London Gatwick Transfer - Travel to Heathrow Airport from London

Thomas Cook: No bookings, more closures

2011-12-14T03:23:00.000-08:00

Symbol	Price	Change
ALITS.NX	0.03	0.00

BARC.L	177.50	-1.10

HSBA.L	488.15	-4.35

RBS.L	20.26	-0.14

TTVLF.PK	2.50	0.00

* Year operating profit 304 mln pounds, vs forecast 317 mln

* To close 200 underperforming shops, 500 hotels

* To invest more in online business

* Turnaround plans to boost year profit by 110 mln pounds (Adds CEO comment, current trading, background)

LONDON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Thomas Cook reported full-year operating profit at the bottom end of forecasts and said it would close 200 underperforming shops, as it looks to cut debt and restore investor confidence.

Europe (Chicago Options: ^REURUSD - news) 's second biggest travel firm by sales, which secured a rescue package from its lenders last month, said the move was part of a turnaround plan that would enable it to deliver an annual profit improvement of 110 million pounds ($171 million).

Thomas Cook said on Wednesday trading had picked up since that agreement was announced with summer bookings in Britain up 8 percent. Its (Euronext: ALITS.NX - news) shares were up 2.9 percent in early trading.

The group's future has been in question since it asked lenders to come to its rescue twice in five weeks, sending its shares into freefall after it warned of a possible debt default.

"We have instigated significant management changes and implemented a turnaround plan in the UK to address our areas of underperformance," acting chief executive Sam Weihagen said.

Aside from closing 200 of its 1,300 shops in Britain, the company plans to reduce its airline fleet to 35 from 41, cut 500 underperforming hotels from its portfolio, and invest more in its online business.

Thomas Cook said operating profit fell 16 percent to 304 million pounds in the year to September. Forecasts were in a 306-321 million pounds range, with the average at 317 million, according to a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S poll.

It had issued a strong of profit warnings this year leading to the departure in August of chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa.

In contrast, TUI Travel (Other OTC: TTVLF.PK - news) , the world's biggest tour operator, reported a better-than-expected full-year profit last week, boosted by strong online sales and demand for exclusive resorts.

Thomas Cook has been hit hard by tough trading conditions, especially in Britain, where its core customer base of families with young children has been particularly affected by tough economic conditions. It has also been impacted by unrest in popular destinations such as Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

It said the first quarter of its fiscal year had got off to a slow start with bookings hit by publicity surrounding the announcement it needed to borrow more money from its banks, before picking up since the deal with lenders was agreed.

The company's banks, led by Barclays (LSE: BARC.L - news) , HSBC (LSE: HSBA.L - news) , RBS (LSE:RBS.L - news) and UniCredit (MDD: UCG.MDD - news) , agreed last month to provide a new 200 million pounds credit facility.

The 170-year-old company, the world's oldest travel firm, said on Tuesday it was examining further ways to cut net debt which stood at 891 million pounds at the end of September, up from 804 million a year earlier.

Thomas Cook shares, which have lost over 90 percent of their value since March, closed at 14.82 pence on Tuesday, valuing the business at 132 million pounds. ($1 = 0.6436 pound) (Editing by Rhys Jones and Dan Lalor)

Top budget travel destinations for 2012

2011-12-01T12:14:00.001-08:00

By Nicole Frehsee, Budget Travel

The Azores lies 930 miles off the coast of Lisbon, but the distance hasn't protected the autonomous region of Portugal from the mainland's economic troubles -- which means big bargains for American travelers.

Many sites put together their "best" travel lists for the coming year, but few do so with such a keen eye toward savings as we do. For Budget Travel, it's about more than just buzz (although that helps, too). Our editors comb through piles of data, news, currency charts and industry trends to find our nominees for the world's new best-value destinations — then passionately debate which of the candidates will make the final list.

As always, this year's winners have far more going for them than mere markdowns: Some are perennial, family-friendly favourites (San Diego, San Antonio); some are bucket-list standbys made suddenly affordable (Egypt, Athens); and some are overlooked underdogs ready for their turn in the global spotlight. What do they all have in common? The best time to see them is right now.

Azores

Why in 2012: This chain of nine volcanic islands lies 930 miles off the coast of Lisbon, but the distance hasn't spared Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, from the mainland's economic troubles — which means big bargains for American travelers. Hotel rates across Portugal have slid since 2010, with five-star hotel rooms averaging a mere $112 per night, and the Azores, which are dotted with baroque churches, black-sand beaches and crater lakes, are no exception. To lure visitors, Boston-based charter airline Azores Express is offering deeply discounted hotel-and-air packages through fall 2012 (508/677-0555, from $719). And while island-hopping had traditionally required a long ferry ride or a chartered fishing boat, last November, state-owned SATA Airlines shortened the trip when it increased inter-island flights.

