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Orbitz Reveals the Busiest Airports for Thanksgiving

2009-11-11T11:53:00.000-05:00

Orbitz.com (www.orbitz.com) today released the Insider Index of the busiest airports for Thanksgiving, as well as time-saving tips on navigating bustling airports during the holiday season. The Index also reveals the least busy airports, helping travelers who have not yet booked their airline tickets make an informed decision when choosing their airports.
Orbitz Index most/least busy Thanksgiving Airports
The Insider Index reviewed the top 50 U.S. airports based on flight bookings, identifying which will be the most and least busy the week of Thanksgiving.
Chicago O'Hare International takes the honor of the busiest airport this Thanksgiving. Rounding out the top three are Los Angeles and Denver international airports. New York-area airports occupy three of the 10 spots on the list, making the Big Apple a hot spot for Thanksgiving travelers.

Busiest Airports
1 Chicago, IL - Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
2 Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles International(LAX)
3 Denver, CO - Denver International (DEN)
4 San Francisco, CA - San Francisco International (SFO)
5 Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Hartsfield International (ATL)
6 Boston, MA - Boston Logan International (BOS)
7 New York, NY - New York LaGuardia (LGA)
8 New York - New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
9 Newark, NJ - Newark Liberty International (EWR)
10 Seattle, WA - Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)

For the first time, Orbitz also is revealing the least busy airports over the Thanksgiving holiday. While these airports will see a lift in traffic, overall they should be a lot easier for travelers to steer. Those traveling to San Jose can look forward to breezing in and out this Thanksgiving, as SJC will be the least busy domestic airport.

Least Busy Airports
1 San Jose, CA - San Jose International (SJC)
2 Nashville, TN - Nashville International (BNA)
3 Richmond, VA - Richmond International (RIC)
4 Sacramento, CA - Sacramento International (SMF)
5 Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville International (JAX)
6 West Palm Beach, FL - Palm Beach International (PBI)
7 Hartford, CT - Bradley International (BDL)
8 Orange County, CA - John Wayne International(SNA)
9 Cincinnati, OH - Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
10 Fort Myers, FL - Southwest Florida Regional(RSW)

Orbitz Insider's Top Five Tips to Save You Time at the Airport this Holiday
Choose alternate airports: If you haven't booked your Thanksgiving travel -- or if you're looking ahead to Christmas or New Year's -- consider using alternative smaller airports. These are often much easier to navigate and less crowded. For example, if you're traveling to Chicago, consider Chicago Midway (MDW); New York-bound travelers may have better luck with crowds at the White Plains Westchester County Airport (HPN); and those heading into or out of Los Angeles may save time by going through Burbank (BUR) or Orange County (SNA).
Flexibility is key: If your travel plans are flexible, investigate flying on days that Orbitz predicts will be less busy during the Thanksgiving period. The best bet would be to depart on Nov. 23, 2009 and return on Nov. 30, 2009.
Online check-in is your friend: Where possible take advantage of online check-in and print boarding passes before arriving at the airport.
Know your flight status: Always check the status of your flight before leaving for the airport. Orbitz bookers can choose to get flight status updates sent to their PDAs or mobile phones, while they're on the go. Plus, they can choose to send their alerts to 6 others, including those picking them up at the airport.
Security smarts: Keep anything you need to show airport security such as ID, boarding passes, liquids in a zip-top bag, or medication, in a separate compartment of your carry-on bag. Digging for these items once you get to the front of the security line will cause delays and certainly not make you any friends.
To see a complete list of the Orbitz Insiders' Top 50 Busiest Airports for Thanksgiving, visit: blog.orbitz.com.
(1) Busiest airport data based on air ticket bookings of the top 50 domestic airports on Orbitz.com with arrivals and departures between 11/21/09 and 11/29/09.
(2) Least busy airport data based on air ticket bookings of the top 50 domestic airports on Orbitz.com with arrivals and departures between 11/21/09 and 11/29/09.
AirGuide and AirGuideBusiness
ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Google's gift: Free WiFi in 47 airports

2009-11-10T11:53:00.001-05:00

Google is planning to foot the bill for WiFi at 47 of the nation's airports for the rest of the year, beginning Tuesday.
With some travelers spending more time on the ground in airports than on planes during the busy flying season, now seemed an especially fitting time to offer up the perk, Google said.
The list includes the international airports in Miami and Orlando, which are among the world's 30 busiest airports, as well as five others in Florida. Travelers through smaller airports, such as Montana's Billings and Bozeman, will also benefit.
"This is one of our holiday gifts to our users, and when you connect, we also hope you'll take the opportunity to try some of the latest Google products," the company said in a statement.
Upon signing in, users will be asked if they want to set Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) as their homepage or try the Google Chrome browser.
The company is also running a charity campaign to raise money for three nonprofit groups: Engineers without Borders, One Economy Corporation and Climate Savers Computing Initiative. When Google WiFi users first log on, the landing page will offer them the option of donating to the organizations. Google will match donations of up to $250,000 per airport.
Google to buy mobile ad provider
Google has inked other free WiFi deals. It already offers free wireless Internet to its hometown of Mountain View, Calif., and last month it partnered with Virgin America to give the airline's customers free access to Gogo's Inflight Internet.
Both the airport WiFi deal and the Virgin America arrangement will end Jan. 15, after the holiday rush subsides.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

