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So long, Bob Hope. Hello Hollywood Burbank!

Burbank Airport got a new identity this week. (Image: Hollywood-Burbank Airport)

Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport is no more.

Well, the airport is still there. But it’s no longer called Bob Hope Airport.

Following up on a change approved by airport officials earlier this year, the Bob Hope Airport signage came down this week, replaced by the facility’s new name: Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Located northwest of downtown Burbank, the airport is about the same distance from Beverly Hills as LAX is. But it’s even closer to Hollywood, and hence its new name.

Burbank’s airport, formerly called Bob Hope, is 16 miles northwest of downtown LA. (Image: Hollywood-Burbank Airport)

“The Hollywood Burbank Airport identity was selected in order to give passengers, especially those originating from east of the Rockies, a stronger sense of where the Airport is geographically located,” a spokesperson said, noting that the airport had been known as Hollywood Burbank from 1967 to 1978. After that, it was called Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport before picking up the Bob Hope moniker in 2003.

Most Burbank routes are in the California Corridor, with service from Southwest, United, Alaska and JetSuiteX. But it also has flights from more distant airports, including New York JFK, Austin, Seattle, Portland and Salt Lake City.

The airport’s existing terminal is due to be replaced with a new 14-gate facility in a $400 million construction project that should take place from 2018 to 2022.

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Airport news: AA’s Miami flagship + LAX security + Kansas City revamp + SkyTeam Vancouver + Burger joints

The new SkyTeam lounge at Vancouver International (Image: Delta)

In recent airport news, Delta’s SkyTeam alliance opens a new lounge at Vancouver; American debuts another new Flagship Lounge; Kansas City voters approve a big airport construction project; Los Angeles’ Bradley Terminal gets automated TSA lanes; and Atlanta and Denver get popular new upgraded burger joints.

The SkyTeam global alliance –Delta, Air France-KLM and partners – has opened its first dedicated lounge in North America, at Vancouver International. The 5,600-square-foot facility is in the international terminal close to Gate 53 by the duty-free area. It offers a hot and cold buffet service with locally-sourced cuisine; a made-to-order noodle bar; showers; beverages including local wines and beers; and seating for 126 with a work area and a separate TV room. It’s the seventh SkyTeam lounge worldwide; others are at Dubai, London Heathrow, Hong Kong, Sydney, Istanbul and Beijing. It’s open to Elite Plus, first class and business class customers.

American Airlines has cut the ribbon on its latest Flagship Lounge, this one at Miami International. Located near Gate D30 in Concourse D, it’s open to first class and business class customers on long-haul international flights, as well as qualifying AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum members; AAdvantage ConciergeKey members; and Oneworld Emeralds and Sapphires. The Miami lounge has showers, upgraded food offerings, plenty of outlets for charging personal devices, lounge-style seating and quiet areas. Other new Flagship Lounges opened earlier this year at New York JFK and Chicago O’Hare, and another is due before year’s end at Los Angeles International. (See leaked images)

Rendering of the new design for Kansas City International. (Image: Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate)

Kansas City International’s unusually designed three terminals will be replaced by a single large structure following a referendum this month in which voters approved the city’s plan to spend $1 billion on a major airport reconstruction project. The city’s plan calls for the existing 45-year-old, three-terminal structure to be replaced with an H-shaped building that has two passenger concourses and 35 aircraft gates. The new design will allow for an increased number of retail concessions, more bathrooms, and more efficient security screening, and will give the airport separate levels for arriving and departing passengers, along with close-in parking. No timetable was given for construction of the new terminal.

Los Angeles International already had those new TSA automated screening lanes in Terminals 7, 2 and 4, and now it has opened five of them in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, with nine more coming there in the months ahead. The new lanes allow up to five persons to load their personal items into security bins simultaneously, and the belts automatically pull the bins into the x-ray device and return them back to the starting point. Items that need additional inspection are shunted off to a separate belt to keep the flow going, and bins are 25 percent larger than before. By the time all the new lanes are operating in the TBIT next spring, LAX officials said, the number of passengers that can be screened in an hour will increase by almost 1,000, to 3,220.

But do those lanes really work? If you are wondering, don’t miss this post (and comments): Are automated security checkpoints better? 

A Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace is coming to Atlanta International. (Image: Bobby’s Burger Palace)

As airports keep upgrading their food and beverage options, more of them are turning to burger joints that are a cut or two above the traditional fast-food franchises. The latest examples are Atlanta International and Denver International.  At ATL, celebrity chef Bobby Flay has been tapped to bring a new Bobby’s Burger Palace to Concourse B, with its opening expected early in 2018. Flay already has 17 of the high-end burger restaurants around the U.S., but the ATL location will be his first in an airport. DEN, meanwhile, has turned to Denver-based Smashburger for two new locations. A 2,300-square-foot Smashburger just opened in the airport’s C Concourse, open daily until 10 p.m. It also serves breakfast, and will soon open a full bar with local craft beers. Next spring, a second and larger Smashburger will open in DEN’s B Concourse.

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Frontier’s big challenge to Basic Economy fares

Frontier Airlines is planning a massive fleet expansion. (Image: Jim Glab)

Now that United, Delta and American have all rolled out no-frills Basic Economy fares on domestic flights to compete with the prices charged by ultra-low-cost carriers, are those carriers running scared?

Frontier Airlines isn’t. Quite the opposite: Frontier this week announced plans for a massive purchase of new aircraft. Combined with its earlier aircraft orders that haven’t yet been delivered, the deal would triple the size of Frontier’s fleet in 10 years, from 70 planes today to more than 200.

The company said it intends to purchase 100 new A320neos and 34 A321neos from Airbus, for delivery from 2021 to 2026. That’s in addition to 67 A320neos already in the purchase pipeline, and an existing order for 18 A319neos that Frontier is converting to A320s.

“By 2026, we will be in a position to deliver ‘Low Fares Done Right’ to more than 50 million passengers a year,” said Frontier CEO Barry Biffle in announcing the fleet expansion. In 2016, the airline carried 15 million passengers.

Frontier plans to acquire 134 new A320neos and A321neos. (Image: Airbus)

Frontier’s route network is constantly shifting as it adds and drops markets. But a few months ago, the airline announced plans to add 21 cities to its system by next spring, and to add more frequencies on other routes that it already serves. That includes a larger presence at its Denver base and at San Jose, among other cities.

Frontier’s fortunes have been rising in recent years. The Denver Post said that in filings related to an impending public stock offering, Frontier reported that its net income increased from $140 million in 2014 to $200 million last year as its fuel costs have been dropping and its ancillary revenues have been increasing.

Frontier’s ultra-low-cost carrier business model relies on ancillary fees from all kinds of amenities and services to supplement its low fares. A July 2017 report from Ideaworks said that in 2016, more than 42 percent of Frontier’s revenues came from ancillary fees – compared with just 7.7 percent in 2011, before it changed its business model.

The airline’s ambitious growth plan will initially focus on its Denver hub, where it will add most of the new routes announced last summer. That could mean a big battle for market share at DEN, since United Airlines also has plans to enlarge its hub there, and Southwest has grown rapidly at Denver in recent years as well.

Denver International will get 39 more gates in the next few years. (Image: Jim Glab)

According to FlightGlobal.com, United’s chief pilot in Denver said in a letter to other pilots last week that United plans to increase its Denver operations from the current 363 daily departures to 400 in 2019, and that DEN could eventually become United’s second-largest hub (after Chicago O’Hare).

Fortunately, Denver should be able to accommodate plenty of growth. Airport officials recently said that their plans to expand the passenger concourses have been revised: Instead of building 26 new aircraft gates in the next four years, they now plan to build 39.

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Cheaper rates making car rental customers happier

Car rental customers are feeling better about things this year. (Image: Jim Glab)

Travelers who rent cars at airports are showing higher levels of satisfaction this year, according to J.D. Power and Associates – but not because they’re less frustrated with the logistics of booking and picking up a vehicle.

They’re more satisfied with the rental experience mainly because they’re not paying as much.

“Lower prices are having a positive effect on perceived value for renters, which is raising overall levels of satisfaction, but several other key quality measures—notably, wait times and problems with the pick-up and return processes—have not improved over the past four years,” said Michael Taylor, the executive in charge of travel surveys at J.D. Power. “But cheaper daily rental rates overcome those negatives for most renters.”

The company found that the average reported daily price for renting a car fell by $11 a day in 2017, which was the major factor in driving up customer satisfaction by 22 points to 826 on J.D. Power’s 1,000-point scale.

The consolidated car rental center at San Diego’s airport. (Image: San Diego International Airport)

But a continuing increase in the number of travelers is leading to delays in picking up cars, and the explosion of major construction and renovation projects at many major airports isn’t helping either.