Best time to visit: Azores weather is mild year-round, but outdoor enthusiasts will dig October, when temperatures typically hit 70 degrees and daylight lasts 11 hours. Since the month also marks the start of Azores's low season, which runs through May, hotels deals are easy to find then.

Where to stay: The coastal Bahia Palace Hotel on the island of São Miguel is steps from Baia de Água d'Alto beach and has a freshwater swimming pool and 101 rooms, all with ocean-view balconies (from $104).

Price check: In September, Azores-based SATA Airlines has nonstop tickets from Boston starting at $688 round-trip.

Egypt

Why in 2012: Although the travel warning put in place by the United States after the Arab Spring has been downgraded to an alert for sporadic unrest, Egypt — where tourism accounts for 11 percent of the economy — is hurting for visitors, even at the nation's most famous destinations. Traveler numbers have plummeted by more than a third since 2010, and travel operators and hoteliers are cutting serious deals to encourage a turnaround. TUI, Europe's largest tour company, slashed $600 off the price of a recent Egyptian excursion, and average daily hotel rates have fallen 25 percent countrywide, dipping to about $107. There are deals at both the Great Pyramids of Giza, where room rates have slid 45 percent since 2010, and in the Red Sea resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, where prices slumped 26 percent to $104.

Best time to visit: Summer delivers 90-plus-degree temperatures and winter brings tourist throngs, but the shoulder seasons (March to May; September to November) promise fewer, and less-sweaty, crowds.

Where to stay: The five-star Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, at the foothills of the Sinai Mountains and steps away from Sharm El Sheikh's powdery, pristine White Knight Beach, is an accessible oasis. (savoy-sharm.com, from $143.)

Price check: Stopovers are a must when traveling to Egypt, as direct flights are pricey year-round (we're talking $1,000 plus). Dutch carrier KLM offers decent one-stop fares in March: Trips from New York to Cairo start at $815; tickets from Chicago go for $786; and prices from Los Angeles hover around $996 with two stops.

San Diego

Why in 2012: With miles of picturesque Pacific coastline (perfect for surfing), only 10 inches of rain per year (ideal golf weather), and family-friendly attractions (Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, a LEGO-Land theme park), it's easy to see why San Diego is one of America's top 10 most-visited cities. And unlike northern neighbors Los Angeles and San Francisco, the SoCal city is offering bargains on everything from hotels — the average nightly room rate is $128 — to rental cars, which are 3 percent cheaper than they were in 2010. Another reason to book a trip now: Hotel prices are expected to continue dropping through 2012 before spiking again in 2013, thanks to an ongoing construction boom.

Best time to visit: The rainiest months are November through March, but even then you won't get soaked — the highest average precipitation (in January) is only 2.3 inches. If you're a museum lover, visit in February, when San Diego Museum Month kicks off. Forty area attractions, such as the modern LUX Art Institute and the Birch Aquarium, will offer half-priced admission fees (sandiegomuseumcouncil.org, discount card free). Prime beach season runs from April to October, when the temperatures rarely dip below 69 degrees.

Price check: February fares to San Diego are $156 from Portland (one stop on Spirit), $151 from Denver (non-stop on Frontier), and $339 from New York (nonstop on JetBlue).Where to stay: One of the city's newest boutique additions, Little Italy's Porto Vista exudes a laid-back, European vibe (from $119). Most rooms have black-and-white, floor-to-ceiling photographs that evoke 1960s Italy — think glammed-up fashion models and young men on scooters — and the surrounding neighborhood is lined with sausage shops and old-school pizza joints.

Maritime Canada

Why in 2012: The provinces lining Canada's eastern seaboard have always had plenty to offer the outdoorsy traveler — from scenic kayak rides around Prince Edward Island to whale watching in the Bay of Fundy to wilderness hikes in the glacier-specked Torngat Mountains. But the region's biggest attraction this year only comes around once in a lifetime: the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking off the coast of Newfoundland. There's a full calendar of events in Halifax to commemorate the tragedy this April, including a town parade, concerts, and a film festival; the city's Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is also expanding its permanent Titanic exhibit this year. Along with two other Atlantic coast cities (Charlottetown and Fredericton), Halifax once again made Hotels.com's list of cheapest Canadian cities in 2011, with rates averaging $145.

And if you want the full Titanic experience — only with a happier ending — consider one of Carnival Cruise Lines' new four- and five-day voyages from Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and St. John, New Brunswick, on the Glory, launching in June; departures from New York will follow in the fall (from $73 per night).

Best time to visit: Hurricane season officially spans June through November, but since September and October are the highest-risk months, you can feel safe traveling here in June, when humidity is low and temperatures peak between 65 and 77 degrees.

Where to stay: The Halliburton Hotel occupies a trio of 19th-century town houses near Halifax's waterfront (from $122). Each of its 29 rooms is decorated differently; some even have wood-burning fireplaces.

