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| · December 12, 2003 · |
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· US Airways Gives The Gift Of Miles To Operation Hero Miles 10 Million Dividend Miles Donated for Rest & Relaxation ProgramARLINGTON, Va. (December 11, 2003) - US Airways has joined with Operation Hero Miles to offer military service members returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom on Rest & Relaxation (R&R) the gift of travel across the US Airways system. US Airways has made an initial donation of 10 million miles and an invitation to Dividend Miles members to donate additional miles. Operation Hero Miles was initiated by Congressman C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland's 2nd Congressional District. The program enables airline frequent flyer program members to donate miles for use by soldiers on R&R leave from Iraq and Afghanistan. "Soldiers very much want to see their families after weeks and months apart, and we want to help make that happen for every family," said Mike Isom, US Airways managing director of marketing programs and services. "We are pleased and honored to work with Operation Hero Miles to give the gift of travel as a small thanks for the service our military men and women provide to our country." US Airways Dividend Miles members wishing to make donations to the Gift of Miles program can do so in two ways: * Online at usairways.com/dm/heromiles, or * By e-mailing heromiles@usairways.com When making donations via e-mail, members will need to include their name, Dividend Miles account number, the number of miles to be donated (5,000-mile minimum), and note "Hero Miles" as their charity of choice. Donations will be accepted through Nov. 30, 2004, and are not tax deductible. Soldiers interested in booking Dividend Miles travel through Operation Hero Miles should check with their command for ticket eligibility. Eligible soldiers will be selected by the Combined Forces Land Component Commander (CFLCC) to receive award tickets. Soldiers are responsible for all applicable taxes, fees and surcharges, which must be paid at the time of ticketing, including the September 11 Security Fee of up to $10 per itinerary. Changes to ticketed Dividend Miles award travel may be subject to a $50 service charge. Operation Hero Miles participation is in addition to US Airways' two existing military programs. The Salute Savings program, introduced in April 2003, provides discounted advance-purchase fares for active and reserve military and their families throughout the US Airways route network. Military R&R fares were introduced in September 2003, and provide deeply discounted last-minute fares for soldiers returning from Iraq under the Rest & Relaxation program via Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) airport. US Airways is the nation's seventh-largest airline, serving nearly 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. Most of its route network is concentrated in the eastern U.S., where it is the largest air carrier east of the Mississippi. US Airways, US AirwaysShuttle, and the US Airways Express partner carriers operate over 3,300 flights per day. Media Contact: US Airways Corporate Affairs 703-872-5100 |
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