I n  T h i s  I s s u e

Happy Holidays From All of Us At A&I Travel Service


New passport rules are about to get even stricter

What happens if frequent-flier plans fly solo?

Southwest Airlines Announces New "Business Select" Service

AirTran to pick up some of Frontier's slack in Memphis

JetBlue to offer some in-flight Wi-Fi for e-mail, messaging

Most Upscale Hotels Maintain Internet Access Fees

New Immigration Procedure in Japan

Need To Get From Newark  Liberty International Airport to Manhattan in 8 Minutes?

Airline food: Survey lauds United, slams Northwest

DisneyWorld
On Sale

 


 

Articles of Interest
New passport rules are about to get even stricter
Source: USA Today
Gadabouts who still haven't gotten around to getting a passport, take note: Starting Jan. 31, adult travelers re-entering the USA by land or via ferry or small boat must carry either a passport or a government-issued photo ID plus proof of citizenship such as a birth or naturalization certificate. Children 18 and younger need only proof of citizenship. Cruise passengers are officially exempt, though cruise lines encourage passport use and already require photo ID and proof of citizenship. Click Here to continue.

What happens if frequent-flier plans fly solo?
Source: MarketWatch
Loyal travelers won't lose miles but they likely face other hurdles.
If you're an airline customer sitting on tens of thousands of frequent-flier miles, rest assured. Any spin-off of a carrier's loyalty program won't result in the evaporation of your next free trip to Europe. "The concern should not be that you should lose them," said Tim Winship, editor-at-large for SmarterTravel.com. "The value of these programs depends on consumers continuing to buy and redeem miles." Click Here to continue.

 

Airline News
Southwest Airlines Announces New "Business Select" Service
Source: Southwest Airlines
The new service will offer business class travelers first rights to board the company's planes for a fee ranging between $10 and $30 extra per ticket. Flyers who pay up also will receive extra credit for the flight through the airline's reward program and a free cocktail. The airline also has streamlined its site to reflect the changes. Instead of having multiple categories from which to choose, Southwest has bundled its fares into three major types: Business Select, Business and Wanna Get Away, the moniker for its discounted, more restricted fares. Another change in the airline's passenger system allows frequent-flyer members who have flown 32 one-way flights or 16 round trips in the past 12 months to board flights first along with Business Select customers.

AirTran to pick up some of Frontier's slack in Memphis
Source: USA Today
AirTran is adding flights in Memphis in a move that will help replace some of the flights the city will lose as Frontier cuts back its service there. Frontier, after an attempt at growing its presence in Memphis, announced earlier this month that it would drop three of the four routes it flies out of the city. Frontier will keep service to its Denver hub, but will drop routes to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Las Vegas. That's where AirTran comes in, with the airline saying it will pick up routes from Memphis to both Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, according to The Memphis Commercial Appeal. AirTran will begin weekend service to both cities on Jan. 11 before ramping up flights in time for spring break. Click Here to continue.

JetBlue to offer some in-flight Wi-Fi for e-mail, messaging
Source: USA Today
Discounter JetBlue Airways (JBLU) will begin offering on Dec. 11 limited in-flight broadband Wi-Fi service, making it the first U.S. carrier to offer passengers an Internet connection.
The free service lets passengers send and receive e-mail or instant messaging on BlackBerrys and laptop computers. JetBlue's service will start small: just one Airbus A320. But the airline plans to roll it out to the rest of its fleet on an undetermined schedule. As owner of the wireless spectrum on which the system operates, JetBlue also plans to sell the service to competitors. Click Here to continue.


 

 

 

 

Hotel News

Most Upscale Hotels Maintain Internet Access Fees
Source: BTNonline
Travel managers and analysts see little shift on the horizon in upscale hotels charging for in-room Internet access, although reward programs, public area Internet access and business travelers' personal communication devices increasingly are mitigating that charge.

On a pure availability basis, the news is good for travel managers who want to ensure that Internet access—an amenity many hoteliers have said is the top demand from their corporate customers—is a part of their hotel programs. A study last year by the American Hotel & Lodging Association indicated that 82 percent of all hotel rooms had wireless capabilities, a growth from 35 percent in 2004, and more than 95 percent of hotels in the midprice tier and higher had some form of high-speed Internet access (BTN, Aug. 14, 2006).

PricewaterhouseCoopers hospitality and leisure group principal Bjorn Hanson said that it's largely low-tier and independent properties that lack the amenity, and it's nearly ubiquitous among branded hotels.

 
 

Did You Know?

New Immigration Procedure in Japan
Source: Continental Airlines

Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, foreign nationals arriving into Japanese airports will be required to undergo additional screening according to immigration procedures. Upon arrival into the airport, foreign visitors will be instructed to scan their index fingers and immigration agents will photograph each person to obtain a facial photograph. Travelers should be advised to allow extra time for this new immigration procedure in Japan.

Need To Get From Newark  Liberty International Airport to Manhattan in 8 Minutes?
Source: Continental Airlines
Partnering with US Helicopter, Continental Airlines customers can save time and enjoy 8-minute shuttle service between Manhattan and Newark Liberty International Airport. Flights are available between Liberty International and the Downtown Manhattan heliport and the East 34th Street heliport. Services are available Monday through Friday form 7:15 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. and operate with executive style, dual engine , two pilot, eight passenger Sikorsky S76 helicopters with leather interiors. Click Here to continue.

Airline food: Survey lauds United, slams Northwest
Source: USA Today
United has the best buy-on-board meal options while Northwest and Southwest have the worst. That's according to the "second annual" Airline Snacking and Onboard Food Survey from Dietdetective.com. Using a 5-star scale, the group gave United the best mark with 4½ stars. "The health and fitness network put United at the top and lauded the airline for its variety and healthful options," writes the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Click Here to continue.

Travel & Leisure

 
DisneyWorld is on sale!!

Now is the time to book your Spring Break or Summer vacation.

The specials do not last long so be sure and give Rhonda McDowell a call at
901-291-1310 or e-mail her at rhonda@aitvl.com.
 

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