HOTDESTINATIONS - VENEZUELA

Getting the cheapest flights

2011-02-08T22:18:00.000-04:30

Feb 6th 2011, 21:21 by N.B.

WASHINGTON, DC

.LAST AUGUST, Gulliver told you about the "eight-week rule" for buying airline tickets. According to Makoto Watanabe, the cheapest time to book your flight, all else being equal, is about eight weeks before you plan to leave. It's a good one-step rule. But what else should you take into account when trying to get a great deal on an expensive flight? The Wall Street Journal's Scott McCartney has some suggestions. Bottom line: if you buy your tickets midweek (i.e., Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday), you can save a bundle. One expert, FareCompare.com's Rick Seaney, has even pinpointed an ideal time to buy: 3pm EST on Tuesday. So why do fares work this way, anyway? Here's Mr McCartney:

Though prices fluctuate frequently and the ups and downs of airline prices can frustrate and anger consumers, airline pricing actually does follow a cycle during the week. Many sales, in which some seats are discounted by 15% to 25% typically, are launched Monday night....

...When airlines want to push through a fare increase, marking up their basic prices across the board usually by $5 or $10, they often do that on Thursday night, then watch to see if competitors match and if the higher rates stick over the weekend. If competitors balk, prices can be rolled back by Monday morning.

In addition, airlines don't manage their inventory as actively on weekends, so if cheap seats sell on some flights, prices automatically jump higher. Fare analysts may decide later to offer more seats at cheaper prices, but not until they come back to work on Monday, according to airline pricing executives.

The upshot of all this, as Mr McCartney explains, is that the same ticket can be "$199 certain days and $499 other days, even months ahead of a flight."

Mr McCartney's article raises as many questions than it answers. Do corporate travel departments take advantage of airline pricing fluctuations and buy most of their tickets mid-week? How is the development of ever-more sophisticated fare comparison engines, such as Kayak.com, influencing pricing strategies? Much of Mr McCartney's data came from Kayak. But this definitely seems like a situation where the observer effect comes into play. Can journalists and the public extensively study airline pricing strategies without forcing airlines to respond and adjust?

Mr McCartney also warns that social media such as Facebook and Twitter are "already beginning" to "disrupt" airline pricing patterns. It will be fascinating to see how that dynamic continues to evolve. Have any readers ever bought an airline ticket through Twitter or Facebook? Would you consider doing so in the future? I follow JetBlue's Twitter account for last-minute sales, but I've never bought any of their " cheeps." Anyway, what other sorts of ways do you see the rules about how, when, and where it's best to buy airline tickets changing in the coming years? Let us know in the comments, and check out Mr McCartney's full story for the rest of his tips.

Source

Don't relax the ban on liquids

2011-01-25T12:34:00.000-04:30

Jan 21st 2011, 16:17 by A.B.

.THE European Union's plan to alter the terms of the ban on liquids in flight have not found favour with the European branch of Airports Council International (ACI), the association of airport operators. The overall ban is due to be lifted in April 2013, but from April 2011 liquids, aerosols and gels bought outside the EU will be allowed on EU-bound planes if they were purchased at an airport no more than 36 hours before the flight and are in a tamper-proof bag.

However, ACI Europe is unimpressed, saying the timeline for the relaxing of the ban is "over-ambitious" with the available technology being "unfit for purpose".

The ban on liquids over 100ml was introduced in 2006 after British police foiled a plot to blow up planes over the Atlantic using liquid explosives.

Source

Airline crew need golf carts to traverse enormous new Delhi terminal

2010-11-16T19:31:00.000-04:30

Delhi International Airport’s Terminal 3 (T3), to which Air India, Jet and Kingfisher will shift their domestic operations on Sunday, is so enormous that flight crew will require golf carts to get around it.

A report in the Times of India says that India’s Aviation Ministry has told airlines to keep three to four golf carts at hand, so that flight crew arriving in distant bays can traverse the sprawling new terminal.

Cabin and cockpit crew are required to keep a log for Customs, listing items they are taking with them on international flights. Mistakes in this declaration are common, the newspaper notes. It quoted an unnamed senior official as saying: “At T3, walking from a distant bay to customs/immigration counters to get a mistake rectified and then returning to the aircraft means an additional 45 minutes. So airlines have been asked to keep golf carts at their disposal.”

So huge is the cavernous new terminal that Jet Airways has instructed its pilots and cabin crew to report for duty two hours before each domestic flight and two-and-a-half hours before each international flight. That’s an hour longer than previously.

Pilots have reportedly been told that they must allow 45 minutes to reach the aircraft from the security gate.

They could do it faster by using go-karts, but these have apparently not been considered.

Written by : Peter Needham

http://www.eglobaltravelnews.com.au/airline/airline-crew-need-golf-carts-to-traverse-enormous-new-delhi-terminal.html

Meet "The Resistance"

2010-11-02T13:01:00.004-04:30

Oct 30th 2010, 21:49 by N.B. | WASHINGTON, DC

HERE'S a shocker: America's Transportation Security Agency is using the threat of up-close-and-personal pat downs to force passengers to go through the controversial new "backscatter" full body scanners that have already been installed at many US airports. The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, last seen sneaking his "Osama bin Laden, Hero of Islam" t-shirt and box cutters through airport security, has written an absolutely brilliant (and vulgar) story about his encounter with the TSA's new tactics. You really have to read the whole thing for yourself, but if you're not convinced to click through just yet, here's a choice excerpt:

"We have to search up your thighs and between your legs until we meet resistance," he explained. "Resistance?" I asked. "Your testicles," he explained. "That's funny," I said, "because 'The Resistance' is the actual name I've given to my testicles."
Here in Washington, that's what we call "too much information." But misery loves company, and now you, like I, know a bit too much about the contents of a prominent journalist's trousers. (A friend points out on Twitter that if Mr Goldberg is telling the truth, counterinsurgency expert Andrew Exum, a.k.a. "Abu Muqawama," is probably feeling fairly uncomfortable right about now.)*

Mr Goldberg is using his bawdy sense of humour to make three serious points. First, even though the new pat-downs are invasive (indeed, they border on groping), they're still not enough to stop a determined terrorist from smuggling weapons onto a plane. There's no cavity search involved, and Mr Goldberg knows from his days as an Israeli prison guard that prisoners are quite willing to hide things where even the boldest TSA officers won't look. Second, the "effectiveness of pat-downs doesn't matter very much," since the whole point seems to be encouraging passengers to avoid pat downs and go through the full-body scanners instead. I'll let him remind us of the third point:

By the time terrorist plotters make it to the airport, it is, generally speaking, too late to stop them. Plots must be broken up long before the plotters reach the target. If they are smart enough to make it to the airport without arrest, it is almost axiomatically true that they will be smart enough to figure out a way to bring weapons aboard a plane.
These are all good points. I'd also remind readers that you shouldn't let the invasiveness of a pat-down deter you from declining a full-body scan if you really don't want to go through the machine. If you're lucky, you'll get TSA officers who are just as friendly (and good-humoured) as the people Mr Goldberg encountered. If you're unlucky, well, your request could meet resistance.

*Folks who don't get the joke should brush up on their Arabic.

Source

UNWTO to Host Second Annual Ministers’ Summit at WTM

2008-09-18T19:27:00.002-04:30

The second annual United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Minsters’ Summit will take place on Tuesday 11 November 2008 at World Travel Market (WTM) at ExCeL London.
All eyes will be on WTM in London as Ministers seek to address the pressing challenges of Responding to the economic downturn and staying on course with the climate and poverty reduction agendas.

Faced with the increasing global economic uncertainty, the tourism sector must seriously examine how these reservations will affect the industry while making sure to not lose sight of its commitment to provide solutions to global challenges, particularly global warming, sustainable development and poverty.
UNWTO Secretary-General, Francesco Frangialli, said “A new and more demanding economic scenario has emerged in recent times. While factoring this into the international tourism agenda, we must not lose sight of the unaffected challenges of climate change response and the fight against poverty. The long-term starts today and the tourism sector must act now and face up to the economic uncertainty with all of its constructive potential. We are proud to count on World Travel Market as a partner in this endeavour.”
Speaking about the Ministers’ Summit, Fiona Jeffery, Chairman of World Travel Market said, “We are moving into extremely challenging times and it is important that strategically we do not forget the big picture and long term goals whilst dealing in a very different economic climate. The Ministers’ Summit, part of WTM’s Ministerial Programme working with the UNWTO, aims to keep these long term goals at the forefront of our industry and provide a timely forum for discussion, debate and leadership.”

Ministers of Tourism have been formally invited to participate at this important international event with the objective to assist in deepening the debate on the economic downturn and its effects on climate change and poverty reduction agendas.
World Travel Market has established itself as the global fulcrum of debate and discussion for the travel and tourism industry and is a key reason why it is now the backdrop for the Ministers’ Summit on Tuesday 11 November. The WTM Ministers’ Summit forms part of World Travel Market’s Ministers’ Programme, now in its fourth year and will confront and help to resolve the threats and opportunities of the future.

More than 45,000 travel professionals, senior management and buyers are expected to attend World Travel Market 2008 at ExCeL London, representing every region, country and industry sector throughout the world. They come to conduct business, negotiate and agree contracts, network, exchange views, share information and keep their finger on the ever changing pulse of the public and private sectors.

Japan Lures More Foreigners

2008-09-18T19:27:00.000-04:30

Land of the Rising Sun managed to lure 4.3 million foreign tourists in the first half of this year, which is a 10 per cent growth when compared with the same period last year. Japan is becoming increasingly popular with foreign visitors.The growth has several reasons. There was of course the promotion abroad but also cheaper yen helped to lure people with expendable income. The improving economic situation in Asia especially in China has allowed increased number of people to visit Japan and spend their money here. We also should not omit to mention the rising oil prices that are putting Asians off from traveling to far away destinations. All those factors combined resulted in the growth of foreign tourism arrivals in Japan.

The biggest source market for Japanese tourism industry was South Korea. Numbers of South Korean visitors have grown to 1.3 million. Also people from Hong Kong have become more interested in visiting Japan and the number of visitors from this region has risen to 267,000.
Japan has lots to offer. Tourists may admire some of its UNESCO world heritage sites but also the so called “new Japan” is a powerful attraction. There is for example the growing popularity of anime (i.e. animation). Foreign visitors are able to spend huge sums of money on comic and anime-related purchases. Asians from other countries enjoy shopping trips to Japan. Also the popularity of cosplay restaurants is on the rise. Cosplay restaurants are e.g. maid cafés where staff is dressed as maids. More conservative visitors may naturally admire the “Old Japan”, there is for example the world known Mount Fuji.

As Asia becomes economically stronger it also becomes more interesting to investors in the tourism industry. It is, however, necessary to be aware of the fragility of the tourism industry as the global economic downturn already changes the tourists’ preferences.

Lufthansa expands services to the USA

2006-11-23T14:24:00.000-04:00

Next summer Lufthansa passengers will have a wider choice of flights to the United States. Additional daily nonstop flights to Denver and Detroit will be offered to supplement Lufthansa’s already extensive route network in North America. “The increase in our services to Denver and Detroit will enable us to offer our customers two flights a day, at different times, to these popular destinations,” explains Dr. Holger Hätty, member of the Airline Board, Lufthansa German Airlines. “This will give passengers much greater flexibility when combining flights. For business travellers, this will mean big time savings.” By linking its key destinations in North America to both its Frankfurt and Munich hubs, Lufthansa can offer its customers 29 routes to 19 destinations in the USA and Canada, and thus operates the largest route network from Europe to North America.

For the first time, Lufthansa will fly nonstop from Munich to Denver, making it the tenth North American destination to be served from its hub in southern Germany. From 31 March 2007, flights to Denver will be operated daily from Munich as well as from Frankfurt. From Denver, the hub of Star Alliance partner United Airlines and one of the most modern and user-friendly airports in America, Lufthansa passengers can fly to about 100 destinations throughout North America. Munich-Denver is the latest new route to be included in the 2007 summer timetable following Lufthansa’s recent decision to launch services to Seoul and Busan in South Korea from its southern hub.
Denver, which has been the capital of the State of Colorado since 1876, is the eastern gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Today it has a population of half a million and is one of the most attractive cities in America. It is a traditional mining base and also the headquarters of major telecommunications companies. Other industries are energy and logistics.

Thanks to its location at the foot of the Rockies, Denver is not only a popular destination for sports and nature enthusiasts but also boasts many cultural attractions that make the city well worth a visit.
From 25 March 2007, Lufthansa will add a second daily flight on its Frankfurt-Detroit route, thus giving passengers greater choice and flexibility. The departure and arrival times of the new service will complement the existing flight to Detroit and provide convenient, time-saving connections for business travellers. From next summer, passengers will be able to fly Lufthansa to Detroit, arriving at 13:25 hrs, and fly back to Frankfurt the same day at 21:55 hrs. The new route will be operated by an Airbus A330-300 in a three-class configuration.

The Detroit region is a centre of the automotive industry and home to major car manufacturers and suppliers. The North American International Auto Show, which is held here once a year, is one of the most highly rated trade fairs in the industry alongside the Frankfurt Motor Show. Detroit, Michigan, with a population of just under one million, also maintains strong trade links with Germany. More than 200 German companies have branches in Detroit.
Round-trip fares from Munich to Denver start at 659 euros, while the equivalent fare from Frankfurt to Detroit can be booked for as little as 571 euros.

The fares quoted apply to flights in Economy Class and include all taxes and charges plus the Lufthansa Ticket Service Charge of 15 euros for flights booked online at www.lufthansa.com. Miles & More members can also collect miles on these routes. More information is available on our website. Reservations can be made online or via the Lufthansa Call Center on 0180 – LUFTHANSA“ (0180 5 83 84 26), Lufthansa travel agency partners or Lufthansa sales counters at airports.

Continental Airlines to consider merger

2006-11-23T14:23:00.000-04:00

The airline has revealed that it would consider a merger if it was necessary to maintain its competitiveness.
Chief Executive Larry Kellner stated in a recorded message to employees: “If the landscape of the US airline does not indeed change, we’ll do what we need to do to act in the best interests of you (employees), our customers, our shareholders and the communities we serve.”

It was reported that US Airways last week made an USD$8 billion bid for the larger and now bankrupt rival Delta Airlines. This has led to suggestions that it could lead to counter-bids or other combinations.
This latest statement means that Continental, currently the number 4 US carrier, could be another potential player in industry deal making, alongside United Airlines parent UAL.Southwest Airline has also indicated interest in taking assets that might have to be unloaded following a deal.

Continental has stated that it is reluctant to participate and is concerned about showing the implications of staying on the sidelines.
Mr Kellner stated: “The creation of a competitor even larger than American Airlines would not be good for us in the long run. Our preference is to remain independent and continue our growth plan.”

BA to give passengers more flexibility in choosing their seats online

2006-11-23T14:21:00.000-04:00

British Airways will be making the selection and booking of seats for their passengers a much easier and more flexible process with changes that will be taking place by the end of the year.

From December 5, 2006, the new guidelines will give passengers a greater selection of seats when checking in. This is because they are implementing a plan where, 24 hours before they depart, passengers will be able to check-in online and choose their seats at the same time. Once the seat has been chosen, it cannot be changed.
This way, the number of pre-assigned seats will be reduced, giving other passengers who have not checked in online the flexibility to choose from the seats that are left available when they arrive at the terminal. The airline remains committed to offering seat selection free of charge for all its passengers.

“We recognise that our customers want to choose where they sit on the aircraft during their flight and we want to give people the control to make this selection themselves during the check-in process,” said BA head of marketing and distribution Tiffany Hall. “With the popularity of online check-in growing we have seen an opportunity to improve our global seating procedures and provide customers with a simple, clear and dynamic way to choose the best seat available.”
“By checking-in, selecting their seat, and printing their boarding pass online, customers can arrive at the airport with peace of mind that they can proceed straight to the boarding gate with no need to queue to check in.”
For full details on the new seating policy, please visit www.ba.com/seating.

Air travel 'safer than ever'

2006-07-12T16:31:00.000-04:00

According to an independent report in USA Today, air travel in the United States is safer than ever before.
A new method for calculating the specific risk to passengers flying on U.S. airlines shows that air travel is 60 per cent safer in the 21st century than it was in the 1990s and nearly 70 per cent safer than during the 1980s.
It has been more than four-and-a-half years since a passenger died as a result of an airline accident on a U.S.-registered jet, the longest ever stretch.At present, the risk is so small (one in 22.8 million, from 2000 through 2005) that the average traveler would need to fly every day for more than 64,000 years before dying in an airline accident.

Arnold Barnett, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where the research was carried out, was quoted by USA Today, saying: "There may be a sense that you're no more likely to have an accident if you fly on a regular commercial jet than if you bite into a corn muffin."
Various new safety measures drafted in over the past ten, 15, or 20 years are now taking effect, according to one aviation electronics engineer.

Don Bateman stated that many safety features exist today that have been developed to improve safety and statistics like these were beginning to prove their effectiveness.

More mergers possible for U.S. aviation

2006-07-12T16:30:00.000-04:00

According to the airline chief executive at the heart of the last major U.S. merger, US Airways' Doug Parker, aviation companies in the United States could see further consolidation in the marketplace.
The combination of the old US Airways and America West Airlines, which created the fifth-largest American carrier last year, may involve either of the two troubled legacy airlines – Delta or Northwest.
Both companies filed for bankruptcy on the same day last September and Parker's view is that either one, or even both, could be an attractive investment as they look to emerge from Chapter 11 protection.
According to Parker, both Delta and Northwest will be able to cut operating costs to a bare minimum through the bankruptcy procedures of renegotiating contracts, dumping unneeded planes, and reworking its route schedules.

He told The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne) that this will "present an opportunity that may not exist for a long, long time" – a ready-made streamlined business able to offer competitive fares and routes to passengers from the start.
Parker was quick to note that no official talks had been held to date but that, if the opportunity arose, his airline "will be there to talk to them".

Nutritional food for thought

2006-07-12T16:28:00.000-04:00

According to a report in The New York Times, airlines are starting to offer healthier in-flight meals.
While domestic flights do not generally offer full meals apart from the odd snack or maybe a light meal for transcontinental routes, long-haul airlines continue to differentiate themselves from the competition with their menus.

In fact, several of the larger carriers now have tie-ins with well-known chefs to demonstrate their commitment to the quality of in-flight services, particularly in the premium seats.
British Airways is one such airline, working with Thai chefs from the Chiva-Som spa resort to create healthier and more varied options.

"If you fly a lot, [unhealthy eating] does become an issue," Ian Ruddle, a partner at New York's Deloitte Consulting told The New York Times.
"On international flights they are clearly trying harder. But if it's a heavy meal, you have to worry about how you are going to feel when you're in that meeting the next morning."
According to one industry analyst, a typical premium offering on an airline menu – a steak dinner – can contain more than 2,000 calories, prompting calls for more obvious displays of nutritional information across the board.

BA changes bag policy

2006-06-29T18:55:00.000-04:00

Carry-on bags are a both blessing and a curse - a blessing because you can grab your valise from the overhead and be on your way (without having to wait at baggage claim) and a curse because everybody wants to do just that and there simply isn’t enough room in the airplane.

Now, British Airways is introducing — and enforcing — a new baggage policy. The idea is to reduce passenger queues at airports, and speed boarding. On-time departures are part of any airline’s formula for success.
The changes will take effect from July 5. From then on you’ll be able to take on board one standard-sized bag (22in x 18in x 10in maximum dimensions), and either one briefcase, computer bag or equivalent. The bottom line is that no more than two items can be bought on board. Period. And that briefcase, laptop computer bag or its equivalent has to fit below the seat in front of you.

The changes to the bag rules simplify things – for fliers and airline alike – by consolidating two existing policies that are predicated on the number of bags, or total weight, and depend upon route and class of travel. A British Airways spokesperson tells Cheap Flight News: “Essentially, the new rules simplify things by making the regulations equal for all passengers.” No more guessing. You may not like the rule, but there will be no misunderstanding it.
Checking your luggage? New rules apply to the belly of the airplane too. BA is standardizing its excess baggage charges as of October 11. Bags that exceed a passenger’s free check-in allowance will be charged a flat fee. These charges will apply to all fliers, and are dependent on how long the flight is. The good news is that British Airways contends: “In the majority of cases he new charges will be less than those currently levied.”

U.S. congressman is opposing the use of federal funds to modify airport facilities for Airbus A380

2006-06-29T18:50:00.000-04:00

The Airbus A380, long hailed as the "next generation" of air travel, has been hit by news that a prominent U.S. congressman is opposing the use of federal funds to modify airport facilities needed to accommodate the new plane.
Republican John Mica, the chairman of the House of Representatives' aviation subcommittee, says that the airlines that operate the new superjumbo should be the ones to foot the bill for the cost of rebuilding gates to cope with the larger aircraft.

"Until a U.S. airline chooses to acquire and operate the passenger version of the A380, foreign airlines that operate A380 passenger service to and from the United States should pay for any needed infrastructure improvements at the airports they serve," the Floridian representative said.

Mica's argument is disputed by aviation experts, however, who say that the same runway and taxiway improvements and refits to gates will also be needed for the new Boeing 747-800, which has a similar wingspan to the A380 and will be operated by some U.S. carriers.

The result of having federal funding for the project revoked could mean that airlines that will operate the new A380 on routes to and from the U.S. could look to recoup the losses through higher ticket prices or some kind of surcharge.

Verizon is ending its in-flight telephone

2006-06-29T18:48:00.000-04:00

Say so long to Airfone. Verizon is ending its in-flight telephone service, at least for commercial airlines, by the end of this year. The move means that 1,000 aircraft will be bereft of in-flight passenger communications, at least communications provided by Verizon. Continental Airlines, Delta, US Airways and United Airlines will be affected.

Verizon will continue to provide Airfone service for corporate and government aircraft, for the time being at least.
In recent years in-flight telephones have been disappearing from airliners, much as pay phones have been vanishing on the ground. Cells are in the ascendant.

Airphone has never been cheap. Domestic calls cost $3.99 for the initial minute, and $4.99 per minute after that. For Verizon subscribers, the rate is $0.69 per minute, or $0.10 per minute for subscribers who pay a $10 monthly fee.
Whether the Verizon move will provide impetus for those who favor in-flight cell phone use remains to be seen.

Trusted traveler program having trouble taking off

2006-06-29T18:47:00.000-04:00

A proposed new express lane check-in service for frequent users of air travel services within the United States has run into problems.
The Registered Traveler program idea is being put forward by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in order to speed up security checks for frequent fliers.

The system uses advanced background checking of passengers, who will pay a set fee of $80 to $100 and carry a specialized ID card so they do not have to stand in the same lines at security.

However, many security companies and airport operators have balked at the suggestion that they will have to pay the TSA up to $300 an hour to operate the special lanes, and smaller airports will also need to apportion an entire security lane for trusted travelers, limiting space for regular passengers.
These concerns, among others, have been raised by the Airports Council International and the Air Transport Association, both leading aviation groups. Observers suggest that with such opposition the TSA may find it difficult to push through its proposals.

ATA urges airports to reject Registered Traveler program

2006-06-12T12:56:00.000-04:00

By Michael Milligan

The Air Transport Association last week sent letters to the directors of 79 airports in the U.S. urging them to reject the Transportation Security Administration’s ongoing effort to develop a Register Traveler (RT) program designed to speed certain qualifying travelers through airport security checkpoints.

In the letter, ATA president James May, a vocal opponent of the RT program, contended that “as currently designed, the program will unnecessarily drain limited TSA resources and detract from the agency’s ability to craft more comprehensive programs benefiting all travelers.”

In April, the TSA, which has been testing the RT program at select airports, announced plans to phase in as many as 20 more airports before the end of the year. The TSA said the additional RT airports would come on line as soon as the private sector operators that will facilitate the program make the necessary business arrangements with host airports and air carriers and get security approval from the TSA.

The TSA said the RT programs would be partially fee-funded; however, the amount of the fee and how it will be administered has yet to be determined.

“We are uncomfortable with the lack of a proven economic model,” May wrote in the letter to airport directors, adding that “neither the TSA nor the airlines nor the current RT vendors have agreed on a robust business model for fee interchange between various providers at different airports.”

In addition to the ATA, civil liberties groups and the Government Accountability Office, Congress’ investigative arm, have raised concerns about the proposed RT program.

The GAO has raised doubts over the TSA’s timetable for implementation due to issues involving the development of the pre-screening system, while civil liberties groups have expressed concerns about the collection and security of certain information that would be obtained from air passengers participating in the program.

Nevertheless, the program has supporters including groups representing airports and the National Business Travel Association, which views it as a time saver for its business travelers.

A recent survey of business travelers conducted in cooperation with the NBTA and the Travel Industry Association found 92% would be interested in signing up for the RT program.

Verified Identity Pass, a private sector company that operates Clear, one of the pilot RT programs at Orlando’s airport, in March signed a deal with Hyatt Hotels to offer its top-tier frequent stay loyalty members complimentary membership in Clear.

Hyatt, one of the first hotel chains to embrace the RT program, intends to set up Clear enrollment stations in select hotels if the program is implemented at other airports.

To contact reporter Michael Milligan, send e-mail to mmilligan@travelweekly.com.

Airlines struggle to fill the gap left by rising jet fuel costs

2006-06-12T12:53:00.000-04:00

By Andrew Compart

The problem for U.S. airline executives is that someone keeps raising the bar.

Less than two years ago, some carriers still were counting on the per-barrel price of crude oil to settle in the $30s long-term. By the time executives accepted that they’d better plan for the $40s or even $50s, per-barrel prices had pushed past $60. Finally, they began basing business plans on the low to mid $60s, and prices climbed to $70.

“When we began the restructuring process last year, we prudently planned for oil prices averaging $65 per barrel in 2006, and $60 per barrel thereafter,” Northwest Executive Vice President and CFO Neal Cohen said recently. “With recent persistent record-high fuel costs, along with significant volatility in the markets, there remains great uncertainty around this key element of our plan.”

These fuel costs really sting. And it’s not just the per-barrel cost for crude; the jet fuel price increase has been even worse because the spread between the cost of crude and the refined jet fuel product is much wider than it used to be.

Northwest says every $1 increase in a barrel of oil costs it $43 million a year. American spent $1.1 billion more for jet fuel in 2004 than in 2003 and $1.7 billion more in 2005 than in 2004. The carrier expects another $1 billion increase this year.

Take a look at the U.S. map accompanying this article. Those increases in fuel costs per passenger per one-way flight are difficult to make up, particularly on longer routes. It’s even more pronounced for international routes, with New York-London, for example, costing about $82 more per passenger each way compared with March 2000, and Detroit-Tokyo about $152 more.

Have fares increased? You bet they have. High fuel prices have had one beneficial effect from the industry’s perspective (more like a nickel lining than silver, actually): Many U.S. airlines have cut domestic capacity in favor of more lucrative international service. Others have scaled back growth plans. And Independence Air liquidated, which left fewer seats on the market and gave airlines newfound pricing power.

Domestic air fares, as measured by cents paid per mile, were 12% higher in April 2006 than in April 2005.

But domestic air fares still are not back to where they were six years ago during the industry’s profitable heyday. And since that time, jet fuel prices have more than doubled. Northwest, which compares filling the tank of its 747-400 to filling the tanks of 2,000 SUVs, said a fill-up for its Detroit-Asia flights has increased from $48,000 two years ago to $103,400 today.

Airlines have been doing a lot to try to cut their consumption. U.S. aircraft fuel efficiency has increased by more than six revenue passenger miles per gallon in five years, to 44.4 rpms/gallon, according to the Air Transport Association.

