Great news for bold travelers: Joining the mile high club just got easier. Well, except for the fact that you won’t be a mile up in the air when you join. Dutch hotel company, Hotel Suites, has launched a new type of luxury accommodation: an airplane hotel suite that is as smooth, chic, and relaxing as your average stay at the spa.
Situated at the Teuge Airport (about 50 miles from Amsterdam) in the Netherlands, Vliegtuigsuite is crafted out of a 1960’s East German government plane from the Cold War that has been meticulously renovated into a modern luxury suite. Starting at 350 Euro per night (approximate $493, as of today’s date), this glamorous little suite has a modern king sized bed,a full bathroom and small kitchen, three flat-screen TVs, a Blu Ray player, a 24/7 hostess, free wireless internet, and includes breakfast.
You can chill with your co-pilot in the suite’s authentic cockpit, and if you and your guests feel like kicking into relaxation mode, try settling into the airplane’s sauna or Jacuzzi. Don’t worry about others knocking on the lavatory door — you have the whole plane to yourselves.
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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In light of 2009’s tug of war with fare sales and hikes, we are now seeing airlines back off from raising prices, according to Reuters.
American Airlines kicked off the first price increase of the year last week, and added $6-16 onto round-trip flights. The move was closely followed by Delta and Continental, according to farecompare.com.
But while dealing with the slightly depleted travel demand after the holidays, airlines reneged on the hike. Delta was the first to recoil, and American and Continental quickly followed suit.
What does this mean for travelers? Take advantage of the cheap airline tickets while they’re available.
Check out more reasons why 2010 is the year for air travel.
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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Photo Credit: Washington Post
In part of a $3 billion renovation, Washington Dulles International Airport will unveil its AeroTrain today. The new train system has taken eight years of digging and construction, and over a decade of planning. Its implementation will help passengers get to their gates more quickly.
Since 1962, the airport has been using “mobile lounges” which shuttle travelers back and forth. These shuttles will still be used for international arrivals within the D gates for now, according to the Washington Post.
The $1.5 billion move comes in anticipation for expanded traffic in the near future. Dulles’ major carrier, United Airlines has had an active role in the planning, since it is an airline that brings some of the heaviest traffic to the hub.
The new underground train spans nearly four miles long, and its 29 cars run 42 miles per hour. The estimated wait time for a train should be less than two minutes, and the proposed time between gates should last just over a minute.
The largest airport in greater Washington, Dulles has planned much more for its expansion. Two new parking garages, a fourth runway, a new control tower, and moving walkways that bring travelers within terminals A and B gates are all in the works. The airport is also expanding the Midfield Concourse, which will be home to redeveloped gates C and D. The details of this last project aren’t solidified yet, because the airport is still in talks with United Airlines as to how best to execute.
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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Take a stroll along the famous Amsterdam canals
Hey, students, this is one announcement you don’t want to miss: Cheapflights is teaming up with STA Travel for an exclusive savings on 2010 travel.
Starting January 26, 2010, students will receive $20.10 off any airline ticket purchase of $200 or more. We have highlighted some amazing deals to Europe, although there are no limits or restrictions on where you can travel. And don’t worry, there’s plenty to do for $20.10 in these destinations.
Los Angeles to Amsterdam from $685 roundtrip: If the Netherlands is Europe’s casual country, Amsterdam is the heart of havoc. Mixing pretentious with precarious, traveler’s book flights to Amsterdam with one thing in mind: a good time. For $20.10 you can get yourself some licorice tea and a cake, and have yourself a grand old time.
Don’t wait to take advantage of these great deals. This sale only lasts 48 hours. Enter promo code CF2010 to receive the discount.
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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Flyers can stretch out and sleep in economy class
Seems Air New Zealand heard the sleep calls from economy class consumers and is making a change. Air New Zealand will be reconfiguring their Boeing 777 cabins to make room for lie flat seats in economy seating. These lie-flat beds make that endless flight to Australia seem a little more relaxing.
The catch: You need to buy three seats to make use of the new economy class luxury. These seat changes will make a huge difference for flyers with economy-class airline tickets. Most flights to Australia offer lie-flat seats in first and business class cabins.
The “Skycouch” is three economy seats that unfold to create a space where people can stretch out and relax, and possibly sleep. While it’s necessarily to buy three seats together in order to make this happen, the airline said the price of a third seat will be about half the price of the second seat (a deal when you consider the stranger who might by the seat instead).
