EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT 10/09/06 Welcome to EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT for the week of October 9, the weekly e-mail of essential business travel news! To sign up for the e-Alert, click here. JetBlue has its eye on Chicago O'Hare service Mesaba/Northwest Airlink warns flyers about possible job action US Airways sets earlier bag check-ins at several airports Alaska Airlines phases out free food Northwest orders new regional jets for the "heartland" U.S., Europe reach accord on passenger data transfers Government statistics show a big jump in lost bags Don't try to book that A380 flight just yet… Congress passes agreement opening up Dallas Love Field Embassy Suites, Hyatt add air travel services for guests Hotel openings: Baltimore, Kansas City airports; China adds rooms THIS WEEK'S QUESTION FOR READERS: Send your replies to skyguide@aexp.com. Northwest is buying dozens of new regional jets with first and economy class service for its Northwest Airlink routes (see story below). United already has three levels of service on many "explus" United Express routes. Our question: Do you ever check to see - or do you care – how many classes of service are available on domestic regional jets when you book? Would the availability of more service levels on the regional jet leg influence you to book one airline's connection over another's? Last week, we asked if readers had any problems with the TSA's new rules for carrying small (3 oz. or less) bottles of liquid on board in a resealable clear plastic bag. "The rule stating that any liquids of 3 oz. or less (in a carry-on bag) must be in a Ziploc bag is ridiculous," said reader Gonzofam. "How is the bag going to stop anything from happening? What is the point?" Reader Mike Green said his problem is that he "can't get a clear picture from either TSA or the airlines as to whether we can, when flying internationally, buy duty-free liquor, wine, perfume, etc. after we clear security." We might also note that a consumer poll released last week by America Online Travel found that 79 percent of the traveling public say that the new TSA rule on carrying small bottles of liquid aboard a plane "makes no difference in how they feel about the safety of air travel." AIRLINES JetBlue has its eye on Chicago O'Hare service It's far from a sure thing, but JetBlue Airways last week applied with the FAA for takeoff and landing slots at Chicago's O'Hare Airport – a major hub for both United and American. O'Hare has been subject to government-imposed caps on the number of flights there in an effort to reduce delays that can easily ripple through the entire U.S. aviation system – so it's not clear where the extra slots for JetBlue service might be found. JetBlue is reportedly seeking eight arrival slots at O'Hare between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with hopes of starting service there as soon as next month. JetBlue didn't say where it wants to fly from O'Hare, but its home base at New York JFK is a good bet. Currently, the only non-stop service between ORD and JFK includes a few daily regional jet flights from American and Delta. United quickly lodged a formal objection to JetBlue's request, claiming the low-cost carrier made technical mistakes in filing its paperwork. There was no immediate explanation as to why JetBlue isn't interested in Chicago Midway, which serves a number of low-cost carriers – especially Southwest – and has no slot constraints like O'Hare. Mesaba/Northwest Airlink warns flyers about possible job action Things are coming down to the wire at bankrupt Northwest Airlink carrier Mesaba Airlines, which feeds Northwest hubs from a number of cities in the upper Midwest. Mesaba and its major unions – representing pilots, flight attendants and mechanics – are still trying to find a wage reduction agreement satisfactory to both management and labor. But meanwhile, the airline has plans to dump its existing union contracts this week if no deal is reached. The unions said last week they have made a new offer to management with wage, benefit and work-rule concessions worth 15 percent in cost savings to the airline. If that doesn't fly and management follows through on its plan to void their contracts, the unions pledge to strike. "In the wake of Mesaba's announcement that it intends to impose new terms on October 15, the unions strongly urge the traveling public to take steps to avoid travel on Northwest Airlink on and after that date," the unions said. US Airways sets earlier bag check-ins at several airports US Airways flyers with luggage to check will have to show up a little earlier at a number of airports. The airline's general policy for domestic flights is that passengers with bags to be checked should take care of airport check-in at least 30 minutes before schedule departure. But that time limit has been increased to 45 minutes for several large airports. They include Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Maui, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Washington Dulles and Phoenix. Once bags are checked in, passengers must get to the boarding gate at least 15 minutes before departure or they could lose their seat. Alaska Airlines phases out free food Alaska Airlines said last week it will eliminate free snack sandwiches on more flights, replacing them with a meals-for-purchase program that it already offers on flights to Mexico, routes between Anchorage/Fairbanks and the lower 48 states, and on Seattle-Chicago and Seattle-DFW service. On October 29, Alaska will introduce the "Northern Bites" meals-for-purchase plan on 17 daily transcontinental mealtime flights. "In total, the meals-for-purchase program will be available on an average of more than 90 daily designated mealtime flights, or nearly all flights longer than three hours," the company said. The $5 meals include a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and potatoes; and a lunch/dinner option of a chicken fajita salad wrap or a cheeseburger. Meals will still be offered free in first class. Northwest orders new regional jets for the "heartland" Subject to bankruptcy court approval, Northwest Airlines said last week it has ordered 72 new 76-passenger regional jets to replace existing equipment and expand the Northwest Airlink fleet so the company can serve more domestic markets. Northwest ordered 36 Embraer 175s and 36 Bombardier CRJ900s. The Embraers will go to Northwest's new wholly-owned regional subsidiary, Compass Airlines, and the CRJs will be operated by a Northwest Airlink partner carrier to be determined at a future date. All 72 planes will have 12 first-class seats in a one-by-two configuration, with 36 inches of pitch; and 64 seats in economy, arranged two-by-two with pitch comparable to coach seats in the mainline fleet. A Northwest executive said the plane are "ideally suited to serve Northwest's heartland markets" on routes into hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Memphis. He added that the new aircraft "will allow Northwest to offer new service and develop markets where demand does not yet support service with a 100-seat DC9-30, but exceeds what could be accommodated with a 50-seat Northwest Airlink CRJ200." ADVERTISEMENT MIDWEST AIRLINES Midwest Connect Upgrades Service to Four Cities Some or all service between Milwaukee and Appleton, Columbus, Dayton and Grand Rapids will be upgraded in November to Fairchild 328JET regional jets. These jets feature 32 reclining leather seats, overhead storage and lavatory. They also offer the widest and tallest cabins in their class. FAA/SECURITY U.S., Europe reach accord on passenger data transfers Negotiators for the U.S. and the European Union late last week reached an agreement on the transfer of airline passenger information across the Atlantic for security purposes. The previous pact had been struck down by a European court several months ago, and expired September 30. Under the new agreement, still subject to ratification by European governments, a wealth of passenger data will still be provided by European airlines to U.S. authorities within 15 minutes after a plane takes off, including name, address, credit card data, frequent flyer numbers, telephone numbers and email addresses as well as the flyer's history of not showing up for flights. Some information that could indicate ethnic origin – such as special meal requests – will be held back. The new agreement gives the U.S. more flexibility in sharing data among various intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Government statistics show a big jump in lost bags After the Transportation Security Administration imposed new rules during August banning any liquids from carry-on luggage – a rule it later relaxed a bit – it should come as no surprise that airlines reported a big increase in the number of lost or misdirected checked luggage during that month. The new rules meant that the number of checked bags increased by an estimated 20 to 30 percent – and so did the number of lost or mishandled bags, as airline ground staff were overwhelmed by the increased volume. According to Transportation Department statistics, the airlines lost or mishandled 8.08 bags per 1,000 passengers during August, a 25 percent increase over their July performance. It was the highest rate of baggage problems since December 2004. According to some anecdotal reports, the number of checked bags seems to be declining since TSA eased up on the liquids-and-gels rule a few weeks ago. INTERNATIONAL Don't try to book that A380 flight just yet… Bad news for long-haul international travelers waiting to take their first flight on the giant, double-decked Airbus A380 super-jumbo: The first deliveries of the plane have been delayed yet again. Now, the first A380 isn't expected to be delivered until October 2007. If the manufacturer had been able to stick to its original production schedule, the big jet would be in service already. Some airlines that have placed orders for the A380 are said to be reviewing their options. Singapore Airlines said it still expects to be the launch customer for the aircraft, receiving the first four A380s off the production line. AIRPORTS Congress passes agreement opening up Dallas Love Field Both the House and the Senate have approved legislation to repeal the so-called Wright Amendment, a 27-year-old federal rule designed to limit commercial airline service out of Dallas' close-in Love Field. The legislation, which has White House support, incorporates terms of an agreement hammered out by representatives of American and Southwest Airlines, DFW Airport, and the cities of Dallas and Ft. Worth. It will end the current geographic restrictions on Love Field service, but not until 2014. Airlines are currently allowed to fly from Love Field only to cities within nine states adjacent or close to Texas. But the legislation will allow through ticketing effective immediately – so passengers flying out of Love can go to other destinations if they first stop at, or connect