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Volume 6, Issue 22, June 4, 2008 |
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There’s been lots of publicity these days about airline cutbacks in routes and flight frequency. For example, in the last week not only did Silverjet shut down, but American Airlines announced it will cancel its service to Stansted (STN) from New York (JFK) effective July 2. But here’s the other side of the story: There’s still plenty of demand for more international seats, and airlines willing to meet it.
Korean Air on Monday began nonstop flights between Los Angeles (LAX) and Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU) — three-class service using Boeing 777-200 aircraft. Flights are thrice weekly, departing LAX on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and returning on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Delta Air Lines announced two new international routes. On Sunday it began flying between JFK and Georgetown, Guyana (GEO) with three nonstop flights a week. The airline said that it will begin nonstop service three days a week between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) and Kuwait City (KWI) on Nov. 7. Delta will also increase its flights between Atlanta and Dubai (DXB) from six to seven times a week in October.
Air One, an Italian carrier, is now flying nonstop from both Boston (BOS) and Chicago (ORD) to Milan (MXP), even offering introductory fares for $799 round trip for purchase through June 13. Connections onward to Rome (FCO), Lamezia (SUF), and Palermo (PMO) are available, and Naples (NAP) will be added to the connecting-route system on June 14. 
Last week, we wrote about Northwest Airlines’ new trial of electronic boarding passes. This is a fast-growing trend. Last year Continental began a paperless boarding pass program at Houston (IAH) that sends bar codes to cell phones and PDAs for use at security scanners and gates. Continental has just expanded the program to Newark Liberty (EWR), Boston (BOS) and Washington National (DCA), for domestic flights. And BWI has also started a test of the paper-free system at for passengers departing London Heathrow (LHR) for Edinburgh (EDI), Manchester (MAN) and Belfast City (BHD), and for departing passengers at BHD.
Let’s give some credit where credit is due. Recently United Airlines, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, established a contribution of up to 5 million miles at 500 miles per donation for those who went to the Red Cross site and donated at least $50 to the China Earthquake Relief Fund. With what the airline calls the “overwhelming support” of its customers, more than 10,000 donations were made in the first day the site went up. As a result, there are no more bonus miles, but you can still go to the site to make a donation.
To stay in metro Washington D.C. and have an amazing view of national monuments at the same time, try staying on the banks of the Potomac on the Maryland side. Westin has just opened a new hotel, the Westin National Harbor, which may look like a brown factory from its inland-facing side but saves its glass-walled architectural splendor for the river, making it the only waterfront hotel in the D.C. area. The hotel has two restaurants, both with a view: the Lobby Bar for light snacks, and Sauciety, an American grill.
If you’re a serious golfer, here’s an opportunity that may be hard to resist: a chance to play tournament golf at four of Ireland’s premier golf courses. The First Annual Thomond Challenge is open to anyone who books a special package with Owenoak International. Four-person teams will play a friendly 72-hole tournament (two-best-ball format) of 18 holes each at Adare (home of the Irish Open), Ballybunion’s Old Course, Doonbeg and Lahinch. The tournament price of $2,975 per person (based on four people traveling together) includes five nights in the Villas at Adare Manor (four private bedrooms per villa); breakfast daily; several dinner events; transfers; taxes and service charges; and all golf-related costs. Various activities, including spa treatments, are available to non-golfers. Dates for the tournament package are Oct. 11-16.
Here’s a sensible idea: Go online before you travel, tell your hotel what you need, and have it waiting on arrival. Affinia Hotels, which has such properties as the executive-suite Affinia 50 in New York and the new Affinia Chicago, has just introduced My Affinia, where guests can build a profile indicating what amenities or extras they want. Options include a fitness kit with hand weights, yoga mat and workout bands; a walking kit with iPod Nano, pedometer and city walking guide; a BYOB kit with a wine carrier and picnic blanket; your choice from a menu of six different pillows; cellphone or laptop chargers; grooming options including hair dryer diffusers and nail polish remover; a gel eye mask; an acoustic guitar, and a golf putter.
