European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 10, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                May find less turbulence overseas by Christopher Reynolds los Angeles times these Are trying times for those who live to Fly free. As airlines around the world create and reshape frequent flier programs to compete on a worldwide level the frequent flying life is getting Ever More complicated for american Domestic travellers. But in some respects it s also getting More attractive for those looking to Europe and other overseas destinations. To make the Best of these developments says Randy Petersen Colorado based publisher of inside flyer Magazine Quot you Don t have to Fly More. What you have to do is become a More educated consumer Quot taking advantage of the mileage tie ins increasingly available through Telephone companies credit cards rental car companies hotels and other sources. Stanley Dale Arizona based publisher of the newsletter mileage amp Points adds this Quot for anybody who travels internationally Over the next couple of years these changes could be a real  Here Are a few key pieces of the Puzzle a increased mileage requirements for free . Flights. Having painted themselves into a Corner with fare cuts major carriers Are compensating in part by raising the number of frequent flier Milesi lines say by the associated press the Tower of Pisa is leaning less and less these Days or if you re an Optimist it s standing straighter. For the second time in a year measurements of the 12th-Century Tower have found that the leaning diminished. An International panel of experts have concluded that an emergency plan to save the Tower is working. After years of study by engineers some 600 tons of Lead ingots have been stacked up at the Tower s base to act As a counterweight. Experts say that in 1993 the amount of leaning from the perpendicular shrank 1 cent Menter a 7 Millimetres when measurements were made in summer and 3 Millimetres less when the latest Survey was done this month. The head of the commission seemed almost More concerned about running out of funds than about the Tower s stability. Quot after three years since the Tower was closed to tourists for fear of instability. There still in t a funding Law but we go needed to qualify for a free flight. Beginning feb. 1,1995, United mileage plus and american advantage program members will need 25,000 Miles to get a free Domestic coach flight up from 20,000. Us air s threshold too rises from 20,000 to 25,000 on Jan. 1 next year. Most of these changes however concentrate on the Bottom end of benefits for the moment leaving requirements for International flights unchanged. Earlier this month United did announce a mixture of increases and decreases in qualifying mileage Levels for International travel Petersen forecasts that the 25,000 figure will become an Industry Standard. He predicts that Northwest will raise its threshold from 20,000 to 25,000, too a and that Delta will come Down to 25,000 from its current 30,000 level. Northwest will say Only that it is considering Quot significant changes in its program in response to Quot economic  As Petersen suggests Alert travellers can neutralize the hike by More efficiently gathering Miles from various sources. But sources could dry up. Many hotel chains have updated programs so that travellers must choose either frequent flier mileage or frequent guest Points for each stay a the leaning Tower of Pisa is standing straighter these Days. On with last minute decrees Quot allocating Money for the work commission president Michele Jamiolkowski said. The 180-foot tall Tower which was begun in 1173, started to lean almost immediately after it was finished when the ground shifted. Pompidou Center wont shut Down during repairs by the associated press the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris won t shut Down during a major overhaul next year French culture minister Jacques Toulon said last thursday. Last week the French press reported that the Factor like cultural Complex was in such bad shape it would have to close for several months. Quot the Center will not close completely although there May be Short times when certain areas Are off limits to the Public Quot but not both. The prominent exception is Hilton s honors program which still allows  a less credit for Short trips. On april 1, Northwest s world Perks program will reduce the minimum mileage credit it offers per flight from 750 Miles to 500. Thus a traveler on the 431 mile Quot Northwest route from Dallas to Memphis will get credit for 500 Miles instead of the current 750. American United and Continental airlines made the same move about five years ago. Throughout 1994, however Northwest will add 500 Bonus Miles to the account of anyone connecting through Minneapolis Detroit or. Memphis Delta continues to award a minimum of 1,000 Miles for each flight but Petersen and others suggest that will not last. A alliances Between .