Archive for the ‘International’ Category

DELTA’S TOKYO-NARITA SKY CLUB DURING EARTHQUAKE

JAPAN EARTHQUAKE. Having just visited Japan last year, our hearts go out to its gentle people this morning. News is happening faster that we can cover here in The TICKET. But anyone with plans to travel to Japan over the next month should re-consider. The US State Department has sent out an alert advising travelers to stay away until at least April 1. All flights to Tokyo have been canceled or diverted to cities in southern Japan. Delta is waiving change fees. All public transport in and around Tokyo is shut down. While the US west coast is under a tsunami warning, public transport (such as BART in SF) is operational. Low tides there could cancel out any significant impact of the wave.

DELTA’S #1. FORTUNE magazine puts Delta in its own elite status category, recently naming it “Most Admired Airline” worldwide in its annual survey that takes into account feedback from industry professionals and airline analysts. This is the first time Delta ranked at the top of FORTUNE’s heap, besting legendary greats like Singapore Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The honor ranked Delta highly in areas such as social responsibility, competitiveness and quality of management. However, when it comes to “quality of product” Delta ranked far below competitors.  I’m certain that there is divergent opinion among TICKET readers about this, so please, fire way! Click on the link below to leave your comments.

ELITE PARKING FOR ELITE FLYERS. Driving to an Atlanta Braves game at Turner Field later this spring?  Delta is offering a new benefit to hometown loyalists that extends beyond the airport. SkyMiles Medallion level members will enjoy private parking in the Green Lot close to the stadium featuring 500 spaces reserved just for them. Flash your current membership card and pay the standard parking rates ($12) and save yourself a few steps. The Delta lot is directly across from the Turner Field main entrance at the corner of Hank Aaron Drive and Ralph D. Abernathy Drive. (NOTE: Keep an eye out for more Atlanta-specific bennies like this as Delta prepares to wage war with Southwest later this year.)

A NOTE ABOUT AIRTRAN. More AirTran news and updates forthcoming. While the Southwest and AirTran deal is scrutinized by regulators, no one is saying much. The deal should close in May….and there will be a LOT to say after that. One thing we have noticed is that Southwest’s once high-flying on-time performance record has tanked over the last year. It will be interesting to watch Southwest try to pull out of that hole once it’s largest hub is delay-proned ATL. Stay tuned!

BUSINESS CLASS TO LONDON: Delta’s new flights to London from Miami and Boston must be kinda light…the carrier is discounting Business Elite to just $599 each way from certain cities (not ATL)  March 26-May 17.

SPRING BREAK WARNING. We are in the midst of Spring Break. That means business travelers should be prepared for crowded airports and airplanes full of rowdy students, especially on flights to/from beachy climes. Beware, especially on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when most students are traveling. AirTran lines at ATL always seem to swell surprisingly at this time of year. To avoid noise,  consider asking for hotel rooms away from hotel pool areas at this time of year. Book away from the beach. (Unless, of course, you’d like to join the fun!)

DELTA FACE-FIRST INTO FACEBOOK. Social media mavens will be glad to know the popular @DeltaAssist Twitter contact is now making a presence on Facebook. Followers of @DeltaAssist have been pleasantly surprised with the nearly instant responses to questions and concerns regarding their travel plans. The positive feedback has led to the expansion of DeltaAssist to Facebook. Kudos to Delta for jumping face-first into the social media landscape. Customers now have another way to connect for anything from an unanswered complaint to a flight irregularity. (Speaking of Facebook, are you following The TICKET? Please do!)

Delta passenger wait to board at Tokyo-Narita (Photo: Elmada)

AWARD LEVELS TAKE A LEAP IN ASIA. Delta has made some changes to the SkyMiles award chart. There was no warning this was going to happen so those planning to redeem miles on certain routes are now slapped with higher rates. For example, awards within Asia used to cost one flat fee of 20,000 miles in economy. Now, it varies based on distance—so for example, it’s 15 ,000 miles for a Tokyo to Seoul roundtrip, but Tokyo to Bangkok roundtrip clocks in at 45,000 miles. To be fair, the old redemption rates were fairly generous for longer trips, and this change puts the mileage cost more in line with the actual cost.

JAPAN-BOUND TRAVELERS RACK UP Traveling to the land of the rising sun soon? (SEE ABOVE WARNING) Score triple miles for purchased Business Elite tickets and double miles for economy class tickets of all fares between now and May 31. Simply register and fly on Delta’s new nonstop flights between Detroit or Los Angeles and Tokyo Haneda Airport. Register here.  (Tip: Be sure to check arrival and departure times at Haneda. Flights are restricted to wee hours of the morning, and getting to/from the city by train might prove difficult.) Also, Delta’s swapped out 747′s for 777′s on Haneda routes…I guess the business they’d hoped for has not materialized. Have YOU flown to Haneda? LET US KNOW! Leave a comment below…

REDEMPTION DEALS? Delta SkyMiles may be tough to redeem for some, but for the savvy, it’s not so bad. The trick is knowing which routes are more likely to have award seats. Clearly, busier or higher revenue routes like ATL-London Heathrow are going to be slim pickings. But consider some less-traveled routes and you might luck out.  For example, some better-than-normal redemption opportunities can include routing yourself via new Raleigh-Durham/San Antonio flights to get to Cancun; JFK-Cairo (once the route resumes May 1– despite predictions, tourism is already picking back up); and JFK-London Heathrow might be opening up a little now that a third flight has been added to the schedule.

NEWER, LARGER REGIONAL JETS ON THE WAY! We’re all glad to see more of those those 50-seater CRJ-200s get axed from the Delta schedule, but that doesn’t mean that bigger jets are going to replace them. For now, the older Northwest DC-9 aircraft are helping to fill a gap in some markets, but these old planes will be retired within a year. Eventually, Delta will add newer, larger regional jets to the mix, many of which offer first class cabins and in-flight Wi-Fi. In addition, Delta is getting some new Embraer-170 aircraft from Virgin Blue of Australia. These jets will soon appear on the Delta Connection network under the Compass Airlines brand and they’ll offer coach seats only at first but will eventually be updated with first class seats.

BONUS MILES FOR FREE (ALMOST). Purchasing miles to top off your SkyMiles account? Score an extra 50 percent bonus between now and March 31. Simply purchase new miles or gift/share miles with a friend or family member’s account to earn the bonus miles. Register here first. This is the ideal way to reach that next award redemption level quickly.

(Photo: Andrew Currie)

MORE SKY CLUB ACCESS OVERSEAS. Delta’s Sky Club membership comes with access to a few partner lounges overseas in addition to Delta’s own branded clubs. Visit Delta’s list of lounge locations and select the Delta Sky Club member drop down to see the complete list (read the rules carefully as only certain lounges participate).  The list includes one of Air France’s lounges in Paris or Johannesburg, one of KLM’s lounges in Amsterdam, and the Air France lounge in Zurich. Note that certain SkyTeam lounge locations like London Heathrow do not participate in the Sky Club member access program. Important: Many lounge agents overseas are unfamiliar with this unique Sky Club agreement so be sure to have a printout of the list and rules handy. This list should not be confused with the more substantial list of lounges accessible to Business Class and SkyTeam Elite Plus members, however.

