HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gl1@cec2.wustl.edu (Greg Lyon)
Subject: Re: TWA Status
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis MO
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 16:18:47 GMT

wolfson@regatta.sps.mot.com (Stephen Wolfson) writes:
>> >
>> >But what about frequent flyer miles?
>> >
>> 
>> 
>American has a deal for a while to transfer points between AADVANTAGE
>and TWA ff programs (either way).  If they haven't rescinded the deal  
>maybe you shoud hurry up and join American and transfer your points.

   While AA and TW are partners in each other FF programs, the extent of
mileage "sharing" is being able to designate miles flown on one airline to
be deposited in the others program BEFORE the flights take place.  

   Once the miles are deposited in either account, you are not allowed to
transfer them between accounts.

Greg

-- 
Greg Lyon	gl1@cec2.wustl.edu	Proud that I voted for Clinton/Gore '92 

    "I don't think I ever lied.  I have said some things that didn't
     work out to be true." - (Former) President George Bush 10/30/92
From: mcelroy@avd33.larc.nasa.gov (Marcus O. McElroy)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: American, Northwest, USAir rumours
Date: 19 Nov 1992 14:34:31 GMT
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: avd33.larc.nasa.gov


>* American is laying off 1000 management workers, and looking for other
>  ways to cut costs given their dismal losses over the past few quarters.
>  Crandall is said he's considering getting rid of a hub (probably either
>  San Jose, Nashville, or Charlotte) and an airline spokesperson said they
>  could save further by serving cold food on selected short flights.

The American hub on the east coast is Raliegh/Durham.  Charlotte is a
major hub for USAir.

Marcus McElroy


Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: howard@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Howard Lem)
Subject: Re: Canadaians choosing US Airlines?
Organization: UTCS Public Access
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 20:25:46 GMT

In article <2B06715C.10DA@telly.on.ca> evan@telly.on.ca (Evan Leibovitch) writes:
>
>- Frequent flyer programs. Since none of the Canadian air services
>  collaborate on FF programs with major US airlines, I'd prefer to stay on
>  the airline on which I do the most flying to build up points (all else
>  equal). So, if that means taking Canadian Airlines to go Toronto to
>  San Francisco via Vancouver rather than American or United on a
>  more-direct route through Chicago, I may consider that.

Aeroplan (AirCanada) now rewards points to members who fly with US Air.
Points will be awarded to aeroplan instead of USAir's.  

It will be interesting to see what happens if the Continental deal goes through.

Howard
-- 
Smail:	Howard Lem     Phone: (416) 978-4310  Email: howard@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca
	Univ. of Toronto Computing & Communications
	Instructional & Research Computing Group  (UTIRC)
	4 Bancroft Ave., Room 103, Toronto, Ont., Canada,  M5S 1C1
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: wei@ifi.unizh.ch (Qing Wei)
Subject: Standby Pass by Delta Air Lines
Organization: University of Zurich, Department of Computer Science
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 10:29:13 GMT


Can anyone share his/her experience using domestic "Standby Pass"
by Delta Air Lines with me? 

I'm considering to buy a "Standby Pass" from Delta Air Lines
in Europe when I visit Bay area in February.  It costs 449.-US$
and is valid within a month limitted to the US continental and Canada.
With this pass you can not make reservation in advance. My questions
are: (route: NYC -> SFO/San Jose -> Las Vegas -> Washinton DC -> NYC) 

Are flights on this route in Feb usually overbooked?
How often deos Delta fly on this route?
Is it easy to have a seat if one gets to the gate early?
(I hate to drag my luggage back from the airport. :-( )

Thank you in advance.
wei@ifi.unizh.ch
-- 
   Qing Wei                  |\  /||\  /||     Email: wei@ifi.unizh.ch  
   Dept. of Computer Science | \/ || \/ ||     Tel.:  +41 1 257 4317    
   University of Zurich      |    ||    ||____ Fax:   +41 1 363 0035    
  _Switzerland_________________________________Telex:  817 251 unii ch_
From: kmeyer@aero.org (Kraig R. Meyer)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: N.W. Fly Write Question
Date: 23 Nov 92 15:49:30
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: solarium.aero.org
In-reply-to: bloom@ece.ucdavis.edu's message of 19 Nov 92 05:48:01 GMT

On 19 Nov 92 05:48:01 GMT, bloom@ece.ucdavis.edu (Jeffrey A Bloom) said:
> I was recently _given_ two round trip fly write coupons.
> I called Northwest and made reservations.  I told them I
> am using Fly Write tickets and they gave me an authorization
> number.  The coupons are properly signed by the original
> recipient.  Now, I am told to bring these coupons to the 
> NW ticket counter AT TIME OF CHECK IN and the agent will 
> give me real tickets.  I've never done this before and
> I am nervous about waiting until departure time to find out
> that these tickets are no good.

