Jackpot: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport has free WiFi (if you can pull yourself away from the slots).
By Mark Chesnut
You’ve got a layover that’s just long enough to check e-mail on something larger than your cell phone, but you have no VIP club membership handy and you don’t feel like paying as much as $20 to access Wi-Fi for just an hour or two. What to do? (more…)
Coming soon: US Airways is adding a bunch of new flights at its Washington D.C. hub.
By Mark Chesnut
Travelers planning trips in and out of the nation’s capital now have an array of new options, thanks to new flights recently announced by US Airways, which is ramping up service at Washington Reagan National Airport as part of a major slot swap with Delta Air Lines. (more…)
In preparation for turkey time, Orbitz Senior Editor Jeanenne Tornatore shares her tips on how to booking travel for the holidays. Find out how to get the best fares — and how booking packages can help save you money.
Las Vegas is the second most popular destination in the Orbitz Labor Day 2011 Index. Credit: http2007.
By Valerie Moloney
When it comes to travelers’ preferences for Labor Day, it’s a big-city trifecta in the top spots. The Orbitz Labor Day 2011 Index reveals Las Vegas, New York City and Chicago holding the first 3 positions for the last long weekend of the summer vacation season. (more…)
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
By Orbitz Staff
Between flights, hotels, transportation and dining expenses, the costs for a getaway can quickly rack up. Wouldn’t be nice if you had a little extra spending money to help foot the bill? Ten travelers got a sweet surprise when they booked on Orbitz: an automatic Price Assurance refund because another traveler who booked the same prepaid flight or hotel got the deal for less. We issued them a refund for the difference.
To date, we’ve paid out $10 million in Price Assurance payouts. Check out the gallery of this giddy group of 10, and more importantly — how they spent their extra dough. (more…)
Virgin Australia, formerly Virgin Blue, is pumping $35 million into plane and frequent flier revamps.
By Mark Chesnut
As competition heats up between two high-profile airlines in Australia, business travelers — as well as anyone planning an Australia vacation — are the beneficiaries, with a slew of new amenities and travel options.
Sweet dreams: Delta's lie-flat business class seat.
By Mark Chesnut
The competition for business travelers is always fierce — and now, as business travel rebounds, airlines are introducing comfy new seats and amenities to lure you to the front of the cabin.
United Continental Holdings, which owns the recently merged United and Continental Airlines, is working to make the flight experience more consistent on both of its brands. In May, both carriers introduced Premier Access, a new package of airport services that includes designated check-in counters, priority security screening, “front of the line” boarding through special Premier Access lanes and priority baggage handling, all available to elite-level frequent flyers and people flying in business and first class. The new feature will debut throughout the system over the next several months. In addition, United is introducing lie-flat business class seats on many of its international routes, and Continental has installed similar seats in its 757-200 aircraft.
Delta Airlines, meanwhile, has directed some of its $2 billion upgrade investment toward business travelers as well. The company has introduced flat-bed seats on more than 25 percent of international flights, including all 777 and 767-400 aircraft. By 2013, all of the company’s transoceanic flights with Business Elite service will have these seats. The company has also added some 2,000 premium seats with the debut of first class on 228 of its regional aircraft. US Airways is also adding first class to 110 of its own regional jets.
Across the Pacific, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways has launched a new business class product, with 82-inch flat-bed seats, side storage compartments and 15-inch personal TVs. The new business class is being progressively introduced on the company’s 777-300ER aircraft.
Related resources
Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on business and leisure travel to Latin America.
Virgin territory: Chicago is the newest destination for Virgin America, which launches O'Hare service on May 25.
By Mark Chesnut
Starting today, travelers flying between Chicago and the west coast will have a new choice in the air, as Virgin America debuts at O’Hare International Airport with daily nonstop flights to both Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.
The new service is a long time coming. Virgin America first announced plans to serve O’Hare in 2008, but had to delay the debut because there were no gates available. Now that the company has the gate space (L3, to be exact), they promise that the experience both on the ground and in the air will reflect the overall style of the airline, which is based in California but carries the well-recognized Virgin brand founded by Sir Richard Branson. So you can expect mood-lit cabins, power outlets near every seat and seatback entertainment systems. (more…)
Fly to San Diego beaches for a glowing sunset. Credit: Bill Kuffrey.
By Derek Brown
Call 2011 the summer of airfare limbo. In a random sample, we found tickets from $85 to $199, proving that travelers can still snag round-trip flights less than $200. The trick is to be flexible and consider traveling during off-peak times and days. And here’s even more good news: Some fares so cheap that they’ll cost less than a tank of gas to your chosen destination.
Brighter day: South African Airways is among the airlines with mileage donation programs.
By Mark Chesnut
Business travelers often find themselves with more frequent flyer miles than they know what to do with. But with mileage donation programs, well-traveled road warriors can convert those hard-earned miles into real benefits for a wide range of non-profit organizations. Several airlines offer donation options.
Both American Airlines and Japan Airlines, for example, are currently offering a way for members of their frequent flyer programs to donate miles toward the relief efforts related to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. JAL has pledged 7,500 yen for every 7,500 miles donated by members of its JAL Mileage Bank program. And American Airlines is offering its AAdvantage members a one-time award of 250 miles for a minimum donation of $50 or 500 miles for a donation of $100 to the American Red Cross Japan and Pacific Tsunami Fund. (more…)
We love to travel, and we love to talk about it. The Orbitz Blog is another way we can share our expertise, advice and the occasional random thought.
Check back often for fresh insight from Orbitz staff and contributors about cool places to visit, fun things to do and smart ways to save.