Price check: Cities on the Eastern Seaboard are the best jumping-off points for your Canadian journey. In June, nonstop flights to Halifax begin at $612 from New York (Continental and United), and $629 from Philadelphia and Boston (US Airways). West-coasters have to book one-stop tickets, like one from Portland that goes for $692 (Air Canada).

Belize

Why in 2012: Belize tends to be overshadowed by its neighbors: Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica, which in 2010 saw twice the visitor arrivals that Belize did. Yet this English-speaking nation has plenty to recommend it, including a bounty of exotic birds, stunning Mayan ruins and the world's second-largest barrier reef. On top of all that, Belize is also one of the region's biggest bargains. In 2011, the dollar appreciated 1.3 percent against the native currency; as of September, the exchange rate was nearly two to one. The savings should last until December 2012, which marks the end of the 5,126-year era of the Maya calendar and the culmination of a year's worth of festivals and sporting events — and a likely spike in hotel prices and crowds.

Where to stay: Avoid San Pedro, where hotel prices are up 6 percent from 2010, and head south to the less-touristy Placencia Peninsula, where crystal-clear lagoons and 16 miles of sandy beaches coexist with the world's first-ever jaguar preserve. The seaside Maya Beach Hotel is owned by an expat couple (she's American, he's Australian) who set up guests with fishing trips, scuba dives, cave tours and massages. (from $89.)Best time to visit: High season is dry season in Belize, roughly February to April. (While the country is hot and humid year-round, northern areas stay much drier than their southern counterparts.) Arrive in late May to find the sweet spot for beach-ready weather, early-shoulder-season discounts and thinning crowds.

Price check: In May, direct flights from Miami start at $444 (American); from Houston, $745 (Continental). For cheaper fares, grab a seat on a one-stop flight; from Los Angeles, fares begin at $523 (Continental).

San Antonio

Why in 2012: America's seventh-largest city is best known for its 19th-century missions (remember the Alamo?), but San Antonio is staking a claim on the future with new construction: a massive expansion of San Antonio's popular River Walk (pedestrian access free). As part of the $358.3 million River Improvements Project redevelopment plan, this network of paths along the San Antonio River nearly doubled in length in June, adding eight miles of walk-and-bike routes and a slew of shops and cafes. The latest phase of the project was perfectly timed with the introduction of the city's first bike-rental program, B-Cycle, which launched in early 2011 (bcycle.com, daily rental $10). Best of all, room rates are down 5 percent from last year — the average four-star room goes for $100 per night — and the city's S.A.V.E. (San Antonio Vacation Experience) program promotes additional hotel deals year-round (visitsanantonio.com).

Best time to visit: April promises prime weather — the average high is 79 degrees and there's little rain — but springtime also means massive crowds, who descend on San Antonio for events like Fiesta, a Tex-Mex-style Mardi Gras. For a quieter trip, try September. It's a bit rainier and hotter (expect highs in the 90s), but worth it for the extra elbow room.

Where to stay: The nearly two-year-old Hotel Havana, the brainchild of Texan tastemaker and hotelier Liz Lambert, is set in a revamped 1914 building and decorated with Turkish rugs and vintage Cuban artwork (from $115).

Price check: Direct flights are plentiful and affordable in September, when fares start at $314 from Phoenix (US Airways), $320 from New York (United), $268 from Denver (United) and $321 from Chicago (American).

Poland

Why in 2012: With new airport terminals sprouting up from Warsaw to Gdansk, a hotel-construction boom that's drawing marquee brands like Hilton and Westin, and a growing economy (the Polish GDP has shot up 4 percent since last year), Poland is ready for its close-up. Its cameo will come in June, when the UEFA Euro 2012 soccer tournament descends on stadiums across the country (and Ukraine — the two nations are cohosts) — but you don't have to be a sports fan to reap the benefits. South Africa, which hosted the World Cup in 2010, saw post-game price drops as high as 20 percent when premium rates vanished, and the same trend is expected in Poland, where five-star hotels are already among the cheapest in the world (in Warsaw, they average $135 per night).

Best time to visit: The warmest weather, with averages in the low 70s, arrives from May to October — and so do vacationers, who sweep in around July and August to hit the Baltic beaches. Book a trip around September, when the crowds and soccer tournaments will have disappeared, leaving tranquility and low prices in their wake.

Where to stay: Soon after opening in 1913, the opulent Polonia Palace was a hangout for celebrities, artists, and politicians (President Eisenhower stayed there in 1945). Nearly 100 years later, after undergoing a renovation, the spot—Warsaw's sole hotel to escape WWII unscathed—is prized for its clean, modern rooms and central location. (from $123.)

Price check: Winter nonstops can be had for as little as $628 from New York to Warsaw (LOT Air), but for just a bit more cash (and one connection), you can enjoy September's much milder weather. A recent search turned up one-stop flights from New York for $756 (Continental) and from Chicago for $528 (LOT Air), or for $1,010 from Los Angeles (Air New Zealand).

Taipei

Why in 2012: The arrival in Taiwan of the first mainland Chinese tourists last June (not counting supervised tours) marked a turning point for this onetime Chinese territory — a sign that a longtime political stalemate might finally be thawing. It also brought an influx of tourism revenue and a renewed interest in this Pacific island's assets. The cosmopolitan capital city has an emerging culinary scene (world-famous chef Joël Robuchon opened a Taipei restaurant in November 2009) and plenty of snazzy new construction, while the surrounding countryside offers lush hot springs, majestic mountains and golden-sand beaches. To cater to the new visitors, Taiwan's government launched the new TaiwanTourist Bus Travel Service, which runs cheap day trips to several island attractions, such as an excursion to Taiwan's alpine Sun Moon Lake that includes a cable-car ride, a boat tour, and electric-scooter rental (taiwantrip.com.tw, day trips from $11). And while a recent bump in U.S. visitors to Asia has caused hotel prices elsewhere on the continent to jump 4 percent — rates in South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore have all spiked — Taipei's rooms are 11 percent cheaper than they were in 2010, with an average rate of $144 per night.

Best time to visit: May through August are Taipei's wettest months, with rainfall averaging eight inches; summer is sweltering and humid. October and November are much more pleasant, with less than four inches of rainfall and average high temperatures in the mid-70s.

Where to stay: Every room in the Tango Taipei XinYi — which sits near the world's second-tallest building, the nearly 1,700-foot Taipei 101 Tower — has two 42-inch plasma TVs (one for the bedroom, one for the bathroom) and a Jacuzzi tub (tango-hotels.com, from $137).

Price check: At publication time, tickets to Taipei weren't available beyond October 2012 (when direct flights from San Francisco start at $1,145 on Taiwan's EVA Airways). But if 2011 prices are any indication, fall trips will come relatively cheap. This November, Malaysia Airlines offered nonstop fares from Los Angeles for $1,057 and one-stops from Chicago were going for $1,087 on Cathay Pacific.

Kansas City

Why in 2012: Thanks to arts-centric developments both large-scale and grassroots, this Midwestern city is fast becoming a hotbed of high culture. In September, the $326 million Moshe Safdie–designed Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opened to host the Kansas City Ballet, the Lyric Opera and the Kansas City Symphony, along with one-off performances of all stripes. The center's arrival has only helped to bolster the already-vibrant Crossroads Arts District — a funky enclave of 70-plus galleries in renovated warehouses, interspersed with boutiques and restaurants — that surrounds it. Thankfully, Kansas City's prices haven't caught up to its highbrow reputation. Both hotels and rental cars are cheaper than they were in 2010, with rooms going for about $137 per night (a 3 percent drop) and cars averaging $55 per day.

Best time to visit: September is technically high season here — annual events like the Plaza Art Fair and the Barbecue Blaze Off are in full swing then — but you'll be able to find good deals (and great weather) toward the end of the month. Skip July, when Kansas City is at its hottest and most crowded — especially this year, when it'll host the MLB All-Star Game.

Where to stay: Opened in 2007, the Q bills itself as Kansas City's first green hotel. Eco-friendly touches are everywhere, from the fair-trade Guatemalan coffee in the lobby's cafe to the complimentary hybrid shuttle that chauffeurs guests around town. (from $139.)

Price check: September savings abound, with nonstop fares from Denver and Houston starting at $158 (US Airways) and $205 (American), respectively. For $243, you can fly direct from Chicago on American, and a straight shot from New York will run you $289 (Continental and United).

Athens

Why in 2012: Greece's economy is faltering — it's in the clutches of a massive debt crisis and on the brink of bankruptcy — but travel deals are going strong, especially in the country's capital. According to the 2011 Mercer Cost of Living Survey (which ranks living expenses across cities by measuring prices of staples like food, transport and entertainment), Athens is the world's 53rd most expensive city — down 13 spots from 2010. While hotel prices fell 4 percent across Greece from 2010 (an average room now goes for $150 per night), in Athens rates sunk 15 percent to $125. Despite the recession, the city is beefing up infrastructure with Greece's biggest-ever subway project, an expansion of the Athens Metro (single rides from $1.89). New subway lines and stations — some stocked with ancient artifacts excavated during construction — will make roaming the city simple, and a full-day pass only costs $5.40.

Best time to visit: April and May are clear winners, with pleasant temperatures (highs range from 68 to 77 degrees), low humidity, and little rain. Just steer clear of April 15, 2012, when Easter festivities will likely inspire price hikes and a run on accommodations.

Where to stay: With its soaring ceilings, rooftop restaurant and stunning Acropolis views, it's not surprising that the boutique 10-room Magna Grecia — housed in a refurbished, 19th-century building in central Athens — was a two-time World Luxury Hotel Awards finalist (from $107).