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At 38% Georgia is slightly below average in passport ownership, NJ is #1 at 68%; MS lowest at 20% (Credit: http://blog.cgpgrey.com/)

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(Photo: TGIGreeny - Flickr)

By now you may have heard the news that Atlanta and eight other U.S. gateway cities recently obtained clearance to operate charter flights to Cuba. (Before this, flights were permitted from Miami, New York and LAX only.) As soon as I heard about this, my mind was full of questions and hope the day was coming when I’d finally get to jump on an ATL-Havana nonstop.

To get my questions answered, I turned to none other than long-time TICKET reader Eason Jordan, the CEO of the U.S.-Cuba Business Bureau, which helps U.S. companies better understand the Cuban marketplace and seek opportunities there.

For full coverage of this big news, check out TICKET editor Chris McGinnis’s article on BBC.com.

A special thanks to Jordan who interrupted his vacation to provide The TICKET with the following.

THE TICKET: What’s up with these new flights from ATL to Cuba? Is the dam about to break? Let us know if you know anything more than what the airport press release is saying. Thanks!

JORDAN: Is the dam about to break? No. But this is a big step forward.

Cuba-bound travelers must have a U.S. government license. Licenses are issued in two forms: general and specific. A general license permits broad groups of people — Cuban-Americans, for example — to go to Cuba without needing specific U.S. government permission.

Specific licenses require U.S. government approval in advance each and every time. All of this is governed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Tourist travel is specifically prohibited.

As far as U.S. government permission for Cuba charter flights is concerned, keep in mind Cuban government permission is required, too, and that hasn’t yet been granted for Atlanta to my knowledge, although Cuban officials have told me they’re eager to see Atlanta-Havana flights and closer relations and more business between Cuba and Georgia.

(Jordan spearheaded the opening of the CNN Havana bureau in 1997 and has made many trips to Cuba over the past two decades. During his 23 years at CNN, he served as chief news executive and president of newsgathering and international networks before departing and taking the entrepreneurial path in 2005. )

Have you ever thought about traveling to Cuba? Have you been there? Is your company or industry ready to jump into this market when the current barriers start to crumble? Are you looking forward to the day that you could redeem your Delta or AirTran miles for a trip to Havana? Let us know what you think! Use the space or click on the link below to leave your comments.

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! What do you think about The TICKET? What’s great or not so great about this issue? What else should we be doing to make it better? Email your comments to us or leave them below. WE LIVE FOR FEEDBACK! So come on! Let us know.

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As airport delays and angst piled up at Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport last Friday, singer Cyndi Lauper commandeered the microphone at her crowded gate and sang her hit, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.”

London’s Daily Mail reports, “Her quick-thinking was just what was needed to diffuse the situation as the angry crowd settled down and began to join in.”

Lauper, 57, was in Buenos Aires as part of her current “Memphis Blues” world tour. Her Twitter feed from that day reads: “Ok, so chow Argentina. At airport.. So many delays. Wound up being announced, wound up sing two songs for airport. A first for me. Crazy day”

Maybe ATL should hire her to calm crowds on those rainy, windy days that shut down runways and raise blood pressure! She could croon away in the main terminal atrium, or out on the spine on busy Concourse A.

Asian carriers Singapore Airlines and Korean Air recently launched splashy new ad campaigns. Which one do you like best? Or least? Does this type of advertising appeal to you or not?

Singapore Airlines new ad campaign (new this month) starts off with the famous “Singapore Girl” strolling through the streets of San Francisco. The scene then morphs into a stroll through several cities in India, France and China.

Normally conservative Korean Air raised a lot of eyebrows last year with the launch of this sexy new TV campaign.

I like both of them! What you YOU think? Leave comments below.

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WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! What do you think about The TICKET? What’s great or not so great about this issue? What else should we be doing to make it better? Email your comments to us or leave them below. WE LIVE FOR FEEDBACK! So come on! Let us know.

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Fresh new look at Delta's Sky Club Miami (photo: Delta Air Lines)

SPIFFIER SKY CLUBS. Sky Clubs have been getting a makeover across the country with trendsetters Los Angeles and Miami (see photo) among the first to reopen with a contemporary new look. The latest additions to the pack include the long-awaited changes at the dated Minneapolis-St. Paul G Concourse club, now proudly sporting a 21st century look, the new Sky Club at ATL’s gate B-10, and New York LaGuardia’s club, now expanded since the Northwest merger. Philadelphia’s long-awaited terminal D lounge should open soon.  Self-service bars, snacking areas with fresh vegetables, charging stations, complimentary Wi-Fi and wireless printers are the new standard. Did you know… that Delta’s Sky Clubs are the only airport clubs that serve premium booze brands gratis? All other airline clubs charge for call brands.

TRIPLE SKYMILES TO THE SUN. Hop on a Delta jet to sunny Florida between now and February 15 and you’ll earn triple SkyMiles on flights between ATL and Ft Myers, Miami, Orlando or Tampa. Registration required.

THE SPIRIT OF ATLANTA. Watch Delta execs christen a brand new Boeing 777, The Spirit of Atlanta, with a bottle of Coke (natch!).  This month Delta celebrated 70 years in Atlanta. Here’s the video.

TOKYO BONUS. Don’t like the lengthy and pricey transfer between Tokyo and its distant Narita Airport?   Then consider Delta’s new service from Los Angeles and Detroit nonstop to Tokyo Haneda Airport. Recently opened to long-haul traffic, Haneda is much closer to downtown Tokyo than Narita. To celebrate, Delta is offering a double SkyMiles offer for all Economy Class fares and triple SkyMiles for BusinessElite fares. Register and then purchase a ticket and fly between Feb. 19 and May 31 to qualify. Since Delta’s got a hub operation at Narita, nonstops from ATL will continue to land there.

A Delta DC9 (Photo: Adam Kirk / Flickr)

THAT NEW PLANE SMELL. Delta has put feelers out to aircraft manufacturers for a major order of up to 200 narrow body aircraft of various sizes for delivery as early as 2013. The new aircraft will help lower the overall fleet age while placing an emphasis on minimizing fuel burn and being more energy efficient (in fact, that was a mandate from CEO Richard Anderson). These new planes would be used domestically and put an end to the decades-old DC-9s that Delta inherited from Northwest after the merger. Despite getting interior face-lifts and being outfitted with GoGo Wi-Fi access, those creaky DC-9’s are showing their age.

SKYMILES FOR HOTEL STAYS. This winter several hotel programs are offering SkyMiles bonuses. Marriott is offering triple miles with any qualifying stay between February 1 and April 30. Be sure to register. Hilton offers up to 2,000 bonus miles after an eligible stay at any of its participating brands. Register here. Headed to Europe or Asia? Japanese chain Nikko Hotels is offering double miles (1,000) for stays at any of its properties through March 31.

SHOP ONLINE. EARN MILES. Now that the holidays are over, shopping portals like SkyMilesShopping.com are encouraging New Year spending with special promotions like this one with American Express. Visit americanexpress.skymilesshopping.com to enjoy special deals for SkyMiles Amex cardholders such as bonus miles offers of up to 25 miles per dollar spent and sales designed just for Delta-branded cardholders.

NIFTY ARTY NUGGET: Did you know that you can use your Bank of America debit or credit card for free admission to 150 museums one weekend per month throughout 2011? Nice deal!  Details here

DELTA GROWTH FOCUS: LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA. “To really comprehend Delta’s international growth, consider that in 1996 — the year that Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympics — Delta flew to only 12 international destinations out of Atlanta. Today, it is flying to 79 international destinations out of ATL. Historically, Delta had been focused on European destinations out of Atlanta. Then it increased its service to Latin America. And recently it has discovered the opportunities that exist in Africa. Click here to read Maria Saporta’s interesting analysis of Delta’s international growth.

King Khalid Airport - Saudi Arabia, Riyadh (Photo: xsix - Flickr)

SKYTEAM INVADES MIDDLE EAST. SkyTeam is on a growth spurt of late with news breaking this month that Saudi Arabian Airlines and MEA, Middle East Airlines of Lebanon, have plans to join in 2012. The two airlines will fill a major white space in the alliance network since there are no Middle Eastern carriers in SkyTeam at the moment. This is somewhat of a first as there are few airlines in the region that have joined a global alliance. Two modern hubs at Riyadh and Beirut will ease connections in the Gulf and the Levant regions respectively. While at first glance the two airlines may raise some travelers’ eyebrows, both have excellent safety records, strong route networks, and high service standards.

THE MOST POPULAR TICKET POST OF 2010?? Silver Medallions, Million Milers, What’s your Beef? From June 17. We are STILL getting comments almost weekly on this post.

ANOTHER AMEX>SKYMILES TRANSFER BONUS. American Express, Membership Rewards members can transfer points to Delta SkyMiles accounts and earn a 30 percent bonus on points transferred. There is no limit to the number of points that can be moved over so this is a nice way to top off your SkyMiles account with some extra points. A small fee to offset the federal excise tax is imposed, but it is more than worth the price considering the bonus miles awarded. Details. This deal is not as lucrative as the one we included in December. But if you missed out, go for it!

LAUNDRY LIST. Loyal SkyMiles members know that the SkyMiles Clothing Care network is a mileage-earning staple. There is no sign up charge and new members earn a bonus. Earn SkyMiles for every dollar spent at participating dry cleaners in your area by visiting www.SkyMilesClothingCare.com. Can’t find one nearby? Print the form on the web site and submit it with your next batch of dry cleaning to encourage your local dry cleaner to participate.

BOINGO FOR SKYMILES. Most frequent users of Boingo’s extensive international Wi-Fi network are champions of the service. And now, Delta SkyMiles members can rack up 500 SkyMiles for signing up for an unlimited access account. The service provides unlimited access at thousands of airports, hotels, restaurants, and public access. Members regularly save significant amounts if traveling and logging on frequently. Visit http://www.boingo.com/sales/skymiles.

SMALL BIZ BONUS. Own a small business or handle the travel plans for your company? Then you need to know about Delta’s Sky Bonus program (if you don’t already) designed to reward small businesses AND individual travelers. All that is needed is a tax ID number to sign up. Both the company and the passenger earn points for their flights. This double dip enhances the incentive to fly with Delta and offers awards like free tickets, Sky Club passes, and in-flight beverage/headset coupons for redemption. Between now and February 28, SkyBonus is offering a promotion for companies based in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania (Details). Earn a free roundtrip flight after signing up and flying one trip plus other bonus prizes.  Atlanta-based travelers with a company based in NY, NJ, CT, and PA are eligible for this promotion.

VACATION BOOKING BONUS. Consider stopping by Delta Vacations’ Talkin Travel blog (blog.deltavacations.com) before booking to read travel experiences and tips from others who have booked combined air and hotel packages with this Delta affiliate. For social media fans, follow Delta Vacations on Facebook or Twitter for a chance to win a gift card redeemable for a Delta Vacations package. Medallion members can even earn up to 2,000 bonus miles when booking a vacation package at DeltaVacations.com between now and Feb. 28. Often, these hotel and flight packages can be cheaper than booking them independent of each other so be sure to compare prices before booking. Booking luxury packages adds up to even bigger bonuses.

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Delta's BusinessElite seats on transcon B757 flights between California and New York

MORE FIRST CLASS. This week Delta announced it will install 13 percent more first class seats on its domestic aircraft, noting that this will improve the upgrade chances of Medallion members and provide a boost to its bottom line. MD-88 aircraft will go from 14 to 16 seats up front while the MD-90 will go from 12 to 16. The Boeing 757 will see a boost from 24 to 28 seats while the 13 domestic Boeing 767s will get an extra row up front creating a jump from 24 to 30 seats. Good news: Seat pitch in coach won’t be affected.  Delta will make room on its MD-88s and MD-90s by removing rear galleys. On the others, it will remove closets to make way for more first class seats.

BLACKBERRY LOVE FROM DELTA. Delta’s new Blackberry app is now live and can be downloaded from the Blackberry AppWorld Store or by visiting delta.com/app. Similar to the iPhone app, this mobile tool allows you to search flight schedules, check in for a flight, get an electronic boarding pass, monitor your SkyMiles balance, and check flight and gate status. Plans are under way to allow acceptance of a new itinerary when a delay occurs or to choose alternate flight options. Glad to see Blackberry users were not forgotten in the iPhone craze! Delta says that an Android app is in the works, but there is no date set for release.

(Photo: Nemo / Flickr)

HEARTIER FARE AT SKY CLUBS. Delta Sky Club members have something to look forward to on their next visit. New food offerings include hot oatmeal in the morning hours and hot soup for the remainder of the day. It is unclear whether these additions are permanent changes or simply a winter treat, but according to club agents, customer response has been overwhelmingly positive. They also report that members are strongly in favor of providing heartier items such as soup to complement the healthier (but lighter) vegetable tray and fruits already on offer.

GET READY FOR THE DELTA UP SELL. During Delta’s recent investor presentation, executives indicated that delta.com would be an important component in the company’s goal to boost revenue. Already in place are numerous opportunities for users to buy Sky Club passes, hotel and car rental offers, and travel insurance. Starting sometime next year, Delta is expected to make more attempts to “up sell” customers during the booking process on Delta.com. It could work something like this: Let’s say you buy an ATL-SFO coach roundtrip for $600…delta.com will say, hey, if you pay $198 more, we can put you in first (since that is the cost for a deeply discounted first class fare vs. the refundable Y fare you purchased). Simply put, Delta hopes to up sell you to a higher fare class by showing you the difference if you’re “close.” If you buy a deeply discounted $200 ticket, it won’t say, “Hey, if you pay $800 more, you get first class”… because you obviously weren’t interested in purchasing a premium fare to begin with. Good or bad idea? LET US KNOW! Leave your comments below.

(Photo: Drewski2112 / Flickr)

BRAZIL BOUND? SkyMiles members can now take advantage of a new partnership with Brazilian airline Gol by redeeming and earning miles on the carrier. As one of the largest airlines in Brazil (it now owns the shrunken assets of Varig Airlines, once the country’s flag carrier), Gol flies an extensive domestic network in addition to having a heavy presence in regional and continental markets. While it’s considered a low-fare carrier (the “Southwest Airlines of Brazil”), it does offer a premium-economy-like product on select routes. Those flying Gol and crediting miles to SkyMiles between now and Feb. 28 can take advantage of a special triple miles bonus offer. Be sure to register at delta.com/brazilbonus. (Note: Your TICKET editor will travel to Brazil in January to take a peek at the this Latin American economic juggernaut. Tips and advice are welcomed! chris@travelskills.com)

DO FLY FOR ME ARGENTINA. Speaking of South America, SkyTeam just got a boost now that Aerolineas Argentinas has applied for membership to the Delta-led alliance. It will be the first South American partner for SkyTeam; South America was deemed to be a “white spot” for the alliance with little presence in comparison with Star Alliance and oneworld. Aeromexico is SkyTeam’s major Latin American partner, and the addition of Aerolineas Argentinas (which is undergoing a major rebranding to improve its once flailing image following its former ownership by Spanish company Grupo Marsans) will bring a strong presence for Delta flyers heading south of the Equator.

ROLLING OVER. How many MQMs have you earned this year? Remember that MQMs over a certain tier level now roll over to the following year. This benefit helps members achieve Medallion status faster and also encourages choosing Delta even after you’ve reached your desired Medallion tier. Remember, you have until Dec. 31 at midnight to rack in those last few MQMs. But there’s still that lingering question…if you fly overnight on 12/31/10 and land on 1/1/11, in which year do the MQMs post? The answer: 2010!

Frank & Jacob (Photo: Delta Air Lines)

NEED SOME JUICE? Running low on battery power? Your next Delta flight may be better thanks to new power pole stations the airline is installing at each of its gates in Atlanta. The new charging stations will provide numerous outlets close to the gate area so you don’t need to stray far to juice up before your flight. No more hunting under chairs or behind garbage cans for the coveted power outlet. The $4.3 million investment from Delta for these charging stations will cover polls at Atlanta, JFK, and more than a dozen other major airports. Plans are underway to install these in the coming year.

DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU ARE READING? PLEASE HELP THE TICKET INCREASE READERSHIP! Think of it as your holiday gift to us! Just copy and paste the following message into an email to your frequent traveling family and friends: >> Hey there: You should check out The TICKET, a blog I always take the time to read and one that always provides a tip or two I have not read anywhere else. It’s free. There’s no spam. You’ll get 2-3 emails a month from them. Check it out and subscribe here: http://www.theticket-atlanta.com <<

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One of Delta's new Embraer Jets (credit: Christopher Ebdon / Flickr)

DELTA BRINGS WI-FI TO REGIONAL JETS. Delta is bringing wireless Internet access to its fleet of 70-90 passenger EMB-170, CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 Delta Connection aircraft. This industry first for a U.S. carrier will help ease the pain of flying on those smaller, cute-but-cramped “Barbie jets” (as we like to call them around here). Anyway, don’t expect to enjoy the free Wi-Fi that Google is offering during the holiday season on Delta mainline flights. Retrofits will begin next month and should take all year to complete as each aircraft takes its turn getting the antennas. As of now, each of Delta’s mainline aircraft is fitted with wireless Internet. Both Air Tran and Delta offer 100 percent Wi-Fi equipped planes keeping Atlanta travelers connected in the air. I’m glad to know that Wi-Fi’s an option on Delta’s RJs, but I rarely use it for flights less than two hours. And have you tried to open up and work on a laptop on a Barbie jet? Maybe Delta’s doing this for those using tablets and PDAs… What do YOU think? Leave your comments below.

DELTA PREMIUM ECONOMY. As reported earlier in The TICKET, Delta is reportedly introducing a new premium economy product on its international aircraft. More rumors have emerged hinting that it will be closer to United’s Economy Plus product rather than a separate cabin with individual service–  with more leg room, but no different than the rest of the economy cabin. While details are still being fleshed out, it’s certain that there will be a slight premium to purchase these seats, but Delta’s Medallion and SkyTeam Elite/Elite Plus members will likely be able to select seats in these rows without a fee.

MAJOR MEMBERSHIP REWARDS BONUS OPPORTUNITY. Participants in American Express’ Membership Rewards program can take advantage of one of its best mileage transfer deals ever this month. Move points from the AMEX program to SkyMiles and receive a 50% bonus on miles plus 25,000 MQMs if transferring 50,000 points or more.  A small fee is incurred when transferring miles. Hurry, the promotion ends Dec. 15. https://www.delta.com/pet/gofarther/pet/main

CONTRIBUTE TO TO A CAUSE, EARN MQM MILES. Check this out! SkyMiles members hoping to top off accounts with Medallion Qualifying Miles this year can donate to a variety of causes, including AID Atlanta, and earn 2500-5000 MQMs. Not bad! Details.

DOUBLE SKYMILES ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. Bonus SkyMiles abound this winter especially for international travelers. To celebrate Delta’s joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia, it’s offering double miles no matter what class of service is flown. Registration is required: https://www.delta.com/pet/transatlanticdouble/pet/main. Routes include JFK-Brussels, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Madrid, and Manchester; Dallas/Ft. Worth-Amsterdam; Houston-Amsterdam and Paris; and Seattle-Paris among others. You might have to take a circuitous route, but you’ll rack up miles twice as fast on transatlantic trips thanks to this excellent deal.

GOLD MEDALLION = SKYTEAM ELITE PLUS. Delta insiders have told The TICKET that it will be making a major change to the Gold Medallion frequent flyer elite level in March 2011 when it elevates the tier to SkyTeam Elite Plus status. This puts SkyTeam in line with other alliances like Star Alliance, which consider flyers with 50,000 annual miles to be in their alliance’s highest tier. Privileges of SkyTeam Elite Plus include increased baggage allowance with some carriers and access to any SkyTeam carrier’s lounge when traveling on an international SkyTeam ticket (no matter the class of service). NOTE: Remember to always carry your Medallion card as it is required to gain entry in conjunction with a same-day departing SkyTeam boarding pass.

DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU ARE READING? PLEASE HELP THE TICKET INCREASE READERSHIP! Think of it as your holiday gift to us! Just copy and paste the following message into an email to your frequent traveling family and friends: >> Hey there: You should check out The TICKET, a blog I always take the time to read and one that always provides a tip or two I have not read anywhere else. It’s free. There’s no spam. You’ll get 2-3 emails a month from them. Check it out and subscribe here: http://www.theticket-atlanta.com <<

NEW “LITE” VERSION OF SKY CLUB? Rumors are in the air about a new concept dubbed “Sky Club Lite,” which would be a scaled-down version of the existing Sky Club product in cities that may not be able to justify the expense of a full-service Sky Club. While still under consideration, the club will most likely be “unmanned,” and offer a self-service drink and snack station. No decisions have been made regarding what the product would be and how it would be accessed if implemented. Fifteen airports across the system are reportedly under consideration for the offering, but no official date has been set for a decision. This concept was in use in the 1980s when airlines offered private club rooms to premium customers who accessed them by entering a pin code at the door.

SKY CLUB COMING TO ATL CONCOURSE D. Sky Club members have something else to look forward to in the coming year: Delta is apparently building a Sky Club in ATL’s D Concourse. The concourse is served by Delta Connection regional jets, and is the only terminal at the airport that lacks a SkyClub. Previously, passengers had no lounge option when flying from D gates, but the new club will provide a self-service bar and snack stations. The club will be located on the ground level near departure gates, but no completion date has been set.

Note the iPads at each table in this mock up of Delta's Bar Brace at La Guardia

HIGH TECH GATE GRUB AT JFK. Delta has installed special iPad kiosks near boarding gates 15, 21 and 22 at JFK that allow passengers to place orders at various gourmet eateries in the terminal for guaranteed delivery within ten minutes at the gate. Special seating areas near the gate feature charging stations and allow you to enjoy an expedited meal near the gate rather than take too much time in the actual restaurant. Expect similar service at New York LaGuardia (gates 1 and 2) sometime next spring.

CAR SERVICE IN NYC. Nothing is worse than flying up to NYC during the winter and facing an hour-long wait in a taxicab queue. At this time of year, we ALWAYS use a car service. The cheapest one with the most reliable service that we’ve used over the years: Dial 7. Memorize its number: 212-777-7777. Rates from airport to city typically run only $5 or so more than taxi fares. Cars are not always brand new and shiny, but they get the job done. Many times you can call as soon as you land and get a car at the last minute, but we recommend a reservation.  DO YOU USE A CAR SERVICE? If you’d like to recommend others, please do so in the comments box below.

DELTA EXPANDING OUT WEST. Delta is boosting its point-to-point network further with the addition of B737 nonstop flights between Las Vegas and Orange County beginning in January.

NEW SKYTEAM PARTNERS. In 2012 both Garuda Indonesia and Aerolineas Argentinas will join the SkyTeam alliance. Despite a spotty safety record,  Garuda has made a big turnaround recently and was named the “World’s Most Improved Airline” in 2010 by SkyTrax. It’s been a somewhat bumpy ride for Aerolineas Argentinas in recent years, too, which lead to a nationalization (and stabilization) of the carrier two years ago.

VIETNAM? ROMANIA? GET A BONUS. Speaking of SkyTeam, travelers flying on two of the alliance’s newest members, Vietnam Airlines and TAROM Romanian Airlines, can take advantage of a unique promotion that offers 3,000 bonus SkyMiles for your first roundtrip international flight on either of the airlines. Registration is required at https://www.delta.com/pet/tarombonus/pet/main for TAROM and https://www.delta.com/pet/vietnambonus/pet/main for Vietnam Airlines. Both members joined the alliance this past summer and offer excellent award availability for those looking to redeem frequent flyer miles. Unfortunately, the only way to find out which flights are available for award redemption is by calling Delta directly as delta.com does include these partners yet.

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I knew that headline would grab you!

This fall, British Airways is giving away 250 round trip tickets from New York to anywhere in the world it flies.

How do YOU get one? First, you must be an entrepreneur or small business owner eager to expand your business overseas. And you have to submit a short essay or video explaining how that free ticket would aid in your expansion.

That’s it!

If your video or essay is chosen by BA, you’ll get a free trip from New York to London, where you’ll meet up with the 250 other winners for a one-day networking event with a variety of venture capitalists, small business experts and media. From London, you’ll fly to any destination in the world where BA flies, and then back to New York. (Details here)

Last year, BA ran a similar program and I was lucky enough to get invited to be there at Kennedy Airport in New York when the first batch of entrepreneurial essayists boarded a 747 bound for London and beyond.

I’ve been writing about business travel for almost 20 years and I have to say that I’d never experienced anything quite like this. (See Video)

Read the rest of this entry »

Fall is the time when you just might find a few empty seats on planes.

SIGH OF RELIEF. Ah, fall! If the madding crowds of tourists have knocked you around this summer, relief is on the way. Over the next few weeks, packed planes, sold out hotels, lines at the breakfast bar and shrieks and squeals in the hotel pool area should subside. Airlines and hotels are already rolling out the fall deals and discounts, which is a signal to me that they’re a little skittish about declining demand. That means lower prices, more deals and some welcome breathing room for travelers.

Delta's new 747 BizElite seat

NEW BIZ ELITE SEATS AT DELTA. Delta announced that it will introduce yet another version of BusinessElite when it re-vamps interiors on it’s fleet of Boeing 747 starting next year. (I don’t know about you, but I get excited every time I see a big ole Delta 747. There’s just something about that plane that makes me feel great about flying!) Anyway, the new seat appears to be a cross between Delta’s herringbone BizElite pattern on its 777′s and the boxier 1-2-1 configuration on its 767′s and 757′s. Can’t wait to hear what TICKET readers think once the seat’s installed— but it won’t be here until next summer. In the meantime, if you ride on a Delta 747, you’ll get an old Northwest recliner in business class. (More photos here)

TRIPLE A+ CREDITS ON AIRTRAN. Buy a round trip between now and September 6 and you’ll earn triple A+ Rewards credits on AirTran. This means you’ll earn six A+ Rewards credits for every nonstop round trip originating in Atlanta and flown by November 17, 2010, instead of the standard two A+ credits. (PLEASE buy your ticket via links from here on The TICKET! Look down or to the right!>>)

$800+ ATL-NEWARK? Guess what’s happened since AirTran left the ATL-Newark market in the hands of Delta and Continental? Midweek trips ATL to EWR are now $800+! Stay over a weekend, or fly to La Guardia (where they compete with AirTran and American) and you’ll pay only $200-$300. Amazing! Check for yourself. (Below is a screenshot from a mid-October, Monday-Wednesday itinerary.) Make us wonder what will happen to ATL-Miami nonstop fares when AirTran exits that market on Oct 7. We’ll see….

COMP UPGRADES FOR SOME. SkyMiles Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion members (sorry, Silvers!) are now eligible for complimentary upgrades when traveling on frequent flyer award tickets. (Keep in mind that those who’ve actually paid for tickets get first priority, so it’s probably going to be tough to get at upgrade to/from ATL…but you never know…)

NEW WAY TO PAY AT ATL. The West economy lot has always been my favorite place to park at ATL. For a while there, it was almost a secret. But that cat got out of the bag long ago. Anyway…the airport is experimenting with a new credit card in/out payment system at the West lot. It’s a fully automated system where you enter the same credit card when you arrive and when you exit the lot—no need to collect and keep track of a paper ticket anymore. Expect to see the new system roll out airport wide sometime next year.

