package price Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) has launched a new "dynamic packaging" function that lets users book air trips and hotels together with a few clicks, "giving them access to special rates not available when booking components separately," the company said. Why is that? Because the customer sees just one total price for the package, letting the individual airline and/or hotel keep its own special rates a secret from other suppliers. To use the new service, click into the "Book together and save" heading on the home page.
skyteam extras The Web site for the global SkyTeam alliance (www.skyteam.com) of Delta, Air France, Aeromexico, CSA Czech, Korean and Alitalia, has made some improvements. Users can now access destination guides that include tips on cultural etiquette, location of cyber cafes, visa/customs rules and more. There's also a new global events calendar and other travel planning tools like currency information, time and weather data for cities worldwide, as well as more background on the alliance itself and its customer benefits.
auto enhancements Priceline.com (www.priceline.com) acquired the name and customer base of Rentalcars.com, a retail car rental site. Priceline said it wants to expand its travel offerings beyond air tickets, hotel and vacation packages, all of which it offers on both a "Name Your Own Price" and a regular retail basis. "This purchase furthers Priceline.com's goal of becoming a one-stop shop for travelers," a spokesman said...Hotwire.com (www.hotwire.com) has expanded its car rental offerings to include the Canadian destinations of Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Calgary and Quebec City.
front cabin FirstAir (www.firstair.net), a specialist in selling international first and business class seats, has established an elite group called the Chairman's Circle. For an annual fee of $250, the company said, members will get access to first class and business class tickets that are not only discounted, but also carry much less onerous restrictions than the airlines' own premium-cabin sale fares—for example, a seven-day advance purchase rather than the airlines' 50-day rule. Members can see the special deals online when they input a user ID and password.
miscellaneous sites for frequent business flyers