TAM is Awarded the World Travel Awards

2009-11-10T11:51:00.000-05:00

TAM was elected, for the second consecutive time, the best airline in South America (South America's Leading Airline) at the World Travel Awards. Considered the "Oscars of the Travel Industry", the award establishes companies in the tourism, hospitality and aviation worldwide.
"We are very flattered over this achievement. This second award in a row is a very important recognition to the work of each of our employees who dedicate themselves daily to offer customers the best possible service," said Manoela Amaro, our Marketing Director.
Hosted by the site Breaking Travel News, the award is in its 16th edition. This year, the online voting for the winners have set record levels of participation: over 170 thousand travel agents and tourism professionals indicated their favorites.
For each region - Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central America, South America, North America, Europe, Indian Ocean and Middle East - companies have been selected in the categories airlines, airports, hotels, car rental companies, resorts, spas, cruises, destinations and travel agencies, among others.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

US Airways changing rules for frequent-flier benefits

2009-11-10T11:50:00.000-05:00

US Airways said Monday that it's changing the number of frequent-flier miles customers need for award tickets - a move that will require fewer miles for off-peak travel but that will also mean burning more miles for high-demand trips.
The airline, which has its biggest hub in Charlotte, says the changes are intended to offer its frequent fliers "more flexibility and options" in redeeming miles.
Some fliers on Monday were skeptical of the move and believe that the changes will increase the number of miles they'll need to use. The airline said that's not necessarily the case.
The major change is that instead of dividing award levels in two - for instance, requiring either 25,000 or 50,000 miles for a domestic round-trip coach ticket, depending on availability - US Airways mileage program will divide into three or four levels. For domestic tickets, fliers will need to redeem 25,000, 40,000, or 60,000 miles, based on the availability of tickets.
For travel to Europe, the two existing levels for round-trip coach tickets - 50,000 and 100,000 - will be replaced by four tiers ranging from 35,000 to 125,000. That means that low-demand travel - such as going to Dublin, Ireland, in mid-January - could cost fewer miles, while high-demand flights - such as heading to Rome in July - could cost more miles. But that will depend on how the airline classifies the demand for the flights.
The new program, called GoAwards, takes effect Jan. 6.
US Airways spokeswoman Valerie Wunder said the changes will allow customers to have more flexibility in choosing their awards.
"If you're traveling on a day that is a premium day, yes, you will probably need to use some more miles," she said. "But we're also offering more flexibility, so maybe you can find a day when you don't use as many miles."
The changes come as US Airways, like other major airlines, is looking for ways to save cash as it continues to lose money because of a drop-off in travel. The airline in recent years has added fees for checked bags and for choice seats, and it has cut out complimentary pretzels.
On its frequent-flier program, called Dividend Miles, US Airways last year started charging fees to redeem award tickets, and it has started enforcing requirements that customers have active accounts or risk losing their miles.
The airline said no cost savings are associated with changing its frequent-flier program. However, airlines count unredeemed award miles as expenses on their balance sheets, amounts that would decrease if fliers cashed in more miles. At the end of 2008, US Airways was recording a $151 million expense associated with unused miles, according to securities documents.
Jay Sorensen, president of Wisconsin-based IdeaWorks, an airline consulting firm, said the industry has been slowly moving away from its "original sin" of pegging miles required for an award to the distance flown, as opposed to aligning it with the cost of the ticket. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines also have recently changed their programs to better reflect a ticket's cost.
He said US Airways' change could be a boon to some travelers, especially if they're able to use miles for flights that were previously unavailable to them.
But it could also lead to cutbacks in the availability of tickets that cost fewer miles.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Aer Lingus Business Sale

2009-11-05T10:33:00.000-05:00

Aer Lingus, Ireland's Airline, announces its European Business Sale for travel January 1st through April 30th 2010. For $849* each-way (based on roundtrip), you can enjoy all the luxuries of flying Aer Lingus' Business Class from Boston, Chicago or New York (JFK) to Dublin or Shannon, Ireland and connect several other European cities**:
Boston to:
Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Milan, Barcelona Dusseldorf, Madrid, Paris, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Manchester
Chicago to:
Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Manchester, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Milan, Brussels, London, Paris
New York to:
Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Madrid, Paris
Barcelona, Frankfurt, Malaga, Rome, Birmingham, Krakow, Manchester, Vienna, Brussels, Lisbon, Milan, Warsaw
Dusseldorf, London, Munich

Aer Lingus' Business Class amenities include:
Gold Circle Lounge Access
Priority Check-In
Personal On-Demand
In-Flight Entertainment
Restaurant Quality Dining
Priority Baggage Delivery
Three Check-In Bags FREE of Charge

Seats are limited and this offer expires November 30, 2009.
Additional taxes/fees/restrictions may apply.
For more details and to avail of this offer, visit aerlingus.com.
Aer Lingus, Ireland's Airline, has gained international acclaim for its low-cost, low-fare model centered on offering one-way fares. Consistent with this low-cost model, Aer Lingus' primary distribution channel is its website, www.aerlingus.com. The airline serves nearly 70 destinations across Ireland, the UK, Continental Europe and the United States. Transatlantic service includes direct non-stop service between the Emerald Isle and Boston, Chicago, New York (JFK) and Orlando.
Transatlantic itinerary (to Dublin or Shannon) in business class with connecting service to remaining European destinations in economy class.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