Continental, Southwest and Alaska have installed or are installing winglets -- vertical fins at the end of wings -- to reduce drag and cut fuel burn by 3%. Many airlines taxi aircraft on one engine when conditions permit. American redistributed cargo in the aircraft’s belly to move its center of gravity forward.

Many airlines have lightened aircraft by removing ovens, trash compactors, food galleys and seatback phones.

Alaska Airlines counts the children aboard each flight so it can more precisely estimate passenger weight and calculate how much fuel it needs. It estimates it will save $450,000 a year in fuel costs by switching to catering carts that weigh 160 pounds instead of 180.

The few U.S. airlines that can afford it have been ordering more efficient aircraft, and others have been grounding or ditching gas guzzlers.

American, for example, flies more gas-guzzling MD-80 aircraft than any U.S. carrier -- 327 as of the end of 2005 to Delta’s 120 and Alaska’s 26. So American is putting another 27 MD-80s into “temporary” storage this summer, It won’t bring them back if it can’t operate them profitably, and it is weighing the benefits and costs of retrofitting its other MD-80s with more efficient engines.

Alaska decided in March to transition to an all-737 fleet by the end of 2008 and retire the rest of its MD-80s by then, spending $750 million short-term but expecting to save about $115 million a year after the transition thanks to increased fuel efficiency coupled with the reductions in maintenance, training and crew scheduling that a single-aircraft fleet provides.

Northwest just decided to accelerate the retirement of its 17 remaining DC-10s, all of which will be gone by January, replaced by A330s on transatlantic routes and 747s on transpacific routes.

As an example of how such changes help, Northwest currently flies two DC-10s and an A330 on its Minneapolis/St. Paul-Amsterdam route. The A330 burns 6,100 fewer gallons one way, saving about $12,000 at today’s jet fuel prices, and can carry 25 more passengers. That’s more revenue potential at less cost.

Yet all this may not be enough.

If prices go down, many U.S. airlines have positioned themselves to make a profit with their cost cuts, fuel efficiency, capacity constraints and fare increases. But another refinery-threatening hurricane season is coming and perhaps a showdown with oil-rich Iran. China’s demand for oil isn’t about to decline, and U.S. demand isn’t abating. The availability of Nigerian oil remains subject to sabotage, and Venezuela’s to the whims of President Hugo Chavez.

Many U.S. airline executives confess they aren’t sure they can turn a profit with oil at $70 per barrel. And if the bar is raised on them yet again, watch out. Most of the air traffic control modernization that could enable more efficient routings and substantial fuel savings are, at best, still many years away.

For some airlines, consolidation or liquidation could be the only answer left.

To contact reporter Andrew Compart, send e-mail to acompart@travelweekly.com.

THE WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS - 2006

2006-06-09T08:28:00.000-04:00

British Airways has been announced as the 2006 Airline of the Year in the World Airline Awards published today. In second place is Qantas, with the 2005 winner, Cathay Pacific, ranked in 3rd position for 2006. Full results

The 2006 World Airline Awards ® are based on the annual World Airline Survey conducted by Skytrax - carried out between September 2005 and May 2006. The survey measures over 35 different aspects of passenger satisfaction for each airline's product and service standards - evaluating the 'typical' travel experience.

Airline of the Year 2006

1 British Airways
2 Qantas
3 Cathay Pacific
4 Thai Airways
5 Emirates

"the Awards recognised by the world"
Commenting on the World Airline Awards, Edward Plaisted (CEO, Skytrax) said

......"the World Airline Survey is recognised across the globe as the leading independent monitor of passenger opinions - the survey process offering the only truly worldwide project, with open and uninfluenced results. The final total of 13.61 million eligible, completed survey interviews was beyond our expectations, and we pay tribute to all those customers who participated." "Our congratulations go to the 2006 Airline of the Year winner, British Airways. In contrast to several previous year surveys, we found that the level of nominations for British Airways by their premium passengers was proportionately much higher than that of other airlines in the Top 10 rankings - clearly they are doing something right in that particular market.

An airline undergoing considerable changes and cutting product levels to compete across Europe with the low-cost airline competition, a key element to emerge in the passenger voting for British Airways was that it performs well in terms of general product and service consistency."

"Qantas takes the 2nd place Silver Award, repeating their 2004/5 performance, and demonstrating that they are well-established amongst the top quality airlines in the world. A strong performer in other 2006 Category Awards, we will be watching with interest to see if they can push themselves into the top position next year!" added Plaisted. The 2005 winner, Cathay Pacific, ranks 3rd for the 2006 Awards, with Thai Airways in 4th place, and Emirates in 5th. Full results

BEST INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
Emirates maintain their global leadership for Best Airline Inflight Entertainment, again securing 1st place in this ever more competitive category - Singapore Airlines 2nd, and Virgin Atlantic 3rd. Full results

BEST CABIN STAFF
Thai Airways scored another major success, named Worlds Best Cabin Staff for 2006 - with Qatar Airways moving from 5th last year to take 2nd place in the 2006 Awards, and Malaysia Airlines taking 3rd position. Full results

BEST ONBOARD CATERING
Gulf Air maintain their leadership across the Best Airline Catering sections of the World Airline Awards, ranking 1st, 2nd and 5th in the respective awards for First Class, Business Class and Economy Class. Full results

BEST BUSINESS CLASS
British Airways long haul, Club World Business class proves a winner, taking the award as Best Business Class for the second consecutive year - ahead of South African Airways (2nd) and Virgin Atlantic in 3rd. Full results

How to avoid lost luggage

2006-06-06T10:35:00.000-04:00

One of the biggest gripes of airline passengers around the world is that they are forced to run the gauntlet every time they check baggage, risking precious items being lost or broken along the way.
If the worst happens, an entire holiday can be disrupted or even ruined by a delayed bag containing that all-important suit or dress, so how would you feel if you knew that airlines in the U.S. alone lost around 10,000 items of luggage during 2005?

To try to prevent the stress that comes with this, Tim Jacobsen, Vice President of Luggage Online, and Brooke Dowd, the editor of travel blog Wellpacked.com, have come up with some handy hints and tips.
One of the simpler solutions is to take your bags as carry-on, although with restrictions on size and weight getting tighter all the time this is not always possible. You could always just pack your valuables in your carry-on, so you at least know the expensive stuff is safe, Dowd says.

Jacobsen notes that another easy way to avoid taking a risk on baggage handlers is shipping your luggage. "UPS and FedEx are more reliable than the airlines," he says, "and they have much better tracking technology in place".
For those who want a simpler (and cheaper) solution, there are several things you can do to reduce the chances of your bag being the unlucky one that goes astray.

By booking direct flights there is less confusion and less opportunity for your luggage to get misplaced. The same is true if you check-in earlier and remove all old destination tags from your bags.
Finally, putting your name with your luggage, as well as making it stand out from the crowd by attaching a colorful ribbon or tag, will also reduce the chances of it getting misplaced. If you include an itinerary of your travel as well then it will make tracking you down a lot easier if the worst happens.

No cabin pressure-DVT link

2006-06-06T10:32:00.000-04:00

The common belief that the pressurized atmosphere in the cabin of a long-haul flight will lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been rejected by a group of British scientists.
Researchers from universities in Leicester and Aberdeen have carried out tests in hypobaria chambers with healthy volunteers, designed to simulate an eight-hour flight, to see if their risk of contracting DVT is increased.
Dr William Toff from the University of Leicester said: "Our study provides, for the first time, a controlled assessment of the effects on blood clotting of the low air pressure and low oxygen level that might be found during a long-haul flight.
"We found no evidence that these conditions cause activation of the blood clotting mechanism."
Dr Toff added that although the cabin conditions unique to flying had no link to DVT, the act of sitting still for several hours had already been proven to increase the risk.
He urged passengers on long-haul flights to do regular leg exercises and get up and walk around the cabin "when conveniently possible".
The Department for Transport in the UK has published the full report online.

TSA spotting new security technique

2006-06-06T10:30:00.000-04:00

Reports suggest that the Transport Security Administration (TSA) is preparing to introduce a new security initiative based around passengers' behavioral patterns.

Screening Passengers by Observational Techniques, or SPOT, as it will be known, has been trialed at several airports in the northeast over the past few years and the TSA is now ready to enlist its help on a wider scale.
TSA Director Kip Hawley told Reuters that the program would be expanded after the summer travel season was over but would not identify precisely which airports would be participating.

"We have been very pleased with its effectiveness," Hawley said. "We expect it to be an important part of our security going forward."
The system uses professionals to observe passengers and look for unusual or anxious behavioral mannerisms as they stand in line at security checks. The TSA is careful to point out that random checks will not be racially or ethnically motivated.

It will not replace the traditional checks of luggage and metal detectors but is intended to be a supplement to them. Officials said that it would be a less cumbersome system than the current government "watch lists" and security databases used by the TSA.

Tips for international travel preparation

2006-06-05T16:40:00.000-04:00

Before you go: Consult a travel medicine clinic or your doctor as soon as possible before the trip. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests going four to six weeks before the trip.

If vaccinations are needed, this will allow time for the body to build up immunity or allow time if a series of shots are required, says Dr. Ted Sofish with Occupational Health Associates in Chambersburg, Pa.
This visit to the doctor also will help you determine what medical items you'll need to take. It helps to know your itinerary so you can tell the doctor how long you will be away, what type of accommodations you will have (hotel or camping), and what types of areas you will visit (urban or rural). Visits to remote rural areas can have greater health risks.