Price check: Airfare to Greece is, understandably, more unpredictable now than ever, and it's imperative to pay attention to which days you travel. On April 16, a nonstop Athens-bound flight from New York costs $1,166 (Turkish Airlines), but four days later the price shoots up by $139 — on the same airline! Stopover flights are your best bet if you're coming from Boston ($1,285) or Washington, D.C. ($1,271, both on Delta) or Miami ($1,363 on American Airlines).

London Airport Gatwick Flight - Which terminals?

2011-10-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

Live Flight Information London Airport UK

Airline and destination

Airline	Destination	Terminal	Code	Telephone
	Aalborg	South	DY	+47 21 49 00 15
	Aalesund	South	DY	+47 21 49 00 15
	Aberdeen	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Aberdeen	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Agadir	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Agadir	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Ajaccio	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Alicante	South	FR
	Alicante	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Alicante	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Alicante	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Almeria	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Almeria	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Amman	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Amsterdam	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Amsterdam	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Anatalya	South	PGT	0845 0848 980
	Antalya	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Antalya	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Antalya	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
Sky Airlines	Antalya	South	ZY	+ 21 6444 9191
	Antalya	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Antigua	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	Antigua	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Arrecife	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Arrecife	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Arrecife	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Aruba	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Athens	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Atlanta	North	DL	0845 600 0950
	Banjul	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Banjul	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Barbados	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Barbados (Bridgetown)	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	Barcelona	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Barcelona	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Bari	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Basle	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Bastia	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Belfast City	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Belfast International	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Bergen	South	DY	+47 21 49 00 15
Braathens SAS	Bergen	South	SK
	Bergen	South	SK	0871 521 2772
	Bergerac	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Berlin Schoenefeld	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Bermuda	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Biarritz	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Billund	South	QI	+45 70 10 12 18
	Boa Vista	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Bodrum	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Bodrum	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Bodrum	South	OHY
	Bodrum	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Bodrum	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Bologna	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Bologna	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Bordeaux	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Bordeaux	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Bridgetown	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Bridgetown	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Bridgetown	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Budapest	North	MA	0870 909 0577
	Budapest	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Burgas	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Burgas	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Burgas	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Burgas	South	BGH	0845 130 1114
	Cagliari	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Calgary	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Cancun	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Cancun	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Cancun	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Casablanca	North	AT	0207 307 5800
	Catania	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Catania	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Catania	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Chambery	South	LS	0906 302 0660
	Chambery	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Chambery	South	ZT	+44 (0) 1279 669 699
	Chania	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Chania	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Chania	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Chania	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Charlotte	South	US	0845 600 3300
	Cofu	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Cologne (Bonn)	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Copenhagen	South	DY	+47 21 49 00 15
	Copenhagen	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Corfu	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Corfu	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Corfu	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Corfu	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Corfu	South	STU	travel to Gatwick Airport
	Cork	South	FR
	Cork	South	EI	0871 718 2020
	Cunagua	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Dacca	South	4H
	Dalaman	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Dalaman	South	OHY
	Dalaman	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Dalaman	South	PGT	0845 0848 980
	Dalaman	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Dalaman	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Djerba	South	TU	0207 437 6236
	Djerba	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Djerba	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Dubai	North	EK	0844 800 2777
	Dublin	South	EI	0871 718 2020
	Dublin	South	FR
	Dubrovnik	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Dubrovnik	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Dubrovnik	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Dubrovnik	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Dusseldorf	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Edinburgh	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Edinburgh	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Enfidah	South	TU	0207 437 6236
	Enfidha	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Enfidha	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Enfidha	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Fagernes	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Faro	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Faro	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Faro	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Faro	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Faro	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Faro	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Figari	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Florence	North	IG	0871 423 3711
Lufthansa	Frankfurt	South	LH	44 (0) 8719 459 737
	Friedrichshafen	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Fuerteventura	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Fuerteventura	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Fuerteventura	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Funchal	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Funchal	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Funchal	South	TP	0845 601 0932
	Geneva	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Geneva	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Geneva	South	BD	0844 8484 888
	Geneva	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Genoa	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Gerona	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Gerona	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Gerona	South	FR	get from Heathrow to Gatwick
	Gibraltar	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Glasgow	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Glasgow	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Glasgow	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Goa	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Goa	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Goa	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Gothenburg	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Grenada	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	Grenada	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Grenada	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Grenoble	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Grenoble	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Grenoble	South	BD	0844 8484 888
	Guernsey	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Guernsey	South	GR	01481 823 344
	Halifax	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Halifax International	South	TS	020 7616 9187
	Hamburg	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Hanover	North	AB	0871 5000 737
	Havana	South	CU	020 7538 5933
	Havana	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	Helsinki	South	DY	+47 21 49 00 15
	Heraklion	South	STU	Heathrow to Gatwick Airport
	Heraklion	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Heraklion	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Heraklion	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Heraklion	South	VKH	0871 644 8780
	Heraklion	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Holguin	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Holguin	South	CU	020 7538 5933
	Holguin	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Huesca - Formigal	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Hurghada	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Hurghada	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Hurghada	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Ibiza	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Ibiza	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Ibiza	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Ibiza	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Ibiza	South	BD	0844 8484 888
	Ibiza	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Innsbruck	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Innsbruck	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Innsbruck	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Inverness	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Inverness	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Isle of Man	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Istanbul	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Izmir	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Izmir	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Izmir	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Jersey	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Jersey	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Kalamata	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Kalamata	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Kaunas	South	FR	Airport transfer London
	Kavalla	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Kefallinia	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Kefallinia	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Kefallinia	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Kefalonia	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
Aerosvit	Kiev	South	VV	+380 44 490 34 90
	Kiev	South	PS	01293 596 609
	Kingston	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	Kingston	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Kirwall	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Kishinev	South	9U	07525 825 856
	Kittala	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Knock (Connaught)	South	EI	0871 718 2020
	Kos	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Kos	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Kos	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Kos	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Kos	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Krakow	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Kuala Lumpur	South	D7	0845 6053333
