Matt,

Yes...I can predict the future! I see you earning 119,423 miles this year....receiving unexpected bonus miles....eating mustard pretzels....

Here is my prediction for 1999....

Northwest will make a bid for Alaska Airlines.

Hmmm, MA, is that actual miles or total miles? (and hows that for the kind of question you'd only see on this site!!)

If its the former, then my marriage is going to be in BIG trouble!!!

Delta has found a new way to make the money back. Reducing meals (from CNN):

"Beginning Thursday, Delta Air Lines is taking the sandwich out of the SkyDeli food bags it gives passengers on 140 flights, replacing them with crackers and cheese or carrots and dip, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported.
The SkyDeli bags are given to coach passengers as they board flights at certain times of day. First-class passengers also will be affected: Atlanta-based Delta is scaling down from full meals to snacks in first class on 80 flights and from snacks to beverages on another 160 flights, the newspaper reported.

The food service cutbacks are expected to save $14 million annually for the airline that made a $1 billion profit in 1998. "

I've already read this, and maybe it's just me, but I'd prefer carrots and dip or crackers and cheese to the terrible sandwiches that come in the SkyDeli flights now!

NJ David beat me to the posting! (Was going to do it on the Delta thread.)

I think I'd prefer celery or Carrots and Dip.
I've always wondered how long the meat in those deli carts was in there. CATMAN

I agree that the skydeli sandwiches are miserable (its yet another reason I try to avoid delta) but lets not miss the point:

The Domestic airlines are once again scaling back services. If delta wants to be southwest, then rip out the darn first class and be southwest. To pay for (or be upgraded to) 1st class only to receive a beverage on a 1.5 hour flight is NOT service. And as our Eurpoean friends (constantly) remind us, it is unacceptable in other parts of the world, and so it should be to us.

The airlines KNOW how to provide service, and they even do it on certain routes, but I'm afraid we're not going to be seeing very much of it anymore unless is's trans-oceanic or on a highly competetive route...

Please also note that Delta is taking this "cost cutting measure" at a time of unprecedented profits for the company...

Ok, soapbox being put away!

My lips are sealed.

So are mine, especially when it comes to opening them for a Sky Deli sandwich.