Business Traveler articles from April 2002

Business Traveler archives from April 2002

Editor's letter.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... NOW THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE WORKING 24/7 a mind-numbing reality, some business travelers probably wouldn't mind going back to the days when cell phones, laptops and handhelds were just twinkles in the eyes of techies at MIT and Stanford....

Laptop switch.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... I recently experienced something I expect to be very prevalent among all laptop-carrying business travelers, especially after the increased security measures enacted Jan. 18, 2002. All travelers are told to have ID tags on luggage when checking...

Room for improvement.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... We made a decision to attend the 2002 Nokia Sugar Bowl and had reservations to stay at the Crescent on Canal Hotel in New Orleans, a downtown business hotel. Prior to the trip, we called to verify that the hotel had adequate parking, since we...

Lend me your ears.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... Even we savvy business travelers often feel completely out of our depth when we take family vacations. Experiences that usually feel effortless suddenly seem enormously complex and daunting. This is especially true for parents of young...

Complaint strategy.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... A few years ago when I moved to Miami, I attended a course called "Business Writing." Since a large part of the course was dedicated to answering complaints, I learned the rules of efficient complaint letters, very useful to me for flight...

Wheelchair nightmare.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... I'm a frequent traveler all over the U.S. and around the world. I'm a quadriplegic confined to an electric wheelchair, and I'm a photographer and carry all my equipment with me. Some of the equipment is built into my chair so I can reach it...

First rate.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... If you ever rate airport lounges like you do the airlines, please accept my vote in advance: the Cathay Pacific First Class lounge at the new Hong Kong Airport. I have traveled the world for 20 years first class, but have never seen a lounge...

Match game. (Airports).(development of pilot programme to match luggage with airline passengers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... JOAN Q. PUBLIC FLIES FROM JFK THROUGH CHICAGO O'HARE AND ON TO TORONTO, Her bag is matched to her ticket, but once her bag is put onto the connecting flight, Joan can make tracks out of the airport, and even out of the state, and there won't be...

Rouge gets the red out. (Hotels).(Hotel Rouge's Red Eye package for early morning travelers; Washington D.C.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... FLYING INTO DULLES AIRPORT IN the wee hours of the morning? Consider checking in at D.C.'s Hotel Rouge, where a "Red Eye" package includes herbal offerings of melatonin--and a soul-satisfying slice of cold pizza. Billed as the "ultimate...

Wide open. (Airlines).(European Court of Justice's ruling on routing, services of European airlines to United States)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... IF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE has its way, all of its member nations' airlines may soon have to adhere to the court's authority in ruling who flies into the U.S. and under what circumstances. That transfer of power would vastly change the...

Eye ticket to ride. (Airlines).(Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. to start trial run of EyeTicket Jet Stream Travel Manager, passenger retinal security scan)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... VIRGIN ATLANTIC IS SAYING "AYE" to "Eye." The airline is joining the retinal security scan bandwagon with the announcement that it will soon implement trial runs of the EyeTicket "Jet Stream Travel Manager" system at Heathrow Airport, in...

The last train. (Railways).(possible restructuring of AMTRAK national railway system)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... THE AMTRAK REFORM COUNCIL HAS spoken. The national railway system is broken beyond repair and should be split apart to give free enterprise an opportunity to step in and make the trains run on time. Calling Amtrak "obsolete," the Amtrak...

Mayan mud. (Hotels).(JW Marriott Cancun's Mayan Essentials Spa Package)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... TIME TRAVELERS CAN SINK INTO Mayan ritual mud at the JW Marriott Cancun's new spa. The 35,000-square-foot, three-level spa is a pyramid of porcine delights: featuring a signature "Mayan Essentials Spa Package," which includes Mayan-inspired...

Swissheir. (Airlines).(creation of, services offered by Swiss Air Lines Ltd.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... CUTTING-EDGE STYLE AND razor-sharp precision. Attributes of the Swiss watch, the Swiss Army knife--and the new Swiss airline? If style consultant Tyler Brule has his way, that's how consumers will view the new national carrier of...

