HAITI UPDATE: AIRPORT REOPENED BUT ACCESS IS BLOCKED Haiti's devastating earthquake has left an estimated 3 million people in need of emergency aid, a Red Cross official said today, as aid groups and governments scrambled to send tons of disaster relief to the Caribbean nation. Humanitarian officials said the proximity of the quake's epicenter was only 15 kilometres from the capital Port-au-Prince. The neighbouring Haitian cities of Carrefour and Jacmel may also be heavily damaged, said Elizabeth Byrs, a U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the United States was offering full assistance — civilian and military — while Britain, France, Canada, Germany, China, Mexico and Venezuela pledged immediate support in terms of personnel, cash and supplies. There was no electricity in the capital and roads were filled with rubble and debris, she said, adding that Port-au-Prince's airport remained open but the artery connecting it to the city was blocked. If aid cannot travel over the airport road to the Haitian capital it may be rerouted through the Dominican Republic, said Charles Vincent, a senior World Food Program official. His agency planned to airlift 86 tons of high-energy biscuits from El Salvador, enough to feed 30,000 people for a week. Low-lying areas of Port-au-Prince appeared to be hit worse than neighbourhoods higher up the hills, World Vision spokesman Casey Calamusa said. ETIQUETTE FOR CARRY-ON BAGS As airlines keep hiking their checked-bag fees, there's more incentive than ever to use carry-on bags. Travel experts generally agree on practices for handling carry-on bags to keep clutter, confusion and conflict to a minimum. Here are their top 10 tips: • Obey government and airline rules on the size and number of items. Dimension limits can vary, so what works on one airline may not work on another. Be sure to check with your specific carrier's Web site, and get out your tape measure. • Don't attempt to bring prohibited items such as sharp objects or bottles of liquids. The Transportation Security Administration sets these rules, and it's not fooling around. Straying from the rules is likely to delay you and everyone in line behind you. • Stow your bag in the overhead bin with the wheels in first. This leaves the handle where you and others can grab it to reposition the bag to make room for more stuff in the bin. • Don't put bags in lengthwise. More bags will fit in the bin if they are all positioned perpendicular to the aisle, preferably standing on edge. If your bag is too large to fit that way, it should be checked. And remember: smaller jets mean smaller bins. • Put your larger item up top, your smaller item at your feet. This reduces the clutter at your feet, allowing you and others in your row to ride more comfortably and get in and out more easily. • Use the bin directly over your head, or as close as possible. Letting your bag squat in someone else's bin is just uncool. It robs others of space that is rightfully theirs and singles you out as a self-serving boor. It also isn't likely to speed your egress from the plane, as the aisle is going to be jammed after landing no matter where your bag is stowed. • Don't commandeer another passenger's under-seat space. You are entitled to the space under the seat directly in front of you, and that's it. Once the plane reaches cruising altitude, you can pull your item back so it sits behind your feet and you can stretch out your legs. • Make sure your bag is light enough to lift over your head yourself. There will be exceptions, of course, in cases of age, infirmity or injury. Kind fellow passengers often will be willing to help, but you should not count on it -- and certainly not demand it. • Get your stuff before takeoff. Before settling into your seat, retrieve from your bag any items you're likely to need during the flight -- book, pen, medicine, PDA -- so you won't have to stand up and rummage through the overhead bin during the flight. • Wait until everyone's bags are stowed, then lay your coat on top. Bags take priority in the overhead bin. Ask a flight attendant if there's space in a forward closet for your coat. If not, hold it in your lap until all bags are stowed, then get up and try to jam it in on top. If there's no room, drape it over your seat and sit on it. DELTA AND CONTINENTAL RAISE LUGGAGE FEES Delta Air Lines Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc. this week will start charging customers some of the industry's highest fees for checked bags, setting up many other carriers to do the same. The new fees apply to flights in and between the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Premium-class fliers, frequent fliers and active U.S. military members are exempt. Delta raised its checked-baggage fees last week to $25 for the first bag, up from $15, and to $35 for the second bag, up from $20. Continental said it matched those increases on Friday. Carriers offer a