Travel Update - Weekly Edition

October 30th, 2008

Airline News

American Airlines - American Airlines announced Monday that for "non-elite status members," it will drop its long-held policy to give fliers a minimum of 500 miles. Starting Jan. 1, those customers will get only the miles they actually fly. So if you fly 357 miles in the future on an American Airlines flight and you're not AAdvantage Gold, Platinum or Executive Platinum, you're only going to get 357 miles added to your AAdvantage account. In addition, "any applicable bonuses" will be based on actual mileage as well. If you're participating in a promotion that gives you a 50 percent bonus on miles, it'll be 50 percent of 357 miles, not 50 percent of 500 miles. "Similarly, elite status qualifying miles and points earned for travel on eligible flights will also be based on the actual miles earned." AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage Gold members are exempt from this change." That seems to mean that if you're an elite member, it won't be any harder to pile up enough miles to become an elite member. But if you're non-elite, it'll be harder to get into that exclusive club if you fly a lot of trips under 500 miles.
 
Continental Airlines - Cleveland Hopkins Airport is now the seventh airport nationwide offering paperless boarding passes for Continental Airlines flights.  If travelers have e-mail access on their cell phone, they can log on and get an electronic boarding pass. The image is a square bar code with all the information for the trip. TSA agents will then use a hand-held scanner to get the traveler through the gate.
 
Continental Airlines has announced that effective immediately it will waive fees for the first checked bag for Continental Airlines Chase credit and debit cardmembers.  Primary credit and debit cardmembers will be eligible to check their first bag without paying a fee -- a savings of $15 each way per passenger checking bags. Continental Airlines Presidential Plus(SM) cardmembers are eligible to check up to two bags without paying a fee -- a savings of up to $40 each way per passenger checking bags. Customers traveling with the primary cardmember will also be eligible for the waived fees if they are listed in the same reservation and check in at the same time. "We worked closely with Chase to improve the value of our family of co-branded credit and debit cards," said Mark Bergsrud, Continental's senior vice president marketing programs and distribution. "Waiving the first checked baggage fee offers a significant benefit to the more than one million customers who carry a Continental Airlines Chase credit or debit card." Checked bags must meet weight and size restrictions. These fee waivers will apply to all Continental Airlines, Continental Express and Continental Connection flights. Complete details are available at continental.com.
 
Delta Airlines/Northwest Airlines Merger - The Justice Department on Wednesday approved a much-anticipated merger between Delta and Northwest, clearing the way for creation of the world's largest airline. After a six-month investigation, government lawyers concluded the merger would likely drive down costs for consumers without curbing competition. The proposed merger "is likely to produce substantial and credible efficiencies that will benefit U.S. consumers and is not likely to substantially lessen competition," the Justice Department said in a statement issued by its Antitrust Division. The merger should create cost savings by combining airport operations, information technology and other efficiencies, ultimately driving down prices for fliers, the regulators said. The combined airline would be called Delta and keep its Atlanta headquarters and its chief executive, Richard Anderson. Northwest would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta during the integration process. Another hurdle remains ahead, however: a federal lawsuit seeking to block the deal. Trial is set for Nov. 5 in San Francisco. The lawsuit was filed in June by 28 airline passengers who believe a merger would violate antitrust law and substantially decrease competition. Delta hopes to obtain a single Federal Aviation Administration operating certificate in 15 to 18 months. Shareholders approved the merger late last month. The two airlines had 85,071 combined full-time employees as of June 30, the last time they reported the figures to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Earlier this year, each carrier announced plans on their own for job cuts. Delta said it would shed 4,000 jobs, while Northwest said it wanted to cut 2,500 jobs. The new airline would be the biggest in the world in terms of traffic and biggest in the United States in terms of annual revenue, which was a combined $31.7 billion at the end of last year
 
Delta Air Lines - Delta says it plans to begin service between Atlanta and Monrovia, Liberia. "The service, which will make a stop at Amilcar Cabral International Airport on Sal Island, Cape Verde, will start in June, 2009. Delta's Monrovia service feature one flight a week on Boeing 757 jets with 16 business-class seats and 157 in coach.
 
Northwest Airlines - Northwest Airlines has announced today the expansion of its paperless boarding pass, effective October 29, 2008, to its Detroit WorldGateway hub. This comes after a successful test program in Indianapolis, Indiana. E-Boarding Passes allow customers to use their mobile phones and other handheld devices to clear security and board the airplane. 
 
United Airlines - United Airlines has become the first U.S. airline to offer overnight baggage shipping service via an overnight courier that will provide customers with a more convenient and easy way to travel – without their luggage. United’s new service, Door-to-Door Baggage, enables customers in the continental U.S. to conveniently ship their suitcases, or other travel items like skis or golf clubs, overnight from a home or office directly to their destination within the 48 contiguous United States. At $149 one way for flights less than 1,000 miles, or $179 for longer flights, United’s prices are simple and more economical than similar overnight services offered by other luggage shipping services. Door-to-Door Baggage may be purchased on united.com and shipments can be easily tracked online. United’s Door-to-Door Baggage service is easy. Up to 10 days prior to travel, customers visit “My Itineraries” on united.com where they select their appropriate trip and then schedule and pay for their shipment. Next, customers print their shipping documents that will be attached to the bags by the courier service. On the scheduled pickup day, the bags are picked up at a home or office – generally between noon and 6 p.m. – or dropped off at any of the courier’s authorized shipping centers. By 4:30 p.m. the next day, the bags are delivered to the customer’s final destination.
 
