Essential Travel News for 7/23/07

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FAA/SECURITY

‘Registered Traveler’ has more airports coming online

The federally-backed Registered Traveler (RT) program, in which participants pay about $100 to get a biometric ID card for expedited security clearance lanes, will soon be expanding to more airports. The leading private-sector RT vendor, Verified Identity Pass, said its Clear program just opened new RT security lanes at Newark Airport’s Terminal B, and should be operational at New York LaGuardia’s Central Terminal by September, through a new partnership with AirTran Airways. That will make RT lanes available at all three New York-area airports, since it is already available at select JFK terminals. In addition, Verified Identity Pass said Clear has been selected to operate the RT program at San Francisco International Airport, where fast security lanes should open in September. “Other airports expected to launch RT programs this fall include Washington D.C.’s Reagan and Dulles, Denver and Atlanta, all of whom have issued – or in the case of Atlanta, are about to issue – requests for proposals,” a Clear spokesman said. Other airports that already have RT security lanes include Orlando, San Jose, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Reno. The Reno lanes are operated by Unysis’ RT program, called rtGo, but the biometric ID cards of any vendor will work at all RT security checkpoints. Among smaller facilities, Clear said it will open security lanes in August at the Albany and Westchester County, N.Y. airports, and at Little Rock. Clear said one of the big benefits of its checkpoints is its new “verification kiosk with state-of-the-art shoe scanner technology,” which means passengers don’t have to remove their shoes. The kiosks have been installed at all Clear lanes, but so far the only one that’s operational is at Orlando. They will start operating at other airports “as soon as TSA-approved protocols are in place,” a spokesman said. For a listing of specific airport locations of RT security lanes, go to www.flyclear.com/airports .

TSA changes the rules for lighters, breast milk in carry-ons

The Transportation Security Administration has changed its rules once again for airline passengers’ carry-ons. TSA said that effective August 4, regular cigarette lighters will again be allowed in carry-ons -- although so-called “torch lighters,” generally used for pipes and cigars, will still be banned. Noting that its officers confiscate 22,000 lighters a day, it called the rule change “a common sense, risk-based security decision” that “allows officers to focus on finding explosives.” The lighter ban has a curious history: It was based on the failed attempt of “shoe bomber” Richard Reid to ignite explosives in the soles of his shoes on a Paris-Miami flight – but TSA didn’t impose the ban until more than three years after the incident, and it continued to allow passengers to carry matches, which are what Reid used when he tried to light his shoes. Meanwhile, TSA also said that although it will continue its carry-on ban on liquids in more than three-ounce portions, it will now permit mothers to carry breast milk through security as long as they declare it prior to screening. TSA said it has reclassified breast milk so that it is now in the same category as liquid medications. “We will not ask a traveler to taste breast milk” to prove it is not explosive, TSA said.

AIRLINES

Virgin America to start flying August 8; sets introductory fare sale

The nation’s newest low-cost airline, San Francisco-based Virgin America, set August 8 for the beginning of flight operations, and is offering an introductory fare sale. On August 8, Virgin America will begin San Francisco-New York JFK service with three daily roundtrips, and SFO-Los Angeles International operations with five flights a day. According to the airline’s web site, New York JFK-LAX service will begin August 29, followed by San Francisco-Washington Dulles service September 26; San Francisco-Las Vegas October 10; and Los Angeles-Washington Dulles October 24. Nonrefundable sale fares, available for purchase through August 8 for travel through November 14, start at $44 each way in economy class for LAX-SFO or San Francisco-Las Vegas; $129 between Washington and LAX or San Francisco; $139 for New York-LAX or New York-San Francisco. First class introductory fares start at $149 each way between Los Angeles-San Francisco; $389 between New York and the west coast cities. Virgin America’s in-flight service features include 110-volt power outlets at each seat; a collection of 3000 MP3 files for passenger listening; a high-tech in-flight entertainment system that lets users order food, select from 25 movies and so on; massage chairs in first class; even mood lighting throughout the cabins. Contact www.virginamerica.com (877-359-8474). Virgin America also announced an exclusive online agency distribution agreement with Orbitz Worldwide, providing for the sale of tickets through that company’s two subsidiaries, Orbitz.com and CheapTickets.com.

American adjusts schedules at St. Louis, Dallas Love Field

American Airlines will readjust its schedules September 5 at Dallas Love Field and at Lambert St. Louis International Airport. At Love Field, the airline will discontinue its current service to St. Louis (five daily AmericanConnection flights) and to San Antonio (three flights a day on American Eagle), but it will increase DAL-Austin and DAL-Kansas City schedules to eight daily American Eagle flights in each market. At St. Louis, American said, it will increase frequencies in seven existing business markets, to a total of three flights a day to Cedar Rapids, Iowa; four to Charlotte; three to Dayton; four to New Orleans; six to Newark; two to Springfield, Mo.; and three to Tulsa.