Delta's iconic, but dilapidated Worldport at JFK will soon disappear

DELTA TO DEMOLISH JFK WORLDPORT. Most ATL-based fliers only use JFK as a last resort— and for good reason. Delta’s dilapidated, ex-Pan Am Worldport facility there is a disgrace.  Good news: it will soon be demolished and Delta will move international flights to an updated Terminal 4. Not so good news: Delta’s holding on to its mediocre Terminal 2 for domestic flights. The two terminals will be connected by a very long enclosed walkway. (Note: Your TICKET editor arrived at JFK at Terminal 4 last week and found the immigration and customs process and facilities outstanding—truly set to international standards.)

FREE WI-FI ACROSS THE BAY. San Francisco International has finally joined Oakland and San Jose airports offering FREE Wi-Fi throughout the airport. Log on and look for the “sfo free wifi” network.

(Many of these items come from my Twitter feed. You’ll get more frequent updates by following me on Twitter.)

ICELAND ANYONE? Delta adds new 757 nonstops JFK-Reykjavik Iceland starting June 1, 2011. This is a great SkyMiles redemption idea! I’ve always wanted to go there…and hope that they can keep the volcanoes at bay until I do!

AIRTRAN EXITS QUAD CITIES. AirTran will eliminate nonstops between ATL and Quad Cities/Moline on November 30.

BUY ELITE SEATS. No longer an elite level on American Airlines? Now you can buy many elite privileges per flight with its new “Express Seats” plan. Example: Pay $29 extra when you check in for ATL-DFW and you’ll get a coach seat near the front and early boarding. Details. Worth it?

AIRTRAN UPS BAG FEE. Starting this month, AirTran will now charge $20 for the first checked bag, up from $15. Not such great news for travelers, but it’s good news for AirTran— the higher fee is expected to net the carrier an additional $63 million per year!

(photo: Riptheskull / Flickr)

HOLIDAYS ALREADY? Yep. Time to pull out the calendar and make those reservations. Based on previous peak seasons, we expect the lowest Thanksgiving fares on Monday, Nov 22 and Friday, Nov 26. You’ll get the lowest Christmas fares on Tuesday, Dec 21 and Tuesday, Dec 28. Other days around the holidays are going to be expensive this year, so don’t lolly-gag– when you see a fare that seems fair, book it!

GETTING TOUCH-FEELY. Most travelers know by now that they can opt for a pat down instead of going through those new full-body scanners. Now the TSA says that it’s “enhancing” the procedure to allow screeners to use their hands where they previously used just the backs of their hands. Sounds fun! Details

DELTA IS HIRING. Delta recently said that it’s hiring up to 1000 new workers to help cope with near record loads and it’s rapid expansion.

GOOD GRUB HUB. Sometimes I get tired of all the fancy meals on the road and long for a good, simple, cheap meal. The new Taxi Gourmet blog helps me do just that: the blogger interviews taxi drivers in NYC and elsewhere to get the skinny on good local eats.

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AIRTRAN AND DELTA REPORT PROFITS. The two largest carriers at ATL reported second quarter profits, which is great news for the ailing airline business. But it’s not such great news for travelers who are paying substantially more than they were this time last year. For example, AirTran says that its average one-way fare in the second quarter increased 10 percent to $97. Overall, summer airfares are 24 percent higher than last summer according to Bing Travel.

FEES HERE TO STAY. Airline revenue from ancillary fees totaled $7.8 billion in 2009, a 42 percent increase from 2008. That fat number includes $2.7 billion in checked bag fees, $2.4 billion from reservation change fees and $2.7 billion from miscellaneous fees. Delta alone raked in  $1.6 billion from ancillary charges in 2009.

MORE AIRPORT PERKS FOR AMEX PLATS. If you fork over $450 per year for your American Express Platinum card, your benefits just got better– cardholders now get access to US Airways airport clubs, as well as those from American, Delta and Continental airlines.

DELTA BEEFS UP IN NYC & DC. Stung by the feds disapproval of its slot-swap scheme with US Airways, Delta is nonetheless charging forward toward its goal of “dominating the New York market.” Beginning Sept. 7 it planes to add flights from New York (either LaGuardia or JFK) to  Nashville, St. Louis, Norfolk, Richmond,  Kansas City, San Antonio, Cleveland, Charlotte, Orange County, Baltimore, Montreal and Toronto. More details. And don’t forget that Delta recently expanded its Delta Shuttle operation with 11 new daily flights (and fat mileage bonuses) between New York-LaGuardia and Chicago O’Hare. Delta’s also expanding at Washington Reagan National airport with a total of 22 destinations served, up from the current 16.

GET DELTA HELP VIA TWITTER. If you are one of those whose eyes glaze over at the mention of Twitter, consider this: Delta has wrangled a team of social media and customer service reps to try and solve problems via Twitter. Delta asks that users to “tweet your questions, comments, concerns, praise – we love praise ; ) – etc. to @DeltaAssist.” And as long as you are on Twitter, be sure to follow my updates! @cjmcginnis

TIRED OF BAD COFFEE IN THE SKY OR ON THE ROAD? Our new sponsor Starbucks VIA plans to help out good-coffee-starved TICKET readers with an exclusive giveaway in a coming issue. Stay tuned!

Virgin America A320 Interior (Photo: Crucially / Flickr)

VIRGIN AMERICA TO ATLANTA? Don’t get your hopes up yet, but sassy California startup Virgin America just picked up 40 new Airbus jets at the Farnborough Air Show and is looking to expand to several major business travel markets over the next year. For example, it just announced new flights between SFO, LAX and Orlando. “Atlanta is definitely on our prospective cities list,” said Virgin spokesperson Abby Lunardini when contacted by The TICKET. If Virgin jumped into the Atlanta market, it would likely add flights to both San Francisco AND Los Angeles (LAX) where it operates nearly as many flights as it does at its home base at SFO. Would YOU fly Virgin America if it came to Atlanta, or would you stick with Delta and/or AirTran? LET US KNOW! Leave your comments below.

APPLE TO THE RESCUE. There’s a very helpful new iPhone application from the TSA that allows users to check airport security wait times and flight delays in real time.

FREAKISH FEES? While Congress and the airlines battle it out on Capitol Hill over new fees and transparency, the smart folks over at TripAdvisor have fashioned a very helpful “fees estimator” to its search engine– allowing users to enter the number of bags they plan to check as well as their frequent flyer program affiliation and status. Then the site calculates the TOTAL fee you’d pay and presents it for comparison on a matrix. Nice! See www.tripadvisor.com/flights and try it yourself.