J.D. Power said that from 2013 to 2017, the average waiting time for customers to pick up a vehicle increased by two minutes. “Of customers who experienced a problem, 20 percent reported a problem with the pick-up process and 17 percent reported a problem with the return process, a phenomenon that is largely attributable to increased passenger volume and construction at airports,” J.D. Power said.

While customers are generally happy to see rental prices drop this year – perhaps as a result of ride-sharing services continuing to steal market share from rental companies – the survey found that renters who focus only on price in selecting a vendor and vehicle may regret it.

“Renters who choose rental car brands based on price alone are the least satisfied (787), while customers who choose a rental car brand based on features and benefits are the most highly satisfied (889),” the company noted. Advice: You get what you pay for when renting cars! 

Source: J.D. Power and Associates- note that Enterprise, Alamo & National all owned by same company

The survey also found that rental car customers expect to get a response from their vendor when they post something on social media about their rental experience. Seven out of 10 car renters expressed that view in the survey – a rate much higher than the 45 percent of airline and hotel customers who have similar expectations.

And rental companies should reply to posts if they want to keep customers happy. “When a rental car company simply responds to a post, satisfaction increases 63 points on average. If the issue is resolved, the satisfaction score jumps 95 points,” the company said.

For the fourth consecutive year, Enterprise ranked in the top spot for customer satisfaction with a score of 851. National was second, Alamo came in third– and note that all three are part of the same company, Enterprise Holdings. Hertz (which also owns Dollar and Thrifty) ranked fourth. Avis, which also owns Budget, ranked fifth.

Which car rental company do you use most often? Have your rental car habits changed much lately? Noticing cheaper rates? Please leave your comments below. 

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Singapore Changi’s amazing new terminal (photos)

T4’s Heritage Zone has traditional Singaporean storefronts. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

Singapore’s Changi Airport is consistently rated in passenger surveys as one of the world’s best – if not the best in the world. When an airport has a reputation like that to uphold, you expect a lot when it opens a brand new passenger terminal – and Changi does not disappoint.

The airport just opened its new Terminal 4, characterized  by sweeping, open design; innovative passenger diversions; and a whole bunch of creative dining and retail options. Example: T4’s “Heritage Zone” is a string of retail and dining concessions that all have the facades of traditional Singapore shops; restaurants there serve up regional specialties like kaya toast, mee siam and kopi, and there’s a live chef’s station where Indian prata pancakes are prepared on the spot.

Overall, T4 has 81 concessions, including 62 stores and service establishments and 19 food and beverage options. That includes a big duty-free shopping zone.

The terminal also boasts the latest in passenger processing technology, including a vast self-bag-drop area, speedy security and customs processing, and so on. And what would a new terminal be without visual diversions like innovative art displays and huge LED walls.

Airlines operating out of T4 include Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Cebu Pacific, Spring Airlines, the four AirAsia Group carriers, and Vietnam Airlines.

Here’s a sampling of images from the new T4.

T4’s spacious check-in area has plenty of self-service bag drops and kiosks. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

 

The high-ceilinged arrivals hall at T4. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

 

T4 has plenty of huge windows with airfield views. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

 

Passengers can relax in glass-walled pods with views of the terminal below. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

 

T4 has a large duty-free shopping zone. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

 

A local band entertains travelers in T4. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

 

Self-service bag drops help speed up passenger processing. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

Have you ever flown through Singapore Changi? Do you think it’s the best airport in the world? Comments below, please!

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Passport needed for domestic travel? Come on!

You might need a passport for domestic travel next year. (Image: U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services)

Might a passport soon be necessary for a trip from Minneapolis to Seattle? Maybe… For nearly a decade, the Transportation Security Administration has been advising states that the IDs they issue – mainly driver’s licenses – must be compliant with the security standards set down in the federal government’s Real ID Act of 2005 if their residents use them to board flights – either international or domestic.

And now the clock is ticking on several states that haven’t yet met that requirement– they complain about the expense and effort it would take to add holograms and other security devices to licenses.

Travel agents, who could be saddled with the burden of fixing a mess like this, are particularly concerned. Trade publication Travel Market Report states, “Until now, the general consensus was that the states would be allowed to progress slowly, as long as they were making some effort in the right direction. But the saber-rattling in the White House is beginning to make travel industry insiders a little more concerned.”