US Airways - US Airways customers will have a new United Kingdom option and their first Norwegian offering next summer when the airline inaugurates service to Birmingham and Oslo from its international gateway at Philadelphia International Airport. The two routes are subject to foreign government approval. The two seasonal routes will be operated with Boeing 757 ETOPS aircraft configured with 12 Envoy seats and 164 seats in the main cabin.
 
Beginning April 21, US Airways will restore nonstop service between Charlotte and Paris Charles de Gaulle. The carrier will fly one daily round-trip flight using Boeing 767 jets with 18 seats in the airline's Envoy class and 186 in coach. US Airways previously flew between the cities but says the route "was dropped after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
 
Virgin America - Virgin America now hopes to launch service to Chicago O'Hare in early 2009, though the carrier does not have a firm date targeted for the beginning of that service. Virgin America had hoped to begin service to Chicago in the fall of 2008, but ran into unanticipated delays in securing gates at congested O'Hare.

Airport/Destination News

Nashville International Airport - Nashville International will launch a frequent-parker program that aims to process travelers through lots more quickly. Starting Nov. 1, customers can sign up at flynashville.com and pay $20 for a pass that allows them to enter and exit parking lots automatically. The system will then charge the credit card provided at the time of sign-up. Members may check their account status on the airport's website. The program doesn't apply to valet parking.

Miscellaneous

State Dept Travel Warnings and Public announcements - For the full announcements or further detail on Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, please see  http://travel.state.gov/travel

Argentina  - The U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires released the following Warden Message on October 27: "This Warden Message is issued to alert American citizens residing in and traveling to Buenos Aires that according to local authorities, an Argentine man was killed by armed assailants last week in an early morning robbery attempt in his home in Acasusso, a northern Buenos Aires suburb. The case is currently under investigation. Based on this incident and others like it, the Embassy's Regional Security Office wishes to remind American citizens that Buenos Aires is a typical large city where violent and nonviolent crimes routinely happen."

Democratic Republic Of Congo - On October 29 the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa issued the following Warden Message: "American citizens in the town of Goma and surrounding areas should evaluate their security situation and consider departing. Fighting in the area is likely to continue. U.S. officials are leaving Goma. American citizens are urged to leave also. In the event of an emergency call 243-081-884-6859.

Ecuador - On October 23 the U.S. Embassy in Quito issued the following Warden Message: "The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador wishes to inform American citizens visiting or resident in Ecuador that the country has experienced a rise in violent crime. American citizens have been victims of numerous violent crimes, including armed robberies, home invasions, homicides, and sexual assaults. Ecuadorian nationals have also experienced this increase in violent crime and have held protests demanding that the government take decisive action. On October 21, 2008, the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) put an emergency operations plan into effect due to the rise of criminal activity and will increase its police presence and activity in Ecuador's 24 provinces. American citizens should anticipate police checkpoints throughout the country, and be sure to carry all required documents while driving. These documents include: cedula or passport, driver's license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and license plates. "American citizens are reminded that criminals have especially targeted people using ATMs and other services at local banks in Ecuador. The U.S. Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens avoid making large withdrawals from local banks in Quito and throughout Ecuador. When possible, use wire transfers when completing transactions involving large sums of money. If large withdrawals or deposits from local banks cannot be avoided, we recommend varying travel routes and deposit/withdrawal times so criminals cannot easily recognize a pattern. Banks and ATMs located in well traveled areas, such as shopping malls, are generally safer than facilities on the street. Law enforcement officials in Ecuador and elsewhere recommend that victims not resist their assailants. Criminals in Ecuador are less likely to become violent if you surrender your valuables without resistance. "Violent crime tends to be more common in the larger cities, but American citizens have also been victims of armed robbery and violent assaults in remote areas of Ecuador. Americans should avoid deserted hiking trails and beaches, and infrequently traveled roads, as well as the interior regions of large city parks, particularly at night. "American citizens are encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness."

Syria - On October 27 the U.S. Embassy in Damascus issued the following Warden Message: "The Embassy of the United States of America in Damascus wishes to inform the American community of media reports about a military action at the Syrian/Iraqi border near the town of al-Boukamal. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the alleged action occurred on October 26, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. and there were several persons killed or injured in this action. SANA has reported Syrian allegations this action was carried out by the U.S. armed forces. "Also according to SANA, the Syrian government has condemned the action as an aggressive act and holds the United States responsible for this military action and its repercussions. "In light of these reports, the U.S. Embassy wishes to remind the American community to review their personal security practices, such as avoiding areas in which demonstrations take place and to not draw undue attention to themselves. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and their interests overseas. "The American community in Syria should be aware that unforeseen events or circumstances may occur that could cause the U.S. Embassy in Damascus to close to the public for an unspecified period of time."

US Customs and Border Protection announced today that Global Entry enrollment centers are now open at four additional international US airports. Global Entry is a new program to allow approved US citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the US to use the Global Entry kiosk as an alternative to the regular passport control line. At the kiosk, Global Entry members will activate the system by inserting their US passport or lawful permanent resident card into a document reader. The kiosk will direct travelers to provide digital fingerprints and will compare that biometric data with the fingerprints on file. Global Entry travelers will be prompted to answer declaration-related questions on the kiosk’s touch-screen. A transaction receipt will be issued upon completion that must be presented to CBP officers prior to leaving the inspection area. The program’s expansion to Los Angeles International, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International, Chicago O’Hare International, and Miami International airports was announced August 12. Global Entry applicants are now able to complete their interview and biometric data collection at these sites. Global Entry kiosks were installed at the four expansion airports on October 2 and at additional international terminals at John F. Kennedy International Airport on October 17.