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| Vol. 5 | Issue 7 | February 13, 2007 |    |
Two airlines last week announced plans to charge travelers for checking more
than
one piece of baggage, the most noteworthy of which is British Airways.
While passengers departing from or returning to the United States will still
be allowed two checked bags, starting Feb. 13 economy-class passengers on many
other international routes will have to pay $236 for every extra piece of
luggage, each way. Short-haul passengers in coach will also have to pay for more
than one bag — $59 on domestic flights, and $118 to continental European
destinations.
Because the new pricing replaces excess baggage charges by weight, some passengers may save money, and those with special needs or disabilities can request an exemption. Passengers traveling in premium economy can bring two bags free; business-class and first-class travelers are allowed two bags on short-haul flights and three checked bags on longer routes. Those who have through bookings on carriers with more generous baggage allowances are also exempt.
British Airways has also reduced the maximum allowable weight per bag to 51 pounds (23 kg), from 71 pounds (32 kg), but will not penalize travelers whose bags exceed the new weight limit until September.
Meanwhile, discount carrier Spirit has become the first U.S. airline to institute
charges for more than one checked bag. Spirit will now charge $10 to check
a second bag, and $100 for each additional bag beyond two. Spirit’s approach
is a bit closer to that instituted by Air Canada last fall, when that airline
introduced an “a la carte” fare system that includes a $5 discount
off tickets for travelers who agree not to check more than one bag. Rumors
have it that
several U.S. airlines are considering a similar a la carte price structure,
which is considerably more consumer-friendly than the British Airways plan.
That’s especially important in these days of heightened carry-on security.
Last August, 41.9 perecent of respondents to an eFlyer poll said they would
check more luggage in light of stricter carry-on regulations. 
When it opened last September to much fanfare, Suvarnabhumi International (BKK) was intended to bring glory to Thailand. Less than six months later, it faces closure due to various problems including cracked runways. The Thailand government’s airports board is committing $1.5 million to reopen Don Muang airport, the former Bangkok International, which was closed when Suvarnabhumi opened. A plan calls for Don Muang to reopen within 45 days, although many in Thailand question whether the government can tender and assign contracts for ground services and shops within that timeframe.
Current plans
call for both airports to operate simultaneously, which could complicate
connections; plans for ground linkage are in the early stages. Some
airlines have called for a complete temporary shutdown of Suvarnabhumi
to hasten repairs. Disruptions of traffic while the airport has attempted
to repair cracks, which are said to affect 5 percent of runway surfaces,
have
caused flight delays and rerouting. Four flights ran so low
on fuel while circling that they had to be rerouted to a military airport
for refueling. Airlines that have expressed strong interest in returning to
Don
Muang include Thai Airways, Thai Air Asia and Nok Air.
“Men are from Mars, women are from Venus” may have become a cliché,
but a new study shows that different genders do have different feelings about
travel here on Earth. A survey conducted for Amadeus by Leflein Associates
of 500 men and 500 women who have traveled by air within the last year found
that women evidence more signs of travel stress. Having to rush to make a flight
connection worries more women (63 percent) than men (47 percent). Women get
more upset about lost luggage (42 percent, vs. 32 percent of men), and complain
more about flight delays (58 percent, vs. 52 percent of men). On the other
hand, both sexes are equally likely to take out their frustrations on a gate
agent or ticket agent (19 percent of men and 18 percent of women).
If you’ve ever wanted to break the ice with a stranger at a hotel
bar but haven’t had the words to make it happen, Sofitel now has them
for you — straight
up. All the Sofitel Hotels & Resorts in the United States are now offering “martini-grams” — $12
color-coded cocktails that come with a message. The vanilla martini says, “Let’s
be friends;” the pink martini says, “You’re cute;” and
the “red hot passion” French martini says, “I’m lusting
for you.”
Mandarin
Oriental Miami is
extending its spa and fitness center into a new series of guestrooms. Sixteen
rooms on the sixth floor of the luxury hotel have been redone and christened “spa
lifestyle rooms.” The rooms have air purification systems, undergo special
hypoallergenic cleaning processes, and come with dumbbell racks, wellness balls,
yoga mats and Pilates straps. There are several fitness-themed TV channels
available 24 hours offering yoga, Pilates and body-sculpting training videos,
plus guided relaxation for sleep. Private training and meditation is available
in-room or in the gym or spa. Guests in the spa lifestyle rooms also get water
pillows or memory-foam pillows and a free lifestyle consultation. Rates start
at $735 a night. For a review
of the hotel’s spa, see the January issue of Global
Traveler.
Delta Air Lines is going the extra mile, electronically, for its SkyMiles
Medallion-level members. A new system enters an automatic upgrade request for
Medallion members whenever they make an eligible reservation, and notifies
them of their upgrade status via email, text message or voicemail. Passengers
who haven’t received upgrades by the time they arrive at the airport
are automatically put on the upgrade-standby list at the gate without having
to initiate the request.