through, airports currently served from Love (in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Texas). The bill was initially held up by some legislators until wording was amended to keep open the possibility of antitrust challenges to the law. The bill would also limit the number of gates at Love Field to a maximum of 20; it now has 32, but only 19 are used. HOTELS Embassy Suites, Hyatt add air travel services for guests Embassy Suites Hotels and Hyatt are both adding new services for guests who plan to head to the airport after check-out. Embassy Suites said it has completed installation of lobby kiosks in all 182 of its hotels where guests can print out boarding passes from 18 major airlines. Meanwhile, Hyatt is adding a baggage check-in service at a number of properties, in cooperation with Baggage Airline Guest Services. For a fee of $10 per person, passengers can check bags in for their flights before leaving the hotel. It's already available at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, and will be rolled out before year's end at Hyatts in Boston, Denver, Miami, Orlando, San Diego, Seattle and Tampa. Bags must be checked in at least two hours before scheduled departure. Hotel openings: Baltimore, Kansas City airports; China adds rooms Two new U.S. airport hotels have opened: At Baltimore/Washington International, the Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport opened its doors on a site adjacent to the airport, 10 miles from downtown; and Starwood Hotels has cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Four Points by Sheraton Kansas City Airport, which was formerly a Clarion … Elsewhere in the U.S., the former Heidelberg/Capitol House Hotel in Baton Rouge, La., is now the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center … In San Diego, the historic U.S. Grant Hotel downtown will reopen October 17 after a two-year restoration as a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection … And Dolce International (www.dolce.com)on November 4 will take over management of the former Marriott conference center hotel in Midland, Mich. Close to the headquarters of Dow Chemical and Dow Corning; it will henceforth be known as the Ashman Court Conference Center and Hotel. Overseas, most new-hotel action is in China these days. In Hong Kong, the renowned Mandarin Oriental has re-opened after a nine-month renovation … Starwood is taking reservations from October 18 onward for the new 486-room Westin Beijing Financial Street; a second tower in the structure will be a Westin Executive Residence, with 205 apartments … Also in Beijing, Regent Hotels plans a November debut for the 500-room Regent Beijing, located next to the Park Plaza Beijing … The newest hotel in Shanghai is the recently-opened, 770-room Le Royal Meridien Shanghai, located between Nanjing Road East and People's Square … The Westin Shanghai this month will be renamed The Westin Bund Center Shanghai following the opening of a 269-room Grand Tower that nearly doubles the size of the hotel. In England, a new Hilton London Tower Bridge opened last week in London, and an October 9 debut was set for the Hilton Manchester Deansgate, occupying 23 floors of that city's Beetham Tower … and in Paris, Marriott has cut the ribbon on the 150-room Paris Courtyard by Marriott Colombes – a property that will be the prototype for an additional 50 Courtyards that Marriott plans to open in Europe by 2011. AIR ROUTES MIAMI (MIA). LAN Argentina will increase frequencies on its new Miami-Buenos Aires non-stop route October 10 from three times a week to daily service. MILWAUKEE (MKE). Midwest Airlines will operate seasonal daily non-stop service between Milwaukee and Ft. Myers, Fla. from October 14 through April 30. DEALS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS Through December 15, American Express cardholders who rent from one of Avis' 800 neighborhood locations in the U.S. and pay with the card will get a discount of up to 25 percent off daily, weekend and weekly rates. And if they rent for at least three days, they'll also get a $25 American Express Gift Card. For details, go to www.avis.com/axpoffer. Members of US Airways' Dividend Miles program who are shy of the miles needed to keep or advance to the next level of Preferred status for next year are getting a break. The airline last week came out with an "Everything Counts" promotion in which members can earn elite-qualifying Dividend Miles from now through December 31 from more than 50 partner companies – everything from hotels and rental car companies to flower delivery services. Normally, only miles flown on US Airways or its partner airlines are elite-qualifying. For details, go to www.usairways.com/everythingcounts. This is the time of year when hotel companies lay on the bonus points for frequent guests, and Best Western is no exception. The company said last week that members of its Gold Crown Club International and its Speed Rewards loyalty programs will get their choice of double points or double airline miles for every qualified stay between Sunday and Thursday, from October 10 to December 15. Members of the AAA and CAA Preferred Gold Crown Club will get triple points or miles with each stay regardless of day of other week, as well as a 10 percent point bonus on base points with each visit. For details, go to or call 800-WESTERN and mention promotion code FALL06 or AAA/CAAFALL06. By Jim Glab Have a question or comment? Send it to skyguide@aexp.com. To sign up for the e-Alert, click here.