Continental Miles Get Pricey

They’re up to 3.2 cents from 2.5 cents. You can purchase up to 25% of the miles needed for OnePass rewards requiring at least 20,000 miles. Miles are purchased in 1,000-mile increments and must be purchased when the reward is requested.

Stretch Out on Ted

The new United ’low-fare’ service, Ted, will have a 66-seat Economy Plus section with 36 inches of legroom, five more than the cheap seats have. It will be complimentary for Premier members of Mileage Plus.

Delta’s Classless Society

Economy class with leg-room, free Java City coffee in the morning, a free drink in the afternoon and early evening, and
— that’s the gist of the carrier’s one-class service, which is being tested now on flights between Atlanta and Houston and Atlanta and Kansas City.

Seat pitch is 36 inches, and in-flight entertainment includes shows like Law & Order, West Wing, Jag, Monk, and Trading Places. Oh yes, and more fattening snacks: mini-Toblerone chocolate bars, Cape Cod pretzels, and Goldfish snack crackers. SkyMiles members earn up to 2,000 bonus miles for trying the service. More important is the power outlet in every seat.

Qantas’ Kangaroo Punch

Redemption rates have increased as much as 80% in one go from the US to the carrier’s South Pacific destinations. Business Class mileage upgrades have gone from 40K to 70K each way on discounted economy fares (compare with United’s 30K), and from 25K to 45K each way on full-economy fares (United charges 15K). Business Class to First has been upped to 45K from 25K.

Austrian Airlines Perks

In 2004 it will continue offering full-fare Business Class passengers, traveling to Vienna and then connecting to another international destination, limousine service to JFK and Dulles airports; a free overnight hotel stay in Vienna at the Inter-Continental, Ambassador, or the Vienna Marriott; dinner and buffet breakfast at the hotel, and round-trip limousine service between the hotel and Vienna International Airport. Both offers must be requested at time of ticket purchase.

Delta’s Olympic Game Plan

Delta is adding a second non-stop to Athens from Jun. 2 through Sept. 29 — along with Business Class fares starting at $2,220. The fare has been matched by KLM, Northwest, Iberia, AA and Air France. Bookings must be made 50 days in advance, and require a seven-day minimum stay. Maximum stay is 30 days.

Virgin’s Bed-Time Story

The carrier’s first Boeing 747-400 has gone into service between Heathrow and JFK with “real flat beds” in Business Class. That’s a cheeky reference to the fact that most Business Class lie-flat beds don’t really recline a full 180 degrees. Virgin’s new seat, encased in a pod, faces backward. The footstool can be turned into a proper seat (unlike the BA Club World design) and, along with the foldaway table, can form a dining area for two. The seats are approved for reclining on take off, ideal for New York departures as passengers can dine in the Virgin JFK Clubhouse and get right to sleep. The next 747-400 with the new seats is due in service shortly on the San Francisco route, probably followed by London-LAX.

KLM and Northwest Still Going Steady

The two carriers are increasing joint-venture flights between Amsterdam and Minneapolis and Amsterdam and Houston starting summer 2004. KLM will offer a third Amsterdam-Minneapolis flight (Northwest already has two daily) using MD-11s, and it will offer a second daily Houston-Amsterdam flight on Fridays and Sundays using 767-300ERs. Both flights will have the new World Business Class seat. Best fare from Houston is $1,820 r/t, from Minneapolis $2,020 r/t.