Lower elevations are more prone to mosquitoes, Sofish says.
Vaccinations: Few vaccines are required by International Health Regulations, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have a list of recommended vaccines depending upon the destination.

Yellow fever vaccination is required for people to go to certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America, according to the CDC.
The government of Saudi Arabia requires meningococcal vaccinations for annual travel during the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, the CDC states.
Other vaccinations, such as Hepatitis A, might be recommended depending on the destination.

Health insurance: Check with your health insurance provider about coverage abroad.

Social Security's Medicare program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States, according to the State Department's Web site. Senior citizens may contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical-care coverage with Medicare supplement plans.

Infectious diseases: Travelers can check with the WHO or CDC to find out what infectious diseases might be occurring in their destination country.
There have been recent mumps outbreaks in Venezuela, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine and a measles outbreak in Nairobi, Kenya, according to the CDC's Web site.

Pre-existing medical conditions and prescriptions: Travelers with pre-existing medical conditions should consult their doctors because health risks can be greater for those travelers, according to the WHO.

The State Department recommends such travelers carry a letter from their doctor describing the condition and prescribed medications, including generic names for the drugs. Leave medications in their original, clearly labeled containers.

Since some prescription medications can be considered illegal narcotics in other countries, travelers should check with their destination's foreign embassy about carrying their prescriptions abroad.
When you get back: The World Health Organization recommends certain travelers get a medical exam upon their return.

This includes:
· People with a chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease.
· People who are ill in the weeks after they get home, especially if symptoms include a fever, persistent diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, urinary disorders, skin disease or genital infection. People with a fever and who were in a malaria-endemic area need to seek medical attention immediately.
· People who think they were exposed to a serious infectious disease while traveling.
· People who spent more than three months in a developing country.

IATA says global airline industry will lose $3 billion in 2006

2006-06-05T16:35:00.000-04:00

IATA, the global airline industry body, said today that airlines will lose $3 billion in 2006, just slightly below the outturn for 2005.

"We are starting to see some light at the end of a five year tunnel—some cautious optimism" said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association at the opening of the World Air Transport Summit and IATA Annual General Meeting in Paris.

Bisignani noted tremendous progress in airlines since crisis struck the industry in 2001. "Labour productivity improved 33%. Sales and distribution costs dropped 10% and non-fuel unit costs reduced 13%," said Bisignani.

"Oil remains the wild card. The break-even fuel price increased from US$14 per barrel to US$50 since 2001. But in just one year, the fuel bill ballooned US$21 billion and is expected to top US$112 billion this year," said Bisgnani.

"While the fuel price continues to race ahead of efficiency gains, it is truly amazing that profitability has not deteriorated from last year. Losses for 2006 will be US$3 billion, slightly less than the US$3.2 billion recorded for last year," said Bisignani.

"We must remember that the strong revenue environment—10% annual growth over the last three years—is also fragile. A weaker global economy could change our prospects dramatically. Change is more important than ever," said Bisignani.

OAG again names LAN Airlines Best Airline Central/South America and Caribbean

2006-05-30T20:54:00.000-04:00

For the sixth time, LAN Airlines has been chosen as the Best Airline Based in Central/South America & Caribbean by OAG (Official Airline Guide), the foremost world guide on information regarding airline schedules and itineraries.

LAN Airlines also ranked among the eight finalists in the Airline of the Year 2006 category, alongside such important international airlines as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Continental Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, CSA Czech Airlines and South African Airways.

OAG awards have been presented for more than two decades based on voting by frequent travelers worldwide that select the best companies at an international level, resulting in the recognition of excellence in the products and services that LAN offers its clients. The most important representatives from the worldwide airline industry attended the 2006 awards ceremony, which took place recently in London.

Armando Valdivieso, LAN Airlines' CEO passenger: "We are honored to once again receive this important recognition that reflects the opinion of experienced frequent travelers worldwide. We will continue to always offer a service of excellence with the highest standards of security and efficiency that have distinguished LAN internationally."

OAG - specialists in travel and transportation - annually distinguishes those airlines and airports that have maintained the best standards in the industry according to the opinion of business travelers throughout the world.

Summary of 2006 Awards:

-- Airline of the Year 2006: Cathay Pacific
-- Best Airline Based in Australasia/Pacific: Qantas
-- Best Airline Based in Asia: Cathay Pacific
-- Best Airline Based in Central/Eastern Europe: CSA Czech Airlines
-- Best Airline Based in Central/South America & Caribbean: LAN Airlines
-- Best Airline Based in North America: Continental Airlines
-- Best Airline Based in Western Europe: British Airways
-- Best Airline Based in Africa: South African Airways
-- Best Airline Based in Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent: Emirates

For more information on the 2006 OAG Awards, visit http://www.oag.com/Airline+of+the+Year/current_winners_2006.

The LAN service alliance participating airlines, LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru, offer a united spirit of reliability and charm that provides passengers the highest level of service and safety with the complete travel experience throughout the skies of the Americas.

The LAN service alliance's vast route network reaches a large number of destinations throughout the world, including the Americas, Europe and the South Pacific. The alliance offers flights from North America to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela with service from 29 North American cities, including daily flights from its Miami, New York and Los Angeles gateways. Passengers traveling with any of the LAN service alliance participating airlines may accumulate frequent flier kilometers/miles in LANPASS or American Airlines' AAdvantage. Additionally, passengers traveling with LAN Airlines or LAN Peru may also accumulate frequent flier miles in any of the oneworld(TM) member frequent flier programs. LAN Airlines is a member of oneworld(TM) and LAN Peru is an affiliate of oneworld(TM), the world's leading quality alliance.

Seating and timing go hand in hand.

2006-05-30T20:02:00.000-04:00

Airlines as a general rule have very specific timelines for releasing pre-assigned seats. Most airlines release pre-assigned seats 20 minutes prior to departure for passengers who have not checked in. The traveler's reservation remains intact, but the seat assignment becomes subject to whatever is available upon check in.

Check in less than 10 minutes before departure, and the airline is not obligated to honor the reservation and your space on the plane can be given to someone else. In the industry it's aptly called "The Ten Minute Rule."

Each airline controls the seating and not all travelers or fares are eligible for every seat; availability is capacity-controlled and based on frequent flyer status, plus the type of fare you are booking.

It's also not uncommon for the airline to switch aircraft types which results in a different seat availability and layout. The seat you once had may not exist on the new aircraft configuration, resulting in a new seat assignment.

That's one reason I like to check in online before heading out to the airport. If I'm dissatisfied with my seat assignment on the printed boarding pass, I see that it is my first order of business to get it changed at the airport.

I often ask for exit rows which are blocked for airport check-in or premier frequent fliers. You can expect a little more leg room and a little less seat padding. (Not a problem for this traveler.)

You also want to make sure you've noted your seating preference in your profile.
Log on to your Expedia® Corporate Travel account

Enter your seating preference in your profile
Go to My Profile (in the top yellow bar)
Click Flight (under Traveler contact information and preferences)
Options include aisle/window; row; wing; and left or right side
Taking these precautions may help you remain comfortably seated before, during and after the flight.

Cut in Line With Web Check-In

2006-05-30T19:52:00.000-04:00

Check-in may just be the best thing to happen to air travel since the in-flight movie and airport neck massage. The idea of being able to check in anywhere and at anytime within 24 hours of your flight is like sanctioned cutting in line. By checking in online, you're protecting your reservation and seat assignment should you be delayed in transit to the airport. In essence, you're telling the airline, "I really, really, really plan on taking this flight." Sound silly?

It's not unusual for a full flight to be overbooked by 10-20 percent, as the airline formulates a no-show factor based on the history of the flight. Think of it like going to a movie. The closer to showtime the more limited the seating. Show up ten minutes before curtain and you'll be munching those Milk Duds four feet from Tom Hank's onscreen forehead. That said, the first seats to be released near departure time come from travelers who are late and have not checked in.

Of course, you can always check in online at the airline's Web site, but we've saved you that step by bringing you the check-in links to your online itinerary under My Trips. Just print and go! You can link to Web check-in on Expedia(R) Corporate Travel for the following carriers: Air Canada, AirTran, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, America West, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Northwest Airlines, TZ, United Airlines, and US Airways.

Delta reveals latest details in JFK expansion plans (

2006-05-25T19:08:00.000-04:00

Delta, following through on previously announced plans to turn New York’s Kennedy Airport into a Delta hub this year, said it will add 25 daily Delta Connection nonstop flights to 14 domestic destinations between July and October.

With the additions, all using 50-seat regional jets or 37-seat turboprops, Delta will offer more than 140 peak-day daily domestic departures from Kennedy by October. That’s more than double the number it offers now.

Delta had disclosed in March its plans to turn Kennedy into a hub, primarily by adding dozens of flights from the Northeast to feed traffic to its growing international service at the airport.

Internationally from Kennedy, Delta will be adding service May 15 to Budapest, Hungary; Manchester, England; and Dublin and Shannon, Ireland; June 1 to Kiev, Ukraine; and June 16 to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Those additions will expand its international offerings from Kennedy to about 28 destinations.

2006 World Airport Awards are announced

2006-05-25T11:27:00.000-04:00

Singapore Changi Airport has been named as the World's Best Airport in the 2006 World Airport Awards. As the runner-up for this prestigious title in recent years, Changi Airport takes the top spot for 2006, ahead of nearby Asian rival, Hong Kong International Airport, ranked in 2nd place.

Top 10 Airports - 2006 Airport of the Year

1 Singapore Changi Airport
2 Hong Kong Int'l Airport
3 Munich Airport
4 Kansai International Airport
5 Seoul Incheon Airport
6 KLIA - Kuala Lumpur Airport
7 Helsinki Vantaa Airport
8 Zurich Airport
9 Dubai International Airport
10 Copenhagen Airport

Commenting on the 2006 Airport of the Year award, Mr Wong Woong Liong (Director-General of Singapore Civil Aviation, CAAS) said .... "We are delighted that Changi Airport is named the world's best airport in the 2006 Skytrax survey. Changi has won many best airport awards but the Skytrax award is one which we have not won before. We are therefore very pleased to count this endorsement by Skytrax as an important part of our track record. Changi Airport's constant upgrading in facilities and improvement in services, such as the complete renovation of our Terminal 2 and the launch of a dedicated Budget Terminal earlier this year, has been rewarded with this strong approval from Skytrax global users."

Discussing the 2006 results, Mr Edward Plaisted (Skytrax CEO) said ... "after another record-breaking level of customer response to this passenger survey, we have over recent months closely monitored the jostling for the winners accolade. This went down to the wire, with Singapore Changi securing top position in the final month of the survey. The total responses for this 2006 study grew by 1.7 million over year-earlier levels, with more than 7.2 million air travellers casting their votes in this survey, making it the world's largest and most extensive assessment of airport standards" . "Particular praise for the Singapore Changi title as World's Best Airport 2006 is underlined by the fact this is an airport celebrating its 25 year Silver Jubilee in July - and subsequently having to achieve product and service standards that match and exceed competitor airports, many of which are just 5 or 6 years old" said Plaisted.

Amongst survey respondents reasons for their Best Airport nominations, a comment that summarises a much echoed opinion for the 2006 Airport of the Year said .... "Singapore have made the airport experience something to look forward to .... rather than something one normally dreads". Hong Kong International Airport remained the key title challenger throughout the survey, and with a final voting differential of less than 1,000 nominations between these two airports, one realises the high levels of customer satisfaction that both of these leading global airports enjoy. Airports making it into the Top 10 league of world airports is quite similar to last year's results, although there has been a marked movement within this particular grouping. Munich Airport continues to impress passengers, being ranked Best in Europe and 3rd in the world for these 2006 results.

Particular themes that emerged for the success of Munich in the survey centred around general service efficiency, the ease of transit process, variety of facilities, and ground transportation options. Osaka Kansai International Airport moves up to 4th position worldwide in 2006, again being very highly rated for ease of communication, terminal cleanliness / presentation, and high standards of staff service across front-line customer service functions.

Seoul Incheon Airport slipped from 3rd (2005) into 5th place for the 2006 results. Whilst highly regarded as a transit airport, and particularly praised for quality of staff service, terminal facilities and cleanliness, it seems that poor ground transportation options and travel times between Seoul Incheon Airport and downtown Seoul were factors that contributed to the fall in ranking for ICN Airport.

KLIA Kuala Lumpur ranked 6th position worldwide, moving up one place on their 2005 ranking. With an efficient ground transportation system in place, the airport was highlighted for ease of transfer process, and also for the more general feeling of space around terminal areas

One of the smallest airports in the Top 10 ranking is Helsinki Vantaa Airport, placed 7th overall and up from 13th position in 2005. Stylish, efficient, clean and pleasing architecture were some of the most popular terms used to describe the airport experience at Helsinki. Zurich Airport takes 8th place this year, moving from 15th in 2005. With the past few years having been a time of considerable change across the Zurich Airport terminal facilities, it seems that the end result is continuing to achieve increased levels of passenger satisfaction. Efficiency, speed of processing and a good, balanced range of facilities were frequent reasons supporting the nominations for this airport.

Dubai International Airport is another undergoing considerable change, and whilst maintaining a Top 10 customer satisfaction ranking, it has slipped from 6th in 2005 to take 9th place in the 2006 results. Whilst all airports experience peaks and troughs in terms of passenger traffic through a 24 hour period, Dubai is one airport where standards of passenger experience seem to closely mirror consequent congestion levels through the terminal areas.

Continuing its presence in the worlds Top 10, Copenhagen Airport is ranked 10th, slipping from 9th position in the 2005 results. Praised for staff service efficiency, terminal facilities and general ambience, there was some discontent with changes to transit processes at CPH, that have resulted in slower and more arduous procedures when contrasted to a few years ago.

Looking at regional results, San Francisco (Global rating = 12th) is the top ranked airport in North America, Cape Town (Global rating = 16th) is the Best Airport in Africa, Buenos Aires (Global rating = 86th) is Best Airport in South America, Dubai (Global rating = 10th) is Best Airport Middle East, Sydney (Global rating = 13th) is Best Airport Australia/Pacific, Singapore (Global rating = 1st) is Best Airport in Asia, and Munich (Global rating = 3rd) is Best Airport in Europe. Peter Miller (Skytrax, Marketing Director) added ...."in a global survey of this scale, it is heartening to see the considerable breadth of passenger opinions, and ratings applied that relate to very different individual requirements of the airport experience. With a substantial business traveller response, it is quite clear that their priorities and demands are often based upon the speed, efficiency and reliability of airport services - be this fast track services, priority service processing, wifi access etc.

In contrast, it is often the leisure passengers that expect more from the airport experience - finding oneself with a 5-6 hour transit layover, no access to an airline lounge, and this is when the standard of airport amenities comes under the most scrupulous analysis. Leisure options ... seating availability, general terminal comfort, finding a clean washroom, plus ancillary amenities to enjoy or pass away the time all play an important role in the general travel enjoyment.

We congratulate Singapore Changi for being crowned the 2006 victor in satisfying these expectations, and all those airports in the Top 10 world ranking that have clearly achieved the highest standards of customer service during the past year".

http://www.airlinequality.com/news/230506-bestairport.htm

Cruisers getting younger and bolder

2006-05-25T11:22:00.000-04:00

A cruise holiday is increasingly becoming the choice of younger travellers, according to a new survey of current trends in the industry. Cruise Holidays' 2006 Travel Trends Survey found that customers aged 55 or over now account for less than half of passengers for 63 per cent of the cruise companies asked. Families with children, meanwhile, can make up as much as 70 per cent of the total number of passengers aboard, confirming there is a focus on making ships and itineraries more open and family-friendly.

The results show people also seem to be taking longer cruises, while price is no longer considered as important as the itinerary offered by the particular cruise line. The survey was carried out in the US, where the Caribbean and Alaska continue to prove the most popular destinations, with St. Thomas considered the top Caribbean port of call. However, the Mediterranean has overtaken the Mexican Riviera as the third most popular destination, where Rome, Venice and the Greek Islands are the favourite places to visit.

Finally, the survey showed that holidaymakers are increasingly looking "for something new and different", said Cruise Holidays vice president, Peter Thomson. The top emerging destinations were Asia and South America, with the Galapagos Islands specifically singled out by some respondents. West of Ecuador, there are 13 main islands in the Galapagos archipelago, renowned for their wide variety of wildlife, from penguins and sea lions to the intriguingly-named blue-footed booby.

© Adfero Ltd

Europe on the Cheap(er)

2006-05-25T11:12:00.000-04:00

THE PEAK TRAVEL SEASON is almost upon us, but the weak dollar, down about 8% against the euro this year, means visiting Europe will be a pricey endeavor. Yet not even $5 gelatos and $8 beers will keep Americans away from the Continent this summer. Indeed, Europe is expected to receive more travelers from the U.S. in 2006 than the record 13.2 million who visited in 2000, according to the European Travel Commission.
For travelers reluctant to sacrifice braces for their kids for a trip to France, there are ways to finesse the slumping greenback, according to Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations". For one thing, if you're planning to hit Paris or Madrid, consider traveling to the countryside as well. Lodging and food outside major cities are usually less expensive. Now might also be the perfect time to try an alternative destination like Turkey, he says, that offers a more favorable exchange rate. Thanks to Europe's network of low-cost airlines, it's easy and affordable to hopscotch from one destination to the next.

"I say still try to look for destinations in Europe that are not as expensive," Leffel says. "Even going into the countryside instead of the city can save you money. If you go into the rural parts of France, for example, instead of Paris, will save a lot of money."

Also, the simple act of locking in rates before departure by prebooking certain arrangements — like day trips or even package deals that include hotel stays — will protect you from a falling dollar while on the road, says Leffel, whose new book, "Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune: The Contrarian Traveler's Guide to Getting More for Less," comes out in July. Some overseas lodging operators will guarantee rates in U.S. dollars rather than local currency. Ask when you reserve.

Are there any hotel breaks to be found in the big cities?

TL: Things pop up all the time. For deals to Europe, a lot of times you see a hotel trying to unload its leftover inventory to lock in rooms before it gets too close. Anybody who isn't positive on where they're going yet, keep an eye out for these deals.