	La Rochelle	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	La Romana	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Lamezia Terme	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Lanzarote	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Larnaca	South	VKH	0871 644 8780
	Larnaca	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Larnaca	South	STU
	Larnaca	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Larnaca	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Larnaca	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Larnaca	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Las Palmas	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Las Palmas	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Las Palmas	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Las Vegas	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	Lemnos	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Lemnos	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Liberia	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Lisbon	South	TP	0845 601 0932
	Lisbon	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Ljubljana	North	JP	+386 13 69 10 10
	Luxor	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Luxor	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Luxor	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Lyon	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Madrid	South	AEA	0871 423 0717
	Madrid	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Madrid	South	FR
	Mahon	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Mahon	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Majorca	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Malaga	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Malaga	South	EI	0871 718 2020
	Malaga	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Malaga	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Malaga	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Male	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Male International	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Male International	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Malmo	South	QI	+45 70 10 12 18
	Malta	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Malta	South	KM	0845 601 1407
	Malta	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Malta	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Manchester	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Manchester	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Manchester	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Marrakech	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Marrakech	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Marrakesh	North	AT	0207 307 5800
	Marrakesh	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Marsa Alam	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Marseille	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Marseille	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Menorca	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Menorca (Mahon)	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Milan (Linate)	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Milan (Malpensa)	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Minneapolis	South	SY	0800 014 8434
	Minsk	South	BRU	020 7752 0445
	Mitilini	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Mombasa	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Mombassa	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Monastir	South	TU	0207 437 6236
	Monastir	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
Nouvelair	Monastir	South	BJ
	Monastir	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Monastir	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Montego Bay	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Montego Bay	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Montego Bay	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Montego Bay	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	Montpellier	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Montreal	South	TS	020 7616 9187
	Munich	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Murcia	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Mykonos	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Mykonos	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Nantes	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Nantes	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Naples	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Naples	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Naples	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Naples	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Newcastle	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Newquay	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Nice	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Nuremberg	North	AB	0871 5000 737
	Olbia (Sardinia)	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Orlando (International)	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	Orlando (International)	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Orlando (Sanford)	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Orlando (Sanford)	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Oslo	South	DY	+47 21 49 00 15
	Oslo	South	FR
	Palermo	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Palma de Mallorca	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Palma de Mallorca	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Palma de Mallorca	South	BD	0844 8484 888
	Palma De Mallorca	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Paphos	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Paphos	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Paphos	South	STU	Contact your travel agent
	Paphos	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Paphos	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Paphos	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Paphos	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Paris (Charles de Gaulle)	South	9U	07525 825 856
	Paris (Charles De Gaulle)	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Pisa	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Pisa	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Pisa	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Podgorica	South	YM
SATA International	Ponta Delgada	South	S4
	Porto	South	TP	0845 601 0932
	Porto	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Porto Santo	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Prague	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Preveza	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Preveza	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Preveza	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Preveza	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Pristina	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Puerto Plata	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Puerto Plata	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Pula	South	OU	020 8563 0022
	Pula	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Punta Cana	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Punta Cana	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Reus	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Reus	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Reykjavik	South	HW	0118 321 8384
	Reykjavik	South	AEU	01293 819800
	Rhodes	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Rhodes	South	STU	Contact your travel agent
	Rhodes	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Rhodes	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Rhodes	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Rhodes	South	VKH	0871 644 8780
	Rhodes	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Riga	South	BT	+371 67 00 60 06
	Rome (Fiumicino)	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Rome (Fiumicino)	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Rome Ciampino	South	FR
	Sal	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Salzburg	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Salzburg	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Salzburg	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Samana El Catey	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Samos	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	San Juan Puerto Rico	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	Santa Clara	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Santa Cruz	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Santorini	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Santorini	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Santorini (Thira)	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Sardinia	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Sardinia (Alghero)	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Seville	South	FR
	Seville	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Shannon	South	FR
	Shannon	South	EI	0871 718 2020
	Sharm El Sheikh	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Sharm El Sheikh	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Sharm El Sheikh	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Sharm El Sheikh	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Sharm El Sheikh	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Skiathos	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Skiathos	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Skiathos	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Skiathos	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Skiathos	South	STU
	Sofia	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Split	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Split	South	OU	020 8563 0022
	St Lucia	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	St Lucia	South	VS	0844 874 7747
	St Petersburg	South	FV
	Stavanger	South	DY	+47 21 49 00 15
	Stockholm (Arlanda)	South	DY	+47 21 49 00 15
	Stockholm (Skavsta)	South	FR
	Stockholm Arlanda	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Stornoway	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Sunburgh	South	BE	0871 700 2000
	Taba	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Tallinn	South	OV	+37 26 40 11 63
	Tampa	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Tenerife (South)	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Tenerife (South)	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Tenerife (South)	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Tenerife South	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Thessaloniki	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Thessaloniki	South	STU
	Thessaloniki	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Thessaloniki	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Thessaloniki	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Reading to Gatwick taxi
	Thira Santorini	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Tirana	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Tobago	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Toronto	North	SWG	00800 7869 9464
	Toronto	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Toronto	South	TS	020 7616 9187
	Toulouse	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Toulouse	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Toulouse	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Trondheim	South	DY	+47 21 49 00 15
	Tunis	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Turin	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Turin	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Turin	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Valencia	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Vancouver	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Vancouver	South	TS	020 7616 9187
	Varadero	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Varna	South	FB	020 7637 7637
	Venice	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Venice	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Venice Marco Polo	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Verona	North	BA	0844 493 0787
	Verona	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Verona	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Vienna	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Volos	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Zagreb	South	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Zagreb	South	OU	020 8563 0022
	Zakynthos	South	TCX	0844 412 5959
	Zakynthos	North	TOM	0871 231 4787
	Zakynthos	North	EZY	0871 288 2236
	Zakynthos	South	STU
	Zakynthos	South	OAI	0843 208 2735
	Zante (Zakynthos)	South	MON/ZB	08719 40 50 40
	Zurich	South	EZY	0871 288 2236

