July 2009
In this issue...

• Better Airfares and More Upgrades with MacNair
• Secure Flight is Coming Soon
• Clear's Registered Traveler Program Ends
• More Coach Class Seats on the Way
• More Flights On-Time in May
• Delta, American Expand Paperless Mobile Check-in
• Delta Plans to Cut More International Routes
• Airlines Charge More to Pay Baggage Fees at Airports
• Hotel Industry Hits Turning Point; Growth is on Distant Horizon
• All-Inclusive Vacation Packages Have Never Been Better
• It's Not Too Late for Summer Travel!
  

BETTER AIRFARES AND MORE UPGRADES WITH MACNAIR

MacNair Travel is proud to announce a new program that will allow our consultants to offer you bigger discounts and more upgrades than ever before. This program includes everything from discounted fares on the Delta Shuttle (to complement our existing program with US Airways), to one-way upgrades from full fare economy class to business class and full fare business class to first class on a variety of international flights. Contact MacNair Travel today and take advantage of the better airfares and better upgrades that may apply.

SECURE FLIGHT IS COMING SOON

MacNair Travel has completed an extensive array of technology efforts to ensure that you, the traveler, have a smooth trip as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rolls out the next phase of watch list monitoring named Secure Flight. Secure Flight is a behind the scenes program that streamlines the watch list matching process. It will improve the travel experience for all passengers, including those who have been misidentified in the past. Now is the time for you to ensure that your travel profile with MacNair Travel is up to date, and contains the most accurate information possible to ensure that your travel plans are not derailed by extra security. Those of you with access to our online profile tool should login to MacNairport, then click on "Request Name Change" at the top of the screen to update your name and date of birth. Those of you without access to our online profile tool should click here to request a name change.

Additionally, you should contact any airline with whom you have a frequent flyer account to ensure that they have your name exactly as it now appears in your profile and on your legal ID. Click here to view our compiled list of frequent flyer program contacts.

For more information about Secure Flight, please visit the TSA Secure Flight website.

CLEAR'S REGISTERED TRAVELER PROGRAM ENDS

On Tuesday, June 23rd the Registered Traveler program operated by Clear ceased operations at the 18 airports in which it operated. The company did not provide advanced notification or a refund of its fees to its 250,000+ registered members. The company is taking steps to secure and delete the data, which includes not only detailed personal information, but biometric identification, such as fingerprints and iris scans. MacNair Travel advises customers who purchased memberships with Clear to dispute the charges with their credit card company. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer accept Clear cards to gain access to security checkpoints.

MORE COACH CLASS SEATS ON THE WAY

Airlines are rethinking the number of seats in their aircraft as they purchase new planes. They are looking at ways to put more people into the same space while avoiding any loss of comfort. American, Delta, Continental, and Alaska are among the airlines making these changes. The airlines are making these moves in an attempt to reduce their unit costs while updating their fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft that they will be able to use on a greater number of routes. Former corporate and business passengers are increasingly flying coach instead of first or business class as a result of the economic downturn. Carriers hope to be able to deal with more passengers in the future without having to purchase more planes.

Ryanair may soon allow passengers to fly for free if they are willing to stand up for short flights. Passengers would have access to bar stools to sit on. The airline is following the example of Chinese airline Spring, which had proposed a similar option using bar stools. (Source: Travel Weekly, Sky News)

MORE FLIGHTS ON-TIME IN MAY

In May, for the fourth time in five months, major U.S. carriers improved their on-time performance, according to statistics from the Transportation Department. The nation's 19 largest airlines operated 80.5% of flights on time, compared with 79% in May 2008. Baggage handling, customer complaints and flight cancellation numbers also showed improvement. (Source: ASTA SmartBrief)

DELTA, AMERICAN EXPAND PAPERLESS MOBILE CHECK-IN

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are now offering the option of checking in for flights using mobile phones. American has added this boarding option at Las Vegas McCarran International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Minneapolis-St. Paul International. American already offered mobil boarding on domestic flights from Chicago's O'Hare International, Los Angeles International and John Wayne Orange County airports. Delta customers can now use such passes on nonstop Delta, Northwest and Delta Connection flights out of Salt Lake City. Customers check in online and then opt for the mobile boarding pass. The program is being rolled out in partnership with the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA). To use such passes, you must have an active e-mail address so your boarding pass may be sent to you and an Internet-enabled mobile device where the 2-D barcode can be received. (Source: American, Delta press releases)

