October: a busy month for Rewards Canada and the Frequent Flyer Industry!

You may have noticed not much has gone on here on the Rewards Canada Blog for the past two weeks or so. We had been busy preparing for and attending the FFP-ARAC conference (Frequent Flyer Program - Ancillary Revenue Airline Conference) hence the lack of posts here or updates on the Frequent Flyer Bonuses Group of websites. Now we are back at it, bonuses are being posted on the websites as of Monday and I am ready to get back to blogging as well.

October 2009 has proven to be a busy month for the frequent flyer industry with loss of multiple FF programs and changes in the face of alliances. This month we have seen one of the worlds largest programs, Northwest's World Perks completely disappear as it has been fully integrated into Delta's SkyMiles program. In Europe, we lost two frequent flyer programs with Brussels Airlines Privilege program closing down and the airline joining parent company Lufthansa's Miles and More program. Finally TUIFly's Bluemiles program vanished on Oct 24 to become part of Air Berlin's Top Bonus program.

On the alliance front, the big news is Continental officially joining the Star Alliance. Most major airlines in the Star Alliance (United, Air Canada, Lufthansa as examples) have already or will be in the next week or so launching codeshares with Continental. As well all the frequent flyer programs have been connected so that members can earn and burn on Continental in their favorite program and vice versa for OnePass members.

Brussels Airlines has also announced that they should officially join the Star Alliance on Nov 9 with the same features outlined for Continental.

The only thing left to be announced this year on the Frequent Flyer program front is the launching of WestJet's reward program and I was assured by WestJet at the FFP-ARAC conference that it will happen before the end of 2009.

With that being said, I am happy to be back at the business of posting bonus offers and FFP news and hope that our readers are too.

Brussels Airlines Privilege Members must join Miles and More by July 31 to keep miles

As part of Brussels Airlines full integration into Lufthansa's Miles and More program, Privilege members who are carrying a mileage balance must register or link their account to Miles and More by July 31 to keep ensure those miles are equally converted (they guarantee this). It is not too clear what happens if you don't do it by July 31 but it looks like they may not guarantee that some or all of your miles will convert to Miles and More.

To complete the migration by July 31 visit the following page on Brussels Airlines website:
http://www.privilege.brusselsairlines.com/migrate/

Bonus Page Updates Apr 28 and 29, 09

Apr 29, 09
TAP Portugal Victoria

Apr 28, 09
Brussels Airlines Privilege | Continental OnePass | Delta SkyMiles | Emirates Skywards | Jet Airways JetPrivilege | Korean Air SkyPass

Overview
- Earn Triple Victoria miles for Avis Car rentals worldwide
- Double SkyMiles for Starwood stays in Australia
- Earn up to 7,500 Skywards Miles for United Flights between the U.S. and Sydney or London
- Earn up to Triple SkyPass miles for Accor Hotel stays Worldwide

Bonus Page Updates Mar 25, 09

Mar 25, 09 Pages with new and/or updated bonus offers:
Brussels Airlines Privilege | Continental OnePass | Northwest WorldPerks | Priority Club | Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | United Mileage Plus

Overview
- Earn double Privilege miles on your first two flights with Lufthansa and/or Swiss
- Earn double Elite Qualifying Status miles for flying on Continental
- Earn 1,000 bonus WorldPerks Miles for National Car rentals in the U.S. or Canada
- Complete update of the Priority Club pages with many new offers
- Receive a free future upgrade when you fly on any Singapore Airlines flight in an fare class that accrues miles.
- Earn double Elite Qualifying Status miles for flying on United

Bonus Page Updates Mar 13, 09

Mar 13, 09 Pages with new and/or updated bonus offers:
American AAdvantage | Brussels Airlines Privilege | Delta SkyMiles | Emirates SkyWards | Marriott Rewards | United Mileage Plus

Overview:
- Earn Triple AAdvantage miles between BOS and LAX, SFO or SAN
- 1,500 bonus Privilege miles for World Hotels stays of 2 nights or more
- Double SkyMiles for Starwood Hotels stays in Mexico of 4 nights or more
- Complete update of the Marriott Rewards page with new offers all over the world
- Triple Mileage Plus miles for OMNI Hotel stays worldwide