Coffee, tea and TV

Flight attendant school gets real

If reality TV can capture the Machiavellian tactics of high-end hair stylists (Blow Out) and expose the pitfalls of flying on Southwest Airlines (Airline), then why not aim the cameras at flight attendant trainees? The people who brought us Growing Up Gotti believe there’s a lot of hidden drama in learning how to be a flight attendant—particularly when focusing on eight trainees living together in a house close to airline headquarters (à la Big Brother). Denver-based Frontier Airlines invites voyeurs to witness it all in an 18-week series tentatively titled Flight Attendant School, set to debut later this year on the Travel Channel. The idea is to show that flight attendants are more than waitresses in the sky—during Frontier’s six-week training program, 40 students administer CPR, inflate emergency evacuation slides and more. Of course, they need to make alliances early on. Oh wait, that’s Survivor. So many reality shows, so little time.

Jumping the lines

Frequent fliers seek shorter waits at security

What price airport convenience? If you’re a first-class passenger, it means shorter, dedicated security lines at airports around the country. After their closure following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, elite lines at security checkpoints have reemerged at airports like Washington’s Reagan National and BWI, Chicago’s O’Hare, Denver and Los Angeles. Operated by airlines, the shorter lines are popular among top-level travelers on major carriers, while fliers on discount carriers are less than thrilled to have no such special access. Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration’s proposed Registered Traveler program would permit fliers who clear a background check to speed through less stringent airport security using a biometric ID card with images of their fingerprints and irises on file. The program, plagued by privacy issues, is currently being tested at six airports: Boston Logan, Houston’s Bush Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Orlando and Reagan National. The TSA says individual travelers are saving four to five minutes of line time at pilot program airports.

Ka-ching!

The sound of soaring airport concession sales

In anticipation of security checkpoint delays, you arrive extra early at the airport. You’ve also endured an increasing number of flight delays this year. And your favorite airline has stopped serving meals. You may not be happy about any of it, but airport concessionaires are grinning ear to ear. With extra time at the airport, travelers are more likely to stop for a meal, shop, get a massage or go online—all of which has boosted airport concession revenue. Take Denver International Airport (DIA). Concession sales were up 9.5 percent through June 2005 compared to the same period last year, after ballooning 14 percent in 2004 over 2003. DIA says average revenue per departing passenger also increased, from $3.97 in 1995 to $7.83 in 2004. Record air traffic has contributed to more sales also, and so has merchandising by airport concessionaires. Restaurants and food kiosks offer plenty of to-go meals and prepackaged sandwiches and salads that can be brought onto planes (much to the consternation of empty-handed seatmates).

AA upgrades

American adds lie-flat seats, new JFK terminal

American Airlines is in the midst of some rejuvenation projects. The carrier plans to catch up with many transatlantic foreign-flag carriers by installing lie-flat seats and enhanced in-flight entertainment systems in the business-class cabins of all B767-300s and B777 aircraft. Improvements are slated to begin in 2006, while new business-class seats on B777s will be installed beginning in 2007. The airline will also extend its new first-class service to 20 additional 777s. Meanwhile, American recently unveiled the first phase of a new $1.1 billion terminal at New York’s JFK Airport. Upon completion, the terminal will have more than 100 ticketing counters, 36 gates and the ability to process up to nearly 1,800 people per hour through security. The first phase included a 57,000-square-foot ticketing lobby that connects to the concourse via underground tunnel. The second phase of the project is scheduled for completion in April 2007.

Free weekends or free coffee

Avis, Budget roll out fall promotions

Evidently, rental car companies feel generous in the fourth quarter. Avis launched a “Drive Free III” promotion that rewards customers with a free weekend rental after they have rented an Avis vehicle three times between August 15 and December 15, 2005. Avis said it distributed more than 200,000 free weekend travel certificates in its Drive Free promotions over the past two years. Corporate customers can use the reward for a leisure trip, the company said. Customers must register online at www.avis.com or by calling 800-722-5909; those who enrolled in last year’s promotion need not reenroll. Meanwhile, Budget Rent A Car is looking to stimulate business by rewarding frequent renters with coffee. Customers who rent a Budget vehicle twice between August 15 and December 15, 2005, will be shipped two pounds of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. There’s no limit on coffee awards—the more you rent, the more free coffee you earn. Customers must register for the promotion online at www.budget.com/freecoffee.

Lodging scorecard

New hotel groups are in the works

New hotel brands will soon be popping up all over. Following its acquisition of the 143-unit AmeriSuites chain in January, Hyatt will rebrand those properties under the name Hyatt Place. Hyatt will renovate and reposition the upscale limited service hotels beginning late this year, with completion slated for the end of 2006. Meanwhile, the Blackstone Group is creating a new luxury hotel brand with 14 of its recently acquired Wyndham properties, along with the seven other hotels and resorts it already owns. The new LXR Luxury Resorts will include the Boulders Resort in Carefree, Ariz.; The Peaks in Telluride, Colo.; the Bel Age in Los Angeles; Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel, Calif.; and resorts in Waikiki, New York, Florida and Puerto Rico. Blackstone plans to spend $400 million restoring the properties over several years. Finally, hotel veteran Horst Schulze, former president of Ritz-Carlton, plans to launch a new luxury chain called Solis Hotels & Resorts in late 2007. Its first property will be the Montelucia resort outside Phoenix.

In Brief

Your next U.S. passport might have a smart-chip card containing your personal data and digital photo. The State Department says e-passports, which wirelessly transmit data to a customs officer’s computer screen, could become standard as early as February 2006. You won’t have to replace your current passport until it expires...Singapore’s Changi Airport has been retrofitted to accommodate the Airbus A380, the world’s largest commercial jetliner, capable of holding 555 passengers. Singapore Airlines is the launch customer for the aircraft, due for delivery next year…Kayak.com now allows users to cross-shop among leading rental car sites, similar to the way it searches multiple Web sites for flights and hotels. In one click, consumers can compare cars and prices directly from Advantage, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and Thrifty…Lodging Econometrics (LE) has projected that 917 hotels with 100,559 guestrooms will open in the U.S. and Canada in 2007—the highest total of new openings since 2001, but still removed from the peak set in 1998, when 1,532 hotels opened with 156,471 rooms. Both Marriott and Hilton have the most projects in the pipeline, LE said.

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