Business Traveler articles from June 2001

Business Traveler archives from June 2001

Editor's letter.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... As the number of air travelers continues to skyrocket, airports are rushing to keep up with demand. The result--airport design that can actually keep travelers' anxieties at bay, speed up travel and make the experience as a whole more...

Old money.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2001... As a very experienced business traveler, I thought I was savvy enough to avoid most scams, but during a recent trip to Argentina, I ran into a new one that cost me a quick $50. After arriving late at the airport in Buenos Aires, I opted to...

Gas fumes.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2001... I read your March 2001 issue on "Outrageous Charges" as I was flying back to San Diego from Washington, D.C. I make this trip about twice a month. As an employee of a large employee-owned company, I can assure you that we watch every penny very...

Cheap shots.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2001... This letter is in response to "Venting Your Air Rage" in the March issue of your magazine addressing the issue of passengers' rage concerning travel and the move to protect passengers' rights through the NAPC. I have been an employee of a...

Age rage.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2001... The FAA and its administrator, Jane Garvey, are supposed to make our airlines safe. I fly only on American Airlines, and when I get on a long-haul overseas trip, many of the flight attendants are elderly and/or feeble. If an emergency were to...

Waiting game.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2001... How long should it take to get a refund? Last July my flight on Continental from Washington National Airport to La Guardia was canceled due to bad weather. I was given a refund slip, and caught the train instead. About three months later I...

Another try.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2001... The letter in the March 2001 issue describing problems with an Avis rental in London surprised me in two ways: First, that Avis was difficult to deal with, and secondly, that Avis' response disclosed that Avis Europe PLC was a separate company....

Terminal case. (Airports).(John F. Kennedy International Airport's newly-built Terminal Four)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... IF YOU ARE FLYING THROUGH JFK on or after May 29, you'll be able to judge for yourself whether or not the spanking new Terminal Four lives up to its publicity as the antidote to the general malaise that hovers over congested hub airports these...

Play nice. (Hotels).(services offered by resort Le Club Diamant Rouge de Monaco)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... IF YOU'VE ALWAYS seen yourself as Cary Grant or Grace Kelly, play the role to the hilt on your next stay in the Principality of Monaco. Le Club Diamant Rouge is an amenity-loaded package that offers members the red-carpet treatment, including a...

A Yen for the internet. (Hotels).(high-speed Internet access offered by hotel Keio Plaza Intercontinental)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... TOKYO'S KEIO PLAZA INTER-CONTINENTAL has sunk 300 million yen into IT advancements designed to be the fastest and most efficient in Tokyo hotels. The Inter-Continental is located in the Shinjuku district: a mini-Silicon Valley filled with IT...

Delta Airlines. (Airline Deals).(discounted-fares Web site for travel agents)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... DELTA AIRLINES has created a new Web site just for travel agents to access Internet discounts that they can ticket. Discounts can be as high as 50 percent off published fares. The site is www.delta.com/travelagency, and it can only be accessed...

Air France. (Airline Deals).(free-companion-ticket offer with purchase of full-fare business class ticket between Los Angeles and Papeete, Tahiti)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... AIR FRANCE is offering a free companion ticket in business class with the purchase of a full business fare of $3,900 round-trip from Los Angeles to Papeete. Tickets must be purchased within 14 days after booking, and travel must be completed...

Malaysia Airlines. (Airline Deals).(free upgrades on full-fare tickets for passengers departing from North America)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... MALAYSIA AIRLINES is offering free upgrades from full unrestricted coach to business class and full business class to first class. Upgrades apply from Malaysia's gateways of Newark and Los Angeles, using their trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific...

Air Europa. (Airline Deals).(New York-Madrid business class fares, services)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... AIR EUROPA operates five nonstop flights weekly between JFK and Madrid using Boeing 767 equipment, and they offer one-way business-class fares starting at $990 from JFK and $824 from Madrid ("split ticket"). Their lowest competitor in this...

Everything but a tuck-in. (Hotels).(sleep aids, related services offered by The Benjamin Hotel in New York City)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP is not negotiable," says John Moser, general manager of New York's Benjamin Hotel. Moser backs up his promise with a money-back guarantee. If you don't sleep well, tell the front desk, and the hotel will refund the cost of...

