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I logged into my credit union’s website, just looking to transfer some cash between accounts, when I noticed this posted on the homepage:

The survey asks if you’re interested in having airport lounges exclusively for credit union members at major hub airports across the United States.

Now, I’ve been an aficionado of credit unions, in lieu of traditional banks, for as long as I can remember. I’ve had the same credit union since I was a kid, and they’ve been amazing. Low (or no) fees or minimums. Super-responsive service. Low loan rates. Decent savings rates. Etc. And now: airport lounges?! Maybe…

The survey asks credit union members to rank their preferences for possible features like couches, cellphone/laptop charging stations, refreshments, free wi-fi, on-site credit union financial advisors (!), and other perks.

Diners Club and American Express have previously offered airport lounge access, sometimes independently, more often through partners like lounge-masters Priority Pass. (American Express even kicked it up a notch and created a lounge in a mall.)

But this is the first time I’ve heard of an entire group of customers across a range of institutions would be in contention for airport lounge access.

We’ll see if it happens. It would be a huge perk, but for it to be truly valuable, it would need to be in several cities. And getting into ANY airports is a challenge: Space is at a premium at America’s hubs, so it’s frankly hard for me to see dedicated credit union lounges happening, but you never know what magic they can work… If they can cut me a cashier’s check in 2 minutes, a thousand miles from their closest physical branch, who knows what they can manage.

Related:
- How to lounge in airports
- Don’t overpay for lounge access. Not even for the Amazing Beer Machine.
- (Video) Now this is a lounge: Lufthansa’s first-class terminal in Frankfurt

In just a few days, my mother will get on a plane (with my dad dutifully accompanying her) and fly to Florida. It’s not a vacation they really planned to take. They’re doing it for the miles.

For those who don’t know, a mileage run is the process of taking a trip just to get the miles. (Usually this means elite-qualifying miles, and not redeemable miles.) For the mileage-running purist, your destination is irrelevant. You might not even stay there — you just fly there, and fly back, to collect the miles. (Wired Magazine’s Dave Demerjian recently jetted around the US just for the miles and lived to tell about it. Even crazier, The Global Traveller recently went on a one-month-long mega-mileage run to establish lifetime elite status.)

Is her son to blame? Perhaps… Indeed, like the dealer helping a junkie get one more high, I pointed my parents to FareCompare’s search engine for mileage runners. The tool searches for flights on a cost-per-mile basis. It turned out that Florida was both inexpensive and desirable.

Yes, my mom has gotten hooked on elite frequent flyer status. She was a few hundred miles short of making status again for next year, and while she wasn’t enjoying the mega-uber-perks of top-tier status, she still appreciated the shorter check-in with business class at crowded airports, the dedicated security lines, and the bonus miles.

Maybe we should call their trip a comfort run. They’re leaving the airport, after all. And they’re actually staying at the destination for a few days. They also used some Starwood points for a Westin and lowballed an Avis rent-a-car via Priceline. In this instance, I think my parents were looking for an excuse for another vacation. And the elite status that results is collateral damage. So this trip isn’t just for the miles…

So is a mileage run really worth it? Elite status is still worthwhile, if you travel enough with one airline (or within one alliance) and if you’re going to take advantage of the perks. If the price is right, and it gets you the perks you want, that mileage run may be an investment worth making.

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This past Friday, all-business class carrier Maxjet suspended trading of its shares on the London-based Alternative Investment Market stock exchange. The reasons for the trading halt started vague (”pending clarification of its financial position”) but got more dire as the day went on (”…the US group struggled to put together a financial rescue package.”)

Uh oh.

It’s not easy being Maxjet. As the least-luxurious of the all-business carriers flying between New York and London, it lacks the cachet of an Eos, or even a Silverjet. And Maxflier, their frequent flyer program, stinks. (16 roundtrips necessary in order to get a free trip? C’mon!)

The airline assures its customers and suppliers that it’s still operating as usual, but it’s facing a cash crunch and is trying to line up funds to stay afloat. This doesn’t look good for them.

Maxjet is certainly a pioneer, but they’re facing stiff competition from both upstart airlines and old-school carriers on a well-traveled route. Those competitors are bound to benefit from this uncertainty that now hangs over Maxjet. The biggest thing going for Maxjet has been good value — even if they’re not the top of the line. But with expenses going up, that’s been a tough model to sustain.

