Membership Rewards Points Net Crown Room Bonus

Through Feb. 28, 2005, register online to transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to your Delta SkyMiles account and you’ll receive a 10% bonus for transfers of 199,000 or less and a 15% bonus for transfers greater than that. Transfers of 200,000 points or more also yield memberships in Delta’s Crown Room Clubs. Up to 399,000 points brings a six-month membership; transfer even more miles and earn a 12-month membership. Transfer points online or call (800) 297-3276.

EL AL’s Winter Savings

Through Mar. 31, Israel’s national carrier is offering Platinum Business Class fares at $2,399 round-trip from New York (JFK) or Newark to Tel Aviv; $2,999 from Los Angeles. Passengers 60 years or older are eligible for a $2,039 Business Class fare from New York (JFK/Newark) and $2,549 from Los Angeles. A spouse over 55 gets the same deal as long as the couple travels together. Two passengers traveling together in First Class can purchase a round-trip ticket for $4,599 from JFK/Newark, $4,705 from Chicago, $4,764 from Miami, and $4,898 from Los Angeles. Reservations must be made at the same time, and passengers must check in and travel together.

In the US, First Class passengers receive free transportation to locations near the gateway airport; in Israel, transfers are provided between Ben Gurion Airport and most nearby major cities. Reservations: (800) 223-6700, (212) 768-9200, or www.elal.com.

Northwest Upgrade Availability Now Online

WorldPerks members can now purchase a Northwest Airlines ticket and then redeem miles for First Class upgrades at nwa.com. Go to the “Search for Mileage Upgrade” drop-down menu on the “Flight Search” page and decide on an upgrade from the lowest qualifying fare or a full-fare upgrade. The site now lets you search airports up to 100 miles from the origin or destination to find the lowest fare.

First Class Coming to Regional Jets

This year, Delta Connection plans to introduce 16 new Embraer 170 aircraft with six First Class seats in the Delta Connection route system, with eight more such aircraft joining the fleet in 2006. First Class seats will have 36 inches of pitch and be arranged in a two-and-one configuration.

In April, United Express plans to introduce daily non-stops from San Antonio, Texas to San Francisco and Los Angeles using aircraft fitted with 6 First Class seats, 28 Economy Plus seats (extra legroom), and 32 in economy.

Continental’s First Class Goodie Bags

Starting in Feb. Continental will begin handing First Class passengers a gift bag of brands including Prada fragrances, Caudalie skin-care products, and Bantam books, as they deplane, with more labels coming. Bags will be handed out on flights from Newark to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle.

Thrilla to/from Manila

The Asian city with the lowest Business Class fares now also has (nearly) lie-flat beds. It’s Northwest’s new World Business Class seat (6'7" long, 176- degree recline), available on the daily Manila-Tokyo non-stop. The seat is also on Northwest flights from Tokyo to eight US gateway cities.

SWISS Disguises Higher Capacity with New Seats

The carrier is installing new seats on 11 A-320s in time for summer. SWISS says it’s a cabin enhancement, but the real story is the slimmer seat back, which allows the number of seats to be increased to 168 from 150, and the lighter weight, which will reduce the aircraft’s weight by about one ton, saving on fuel.

JAL B747-400s to Vancouver and Mexico City

Japan Airlines is now using the Megatop on its Tokyo-Vancouver-Mexico City route. The plane has 55 new, lie-flat Skyluxe seats in Executive Class and 393 seats in economy class. More: www.japanair.com.