For domestic travel, the Fly-Write tickets are THE REAL TICKETS.  Look
on the third page of the fly-write ticket, and you will see an actual
flight coupon where the NW counter agent will fill in your itinerary.
That's your ticket!  

Like any ticket, the agent will issue you a boarding pass when you
get to the airport.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The opinions expressed above are my own and do not necessarily          |
| represent those of The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA.           |
|									  |
| Kraig R. Meyer		   	                 kmeyer@aero.org  |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: brentw@coopsol.com (Brent Williams)
Subject: Re: Preferences: Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW)?
Organization: Cooperative Solutions, Inc.
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 21:06:34 GMT

>->Anyone have any strong feelings one way or another?

Flew into Gatwick for the first time last week.  I liked it -- I had 
carry on baggage only (business trip) so was off the plane and through 
customs in approximately 3 minutes (exclusive of walking the length 
of the South terminal).  The train ride is 8 pounds to Victoria one way.
Trains leave every 15 minutes and it takes 1/2 hour.  Then downstairs 
to the Victoria Underground and over to Kensington -- 80p.  Beats the 
hell out of a 25 pound cab ride from Heathrow or a Tube ride (2.40??)
with interminable stops carrying luggage.  I'll probably fly into 
Gatwick again in a second, if my destination is London, over Heathrow.


-brent

-- 
Brent Williams/Cooperative Solutions Inc., San Jose CA   (408) 377-0300
brentw@coopsol.com
Cooperative Solutions makes Ellipse, a development environment for
industrial strength graphical client/server business applications.
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: shan@ (Amar Shan)
Subject: FF Mailing List & UA Premier card in FF magazine
Reply-To: shan@mpr.ca
Organization: MPR Teltech Ltd.
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 19:15:36 GMT

Hello,

	I have heard that there is a mailing list dedicated to a discussion
of the frequent flyer programs offered by the various carriers.  If there
is, could anyone let me know how I may join, please?

	A previous poster also alluded to the existence of a posting 
contrasting the various FF programs.  I don't recall seeing such a posting,
but if there was one, could some kind soul send me a copy?

	Lastly, I would greatly appreciate receiving the card to upgrade 
to United Airlines Premier frequent flyer program.  If anyone subscribes
to Frequent Flyer magazine and is willing to part with this card, please
contact me by e-mail ...

Thanks!

Amar
From: mkc@Graphics.Cornell.edu (Mitch Collinsworth)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: Preferences: Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW)?
Date: 16 Nov 1992 13:18:36 -0500
Organization: Cornell University Program of Computer Graphics, Ithaca, NY
NNTP-Posting-Host: rex.graphics.cornell.edu

The one time I went through Heathrow was for a connection to Oslo.  When
I arrived in Oslo my skis were there but not my luggage.  About 1/3 of
the people on my plane were also missing luggage.  I was the only one
who didn't understand the announcement they made at the baggage claim
area (in Norwegian).  After the uproar had subsided I asked where my
luggage was and was told "You came through Heathrow.  Happens all the
time."

-Mitch Collinsworth
 mitch@graphics.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: ysoh@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Cara Soh)
Subject: Air tix, roundtrip -- Indianapolis-Vancouver
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 16:49:00 GMT

One Northwest roundtrip ticket, dated Dec 26,1992 to Jan 3,1993.
Dates can be changed,which I will pay the $50 charge for switching
dates. Bought at $438 and now selling at $390. Let me know soon, so that
the dates can be fixed.
CARA SOH
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air,rec.travel
From: donsw@cs.cornell.edu (Donald Wihardja)
Subject: Re: Discount Airfares
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 17:29:49 GMT


>I have recently been talking to Travel Bargains (1-800-872-7224 US
>only) and Fly Cheap (1-800-FLY-CHEA(p) CAN and US) trying to find some
>low airfares.  Travel Bargains offers Detroit-Tampa for $190 US return
>but will not tell you the airline! Fly Cheap offers Buffalo-Tampa for
>~$280 USD (can't quite remember) on Continental.
>
>Has anyone dealt with the agencies before.  I'm awfully nervous about
>handing my VISA number to strangers over the phone.

I just ordered a ticket for LAX-Ithaca-LAX from Fly Cheap. They deliver
my ticket in less than one week. (I don't exactly remember how much less,
as days tend to merge together in a haze when you are in college, but I
remember being suprised its there already) I am satisfied.