Sun Country introduces new frequent flyer program

Sun Country Airlines, a low-cost carrier based at Minneapolis/St. Paul with service to a number of business destinations, has introduced a new frequency plan. Called Ufly Rewards, the point-based program gives participants 10 points for each roundtrip coach flight, with a free roundtrip flight available for 100 points. The new web-based program has no blackout dates and no restrictions on award flights, the company said. It applies to all flights flown after the program’s July 17 launch date. For details, go to www.suncountry.com. “VIP Club members will automatically be enrolled in Ufly Rewards and continue to receive VIP Club benefits,” a spokesman said.

Spirit Airlines slips new revenue-enhancers into online bookings

Spirit Airlines, which recently started charging passengers $5 to $10 for checking even one bag, has borrowed yet another revenue-enhancement trick from some of Europe’s leading low-fare airlines. Customers who go to Spirit’s web site to book a flight will see a final price quote that includes mandatory taxes and fees, but also includes a couple of other things: A $12 charge for travel insurance, and a $9 fee to join the airline’s “$9 Fare Club,” which promises special fare discounts and a membership in the Free Spirit frequent flyer program. These two charges are automatically included in the total price quote. To the right of the price quote are boxes where online customers can opt out of the insurance and the $9 Fare Club – if they notice them, and don’t just automatically proceed with the booking.

Alaska introduces plastic payment for in-flight items

Passengers on Alaska Airlines will soon be able to use credit or debit cards instead of cash to pay for in-flight purchases. The airline said hand-held units that take plastic are already in use with flight attendants on its 22 daily transcontinental flights, following a year-long market test. A spokesman said Alaska “will phase in the credit and debit payment option on more flights this fall, and ultimately plans to offer the service on all flights.”

INTERNATIONAL

MAXjet joins the clamor for new routes to China

With additional route rights to China coming in the next couple of years as part of an expanded aviation pact between the two countries, major U.S. airlines are lining up at the Transportation Department with their wish lists. And one not-so-major carrier is getting in line as well. Among the recent filings:

• All-business-class carrier MAXjet has applied to offer service on a Los Angeles-Seattle-Shanghai routing beginning in 2009, , using a 92-seat 767-200ER. MAXjet didn’t say what it would charge for the flights, but did say its proposed service would “bring much-needed fare competition to the U.S.-China market.”

• American Airlines wants to operate daily non-stops between Chicago O’Hare and Beijing starting in March 2009, using a 777-200ER.

• Northwest Airlines has asked for Detroit-Shanghai and Detroit-Beijing non-stop rights; it said if it gets the routes this year, it would use 747-400s; if it doesn’t get a new route award until 2009, it would use new 787 Dreamliners.

• Continental Airlines asked DOT for rights to fly non-stop from Newark to Shanghai starting in spring of 2009, using a 777 for the daily service, which would originate in Cleveland.

• US Airways wants to provide the first Philadelphia-Asia service beginning in March 2009 with daily PHL-Beijing flights originating in Charlotte, using a 767 from Charlotte to Philadelphia and an A340 for the PHL-China segment.

• United Airlines has proposed daily 777 non-stops from San Francisco to Guangzhou starting in 2008, followed by new Los Angeles-Shanghai 747 non-stops starting in 2009.

Singapore Airlines upgrades in-flight entertainment/work technology

Singapore Airlines is adding new functionality to the KrisWorld in-flight entertainment systems on its newest aircraft – including office applications for workaholics who don’t want to lug a laptop. A company spokesman said Singapore’s 777-300ER aircraft are equipped with the upgrades, as its new A380s will be when they are delivered. Singapore claims to be the world’s first airline to offer a suite of office applications including spreadsheet, presentation and word processing software through its in-flight entertainment system. “Customers don’t even have to power up their laptops,” the spokesman said. “They can access and save documents and files in their ‘thumb drives’ simply by plugging them into the USB ports available at every seat.” The programs are based on Sun Microsystem’s StarOffice platform, and will support “most commonly used file formats,” the spokesman said. Data stored temporarily in the system “will be cleared at the end of each flight” to ensure privacy. Other enhancements to Krisworld include Live Text News, a news summary updated hourly by satellite; Executive Book Summaries, which provide information on 100 business books; and Culture Quest, an interactive learning tool that gives tips on doing business in the cultures at your destination.

American to end frequent flyer partnership with TAM

American Airlines’ AAdvantage program will terminate its partnership with South American carriers TAM and TAM Mercosur effective November 14. For all TAM flights on or after that date, AAdvantage members will no longer earn program mileage. Award flights on TAM must be booked by November 13, with all award travel completed by November 13, 2008.

Eos debuts departure lounge at London Stansted

Eos Airlines, the all-premium-class carrier operating 48-seat 757s between New York JFK and London Stansted, has opened a new gate-side departure lounge at the London airport. Called Club 48, the facility offers computer workstations, WiFi access, a pair of 50-inch TVs, and bar and food service. Eos is planning to expand its JFK-Stansted schedule in September from the current 32 flights a week to 40.

AIRPORTS

Samsung installs free charging stations at LAX

Samsung Mobile and Los Angeles World Airports have installed free charging stations in all terminals of Los Angeles International Airport, where passengers can plug in their mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices. Each charging station has four outlets and small shelves to hold the device while it’s powering up. They are located throughout the boarding areas in Terminals 1 through 8, and in the Bradley International Terminal.
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