US Airways, First Class, PHL-FLL/MIA-PHL
www.usairways.com
I realized that the quickest way to reach my desired status level in US Airways’ Dividend Miles program was to bite the bullet and buy a round-trip first class ticket, so that’s what I did for a recent trip to southern Florida out of my home airport, Philadelphia International (PHL). With time to spare for a change, and my boarding pass already printed out, I passed on my usual stop at the US Airways Club for a nice lunch at Cibo Bistro & Wine Bar in Concourse B.
Twenty minutes before the final boarding call, I made my way to the gate and onto the plane with a minimum of drama. I was seated next to a silent gentleman, which was perfect, allowing me to complete some much-needed work on my laptop. The flight attendants passed around drinks and a snack basket, the flight went like clockwork, and in no time we were in Fort Lauderdale.
At Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL), the normally calm and sleepy terminal was all abuzz with Super Bowl travelers collecting their luggage. My priority first class tags seemed to have no meaning, as my bags were nearly the last to come out on the belt. I got a ride from fellow travelers who flew in early. Their minivan pulled up, Philadelphia Eagles magnetic stickers blazing on its side, among the stretch limos. I hoped they knew our home team hadn’t made the finals, but I appreciated the sentiment.
It was a long ride in traffic to my hotel, which turned out to be close to Miami International Airport (MIA). I decided it made sense to switch my return flight from FLL to MIA. It took 35 minutes and $120 in change fees to do so. Since I was already paying full freight for first class, I was surprised that US Airways would charge a fee and recalculate on such profitable ticket. It seems that premium travelers get no leeway from this carrier when it comes to the bottom line.
For the return, the MIA redcap took good care of me and my golf clubs, and security lines were virtually nonexistent. Boarding was swift and easy, and the flight attendant in first class was helpful in finding appropriate room for my carry-on luggage. Since we were all so eager to get back to the below-freezing weather waiting for us in Philadelphia, the flight arrived 20 minutes early and we were quickly shuttled to our gate. This time, the priority luggage tags worked and my luggage was among the first to arrive.
Plus, my plan worked; I now officially have Preferred Gold status. I look forward to seeing whether or not they’ll treat me any differently.
Score: ••••• Francis X.
Gallagher
You have until Thursday, Feb. 15, to take advantage of a special
offer from Virgin Atlantic that gives a substantial discount off
Upper Class fares from eight U.S. gateway cities to London (LHR) this summer.
Special one-way fares that are just over half the normal fare are being offered
on specific flights out of each city; for example, $1,116 instead of $2,024
out of New York’s JFK. The discounts are also available from Boston (BOS),
Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington
(IAD). Tickets are for use between July 1 and Sept. 2, must be purchased round-trip,
and require a Saturday night stay. The sale fares include the air carrier security
and fuel charges, but not the airport taxes, duties and security charges of
about $150. Complimentary chauffeur service, where available,
is not included at these prices; tickets are nonrefundable, and changes cost
$400.
Millennium Hotels and Resorts in 12 cities that have Macy’s department
stores (and one that doesn’t) are offering a Macy’s
Millennium Shopping Package through March 31. Guests who book the package
get a Macy’s Savings Pass good for 11 percent off certain merchandise,
plus a $25 gift card good for any Macy’s. Those staying at the Millennium
Anchorage, where there is no Macy’s, can participate and use their benefits
in other states. Rates are per night and vary by hotel.
Cathy Pacific Airways is running a contest for the month of February to promote
its All Asia Pass, which allows travel between five North American cities,
Hong Kong, and 22 other Asian destinations for about $3,000. Visit the contest
page to play a game for a
chance to win one of 500 instant prizes or two All-Asia Passes. You must subscribe
to Cathay’s eNews and get a password in order to enter the contest.
If you’re searching for fresh powder and money is no object, The
Mountain Lodge in Telluride,
Colo. has a deluxe deal for you. Its “Soar in Style” package
costs $14,017 per person per night and includes private round-trip jet service
from your home airport, chauffeured limousine to and from airports, four nights’ lodging
in a slopeside cabin with fireplace, dinner prepared in your cabin by a personal
chef each evening and lunch prepared wherever the day takes you, Champagne,
pastries, fruit and flowers, one day of helicopter skiing in the San Juan Mountains,
one day’s skiing with private guide on Telluride, one day’s guided
snowmobile tour to Dunton Hot Springs for a spa treatment and gourmet lunch,
and a day of dogsledding. You’ll leave with parting gifts that include
skis or a snowboard. The package can be booked online or by calling 866 368
6867; use promotion code “SOAR.” You can add a third and fourth
person to the package for $9,485 each.
Buy a qualifying business-class ticket on American Airlines for travel between
New York (JFK) and London (LHR) until March 31 and you can be
upgraded to first class for free. Qualifying tickets carry fare
code DUP. Travel must originate in New York; tickets can be either one-way
or round-trip.