Donald Wihardja
-- 
CS Department, Cornell University
Ithaca, New York.
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: samir@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Samir Patel)
Subject: Peoples Travel , Houston, Tx 77079 Sounds fishy! BEWARE guys!
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 23:07:48 GMT
From: bobbyr@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Bobby Richardson)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Abbreviation for air
Date: 20 Nov 92 03:58:02 GMT
Organization: Virginia Tech Computer Science Dept, Blacksburg, VA

I wonder if someone can tel me what the following abbreviations of airlines:

AA, AI, AY, AZ, BA, CI, CO, CP, CX, DL, JD, JL, KE, KL, LH, NH, NW,OZ,
PR, RG, RJ, SK, SQ, SR, SV, TG, TW, UA, US, VP

Your response will be greatly appreciated.

Bobby Richardson            bobbyr@csugrad.cs.vt.edu
Organization: University of Maine System
Date: Sunday, 22 Nov 1992 10:02:33 EST
From: Naushad Hussain <IO11076@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: Abbreviation for air
 <pal.722438559@regent.e-technik.tu-muenchen.de>

OZ is the abbreviation for Asiana Airlines.  They operate out of Seoul,
South Korea.  They have very limited service.  They serve almost all
major cities in The Far East and also Los Angeles.  I believe they also
serve some cities in China.
Regards,
Naushad Hussain
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: dmarble@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Duane F Marble)
Subject: Re: In-cabin pet carriers - LONG
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 13:00:09 GMT

I am in complete agreement with the complaints voiced in this posting.
If the airlines really were concerned about pets in the cabin they would
ask other passengers if they had problems sitting next to a person with
a pet (perhaps problems with cat hair, etc.). They never ask me if I want
to sit next to a screaming child when I want to work, read, etc.

Also, if you think the domestic charge is out of hand, ask about taking
your cat from the West Coast to Australia! Not tens, but hundreds of
dollars.
-- 
Duane F. Marble			       E-mail: dmarble@magnus.acs.osu.edu
Department of Geography                Telephone: (614) 292-2250
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio 43210                   Fax: (614) 292-6213
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air,rec.travel
From: davidb1@cbnewse.cb.att.com (david.e.butler)
Subject: Round Trip Airline From Chicago to New Orleans :FOR SALE
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: il
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 22:31:41 GMT
Followup-To: poster
Keywords: Bayou Classic, Airline Tickets, Chicago to New Orleans, LA



For Sale:

     1 Round Trip Ticket From Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA

     Departing Chicago Friday November 27, 1992 at 10:00am, and 

     departing New Orleans for the return on Sunday November 29 at 2:28pm.

     I am also willing to throw in a Ticket to the Bayou Classic Football

     Game between Southern University and Grambling University in the

     Louisiana Superdome on Saturday November 28.

     You get all of this for the low low price of $210.

Contact:

David Butler at

(708) 979-6127 daytime or
(708) 820-0080 evenings or
send e-mail to this addressee
From: western@rdg.dec.com (Jennifer Western)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: Preferences: Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW)?
Date: 23 Nov 92 13:59:08 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

In article <1992Nov23.012436.22143@linus.mitre.org> edelheit@smiley.mitre.org (Jeff Edelheit) writes:
>In article <1992Nov18.103031.26744@rdg.dec.com> western@rdg.dec.com (Jennifer Western) writes:
>>
>>   I must admit, though, I do live only about fifteen minutes away near
>>   Kew Gardens, so it's much more convenient for me than Gatwick.  Kew
>>   is right in the incoming flight path, so most days I'm aroused at 
>>   4:45 AM with the first of a continuous stream of 747's.
>>
>Seeing how LHR has a 6:00 AM curfew, I'm suprised that you are aroused at
>4:45 am by the first 747 arriving.  (I once had a delay in the
>departure of an American Airlines flight to LHR because of high tail
>winds.  (We were scheduled for a 6:30 PM JFK departure, arriving at
>6:15 am.  AA held our departure for 1 hr and we arrived on time!)
>

   If indeed there ever was such a curfew, there sure ain't one now !
   According to my old BA timetable (good thru 3/92, can't find my
   current one) there is, for example, a flight from KL which arrives
   at 4:35 AM.



   Jennifer
    
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: kls@ohare.Chicago.COM (Karl Swartz)
Subject: Re: LA Airport
Organization: Chicago Software Works
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 09:54:38 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.142240.14248@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> ncole@nyx.cs.du.edu (Noah Cole) writes:
>I think this is because Terminal A can not hold Widebody flights (757/767/747/
>D10/L10) (for those of you who don't know what widebodies are)

And for those of you who *still* don't know what widebodies are, a 757
isn't one of 'em.  The others are, though, as are the A300, A310, and
MD-11.  While not yet in service the 777, A330, and A340 are also in
the widebody category.

-- 
Karl Swartz		|INet	kls@ditka.chicago.com		
1-415/854-3409		|UUCP	uunet!decwrl!ditka!kls
    QUAYLE IS A BOZOE	|Snail	2144 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park CA 94025, USA
"I never vote for anyone.  I always vote against."  (W. C. Fields)
From: rdorich@jade.tufts.edu (Rob)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: Preferences: Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW)?
Date: 19 Nov 92 20:45:22 GMT
Organization: Tufts University - Medford, MA

I think Heathrow's Terminal 4 is the best.  It's got a really nice
duty free area... tons of stuff.  It's also pretty small, which makes
a small walk to the exit (sort of like Paris' Charles de Gaulle 2).

Rob
--


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roberto Dorich		 |           /~~  \ /  ~~/~~ /~~/  /~~  /|  /    /~~
			 |    SKI   /--    X    /   /__/  /--  / |/ |   /--
Electrical Engineering	 |         /__    / \  /   /\    /__  /     |  /__
rdorich@jade.tufts.edu	 |  Tufts University, College of Engineering.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xref: sparky rec.travel.air:5740 rec.travel:15798
From: sgf@acsu.buffalo.edu (Steven G. Feuerstein)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air,rec.travel
Subject: Re: Discount Airfares
Date: 22 Nov 92 02:13:38 GMT
Organization: UB

There are fares available through Santo charters for $195  Buffalo to 
Orlando leaving on Sat..  
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: sjones@alfred.carleton.ca (Stan Jones)
Subject: Re: Canadaians choosing US Airlines?
Organization: Carleton University
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 00:07:23 GMT

In <BxvnEz.L2z@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> howard@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Howard Lem) writes:


>Aeroplan (AirCanada) now rewards points to members who fly with US Air.
>Points will be awarded to aeroplan instead of USAir's.  

There is a similar plan with United and I think it works both ways (I
know United FF's are avilable for flights on AC out of Newark).
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: ncole@nyx.cs.du.edu (Noah Cole)
Subject: Re: Standby Pass by Delta Air Lines
Organization: Macalester College, St. Paul Minnesota USA
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 15:28:16 GMT

wei@ifi.unizh.ch (Qing Wei) writes:


>Can anyone share his/her experience using domestic "Standby Pass"
>by Delta Air Lines with me? 

>I'm considering to buy a "Standby Pass" from Delta Air Lines
>in Europe when I visit Bay area in February.  It costs 449.-US$
>and is valid within a month limitted to the US continental and Canada.
>With this pass you can not make reservation in advance. My questions
>are: (route: NYC -> SFO/San Jose -> Las Vegas -> Washinton DC -> NYC) 

Delta doesw fly from Newark yo SF.. but they fly from JFK and LGA to Dallas
and Cincy where you can cghange for SF .  From SFO to Las Vegas,  you woud
have to change in Las Vegas.  From Las Vegas to Washington, you would have
to change in Cincy, and then there are direct flights from DC to NYC.. LGA.
Oh yes, you can fly from JFK to SFO on Denta non-stop as well.

-Noah Cole
--
Noah Cole		"Outside is America,		     NCOLE@MACALSTR.EDU
Macalester College	and also the car park"	            ncole@nyx.cs.du.edu
St. Paul, MN 55105    	- Bono, 27 December 1989      cncole@coos.dartmouth.edu
612-696-7388 		 	Dublin	            aj909@cleveland.freenet.edu
Organization: Doctoral student, Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 10:55:42 -0500 
From: Tamminh Tran <tt26+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: N.W. Fly Write Question

That was the way it worked for me.  The ticket was under my name, so I
had to show my ID to the ticketing agent at the airport.  Then, the
agent simply filled out the flight information as reserved.

I am using the other ticket to fly my son over here.  I was instructed
to sign the transferring authorization and have it presented by my son
at the airport.  At that time, he will sign the ticket and present his
ID to the agent.

I don't see any problem using it.  For peace of mind, you should confirm
the reservation some time before departure, though.

