By Michael Peck
Who says the penguin is a flightless bird? Recently spotted at about 30,000 feet: a troop of Chilly Willy’s cousins upstaging the stewardesses and drink cart. First seen on ViralViralVideos.com, the footage was reportedly shot as the birds were being transported back to SeaWorld San Diego after making an appearance in San Francisco.
Sure beats the trips where I was stuck with Kazaam and From Justin to Kelly.
Credit: Larry Johnson.
By Joe Brancatelli
The first details of the merger of United’s Mileage Plus and Continental’s OnePass have been released. A new, combined program will begin in January, 2012, with combined frequent flyer activity on the two airlines during 2011 contributing to a 2012 elite status.
The Passage to Terminal 5 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Credit: Magic Madzik.
By Joe Brancatelli
Cathay Pacific doesn’t add new flights lightly. It’s been more than a dozen years since it opened a new gateway in the United States. But on September 1, Cathay will launch daily nonstop flights between Chicago/O’Hare and Hong Kong. Why Chicago? Well, besides the fact that it’s the logical place to add flights (Cathay already serves San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York), O’Hare has an American Airlines hub and American and Cathay are partners in the Oneworld Alliance.
Credit: Neil Boothman.
By Joe Brancatelli
The long and winding road to in-flight WiFi still seems to end well short of profit for both the airlines and the sponsors of the service. But there are definitely some signs of life. After essentially running out of legacy-carrier aircraft to add to its network (United, Continental, US Airways and American have all stopped adding planes), Gogo Internet has received an additional commitment from its prime customer, Delta Air Lines. Delta has already wired about 550 of its mainline jets and has committed to adding WiFi to 233 regional jets, too. Delta says it will wire all of those Delta Connection planes by the end of 2011. Delta says that’ll make about 80 percent of its total fleet WiFi compatible.
By Joe Brancatelli
Southwest Airlines has priced its new in-flight Internet service: $5 USD per flight, regardless of length of the trip or the device used. Southwest uses an Internet service called Row 44 and the airline says it’ll have 60 aircraft wired by the end of the year. All other U.S. airlines use an inflight WiFi product called Gogo and prices range as high as $12.95 per flight.
Find tropical warmth at the new The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico. Designated as a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary, the St. Regis is first Caribbean resort to earn this distinction.
By Joe Brancatelli
As cold weather and longer nights begin to dominate many places in the United States, airlines and hotels begin focusing on warmer-weather spots. So if you’re battling the cold and dark already, consider these balmier options:
By Jeanenne Tornatore
The Air Transport Association (ATA) expects 43.6 million passengers to travel on U.S. carriers over the winter holidays. If you’re trying to figure out the best way to navigate the lines, security measures and often-unpredictable weather conditions, follow these airport travel tips and you might just arrive at your destination with some holiday cheer still in tact.
Credit: YoLoPey.
By Joe Brancatelli
Southwest Airlines signaled in the spring that it would add South Carolina to its route map, but details were only recently released. Beginning on March 13, Southwest will fly from both Charleston (CHS) and Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP). From Charleston, there’ll be daily nonstops to Baltimore/Washington, Chicago/Midway, Nashville and Houston/Hobby. From GSP, there’ll be nonstops to those four cities and a daily flight to Orlando, too. Midweek fares will start as low as $59 one-way for the first two months of service.
Credit: tylerdurden1.
By Joe Brancatelli
If you fly to, through or from Los Angeles International (LAX) Airport, get ready for a raft of changes from several quarters.
The Ritz Carlton Cancun.
By Joe Brancatelli
More than a decade after Marriott bought Ritz-Carlton, Ritz hotels have joined the Marriott Rewards program. Effective immediately, members of Marriott Rewards can earn points for stays at Ritz properties and use points to claim free stays at 70 Ritz-Carlton properties around the world. If you’re wondering why Marriott finally bowed to reality and put Ritz into Marriott Rewards, consider these statistics: In 2009, the average daily rate (ADR) at Ritz-Carlton dropped 16 percent compared to 2008. But the ADR at all of the Marriott properties declined just 10 percent. Occupancy at Ritz-Carlton properties dropped 7.1 percent in 2009, but just 5.8 percent at Marriott overall.
The long-overdue integration of American Airlines AAdvantage with British Airways’ Executive Club kicked in on October 1. Most importantly, you can now earn AAdvantage miles on all British Airways flights. Ditto for Iberia flights. And you can use AAdvantage miles to claim awards on all British Airways and Iberia flights.
InterContinental Hotels now offer credit in the AirTran A+ Rewards program. A+ Rewards members can receive a 1/2 credit for each stay and Intercontinental Priority Club Rewards members can cash 10,000 points for two A+ Rewards credits.
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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2010 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.
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