The most dangerous U.S. airports

2011-10-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

Nik Wheeler / Alamy

At Los Angeles International Airport, an outreach program seeks to educate pilots, controllers and vehicle operators on all aspects of runway safety.

By Joe Yogerst, Travel+Leisure

Around 10 p.m. on a clear summer evening in 2006, United Airlines Flight 1015 was rolling down the runway at Chicago O’Hare, picking up speed, when the pilots saw something heart-stopping: an Atlas Air 747 cargo plane moving directly into its path. Unable to abort takeoff, the United pilot made a split-second decision to turn sharply. The planes avoided impact by a mere 120 feet.
Close runway calls like this are more common than travelers realize — or most airports like to admit. Runway incidents at airports are, on average, a daily occurrence in the United States. They range from near collisions to vehicles or people wandering onto a runway without permission.
And some airports simply have a higher number of close calls, based on an analysis by Travel+Leisure. T+L looked at the Federal Aviation Administration’s latest Runway Safety Report and more recent runway safety statistics supplied by the FAA to determine which of the 35 busiest commercial airports in the United States have had the most near misses and other runway incidents over the past five years (2006–2010). The verdict? Chicago O'Hare ranks as the No. 1 most dangerous airport, with 75 incidents. Cleveland Hopkins International, Los Angeles International, San Francisco International, and Honolulu International round out the top five dangerous airports.
See the full list of the most dangerous U.S. airports
Rankings were based on both the overall number of runway safety occurrences and their severity, especially “A” and “B” incidents in which an aircraft collision was narrowly avoided or there was significant potential for a collision. Heathrow Airport Transport - taxis
While everything from weather to wildlife can contribute to an incident on the tarmac, “two-thirds of all runway incursions are caused by pilot deviation,” says Wes Timmons, FAA’s recently retired director of runway safety. In other words, pilots simply ignore instructions from air traffic control. For better or worse, most of these offenders aren’t commercial pilots; of those two-thirds, says Timmons, nearly 80 percent are caused by small private planes. “Places where you have a lot of [pilot] training activity or a large number of flight schools,” says Timmons, “tend to see a larger number of runway incidents.”
The overall number of runway incursions fluctuates from year to year; fortunately, the vast majority are minor incidents where there’s little or no possibility for runway collisions or casualties.
Airports and the FAA are always working to minimize runway incursions. “We’re making significant progress,” says FAA spokesperson Tammy Jones. In 2000, U.S. airports recorded 67 serious runway incursions that could have easily led to injuries or fatalities. According to Jones, the total dropped to 12 serious incidents by 2009, and just six last year. Over that same span, the number of serious incidents involving commercial aircraft plummeted from 34 a decade ago to only 3 in 2010.
Since launching a call to action on runway safety in 2007, the FAA has put a number of new programs and technologies into service in cooperation with airports, airlines, pilots and other concerned parties. These include conducting pilot seminars and air traffic controller refresher courses, identifying “hot spots” at major airports where the risk of collision is higher, and implementing new technologies like Runway Status Lights and airport surface detection equipment.
In fact, incorporating new airport and runway safety features has “accelerated greatly” in recent years, says Steve Jangelis, chairman of the Airport and Ground Environment Committee for the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents more than 53,000 pilots flying for 39 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.
Yet runway incidents still occur. travel to gatwick
MethodologyWe looked at the 35 busiest airports in America over the last five years (2006–2010) and used information from the FAA’s Runway Safety Report and individual runway safety data supplied by the FAA. We averaged the Runway Incident Rate-the total number of runway incidents divided by the total number of runway operations (takeoffs and landings)-over the five years covered in our survey period. We then looked at serious (Category “A” and “B”*) runway incidents in which there was a strong or good possibility of a crash or human casualties. We assigned values to these incidents: 1 for “A” and 0.5 for “B.” We added these Category A/B incident scores to the incident rate per year to achieve an overall score and ranking. We’ve listed the 15 airports with the highest scores.
Category “A” is a serious incident in which a collision was narrowly avoided. Category “B” is an incident in which separation decreases and there is a significant potential for collision, which may result in a time-critical corrective/evasive response to avoid a collision.