This all means that that starting January 22, residents of those states might have to show a passport at the airport instead of a driver’s license. Even if you don’t live in one of these states, traveling to or from one of them could be a hassle due to the possible back ups a airport security. Those states include:

  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Washington State

Actually, the deadline for compliance had been October 10 of this year, but TSA granted the states an extension until January 22.

It’s always possible that some of those states might make the required changes to their IDs before the deadline, but how could they distribute new licenses to everyone in just three short months? It’s also possible that the feds could grant additional extensions for compliance– which is what everyone expects, but who knows?

In any case, if you have an ID from one of the affected states, you might want to get into the habit of carrying your passport with you when you travel, even for domestic trips. If your passport is on the verge if expiring, better act fast to renew it, because that’s a process that can take several weeks unless you pay extra for expedited service. See this: When does your passport expire?

I always travel with my passport– even for domestic trips…just in case. What about you? Will the feds go through with this disruptive move or is someone bluffing here? Leave your comments below. 

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New Hotels: Hilton LAX, Nikko SF, Mondrian NYC, Marriott Denver, Ritz Chicago, Hilton DC

Hilton’s dual-branded H Hotel/Homewood Suites near LAX. (Image: Hilton)

In hotel news, Hilton cuts the ribbon on a dual-branded project near Los Angeles International Airport; Manhattan welcomes a pair of new properties; Marriott opens a Meridien/AC Hotel combo in downtown Denver, and Hilton gains a new presence there as well; an iconic hotel in the nation’s capital joins the Hilton family; and a Chicago classic reopens.

Less than a mile from LAX at 6151 West Century Boulevard in Los Angeles is a newly-opened, dual-branded Hilton affiliate. Its two parts are the 122-unit Homewood Suites by Hilton Los Angeles International Airport, and the 168-room H Hotel Los Angeles, Curio Collection by Hilton. The double hotel offers 24-hour shuttles to the terminals and car rentals from MCar Rental.  The Homewood Suites has studio and one-bedroom accommodations with full kitchens and separate living/sleeping areas. The H Hotel provides “high-end accommodations that currently do not exist at LAX,” Hilton said. Its rooms feature Nespresso machines and Google Chromecast on their TVs. Breakfast and dinner service is available to guests of both properties at Waypoint Kitchen in the H Hotel – “an American-style pub with modern California cuisine.” There’s also a coffee shop and a Subway Fresh in the lobby. Each hotel has its own fitness center, but they share a pool. The H Hotel has an open-air rooftop deck called H Overlook with views of the LAX runways, and guest-requested amenities and snacks are delivered to their rooms by a robotic butler. Rates begin at $160 for the Homewood Suites, and at $170 at the H Hotel.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco

All rooms in the Hotel Nikko San Francisco have been remodeled (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Did you know that the Hotel Nikko San Francisco closed down for three months for a top to bottom re-do earlier this year? It reopened this past spring and, based on our recent visit, feels like a brand new hotel. TravelSkills was there last week as the hotel celebrated its 30th anniversary in the spectacular white-marble-sheathed lobby– part of the $60 million renovation that included all public spaces and rooms (seen above.) Even if you are not staying there, it’s worth a walk through or a meal or drink next time you are in SF near Union Square. Rates start at as low as $180 per night but of course vary based on demand. Check out this video walk through. 

In New York City’s NoMad neighborhood, at Park Avenue South and 30th Street, a former 15-story office building constructed in 1915 has added five floors during its conversion into the 20-story Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel. The newly opened Mondrian has guestrooms with “plush bedding and spacious bathrooms, as well as neutral woven leather furnishings and floating desks,” the hotel said. Managed by Journal Hotels, the Mondrian has a signature restaurant called Cleo with Eastern and Southern Mediterranean-inspired cuisine; a rooftop lounge and outdoor terrace called Fifteen Stories; and an underground nightclub called Yours Truly “catering to the who’s who of New York City with a dedicated hidden entrance.” Rates start around $350.

Innovative guest accommodations at the Moxy Times Square. (Image: Marriott)

Across town at Seventh Avenue and 36th Street, meanwhile, the 110-year-old New Mills Hotel building has been overhauled and converted into Marriott’s new Moxy Times Square. (How far does a hotel have to be from Times Square before it’s not allowed to have Times Square in its name?)  It has 612 guestrooms ranging from 150 to 350 square feet, each with fast, free Wi-Fi; Bluetooth soundbars, and big HDTVs that can stream Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. The hotel has a seafood restaurant, an “egg-centric all-day breakfast spot,” a big rooftop bar/lounge that Marriott says is New York’s largest, a lobby bar, and a grab-and-go market, as well as a newsstand/convenience store called New Stand. Marriott Rewards member rates start as low as $148 (after the holidays).