-based and foreign based carriers. Quot the real growth of frequent flier programs is going to be in the International markets Quot says Dale. Throughout Europe Dale Points out carriers Are Quot starting to come into things. At least in the Short term that s going to Benefit . Frequent fliers because of the Competition that s going to  International cooperative pacts Between airlines a agreements that generally allow mileage earned on one airline to be applied toward a flight on another a have been multiplying. American airlines advantage program now includes in alliances with Canadian airlines Cathay Pacific Qantas Singapore and trans world airlines. Northwest a world Perks program includes a partnership with Kim. Us air and British airways which have had limited reciprocal arrangements for passengers to Quot earn and Burn Quot mileage Points Tot several years took a further step by lifting Many restrictions last year. Meanwhile United airlines which has played an elaborate game of musical partners in recent years now affiliated with air Canada a italia Ansett Australia and Sabena but disconnected from Kim and Swissair As of december last month announced an imminent Alliance with Lufthansa bringing together two giants and a massive route system. Under the reciprocal plans there will be some differences Between mileage accrual and redemption possibilities Between the airlines. More information for committed frequent fliers subscriptions to Randy Petersen s monthly inside flyer Magazine run $33 a year. For More information write 4715-c town Center drive Colorado Springs Colo. 80916 Telephone 1-800-333-5937. Subscriptions to Stanley Dale s mileage amp Points a monthly newsletter run $17.95 a year. For More information a amp a communications 12629 n. Tatum blvd., suite 188, Phoenix Ariz. 85032 Telephone 602 953-9237. Toulon told a news conference. Experts estimated the brightly painted Bolike Center which opened in 1977, had aged three times faster than expected due to attracting about 25,000 visitors a Day. Quot the Center is sick from its own Success Quot said Dominique Aldzy the Center s top official. Toulon said the repairs expected to Cost 400 million francs about $468 million Are not merely cosmetic. Structural ones Are planned to put the Center Back in Europe s Avant Garde. Free use of 500 Green by Donna Miskin new Day to encourage an ecologically Correct Mode of transportation and to discourage theft the University town of Cambridge in Eastern England has a Fleet of 500 bicycles available free to tourists. Riders Are requested to use the Bright Green bikes within City limits and leave them in one of 26 Bike parking lots when they re finished Riding. A a Israel is set to begin expanding Ben Gurion Airport this year to the tune of $850 million to handle 16 million passengers annually More than four times its present traffic. A the project undertaken to update the facility and in anticipation of a peacetime tourism Boom in the area is expected to be completed in 1998, a spokeswoman said. A new service called Boker Tov Jerusalem Good morning Jerusalem lists More than 200 rooms for rent in private Homes rated on a scale of one to four for desirability and ranging in Price from $23 to $54 a night 011 972-2-511-270 by phone 011 972-2-511-272 by fax. And you thought you had a pair of antique skis stuffed in the closet. The Mantta museum in Finland recently put on display the oldest ski yet discovered which had hides sewed to its underside to make it Glide More smoothly. It dates to 1,500 years ago. That s Bow before ski Wax. If you re seriously devoted to staying fit on the Road b. Fit network in new York City will arrange for a Trainer to come to roundabout your hotel anywhere in the country a and in London Paris Geneva and soon Hong Kong says company president Tina de lamps. _ the Trainer s already propped with your medical history exercise preferences and a description of your usual workout that s been faxed ahead. Cost is $100 an hour $80 for 45 minutes 1-800-856-2348. It s not listed on the room service menu but at two California hotels you can order up an exercise Bike or a rowing machine and get it delivered just like a grilled Steak or maybe Carrot Sticks. The program at the Prescott hotel in san Francisco and the Beverly Hills Prescott is geared to Busy guests who prefer privacy and convenience of an i room workout to the hotels fitness Center. Machines Are complimentary. Rates Are $175, single or double at the Beverly Prescott 1-800-421-3212, and $165-$185 at the Prescott in san Francisco 800 283-7322. While it s True that air Canada is dropping pat6 from its first class menu the airline denies it s making the change because of pressure from animal rights activists who claim Force feeding fowl to enlarge their livers is cruel. The Carrier is cutting out the foie gras because it s changing its image says a spokesman. Planes Are already being repainted a Snaz Zier White with Turquoise logo and a Green Maple Leaf instead of the Flag like red and White Motif. As for the path it s off the menu As part of a revamped in flight service. February to 1994 stripes Magazine 25