Delta dawn. (Airlines).(Delta Air Lines Inc. to increase pilot salaries, avoids strike)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... TRAVELERS PLANNING to fly Delta in the near future can breathe a sigh of relief. The pilot's strike, which would have caused 10,000 pilots to walk off the job, was averted when the airline agreed to ante up. Pilots on both Delta and Delta...

Code red. (Sites for Sore Eyes).(Web sites on travel-related security issues)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... CODE RED Planning a trip in a foreign country and not sure if it's safe to go? These sites offer a bundle of information for those traveling overseas and feature detailed updates on specific areas with political and social unrest. ...

Geek boutique. (Hotels).(services offered by The Hotel @ MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... IF YOU'VE ALWAYS wanted to say you went to MIT, get out your slide rule--the Hotel @ MIT is currently accepting any and all business travelers. The new property is affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology--that famous...

Pacific overtures. (Hotels).(new services offered by hotel Pan Pacific Singapore)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... IT'S NO SECRET to savvy business travelers that service standards in Asian hotels tend to be higher than those in the West. Even so, jaded road warriors might find themselves happily surprised by the new amenities on offer at the Pan Pacific...

Global access. (Internet).(local dial-up Internet access services offered by company MaGlobe)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... HAVE YOU EVER brought a briefcase full of work, laptop and accessories only to find that you can't get access numbers to local providers in the hotel room? Or have you logged on for an hour, then received a whopping bill for phone-line service?...

Band-aid. (Reader Offer).(ReliefBand, device for prevention of nausea during travel)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... WHETHER YOU'RE IN A CAR, PLANE, BOAT OR TRAIN, unexpected motion sickness can occur and often spoil an important trip. Do you rely on over-the-counter motion-sickness remedies, yet forget to take them? ReliefBand is a device that you wear like...

Deco deluxe. (Hotels).(remodeling, updating of executive facilities at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... THE BOUTIQUE HOTEL phenomenon has transformed the hotel experience into something sleek, chic and functional. But New York's Waldorf-Astoria has resisted the impulse to cut itself down to size and, in fact, has chosen to expand in its role as...

Asia Pacific. (Hotel Deals).(special rates offered by hotel Pan Pacific Bangkok, Thailand)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... ASIA PACIFIC In celebration of the complete overhaul of its Pacific Floor, the Pan Pacific Bangkok is offering rates on that section until December 31. Rates on this offer start at $140 per weekend night and $160 per weekday night and include...

Caribbean. (Hotel Deals).(Leading Hotels of the World's offer of free membership in Leaders Club programme for guests staying in hotels in Caribbean)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... CARIBBEAN The Leading Hotels of the World is offering free membership in its Leaders Club program to guests staying in one of nine Caribbean properties until September 30. Rooms are $255 per night, and members receive perks such as deluxe...

United States. (Hotel Deals).(special rates and packages)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... UNITED STATES The Argent Hotel in San Francisco is offering various packages this spring. Guests can take advantage of $20 baseball tickets, as well as passes to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Nordstrom certificates and reduced prices...

Worldwide. (Hotel Deals).(worldwide special rates, packages offered by Regent hotels, The Regent of Sydney)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Regent Hotels is featuring worldwide savings at several properties for the rest of the year. Savings and validity fluctuate according to hotel, but all packages include amenities such as spa treatments, personal butler service, meals and retail...

Chicago, Chicago. (Hotels).(opening of hotels W Chicago City Center, W Chicago Lakeshore)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... CHICAGO GETS DOUBLE W's with the summer opening of the W Chicago City Center in the heart of the Loop and the W Chicago, Lakeshore on Lakeshore Drive. The W Lakeshore is a 556-room hotel, originally built in the 1960s as a Days Inn. The...

Midway. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... * Midway now flies nonstop between Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Providence.

American Airlines. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... * American Airlines connects with Canada 3000 to offer shared frequent flyer miles. AAdvantage Members now earn miles when flying on any of Canada 3000 flights worldwide.

Emirates. (Flight Log).(airline to ban smoking on flights)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... * Starting in August, Emirates is smoke-free on all flights.