Marriott’s Le Meridien/AC Hotel is close to Denver’s convention center. (Image: Marriott)

Dual-branded hotels are getting ever more popular. Besides the Hilton project at LAX mentioned above, Marriott has just opened its own double hotel in downtown Denver, a block from the Colorado Convention Center at 15th and California. The 20-story structure includes the upscale 272-room Le Meridien Denver Downtown and the 223-room AC Hotel by Marriott Denver Downtown. Le Meridien has 12,000 square feet of meeting space, lots of original artwork, and coffee and cocktail service in the lobby. The European-inspired AC Hotel “is designed to feel like a modern ski lodge, with peaked roofs, strong lines, geometric language, and bold interior gestures,” Marriott said. Guests of the hotels can get American comfort food at Corinne, open for three meals a day; imbibe at The Lobbyist, Le Meridien’s cocktail lounge; and check out the mountains from 54thirty, Denver’s “highest open-air, seasonal rooftop bar.” Rates start at $162 at the AC Hotel and $229 at Le Meridien.

Given Marriott’s big new double-hotel presence in downtown Denver with Le Meridien and the AC Hotel, it may no longer need the 613-room Denver Marriott City Center, two blocks away at 17th and California – and that’s good, because the owner of that hotel, Chesapeake Lodging Trust, plans to change its affiliation on December 1, when it will become the Hilton Denver City Center, according to the Denver Post.

A corner room at the Madison Hotel in Washington, (Image: Hilton)

Long a landmark in downtown Washington D.C. not far from the White House, the Madison Hotel has ended its affiliation with Loews Hotels and has been rebranded as The Madison Washington DC, a Hilton Hotel, making it part of Hilton’s Honors program. That makes it Hilton’s third major property in the nation’s capital along with the Capital Hilton and the Washington Hilton. The 356-room Madison has 27 suites, eight meeting rooms, a 24-hour business center, restaurant and bar and a fitness center. Rates start at $131.

Part of the renovated lobby at Chicago’s Ritz-Carlton. (Image: Ritz-Carlton)

After a $100 million renovation job that kept the property closed for a year and a half, The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago has finally reopened. The big renovation of the property started just after it became an official member of the Ritz-Carlton group; before that, it was a Four Seasons hotel – even though it carried the Ritz-Carlton name. The work included the creation of a 15th-floor Ritz-Carlton Club lounge, an expansion of the hotel’s spa, and the addition of an Italian steakhouse restaurant. The hotel, located along North Michigan Avenue – the “Magnificent Mile” – is known for its spacious guest accommodations, which start at 300 square feet. Advance purchase rates start at $275.

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A United Club closes at SFO, another reopens

United Club

The at one time very busy entrance to the United Club at SFO’s International Terminal is now shut (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

United Club members or MileagePlus Gold+ members accustomed to using the United Club just past security in SFO’s International Terminal G will have to change their plans for a while. Unless of course they are flying on a paid business or first class ticket.

That lounge, near Gate G92, has been closed as United proceeds with construction that will convert that space into a new Polaris Club for premium-class international travelers. The adjacent Singapore Air Silver Kris lounge, which will become part of the newer, larger Polaris lounge, has closed as well. United says that the new facility should be ready by next summer (2018).

Singapore Air’s Silver Kris lounge is now shut, too. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

In the meantime, the old Global First Lounge in the International Terminal (way out near gate G98) is serving as a temporary lounge for United Polaris first and business class departing customers and Star Alliance international first and business class departing customers (including United).

However, be aware that this temporary lounge will not be able to accommodate Star Gold customers, United Club members, one-time pass holders, military, etc. (Customers holding Star Gold status who visit the temporary lounge will not receive their +1 guest privileges at the temporary Global First Lounge as this is not a Star Gold lounge with Star Gold benefits. Customers bringing a guest who would not otherwise be eligible for the temporary lounge will need to visit one of the United Club locations in domestic Terminal 3.)

For the time being, Star Alliance Gold and United Club members will have to schlep back to any of the three United Club locations in Terminal 3 via the post-security walkway that connects the International Terminal and Terminal 3.  To handle the increased traffic, United has re-opened another club across from Gate 71A on the mezzanine level (take elevator) above the main concourse. Customers should plan on a 5-10 minute walk in each direction.