small discount to passengers who check luggage online, but the jacked-up fees are still higher than ever. UAL Corp.'s United Airlines and AMR Corp.'s American Airlines are expected to follow suit; currently, they charge $20 for the first bag and $30 for the second. For Delta, the new luggage rules apply to standard economy-class tickets purchased on or after Jan. 5. Continental's rules apply for tickets purchased on or after Jan. 9. So-called legacy carriers have the highest checked-baggage fees in the industry partly because they focus on premium-paying business travelers, who usually don't pay the baggage fees, either because they are exempt or because they travel with just carry-ons. AIRLINES RAISE FUEL SURCHARGES TO EUROPE Major airlines have raised fuel surcharges on travel to Europe by $20 per roundtrip, and some have added conditions that could cause travelers to pay higher fares. Surcharges to Paris, Frankfurt and most cities on the Continent were raised to $280 per roundtrip and to $242 for London, airline representatives said Tuesday. Delta, United and Houston-based Continental confirmed that they had raised surcharges to Europe by $20 a roundtrip. Some airlines that previously required only a seven-day advance purchase for the lowest coach fares are now requiring a 14-day advance purchase. Fuel prices hit records in July 2008, then fell the rest of that year and into early 2009 but have rebounded since. On Tuesday, the spot price for Gulf Coast jet fuel was about $2.16 per gallon, up 43 percent in the past year and 95 percent since hitting a low of about $1.11 in March 2009.
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
Over a century ago, The Carlton hotel helped transform the neighborhood into one of Manhattan's most desirable areas. Today, their new, modernized look makes it a centerpiece of the city's up-and-coming Madison Square Park district. Designer David Rockwell's multi-million dollar transformation maintains the status as the pinnacle of elegance and style in this extraordinary city. Rockwell's thoughtful design enhanced the hotel's rich aesthetic tradition without losing any of its old world charm through the integration of original interior features and details. Two of their new favorites are the rediscovered Tiffany-style glass skylight on the Mezzanine Level long hidden by layers of paint used to deter air raids during World War II and the restaurant's vintage bar that was used back in 1912 for famous patrons such as Frank Sinatra. David Rockwell combined the classic décor including oiled bronze handrails, herringbone patterned wood floors, distressed paneling and antique mirrors with modern updates to create a unique, signature look. One can see this in one of their most captivating focal points - the lobby's cascading two-story contemporary waterfall that reveals an oversized vintage black and white photograph of the hotel taken in 1924 as The Seville Hotel. Country opened in the fall of 2005. The restaurant successfully combines the grandeur of old New York with the style of modern cuisine. Within the restaurant itself, there is a casual Café, a formal Dining Room, and a Champagne Lounge. Inside the café, a large four-sided zinc bar anchors the room, while large cube chandeliers exude an amber glow. Architect David Rockwell worked to ensure that the space was restored in the original beaux-arts style in which the building was originally designed. The Carlton fitness center is located on the first floor of the hotel and offers state of the art Life Fitness equipment fitted with TVs and iPod docking stations. In the 800 square foot facility, one will find both cardio and strength machines with plenty of stretching room too, as well as Yoga mats, balls and free weights. When one is done working out, enjoy instant cooling relief with their refrigerated towels. Should one forget their earphones, complimentary disposable earbuds are provided for use. The fitness center remains open 24 hours a day via the room key. The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The Carlton is $229 through March 31, 2010 (compared to a corporate rate of $239).* *
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
Soaring high above the Loop and North Michigan Avenue, the city's newest landmark is within walking distance to the best of Chicago, from the exclusive shops to the historic sites along the Riverwalk. Custom furnishings, sweeping lake, river and city views, and all the comforts of home define each sophisticated guestroom and indulgent Spa room. Sample a spectrum of flavors and take in the panoramic views in Sixteen. Each guest receives their own Trump attaché, providing comprehensive business and personal services. The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago is $255 through April 4, 2010 (compared to a corporate rate of $311).*
* All rates are subject to availability. The Lawyers' Travel Service |
||||||||||||||||||