China Southern Airlines and China Northern Airlines: have signed a codesharing agreement. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... * China Southern Airlines and China Northern Airlines have signed a codesharing agreement. Now passengers traveling between Guangzhou and Shenyang will fly on both airlines. The agreement offers customers unified fees and streamlined schedules....

US Airways. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... * US Airways has begun daily nonstop wide-body service to the Netherlands from Philadelphia to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Qantas. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... * Qantas has introduced a revamped Web site. Onliners can more easily surf for fares and flight info, book flights and get info on packages and Frequent Flyer Awards. Red e-deal fares are available only on the Internet and can be accessed with...

Virgin Airways. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... * Virgin Airways starts service between London and Lagos, Nigeria, in late summer. The airline plans daily 747 service with a long-term goal of 14 flights per week in this market.

New York. (Top Of The Town).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Theater The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Minskoff Theatre 200 W. 45th St. New York, NY 10036 tel. 212-307-4100 An uplifting musical based on the novel by Mark Twain. King Hedley II Virginia Theatre 245 W. 52nd St. New...

Air Canada. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Aeroplan Members can qualify for double miles through July 18, when they rent from Alamo at participating international locations. Plus, Aeroplan Members can receive up to a 15-percent discount off Alamo's retail rates when they rent a compact...

SAS. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... EuroBonus Members rack up double mileage points from May 12 through July 12 when they fly Washington, D.C./Copenhagen. This promotion highlights tire airline's new nonstop Copenhagen service.

Sabena & Swissair. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... American AAdvantage Members flying on Sabena or Swissair through June 30 can receive bonus miles for their first two trips. This offer is valid on Sabena flights to and from Washington, D.C., and Montreal. On Swissair, the offer applies to...

USAirways. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Until June 30, Dividend Miles Members can earn 1,000 bonus miles when they purchase a round-trip ticket online at usairways.com for flights on USAirways, USAirways Shuttle, USAirways Express or Metro Jet. When Dividend Miles Members rent...

Matching luggage. (Airlines).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... THE SCENARIO IS NOT UNCOMMON. The plane is not taking off. The captain's voice comes over the PA. "Folks, we'll be delayed a few minutes at the gate, while we remove a piece of luggage that doesn't match the passenger list." Some travelers feel...

Hilton Toronto. (Hotel Check).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... STEPPING INTO THE HILTON Toronto is no ordinary hotel-chain experience. The exterior is simple, but the interior is a modern lively oasis--a striking difference from any Hilton property I've seen before. The automatic revolving doors turn to...

Spot check. (Consumer Checks).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... We asked four car rental companies how much they would charge for a weekly rental of a midsize car if the car was picked up at Los Angeles International Airport, but dropped off at San Francisco International Airport, Here's what we found: ...

The Mercury South Beach.(hotel)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... LOCATED IN MIAMI'S Art Deco District and a block away from South Beach's sandy white beaches is the secluded boutique property, the Mercury hotel. Frequent guests such as Dennis Rodman and other celebrities prefer the Mercury for its location,...

American Airlines economy class. (Los Angeles To Hartford).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... First Impressions: I arrived at the airport 40 minutes prior to departure and at the counter well before the 20-minute luggage cutoff, so I was spooked when the agent wondered whether my suitcase would make the flight. He later recanted. 3.5/5...

Four hours in Warsaw.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Warsaw's history effectively started in 1945 when almost total destruction of the city by the Nazis left the city with population of just 20,000. The old town was rebuilt as an exact replica, with efforts made to restore the city's rich...

Say good-bye to Hollywood? (HomeFront: Los Angeles).
June 1, 2001... ALTHOUGH LOS ANGELES POSSESSES a wealth of stunning, elegant Art Deco architecture evoking the golden age of Hollywood, it's the city's dramatic, curvaceous and yes, kitschy, 1950s architecture and signage that seems to embody the promise...

Room to grow: airport design gets smarter as burgeoning numbers of travelers spend more time in them than ever before.
June 1, 2001... AS A FREQUENT BUSINESS TRAVELER who finds himself in the air about three times weekly, Thom Nulty does what he can to minimize time spent at most airport terminals. Unless he's passing through, say, Denver or Seattle. When possible, he...