Related:
- Maxjet’s fatal flaw?
- All-business class to China?
- Silverjet IPO enables third London-New York all-business-class airline

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Hotspots at 39,000 feet? They’re back!

On Tuesday, JetBlue Airways will begin offering a free e-mail and instant messaging service on one aircraft, while American Airlines, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines plan to offer a broader Web experience in the coming months, probably priced at about $10 a flight.

“I think 2008 is the year when we will finally start to see in-flight Internet access become available, but I suspect the rollout domestically will take place in a very measured way,” said Henry Harteveldt, an analyst with Forrester Research. But “in a few years time, if you get on a flight that doesn’t have Internet access, it will be like walking into a hotel room that doesn’t have TV.”

Granted, it’s just one aircraft for starters, but you gotta start somewhere.

But… it’s not going to be a full-fledged internet quite yet.:

Live TV, the JetBlue unit that operates the system, is rolling it out in partnership with Yahoo and Blackberry maker Research In Motion. Users can send and receive e-mail from any type of account on two models of Blackberry, 8820 and 8320. Laptop users are limited to using only Yahoo e-mail and Yahoo’s instant messaging application. The companies haven’t signed exclusive deals, and JetBlue may opt to include other popular web-based e-mail accounts in the future, such as Hotmail or Gmail.

$10 for e-mail and IM’ing only? No web access? No VPN? Well, that’s a little less appealing for me and my laptop. Good for the Blackberry users, but no inflight live-blogging action, then. Until it’s real web access, I’ll probably let it go.

Related:
- Feed the Internet addiction: American Airlines will roll out high-speed inflight wi-fi next year
- It’s official: Boeing pulling the plug on its inflight internet service, Connexion
- “No Cellphones” light to be added to aircraft interiors

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Planning to rent a car in Mexico? Better make sure that card isn’t maxed out. Reader Paul writes in:

My wife and I have been to Mexico about a dozen times over the last 10 years, and about half of those times we have rented a car. In recent years I have seen information on various travel sites about the need for Mexican insurance when traveling in Mexico. I thought that this only applied to driving a personal car into Mexico, and not to rental cars; however, three weeks ago I came across a new twist:

Upon picking up a Hertz rental car at the Cancun airport (which, by the way, is the cleanest, friendliest, most efficient, of all Mexican car rental agency locations I have seen!) I was asked if I had insurance. I said, “Yes, I am covered by my VISA card for damage to the rented automobile.” The agent said, “Fine, but do you have Mexican insurance?”

I said, “No.”

Because I declined, the rental agency took a deposit (actually a “hold” placed against my VISA card) for $2,600 (26,000 pesos) to cover any potential damage!!

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Downgraded: Amtrak’s Guest Rewards program
Six weeks ago, I sang the praises of Amtrak’s loyalty program, for the ability to transfer miles between programs with no loss in value. I take it all back. Every last word. As Gary Leff reports, Amtrak has, without warning, changed the terms of their transfers out of the program. Again. This isn’t the first time they’ve changed rules on the fly, without notifying their customers. Bottom line: Amtrak’s program just sucks, sucks, sucks. The managers of the program must take some sadistic pleasure in playing three-card monty with their customers. Ooh, what are the program rules today? How about now? How about now?

Downgraded: Amtrak’s planning and foresight
Amtrak doesn’t just screw with their customers on the loyalty program side of the business. They do it to passengers too. Like running out of fuel between San Diego and Santa Barbara. They required a push from a freight train to reach their destination. Granted, Amtrak has historically been given minimal resources to make it work, but filling the tank seems like a basic calculation.

Downgraded: American Airlines’ new business class
I haven’t flown it, but I was skeptical when I saw the photos. Now AA-loyalist Will Allen writes his review of the new AA business class “lie flat” (but not horizontal) seats, and it’s not glowing.

Downgraded: Arbor Day
Las Vegas man found guilty of secretly cutting down 500 trees because they blocked his view of the Strip. Noted without comment.

Upgraded: Blogger junkets
The Cranky Flier got to fly on the Airbus A380 as it flew around LA airspace. Fun! His detailed report is here. Sweet. Not to be outdone, I hereby challenge Richard Branson to send this blogger to space on Virgin Galactic. Use the contact form, Richard. Top right of the sidebar.