Parisian getaway. (Reader Offer).(Hotel Inter-Continental Paris)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... LOCATED IN THE HEART OF PARIS' FINANCIAL DISTRICT AND WITHIN WALKING distance of the city's most desirable shops, the Louvre and Champs-Elysees, is the newly renovated, elegantly styled Hotel Inter-Continental Paris. The hotel recently...

Continental shift. (Airlines).(Continental Airlines Inc. to improve business class passenger seating aboard Boeing 777 aircraft)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... GOD IS IN THE DETAILS. THAT philosophy has won Continental a lion's share of business over competing airlines since Sept. 11. When US Airways took blankets and pillows off flights to save money on cleaning bills and cut food service along with...

AeroMexico. (Flight Log).(airline adds weekly nonstop flight between Salt Lake City, Utah and Hermosillo, Mexico)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... * AeroMexico adds another weekly nonstop flight from Salt Lake City to its Hermosillo hub in Mexico. The airline was the first to begin nonstop service between Salt Lake City and Mexico, on December 10, 2001.

Austrian Airlines. (Flight Log).(resumption of nonstop service between Toronto and Montreal, Canada and Vienna, Austria)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... * Austrian Airlines resumes its regularly scheduled nonstop service to Canada with Toronto-Vienna service and the addition of Montreal-Vienna service effective May 1. Toronto-Vienna service is offered Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday....

Qantas. (Flight Log).(Qantas Airways Ltd. expands service to Australia, New Zealand from Phoenix, Arizona and Oakland, California)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... * Qantas announces it has extended service to Australia and New Zealand from Phoenix, AZ, and Oakland, CA, through an expansion of its codeshare agreement with American Airlines. Passengers in Phoenix and Oakland will have three options a day...

Northwest. (Flight Log).(Northwest Airlines Corp. to begin flights between Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and Champaign, Illinois)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... * Northwest begins flights April 7 between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Champaign, IL, with a stopover in Bloomington, IL.

American Airlines. (Flight Log).(twice-daily flights between New York City, New York and Ontario, California)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... * American Airlines will fly twice daily between New York JFK and Ontario, CA, starting July 2.

Lanchile Airlines. (Airline Deals).(special-fare airpass for travel within Chile)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... LANCHILE AIRLINES offers a multicoupon airpass for travel within Chile starting at only $250 for the first three coupons (minimum three coupons) and up to three additional coupons at only $60 each. This represents a savings of up to 70 percent...

British Airways. (Airline Deals).(special offers for Executive Club members in North America)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... BRITISH AIRWAYS April 15 is the last day that Executive Club members (North American only) can book and travel for two outstanding deals. "Triple Miles" are earned for every round-trip, or two one-way trans-Atlantic flights in full unrestricted...

Malaysia Airlines. (Airline Deals).(upgrade offer to passengers flying from North America)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... MALAYSIA AIRLINES is offering a free upgrade from full unrestricted coach to business class and full business class to first class. Upgrades apply via Malaysia's gateway of Los Angeles using their trans-Pacific service to Asia. Travel can...

Delta Air Lines. (Airline Deals).(special fare for business travel between New York City and Los Angeles, San Francisco)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... DELTA AIR LINES offers a real deal for business-class travelers in the ever popular transcon markets between JFK and LAX/SFO. They operate Boeing 767 aircraft with two cabins, the forward cabin is sold as business class (BusinessElite) with a...

Continental Airlines. (Airline Deals).(Trip-Alert, flight information notification system for Onepass FFY programme members)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... CONTINENTAL AIRLINES--it's not a fare deal, but it's a good deal. If you're a member of Continental's Onepass FFY program, you can sign up for "TRIP-ALERT." This service will send notification of preflight delays or cancellations right to...

Tagging the wild BT. (Business Traveler Tag Line Contest Winner).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Congratulations go out to Mr. Leslie Otis of Santa Monica, California, who supplied Business Traveler with the winning tag line, "Arrive informed." Mr. Otis entered the tag line in Business Traveler and Alitalia's 2001 sweepstakes, which was...

United States. (Hotel Deals).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Millennium Hotels and Resorts is offering several packages throughout the year that allow travelers to save money in cities across the United States while taking advantage of popular sights and attractions. While many of these packages are...