The Columbus, A Renaissance Hotel
50 North Third Street
Columbus , OH 43215
tel 614 228 5050
www.renaissancecolumbus.com
The Columbus Hotel has had a facelift--an expensive $15 million makeover that has re-energized the downtown property with a chic and sassy look. On the Friday night we walked into the lobby of the hotel, techno-pop music blasted from the speakers. A wall of square glass tiles glowed on the wall behind the mahogany front desk as a new staff member was being trained on the computer. Adjacent to the lobby is Bar 41, where patrons sip cocktails on bright red couches beside a blazing fire: urban lodge meets subdued nightclub.
We caught the elevator and emerged in a colorful hallway with a geometric-patterned carpet that shouted, “Nothing about this hotel is old.” Our seventh-floor guestroom had beige carpet with purple and red stripes. The queen-size beds were covered in a white down comforters with gold and red throws. The headboards were upholstered in a burlap-looking fabric that matched the bedskirts. The surface of the work desk was nearly four feet long and made of curved polished green glass. The rolling chair was a lemon-grass yellow. Beside the bed was a solid red chair. The bedside table had a lamp that looked as if it were made from discarded CD cases, stacked on top of one another. A silver surge protector was conveniently placed on the table beside an alarm clock/CD player.
The entrance to the bathroom was hampered by the placement of a mini fridge and an accordion-folding door. The angled sink had a granite countertop. The toilet is positioned less than two feet from the floor — a design decision that visually opens the small space. Some guests (those with bad knees or backs) might find the height of the facilities awkward.
There was nothing awkward about the 24-hour health club located on the fourth floor. The workout room’s glass wall gives guests a view of the rooftop swimming pool while they use the treadmills, dumbbells, and elliptical machines. It also has a bank of televisions providing an alternate view, and a sauna tucked back in the corner.
Too tired to explore the nearby attractions of downtown Columbus, we sank into the down-filled pillows, ordering room service and a 7 a.m. wake-up call.
Score: ••••• Barbara & Jim Twardowski
American Airlines began flying nonstop between Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) and Kingston, Jamaica (KIN) on June 1, and to celebrate is offering a special fare of $59 each way for travel anytime until Dec.18, as long as you book by June 15. (Taxes and fees bring the total fare to about $208, which is still a really good deal.) There are no restrictions or blackout days, but a two-day minimum stay is required.
Hotels don’t generally celebrate recent upgrades by cutting rates, but The Shilla Hotel in Seoul, one of the Leading Hotels of the World, has a new summer package to let visitors experience its amenities this summer for less. Its Leading Offers package costs $219 for deluxe rooms and $239 for “grand deluxe” rooms, which represents up to 35 percent off the usual rates. Breakfast is included, too.
Here’s a way to stretch your T&E budget: the new Seattle TourSaver coupon book. For $79.95, you get two-for-one pricing on the classic Tillicum Village salmon bake cruise; Kenmore seaplane flightseeing; high-speed ferry from Pier 69 to the San Juan Islands; dinner cruise; whale-watching cruise; tour of the Seattle Mariners Safeco Field, and more. It’s also a good way to bring along a friend or family member without having to account for additional expenses.
Here’s a sweepstakes you can enter daily until June 30 for a chance to win a trip to Paris. The Dial – National Treasure Giveaway is awarding one round trip to Paris on Northwest Airlines for two, with five nights’ hotel and $3,000 in spending money. Sixty prizes of a two-DVD set of the National Treasure movies and 600 coupons for Dial soap will also be awarded.
Not only are Fairmont Hotels worldwide offering special Only One Way summer rates but there are a variety of bonuses and benefits that go along with them. For example, you can earn triple miles in your choice of the Aeroplan, AAdvantage, Alaska Mileage Plan, Mileage Plus, Miles & More, Asia Miles, KrisFlyer or Skywards loyalty programs. Or, if you pay by American Express card for at least two consecutive nights, you can opt for a $50 food and beverage credit per night. Members of Fairmont’s own loyalty program, President’s Club, who book a minimum two-night stay will also get free breakfast. Sample One Way rates are: Fairmont Heliopolis Cairo, $140; Fairmont Washington D.C., $199.