DELTA PLANS TO CUT MORE INTERNATIONAL ROUTES

The nine largest U.S. airlines cut their capacity by 8% in May, but reported traffic declines of 9.6% for the month. United reported the sharpest traffic decline for May, 14.4% and the deepest cuts, about 11.9%. Delta plans to shut down several more international routes this year, in an effort to match capacity with falling demand. Beginning in September, the company's next round of cuts is now expected to result in a 10% system capacity reduction for the year. The route cuts will include elimination of nonstops from the Cincinnati hub to Frankfurt and London, leaving Air France-KLM hubs of Amsterdam and Paris as Cincinnati's only European destinations. Atlanta-Seoul and Atlanta-Shanghai services will be suspended and replaced with service over the Detroit or Tokyo connecting hubs, or on other SkyTeam partner airlines. Flights to Mexico City from Detroit and Atlanta will also be reduced. Delta still plans to add other international routes to its network this year, including Los Angeles-Sydney; Salt Lake City-Tokyo; Detroit-Shanghai; New York-Prague; Pittsburgh-Paris; and Atlanta-Johannesburg.
(Source: Travel Weekly)

AIRLINES CHARGE MORE TO PAY BAGGAGE FEES AT AIRPORTS

United Airlines and US Airways are charging passengers an extra $5 if they pay their checked baggage fee at the airport. Currently, passengers who check in online with these two carriers and pay their checked baggage fee online will be charged $15 to check those bags. If passengers pay at the airport, however, that goes up to $20. United started the practice in June and US Airways put its policy into effect on July 9th. Check the airline websites for full details; if you booked before a certain date, that extra fee will not apply.
(Source: United, US Airways websites)

HOTEL INDUSTRY HITS TURNING POINT; GROWTH IS ON DISTANT HORIZON

The hotel industry will hit its cyclical low point in the third quarter of this year, according to PKF Hospitality research, ending the period of escalating declines that began in the third quarter of 2008. PKF looked at employment data - as goes employment, so goes lodging - pointing out that in May, Moody's Economy.com downgraded its outlook of a 2.9 percent national employment decline to 3.8 percent. Because of that, PKF expects that revenue per available room will decline 17.5 percent this year, and another 3.5 percent next year. That means that 2009 will be the weakest year the domestic lodging industry has ever seen and 2010 will be disappointing. However, the industry is now more than half way home towards a demand turnaround, according to R. Mark Woodworth, President of PKF Hospitality Research.

Meanwhile, STR Global reported that rates and occupancies in U.S. hotels continued dropping. In year-over-year comparisons, occupancy for the region in May dropped 12.2 percent to 55.7 percent; average daily rate dropped 10.3 percent to $98.47; and revenue per available room dropped 21.2 percent to $54.83.
(Source: PKF, STR Global press releases)

ALL-INCLUSIVE VACATION PACKAGES HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER

What comes to mind when you think about all-inclusive vacations? Well, how about beautiful beaches, hammocks, palm trees, ice cold beverages, swim up bars and a price that you know before you leave? That's all part of the all-inclusive experience and the best part is - MacNair Travel has packages to fit every budget! Our knowledgeable Dream Trip Designers have visited many of these resorts and have great information on all of them.

Whether you are looking for fine dining, pampering and the best accommodations or just a great location and moderate facilities, MacNair Travel can find all of the amenities that are important to you at a price that can't be beat! Please contact our experienced vacation specialists at 703-836-1101 and let us book your vacation today.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR SUMMER TRAVEL!

There is still space and it's not too late to enjoy stress relief, family time, relaxation and more this summer. From the Caribbean to Europe to Canada, we have great deals for you and your family to get away - and the best part is the prices are not too far off the cost of a week in Ocean City! Recovery is critical to peak performance, so be sure to take a summer or fall vacation. It will increase your energy levels and productivity through year end.

Great vacation values include:
Cancun Riviera Maya -Sandos Playacar Beach Resort, 3 nights all-inclusive with air - just $465!
Dominican Republic - Majestic Elegance Punta Cana, 4 nights all-inclusive with air - just $625!
Quebec - Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, 3 nights with air - just $979!
Las Vegas - Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, 3 nights with air - just $499!
Paris - Hotel Lutetia, 3 nights, airfare additional - just $615!
(Rates include airfare where noted, hotel, taxes, and transfers and are based on double occupancy. Subject to change and availability at time of booking.)

Do you have another destination in mind? Ask a MacNair Personal Travel Consultant to plan your Dream Trip and then GO AWAY!

Please feel free to send comments or suggestions to our editor, Tony Torres, at ttorres@macnairtravel.com.