US Couple Arrested For Stealing Scores Of Luggage

2009-11-05T10:30:00.002-05:00

Police have solved the mystery of where about 1,000 pieces of luggage from Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport disappeared to -- the home of local couple Keith and Stacy King.
Authorities initially detained Keith King three weeks ago after he was spotted entering the airport from outside and taking a piece of luggage police learned was not his from a baggage carousel to the parking lot.
However, his initial arrest apparently did not put an end to his alleged activities as King was found again on Monday at the airport taking another suitcase. Police followed him to his home on the outskirts of Phoenix, obtained a search warrant, and discovered the huge luggage stash.
"We believe that the suspects... went through the bags pretty much as soon as they got them and took out what they thought was of value and could use," Phoenix police spokesman Detective James Holmes said.
"It's a God awful lot of luggage, you can't even imagine," he said.
Holmes said that interviews with neighbours revealed that the couple had yard sales most weekends to sell a variety of the stolen goods, including the suitcases themselves.
While it was unclear what was the role of King's wife in the scheme, the two are likely facing a multitude of charges including theft and burglary, he said.
Authorities are now trying to identify "massive amounts of stolen items" in an attempt to reunite them with their owners.AirGuide and AirGuideBusiness
ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

With airlines shrinking, your flight could be cut

2009-11-05T10:30:00.001-05:00

Airlines are cutting money-losing flights during the current travel slump, and that can cause headaches for passengers who bought tickets on those trips.
The airlines will usually rebook a passenger on another flight close to the original schedule. But sometimes the change can mean a delay of several hours — even overnight.
Travel experts say big disruptions are most common when travelers buy tickets months in advance for a vacation or holiday visit.
What can you do if the delay in your new flight ruins your plans?
"That's a tough one," says Glen MacDonell, director of lodging airline programs for the AAA travel club. "The airline will try to re-accommodate you or offer you a refund. In a lot of cases, neither of those are good options."
Most U.S. airlines say they will offer a full refund if they put you on a new flight that arrives more than 90 minutes earlier or later than you had planned.
But if air fares have risen since you bought your ticket, the refund won't cover the cost of buying another ticket on a different airline.
"It's going to happen more often with smaller airports where they're cutting back service," says George Hobica, the founder of airfarewatchdog.com.
Early next month, AirTran Airways is pulling out of Charleston, S.C., where it was credited with driving down fares by offering lower prices on service to Atlanta.
But if you hold a ticket on AirTran after Dec. 3, "You'll have to buy a more expensive ticket because those fares are going to skyrocket" when the discount carrier leaves, Hobica says.
Airlines also bump passengers when they switch a flight to a smaller plane. Some travelers believe airlines changed their trip to resell the original seat to a higher bidder.
Lew Davis, a middle school administrator in New York, says Delta tried to bump him from a $138 nonstop round trip to Denver at Christmas 2007 to a multi-stop itinerary on Delta's regional affiliates. After many phone calls and e-mails — he accused the airline of bait-and-switch sales tactics — Delta put him back on the nonstop, he says.
Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott calls Davis' case an anomaly. She says the airline typically offers displaced customers a better flight, such as a nonstop instead of a one-stop, or a credit for future travel. Or they can get a full refund if the new arrival time is more than 90 minutes later than the original one
Here's what other airlines say:
Continental will work with a customer to find a satisfactory new flight, or the customer can request a refund, says spokeswoman Mary Clark.
American and United say they also offer full refunds if the new flight will arrive more than 90 minutes later than the customer had planned.
American spokesman Tim Wagner says if customers instead want to pick another flight, they can apply the full amount they paid toward a new ticket.
"You would essentially be getting a voucher for future travel — with no change fee," Wagner says. Others say they also waive change fees.
Southwest offers a refund, and if the passenger wants to pick a different flight that now costs more, the airline will honor the original price, says spokesman Chris Mainz.
More advice from travel experts:
• If the airline sends you an e-mail with a new itinerary, check it closely. Make sure you'll reach your destination in a reasonable time. If it's not a nonstop, make sure you'll have time to make your connecting flight.
• If there's a problem with the new schedule, call the airline immediately while there are still plenty of options, such as empty seats on more convenient flights.
• If your airline ends service to the city you planned to visit, see if it flies to a nearby airport. Ask if they'll put you on another carrier, but airlines aren't obligated to do so, experts say.
• Before you take a refund, make sure you can book on another airline if you still want to make the trip. Airlines have been cutting flights, meaning planes are more full than a year ago, so your options may be limited — and costly.AirGuide and AirGuideBusiness
ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

American Airlines Announces the 'Find Yourself Up in the Air' Online Auction and Sweepstakes to Celebrate the Upcoming Paramount Pictures Film, 'Up in

2009-11-04T13:01:00.000-05:00

American Airlines has introduced a unique online auction to celebrate the new Paramount Pictures film, "Up in the Air," from Oscar®-nominated director Jason Reitman and starring Oscar winner George Clooney. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters across the country this December.
American's new "Find Yourself Up in the Air" online auction runs now through Jan. 5, 2010. AAdvantage members can use their AAdvantage miles to bid on travel packages, elite benefits, unique experiences, items related to the "Up in the Air" movie, and much more. All AAdvantage miles from winning bids will be donated to the Miles for Kids in Need program. A few of the many items up for bid include:

One-year AAdvantage Gold membership
Lifetime AAdvantage Gold status
One-year AAdvantage Platinum membership
American Airlines airplane simulator session for two with licensed flight instructor, followed by a tour of the American Airlines Flight Academy and System Operations Control (SOC).
Suite for 12 at a professional sporting event at the American Airlines Arena in Miami or the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Replica of Ryan Bingham's 10 Million Mile Card, as seen in the film.
Additionally, American is complementing the auction with the "Find Yourself Up in the Air" Sweepstakes, which will offer an extraordinary Grand Prize including:

First Class air travel for two to Los Angeles
Three-night luxury hotel stay
Four-day luxury car rental
Paramount Studios VIP tour for two
Premium luggage set
Exclusive VIP dining experience

You can register for the sweepstakes at www.aa.com/upintheair. Registrants will receive one entry per e-mail address and can earn a second entry by referring friends to the sweepstakes. The maximum number of entries allowed per person, per e-mail, is two.
"American's involvement with this stellar film showcases our commitment to providing travelers with the services they need on the road and rewarding them for their loyalty," said Rob Friedman, President - AAdvantage Marketing Programs at American Airlines. "We think our customers will enjoy seeing some of American's familiar products and services featured in the upcoming film, and we hope they'll also enjoy the online auction and sweepstakes where they can win unique experiences that can only be offered by American."
For complete auction and sweepstakes rules, as well as other details, visit www.aa.com/upintheair. For more information on Miles for Kids in Need please visit www.aa.com/kids.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Travel Website Helps Holiday Travelers Find Best Private Spaces in U.S. Airports

2009-11-04T13:00:00.001-05:00

When delayed at the airport, most holiday travelers crave a comfortable chair, an electrical outlet, or simply a quiet place to get some last minute work done. In fact, a recent survey found that 92 percent of travelers wish airports offered private spaces allowing them to get work done and relax while waiting to board flights.
Realizing these areas exist but are often hard to locate in busy airports, 3M Privacy Filters is introducing a mobile compatible version of its travel website AirportPrivacyHavens.com (formerly AirportHavens.com) so holiday travelers can easily locate the best private spaces at their airport - right from the airport on their smartphone.
From deserted airport gates to serene chapels and meditation rooms, AirportPrivacyHavens.com contains an extensive collection of the best places to find privacy, get work done or simply relax at airports across the U.S. Frequent business travelers and road warriors helped 3M create the travel website by contributing their insider secrets to help their fellow travelers. 3M continues to seek new airport privacy havens and encourages travelers to submit their suggestions at the website.
For this November only, 3M Privacy Filters will create three Airport Privacy Havens in some of the busiest U.S. airports where privacy is needed most:

Chicago O'Hare International: Terminal 2 near entrance to concourses E & F (Nov. 1st - Dec. 1st)
Dallas-Fort Worth International: Terminal C near Gates 2 and 3 (Nov. 1st - Dec. 1st)
John F Kennedy International Airport in New York: Terminal 8 near entrance to American Airline's Admiral Club (Nov. 10th - Dec. 7th)

Each Airport Privacy Haven will offer travelers comfortable, private seating and electrical outlets throughout the month of November along with special services during the busiest days of the Thanksgiving travel season. On November 24-25 and November 28-29, 2009 from 8 am to 5 pm, travelers who visit the havens will enjoy free massages and complimentary Wi-Fi access.
"3M Privacy Filters offer added protection and privacy by darkening laptop and mobile phone side views so others can't see sensitive data when working in public places," says Sheryle Taylor, marketing communication manager, 3M Optical Systems. "Through these three unique airport privacy havens and our travel website, we want to help business travelers find the total privacy
when and where they need it most."
For more information on 3M Privacy Filters or to find airport privacy havens, please visit www.AirportPrivacyHavens.com.
AirGuide and AirGuideBusiness
ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Top Five Twitter Travel Lists Out There Now

2009-11-04T12:59:00.000-05:00

Twitter has made it a billion times easier for fans to stalk their favorite celebs, for airlines and brands to track their customers, and now, with the new Twitter Lists feature, it's super simple to follow frequent travelers around the globe. For those of you not yet on Twitter, we advise you not to tune out yet, because one day you will probably have to know about it for one reason or another.
Back to Lists—introduced during these first few days of November, the function is the first big update on Twitter in a long time. It allowed members to gather those they follow into neat and tidy lists based on any identifying characteristic, like mommy bloggers, celebrities, personal friends and—yes—travelers. In the course of these first few days of List generation, we've found ourselves included in over 100 lists and counting, keeping company with some of Twitter's best travel authorities and most frequent flying.
To help you on your List discovery, we've gathered up a few of our favorite travel-centric ones. Lo and behold, our Five Favorite Twitter Travel Lists RIght Now...
· @EverywhereTrip/Travel
Compiled by Gary Arndt, otherwise known as "EverywhereTrip" on Twitter owing to the fact that he's perpetually traveling around the world, this list is also one of the top-ranked on Twitter right now. It's not a massively large list as it follows only 279, but that just means that it's well-curated and an easy jumping-off point for getting into travel lists.
· @travelpod/list
This is a 500-er, meaning that Travelpod has chosen to feature 500 of the top Twitter travelers in their sizable list, giving you a taste of everyone that's out there in the world of virtual vagabonding.
· @eurapart/travel-500
Here's yet another 500-er that we've found to have quite a good cross section of travel twitters. From MSN Travel to folks chewing the fat over Amazing Race, it's a good variety. Of course you'll find us all warm and snug in there as well.
· @jessicadebra/travel-tweets
Okay, the last 500 list, we promise. This one comes from a regular old traveler, not a travel website or other media outlet. We love lists like these because the intel comes from those on the ground, actually out there hopping on trains and grabbing the planes.
· @IngridaLM/travelers
At 388-strong, this travel list sure doubles up on some folks from the previous lists we've mentioned, but when it comes to reading updates from the road and travel tips, our theory is the more the merrier.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