AMERICAN BACK ON ATL-LGA. Earlier this month, American Airlines launched five daily roundtrips between ATL’s Concourse T and New York’s close-in La Guardia airport. It’s using smaller CRJ-700 “Barbie jets” on the route, but they all have first class sections, which helps. From now through September 30, AAdvantage members earn double miles. Register at www.aa.com/offers

HEATHROW EXPRESS DISCOUNTS. The fast and easy rail link between London’s Heathrow airport and Paddington station is half price (9 pounds instead of the normal 18) for groups of two or more through Sept 5. Details here.

EASIER SEAT SEARCHES. We love us some Seatguru.com when trying to pick the perfect seat for a long international or transcon flight. In the past it was tough because there are so many different configurations flying around out there. Seatguru’s solved that by letting you enter your airline flight NUMBER first, which means you’ll always see the exact layout of your flight.

THE TICKET GOES TO NBTA. Your TICKET editor will be hitting the tradeshow floor and checking out all the latest news and trends at the annual National Business Travel Association convention in Houston this August. Stay tuned for reports and videos! Interesting: I booked a standard car from Enterprise for three days in Houston via Hotwire for just $104 all in. Not bad, considering Hertz wanted a whopping $375 for the same car class!

RADICAL DESIGNS ON COACH CLASS. Check out this well done CNN video report on Air New Zealand’s radical designs on coach class seating for long haul flights.

WATCH THOSE VALUABLES. A 47-year-old Air France flight attendant is facing 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to stealing from business class passengers sleeping on long haul flights. She targeted passengers who would fall asleep after a big meal with lots of alcohol.

AIRTRAN TO THE D.R. AirTran will fly to another warm-weather destination, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, starting February 16. Punta Cana is closer to the D.R.’s increasingly popular all-inclusive resorts and is easier to navigate than Santo Domingo, the capital. And in case you are geographically challenged, the D.R. shares the island if Hispaniola with Haiti. It’s located between Cuba (to the west) and Puerto Rico (to the east). It’s AirTran’s fifth Caribbean destination. No word yet on fares.

NEW AIRPORT IN INDIA. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport just opened Terminal 3, a much needed 6.4 million square foot addition that includes 78 gates and 168 check in counters.

Delhi's new Terminal 3 welcomes travelers this week. (Photo: AP)

DELTA + GOL. Delta and Brazil’s GOL Airlines have linked the SkyMiles and SMILES programs allowing members to earn miles on both carriers. Redemptions are expected later this year.

SADNESS OF THE SILVERS. We received quite a lot of responses to our post about Silver status with SkyMiles. Check them out here—by far the longest list of comments we’ve EVER seen on The TICKET.

DOUBLES AT HILTON. HHonors members earn double points OR double airline miles for each stay between now and September 30, but you must register first.  (As always with Hilton, you earn both airline miles and HHonors points at qualifying rates, but in the case of this promo, you must choose which one you want to earn the bonus.)

VACATION BARGAINS? If you are still wondering where you’d like to go for a summer break, consider Florida where hotel prices have crashed due to the oil spill, even though most beaches remain unaffected. Expedia reports that average daily rates crashed nearly 30 percent in popular summer destinations such as Miami, the Florida Keys, Ft Lauderdale and New Orleans. On the other hand, don’t expect the place to be deserted. Smith Travel Research reports that hotel occupancy in the region was up 7 percent in June year-over-year and will be up around 4 percent in July.

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Singapore Air's business class "seat" looks more like a sofa!

Remember last year when everyone thought that no one would fly in the front of the plane again…forever? Times they are a changin’! And for the better if you are a frequent international business traveler.

Check out what American Express found when looking at its first quarter data:

Historically there has been close to an even split of passengers flying businesses class versus economy for International travel.  However during the heart of the recession last year – particularly in the second quarter of 2009 – the percentage of tickets booked in business class hit its lowest rate at 36%.  As the trending now shows, percentage rates are on the rise, indicating travelers are moving back to the front of the plane.

>  Q1 2010 International Business Class – 41%

>  Q1 2009 International Business Class – 39%

>  Q1 2008 International Business Class – 51%

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ONE FEE DOWN. Many more to go… Finally, a little bit of good news when it comes to airline fees. Matching a recent move by United, Delta recently eliminated its irritating $75-$150 fee for award trips booked within 21 days of departure. It was one of those fees that you paid and thought, “Now wait a minute here…how can it possibly cost Delta more for me to book a trip inside that window?”  (In typical fashion the email from Delta said that it did this “based on customer feedback”…but to me it was clearly a competitive move as Delta sees the combined United/Continental breathing down its neck…)

ANOTHER FEE UP. At the same time that Delta nipped those fees for close-in award bookings, it RAISED its fee for changes to frequent flyer award itineraries—  to $150 from $100. Grrr.

SEATTLE: DELTA’S NEW PACIFIC HUB. Remember when you had to fly to Portland to get across the Pacific on Delta? That changed a while back, but the idea of a trans-Pac hub is back in vogue. Delta recently inaugurated new 767 nonstops between SEA and both Osaka and Beijing and plans on adding more destinations.

Express Tram, Detroit-DTW's McNamara Terminal (Photo: Afagen / Flickr)

DETROIT: ONE STOP TO ASIA. If you are trying to get to Asia from Atlanta on Delta (and you can’t get routed via Tokyo on that nice new 777 with lie-flat biz class seats), it’s increasingly likely you’ll be routed through Detroit where the carrier now offers nonstops to Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. Good news: The international terminal the Delta inherited from Northwest at DTW is state-of-the-art and not a bad place to change planes at all. Plus, it’s got a really nice on-terminal Westin in case you get stuck there during a bad storm like your TICKET editor did last year.

DELTA/AMEX MEMBERSHIP REWARDS BONUS. Don’t forget that through June 30, American Express Membership Rewards members get a 25% bonus when converting their rewards points to Delta SkyMiles. Registration is required. (Note that Delta and Amex periodically offer this promo….offering anywhere from 15% to 40% bonuses. So no biggie if you miss it this time. It will be back.)

BAG FEE WAIVED. Delta recently announced that it’s waiving the first bag fee for those who charge tickets on Amex/SkyMiles Gold or Platinum credit cards. That’s a nice bone to throw to the masses angry about the new fees, and is especially appealing to families traveling together when those per bag fees really add up. A family of four checking four bags saves $200 round trip…more than enough to cover the annual fee for the card. Don’t think that Delta’s doing this out of generosity, though…insiders tell us that American Express is paying Delta the bag fees and charging it off as a marketing expense for obtaining new cardmembers. So I guess everyone wins!

MQM MILEAGE RUN ALERT:  DELTA SHUTTLE 3X. Delta’s pulling out the big marketing guns in its battle to win over flyers on the high-volume business route between New York and Chicago.  Here’s what I mean by big guns: It’s offering TRIPLE bonus miles AND triple Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQM) on its hourly shuttle flights between La Guardia and O’Hare from June 14-August 31. Let’s see, that’s 733 miles times 3, round trip …a whopping 4398 MQM’s. Not bad! (These Embraer 175 flights operate from Delta’s Marine Air Terminal at LGA.) It’s also offering the triple miles on shuttle flights between BOS, LGA and Washington National. Registration required.

