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SKYGUIDE E-ALERT 01/05/04
Welcome to SKYGUIDE E-ALERT for the week of January 5, the weekly e-mail of essential business travel news!
To subscribe to the e-Alert, click here.
Mesaba/Northwest Airlink pilots prepare for walkout this week
United flyers get better elite bonuses in 2004
Delta Connection schedules at DFW face overhaul
New reality TV show goes behind the scenes at an airline
AirTran grounds its last DC-9
U.S. starts security crackdown on inbound foreign flights
Many foreign arrivals now being photographed and fingerprinted
Deals and special offers for business travelers
AIRLINES
Mesaba/Northwest Airlink pilots prepare for walkout this week
Travelers on Mesaba Airlines, which operates as Northwest Airlink and Northwest Jet Airlink, should keep an eye on the news this week as the Mesaba pilots' union gets ready to walk off the job at 11:01 p.m. January 9 (Friday). Mesaba flies to 112 cities in 30 states and Canada from Northwest hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Memphis. The pilots have recently been conducting "informational picketing" at the hub airports. The union, representing 844 pilots, is continuing to negotiate for a new contract as the clock ticks down.
United flyers get better elite bonuses in 2004
United Airlines Mileage Plus members are the latest beneficiaries of largesse in the new year. United said last week that members who buy first class, business class or unrestricted economy (Y,B) fares will henceforth get elite-qualifying credit for 150 percent of their miles and segments. The redeemdable miles earned will remain at 100 percent for full-fare economy, 125 percent for business class and 150 percent for first class. The net effect will be to make it easier to reach elite qualifying levels for 2005. The new bonus structure also applies for flights on US Airways flights and Lufthansa's transatlantic service.
Delta Connection schedules at DFW face overhaul
Delta Air Lines said last week that it intends to overhaul Delta Connection schedules at Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport in February and March, affecting service provided by partners Atlantic Southeast, Chautauqua and SkyWest. Columbus, Ohio and Louisville, Ky. will lose non-stop service to DFW, but Delta Connection will increase frequencies between DFW and Alexandria, La.; Colorado Springs; El Paso; Houston; Lexington, Ky.; Oklahoma City; and Tulsa.
New reality TV show goes behind the scenes at an airline
How do you tell an oversized passenger that he has to buy two tickets because he won't fit into a regular seat? Cable TV's A&E Network will let you see what it's really like to work at an airline starting Monday (January 5), when it debuts a new reality show called "Airline." Film crews went to Chicago Midway and Los Angeles International, where Southwest Airlines gave them access to its daily operations. The programs reportedly will include all sorts of odd encounters with various passengers and their idiosyncrasies and problems. Check local listings.
AirTran grounds its last DC-9
AirTran Airways' last remaining DC-9 will be retired after a flight today (January 5) from Atlanta to Orlando and back. AirTran has been flying DC-9s since it started business in 1993. The airline is now the world's largest operator of the Boeing 717, with a fleet of 73. This year, it will start taking delivery of new 737s.
FAA/SECURITY
U.S. starts security crackdown on inbound foreign flights
As part of its latest Level Orange terror alert, the U.S. government has become downright jittery about inbound flights operated by foreign airlines -- to the point where some are being delayed, cancelled or even diverted in midair.
Citing intelligence of a credible threat, the U.S. asked France over Christmas week to cancel a few Air France Paris-Los Angeles flights, which it did. Early last week, the U.S. issued notice that it expects foreign governments and their airlines to put armed sky marshals on certain U.S.-bound flights that the U.S. deems to be threatening, based on intelligence data. Last week, some British Airways flights into Washington Dulles were delayed or scratched; an AeroMexico flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles was denied landing rights, and two others were cancelled; and an Air France flight from New York to Paris was diverted to Newfoundland, reportedly over concerns about its checked baggage. What's more, some inbound flights were escorted by U.S. military jets to make sure they didn't stray off course.
Intelligence officials have interviewed scores of passengers -- including several on a BA flight that was forced to sit on the tarmac at Dulles for hours before passengers could get off -- but there was no word of any arrests or detentions. By week's end, some foreign governments and media pundits were questioning the value of the U.S. intelligence that led to the cancellations, and wondering whether security officials were overreacting.
Many foreign arrivals now being photographed and fingerprinted
Effective Monday (January 5), foreign visitors arriving in the United States will have their photos and fingerprints taken upon entry, unless they are from 28 nations -- mostly in Europe -- whose citizens don't need visas to come to the U.S.Ê The new rules are part of the government's increasingly tough crackdown on terrorism. The fingerprints of each visitor -- which will be obtained digitally, without the traditionally messy inking procedure -- will be instantly checked against databases of criminals and known terrorists. The new entry requirements have created an outcry not only among foreign nations, but also in the U.S. travel and tourism industry, which expects a drop-off in foreign visitors as a result. Brazil has already retaliated, and now requires U.S. visitors there to go through the same procedure when they arrive.
AIR ROUTES
ATLANTA (ATL). Effective January 7, Delta will increase service between Atlanta and Liberia, Costa Rica from three flights a week to five.
BOSTON (BOS). Low-cost JetBlue Airways makes its move into Boston this week, beginning daily non-stop service January 7 to Denver, Orlando and Tampa, and increasing Tampa and Orlando frequencies to two a day January 8.
CINCINNATI (CVG). On January 8, Delta Connection/Comair will add a third daily roundtrip between Cincinnati and Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport at Bentonville.
DENVER (DEN). Frontier Airlines has taken on a new affiliate to operate its Frontier JetExpress service. Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, last week started flying under the Frontier JetExpress banner, replacing Mesa Airlines.
LAS VEGAS (LAS). America West Airlines will expand its Las Vegas schedules January 7, adding a ninth daily flight to Los Angeles; a second to Ontario, Calif.; a second to Portland, Ore.; a second to Reno; a third to Oakland; a third to Sacramento; and an 11th to Phoenix.
MIAMI (MIA). American Eagle on January 6 will launch non-stop service between Miami and Richmond, with one daily regional jet roundtrip.
SALT LAKE CITY (SLC). Delta on January 7 will begin new non-stop service between Salt Lake City and Detroit, with two daily roundtrips. On the same date, Delta will begin to overhaul its schedules at SLC, reducing mainline service from 115 flights a day to 95, but boosting Delta Connection service from 178 flights a day to 206 by February. The overall plan includes additional frequencies to 17 cities, and a reduction in daily connecting banks from nine to eight.
THIS WEEK'S DEALS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS
Members of Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan can earn double miles from now through March 15 on flights of Alaska, Horizon Air, and partners American and American Eagle. To get the bonus, members have to register for the promotion at www.alaskaair.com.
Sofitel Hotels (800-763-4835; www.sofitel.com) is offering winter savings of up to 50 percent and free breakfast now through March 14. Sample nightly rates in the Winter Getaway Invitations program include $169 in Chicago, $135 in Minneapolis, $249 in New York, and $209 in Washington. The specials apply in Sofitel properties worldwide.
Seattle's Mayflower Park Hotel (800-426-5100; www.mayflowerpark.com) has rolled out special SuperSaver rates starting at $129, single or double occupancy, from now through March 31. Suites go for $169.
For links to other websites where you can search for bargains, click here: www.skyguideonline.com/reference/deals.html
By Jim Glab
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