Business Traveler articles from November 2004

Business Traveler archives from November 2004

Editor's letter.(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... In its quest for tighter security, the TSA is now asking airlines to hand over passenger records, with its new Secure Flight program. The agency has also decided to continue indefinitely with the Registered Traveler program, which has been...

AA saves the day.(Letter of the Month)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Extraordinary effort on the part of the AA Platinum desk saved my wife and I from spending the night on the floor at Miami's airport. The mandatory evacuation orders that came with Hurricane Frances had displaced hundreds of thousands of people...

Luggage lockdown.(Readers' Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... I had occasion to read over a copy of your October issue and enjoyed the various stories on Asian airports. Your descriptive information generally corresponded with the experiences I have had while using some of these airports. One item,...

Trouble averted.(Readers' Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Recently I flew with United Airlines from London Heathrow to Portland, Maine, via Washington, D.C. I was flying Economy Plus, but had a BMI Gold Card. I had an important meeting at the University of Southern Maine and really had to get there on...

Schiphol shines.(Readers' Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... I recently traveled to Nice for a short holiday, and was happy to see that Schiphol Airport has added The Buffstop to its range of airport services. I first experienced this at Dublin Airport where my shoes were polished to a military standard,...

Secure flight.(Security)(TRANSPORTATION Security Administration has announced that U.S. airlines are now required to hand over passenger records)
November 1, 2004... THE TRANSPORTATION Security Administration has announced that U.S. airlines are now required to hand over passenger records. The "proposed order" was made on Sept. 21, and applies to passenger records from June 2004. The intention is to help...

Delta's strategy.(Airlines)(Delta Air Lines Inc. will refocus its mainline operation on long-haul routes and improved customer service)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... DELTA AIR LINES CEO Gerald Grinstein has laid out a plan to transform the financially struggling carrier by refocusing its mainline operation on long-haul routes and improved customer service, in an attempt to win back the premium traveler. ...

Airbus tests GSM phones on jetliners.(News)
November 1, 2004... AIRBUS ANNOUNCED ITS successful test of GSM personal mobile phones onboard an A320 jetliner, and plans to install the devices in its planes starting in 2006. These tests, which follow an unrelated trial on American Airlines earlier this year,...

SkyTeam expands.(Airlines)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... NORTHWEST AIRLINES, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Continental Airlines have become full members of the SkyTeam alliance, creating one of the largest airline groups in the world. SkyTeam officials called the more the "single largest airline...

Thrifty Car Rental.(Reward Roundup)(Thrifty Rent-A-Car System Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Thrifty Car Rental will award triple frequent flyer miles on eight airlines to renters who book a car for at least three days. The deal is good only for customers booking online at www.thrifty.com.Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines...

Avis Rent a Car.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Avis Rent a Car is offering a "Drive Free" promotion that rewards Avis customers with a free weekend rental after renting three times between now and Dec.16. Customers must register for the promotion online at www.avis.com or call 800-722-5909....

Best Western Gold Crown Club.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Best Western Gold Crown Club members will receive double bonus points of miles for stays between now and Nov. 30. To get the "Double Up" deal, guests must preregister at www.bestwesterndoubleup.com or call 800-937-8376 and use promotion code...

Amtrak Guest Rewards.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Amtrak Guest Rewards (AGR) program members can earn double points through Dec. 15 for travel between Washington, D.C., and New York; Boston and New York; Philadelphia and Boston; and Washington, D.C., and Boston on Acela Express or Metroliner...

Northwest Airlines WorldPerks.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Northwest Airlines WorldPerks members can earn up to 1,000 bonus miles when they travel nonstop between Lincoln, NE, and Detroit through Nov. 30. Registration is reguired prior to travel. For registration and information, visit www.nwa.com.

Marriott Rewards.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Marriott Rewards is offering its members 5,000 bonus points for every third stay at any Marriott Hotels & Resorts property worldwide when they pay for their stay with an American Express card. Members can earn up to 25,000 bonus points between...

United Airlines Mileage Plus.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... United Airlines Mileage Plus members can earn one free United economy round-trip ticket for every three qualifying flights purchased on United, United Express or Ted between now and Jan.31. Members can earn up to four free tickets for travel...

