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AMERICAN ADDS THREE INTERNATIONAL ROUTES FROM NEW YORK JFK
(source: USA Today)
American Airlines says it will "expand its international presence in New York this spring" by adding nonstop service on three routes from JFK Airport. AA will begin flying to San Jose, Costa Rica on April 6, to Madrid on May 1 and to Manchester, England on May 13.
In a press release announcing the new service, AA says it now serves 31 international destinations from JFK – "nine cities in Europe, 18 destinations in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Latin American regions, three in Canada, and American's daily nonstop flight to Tokyo."
AA will fly one round-trip flight to San Jose five days a week (except Friday and Sunday). Service to Madrid and Manchester will be daily. AA will use 182-seat Boeing 757 jets on all three routes.
COMING TO AN AIRPORT NEAR YOU: THE VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH
(source: Wall Street Journal)
Get ready to be virtually strip-searched.
Whole-body scanners are rapidly being equipped with new privacy measures that make their use at security checkpoints very likely in airports. Already, the Transportation Security Administration has moved them out of pilot testing and into use at 19 airports around the country, and by May Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport plans to use them as primary screening for every passenger headed to the U.S., according to Ron Louwerse, the airport's director of security.
Whole-body imaging, often called "the virtual strip search," has been available since at least 1993, but authorities didn't use the technology largely because it produced explicit images.
Now, successive generations of images that are ever less anatomically detailed show why the technology—already installed in courthouses, diamond mines, and military installations in Iraq and Afghanistan—may well become as routine as metal detectors.
But be prepared: You must take everything out of your pockets, not just metal objects like keys and coins.
The scanners in Amsterdam are made by L-3 Security and Detection Systems, a division of L-3 Communications Holdings Inc., an aerospace and defense company based in New York. If they detect nothing, they green-light the passenger through, much as metal detectors do. If the scanners detect a potential weapon, no one sees an image of that passenger. Instead, the security officers see the same generic Gumby-like figure with the location of the potential threat indicated by a red-and-yellow square—for example, on the right thigh.
Today, when those algorithms are activated, some machines show a body outline that looks like a charcoal sketch, while others show an image that looks like an android. Both of those are seen by a remote operator who cannot see the actual passenger.
WILL AIRLINES AND PASSENGERS CALL A TRUCE?
(source: The New York Times)
When weather forecasters predicted severe winter storms across the country in the last few weeks, airlines sent their customers a steady stream of e-mail and text messages, giving them a chance to change their itineraries ahead of the bad weather.
Those who took advantage of the waivers had what has become a rare consolation in air travel: they received a service from the airlines without paying for it.
In the space of 18 months, the concept of a plane ticket has been transformed from an all-inclusive purchase to a pay-as-you-go plan.
Airlines now cite their inability to make money and consumers' resistance to higher ticket prices, as their reason for thinking up new ways to make customers pay extra. Over the last decade, they lost $55 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association, the airlines' global trade group.
Major airlines have been cutting back on frills for more than two decades, ever since American began reducing the number of olives it served in each salad. Hot meals were the first to go on short flights, sacrificed in a wave of cuts after the September 2001 attacks.
So far this year, airlines have twice tried unsuccessfully to raise average prices. The first was an attempted $16 round-trip increase in January by American, Continental, Delta and United, and a $10 round-trip increase that many carriers tried this month. But low-fare airlines resisted, and prices stayed higher for only a few days before the airlines retreated.
The airlines have had a much easier time adding and increasing fees. The price to check a bag rose 50 percent during the last year, when they collectively took in $3.8 billion in baggage and other fees.
It now costs an average of $25 to check a first bag on many major airlines, though discounts are available if booked ahead online. The airlines have also added surcharges to travel during the most popular times, like the week between Christmas and New Year's.
Analysts are beginning to wonder if airlines might be better off "rebundling" their tickets, although that isn't likely to happen soon.
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THE MICHELANGELO
152 West 51st Street
New York City
The Michelangelo Hotel is recognized by Travel & Leisure Magazine as one of the top 500 "Greatest Hotels of the World" and has been placed on the 'Gold List' for the "Best Place to stay in the whole world" by Condé Nast Traveler.
Envision a place that captures the imagination and attention of the world. The moment one enters one will feel like the honored guest of a devoted Italian host. Surrounded by oil paintings, crystal chandeliers, and cherished antique furnishings, one might think they have arrived in Florence or Venice.
The interiors reflect an Old World approach to guests' every pleasure and comfort. The lobby and multilingual staff set the tone. The lobby showcases rich Venetian and Florentine fabrics, lighting fixtures inspired by Roman cathedral torcheres and woodwork adapted from original Renaissance period designs.
