- Courtesy of The Lawyers' Travel Service January 9, 2008 In This Issue...
	UK AIRPORT STRIKES CALLED OFF
	NEW YORK RUNWAY RIGHTS
	ELECTRONIC PASSPORTS RAISE PRIVACY ISSUES
	THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
	- BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL, Boston
	- HYATT REGENCY CENTURY PLAZA, Los Angeles
	- FLATOTEL, New York City

UK AIRPORT STRIKES CALLED OFF
(source: BBC News)

Unions have called off three strikes set for January that threatened to close the UK's busiest airports. Officials voted to halt the industrial action after airport operator BAA eased plans to alter workers’ pension rights.

The unions involved, Unite and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU), had called for three strikes which would have hit all of BAA's seven UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh. Airport operator BAA said 1.3 million passengers would have been affected by the strikes. Unite represents about 6,000 airport workers employed by BAA, including firefighters and security staff, without whom the airports cannot operate.

Under the terms of the plan, BAA and the unions will meet to consider the future of the pension fund and call in independent experts to assess it. A plan of how to move forward was outlined at the meeting, and union officials said they would then go to their members and get them to vote on whether or not to call off the remaining strikes.

NEW YORK RUNWAY RIGHTS
(source: Daily News)

Travelers who get stuck for hours on the tarmac of New York airports don't have to take it sitting down anymore. A new passenger bill of rights went into effect Tuesday requiring carriers to provide passengers on New York runways with snacks, water, fresh air and a clean bathroom if they're trapped on planes for more than three hours prior to takeoff.

"Providing for airline passengers' basic needs, like drinking water and clean air, is not only the right thing, but also the humane thing to do," Gov. Spitzer said.

State lawmakers took action after last Valentine's Day, when packed JetBlue planes sat on Kennedy's tarmac for up to seven hours because of an ice storm. Hastily made copies of the passengers' bill of rights were posted at some airline counters. At the American Airlines terminal at LaGuardia, stickers spelling out the new law were affixed in some spots. But many travelers interviewed said they were unaware of the new rules.

"It's hard to give it a grade at this point," said Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), a sponsor of the new law. "There are long lines of people and it's a big travel day, but so far the airlines appear to be aware of their obligations."

ELECTRONIC PASSPORTS RAISE PRIVACY ISSUES
(source: Washington Post)

The federal government will soon offer passport cards equipped with electronic data chips to U.S. citizens who travel frequently between the United States and Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. The State Department hopes to begin issuing the cards in the spring.

"As people are approaching a port of inspection, they can show the card to the reader, and by the time they get to the inspector, all the information will have been verified and they can be waved on through," said Ann Barrett, deputy assistant secretary of state for passport services, commenting on the final rule on passport cards published yesterday in the Federal Register.

The $45 card, which can be read wirelessly from 20 feet, will be optional and cannot be used for air travel. Travelers can opt for a more secure, if more costly, e-passport that costs $97 and contains a radio frequency chip that can only be read at a distance of three inches. Privacy and security experts said the new passport cards that transmit information over longer distances are much less secure.

THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL
70 Rowes Wharf
Boston

The Boston Harbor Hotel is Boston’s premier waterfront hotel, located steps from the Moakley Federal Courthouse and major law firms and financial companies in Boston’s Financial District. This 230-room hotel features guestrooms with panoramic views of the Boston skyline and Rose Kennedy Greenway, or historic Boston Harbor. A recently completed $12 million renovation guarantees each guest the highest levels of luxury at our Four Star, Four Diamond property. The hotel offers a full service health club and spa with 60 foot indoor lap pool, fine dining in Meritage, a Four Diamond awarded restaurant with views of Boston Harbor, as well as complimentary town car service to local offices.

The Lawyers’ Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rates start at $255 through March 28, 2008 (compared to a corporate rate of $450) including complimentary wireless and high speed internet access.

THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
HYATT REGENCY CENTURY PLAZA
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles

The landmark Century Plaza hotel is a 726-room property located in Century City, on Los Angeles’ chic Westside. Set amidst seven acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza is the ideal location to experience the sights of this vibrant city. The hotel offers a number of amenities designed with the business traveler in mind, including high-speed Internet access in every guest room and meeting room, and an international business center.

Additionally, a $30 million dollar renovation is under way featuring newly renovated deluxe accommodations, with private balconies and sweeping views of the Los Angeles skyline and Pacific Ocean. Three floors are devoted to Regency Club guest accommodations and at ground level is the one-of-a-kind Regency Club lounge, opened March 2007.

To help weary travelers reduce stress at the end of a busy day, the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza adds Equinox Fitness Club + Spa to its long list of amenities. Having just opened in February, Equinox Century City offers premium services with a professional team of therapists, aestheticians and on-site personal trainers. Pampering massages, from traditional to unique, body treatments, beauty salon, fitness center and group classes will be housed in a newly renovated $4.5 million setting. Guests will find themselves centrally located to world renowned shopping, vibrant night-life and restaurants, and an abundance of entertainment opportunities, all perfect to entertain or help the business traveler to unwind after a long day.

The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza is $280 (compared to a corporate rate of $399).

THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
FLATOTEL
135 West 52nd Street
New York City

Stay at the stylish and sophisticated Flatotel conveniently located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. A Contemporary, intimate and cosmopolitan hotel featuring 288 deluxe rooms and suites with custom designed furniture and state-of-the-art amenities, Flatotel offers boutique hotel intimacy with apartment size rooms.

Flatotel also features 24 hour room service, valet parking, and a fitness center on the 46th floor. Meeting space is available for 10 to 400. Flatotel’s MODA Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. MODA Bar is the after work place to meet and be seen.

The Lawyers’ Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Flatotel is $245 for a Deluxe (compared to a corporate rate of $309) through March 31 including:

* Complimentary high speed internet in room
* Turn down service with special amenity
* Complimentary bathrobe
* Slippers and bottle of water on arrival
* Complimentary Wi-Fi in lobby
* 15% discount on lunch and dinner in celebrated MODA Restaurant (food only)

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The Lawyers' Travel Service
www.lawyerstravel.com
info@lawyerstravel.com
800.431.1112