Hotel Allegro.(United States)("Park 'n' Play" package)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Chicago's Hotel Allegro is offering a "Park 'n' Play" package, which includes valet parking, a wine reception and rooms starting at $159. The deal is available through Dec. 30. Call 866-672-6143 or visit www.allegrochicago.com.

Warwick Denver.(United States)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... With rooms starting at $165 a night, the Warwick Denver offers self-parking and wireless Internet access at no additional charge. Also provided are morning coffee and a cocktail from Randolph's Bar. The offer runs through Dec. 30. Call...

W New Orleans.(United States)(offers a "Yum" package )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The W New Orleans is offering a "Yum" package until Nov. 24. The offer includes dinner at Zoe Bistrot, with rooms starting at $209 a night. For more information call 504-525-9444 or visit www.whotels.com.

Iroquois New York.(United States)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Midtown Manhattan's Iroquois New York offers rates starting at $299 a night through Dec. 30 that include high-speed Internet access and overnight shoeshine service. Rooms also feature two-line phones that can transfer calls to a cell phone. For...

Time Square's Doubletree.(United States)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Times Square's Doubletree is offering suites from $299 until Dec. 31. Included in all rooms are two televisions, three telephones and high-speed Internet access. For more information call 212-719-1600 of visit www.doubletree.com.

Fairmont Copley Plaza.(United States)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Boston's newly renovated Fairmont Copley Plaza is offering a "Park & Go" weekend package, with valet parking and breakfast for two at Copley's Grand Cale. Rates start at $269 and run through Dec. 31. Call 617-267-5300 or visit...

Prescott Hotel.(United States)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... San Francisco's Prescott Hotel is offering the "Postrio Package"--a room and dinner--starting at $295 a night. Guests will dine at Wolfgang Puck's Postrio restaurant for a special four-course tasting menu, followed by a Continental breakfast in...

Radisson President Hotel.(Canada)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the Radisson President Hotel in Vancouver is offering deluxe accommodations startino at $123 a night. Also included is a cash rebate for lunch or dinner at the President Cafe Restaurant and a $5 phone...

Conrad London.(Europe; promotion)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Conrad London is offering a special for the entire month of November that includes accommodations, an English breakfast and a bottle of wine. Rates start at $315 a night and are available through Nov. 30. For reservations call 44 20 7823...

Swissotel Berlin.(Europe)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... "Cuisine Delight" guests at the Swissotel Berlin are treated to breakfast and a three-course dinner at Restaurant 44. They can run off those meals with access to the hotel's health club. Rates start at $193 and run through Dec. 30. For more...

Osaka's Swissotel.(Asia)
November 1, 2004... Rooms at Osaka's Swissotel start at $223 with the "Swiss Business Advantage" offer. Guests also receive Internet access, breakfast, a fruit basket and access to the hotel's Amrita fitness center and spa. For more information call 800-637-9477...

Savoy Hotel.(Hotel Update; acquired by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Fairmont Hotels and Resorts will assume management of London's Savoy Hotel in January, subject to the sale of the property to His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Bank of Scotland Corporate. The Savoy will be...

Marriott Courtyard Warsaw International Airport Hotel.(Hotel Update)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Marriott's Courtyard Warsaw International Airport Hotel at Frederic Chopin International Airport now features Flight Information Systems (FIS) information that guests can view on a 30-inch monitor in the hotel's reception area. The monitor...

InterContinental The Barclay New York.(Hotel Update)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In October, InterContinental The Barclay New York opened its new EMC2 meeting facility. Geared toward business executives. EMC2 takes up much of the hotel's third floor and offers en on-site meeting concierge, Wi-Fi connectivity. Web-casting...

Airtran Airways.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AIRTRAN AIRWAYS will offer nonstop service to Ft. Lauderdale and Pittsburgh from Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) every Saturday beginning on Nov. 20. Recently ranked by the Boyd Group of Evergreen, CO, as the fastest-growing airport in the country,...

United Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... UNITED AIRLINES has announced that it will offer daily service from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City (via Hong Kong) starting on Dec. 9, making it the first U.S. carrier to provide direct service to Vietnam in almost 30 years.

Delta Air Lines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... DELTA AIR LINES will add service to Burbank, CA, from Atlanta and Salt Lake City beginning on Jan. 3, with one daily nonstop flight to Burbank from Atlanta and three daily nonstop Canadair Regional Jet flights from Salt Lake City. Canadair...

Aloha Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ALOHA AIRLINES will add a second daily flight between Reno and Hawaii on Dec. 15, in response to demand in the winter for service to the ski resort of Reno/Lake Tahoe. The flight includes a stop in Burbank, providing the only Reno-Burbank...

Continental Micronesia.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... CONTINENTAL MICRONESIA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Airlines, will begin daily nonstop service between Honolulu and Nagoya. Japan, starting on Dec. 20.

Continental Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... CONTINENTAL AIRLINES has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin service to Beijing in the spring of 2005, and to Shanghai in the spring of 2006, from its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport. The airline is...

American Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AMERICAN AIRLINES will launch seasonal service between its Miami hub and Montevideo, Uruguay, on Dec. 16. The service will operate three days a week and will be available through April 2. On the days that the new service does not operate,...

Northwest Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... NORTHWEST AIRLINES will expand its fall and winter schedule out of Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport. Effective Dec. 15-Jan.3 and Feb.16-April 3, Northwest will operate daily flights to Ft. Myers, FL, and Phoenix, and will...

United Express.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... UNITED EXPRESS has introduced three daily nonstop roundtrip flights between Chicago O'Hare and Ottawa, Ontario. Service began on Oct. 31, linking passengers in Canada's fourth largest city to United's hub.

Jetblue Airways.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... JETBLUE AIRWAYS, which debuted at JFK four years ago, has launched service from New York's LaGuardia Airport with seven daily flights to Ft. Lauderdale.

America West Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AMERICA WEST AIRLINES will initiate nonstop service between its Phoenix hub and Sioux Falls, SD, on Dec. 18. America West will be the only carrier offering nonstop service to Phoenix from Sioux Falls.

Independence Air.(Flight Log)(will launch nonstop service from Washington Dulles to Orlando and Tampa)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... INDEPENDENCE AIR will launch nonstop service from Washington Dulles to Orlando and Tampa beginning on Nov. 3. The flights will be operated by new 132-passenger A319 aircraft, which by next spring will feature video screens in every seat back,...

Scandinavian Airlines.(Airline Deals)(Scandinavian Airlines System's two for one in economy deal)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES (SAS) is offering a two for one in economy, for round-trip travel from Newark, Washington, D.C., Chicago O'Hare or Seattle to any SAS destination in Europe. Purchase a round-trip published H class fare and receive a free...

Jetblue.(Airline Deals)(JetBlue Airways Corp. launches daily nonstop service between JFK and Nassau, Bahamas)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... JETBLUE launches daily nonstop service between JFK and Nassau, Bahamas, on Nov.1, 2004, with an introductory fare of $99 one way. This fare is nonrefundable and requires instant purchase (purchase of the ticket the same day it is booked). As we...

British Airways.(Airline Deals)(First and Business Class Special Half Round-trip Fares)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BRITISH AIRWAYS is offering "First and Business Class Special Half Round-trip Fares." This is a round-trip promotional business class fare that allows you to travel one direction in first class and the other in business class, paying only the...

American Airlines.(Airline Deals)(Business and First Class Fares)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AMERICAN AIRLINES has matched British Airways' promotion, above, with what it calls simply "Business and First Class Fares." Travel dates and rules are basically the same, and American allows the use of British Airways and Aer Lingus between...

Independence Air.(Airline Deals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... INDEPENDENCE AIR, a recent entry into the low-fare arena, starts daily nonstop service from their base at Washington, D.C.'s Dulles airport to Orlando and Tampa on Nov. 3. 2004. One-way fares range between $79 and $175. (The competition has...

Hotel 71.(Hotel check: Chicago)(Hotel Review)
November 1, 2004... WHAT'S IT LIKE? Attracting big-name stars with its chic design, business travelers who demand convenience and tourists looking for a cheap rate, this blue-tinted glass and steel high-rise recently underwent a $20 million renovation. Music...

Mexicana Airlines economy class.(Flight check: New York JFK-Mexico City)
November 1, 2004... FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Mexicana Airlines is located in Terminal Four at JFK, which houses 30 airlines and is constantly busy, but well equipped to handle the masses. Mexicana had two economy class counters open, and I had a five-minute wait to...

Conrad Bangkok.(Hotel check: Bangkok)(Hotel Review)
November 1, 2004... WHAT'S IT LIKE? The designer touch is very evident, from the quirky glass ikat (a type of native weave) hanging on the front desk wall to the eye-catching lobby and restaurants that employ Thai/Asian elements rendered in an uber-stylish way....

Roman holiday: New York is home to a hearty profusion of Italian restaurants, from a trendy celeb haunt downtown to a century-old institution near Times Square.(Restaurants)(Directory)
November 1, 2004... Barbetta 321W. 46th St. tel. 212-246-9171 Founded in 1906, and housed in four late 19th-century townhouses built by the Astor family, Barbetta is the oldest Italian restaurant in New York. Its sign and exterior are partially...

Spending tips for hard-earned miles: earning miles is the easy part. Matthew J. Bennett offers pointers to make spending them less difficult.(Loyalty Programs)
November 1, 2004... Since frequent flyer programs were introduced in the early 1980s, travelers have flocked to them. Today, the airlines and their partners offer myriad ways to accumulate miles--but redeeming them for the trip you want can be challenging, as...

Superflights reshaping business travel? What do the new ultra-long-haul flights mean for business travelers and for the airlines?(Ultra-Long-Haul Flights)
November 1, 2004... Settle into business class on Singapore Airlines' new nonstop flight from New York City's Newark Liberty Airport to Singapore's Changi Airport and you can watch any of 60 movies on demand from your flat-reclining SpaceBed, plug in your laptop,...

The gas age: Peru's Camisea gas pipeline will create jobs and slash energy costs. But have economics trumped environmental and social concerns? Darren Foster reports from Lima.(Lima)
November 1, 2004... When Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo turned on the taps of the Camisea natural gas pipeline this past August, he was not only opening the country's largest-ever energy project, he was also, many Peruvians believed, turning a new page in...

LAN Airlines caters to business travelers with superior service standards and strong intra-South America network.(Advertising Feature)(Local Area Network)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... It's no secret t hat business-travel expenses are on the rise and that executives and corporate travel managers are under constant pressure from their companies to streamline services and cut costs. At the same time, they need to make important...

Talking the talk: whether you're conducting business in Asia-Pacific, Latin America or Europe, it pays to learn the lingo.(Language)
November 1, 2004... Many business travelers can rely on the lingua franca of business exchange--English--when visiting a country where they can't speak or understand a word of the language. But in doing so, are they missing a real opportunity? And how valuable is...

Oman for all reasons: Oman has traditionally relied on oil and gas revenues for much of its GDP, but a new strategy to develop tourism is set to change the economic landscape.(Oman)
November 1, 2004... The Omani economy expanded by around 8% in 2003, making it one of the most buoyant in the Middle East. Long dependent on crude oil and natural gas, a raft of new projects have been designed to help reduce crude oil's dominance of GDP from 41%...

Port of promise: with its European-style precincts and plentiful restaurants, Tianjin is Northern China's best-kept secret.(Tianjin)
November 1, 2004... "I'm mad about Tianjin," says former Sydney native and long-term resident of Tianjin, Michael Bateman. "Even if this is an industrial town, there's a lot to see and do here. We've got our own section of the Great Wall, and the Qing Tombs here...

Building for the future: long neglected as a tourist attraction, Valencia's ambitious new architecture has propelled the City of Oranges back into the limelight.(Valencia)
November 1, 2004... Shunted from the spotlight by its more savvy siblings Barcelona and Madrid, Valencia has long been seen as the Cinderella city that would never make it to the ball. Not anymore. By commissioning breathtaking new architecture and beating more...

Out of the past: Krakow is home to compelling historic attractions, low prices and an entrepreneurial spirit.(Poland)
November 1, 2004... Until recently, Krakow Poland's former capital city, remained relatively undiscovered. Air links have not been, for quite some time, comprehensive. During the summer LOT Polish airlines flies nonstop to Krakow from both Chicago and New York; in...

Golfing around Paris: Paris' Ile de France region is blessed with an array of golf ranges located in beautiful, historic grounds--all within an hour of the capital.
November 1, 2004... CELY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Where is it? 28 miles south of Paris, about 9 miles from Fontainebleu. What's it like? The approach is through an underground parking garage, with direct access to an atrium-style glass clubhouse. The...

4 hours in Chicago: Mary Beth Hubbard travels from the Chicago River to the top of one of the Windy City's tallest buildings, enjoying art, culture and a cocktail or two along the way.
November 1, 2004... [1] Chicago from the Lake Chicago is home to the world's first skyscraper, and is the self-proclaimed birthplace of modern architecture (as well as Blues and the Ferris wheel). The downtown area of the city is known as The Loop, and the...

Globetrotter.(Good-to-Go Gift Guide; cards from Starwood Hotels )
November 1, 2004... A practical gift for the business traveler who has it all, gift cards from Starwood Hotels can be used at more than 750 Starwood hotels and resorts around the globe. Cards can be put toward the bill or used in any hotel outlet, so you can get a...

Get a grip.(Good-to-Go Gift Guide; 3M Golf Glove with Greptile Grip)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Golfers who don't have time for clinics and lessons now have a new way to improve their game: the 3M Golf Glove with Greptile Grip, Made of Cabretta leather, the glove features a unique gripping material that allows for a sturdier hold on the...

Talk to me.(Good-to-Go Gift Guide; Sony Ericsson P910a smart phone)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Tired of lugging around loads of gadgets when traveling? The Sony Ericsson P910a multifunction smart phone, based on a Symbian 7.0 operating system, is a combined global phone, PDA, and digital camera with video. offering e-mail and...

Holiday spirits.(Good-to-Go Gift Guide; Dewar's Signature premium scotch )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Add some spirit to your holiday season with Dewar's Signature. a premium scotch hand-blended by Dewar's master blender, Tom Aiken. Aiken has fused individually aged single malt and grain whiskies from every distilling region in Scotland to...

Bubblicious.(Good-to-Go Gift Guide; tote)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... This tote from Tumi features a bubble pattern embroidered on soft wool fabric with leather trim and a detachable zippered pouch. For work or for fun, the Bubbles bag comes in two sizes and three color patterns-black with ivory; charcoal with...

Fresh faced.(Good-to-Go Gift Guide)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Stressful days in the office and late nights out on the town can take a toll on his skin, but help is on the way with Nickers three new shaker sets: New Year's Hangover, Solving the Dehydration Dilemma and The Boy Who Needs to Clean Up His...

Just in case.(Good-to-Go Gift Guide; fragrance vials for travel)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Forget unprotected glass fragrance vials for travel. The rugged cylindrical container for these Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle spray vials is carved out of an aluminum block, then laser engraved and anodized. Throw it in your bag without...

Sleep tight.(Good-to-Go Gift Guide; HREADCOUNTzzz sleepwear)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Want to enjoy the comfort and luxury of high-thread-count bedding no matter where you're sleeping? THREADCOUNTzzz, an ultra-high-thread-count 100 percent Egyptian cotton line of sleepwear, offers just that, New for the holiday season,...

Atlanta: Georgia's capital has only one airport, but it's the country's busiest--and is surprisingly painless to get to.(On Track)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ATL) WEB SITE: www atlanta-akport.com AIRPORT NUMBER: 404-530-7300, 800-897-1910 LOST AND FOUND: 404-530-2100, ext. 100 AIRPORT PARKING: 404-530-6725 LOCATION: 10 miles...

The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston.(Offer Of The Month)
November 1, 2004... The Fairmont Copley Plaza has been a symbol of Boston's elegance and hospitality since 1912. Now, with the completion of a $34 million renovation and restoration, Boston's "Grande Dame" shines brighter than ever. Each of the hotel's 383 guest...

The Washington Jefferson Hotel, NYC.(Privilege Club)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Stylish, sophisticated and affordable, New York's Washington Jefferson Hotel is located in west Midtown Manhattan. To mark the property's centennial this year, the Washington Jefferson has unveiled refurbished guest rooms, lobby, and public...

Bend it.(Privilege Club)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... When traveling to a new city, a good, sturdy map can be your best friend-you don't want one that will fall to pieces after a few days' use. Throw out your tattered old paper map and pick up an Insight FlexiMap, which provides a detailed street...

Rustic mountain high: Chris Pritchard reveals where Sydney-siders disappear to on the weekends.(Great escape: Blue Mountains, New South Wales)
November 1, 2004... City people head west from Sydney to the Blue Mountains for short escapes--a destination also on most foreign visitors' itineraries. Expect rugged countryside, scenic lookouts and deep eucalyptus-forested valleys with temperatures usually a few...