Oh, Spirit Airlines! What would a travel blog be without you?? The double entendres, the imagery, the low fares that few if anyone can actually purchase… But this latest sale, as mentioned in the Consumerist earlier today, is a raising the bar, even for you: The MILF Sale.

Oh sure, the “MILF” sale portends to be the “Many Islands, Low Fares” sale, but we know better, Spirit. You’re talking about the lustful thoughts for a friend’s mom. And you know what: We have the evidence to prove it.

Have a look at these screenshots. You have to look quickly as the Flash passes, but thanks to a fast finger on the print-screen button, we see the seductive silhouette-shaped island north of Cuba…

My Caribbean geography may be a bit rusty, but something tells me that’s not any island I’ve seen. Better look quickly, as it changes to this more generic image:

Keepin’ it classy, Spirit!

Spirit has named sales before, after hurricanes, after Jeb Bush, and now, after the randy thoughts of teenage boys across America.

So: Whaddaya think? Are Spirit’s fare sale antics the marketing equivalent of a crisp snap of a towel in the postgame locker room? Or are these sales crossing a line into the obnoxious and offensive? Or, are they just plain stupid? Vote!

(Viewing in a feed reader? Click here to vote.)

Related:
- Spirit Airlines to Democrats: Drop Dead
- Downgrades: Spirit Airlines to charge for ALL luggage, coffee, and soda
- Is Spirit Airlines’ new club worth joining?
- Spirit Airlines’ CEO flips his customers the bird

If you’re flying between the United States and Latin America or the Caribbean, you’d better pack light. Why? It’s December.

Huh??

This is a policy that airlines don’t really publicize, and it’s doubtful that many people get a call or e-mail about this before it’s too late. But every year, usually on December 1, airlines start putting strict limits on the amount of baggage you can check if you are traveling to the warmer climates of the Americas.

Why? Apparently, passengers traveling to and from these countries are packing so heavily, the planes can’t accomodate all that baggage, along with a planeload of passengers. So they slap on a limit, and adhere to it strictly.

In most cases, the holiday baggage rule states that passengers can check two bags, but no overweight bags or additional bags. Not even for an additional fee. If you arrive with overweight suitcases and want to check the bag, you’ll have to take something out and leave it behind. Ouch.

This latter point is what catches most people by surprise, usually at the last minute, at the airport. And then they’re pissed off.

It’s a widespread practice, with minor variations. December 1 to January 10 is a common range of dates for these more draconian rules, but it’s different at every airline. For example, it kicks off on November 15 at Delta. On United, it starts on the first Sunday in December each year.

But one thing is common: Unless you’re a seasoned veteran, traveling in this timeframe between these regions, you’re in for a surprise if you packed heavily.

Case in point: A comment left on a March 2007 post today in the Upgrade: Travel Better archives. Neal writes:

My seventy year old Father in-law is heading back to Jamaica today and was told that one of his bags was overweight. Not a problem right? He will simply pay the extra charge and continue on his way.

WRONG!!!

Unbeknownst to the consumer, beginning TODAY, December 1st (try to find this on their website luggage section), Spirit Airlines has suspended carrying ANY overweight luggage (51 lbs +) during the Holiday season.

So, this wheelchair ridden man is in the process of emptying his suitcase to rid the 18 pounds he is overweight AND waiting for my sister in-law to retrieve the items (they will not store or hold the items until someone can come to the airport). Whilst on the phone moments ago with the “Customer Service Representative” at the check-in counter, I said “Where is this written?” to which she replied, “Our policy is subject to change at anytime”.

Spirit Airlines gets WORSE and WORSE by the moment!!!

While Spirit Airlines is easy to flog for its litany of customer-unfriendly policies, this isn’t unique to them. And in fact, perhaps in response to angry calls and e-mails, Spirit has posted their holiday baggage rules at the top of their FAQ.

I’ve done a quick search and found the rules for Spirit, American, Delta, Continental, and United. For other airlines, search for “holiday baggage” or “excess baggage Latin America” on an airline’s site to find it.

(That search also yielded a page on Delta’s site explaining the process for checking a Christmas tree as luggage. I’m not kidding.)

But passengers shouldn’t have to go through this rigmarole. The restrictions should be readily explained to all passengers traveling in that time, and not buried deep on an airline’s website. Once again, the airlines have found a way to piss off the consumer and create bad will. Wonders never cease.

Pack light, folks.

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