On the Road: Continental gets OK to join Star Alliance; Scottish resort reopens

By Joe Brancatelli

NEED TO KNOW

On-the-Road Intelligence to Help You Travel Smarter:

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved Continental Airlines‘ application to join the Star Alliance. It also granted antitrust immunity to Continental and United Airlines, the U.S. anchor of the Star Alliance. However, the DOT did insist on some “carve outs.” Continental and Star won’t be able to cooperate on routes to four European cities — Copenhagen, Geneva, Lisbon and Stockholm — and to Beijing. Certain transborder routes between the United States and Canada are also off the table. All that’s left now is the timing. Continental leaves the SkyTeam Alliance late in October and has said it wants to immediately (as in the next day) move into Star.

Continental Airlines has equipped 15of its aircraft with LiveTV, the system owned by JetBlue Airways. Continental’s version offers 77 channels of live television. It’s free for first-class passengers and costs $6 for coach flyers.

United Express, the commuter carrier of United Airlines, launches a San Francisco-Kansas City route on October 25. A 66-seat regional jet will operate on the 1,500-mile run.

Avis has opened a car-rental station in Hanoi. A branch will open in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) later this year.

US Airways has closed its airport lounge at Las Vegas.

ON THE TEE

Golf (and Stay) Where the Legends Play: If Tom Watson’s epic run — and playoff collapse — in last month’s British Open whetted your appetite for a little Scottish links action, take note: Turnberry Golf Resort has reopened after a $65 million renovation and restoration. The 211-room property’s Ailsa Course was the venue for the dramatic showdown between the 59-year-old Watson and little-known Stewart Cink, who won the four-hole playoff. The legendary Turnberry is now part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection.