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Volume 5, Issue 39, September 25, 2007 |
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Wireless broadband connectivity is heading for the commercial skies flown by U.S.-based carriers, starting in 2008. Three airlines have now announced partnerships with broadband providers that will allow them to offer inflight Internet connections for laptops, PDAs and smartphones.
First to announce was American Airlines, which has signed with AirCell to run the initial test of that company’s high-speed broadband connectivity aloft. American’s B767-200s flying transcontinental routes will be the first to test the service. According to the airline, the service will be available for a fee to passengers in all classes, and pending successful tests, will be expanded throughout the fleet.
Filling the gap left by the extinction of both AirFone and Boeing’s Connexion service, AirCell acquired the exclusive FCC license last year to transmit signals to commercial aircraft from a series of cellular towers in the United States. The AirCell technology also requires multiple antennae to be installed on each aircraft.
Virgin America has also signed with AirCell to implement the service next year, by which time the airline hopes to be serving 10 U.S. cities. In addition to providing wireless Internet connectivity to passengers’ personal devices, the airline plans to also offer Internet connections via its Red seatback system; no word yet on whether or what it plans to charge.
Alaska Airlines, meanwhile, is taking a different route. In spring 2008, it will begin testing Row 44’s satellite-based wireless Web access service, which potentially has greater reach than AirCell’s U.S.-based system. Several European airlines are already using satellite-based systems, but Alaska will be the first U.S. airline to do so. Presuming tests go well, the airline plans to roll out Web access across its entire fleet by 2009. 
Westin Hotels & Resorts is rolling out an in-room spa experience across its properties globally, and quickly. Available spa services include an in-room massage on a “Heavenly Spa by Westin Nova bed,” larger than typical portable massage tables. Before the massage appointment, the hotel guest receives a spa basket with a CD of relaxation music, water, aromatherapy products, a flower and a healthy treat. So far, the spa experience is available at 69 hotels: 45 in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, five in Latin America, eight in Europe, and 11 in Asia, Australia and the Pacific.
Reconfigured MD-80 aircraft are now flying on some Midwest Airlines routes, giving passengers options on the type of seating they prefer. While there are not separate cabins, the aircraft now have 12 wide, leather Signature seats arranged in a 2x2 configuration, as well as an average of 130 Saver seats arranged 2x3. Travelers can select a Signature seat for an additional $60, up to 24 hours before departure, online, at a ticket counter or at airport kiosks. Remaining Signature seats, if available, can also be bought at the gate up to 30 minutes before departure. So far, the reconfigured aircraft are flying on routes connecting Milwaukee (MKE) with 10 cities, and between Kansas City (MCI) and San Francisco (SFO).
Alaska Airlines is upgrading its first-class meal service and expanding its Picnic Pack program in other classes to most flights. In the first-class cabin on transcontinental, Hawaii, and Anchorage (ANC)-Chicago (ORD) flights, linen tablecloths, new china and glassware, and hot towel service have been introduced, along with upgraded entrees and a new salad/appetizer course. Anytime Picnic Packs will be available on any flight that now has beverage-cart service, for $5; on transcontinental flights, passengers will have a choice of two Picnic Packs. Picnic Packs were previously offered only on flights of four or more hours.
The historic paddlewheeler Delta Queen, last of its breed of steam-operated riverboats with overnight passenger accommodations, is being forced into retirement. Congress has six times exempted it from a 1966 ban on large passenger-carrying ships with wooden structures, but the seventh time was not a charm, and the ship will be retired in 2008. Twenty-four sailings remain to catch a cruise on the 1926 four-tier riverboat with its 1897 steam calliope; after that, its younger and larger sibling the Mississippi Queen will be left on its own to ply the Mississippi, Arkansas, Ohio and Tennessee rivers.
Zipcar, the subscription-membership car-sharing service that lets you rent cars by the hour in more than 35 cities in the United States, Canada and England, has added a mobile component. Initially Zipcar has launched a mobile version of its Web reservations site; members can also opt into a text-messaging service for reminders and last-minute availability information. Coming soon is the Zipcar Mobile Locator, which will allow members to find, view and reserve cars based on their current location by downloading a widget that lets them utilize any GPS-enabled phone for the service.
