EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT 11/06/06 Welcome to EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT for the week of November 6, the weekly e-mail of essential business travel news! To sign up for the e-Alert, click here. THIS WEEK'S QUESTION FOR READERS: In this week's news (see below), the FCC assured airlines they can offer free WiFi in airport clubs even if airport officials say they can't; and a study in Europe found Internet access fees at luxury hotels average up to $37 a day. Our question: When you plan a trip, do you seek out places (airport lounges, hotels, etc.) that offer free WiFi/Internet, or do you just pay whatever it costs where you're going and not worry about it? Do you have any tips for other travelers? Send your replies to skyguide@aexp.com. LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: Last week, we asked what readers thought of frequent flyer program changes at some airlines in which miles would expire or accounts would be closed if members show no account activity for 18 months or two years, instead of the previous three-year window. "It is just a way for airlines to steal accumulated miles," said reader Jerry Pond. "They love to offer something for you to use them, and then not give it to you." N. Jeanne Johnson called it "just one more slap in the frequent flyer's face…Since all the airlines are not authorized to fly all the routes, I don't really have unlimited choices in airlines. Therefore, taking away my miles is penalizing me for something I can't control." "It's extremely frustrating that airlines feel as though they have some captive audience that will bend over backwards to fly with them rather than another airline," said reader Michael Richards. "Tricks like this make me want to switch, despite a little more inconvenience it might cause." On the other hand, reader Bob Baker said: "I am selfishly in favor of tightening the requirements. I find it more and more difficult to use the miles I have, so reducing the players is in my favor." FAA/SECURITY Europe adopts new carry-on rules November 6 November 6 is the effective date for new carry-on security rules in Europe that are similar to those already in effect in the U.S. Under the new rules -- which apply to all persons flying out of an airport in the EU member nations as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Kosovo and Albania - carry-on bags can now contain limited amounts of liquids and gels. Specifically, the liquids must be in individual containers no larger than 100 ml. (about 3.5 fluid ounces, vs. a 3-fl.oz. limit in the U.S.). As in the U.S., the containers must be packed in a re-sealable plastic bag no larger than eight by eight inches, or a maximum one liter capacity. Passengers must remove the plastic bag from their carry-ons to go through security. While the new EU rules on liquids do apply in Britain, British Airways is reminding travelers that trips to and through U.K. airports are still subject to that country's other rules, which limit boarding passengers to one carry-on bag no larger than 22x17.5x9.85 inches. Travelers flying into the U.K. and terminating their journey there may have one such carry-on bag as well as one laptop-sized bag, briefcase or the equivalent. But those connecting and traveling by air beyond or within the U.K. are limited to one carry-on. If you arrive in the U.K. with an onward connection and you have more than the one carry-on bag, BA said, "You may be asked to check additional bags into the hold, which will significantly delay your onward journey." In addition, "customers who are not transferring onto another flight may purchase any liquid item once they have cleared security," BA said. AIRLINES Northwest grounds its last DC10 Northwest Airlines said last week it has taken its last DC10 out of international service, and now flies A330s on all of its transatlantic routes. The company started taking on new Airbus A330s in August 2003, and now has 22 in its fleet, using them on transatlantic, transpacific and intra-Asian routes. The planes have Northwest's new World Business Class product, with seats that recline 176 degrees, power ports at each seat, privacy canopies and 60-inch pitch. Both classes of service have personal video screens with an on-demand entertainment system. Northwest noted that while the A330 will be its only wide-body aircraft type across the Atlantic, it will begin to deploy single-aisle 757s next May on select transatlantic routes. Comair/Delta Connection files to void pilots' union contract A bankruptcy court hearing is scheduled for November 27, with a decision about a month later, on a motion by regional carrier Comair to toss out its existing contract with its 1,600 pilots and impose its own wage levels and work rules on the group. Last summer, the company succeeded in winning a court ruling to do the same with its flight attendants' contract, but the union and management worked out a tentative wage-cutting agreement before the airline took that step; that deal is subject to flight attendant ratification this month. Unions have threatened to walk off the job if their contracts are voided unilaterally, but recent court rulings involving Northwest Airlines and Mesaba Airlines said that such walkouts would be illegal. The Comair pilots charged that the company is "manipulating bankruptcy laws to get a concessions agreement form the pilots." At Mesaba Airlines, both pilots and flight attendants came to tentative agreements on wage cuts after the court rejected their right to strike; last week, the Mesaba mechanics fell into line, reaching their own tentative pact with management on new wage cuts. INTERNATIONAL Eos gets money to expand transatlantic service Eos Airlines, which flies all-premium-class 757s between New York JFK and London Stansted, said it has raised $75 million in new financing from institutional investors, which will be used to expand its fleet and add new routes in 2007. Eos recently marked its first anniversary, and currently operates two flights a day on the JFK-Stansted route. It hasn't revealed any specific new routes yet, but "the airline has identified and