little bit of face because walking out one of the photographers said, "Aren't you that travel guy?"  I said, YES I am!  (I think he knew only because USA Today put my mug on the front page that morning, but I'll take it.)

Next Week:  ?

PLEASE SUPPORT AND PROMOTE JOHNNY JET. COM.  By Buying a cool T-Shirt or Hat. Click Here for more Details.
 
 

TIP OF THE WEEK:   By Chris McGinnis
With the launch of new checked bag screening rules, Delta has announced new airport baggage procedures, a requirement of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which goes into effect on Friday, Jan 18.

Effective today (Jan 15) , Delta will no longer accept checked baggage at ticket counters or curbside locations less than 30 minutes before a flight’s scheduled departure time. In addition, effective Jan. 18 Delta will require passengers who check baggage to declare at the time of
check-in whether they intend to stand by for another flight.

Our advice: If you must check bags, don’t pack anything in your checked baggage that you cannot live without, and
don’t lock your checked bags. If your bag is locked, the locks could be destroyed if it requires more thorough
searching after you’ve checked in and it is in the airline baggage handling area.

Expect delays on Friday when the new 100% screening measures go into effect.
 
 

NEWSPAPER OF THE WEEK: (NY POST)

• Atevo: Plan Your Dream Vacation
• Utah Goes For The Gold
• Traveler's Update
• Scene And Heard

• Rio
• Airport parking reservations online
• The traveler's guide to the euro
• Web sites try to deal with changing check-in delays
• `Kites on Ice' fest in Madison
• Invading Normandy via the kitchen door
• Beat the airport parking crunch
• Medical equipment may prompt searches
• Taking one step at a time
• BOOK IT!
• Vienna treasures at the Frick
• A chance to cozy up at Eagle Ridge
• SUNDAY'S TRIBUNE
• Camp reservations
• France information online
• Security breaches
• Dining guides
• SUNDAY'S TRIBUNE
• Airline taxes and fees can add up
• The curtain rises on northern lights
• FAA urges stricter student-pilot rules

• Deep in the heart of music
• Notebook: Historic cockpits tell story of flight
• Marty Leshner: Each journey influences the way we view the world, ourselves
• Security keeps ships safe
• Ships put a modern twist on historic coastal itineraries
• Deep in the heart of music: Texas stars shine in hometown museums
• Pictures reveal Elvis' early reign

• Minneapolis' Cold Comforts
• On the Trail of Knights of Old
• Hawaii on Sale (sort of)
• Auto Rental Agencies Roll Out the Rate Hikes
• California Corner: Festivals, Feasts & Fairs
• Hawaii on Sale (sort of)
• The Airport Screener Blame Game
• Private Airports Get Security Steps

• California's Golden Vineyard Country
• A Quick Spin of the Wheel in Las Vegas
• Beyond the Beach in Sarasota
• Choice Tables: Spanish Dining Rooms Fit for Kings
• Practical Traveler: On the Rise: Private Charters
• Cyberscout: Put Away the Slide Projector
• What's Doing: In Tucson
• Essay: The Call of the Wild Foods
• Correspondent's Report: Airlines Seek an E-ZPass for Fast Security Checks
• Travel Advisory: Adelaide Toasts Australia's Wines; Skiing, Snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies
• Business Travel: Life on the Front Lines of Airport Security
• Q & A: Reunion in Turkey; A Train in Provence; Rome Photo Galleries
• Letters: Cabinet Rooms; Plus Ça Change?; Not So Soothing
• Santa Ynez Valley: Lodging, Dining and Wine Tasting Information
• Las Vegas: Lodging, Dining and Entertainment Information
• Sarasota: Lodging and Sightseeing Information
• Spain: Parador Information
• Airlines Say They Are Set to Meet Screening Deadline
• Airlines Seek an E-ZPass for Fast Security Checks

• Holy See
• Holy See: With the Mideast in Turmoil, Pilgrims Turn to Rome
• COMINGANDGOING
• Girls on A Roll: Three Moms Gamble on a Getaway to Atlantic City
• Dry Run
• WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW 101
• SIGN HERE

• Johnny Jet talks travel; read transcript
• Feds airline influence grows
• Pushing for e-tickets
• No Net on planes
• Airline on rise again, 'inshallah'
• 10 great...bakeries where top-notch loaves are leavened with love.
• 'Plane Insanity'
• Visiting Gettysburg
• On the Mark Twain trail in Missouri
• Travelers could face chaos at nation's airports
• Aloha, Hawaiian airlines could share operations
• Self-defense classes empower flight attendants
• United mechanics sue to block presidential board
• Airline traffic improves since Sept.
• Smoother sailing for solo travelers
• Jan 18 deadline may cause airport delays
• Stars come out for hotels, restaurants

• Parking increase: Los Angeles International Airport raised the daily rate for parking closest to the terminal to $30 from $24 Tuesday. Satellite lot B parking increased to $8 from $5, and lot C rose to $10 from $7.
• Club reopens: The US Airways Club in Pittsburgh airport's Concourse A will reopen Monday. The club was temporarily closed after the Sept. 11 attacks as a cost-cutting measure. Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
• Across USA: Alaska will fly non-stop between Seattle and Boston starting on April 4. Go to alaskaair.com.

BESTFARES

• In-Flight Meals-To-Go At Miami International
• Six Flags Magic Mountain Now Has More Coasters Than Any Park

• Mobil Travel Guide: Travel With Confidence
• Tickets needed for Ground Zero viewing platform
• Princess introduces new children's program
• World: No-frills airlines take off in Europe
• America West sets USD 10 paper ticket fee

• Newlyweds Survive Costa Rica Plane Crash
• Euro Coins Could Open Borders to Bugs--Scientist
• Away on Business: A boom in charter air travel
• Afghan Airline, Bank to Operate
• Rapid Scan Detects 'Economy Class' Blood Clots
• Baggage-Screening Law Begins Friday
• SAS offers in-flight transfer info
• SolarNet offers consolidator fare bookings
• DL allows kids to fly solo again

• Continental to Take $39M Charge
• Amtrak May Lose Ownership of Tracks, Stations
• Tougher Preflight Questions? Pros and Cons
• British Airways Plans Code-Sharing with Rival KLM
• Airline Demand Down Considerably in December
• NEW: Snow Condition Report

• National Western expects big crowds
• FAA orders new steps to strengthen cockpit doors
• Airlines to receive guidance on bag screening
• Delta plane escorted back to Atlanta by military jets
• Amtrak could lose tracks and stations
• Winter festivals making their own snow
• Man faces charges over Atlanta airport shutdown
• Security poor at international terminals
• Aviation groups criticized for conference
• Millennium Dome Britain's top 2000 site
• Ridge praises Olympic security in Salt Lake City
• British Airways tries to lure business travelers
• FAA fines man $3,300 in airport shutdown
• U.S. Niagara gambles on casinos
• Notables and no-names alike searched at airports
• NY sees first cruise ship since attacks
• Vegas flight disrupted
• Iceland's Blue Lagoon visitors find relief
• Federal data: Teen girls crashing more like boys
• Alaska airports struggle with security needs

• Transponder malfunctionedon DC-bound plane
• FAA orderscockpit doorsimproved
• Florida man arrested for bomb threat
• Council weighsfuture of Amtrak
• Airplane wheel lock available
• Aviation conference criticized
• Bag inspection questioned again
• New charges for man who shut down Atlanta airport
• Airport inspection areas vulnerable
• U.S. experts doubt Afghan tourism
• Greyhound won’t pay hospital bills
• Post-Taliban tourism in Afghanistan?
• Strike paralyzes Italian airports
• Man with knives faces charges
• Lawmaker forced to strip at airport
• Looking back at 2001’s oddest travel anecdotes
• Waltzing on water
• Five safety tips for kids flying solo
• In-flight gambling: What happened?
• Airport Security, Here and abroad

• Ed Perkins on TravelUsing Priceline for Hotels
• The Travel TechnologistFilm Buffs Use Technology to Save Money
• FILM BUFFS USE TECHNOLOGY TO SAVE MONEY
• USING PRICELINE FOR HOTELS

• U.S. & Canadian Airlines
• U.S. & International Hotels
• Car Rentals

GOOD TO KNOW!
Is Delta's SkyBonus Program Worth Joining?(From: FrequentFlier.com)

Dear Tim,
I'd be interested in reading your take on the new Delta SkyBonus program for small business owners. It's supposed to accumulate points and award benefits above and beyond each individual's SkyMiles account, but I'm wary. Should I be?   Thanks,  Brian

Dear Brian,

While there's no guarantee that the SkyBonus program is a good fit with your company's travel needs, there's absolutely no downside to participating. In particular, there are no out-of-pocket costs. So the only investment would be the time required to register your company initially, and the time spent administering the program thereafter.

For those who aren't familiar with SkyBonus, it's a frequent flier program, launched by Delta in late November 2001, for companies that spend less than $500,000 per year on travel. Companies with larger travel budgets can negotiate directly with the airlines' corporate sales teams to receive volume discounts and other considerations.

Like an individual award program, the purpose of SkyBonus is to encourage repeat business. And it does so by rewarding the purchase of tickets with points redeemable for awards. The company earns 50 points for every $1,000 the company spends on Delta tickets (except for flights originating in Atlanta or Salt Lake City, which earn only 20 points). And the points can then be redeemed for flights, upgrades, lounge membership, elite status, or in-flight courtesy coupons.

For example, a company can redeem 500 points for a round-trip coach flight within North America. At 50 points per $1,000 spent, a company would have to spend $10,000. If we assume the value of the award ticket to be $500-a reasonable price for advance-purchase tickets-the freebie is only a five percent rebate. On the other hand, if we assume a higher ticket value-consistent with unrestricted walk-up fares often purchased for business travel-the rebate begins to look more attractive.

Administratively, all points earned by employees of participating companies are deposited into a single company account. The company designates a program administrator who will be responsible for managing the program (i.e., signing up employees, monitoring earnings, and redeeming points for awards).

SkyBonus operates in parallel with SkyMiles, the Delta mileage program for individual travelers. This means that an employee of a company participating in SkyBonus would earn both miles in his SkyMiles account and points in the company's SkyBonus account when flying on Delta. This is important because it allows the individual's self-interest (in miles redeemable for personal travel) to peacefully coexist with the company's self-interest (in points redeemable for business travel).

There is one caveat to bear in mind. Officially, SkyBonus is a limited-term program, scheduled to end on December 31, 2003. So if your company doesn't actively accumulate points, there's a chance you'll be stuck with too few points for a meaningful award when the program ends. I would not say that's a major concern however for two reasons: (1) If the company can't reach an award threshold in 24 months, it's not worth joining SkyBonus to begin with; and (2) given Delta's investment in SkyBonus, it's highly likely that the program will be extended beyond the current end-date.

As we have come to expect with newly launched programs, there is a bonus (150 points) offered for companies that join SkyBonus by March 31, 2002. Plus, all new enrollees will be entered in a prize drawing to win a cruise.

For more information or to register your company, Delta has put up a dedicated SkyBonus website at https://www.delta-skybonus.com
 
 

To SUBSCRIBE to Johnny Jet's Travel News:   Send an email to subscribe@johnnyjet.com