Metasearch engine for airfares

Rohit Khare (rohit@bordeaux.ICS.uci.edu)
Thu, 15 Jan 1998 00:16:55 -0800


[WOW! Have my dreams really come true? Even without XML..?
Well, not quite, as it turns out. It's a Windows plugin program sponsored by
theTrip, which as far as I know should give fair results, but isn't he kind of
holy-grail-end-user-web-integration we expect of WIDLish approaches. RK]

If you have ever thought about buying an airline ticket online,
you must check out the WebFlyer IntelliTrip program. This new
service has recently launched to rave reviews. Load the IntelliTrip
plug-in for your browser, and instantaneously search five of
the leading travel Web sites for the best airfare. IntelliTrip
brings back all the prices for you to choose, and booking is just
a click away. As you have heard, every Web site has different
prices, and we certainly don't want you paying more than you should.
Who's got the time to search them all? We do:
http://www.webflyer.com/itrip/fritrip.htm

------- Forwarded Message

Subject: MilesLink Newsletter: December 1997
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 97 13:09:17 -0700
From: Kate Bartlett <kbartlett@insideflyer.com>

Hello and welcome to the latest installment of MilesLink, the official
newsletter of WebFlyer (http://www.webflyer.com/), and your active link
to frequent flyer program information. You are receiving this FREE
monthly newslink as a registrant of our Net Miles program (where you can
win 1,000 miles or points) or the InsideFlyer Online "500 Mile Friday"
program on AOL. By selecting the "YesEmail" option, you have asked to
receive this e-zine. If you do not wish to receive any future mailings,
simply send an email to mileslink@insideflyer.com with "UNSUBSCRIBE"
(without quotes) as the first line of the message. Please do not reply
to this message, as the return mailbox will not process your request.
Additional instructions can be found at the bottom of this message.
If you wish to send comments or questions to Randy Petersen, please
email him at: randy@insideflyer.com.

========================================

MILESLINK
http://www.webflyer.com
A WebFlyer Service
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For the Month of December, 1997

This Month:
We've got to get you ready for the end of the year and ready for 1998!
Read on.

*What's New on WebFlyer
- -12 Days 'til Christmas Miles Giveaway
- -O2, Online Only Information for the Frequent Flyer
- -You Know It, Now Say It - with a T-shirt from Frequent Flyer Originals
- -Write to Santa
- -IntelliTrip is Really Working for You
*Our Hot Tip
*Stocking Stuffers
*Question of the Month
*Quote of the Month
*Going Straight to the Site

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WHAT'S NEW ON WEBFLYER

The holidays are upon us, and if you were with us last year you'll
remember our infamous "12 Days 'til Christmas" promotion, during
which we give away frequent flyer miles daily. Here's the deal:
Starting on Saturday (December 13th), we will post the name and
part of the email address for one lucky winner. For
instance, if the email address is "joe@insideflyer.com," the
winner will be posted as "Joe Smith from insideflyer.com." Winners
will be chosen at random from our database of NetMiles registrants;
to win, you must be reachable at the email address you registered
with NetMiles. If you haven't registered yet, or you need to
re-register with a new email address, you can do so at:
http://www.webflyer.com/netmiles/frnm.htm . You only need
to register once to be eligible.

If your name and address are posted on the NetMiles/12 Days 'til
Christmas page, you will have exactly 24 hours to contact us via email.
If you do, you'll earn 1,000 frequent flyer miles in the program
of your choice. The trick is to check the site daily to see if
your name and address have been posted. Now here's the good part:
If the daily 1,000 miles aren't claimed, they are added to the
jackpot for the following day, when another name and address are
posted. Last year we had one lucky winner of 5,000 miles (after
four days of no claims!) as well as 7 other 1,000-mile winners.
We also have been know to post "double miles," so don't be
caught sleeping on this one. New names are posted
daily at 12 noon MST so set your clock and we'll see you online.
Here's the URL to register for the giveaway (if you have
registered for NetMiles, you are already in the drawing) and to
check winners daily:
http://www.webflyer.com/netmiles/frnm.htm

Also check out:

One of the latest features on WebFlyer is something we call O2,
which stands for Online Only. In addition to providing a great resource
in InsideFlyer online, we've started to bring you original information
not found in any magazine. Now is a great time to start reading
this new information link, because this month we have information
on how to end 1997 and get ready for 1998. You'll find very useful
information concerning all of the program changes that are scheduled
for the new year. Take our advice and become an Online Only fan:
http://www.webflyer.com/@flyer/ononly/froo.htm

What is the well-dressed frequent flyer is wearing this year? We know,
and we have it. We have created a line of t-shirts that allow you
to wear what you already know. From our popular "Show Me The Miles"
t-shirt, to the Frequent Flyer Funnies "Free Awards" t-shirt,
you'll want to order a few for yourself and a few for your traveling
buddies. My favorite one is only days away: "What Part of UPGRADE
Don't You Understand." I plan to wear this one the next time I'm
denied an upgrade on an otherwise empty flight. Have fun and enjoy
our MileWear t-shirts:
http://www.webflyer.com/@stuff/frstuff.htm

