Dropping the QuickAscent program in the face of Southwest Airlines coming to Denver has got to win the bonehead of the year award for Frontier Airlines.

United, not known as the smartest airline in the air (nor are they really the friendliest either!), knew what to do when Southwest came to town. Offer more bonus points to keep their customers. Consider the United offer of flying 32 segments and getting 90,000 bonus miles, plus other lessor awards. Add to that that they give double segment credit for flying on Southwest's routes.

But.... I ask Frontier for QuickAscent and they say we just discontinued that program with Southwest coming to town? How stupid is that?

QuickAscent costs them virtually nothing. I had QuickAscent last year and flew with them 3 times. I got 6 free Direct TV's and 25% bonus miles on about 4200 miles flown. I checked in on the preferred Ascent line. For that, they got a total of 5 purchase trips (because I took my wife and daughter with me at XMAS). A total of $1500 in revenue that otherwise would have gone to United. They don't want my $1500 next year? You can bet that Southwest and United do!

Meanwhile, I paid United $200 for the Double EQM/EQS bonus. Think I'm not going to get my money's worth out of that? No way. I'll be over at United with a lot less incentive to take a quick hop on Frontier.

Now, in 2006 they won't repeat the same deal? Get real, Frontier. Those animals are cute, but dollars and points are the primary decision drivers. Either I'm going to fly with Southwest and save money and earn double credits, or I'm going to fly with United, at reduced prices and get mega bonus miles. Frontier isn't offering much of anything, and now without QuickAscent they are offering less.

Again, give QuickAscent to anybody that asks for it -- even if they don't fly a lot with Frontier. As a matter of fact, those are the ones that Frontier should want the most. The get incremental revenue with virtually no cost.

The market in Denver just got a lot tougher. Wake up Frontier!
PS -- I've never bought anything in their MoreStore.