With hotel deals, they're all over the map. It depends a lot on destination. With hotels and restaurants, I tend to tell people if they can avoid well-known tourist trap places, they'll be better off. A lot of times they're in a better location as well. With restaurants that's incredibly true. If you go to a place filled with tourists, it's going to be more expensive. And I suggest you ask locals for recommendations — you usually get better food that way.

Does having a good plan always mean arranging every part of a trip before you leave? Some things are cheaper when you book in advance, others not.?

A big piece of advice I give is to pay for big excursions at the source, rather than ahead of time with an adventure tour company. If you're going to do a four-day hike, or even a city tour, it's almost always cheaper to book it when you're there than through a tour company or travel agent. I did a trek in Nepal and it cost next to nothing. But if you'd have booked everything in the U.S., it would have cost thousands. There were little lodges along the way for $2 a night. We just carried light packs. You don't need a guide. If you don't do research and sign up with an adventure company, you slept in tents, not even in a lodge. And they spend 10 times or more for the same experience. It's the same with cruise ships. Some people book excursions on the cruise ship rather than just winging it when they get off the ship. And the same with guides; you can always find a guide at the hotel, rather than booking in advance. We tend to approach our vacations the same way we approach our jobs: too much enthusiasm. If you save the decisions for when you actually get there, you spend less.

Adventure in Venezuela's jungle

2006-05-23T11:02:00.000-04:00

Friday, May 19, 2006

By Welker E. Hagenlocher

Where did you go? I flew from Miami to Caracas, Venezuela, then to the Amazon Rainforest, Canaima National Park, and Los Roques National Park in the southern Caribbean Sea. Highlights were prospecting for gold at the bast of Yutaje Falls (yes!!), fishing for piranha in a Reo Negro tributary in Piedra de Cocuy (yes!!), and climbing to the 1,600-foot level of Auyantepui to view Angel Falls, the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall at 3,212 feet. We then returned to the base for more prospecting.

Lodging? Food? Fun? Huts in the jungle camps. Villa suite on Los Roques. Suite in Caracas five-star Hilton.
Eating delicious agouti (a rodent) broiled or in a veggie stew, river fish that tasted as good as yellow perch, broiled wild duck, rice, a chicken-plantain yum-yum, and a variety of tropical fruits picked in the jungle.
Explaining the outside world to inquisitive toucans and macaws!

What did you pack that came in handy? An 8-oz. bottle of Clorox to sterilize the foot section of a hut shower against toxic fungi. "Off!" insect deterrent. Pint of Calvados apple schnapps. Matchbox toy vehicles which I presented to Piari and Pemon, Indian children of the Yanomami Nation, while their parents busied themselves with processing sugarcane hootch!

Did you feel safe? Yes, at all times.

I do not lead a life of quiet desperation and I do not look over my shoulder. We flew over vast stretches of jungle, mountains, and tepuis much of it unexplored. If an aircraft develops engine trouble, the pilot may have to land on top of the dense jungle canopy that lays 70, 80 or 90 feet above the ground. If the aircraft crashes through, the wreck disappears. C'est la vive!

What's a "must" do? It takes three hours to climb halfway up Auyantepui. From this vantage point, I experienced nirvanic exhilaration. I looked down at the bottom, where somewhat later I increased my yield of the yellow metal gold.

Anything special? Within the Los Roques archipelago, some 30 nautical miles southeast of the main island, our catamaran dropped anchor at a small atoll on which lived an elderly fisherman in a dilapidated boarded hut. He caught and bartered his fresh catch for canned food, beer and schnapps with German Wolfpack U-boat crews some 61 years ago during WWII. He is a Venezuelan folk hero. As a fellow fisherman, I wished to shake his hand for good luck, but he was not there. He had "gone fishin."

Cruising further east, we came upon an island on which there were two Allied freighters, which during the war were shot up and forced to beach. On one of the wrecks, a 40-mm cannon at the stern was pointing to the sky!
While having a beachside dinner on Los Roques, I took a picture of a Venezuelan army beach patrol as they walked by. They halted, and a young officer came up to me, excused himself in Spanish, grabbed my camera, extracted the film (Fuji 800), then waved his index finger in my face and exclaimed: "No! No!"

Luckily, the film had only three prior exposures. At the Hilton, for dinner by room service I ordered a Tropical Fruit Salad from the menu. It was served in an iced 12-inch diameter circular silverware bowl and contained 12 various cuts of the most colorful collogued fruit design. I should have taken it home with me and hung it on the living room wall. Oops!

© 2006 The Post-Standard. Used with permission.

TRAVEL HEALTH ADVISORY TO VENEZUELA

2006-05-23T10:57:00.000-04:00

The following requirements are detailed in the Venezuelan government's official decree, which came into force on April 27, 2006:

All Venezuelan nationals and foreign residents living in Venezuela, over the age of six months, who leave Venezuela and travel outside the Americas through international airports or ports, must be in possession of a certificate of vaccination documenting that they have been vaccinated against measles and rubella. Persons without a certificate will be vaccinated on-site.

Vaccination posts shall be set up at all international airports and ports in Venezuela to ensure that all travelers who require it are vaccinated.
Domestic and international airlines and shipping lines are responsible for ensuring that their passengers over six months of age, who intend to travel outside the Americas, present a certificate of vaccination prior to check-in.
Anyone failing to show such certification shall be vaccinated.

For the official decree (in Spanish), see: Gaceta Oficial de la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela

TRAVEL BRIEFS

2006-05-23T10:46:00.000-04:00

Caribbean Star expands service with Trinidad-Curacao flights

Caribbean Star Airlines will launch a daily nonstop roundtrip flight between Trinidad and Curacao on July 13, bringing to 20 the number of Caribbean destinations served by Caribbean Star and Caribbean Sun, its sister airline.

Flight 868 will depart Trinidad at 10:30 a.m. with a 12:30 p.m. arrival in Curacao. On the return leg, flight 869 departs Curacao at 1:30 p.m. and arrives in Trinidad at 3:30 p.m.

William “Skip” Barnett, president and CEO of both carriers, hinted at further expansion beyond Trinidad when he said that “we see the potential for broadening our presence in Trinidad in the near future to serve a larger portion of the southern Caribbean and perhaps beyond.”

For fares and schedules, visit Caribbean Star at www.flycaribbeanstar.com and Caribbean Sun at www.flycsa.com.

Delta signs deals with Cendant's Galileo, CheapTickets units

Delta and Galileo signed a seven-year "full content agreement" that makes all of Delta's published fares and inventory available to travel agencies, corporations and online agencies connected to Galileo, the companies said.

In other news, Delta and another Cendant unit CheapTickets also reached a new marketing agreement.

Continental inks deals with Expedia Inc., Sabre

Expedia Inc. and Continental entered into a five-year “strategic partnership” that may go beyond standard online agency-airline deals.

The agreement expands the content that Expedia was getting, giving Expedia.com and its affiliated Web sites “Continental’s full range of products and services, including all fares and inventory,” the companies stated.

Similar to a model that Expedia initiated with Marriott, the Expedia Inc.-Continental agreement contains flexible economics, with Expedia earning greater compensation when it delivers business to Continental at times and in markets where the airline needs it most.

NOAA hurricane prediction sees 'very active' '06 season

2006-05-23T10:36:00.000-04:00

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a “very active” Atlantic hurricane season in 2006, according to a report issued May 22, just eight days before the official start of the season June 1.

Navy Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, said NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, including eight to 10 that rise to the level of hurricanes, and four to six that could become “major hurricanes” of Category 3 or higher.

That number is higher than the prevailing average in of 11 named storms, six of which become hurricanes and two that reach Category 3. In 2005, Lautenbacher said, the Atlantic saw a record 28 named storms, or which 15 became hurricanes and seven that hit Category 3 or higher, including a record of four major hurricanes that hit the U.S.

“The potential of storms striking the U.S. is high [in 2006],” he added.

Factors contributing to the prediction include warmer ocean temperatures, lower wind shear, weaker easterly trade winds and mid-level atmospheric conditions that are “more favorable” to the development of storms.

“Whether we face an active hurricane season, like this year, or a below-normal season, the crucial message for every person is the same: prepare, prepare, prepare,” said Max Mayfield, director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. “One hurricane hitting where you live is enough to make it a bad season.”

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center Web address is www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Despite renewed volcano activity, Montserrat is 'open for business'

2006-05-23T10:29:00.000-04:00

The dome atop Montserrat’s Soufriere Hills Volcano collapsed on May 20, sending volcanic debris cascading down its eastern flanks into the Caribbean. Billowing clouds of ash shot more than 10 miles into the sky, according to reports.

There were no injuries on Montserrat, but the decreased visibility from the ash cloud cancelled numerous flights on May 21 between islands in the region and also to and from the Caribbean and Miami, New York, San Juan and Toronto.

According to a statement on the Montserrat Tourist Board’s Web site [www.visitmontserrat.com], the island is “open for business.”

“We would like the traveling public to know that Montserrat remains open for visitors and is still safe to visit,” according to Ernestine Cassell, director of tourism for the Montserrat Tourist Board. “Tourism businesses in the north are fully operational and most establishments in the affected areas should be back to normal in the next week.”

The dome had been building since last August and formed the highest part of the 3,000-foot volcano.

The Soufriere Hills Volcano sprang to life in 1995. A second eruption in 1997 buried much of the island’s southern half, including the capital of Plymouth.