The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The Michelangelo Hotel is $238 (compared to a corporate rate of $258).*
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THE JEFFERSON
1200 16th Street NW
Washington, DC
Presiding over the corner of 16th and M Streets, The Jefferson, Washington, DC enjoys a powerhouse location just four blocks from the White House. A top-to-bottom renovation has transformed this Beaux Arts gem into one of Washington's finest small hotels. Both European and distinctly Washingtonian in style, it is rich in historical details and Jeffersonian influences, evoking a stay at a grand and gracious home. Service is intuitive, flawless and personal, for a guest experience without parallel.
The Jefferson features 99 guestrooms, including 20 suites. Among these are three expansive, individually decorated Presidential, Bridal and Spa suites. Custom furnishings and design details call to mind a grand private residence and are inspired by two of Thomas Jefferson's great loves: Monticello and Paris. Three small meeting rooms, a striking boardroom, a private dining room and several parlor-like rooms comprise The Jefferson's meeting space. While each room is utterly distinctive in design, all evoke the spirit of the hotel's namesake, who unquestionably presided over some of the most influential gatherings in history. An exclusive spa and 24-hour fitness facilities offer guests an escape from the energy of the city that surrounds them.
One of the finest restaurants in the capital, Plume at The Jefferson caters to hotel guests and Washingtonians in the know and showcases the culinary talents of award-winning Executive Chef Damon Gordon. Complementing Plume is The Jefferson's elegant lounge, Quill, whose house-made mixers and herbal-infused alcohols have enlightened Washington's cocktail culture.
The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The Jefferson is $365 (compared to a corporate rate of $480).*
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THE PALACE HOTEL
2 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco
*One of San Francisco's most treasured, iconic landmarks that captures the essence of the city's history
*Centrally located in the heart of the city, walking distance to Union Square, Chinatown, the Financial District and the Embarcadero
*552 historic guestrooms w/ 14' ceiling height
*37" Plasma TVs in all guestrooms
*34 Suites and 19 Junior Suites *Complimentary Health Club, Indoor Swimming Pool, coffee in the morning and Town Car service 6am to 9am within the financial district area
*On-Site restaurants include: Award Winning Kyo-Ya, rated #1 Sushi Restaurant in San Francisco, Maxfield's, the Pied Piper Bar, and the famous Garden Court, the ONLY indoor, historic landmark in San Francisco *Located 15 miles North of San Francisco Int'l Airport (SFO) and 20 miles West of Oakland Int'l Airport and just steps from the BART and MUNI railways
The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The Palace Hotel is $239 (compared to a corporate rate of $299).*
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THE JOULE
1530 Main Street
Dallas
World-renowned restaurateur, Charlie Palmer, brings his exquisite culinary creations to Charlie Palmer at The Joule, a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel in downtown Dallas. The fashionable hotel's signature restaurant showcases the best local products in an inspired, new American menu. Diners will experience simply yet skillfully prepared dishes coupled with a vast wine collection to accent every dish. Executive Chef Scott Romano puts a personal twist on classic steakhouse dishes such as Dry-Aged NY Strip Steak with bone marrow flan. The restaurant features an assortment of Charlie Palmer's trademark eclectic wine selections available to diners, as well as shoppers of Next Vintage wine shop – located in the restaurant.
Whether dining for a casual brunch or enjoying a special occasion dinner, the ambiance of natural energy with rich, earthy colors, textured materials and limestone flooring, creates a beautiful, sophisticated and intimate environment. The unique décor features quiet, lazily spinning turbines within covered ceiling lights giving a sense of tranquility. Guests can also retreat to the private dining room seating for an unforgettable and more intimate dining experience.
A beacon of energy in the heart of downtown Dallas, The Joule is a tour-de-force of Adam D. Tihany's award-winning design and style situated in a revitalized 1920's Neo-Gothic building re-imagined for the contemporary traveler. From the breezy sophistication of the cantilevered rooftop pool to the sultry, subterranean pull of the PM Nightlife Lounge, The Joule captures the creative spirit of a city in full bloom, infusing each space with contemporary glamour and artistry.
The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Joule is $219 (compared to a corporate rate of $251).*
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
51 BUCKINGHAM GATE
51 Buckingham Gate
London
51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites and Residences is a unique five star townhouse hotel located in the heart of Westminster, offering privacy with ultimate luxury in its wonderfully spacious suites, combining the best of contemporary design and comfort for a short or extended stay.
Stunning and spacious suites, an award-winning private courtyard, attentive butlers, an indulgent spa, and the Michelin starred Quilon, where head chef Sriram Aylur serves light but authentic South Indian coastal cuisine; makes 51 an ideal haven away from home.
Guests who stay 3 nights or longer receive a complimentary pick up or drop off from any London Airport (one way) – offer valid until April 30, 2010.
The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at 51 Buckingham Gate is £260 (compared to a corporate rate of £402).*
* All rates are subject to availability.
______________________________________________________________
Ovation Corporate Travel
www.ovationtravel.com
info@ovationtravel.com
800.431.1112 |
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