Bonefish Grill
2185 South Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
tel 845 432 7507; fax 845 432 7509
www.bonefishgrill.com
Companies such as IBM, Gap Inc. and NXP Semiconductors attract business travelers to the Poughkeepsie, N.Y. area. Whether we’ve flown into Stewart International Airport (SWF), 18 miles away across the Hudson River, or into closer-in Dutchess County Airport (POU) by corporate aircraft or private plane, doing business in this area requires a car. At lunchtime or the end of the day many of these visitors, like myself, drive along the busy Route 9 corridor between Fishkill and Poughkeepsie searching for a good restaurant.
My search began early, about 6 p.m., and most of the restaurants seemed quiet – except for the Bonefish Grill, where the parking lot was packed. I usually avoid crowded-looking restaurants, but I had heard of the Bonefish chain, and I was curious to try one. The upscale chain started on the Gulf Coast of Florida in 2000, and has now spread its fresh-fish gospel to about 30 states.
I checked out the large bar area first. There were no empty seats at the bar itself, but I found a place at one of three “community” tables just in front of it, and ordered what others at my table were eating, which included nice-looking appetizers of calamari, Cajun chicken egg rolls, and Ahi tuna sashimi. Everyone was so friendly that at first I thought I had crashed an office party. The smiling waitstaff kept up with the banter, occasionally dropping off some more on-the-house Bang Bang Shrimp.
In contrast with the friendly neighborhood-tavern ambience, the décor was upscale and sleek, with hardwood furnishings, soft lighting and artwork. After a while I made my way to the equally impressive dining room where a trendy open kitchen, and waiters dressed in clean white chef-type outfits, presented a nice European-style image.
My Ahi tuna sashimi at the bar was so good I had to order the dinner portion, along with a wonderful Bonefish house salad, but their list of fresh grilled fish will bring me back for another visit so I can try either the Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, snapper, grouper, jumbo sea scallops, swordfish, or the Chilean sea bass. Everything comes with one of four sauces – warm mango salsa, lime tomato garlic, lemon butter, or pan-Asian – or you can get all four on the side. Everything seemed reasonably priced. There is a wide choice of wine as well, in various price categories.
Score: ••••• Ron Bernthal
Buy tickets by Sept. 28 to qualify for Air France’s transatlantic fare sale. Fares begin at $344 round trip (JFK-LHR or JFK-ORY) and are good for travel from Oct. 29 to March 31 (except for Dec. 13-Jan. 8). The sale applies from all the airline’s U.S. gateways to destinations in France, Italy, Spain, Greece, England and more. Minimum stay is over a Saturday night and fares are nonrefundable, but changes are permitted.
Harrah’s Resorts is running an online Push Your Luck instant-win sweepstakes at TotalRewards.com/PushYourLuck. The four top prizes are three-day, two-night mini-vacations, including airfare, meals and bonus goodies, to Harrah’s properties in Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, New Orleans or St. Louis. Other prizes include a hotel stay in Laughlin, Nev.; rounds of golf at the Rio Secco golf course in Las Vegas; $50 gift cards for use at specified Harrah’s resorts; and tickets to a show in Atlantic City. There are 80 prizes in all; one entry per person per day is allowed. The sweepstakes runs through Oct. 29.
EuropebyAir, the consortium of 20 local European airlines, is promoting its FlightPass program with a discount offer. Book any of the 150 routes eligible for a $99 or $129 FlightPass fare by Sept. 30 for travel through March 29, use promotion code FPASS10, and $10 will automatically be deducted from each ticket.
There are two weeks left to stay in the Royal Suite at the Renaissance Dubai Hotel for less. The Celebration Package, offered through Oct. 8, costs approximately $1,400 a night and includes Royal Suite accommodations, cake and sparkling wine upon arrival, dinner at the hotel’s Mediterranean Sails Restaurant, and use of an H3 Hummer during your stay. Use promotion code CUE.
Hilton HHonors members who stay at least two nights at a Conrad hotel in Bali, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore or Tokyo by Oct. 13 will earn triple miles on any of 12 airline mileage programs. To qualify, rooms must be booked through the Triple Miles section of the ConradHotels.com site, or through Hilton Reservations (800 HILTONS) using Code H5.