Each year this time of the year we receive tons of email with holiday
cheers and jeers for those tough times in the air and on the ground
as a frequent traveler. So this year we thought we'd give you a
forum to let Santa know what the frequent traveler wants for
Christmas. Click on through to 'ole St. Nick and tell him what
you want for Christmas:
http://www.webflyer.com/sitemap/frsm.htm

If you have ever thought about buying an airline ticket online,
you must check out the WebFlyer IntelliTrip program. This new
service has recently launched to rave reviews. Load the IntelliTrip
plug-in for your browser, and instantaneously search five of
the leading travel Web sites for the best airfare. IntelliTrip
brings back all the prices for you to choose, and booking is just
a click away. As you have heard, every Web site has different
prices, and we certainly don't want you paying more than you should.
Who's got the time to search them all? We do:
http://www.webflyer.com/itrip/fritrip.htm

And stop by next month for guides to planning the new year right,
and advice on when is the right time to switch programs.

OUR HOT TIP

It's finally up and working like a million miles. We're talking about
ClickRewards, the new Internet program we told you about in the
last MilesLink. In addition to allowing you to earn miles while
shopping Macy*s Online, ClickRewards has recently added GolfWeb
and Yahoo! Be like us and earn miles with the digital program
of the year for frequent flyers:
http://www.clickrewards.com/

STOCKING STUFFERS

Holiday Special -- Get MaxMiles, the frequent flyer software that
Randy Petersen recommends as his "first and favorite," at the
holiday special price of only $29.95 (a $49.95 value!). Download
MaxMiles now and begin managing and tracking ALL of your
frequent flyer accounts in one place. Makes a great stocking
stuffer for the frequent traveler! Call 888-MaxMiles by December
22 or visit http://www.maxmiles.com/

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Bob writes, "I have used a United Mileage Plus First Card for years.
Now I also have a Hilton Optima Card. For purchases other than Hilton
Hotel stays, are the miles/points worth more on United or Hilton?
I am United 1K and am accumulating miles faster than I can use them.
I like the fact that the Hilton points do not expire. What are your
thoughts?"

To which we reply, "Bob, you've got a very interesting question.
Here goes. If we're only talking credit card, Hilton points earned
with the Optima Card are worth far more than miles earned with
the Mileage Plus Card. Here's why. The Mileage Plus card earns
one mile per dollar spent while the Hilton Optima Card earns
three points for every dollar spent. But it's more than the rate
of earning. Hilton has companion airline tickets as an award at
35,000 points. That means spending just over $10,000 gets you
a free airline ticket to go along with you the next time you fly.
The United program doesn't have a companion ticket, meaning that
you would have to use a normal award, which starts at 25,000 miles
- -- meaning that you would have to spend $25,000. Furthermore, a
free ticket on United to Europe is 50,000 miles, meaning you
would have to spend $50,000 to earn it with the Mileage
Plus credit card. Hilton has a free airline ticket to Europe
for only 125,000 points meaning you would only have to spend about
$42,000 to earn that same ticket. Some other reasons to use the
Hilton Optima card: flexibility of airline awards not available
from United, Hilton points don't expire, and Hilton has
several airline partners, meaning that if you want to redeem an
award, you have choices for capacity control. If one partner
doesn't have a free ticket available, try another Hilton partner.
Somehow I don't think your United miles would be honored by
American or Delta. Have I made my point?"

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"There is no (additional business) from frequent flyer programs."
- -- Hertz, in a statement saying they would charge a 36-cent per
transaction fee to the renter on rentals that earn bonus miles.

GOING STRAIGHT TO THE SITE

If you want to go straight to a particular part of WebFlyer, here
are the addresses:

CHECK YOUR MILEAGE ACCOUNTS:
http://www.webflyer.com/@accounts/fracct.htm
READ INSIDEFLYER ONLINE:
http://www.webflyer.com/@flyer/frif.htm
WEEKLY EMAIL AIRFARE DEALS:
http://www.webflyer.com/@deal/@deal.htm
THE TOP 10 BONUS OFFERS FOR THIS MONTH:
http://www.webflyer.com/@10/fr10.htm

And don't forget to check out our InsideFlyer Online site on
AOL - Keyword: insideflyer

'Till Next Month,

Randy Petersen
randy@insideflyer.com
http://www.webflyer.com

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HEY, YOU! GET POINTCAST!
Now you can get WebFlyer's latest frequent flyer news broadcast
directly to your desktop. Get PointCast Connections -- the desktop
newscast. With PointCast Connections, you'll receive breaking
headlines from the folks that know the most about frequent
flyer programs. Download it for FREE:
http://www.webflyer.com/notiflyer/notify_jump.htm.

========================================

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------- End of Forwarded Message