REDEEMING ON DELTA. Delta’s taken a lot of flack recently for placing dead last among major carriers when it comes to success when redeeming frequent flyer miles. (To be fair, the much-discussed study by ezRez/IdeaWorks took only a small snapshot, June-October 2010.) Since Delta, like other airlines, won’t come out and say how easy or difficult it is to redeem its miles, it’s interesting that Delta inserted the following paragraph into a recent press release: “Last year, frequent flyers redeemed more than 230 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for more than 11 million award redemptions.  In 2009, 8.5 percent of revenue miles flown on Delta were for award travel, among the best of U.S. network airlines according to data filed in airlines’ 10-K annual reports.  Delta offers more ways to redeem frequent flyer miles than any other airline – including airline tickets, mileage upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, Delta Sky Club memberships, merchandise and more than 30 types of gift cards.” Agree or disagree? Is Delta really the worst when it comes to redeeming miles? What’s your experience? Do you have any comparisons? Please leave your comments below!

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FUEL SURCHARGE ATTEMPT IS A HARBINGER. In late April, Delta attempted a $20 roundtrip fuel surcharge—the first of which we’ve seen since November of 2008 when fuel prices were through the roof at about $150 per barrel. Oil crashed to about $50 per barrel a year ago. Now it’s approaching $85 and here come the surcharges. It’s not clear yet if Delta’s competitors will match the move. But even if they don’t and the price hike fails, you can expect Delta or another carrier to try again, and eventually succeed. Airfares are headed up and we expect a pricey peak summer season. If you plan to travel during the peak of the peak…roughly July 1-Aug 15, expect to pay significantly more than you did last year. About the only price break you can expect is if you have the flexibility to travel on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday, or take early morning or late night flights.

DELTA’S SKY PRIORITY: WHERE’S THE BEEF? So did you get the “introducing Delta Sky Priority” email from Delta telling you a bunch of stuff you already knew about your gold, platinum or diamond SkyMiles status? The email says that starting April 15, members get access to dedicated check in lines, expedited security lanes, priority boarding, faster bags and an exclusive reservations line. Ummm. So, didn’t you already get that stuff before April 15? Yes, you did. Delta’s just wrapped it all up in a new branding and airport signage message. They’ve even created a web site to tell you about it. Hey there Silver Medallions! Are you feeling a little left out? What do you get (or NOT get) for your 25,000 miles of loyalty? Compare here. Have you suffered the indignity of lower status on Delta due to travel cutbacks at your company? If so, please email us with your thoughts and experiences…we will include them in a future post in The TICKET. Send them to ticketatl@travelskills.com

BAG FEE FLAP. By now, everyone has heard about Spirit Airlines new $45 fee for carry-on bags that don’t fit under the seat in front of you. Our take: If the rule irks you, take your business elsewhere! However, there’s more to this story. When Spirit announced the new fee, it also cut its fares accordingly. As a result of the new low fares, CEO Ben Baldanza tells TheStreet.com its bookings have increased 50 percent. From Atlanta, Spirit flies to Ft Lauderdale and starting May 1, it will fly to Myrtle Beach.

AMERICAN BACK ON ATL-LGA. Starting this summer, American Airlines will re-enter the ATL-New York La Guardia market with 7x flights per day using Barbie Jets (CRJ-700) outfitted with both first class and coach seats. Big plus for AA: Flights depart from the quick and easy Concourse T at ATL.

American's CRJ 700 Jet (Photo: Caribb / Flickr)

DELTA ROUTE CHANGES. Delta has added summer season flights between NYC and Spain’s third largest city, Valencia, from May 28 through Oct 30. Might be an easier way to get to Europe using miles this summer… Also, Delta will terminate its new San Diego – Honolulu flights as well as Portland – Honolulu on August 10.  Delta’s also asked the DOT to allow it to wait until at least September 1 to resume nonstops from ATL to Shanghai, a route it opened with much fanfare in 2008, but quickly shuttered when the economy went sour. For now, Delta’s ATL customers must connect in Detroit to get to Shanghai.

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DELTA WI-FI. We are huge fans of in-flight Wi-Fi and consistently make our airline choice based on whether or not the flight has it. Luckily, AirTran’s got it fleet wide, and it’s increasingly common on Delta, which now has over 400 planes outfitted and should have it on its entire mainline fleet by the end of this summer. (Not bad, considering Delta’s first plane got it just 18 months ago.) All Delta A319s, MD88s, MD90s, 737s and 767-300s have it now, as do nearly all 757’s. About half of its A320’s have it. Interesting stat: Since the launch of inflight Wi-Fi in December 2008, more than 1 million customers have used Wi-Fi on Delta planes.

HAND LUGGAGE RULES EASED. Travelers to the U.S. from both the UK and Canada can now carry on TWO pieces of hand luggage. Travelers from both countries had been restricted to a single carry on since the attempted bombing of the Delta jet in Detroit on Christmas

AIRTRAN UP, DELTA DOWN IN QUALITY SURVEY. We’re not usually huge fans of the Airline Quality Rating survey published by Wichita State University professors based on a weighted average derived from DOT statistics.  But it always seems to get a ton of media attention, so here’s at least one interesting angle. AirTran placed second in the latest ranking for performance in 2009. Delta, on the other hand, placed 15^th out of the 18 airlines ranked. Coming in at 16^th and 17^th place were Delta partners Comair and Atlantic Southeast. (Hawaiian was #1; American Eagle #18) Question to readers: Is Delta really that much worse than AirTran? Or is AirTran really that much better than Delta? What’s been your experience? LET US KNOW! Leave your comments below.

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Asia’s got us beat when it comes to the world’s best airports.

Hong Kong is one of three “Five-Star” airports in the world according to SkyTrax, a well-respected international organization that ranks both airlines and airports based on surveys of thousands of frequent international business travelers from around the world.

For 2010, the only three airports to get “five star” status are Singapore-Changi, Seoul Incheon and Hong Kong Kong International. (Full report here)

On this side of the Pacific,  San Francisco International placed second in North America after Vancouver. SFO’s also the ONLY U.S. airport to place in the top 25 worldwide.

Have you ever flown through one of these “Five Star” airports? What did you think? How do they compare to other international or U.S. airports? Please leave your comments below.

FLIGHT CHECK: On a recent business trip to Asia, I flew via SFO to Seoul’s Incheon Airport on Korean Air and was VERY impressed with both airports. I made a two-minute video about that journey which included coverage of Incheon Airport. (See video below and note that Korean Air business class seats on 777s out of SFO are identical to the ones offered on its 777 nonstop from ATL to Seoul-ICN. They are nearly flat, but not completely flat. However, KAL says that it plans to have fully flat “Prestige Sleepers” on the ATL-ICN route in August.)

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