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Volume 6, Issue 31, August 6, 2008 |
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Virgin Galactic’s quest to launch the world’s first private space access system took a giant step forward with last week’s rollout of WhiteKnightTwo. The sleek WK2 is a carrier aircraft developed to ferry SpaceShipTwo into orbit, along with private astronauts, science packages and payload on the first stage of the Virgin Galactic sub-orbital space experience.
More than 100 fully-signed-up future Virgin Galactic astronauts, VIPS and media were flown to the Mojave Air and Spaceport in California for the unveiling. The future astronauts were also able to glimpse, but not see up close, the heavily shrouded and partially completed SpaceShipTwo, in its hangar at the Scaled Composites facility.
Virgin Founder, Sir Richard Branson, and SpaceShipOne designer, Burt Rutan, pulled back the hangar doors to reveal the new WK2 and christened the vessel “EVE” in honor of Branson’s mother, who then performed the official naming ceremony. TheWK2, which is reportedly the world’s largest all-carbon composite aircraft boasts a wingspan of 140 feet.
The WK2 aircraft is in the middle of an extensive test program. It’s currently undergoing ground tests and expected to take its first flight this fall. SpaceShipTwo is awaiting its own rollout in 2009, and expected to be carried as a payload on WK2 for the first time next year.
The luxury travel network Virtuoso is the only accredited space agent in North America and Latin America authorized to sell Virgin Galactic’s flights. Virtuoso’s CEO Matthew D. Upchurch, who attended the rollout, is a Virgin Galactic “founder” and will be one of the first 100 passengers to take the launch into sub-orbital space. A lottery system will determine the future Virgin Galactic astronauts’ official launch dates. 
Beginning in September, Delta Air Lines will launch a new Award Travel structure to provide SkyMiles members greater flexibility and more options when redeeming miles, including the ability to again book the last seat on a flight using miles and three redemption tiers for Award Travel within the continental United States, Alaska and Canada to destinations worldwide.
Tiers will start at 25,000, 40,000 and 60,000 miles round-trip rather than the two current Award levels starting at 25,000 and 50,000 miles for travel within continental United States, Alaska and Canada. Customers will have access to multiple Award Travel options including last-seat Award availability and will continue to be able to combine Economy, First and Business cabins, and dates at various mileage levels.
Frontier Airlines is changing its standby policies. Customers changing to a different flight the same day of their scheduled flight will receive a confirmed seat on the new flight, if available. But, they will be charged a fee for the difference, if any, between their original fare and the current price of the new flight. Frontier’s Early Returns Summit members may change their flight for a confirmed seat on an alternative flight anytime on the day of travel, free of charge.
Korean Air, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have entered into a codeshare agreement and an expanded frequent flier partnership that allows members to earn and redeem miles in either the Korean Air or the Alaska Airlines frequent flyer programs. Korean Air has West Coast gateways in Seattle (SEA), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). The agreement started Aug.1 and customers can begin earning and redeeming miles starting Sept. 3.
OpenSkies will offer daily service between Amsterdam (AMS) and New York (JFK) beginning Oct. 15. Tickets are on sale now. Visit the OpenSkies Web site.
American Airlines is rolling out its Amora food and beverage program in select domestic Admirals Club lounges. Food selections range from salads and soups to sandwiches and wraps. Visitors can dine in the lounges or grab food to go.
Porto Palacio Congress Hotel & Spa
Ave. Da Boavista 1269
Porto, Portugal
tel 351 226 086 600
www.ghotw.com/hotel/home/porto-palacio.htm
I could have flown from Lisbon to Porto, Portugal’s second largest city, in only 50 minutes but I took the high-speed Alfa Pendular instead, a sleek-looking train that covers the 200-mile distance in a little over two hours, at speeds of up to 135 mph. It was a quiet, comfortable ride, with lovely views of northern Portugal’s scenic terrain, green and lush during intermittent sun showers.
Arriving at Porto’s Campanha station, on the city’s eastern side, I made my way to the Porto Palacio Hotel, in the city’s western business district, in only 12 minutes by using the Metro, a new light-rail system that is so clean, modern, and high-tech, with brilliantly colored trains and a stylish interior, it would easily fit right in at a Disney theme park, or as a model for urban planners designing the perfect cross-town transport mode.
The hotel was still a 10-minute walk from the Casa da Musica Metro station, but I was traveling light and didn’t mind the exercise, stopping on the way to peek in at the amazing Rem Koolhaas-designed white, polyhedron-shaped concert hall (Casa da Musica), where I was to have a meeting the next day. I could see the hotel a few blocks away, the tallest structure in the area, its glass-enclosed VIP lounge at the very top of the 19-story building.
The 250-room Porto Palacio, constructed in 1986 as a Sheraton property (until 1998), is a modern, 5-star, business hotel in a city that has been involved in trade and commerce for the past 2,000 years. Check-in was fast and efficient, and my attractive and comfortable Executive room, with a large working desk, Internet access, tan walls and beige carpeting, bathroom phone, and access to a private lounge with views overlooking the city, convinced me early on that the property would be a good base for visiting Porto.
A spa and fitness club, two swimming pools, four restaurants and a business center add to the amenities. The Madruga Restaurant, off the lobby, offers a nice breakfast buffet, although the more private Executive lounge provides breakfast as well. The hotel contains 12 meeting rooms, and has its own in-house Congress Center, a two-story venue within the hotel outfitted with state-of-the-art technology and additional meeting and exhibit space.
The Palacio is a 15-minute taxi ride from Porto’s historic, and tourist friendly, riverfront district, a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you are going out for a day of touring, stop first at the full-service supermarket next to the hotel for a picnic lunch of fresh fruit, bread, cheese, and the ubiquitous Port wine made from grapes grown in the Douro Valley, just an hour from the city.
Score: ••••• Ron Bernthal
Until October, Thai Airways is offering $199 upgrades, each way, for passengers interested in moving from economy to premium economy.
South African Airways introduces fares as low as $799 roundtrip for travel from New York (JFK, LGA, EWR) or Washington D.C. (IAD) to Cape Town (CPT). Travel period is Oct. 30-Nov.30.
The Gant in Aspen and The Inverness Hotel in Denver, both Destination Hotels & Resorts properties are taking the sting out of checked baggage fees by offering a $15 credit per person first-checked-bag credit for arriving guests. Reference promo code FLY when making a reservation. Visit The Gant, or call 800 549 0530, or visit Inverness Hotel or call 800 832 9053, to learn all the details.
Avenue Hotel, a boutique-style property on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, is offering a Stay for the Cure package in conjunction with the Sept. 27 Komen Chicago Race for the Cure. The package is also available throughout the remainder of 2008. Revenue from 10 percent of packages booked for the race will be donated back to the charity. Rates begin at $249 per night and include king-size accommodations for two and breakfast in bed for two. For details visit Avenue Hotel, or call 877 AVE5110.
The new Hilton Baltimore, which opens Aug. 22 next to the convention center, offers a $199 Grand Opening Rate Aug. 24-Sept. 7. Be advised it’s prepayment required and non-refundable. For details visit Hilton, or call 800 HILTONS.