Southern Montserrat remains an exclusion zone, and the 5,000 people who now live in Montserrat reside in the north.

For further information, visit the Montserrat Tourist Board’s Web site at www.visitmontserrat.com; for updates on volcanic activity, visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory Web site at www.mvo.ms.

Update: Recent Measles and Mumps Outbreaks

2006-05-22T14:18:00.000-04:00

Updated: April 28 and March 31, 2006
Released: November 16, 2005

Measles and mumps remain common diseases in most parts of the world, including some developed countries. For travelers, the risk for exposure to measles and mumps outside the United States can be high, and both diseases can be prevented by the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Ongoing outbreaks of measles and mumps in several countries highlight the importance of ensuring that all travelers (regardless of destination) are protected before departure.

In March 2006, a measles outbreak in Venezuela was reported for the first time in 4 years. Recent measles outbreaks have also been reported from several European countries: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine. Imported cases from the Ukraine outbreak have been reported in the United States (3), the Russian Federation (9), Belarus (2), and Spain (1). In addition, the measles outbreak that began in November 2005 in the Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya is ongoing. Measles cases have also been reported outside of Eastleigh. Recent outbreaks of mumps have been reported among adolescents and young adults in the United States and United Kingdom.

Recommendations for travelers

All travelers should be fully immunized

Children

12 months or older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days, with the first dose administered on or after the first birthday.

6–11 months, if they must travel outside the US, should receive single-antigen measles vaccine before departure if it is available, or MMR if single-antigen measles vaccine is not available. (Note: MMR given before 12 months of age should not be counted as part of the series. Children who receive MMR before age 12 months will need two more doses of MMR, the first of which should be administered at 12 months of age)

Adolescents and Adults

People who have received 2 doses of live measles vaccine are generally considered immune to measles, while 1 or two 2 doses of mumps vaccine generally provides protection.
Persons may be considered immune to measles and mumps if they have documented diagnosis by a physician, laboratory evidence of immunity, or were born before 1957.
MMR may be administered to anyone (over the age of 6 months) if there is reason to believe they may be susceptible to infection.

Information about Measles and Mumps

Measles is a serious disease: 6%-20% of the people who become sick with measles will also get an ear infection, diarrhea, or a serious lung infection, such as pneumonia. One of 1,000 people with measles develops inflammation of the brain. In the United States, of every 1,000 people with measles, 2 or 3 die from complications. Measles can cause especially severe disease in people who are malnourished or immunosuppressed (i.e., HIV infection, leukemia, lymphoma, or generalized malignancy or persons receiving certain drug or radiation therapies).

Mumps is an infection of the salivary glands caused by a virus. It occurs through airborne transmission (coughing and sneezing) or direct contact with nasopharyngeal secretions of an infected person, such as saliva. Early symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle ache; less than half of infected people may have the characteristic swelling of the glands close to the jaw. Mumps infection can lead to meningitis, and inflammation of the testicles or ovaries, inflammation of the pancreas and deafness (usually permanent).

The MMR vaccine also provides protection against rubella (German Measles). Rubella is caused by a virus that is spread through airborne transmission (coughing and sneezing). It can cause a rash, mild fever, and arthritis(mostly in women). If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects, such as deafness, cataracts, or mental retardation.

Although the risk of acquiring measles and mumps infections is generally considered low in the United States, routine surveillance and vaccination remain necessary because of the continuing possibility of importations, low vaccination coverage in a few communities, and infrequently outbreaks. Since vaccines containing measles, rubella, and mumps—and later combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine—were licensed for use in the United States, the numbers of reported cases of measles, mumps, rubella, and birth defects caused by rubella infection (congenital rubella syndrome) have decreased by more than 99%.

For information about MMR vaccine, see http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00053391.htm
For information about measles, mumps, and rubella, see http://www.cdc.gov/nip/

American Airlines resume flights to US & Caribbean

2006-05-22T14:13:00.000-04:00

American Airlines General director, Omar Nottaro, informed that flights from Caracas to the Unites States and the Caribbean are gradually resumed, after two clouds of volcanic ash near Venezuelan west coasts forced their suspension.

The collapse of a dome atop Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat island also caused the suspension of flights operated by Venezuelan airline Aeropostal, leaving thousand passengers grounded.

Flights from Venezuela resume after stoppage by volcano

2006-05-22T14:09:00.000-04:00

CARACAS, Venezuela Airline officials in Venezuela said today that flights to the United States have resumed.That's after a cloud of volcanic ash in the Caribbean suspended some international flights over the weekend.

Officials for Fort Worth-based American Airlines tell Venezuelan radio that its flights are starting to operate normally again today. Venezuela's largest carrier, Aeropostal, said it also hopes to restore full operations between Caracas and Miami today.

A dome atop a volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat collapsed Saturday, sending volcanic debris cascading down the mountain and shooting ashes ten miles into the sky. A huge cloud of ash billowing from the volcano forced the suspension of flights to Miami, Aruba, Cuba, Curacao and other destinations yesterday.

Air transport fund has sky-high 35 percent return in 1 year

2006-05-22T10:03:00.000-04:00

Chet CurrierMarket Watch columnist
May 22, 2006

You think you've got troubles? Try operating an airline.Flying large numbers of people from one place to another requires big, expensive capital equipment -- not to mention a vast work force.All the while you must deal with wildly volatile fuel costs that put you at the mercy of the world oil markets. Good luck passing on your rising costs to customers in a marketplace of fierce fare competition.Those customers carry with them a long list of complaints and dissatisfactions -- quite a few of them justified.So when investors go looking for promising growth businesses on which to risk their money, air transport makes an easy throw-out.

But in the always mysterious world of investing, the actual story isn't so simple.Wonder of wonders, the Russell 3000 Air Transport Industry Index, comprising 21 stocks, climbed 35 percent in the last year through the end of April. That showing more than doubled the 15 percent gain posted by the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.Over the last five years through April, the air transport index boasts a gain of 5.1 percent per year, compared with the S&P 500's rise of 2.7 percent annualized.Very few mutual funds specialize in this sector of the market, and the ones that do are small. So it's interesting to see how well the best known of these, the $156 million Fidelity Select Air Transportation Portfolio, has performed. It has gained 47 percent over the last 12 calendar months, and a 7.1 percent-a-year return since the end of April 2001.

The fund has evidently helped itself by downplaying conventional passenger carriers. The latest reports show only one of these, Southwest Airlines Co., among the fund's 10 largest holdings, and airline stocks as a group make up just 23 percent of the total portfolio.The emphasis goes instead to aerospace manufacturers such as Rockwell Collins Inc., Boeing Co. and United Technologies Corp. A producer of components, Precision Castparts Corp., has climbed 72 percent in the last 12 calendar months.At last report, Select Air Transport's biggest holding was Expeditors International of Washington Inc., a freight forwarder whose shares sport a gain of 75 percent for the last 12 calendar months and a five-year return of 28 percent annualized.FedEx Corp., another Top 10 holding that ships parcels rather than people, has gained 23 percent a year since April 2001.

Like all specialized sector funds, Select Air Transport is low on multi-industry diversification to cushion it from risk.So it may be best suited for activist investors who have the time and inclination to keep a close eye on risk in their individual holdings. Those investors, of course, have the choice of many other ways to play the worldwide economic boom.That may help to explain why air-transport sector funds aren't a bigger presence on the global investment scene.In its own modest way, however, Select Air Transport is well worth the time we have just spent scrutinizing it. In a business like air transport where yesterday's titan can be today's bankruptcy filer, the package-of-stocks approach provided by a fund can make a lot of sense.The stock market nowadays is full of impressive beneath- the-headlines stories like this one. If nothing else, they make a strong anecdotal case for not giving up on the idea of active fund management just yet.

Chet Currier is a Bloomberg News columnist. He can be reached at ccurrier@bloomberg.net.

Copyright © 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

2006-05-21T20:29:00.000-04:00

TRAVEL BRIEFS

Gushing Over Atlanta's New Runway Officials at Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport christened the airport's new fifth runway this week with a fire hose salute of arching geysers. Delta said it anticipates the fifth runway will immediately improve arrival and departure rates by 25-35 percent and significantly reduce delays for customers flying to, from or through Atlanta during severe weather and peak travel periods.

American Airlines Makes Change Onboard

Flight attendants scurrying to make change for passengers' onboard purchases will be wielding a new ally in the fight against breaking big bills onboard. American Airlines is the first major U.S. airline to offer credit card or debit card payment for food, alcoholic beverages and headsets. Of course, cash is still accepted as well. The flight attendants are using wireless handheld devices to swipe the card and provide a receipt for your transaction. The rollout will take place during a six-week period, and the devices will be available on all American Airlines flights by mid-June.

Continental Airlines Plans to Reign in Spain

This week, Continental Airlines inaugurated daily nonstop flights between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Barcelona. What's not to love about a city that's home to extraordinary cuisine, socially-ingrained afternoon naps and a vibrant culture? (And then there's Barcelona.) Barcelona is the second city in Spain to be served by Continental, as the carrier has flown to Madrid from Newark since 1992.

Star Alliance Shines on Shanghai

Star Alliance announced it has invited Shanghai Airlines Co., Limited of Shanghai, China to join the alliance. Shanghai Airlines Chairman Zhou Chi said the invitation to join Star Alliance would only further enhance Shanghai Airlines' position as a leader in the Chinese aviation market.