New toys: still carrying around a briefcase full of electronic gadgets? It's time to enter the 21st century, where handhelds double as cell phones, cameras moonlight as MP3 players and a speech recorder is only truly cutting edge if it can perform trackball mouse functions. Your laptop? Now a multimedia smorgasbord.
June 1, 2001... NEWS OF THE INCREASING VERSATILITY of a number of popular high-tech electronic gadgets is enough to make travelers looking to pare down their luggage giddy with excitement--however, it's hard to sort functionality from mere frills. Many...

Reward yourself: today just about every hotel chain offers guests a frequent stay program, rewarding guests with free hotel stays, airline miles, merchandise and free vacation packages. Here are some of the big companies that keep the offers coming and the frequent guests coming back. (Special Advertising Section).
June 1, 2001... Hotel Rewards Marriott Rewards members have the choice of earning points or miles for every dollar spent. Nine hotel brands and over 2,000 hotels give travelers the options to earn points all over the world. Participating hotels include...

The full Monty: having failed to make its fortune as the HQ of the Mercosur common market, the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo, is turning to other schemes for prosperity. And recent in-your-face maneuvers by the country's president are at least getting it noticed. (Focus: Montevideo).
June 1, 2001... AN ARRESTING AD SCREENS on the two-hour boat ride from Buenos Aires to Montevideo. Minutes after our ferry leaves Argentina to cross the River Plate, a man is broadcast laying out two lines of white powder and then shown, in startling close-up,...

The story of O: Oslo's high quality of life, strong infrastructure and emphasis on education are drawing IT powerhouses looking for a foothold on Scandinavian ice to this once-sleepy capital. (Destination Report: Oslo).
June 1, 2001... ONCE KNOWN PRIMARILY AS the charming but sleepily provincial capital of Norway and the site of the Nobel Prize festivities, Oslo has lately shed her small-town girl image and come of age. Today, information technology companies come to pay...

Latin American ruins.
June 1, 2001... TULUM. CHICHEN ITZA. QUINTANA ROO. MACHU PICCHU. CARAL. Characters in a fanciful children's fairy tale? Guess again! These exotic-sounding names are the sites of just a few of Latin America's most significant archaeological ruins. Located...

Denver International Airport.(airport design)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... WHAT'S THIS? An airport preferred by pilots and passengers? Just six years old and already considered one of the best airports in the world, Denver International Airport is the most technologically advanced and reliable airport in the United...

Lufthansa: now serving Denver International Airport.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... IN THE OLD DAYS, it took 10 months to get from the continent of Europe to the Continental Divide. Now, thanks to new nonstop service from Lufthansa Airlines between Denver and Frankfurt, it takes only 10 hours. According to city officials,...

Trading places: Brian Scudder reports from Dubai, an oasis of urban life in the Arabian sands. From oasis shopping to free zones, Dubai is an example of how to survive when the petroleum runs dry. (Insider's Guide: Dubai).
June 1, 2001... DUBAI IS ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY cities in the Middle East. It is beyond doubt the region's most opulent, with massive and luxurious buildings sprouting out of the sand at a disorientating rate. Beyond the glitz, it remains the most...

Offer of the month: buy one night; get the second night at $75 off from the Stanhope Park Hyatt New York. (Hotels).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... THE STANHOPE PARK HYATT NEW YORK, a legendary New York City landmark, is located on Fifth Avenue, opposite Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This boutique hotel is patterned after European manor houses and features 185...

Business club savings from W Hotels of New York. (Hotels).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... THE W NEW YORK is conducive to business travelers and trendsetters alike, making it the pioneer of the full-service hotel. This property boasts a convenient Midtown location, 6,000 square feet of meeting space, exquisite banquet service and a...

Regal Airport Hotel. (Hotels).(Hong Kong)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... THE REGAL AIRPORT HOTEL In Hong Kong is pleased to offer a spa package until August 31. Stay in a single room for $160 or a double for $173, and enjoy free use of the fitness facilities, swimming pool and a half-hour anti-tension back massage....

Enjoy a break in Northern Ireland: Compliments of Hastings Hotels. (New Hotel Offers).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... ENJOY A RELAXING BREAK with Hastings Hotels, Northern Ireland's leading hotel group. This is a magical country and a wonderful place to visit and truly get away from it all. From the 17th century walled city of Derry in the North to the...