Good luck.
From: john@newave.newave.mn.org (John A. Weeks III)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: American, Northwest, USAir rumours
Date: 22 Nov 92 02:03:00 GMT
Organization: Newave Communications, Ltd, Lake Wobegon, MN

In <KMEYER.92Nov18210804@soloflex.aero.org> kmeyer@aero.org (Kraig R. Meyer):
>* Northwest is laying off something like 1000 workers, about half 
>  management and half union.

Many of these layoffs are seasonal in nature.  With the travel season winding
down in late summer, Northwest, like every other travel company in the US,
is laying off their seasonal staff.  This accounts for about 400 jobs.

The reaminder of the 700 or so people that were layed off are pilots and
aircrew.  Northwest has had a reduction in flights since this slump in air
travel started, and they layed off about 300 under used crew.

Northwest also gave notice to a number of "extra" management types.

> They are currently operating out of "emergency cash reserves" and are also
> considering selling all operations at Chicago O'Hare (not really a hub for
> Northwest at ~30 flights/day).

The recent news from Northwest was mostly a carefully orchestrated public
relations ploy to get the unions to agree to $300-million per year in 
wage concessions.  Northwest even went so far as to draw down all of their
outstanding lines of credit to "prove" to the unions that they had to give
in or NW would go toes up.  The unions did not give in, but did agree to
concessions in exchange for partial employee ownership and seats on the
board.

> This would be an effort to keep cash flow more stable until they can
> "complete their merger with KLM."

Not according to anyone at Northwest or KLM.  During the recent union talks,
KLM announced that it would not increase their 30% stake in Northwest.  The
unions forced KLM to chip in $50-million before they would accept a contract
package with $300-million in concessions.

In fact, I would guess that a Northwest-KLM merger would be in the courts
so long that KLM would not attempt such a thing.  Since the state of
Minnesota has invested almost $1-billion to keep NW in Minnesota, the state
would not allow those assets to be taken out of MN or the US without putting
up a big fight.

Northwest, like most airlines, are expected to lose money until the travel
season starts in late sprint.  Northwest needed to make sure that it had
the capital to operate during this time, plus have the reserves to ramp
up during the profitable summer travel season.  To do this, NW obtained
$50-million for KLM, $250-million from banks, $300-million in concessions
from unions, and $275-million in loan garantees from us Minnesota taxpayers.

Northwest is in no danger as long as the recession does not get any worse.
If we go into a triple-dip recession, NW may have to scale back their
operation.  NW always has the option to go public again (NW is currently
the only major airline that is privately owned).

-john-

-- 
==============================================================================
John A. Weeks III		(612) 942-6969		    john@newave.mn.org
Newave Communications, Ltd.			    ..!uunet!tcnet!newave!john
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
From: evan@telly.on.ca (Evan Leibovitch)
Subject: Re: Canadaians choosing US Airlines?
Organization: Somewhere just far enough out of Toronto
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 15:48:43 GMT

In article <XF55TB1w165w@aficom.ocunix.on.ca> adf@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (andrew farmer) writes:

>ncole@nyx.cs.du.edu (Noah Cole) writes:

>| So, this question is auimed at Canadaians.  When you are choosing airlines
>| deoes nationality come into question ever?  What percentage of Canadaians
>| fly on US Airlines.  For example, lets say that a Canadaian wants to fly from
>| Toronto to Chicago. They coiuld fly AA, AC, or UA.  Would a Canadaian fly AC
>| because it is AC?  If it was cheaper to fly from Montreal to Vancouver via
>| Chicago on United, would someone do it?
>
>I think most people, myself included, make carrier selections based on
>three basic items: cost, past expierience and reputation.

Since I find them all priced competitively, I'd say there are even more
factors to consider;

- Which terminal/airport? Going out of Toronto, I much prefer terminal 3
  (Canadian, American) over terminal 2 (Air Canada), and both are phenominally
  better than Terminal 1 (United, Northwest, USAir, Delta). For
  connecting to other US destinations, I like United's facilities at
  O'Hare better than American's or the others, but I prefer to avoid
  Chicago if I can. Not all of the airlines flying to New York use the
  same airports.

- Frequent flyer programs. Since none of the Canadian air services
  collaborate on FF programs with major US airlines, I'd prefer to stay on
  the airline on which I do the most flying to build up points (all else
  equal). So, if that means taking Canadian Airlines to go Toronto to
  San Francisco via Vancouver rather than American or United on a
  more-direct route through Chicago, I may consider that.
-- 
 Evan Leibovitch, Sound Software Ltd., located in beautiful Brampton, Ontario
         evan@telly.on.ca / uunet!utzoo!telly!evan / (416) 452-0504
         "IBM's three letters are probably EBCDIC for CYA" - Nik H.