Asia. (Hotel Deals).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Hong Kong's Great Eagle Hotel is offering special rates until February of 2003 in celebration of the Year of the Horse. A special package includes three nights' accommodations on the club floor, dinner for two and extra amenities for $608....

Middle East. (Hotel Deals).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Between now and June 30, travelers to Jordan can take advantage of special rates at four properties--the Hotel Inter-Continental Jordan, the Amra Forum Hotel, the Holiday Inn Amman and the Crowne Plaza Resort Petra. Reduced rates, compliments...

Delta Air Lines. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Through April 30, members of Delta's SkyMiles program can earn triple miles on qualifying stays at more than 3,300 Choice Hotels in the U.S. and Caribbean. Members can earn 750 miles per qualifying stay at Clarion, Quality, Comfort Suites,...

American Airlines. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... American Airlines is offering a host of reward promotions for round-trip travel to Japan and Europe. AAdvantage members traveling in first, business or full-fare economy class before May 31 will earn 15,000 bonus miles for a round-trip flight...

Ramada. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Travelers staying at participating Ramada properties in Europe or the Middle East can earn reduced rates and free nights. Simply show your international airline or train ticket, and receive a voucher for one reduced-rate night and one free...

Starwood Preferred Guest. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Through June 30, Starwood Preferred Guest members who stay five nights at any of Starwood's hotels around the world will automatically earn two Friday night stays. Members who stay at any of Starwood's properties for a total of 10 nights will...

The Table Bay: Cape Town, South Africa. (Hotel Check).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... LOCATED SMACK ON CAPE TOWN'S waterfront, the 329-room Table Bay Hotel commands some of the most breathtaking views of the city's--and the country's--natural scenery. The showcase vista is of Table Mountain, the imposing, flat-topped stone...

Spot check. (Consumer Checks).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... We asked a number of major airlines whether passengers who purchase a full-fare economy-class ticket are able to gain admittance to the airline's airport lounges by paying a fee. Here's what we found: NORTHWEST AIRLINES ...

XV Beacon: Boston. (Hotel Check).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... THE TERM "BOUTIQUE HOTEL" typically describes those small hotels that focus on personal attention, standout design and a high exclusivity factor. But Fifteen Beacon, a 61-room hotel in Boston's quaint Beacon Hill, somehow makes that term feel...

Icelandair business class. (Flight check: New York JFK to Reykjavik Kef).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... First Impressions: Thanks to all the construction at the JFK international airport terminals, finding the check-in area for Icelandair required navigating a maze of drywall partitions, orange cones and strands of yellow police tape. Luckily,...

The big sleazy? In a bid to boost jobs and outside investment, New Orleans is working overtime to shed the stigma of its scurrilous past. (Home Front: New Orleans).
April 1, 2002... A SORDID HISTORY OF CRIME, CRONYISM AND corruption has long plagued Louisiana and its largest city, New Orleans. In the 18th century, John Law, a professional gambler and adviser to the French regent Philippe of Orleans, was granted the...

Table tops: as the popularity of hotel restaurants soars, Business Traveler is checking out the best the world has to offer. We start in this issue with New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Look for us to cover Asia and Europe, as well as the hottest new hotel bars in the U.S., in May. (The best: hotel restaurants).
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK BLUE FIN at the W, Times Square, 1567 Broadway at 47th Street, tel. 212-918-1400 Overview: The two-story restaurant of W's flagship hotel hosts an enormous, intensely noisy, upbeat scene, with nightly jazz upstairs. Unwind...

In the loop: a bewildering array of options exists to help globe-trotting execs stay connected on the road. George Hobica sorts them out. (Communication).
April 1, 2002... ON IN THE IDYLLIC ISLAND OF ST. JOHN IN THE U.S. VIRGIN Islands, there's a resort that charges upwards of $700 a night but has no telephones, TVs, Internet access or radios, or even clocks, in its guest rooms. Mobile phones are discouraged in...

Silent auction.(Business Travelers magazine)
April 1, 2002... This year, proceeds from the Silent Auction will benefit both The Mentor Foundation and the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund (last year, our subscribers successfully raised $56,646 for the National Theatre Workshop...

