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InFlight
 
MacNair
InFlight                                                                                                               June 4, 2008  
In This Issue

      I.  MacNair's Free Webinar:
          From Vacations to Dream Trips
     II.  Important Travel News
    III.  Meet the Dream Trip Division's
          New Senior Manager    
    IV. Spotlight On....  What You 
          Really Hate About Flying    

II. Important Travel News
Airlines Up Fares for 16th Time This Year

Airlines continue to increase fares and search for new revenue streams to help them cope with soaring fuel prices. United Airlines initiated what was the 16th fare hike to stick since the beginning of the year, with fare increases that ranged from $10 to $60, depending on the route. Other legacy carriers—Continental Airlines, US Airways and Northwest—matched. American Airlines upped some fares and other carriers tacked on increases as well. Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, an airline comparison website, said that "airlines have no choice but to pass on the cost of fuel to consumers and when passengers do begin to push back in significant numbers the airlines have no choice but slash capacity by that same amount." (Source: FareCompare.com.)
 

MacNair Travel's extensive capability to book airline travel at the most cost effective rate comes from our robust and Award Winning Rate Search Method we call GoAwayDeals. Rest assured we will use all available resources to ensure each traveler receives the best fare for their flight schedule.

American Cuts Flights, Staff, Charges for First Checked Bag, Ups Other Fees

American Airlines said it would charge its passengers $15 for their first checked bag as well as cut domestic flights by 11 to 12 percent as part of its efforts to cope with fuel costs. At press time, no other carrier had followed American’s lead in charging for the first checked bag; Southwest Airlines, in fact, pointedly stated that it continues to let its customers check two bags—for free.
American, meanwhile, upped other fees, including those for oversized bags (from $10 to $15); ticket change fees from $100 to $150 for domestic tickets and from $100 to $200 to $150 to $250 for international tickets. It also upped its reservation service fee and AAdvantage Award ticket fees by $5 each to $20. US Airways took another tactic—it said it would eliminate free snacks, although it will continue to serve free soft drinks. In addition, Midwest Airlines said it would begin charging $20 to check a second bag. (Source: American, Southwest, Midwest Airlines press releases).
 

Travelers can expect baggage fees to be collected at the time of check-in or when their bags are presented at the airport.

Major Carriers Add All-Business Class International Service

The number of air travelers flying first or business class is dropping at increasingly faster rates, according to the International Air Transport Association, an industry group. And three transatlantic carriers that offered premium seating—MAXJet, Eos and, most recently, Silverjet—have ceased flying. But major carriers continue to experiment with the concept. Singapore Airlines has introduced all-business class flights between New York and Singapore. In October, Lufthansa will introduce all-business class service between Boston and Munich. That’s in addition to the all-business class service it operates between Chicago and Düsseldorf, Newark and Düsseldorf and Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. Meanwhile, on June 19, OpenSkies, a British Airways-backed carrier that has three classes of service but has allocated nearly two-thirds of the plane to premium seats, will begin to fly between New York and Paris. And L’Avion, the all-business class French carrier, is now code sharing with OpenSkies to offer three flights daily between Paris and JFK (Sources: IATA, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, OpenSkies and L’Avion press releases.)

Network Carriers Add International Flights, Low Cost Carriers Add Domestic

Some U.S. carriers are adding flights, many focusing on international routes. Northwest Airlines has begun flying between Memphis and Columbia, Mo., and began serving Taipei via Tokyo. Delta Air Lines began flying from New York to Georgetown, Guyana. On the domestic front, JetBlue has begun daily service from Boston's Logan International Airport to Chicago O'Hare and New Orleans. Southwest Airlines is adding flights from Denver to San Francisco and from Denver to Omaha in September. (Source: Northwest, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest press releases).