AA Travel Insurance Advise Travellers To Take Out Cover When Booking Christmas Flights

2009-11-03T10:36:00.001-05:00

AA Travel Insurance is today advising travellers to ensure they take out proper travel cover when booking flights abroad this Christmas.
In the wake of recent airline collapses from the likes of XL Airways, Zoom and Silverjet, British Airways are the latest casualties of the recession currently crippling the airline industry, with news that BA flights may be disrupted in the lead-up to Christmas.
Following a disastrous 12 months where BA has seen 401 million pounds Sterling of losses to its business, last week negotiations relating to changing working conditions, pay freezes and redundancies of its cabin crew staff broke down, resulting in Unite, the union representing BA's 14,000 cabin crew staff, to call for industrial action.
The results of the ballot of BA cabin crew on possible strike action will be announced on 14th December, potentially paving the way for disruption through the peak travelling period around Christmas.
A spokesperson from AA Travel Insurance said that "in light of the current problems facing the airline industry it is crucial that travellers seeking to fly this winter take out adequate travel insurance to cover themselves in the event of airline failure or serious delays."
AA Travel Insurance include financial failure holiday protection, cancellation cover of up to 5,000 pounds per person, as well as 24 hour emergency medical assistance and medical expenses of up to 10,000,000 pounds per person, so if you're planning on taking a trip abroad this winter, get cover you can trust from the AA.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Continental Airlines' First Aircraft With Flat-Bed Business First Seats Takes to the Skies

2009-11-02T10:35:00.000-05:00

Continental Airlines' first aircraft with new flat-bed BusinessFirst seats took to the skies Sunday, operating as flight CO98 from Hong Kong to New York/Newark.
The aircraft, a Boeing 777 used on long-haul international routes, is the first aircraft type in Continental's fleet to receive the new seats. The company will also install the flat-bed seats on its Boeing 757-200 and 767-400 aircraft, and on its Boeing 787 fleet as the aircraft are delivered to Continental.
"We began designing this seat three years ago, involving our customers and numerous other experts to get it just right and I couldn't be more pleased with the end result," said Larry Kellner, chairman and chief executive officer of Continental Airlines. "This is a great seat and I am excited to see more of them on flights throughout our system."
Flat-Bed Seat Reclines 180-Degrees
Continental's new BusinessFirst seats allow customers to lie completely flat, reclining 180-degrees and providing 6 1/2 feet (2 meters) of sleeping space in the fully extended position. Electronic controls enable customers to easily move the seat to an infinite number of adjustments, including lumbar support and fully extended sleep positions. Laptop power, headset and USB plugs are conveniently tucked above the customer's shoulder and iPod connectivity is also available at the seat. The seats feature 15.4-inch video monitors.
Perfecting Design Since Fall 2006
Continental's product marketing team began researching new seat options in the fall of 2006 when planning BusinessFirst service for the new 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline visited with numerous seat manufacturers worldwide before selecting BE Aerospace, which created five different design concepts. Concurrently, Continental sought feedback from a focus group of BusinessFirst frequent flyers that identified and prioritized key needs of global travelers and worked closely with the airline's project team and the seat manufacturer to help create the new seat. The important features requested by the focus group were to install a wider seat that could lie completely flat and be easy to operate.
Continental currently operates the Boeing 777 on routes between Newark and Beijing, Shanghai, Delhi, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London/Heathrow, Mumbai, Paris, Rome, Tel Aviv and Tokyo, and between Houston and London/Heathrow, Amsterdam and Tokyo.
Continental uses the Boeing 767-400 on routes between Newark and Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Geneva and Honolulu; between Houston and Frankfurt, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Honolulu; and between Guam and Honolulu and Narita.
BusinessFirst on the Boeing 757 is currently offered on routes between Newark and Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast, Berlin, Birmingham, Bristol, Copenhagen, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamburg, Lisbon, London/Heathrow, Madrid, Manchester, Oslo, Paris, Shannon and Stockholm.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

JetBlue Jets to Second Jamaican Destination: Kingston

2009-10-30T13:33:00.001-04:00

JetBlue Airways today begins new service to Kingston, Jamaica - its 14th international destination. The airline will serve Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport with daily nonstop service to/from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), with onward connecting service available to cities across the United States. JetBlue's flights to the Jamaican capital are already on sale at www.jetblue.com.
Kingston will be JetBlue's second destination in Jamaica, after launching its already successful daily nonstop service between JFK and Montego Bay on the north coast of the island, rounding out a robust lineup of Caribbean destinations that already include Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Aruba, St. Maarten, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Bermuda and the Bahamas. JetBlue also plans to begin daily nonstop service to Montego Bay from its growing focus city at Orlando International Airport commencing Feb. 8, 2010, and Saturday-only nonstop service from Boston's Logan International Airport beginning Jan. 9, 2010, subject to receipt of government operating authority.
To further celebrate the inaugural service, JetBlue is offering a special $89 (a) sale fare each way between New York and Kingston. Flights are on sale today through November 4th, at www.jetblue.com, for travel between October 31, 2009 and February 8, 2010. Blackout dates and other restrictions apply (a).
AirGuide and AirGuideBusiness
ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Gulfstream increases flights to Tallahassee, lowers prices

