SKYTEAM UNVEILS COMMON FACILITY AT HEATHROW SkyTeam (the global airline alliance of Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Air Europa, and Kenya Airways) unveiled its new customer-focused, check-in facility and the new SkyTeam lounge at Terminal 4 at London-Heathrow to media representatives. SkyTeam is the first alliance to have a permanent, common facility in one terminal at the airport. The new check-in facility opened November 5 and includes a premium check-in area for first and business class passengers, premium economy passengers, as well as SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus passengers. The second level of the SkyTeam co-branded lounge opened November 9. Delta, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Kenya Airways are operating out of Terminal 4. SkyTeam member Delta offers new flat bed BusinessElite service on all routes from Atlanta, Detroit, New York-JFK and Minneapolis to London. Their brand new flat bed seats offer extra leg room, privacy, and aisle access. They recline a full 180 degrees and are horizontal to the floor, creating a completely flat bed for comfort. BA, IBERIA BOARDS STEP CLOSER TO MERGER The boards of British Airways and Iberia have signed a memorandum of understanding, bringing the airlines one step closer to the all-stock merger that's been more than a year in the making. Operating as a single holding company, dubbed TopCo, the €15 billion merged entity would retain each brand as a national flag carrier, while preserving the "current operations of each airline." Completion of a deal could take another year. The carriers said they expect to sign a definitive merger agreement in the first quarter next year, after which it will require shareholder approval no later than "early November 2010 with completion expected to occur approximately one month following such approval." The deal requires approval from regulatory authorities and both carriers' shareholders. Combined, British Airways and Iberia would fly 419 aircraft, serving 205 destinations for their 62 million joint passengers. For customers, the carriers envision a broader network, more frequent flyer benefits and access for more lounges. Noting their "complementary network"—with British Airways' presence in North America, Asia/Pacific and Africa matching well with Iberia's strength in Latin American—the airlines are promising customers of both carriers "better frequencies and connections, more competitive prices." The carriers expect to achieve around €400 million in synergies annually. HOW MUCH TO TIP AT HOTELS To try to eliminate uncertainty, USA TODAY asked etiquette and hospitality experts and hotel companies for advice on what to tip at hotels in the USA. Their responses aren't consistent in every instance, but there's a consensus for some common tipping situations: • Valet parking staff Don't tip a hotel staff member who opens a guest's car door at the hotel entrance or parks the car in a valet lot. The valet who retrieves the car from the parking lot should be given $2 to $5. • Bellmen The common tip is $1 to $2 per bag. More can be given if the bags are heavy or the bellman provides other services. • Maids They should receive $1 to $5 daily. The tip should be paid daily to ensure it goes to the person that took care of your room. • Concierges No tip is needed for directions, restaurant recommendations or answers to simple questions. A $10 to $50 tip is recommended for a concierge who obtains hard-to-get event tickets or a table at a popular premier restaurant. • Don't tip out of guilt "It is not the guest's responsibility to make up for a drop in a hotel employee's earnings during a recession," says Roberta Nedry, president of Hospitality Excellence, which provides concierge and guest service training for hotels and other clients. "Tipping should not be a result of guilt, status or ego," she says. "I believe tips should not be automatic, but earned and deserved." There's no doubt a hotel guest should tip a bellman who takes luggage to a room, and $5 may be appropriate. MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR In a tough economy business travelers must find new ways to economize. One area often overlooked is the cost of renting a car. Here are tips for saving money when renting a car. 1. City vs. airport: Many states and municipalities levy exorbitant taxes and user fees on airport rentals. It can be less expensive to rent at a city or off-airport location. 2. Airport drop-off: Drop the car at the airport on the way home eliminating the taxi fare from downtown to the airport. While one-way rentals from city to city often carry a drop charge, car rental companies rarely charge customers to pick up or return their car at different locations within the same metropolitan area. 3. Single day vs. overnight: Rent a car only for the days needed. This works nicely if you're staying in the city and need to use the car to attend meetings in the suburbs, for example. Even if you need a car every day, renting and returning the vehicle each day can help avoid costly overnight parking at a city hotel. 4. Parking alternatives: If you need a car for the entire trip and you are staying in a city center, it may be cheaper to park overnight in a nearby public garage than pay the rates charged by most hotels. If you return to your hotel in the evening and plan to leave again in the morning, you can even park overnight on the street for free in cities, even in major cities like San Francisco or New York, as long as you move the car before the daytime parking meters or restrictions are in force. 5. Renting in smaller cities: In most cases, large cities or airports charge the highest fees to maintain their expensive airport rental facilities. Picking up a rental car in a smaller city is often much quicker and easier than large airports like Chicago O'Hare or Phoenix International Airport. 6. Avoiding unnecessary insurance: Car rental companies always try to sell insurance to accompany your rental, but many homeowners or home automobile insurance policies and some premium credit cards already cover car rental insurance so it always pays to check before accepting this option. 7. Prepaid gasoline: An increasing number of rental car companies offer a prepaid gasoline option. You pay for a tank of gas up front and then try to bring the car back with the tank as empty as possible. This can be a great convenience if you don't want to search for a gas station on your way back to the airport, but while prices for prepaid gasoline are generally lower than pump prices, any savings could evaporate if you bring the car back with more than a gallon or two in the tank. 8. Finding cheaper gas: At home, you probably know which service stations consistently offer the lowest prices, but on the road you may not. Always make a mental note of gasoline prices at stations near the airport, but using websites like GasBuddy.com or GasPriceWatch.com can take the guess work out of finding cheap gasoline anywhere in the country. When driving is unavoidable following the tips above for every rental can add up to big savings for business travelers.
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
Guests at the Westbury experience a different type of luxury with spacious and stylishly lit bedrooms. Its presence on Grafton Street with St. Stephens Green and Trinity College at either end puts true city history culture and entertainment within walking distance and ensures a perpetual hum of comings and goings. Beautifully refurbished all bedrooms offer sumptuous custom designed furnishings, Sealy beds with Frette linen, silk curtains, state of the art music system and Aqua Di Parma bathroom products. The Westbury offers four unique dining experiences under one roof from the Gallery's civilized surroundings to the fun fresh Cafe Novo to the modern dining of Wilde The Restaurant and the allure of The Marble Bar. The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The Westbury is €259 (compared to a corporate rate of €329).*
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
Memorable Luxury in Marylebone Crossing Oxford Street and walking up Marylebone Lane, you enter a village within a city. This is Marylebone, the fashionable home of London's elegantly refurbished Jurys Clifton Ford Hotel & Health Club, the ideal West End base for anyone who appreciates style, service and understated luxury. With 256 bedrooms and suites, a high-tech meetings and events centre, a gourmet restaurant and an extensive health and leisure club, this is luxury that's both chic and sharp-thinking. Guests can indulge and unwind in pillow-top beds, crisp linens and designer furnishings, all in the heart of one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at the Marylebone is £224 (compared to a corporate rate of £236).* * All rates are subject to availability. The Lawyers' Travel Service |
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