How does it work? Simple engineering (and a little creativity). The leg rests on each seat rise up to fill the space between rows of seats, and a thin mattress and full size pillows are provided for comfort. Air New Zealand says about a quarter of all longhaul economy seats will convert to Skycouches, taking up the first 11 rows in the economy cabin of the airline’s new Boeing 777-300 planes.
Maybe this new initiative is a sign of things to come in the airline industry…
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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Delta's Sky Club, Miami
Delta Air Lines will invest $1 billion over the next few years to upgrade its aircraft and enhance airport lounges. The world’s largest air carrier said it would spend about $300 million a year through mid-2013 on upgrades and enhancements.
So, just what can flyers expect? Full flat-bed seats for business-class travelers on 90 trans-oceanic aircraft and first-class cabins on 66 jets, which are currently operated by regional connection carriers. Delta also plans to upgrade the inherited Northwest planes, which include adding blue leather seats and introducing more overhead bin space.
Delta’s billion-dollar makeover will also include renovating and expanding its Sky Club lounge in Los Angeles, and opening new Sky Club locations in Seattle, Philadelphia and Indianapolis.
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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American Airlines will lay off 175 pilots and could furlough more, the airliner confirmed.
In a prepared statement, American said, “The impact of the economy and reduction in capacity over the last 18 months, coupled with lower than expected pilot attrition, has resulted in a pilot surplus. This was a painful but necessary decision, as this staffing adjustment will better align the size of our pilot organization with the size of our current operation.”
The furloughs will take place in two parts and will start with the layoff of around 80 pilots in March. The Allied Pilots Association, which represents about 11,000 American Airlines pilots, said the furlough will impact the least-senior pilots first, however, more senior pilots might choose to take a voluntary leave of absence, which would prevent junior pilots from being furloughed.
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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In a combined effort, the Department of Homeland Security and the International Air Transport Association have begun a campaign to have US-bound travelers from 35 countries around the world register online before they board their flight.
These countries include ones that don’t usually require their citizens to have visas, like the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany. The goal is to make sure that even passengers without visas will not pose a threat to the country or to other travelers.
The requirement starts on March 21, 2010, and the US Travel Association is concerned that people in those countries will not have heard about the rule before the date. The organization is hoping that the government will launch a widely-publicized statement, allowing the world to have time to catch up and make arrangements.
If airlines don’t comply to making sure each traveler has been properly registered, they could be charged up to $3,300 per person, according to USA Today.
The International Air Transport Association says that enforcing the rule now will give enough time for summer travel to go smoothly.
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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Soon to join the ranks of its neighbors San Jose and Oakland airports, San Francisco International Airport is on its way to getting full-service free wireless internet.
The deal, endorsed by the San Francisco City Purchaser, will potentially be approved tomorrow, and details are being worked out with the airport’s financial officials and T-Mobile. Possibilities for advertisements and sponsorship will be entertained, and there is not yet a timeline as to when the free Wi-Fi will be implemented.
Currently, travelers pay $7.99 to use wireless internet at the San Francisco airport.
Other airports around the country like Cleveland and Boston have recently begun offering free wireless, but San Francisco’s completion would be one of the biggest hubs in the country, which also requires some of the highest costs. Installation alone can amount to $90,000.
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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Delta nabbed Northwest; Continental switched alliances; JAL is in the middle of a custody battle and now, United CEO Glenn Tilton says there’s more to come. According to Chicago Tribunereporter Julie Johnsson, Tilton predicts there will be another airline merger during the next two years, thanks to close partnerships airlines are forging on international routes.
The Tribune writes Tilton “wouldn’t say directly if he expects Chicago-based United to be a party to any deal-making,” though United and Continental have been in talks for a few years. Rumors spread like wildfire last year when Continental left its SkyTeam alliance for Star Alliance, which is where United belongs entering. Since the affiliation with Star Alliance, United and Continental have announced partnerships that would allow the airlines to team up on international flights.
Could Tilton be predicting the airline industry in a few years? It’s possible things will shape up over the next two years as Continental settles into Star Alliance and Delta and Northwest forge their efforts into what is the largest airline in the world.
We’ll have to wait and see what develops, but in the meantime, there are discount airline tickets to be had and travels to be planned.
Written by Travel News on January 27th, 2010 with no comments.
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Great news for bold travelers: Joining the mile high club just got easier. Well, except for the fact that you won’t be a mile up in the air when you join. Dutch hotel company, Hotel Suites, has launched a new type of luxury accommodation: an airplane hotel suite that is as smooth, chic, and relaxing as your average stay at the spa.