2009-10-30T13:32:00.002-04:00

Gulfstream International Airlines will increase non-stop weekday daily flights between Tampa International Airport and Tallahassee from four to six effective Monday, one more flight than Continental Airlines Connection carrier previously announced.
Gulfstream also will increase non-stop round trips on Sunday from two to three.
Despite the loss of competition on the route, Gulfstream is offering lower fares than both Delta Air Lines and Gulfstream offered in April, when Delta inaugurated flights between the two cities with the help of government subsidies.
A round-trip flight between Tampa and Tallahassee on Dec, 14 and 17 was listed Friday at $319.20, including taxes, compared with round-trip fares on both Delta and Gulfstream on April 14 and 17 of $351.
Delta Air Lines discontinued flights between Tampa and Tallahassee on Oct. 1, citing low demand.
The state, Leon County and city of Tallahassee earlier this year backed a total of $1.5 million in revenue guarantees for Delta to compete with Fort Lauderdale-based Gulfstream by adding flights between Tallahassee and Tampa, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
"While our competition has gone, returned and gone again, we have remained committed to providing reliable, quality, intra-Florida air service at reasonable prices, said David Hackett, Gulfstream president and CEO.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

JetBlue to increase Boston flights by 30 percent

2009-10-30T13:32:00.001-04:00

JetBlue said Thursday it will boost its service from Boston Logan by 30 percent by next summer, as bigger carriers pull back and competition from rival Southwest heats up.
JetBlue, based in Forest Hills, N.Y., plans to offer up to 78 daily flights from Boston to 33 destinations.
That includes two more flights to Chicago and Raleigh Durham, N.C., for a total of three daily flights each. JetBlue will also add flights from Boston to San Francisco, San Diego, Washington and spots in the Caribbean.
JetBlue currently serves more cities out of Boston than any other airline.
On Wednesday, US Airways said it would reshuffle routes, including reducing Boston flights from its current 80 per day. That includes trimming flying from Boston to the Caribbean to just one or two flights a day starting in May, down from five per day. US Airways, based in Tempe, Ariz., will also put a smaller plane on its Boston-LaGuardia shuttle because the 124-seat plane on that route now has been running less than half full.
Southwest Airlines, based in Dallas, started flying out of Logan in August. Earlier this month Southwest said it would add two more nonstops from there to Baltimore next spring. Lead scheduler Bill Owen said Southwest will also increase Saturday flights to and from vacation destinations in the spring, aiming for leisure travelers.
Vacationers are core to JetBlue's business, which flies to a number of spots in Florida and the Caribbean. Leisure travel has remained fairly strong in recent months, as fare sales lured more customers.
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Delta, Southwest to add new routes out of Detroit

2009-10-29T10:03:00.001-04:00

Detroit Metropolitan Airport says Delta and Southwest airlines are adding new routes next year, while a third carrier will resume flights in November.
Delta will start nonstop service next June to Seoul, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Weekly flights from Metro to Shanghai will be increased from five to seven.
Southwest plans daily nonstop flights to Denver beginning March 14.
USA3000 is resuming flights to Fort Myers, Fla., and Cancun, Mexico on Nov. 21, followed by Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Nov. 29. Flights will be added on select days to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
USA3000 suspended Detroit service in April.
Airport officials estimate the annual economic impact of the new routes to Southeast Michigan at $41 million.
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Travel for $25? Be sure to read the fine print

2009-10-29T10:02:00.001-04:00

Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines, the largest airline at Chicago’s Midway Airport, announced a fare sale yesterday of $25 for one-way flights of 375 miles or less – good news for travelers who meet the requirements.
As with many fare sales, there are a few caveats to keep in mind before you head straight for the Southwest Airlines Web site to book your flight out of town.
First, flights must be booked by 11:59 p.m. PST tomorrow (1:59 a.m. on October 30, in Chicago time) to take advantage of the low fares, so you have some quick decisions to make. Additionally, travel plans must fall between Dec. 2 and Dec. 16, or between Jan. 5 and Feb. 10, 2010, and the fares are not valid on Sundays – so don’t plan for any quick weekend trips.
Second, longer flights get incrementally more expensive: For travel between 375 and 549 miles, fares are $50 one-way. For travel between 550 and 999 miles, fares are $75 one-way. And for travel of more than 1,000 miles, fares are $100 one-way.
Last, remember that these prices all apply to one-way flights, and chances are you will need a roundtrip. Southwest and other airlines list fare sales using one-way prices because it sounds much cheaper. Your flight, then, will be closer to $50 (plus taxes and fees, which are not included in the fare price) for a roundtrip flight of 375 miles or less each way, not $25.
If you were already planning a trip, and your travel plans meet these requirements, buy your cheap flight and pat yourself on the back for your timely thriftiness. If the prices Southwest offers are tempting you to plan impromptu travel, however, make sure you calculate the cost of the entire trip – hotel room, rental car, food, etc. – before you make any impulse buys.
Get all the details on Southwest’s airfare deal here.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Bay Bridge closure travel guide: Detour routes, traffic and current info for getting to SFO and OAK

2009-10-29T10:01:00.000-04:00

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is closed in both directions—indefinitely—after two rods and a 5,000-pound crossbeam fell during rush hour traffic at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, as reported on L.A. Now. Traffic was backed up during the morning rush hour on Wednesday and is expected to add delays to the evening commute Wednesday as well. Here are some resources for Bay Bridge updates and alternative travel means, plus maps for traffic statuses on routes to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK).