9 Travel Myths & Hoaxes

2011-10-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

Duty-free stores, extra legroom and other travel-related myths that frequent travelers should be aware of before leaving home.

By Eric Lucas

“Sorry. I just had to buy this tequila at the duty-free,” my seatmate on the Mazatlan to Los Angeles flight told me as she crammed her big box next to my computer under the seatback in front of us. “Hope that’s not something delicate,” she added, whonking on her package with her feet to force it in.

To save my computer, I pulled it out and stashed it next to me, thereby violating Federal Aviation Administration regulations. To save money, she should have bought tequila at her neighborhood liquor store. She had fallen for the oldest and most prevalent hoax in the travel business these days, so-called “duty-free store” shopping. There is no such thing.

The United States has granted duty-free preferential trade status to some countries, such as the Maldives, Singapore and, yes, Mexico. But you need not buy anything from those countries in a “duty-free” store to claim the exemption, and most travelers have no need for such an exemption anyhow. In general, U.S. residents are able to claim a duty exemption for $800 in goods. Period. No matter what store in what country you bought it in.

But that’s far from the only entry in a list I call travel hoaxes, myths and scams. To wit:

“Duty-free” stores: There is no store on Earth where travelers can buy goods and be excused from paying import duties when they arrive at their home country. Why would U.S. customs officials give you a pass because you bought a case of scotch in a “special” store at a London airport? Dream on, pilgrim.

These stores are excused from charging customers local taxes, but their prices are often no cheaper. Suppose you decide to fork over $59 for a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black in the duty-free in London’s Heathrow Airport on your way to Seattle? You would have owed U.S. customs nothing — U.S. citizens can bring home that one liter of liquor without paying import duties — and you can buy that same bottle at a local liquor store in Washington state for $50. Yikes: You just donated $9 to the London duty-free company.

The Heathrow duty-free clerks won’t charge you Washington state taxes. And in rare cases, the local-tax dodge does save money; I once saw Kahlua on sale at a Mexico duty-free for $2 less than at my neighborhood liquor store. Why would you and your spouse want to cart a half-gallon (4.1 pounds) of booze through airports and on planes to save $4?

Extra legroom: Sure, 3 to 5 inches of extra space between you and the seatback in front of you seems alluring. But the prices airlines are charging for such extras these days are amazing: $63 on a United flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., for example — for a middle seat. The truth is, these days seats have been set to recline very little, including the one in front of you. The real problem is the seat width, which is immutable unless you upgrade. Otherwise, you may have 3 extra inches for your toes, but your ears will still be pinned between two sumo wrestlers.

Flight status updates: Repeat after me: Airlines do not tell the truth about on-time flight status. They want passengers there, sitting in the gate area, in case archangels intervene and their hour-late plane makes up time in a special space-time warp. I have stored on my laptop an American Airlines status page that shows my plane departing Traverse City, Mich., an hour before it arrives at Traverse City. See what I mean about space-time warps? Capt. James T. Kirk must have been scheduled to fly that plane.