Red tape smack-down: Saigon has a reputation for overcoming all odds, but Dinah Hatch discovers that government red tape may yet derail its recovery from the Asian economic crisis. (Insider's guide: Saigon).
April 1, 2002... WELCOME TO SAIGON, THE CITY SO PACKED with chaotic motorcyclists driving without helmets that the death toll is equivalent to a Boeing 747 crash every 19 days. Welcome to Saigon, where everyone wants an education, but former doctors, lawyers...

Northern light: the Scandinavian summer sun sets as late as 10, inviting travellers to enjoy. (Special Advertising Section).
April 1, 2002... SWEDEN BUSINESS TRAVELERS EMBARKING ON A trip to Sweden in 2002 are in for a bit of serendipity. This year marks Stockholm's 750th anniversary, and Swedes do not intend to let the momentous occasion pass unnoticed. Visitors can expect a...

Go with the flow: in Rio, business is personal. Maxine Elkin explains the ground rules. (Doing Business in Rio de Janeiro).
April 1, 2002... CARIOCAS HAVE A REPUTATION FOR BEING great lovers, storytellers and dancers, but not hard workers. With such beaches, who can really blame them? But in spite of this reputation, the city of Rio de Janeiro is one of the wealthiest in Brazil, and...

Diamonds are not forever: Botswana owes its incredible growth to its diamond revenue. But investors have other reasons to be confident. (Focus: Gaborone).
April 1, 2002... HERE WERE ONLY THREE TELEPHONE LINES in Selibe Pikwe, the copper mining town I arrived in 23 years ago," said Fred McDonald of corporate travel agency, Travelwise. "In that time, I've seen Botswana grow from the dark ages into the 21st...

Readers' writes: who knows best about business travel? Our readers, of course, and this month we ask our readers--frequently traveling executives--to share with us their most memorable hotel and airline experiences. Here's what they have to say. (Special Advertising Section).
April 1, 2002... AIR CANADA Class: Executive Class Aircraft: A330, B747-400, B767 Online: www.aircanada.com Reservations: 888-247-2262 Passenger: Vincent Poirier MY BROTHER AND I HAD the chance to travel on Air...

Four hours in Sydney.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Sydney is undoubtedly one of the most stunning cities in the world, and you'd be a fool to go all that way and not make the most of it. Unfortunately, though, any business trip to the Southern Hemisphere is bound to be marred by jet lag. So,...

Queen Elizabeth reigns in Montreal. (Offer of the month: Montreal hotels).(Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Reigning over Montreal's vibrant cultural center, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth sets the standard for service and hospitality in this remarkable city. From the moment it opened its doors in 1958, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth has welcomed queens,...

Red Carnation hotels . (Savings for members: London, Geneva & Palm Beach).(Review)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Red Carnation Hotels is a collection of four- and five-star luxury boutique hotels in London, Geneva and Palm Beach, where "no request is too large and no detail is too small." Discretion, luxury and fine, traditional hospitality make Red...

Elegant hotels--get a fifth night free in Barbados. (Special deals: Caribbean Barbados hotels).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Feeling fed up with winter? Ready for a well-earned break in the sun? Then look no farther--Elegant Hotels has a host of irresistible special offers tailor-made for you! Offer is good until July 20. Have the first night on us! Stay for five...

European charm in Midtown Manhattan for a downtown price--Iroquois Hotel. (Savings for members: New York hotels).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... The Iroquois New York has the intimate charm of an elegant European hotel, yet is located within strolling distance of Fifth Avenue shopping, the bright lights of Broadway and the international corporate offices of Midtown. Whenever you...

Metropolitan hospitality. (Savings for members: New York hotels).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... There's no place in the world like New York City and no better place to experience it than the Metropolitan Hotel, where the city's best shopping, dining and business destinations are just footsteps away. The original deco glory of the hotel...

Scottish rites: Rachael Jolley rides the rails with the Royal Scotsman. (Great escape: Royal Scotsman rail).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... EDINBURGH'S WAVERLEY STATION HAS ONE OF the most stunning views in the country--the stark, gray walls of Edinburgh castle glower down from the hilltop. These grandiose surroundings seemed the perfect place to board the luxurious Royal Scotsman...