prepared initial applications for a range of possible new routes from New York, including growth markets such as Paris and Zurich, as well as potential new U.S. city pairs for flights to and from London," a spokesman said. AIRPORTS Eos gets money to expand transatlantic service Eos Airlines, which flies all-premium-class 757s between New York JFK and London Stansted, said it has raised $75 million in new financing from institutional investors, which will be used to expand its fleet and add new routes in 2007. Eos recently marked its first anniversary, and currently operates two flights a day on the JFK-Stansted route. It hasn't revealed any specific new routes yet, but "the airline has identified and prepared initial applications for a range of possible new routes from New York, including growth markets such as Paris and Zurich, as well as potential new U.S. city pairs for flights to and from London," a spokesman said. HOTELS Openings: InterContinental in Boston, Rocco Forte in Berlin InterContinental Hotels plans a November 15 debut for the new InterContinental Boston, on Atlantic Avenue just off I-93, a quick trip from the airport and close to downtown attractions … Denver will get a new hotel in December when the former Executive Tower Inn reopens as an independent property called The Curtis … The newest hotel in New York City is Hotel Mela, a newly built, 230-room property on West 44th Street, with rates starting at $509 … In Wilmington, Del., the former Wyndham (once known as the Spencer) is now The Doubletree Hotel Wilmington Downtown … In Alabama, a new Embassy Suites has opened in downtown Huntsville. Overseas, the Rocco Forte group has opened its newest luxury property, the Hotel de Rome in Berlin; it's on Bebelplatz off Unter den Linden, a conversion of a 117-year-old bank building … London's May Fair hotel, in the West End, has reopened after a $140 million restoration project … Members of InterContinental Hotel Group's Priority Club will have more options in Japan starting December 1, when a new joint venture with All Nippon Airways takes effect; that deal will rebrand the 31 ANA Hotels in Japan as InterContinental affiliates … Hilton has opened its first Garden Inn in Italy, the Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli … In South America, Sonesta International Hotels has cut the ribbon on the 125-room Sonesta Hotel Brasilia. Study: London hotels charge the most in Europe for Internet A study of scores of European hotels determined that those in London charge the most, on average, for guests who want Internet access. According to wire service reports, the study by software producer Webaroo found that the average cost per day for Internet access was $37 at London's luxury hotels, followed by an average of $32 in Berlin and $27 in Paris. The most expensive rate it found was $49 a day at a five-star hotel in Munich. The report noted that users should study the fine print, because in many cases, hotels' rates for 24-hour access applied from midnight to midnight, so someone who used the Internet in the evening after they checked in, and again in the morning before they checked out, could be charged for two days' use. AIR ROUTES DETROIT (DTW). AirTran Airways on November 7 will launch new daily service from Detroit to Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and Ft. Myers, Fla. On the same date, AirTran will add a second daily Detroit-Orlando roundtrip. FT. LAUDERDALE (FLL). Effective November 7, AirTran Airways begins one daily 7127 roundtrip between Newport News/Williamsburg, Va. and Ft. Lauderdale. HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL (IAH). Starting October 6, Aeromexico will add a third daily roundtrip between Houston and Mexico City. ORLANDO SANFORD (SFB). A U.K. airline called Flyglobespan, which started service in June between Orlando Sanford and Glasgow, Scotland, will begin weekly service November 7 between Orlando Sanford and Belfast, Northern Ireland, using a 767-300ER. DEALS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS United Airlines is having a sale on its "p.s." premium service business class between New York JFK-LAX and JFK-San Francisco. The fares of $549 for LAX-JFK or $599 for SFO-JFK, good in either direction, are good for travel between November 18-27 or December 16-January 2, as long as you purchase seven days in advance and no later than December 15. Departures Sunday through Friday require a two-night minimum stay, while Saturday departures require one night. Purchasers will also get a 50 percent bonus in Mileage Plus elite qualifying miles or segments. To book, go to www.united.com and enter the Planning Travel area; choose Business as your service class, and look for fares marked with a gold star, identifying them as part of the p.s. Business Class Holiday Sale. Got business in Israel? El Al, which recently doubled its flight frequencies from Chicago O'Hare to Tel Aviv to four a week, is offering reduced business class companion fares good for travel from ORD through March 25. If two people fly together, they can book a roundtrip business class seat for $3,061 per person, including the fuel surcharge. To book, call 800-223-6700 or visit www.elal.com. Through a renewed partnership between Choice Hotels International (www.choicehotels.com) and Preferred Hotels (www.preferredhotels.com), members of the former's Choice Privileges frequent-stay program can now redeem points for stays at the 135 member properties of Preferred Hotels, located in 28 countries worldwide. Choice brands include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion and MainStay Suites. In Thailand, the Pan Pacific Bangkok (800-327-8585; www.panpacific.com) introduced a new Bonanza Package for North American guests, good for stays during December and January. Priced from $155 single, it includes accommodations, breakfast, a daily newspaper, late checkout, use of the fitness facilities, and discounts at the spa. Stay three nights and they'll throw in a 55-minute Thai massage, stay four and you'll also get a free dinner. By Jim Glab Have a question or comment? Send it to skyguide@aexp.com. To sign up for the e-Alert, click here.