Bay Area transit info: 511.org is the best place to find alternative transit options in the Bay Area.
The page on transit options shows a full grid of status updates for Bay Area transportation services such as BART, MUNI, SF and East Bay ferry service and more. Use this 511.org “Detour Routes” page for alternative routes that use the Dumbarton Bridge, San Mateo Bridge and other options.

Airport commute: 511.org offers these directions to San Francisco International Airport from the East Bay: “Take Interstate 880, the San Mateo Bridge, and U.S. 101 north. Or, use the 511 Transit Trip planner to plan your trip to the airport on BART.” However, the trip planner does not account for adjusted schedules due to the bridge closure. If you are in San Francisco trying to get to the Oakland airport, MapQuest asks that you drag your route map down to the San Mateo bridge due to the closure. Here is a map link for travel between San Francisco and the Oakland airport.

SuperShuttle: If you are using the Super Shuttle 800 BLUE-VAN (258-3826), note that officials say that driving time is about 1 hour, 45 minutes between downtown San Francisco and OAK. They ask that you allow three hours from your departure time for domestic flights and four hours for international flights.
Google Map and MapQuest Maps show live traffic reports. Use the Google map or MapQuest map for San Francisco and click on the “Traffic” option to show the delays coded by green, yellow, red or black. The maps are up to date, with the bridge closure marked. Note you can also use Google maps to get directions if using public transportation, not just to get driving directions.

Bay Area Rapid Transit: BART’s news page regarding the Bay Bridge closure states that it is anticipating crowded parking lots at BART stations and has increased service since 4 a.m. today due to the closure. It advises going to work later than 9 a.m. tomorrow to avoid “the peak of the peak” and offer tips to adjust your schedule on its website. Note you can sign up to get BART news alerts via e-mail and wireless messages.
California Dept. of Transportation updates: You can use its search tool to quickly check the status of highway conditions on its home page or visit updates on a specific Caltrans district such as San Francisco.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Southwest launches $25 fare sale

2009-10-28T10:27:00.000-04:00

Southwest Airlines has launched an air fare sale in which some flights cost the same as what other carriers charge to check a bag.
Dallas-based Southwest on Tuesday announced one-way travel as low as $25, based on the length of the flight.
The discount carrier says fares are $25 for travel up to 375 miles. The price is $50 for travel between 375 and 549 miles, and $75 for flights between 550 and 999 miles.
A one-way fare of more than 1,000 miles costs $100.
The fares are available for purchase through Thursday, for travel between Dec. 2 and Dec. 16, or between Jan. 5 and Feb. 10. Other restrictions apply.
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Delta to restart Salt Lake City-to-Tokyo in summer

2009-10-21T17:41:00.000-04:00

Delta Air Lines Inc. says it will resume nonstop service between Salt Lake City and Tokyo next summer.
Delta dropped the flights Oct. 1 after a few months, citing diminished demand and fallout from the swine flu.
Delta says it will resume the Tokyo flights five times a week next summer.
The plan was part of Delta's announcement Tuesday of sweeping changes for its international routes, flights and plane types.
The world's biggest airline operator says new and expanded nonstop routes will be focused on trans-Pacific, trans-Atlantic and Africa flights.
Delta's acquisition last year of Northwest Airlines gave it more ability to shift larger planes onto more profitable routes and use smaller planes on less profitable routes.
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ISSN 1544-3760 - Copyright © 2009 AirGuide / Pyramid Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Easy Holiday Savings Strategies to Start Now

2009-10-20T18:12:00.001-04:00

If you're already thinking about how much the holidays are going to cost you this year, you're not alone. A new survey by Kelton Research shows that 58 percent of Americans are concerned about the cost of holiday shopping.
"Good Morning America" financial contributor Mellody Hobson has advice to help you get started early and save some real money.
One of the biggest expenses is always travel. More than 50 million Americans fly during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, according to AAA. Hobson says there are ways to save money on holiday travel by planning ahead.
The good news is that according to Bing Travel Services, airline experts believe that Thanksgiving airfares will be down 22 percent from last year and Christmas and New Year's fares are expected to be down 17 percent.
But Hobson cautions that you still need to book early and be flexible about your travel dates in order to save.
Avoid super travel days around the holidays: Several airlines (American, United and U.S. Airways), have added $10 surcharges to most tickets for travel on the three busy days around Thanksgiving and the New Year's holidays, so avoid travel on Nov. 29, and Jan. 1 - Jan. 3.
By avoiding the busiest days of the year, you'll also avoid higher fares in general. For example, Hobson says that if you return on the Monday after Thanksgiving, you can save 10 percent. You can save up to $70 if you travel on Thanksgiving day, and 10 percent if you travel on Christmas day.
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McCarran International Airport to Save Energy by Installing the KONE EcoStart® on Escalators

2009-10-20T17:41:00.001-04:00

KONE Inc., one of the world’s leading elevator and escalator companies, and Power Efficiency Corporation, a clean tech company focused on energy efficiency technologies for electric motors, announced today that KONE has installed the EcoStart® on escalators at McCarran International Airport (LAS).
The KONE EcoStart® is a unique motor efficiency controller that soft starts an electric motor, bringing it from rest to full speed. Once it is at full speed, the EcoStart® monitors the motor and improves its efficiency when operating. By conserving energy, the EcoStart® supports the building’s sustainability programs and contributes to environmental protection efforts. The EcoStart® incorporates Power Efficiency Corporation’s E-Save Technology® and is manufactured by Power Efficiency exclusively for KONE.
McCarran International Airport, the principal airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, is the nation’s seventh-busiest airport. Operated by the Clark County Department of Aviation, in 2008 the airport served more than 44 million passengers.
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JetBlue expanding service at Boston airport

2009-10-19T17:41:00.000-04:00

JetBlue Airways Corp. said Monday it was expanding its service at Boston's Logan International Airport.
The New York-based carrier said in a statement that five daily nonstop flights from Boston to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will begin on March 1, 2010.
The airline, on Sept. 9, launched new service to Baltimore with four daily flights to complement its existing six daily flights between Boston and Washington Dulles International Airport.
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Southwest chases other add-ons besides bag fees

2009-10-19T17:40:00.000-04:00

Southwest Airlines Co. is the only big U.S. airline that doesn't charge baggage fees, but that's not going to stop it from looking for other add-ons to sell to travelers, its CEO said on Thursday.
Southwest reported a small third-quarter loss and said there's no rebound in sight for business travel. The vanishing business traveler has hurt revenue at all airlines. The blow has been cushioned by fees for things like checking bags and reserving the most desirable seats.
Southwest has moved in that direction, too, and it isn't done.
"There are substantial ancillary revenue opportunities besides bag fees that we are continuing to pursue," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's chairman, president, and CEO.
He said the most noteworthy new revenue would come through changes to Southwest's "Rapid Rewards" frequent flier program. He offered no details. But he drew a distinction between baggage fees, which he said are not really voluntary, versus a frequent flier program, people volunteer to sign up for.
"We would much prefer to explore opportunities to provide more service to customers and give them the choice to spend more money with Southwest Airlines," he said. "Our frequent-flier program and Southwest.com both position us well to pursue that strategy."
Kelly said the changes would not happen this year.
Already this year Southwest has begun charging for handling children who fly alone, and for taking pets in the cabin (which it didn't allow before). It also expects to take in about $40 million a year for heavy bags or bags beyond the first two. Other carriers have claimed ten times that much in baggage revenues. Kelly thinks they are driving customers to Southwest.
Fares at Southwest and other airlines have been running lower than a year ago, and those discounts have helped to fill planes. But many of those travelers have been vacationers. Freer-spending corporate travelers have dropped off sharply, making it hard for airlines to turn a profit even on strong traffic.
Kelly said that while the economy appears to be stabilizing, "there's no reason to believe business travel will return anytime soon to help bail us out."
The airline reported that about 17 percent of its passengers paid the full fare instead of discounted fares, down from 24 percent during the same period last year.
Dallas-based Southwest lost $16 million in the third quarter, or 2 cents per share. Not counting special items it would have shown a $23 million profit, or 3 cents per share, a penny ahead of the expectations of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.
During the same period last year Southwest lost $120 million.
Traffic rose 4.7 percent for the quarter. Even with more customers, Southwest trimmed unprofitable routes and capacity dropped 5.8 percent for the quarter. It can be hard to cut costs as fast as flying, though, and Southwest's unit costs — the expense in flying one person one mile — rose 6.6 percent from a year ago, not counting fuel. Southwest said its unit costs will keep rising as it cuts fourth-quarter capacity by 8 percent.
Southwest said its 2009 capacity will be down about 5 percent compared with last year. The airlines expects it to stay unchanged next year.
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Lockheed Martin leads state in federal stimulus contracts

2009-10-15T18:14:00.000-04:00

Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin Corp. has nosed out all other Colorado companies for the biggest stimulus-funded business contract so far at $166 million.
The information will be tucked into the federal government's first comprehensive data dump today tracking spending from its agencies directly to contractors as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Lockheed money, awarded in a single contract to the sprawling south Jefferson County plant, will help accelerate the design and construction of NASA's planned Orion spaceship, a replacement for the shuttle.
Though Lockheed officials have not revealed what jobs will be saved or created through the deal, the number should be found on recovery.gov this morning, along with details of other stimulus contracts going to 9,000 recipients nationwide.
For the first time, information about job impacts from stimulus spending will be available for the most remote and distressed locales in the country.
"They (contractors) are all supposed to report the jobs they've created and saved and much more to us," said Ed Pound, director of communications for the federal Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board.
He said firms that don't report by Oct. 20 will be publicly identified as part of a new accountability.
This week's data dump covers all contracts awarded by federal agencies directly to businesses. It is the first of two major categories of stimulus expenditures set for release this month. On Oct. 30, similar data on stimulus- funded grants and loans, which make up about a third of the $787 billion stimulus package, will be displayed on recovery.gov.
Federal contracts make up about 5 percent of all stimulus awards. So far, they amount to about $12 billion of the $787 billion package, according to estimates by independent fiscal analysts.
In recent months, the public has been able to glimpse some Recovery Act money trails.
As of early this week, for example, Lockheed led the state's companies in terms of total money received, followed by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, a corporation that manages the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Lakewood and Golden. That contract is for $163 million.
On Oct. 2, Colorado ranked 10th among all states for overall value of stimulus contracts, according to the Coalition for an Accountable Recovery.
The contract data has led many organizations to caution against drawing too many conclusions about the economic impact of federal contracts issued in the first year of the Recovery Act's passage.
"The scale of what we're looking at with federal contracts is just not large enough to ascertain how the stimulus package is working," said Craig Jennings, senior policy analyst for OMB Watch.
Though Lockheed officials could not provide a job-impact estimate to The Denver Post for its stimulus-funded work on Orion, a spokeswoman said nearly 1,000 Lockheed Martin and subcontractor employees in Colorado work on the project.
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