Hotels

Loews Hotels Introduces ‘Baggage Buy Back’ Program

In the wake of American Airlines’ new $15 fee for checking bags, Loews Hotels has introduced a new "Baggage Buy Back" incentive that will reimburse guests for their $15 checked baggage fee. Arriving guests simply present any airline bag fee receipt at the front desk to receive the rebate, which will be issued in the form of a credit to their bill at checkout. The Baggage Buy Back rebate is available at Loews' 18 properties in the U.S. and Canada, from June 15 through Labor Day, September 1st. Loews Hotels will offer credit for up to two bags for a maximum of $30 per occupied room per stay. (Source: Loews press release).

Sheraton, Microsoft Partner on New "Wired" Lobby

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Microsoft Corp. are partnering on "Link @ Sheraton," a communications hub for all Sheraton hotel lobbies this year. It includes free Wi-Fi and Internet-enabled computer stations, that will allow guests to email, search the Web, review local attractions and print boarding passes. Computers will provide visitors with search, maps, email and information. In addition, many Link computers will also feature webcams, allowing guests to have free video-chats or email video postcards back home. Guests will also have access to televisions, daily newspapers, and food and beverage offerings. (Source: Sheraton press release).
 

I. MacNair's FREE Webinar:

From Vacations to Dream Trips: Six Secrets to Purposeful Travel

Tuesday, June 10th – 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm EST (including Q&A)

Click Here to Register Online Now !!!

It’s a fact that Americans have the smallest amount of vacation time — so why waste it? During this one-hour webinar, CEO Mike MacNair gives you the tools to travel smarter and better. You will learn the secrets to a Dream Trip, and how to actualize these trips for a life filled with joy, success, and purpose.

Listen in from the comfort of your home or office to understand how you can improve your travel experiences, realize your dreams, and enjoy a greater return on your travel investment.

If you are unable to attend, feel free to pass this information along to the "dream trip travel arranger" in your life.

RSVP: Bethany Abbott – 703-650-5256 or babbott@macnairtravel.com.


III. Meet the Dream Trip Division's New Senior Manager

In early May, Mike MacNair proudly announced to the team that Ms. Ragga Evans would be joining us as the Senior Manager of our Dream Trips Division.

Ragga brings with her an impressive background in leisure travel, a wealth of experience in international travel, a worldly life history (she’s a native of Iceland, spent a dozen years in Okinawa, and built a home in Costa Rica), and a passion for our industry. Ragga literally has travel and hospitality in her blood – she grew up helping her parents run a B&B, chose to study travel (she holds a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management) and has made this a successful career for the past 12 years.

We are excited to have her on board as the leader of our Dream Trips Division. Ragga can be reached via e-mail at revans@macnairtravel.com - feel free to contact her for assistance on your next “dream trip.”
 


IV. Spotlight on....
What You Really Hate About Flying

It’s not the individual airlines that frustrate air travelers, according to a new Travel Industry Association (TIA) survey of air travelers. What irritates you most is the air travel process. The TIA survey of more than 1,000 air travelers found that the more you fly, the more frustrated you get.

  • 78% of air travelers believe the air travel system is either broken or in need of moderate correction
  • 62% percent believe the air travel system is deteriorating
  • 33% percent of air travelers are dissatisfied with the air travel system and 48 percent of frequent air travelers (those who do five trips or more per year) are dissatisfied
  • 39% percent feel their time is not respected in the air travel process and that increases to 51% among frequent travelers.

The TIA is blaming flight delays caused by an outdated air traffic control system as a fundamental cause of the aviation industry’s problems and is holding a summit later this month to push Congress to address the problem.


 

MacNair Travel is committed to providing you with useful information on the latest developments in the travel industry.  This information has been compiled from a variety of sources and is updated monthly.

 

As always, thank you for your business,

 

Michael MacNair

 

 


 

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MacNair Travel Management
Corporate Headquarters
Alexandria, VA Office
Travel and Cruises and Corporate
Travel Divisions
(ph) 703-836-1100
(fax) 703-836-2078
1-800-833-4382

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Group, Meeting and Incentive Travel
and Corporate Travel Divisions
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(fax) 202-496-9309
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American Express Travel Services Representative   © 2008 MacNair Travel Management