Here’s a look at the mezzanine United Club when it opened in 2014-2016.

United First Polaris lounge SFO

Entrance to the United First lounge, which is now used by United and Star Alliance first, business flyers (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Chris McGinnis United

Editor Chris McGinnis checking out the dated Chinoiserie in the United First lounge

United Club SFO

The United First lounge on a Tuesday evening in October- busy, but not overcrowded (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The SFO construction is just one of several United Club improvement projects around United’s system. At Newark, part of the United Club near Gate C120 in Terminal C is being converted to a new Polaris Lounge, so seating in that lounge is “significantly limited” for now. At Houston Bush Intercontinental, the United Club in Terminal E is due to reopen this month after a renovation project.

Big blue glass doors at the entry to United’s brand new Club (Chris McGinnis)

At Chicago O’Hare, the Club near Gate C16 in Terminal 1 is closed for renovations until sometime this winter. And the United Club at Ft. Lauderdale is closed for an overhaul, although United has opened a temporary location in Terminal 1 between Gates C1-C3.

Here’s United’s latest list of United Club locations.

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Airport news: Denver, Boston, DFW, Newark, Pittsburgh

Denver International will get more gates, new concessions. (Image: Jim Glab)

In airport news, Denver will add more gates and several new vendors; Boston may charge a fee from drivers who are picking up or dropping off passengers; work is finally finished on a major overhaul of Dallas/Ft. Worth’s Terminal E; Pittsburgh will allow non-travelers into the airside of its terminals; and United has a very exclusive restaurant at Newark.

A Denver city council committee has approved a plan to start adding more gates to the three terminals at Denver International Airport. Assuming approval by the full council, the proposal calls for construction of a total of 26 new passenger gates – four on the west end of Concourse B by 2019, along with 12 more gates on the west end of Concourse A and 10 on the east end of Concourse C by 2020. The gates would accommodate both international and domestic flights. Meanwhile, airport officials said travelers will see 17 new restaurants and stores in the terminals next year. New entrants include six coffee shops across all three terminals (three Starbucks and three Dazbogs); a new Denver Central Market on Concourse A with a bakery, a sushi outlet, a bodega and other food options; a sports bar from Colorado’s New Belgium Brewery on Concourse B; and a new barbecue restaurant and sandwich shop on Concourse A.

How can you reduce traffic congestion at a major airport? The Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Boston Logan, is studying a proposal to start imposing fees on all individual drivers who are picking up or dropping off friends or relatives. Taxi and ride-sharing services already pay airport fees that are passed along to their customers, and the Port Authority sees the imposition of fees on non-commercial drivers as a logical next step, according to the Boston Globe. The report notes that the number of flights at Logan has jumped by more than 15,000 a year since 2015, and the number of non-commercial vehicles dropping off or picking up travelers has reached an estimated 20,000 a day. There was no estimate of how much such a fee might be, or how it would be collected, but the report notes that more than a dozen airports in the U.K. already have similar fees.

Dallas/ Ft. Worth’s Terminal E has been thoroughly renovated. (Image: DFW Airport)

At Dallas/Ft. Worth International, airport officials said work has been completed on a major rehabilitation of Terminal E. The project included the installation of device charging stations for passengers at each of the terminal’s 36 gates. Free wi-fi is available throughout the terminal, and travelers can use the DFW mobile app to check flight information, order food, and find retail locations. Terminal E also got 21 new retail and dining concessions including a 7-Eleven, ice cream bar shop, barbecue restaurant, Dunkin’ Donuts, Chick-fil-A, Auntie Anne’s and more. In addition, the number of parking spaces at Terminal E’s garage increased from 4,036 to 5,941, and new overhead LED beacons alert drivers to open spaces.

United’s “secret” restaurant at Newark is by invitation only. (Image: United)

United Airlines’ latest special perk for special passengers is an invitation-only restaurant in Terminal C at its Newark Liberty International hub, according to a report in Travel + Leisure magazine. The airline reportedly notified select customers in an email that they qualify for dining privileges at the exclusive eatery, which is called ‘CLASSIFIED.” MileagePlus elites who are lucky enough to gain access won’t even be told the location of the restaurant until they book a table, the magazine said, although it is reportedly hidden behind Alain Ducasse’s Saison restaurant. Entrees at the 36-seat restaurant reportedly start at $29 and range up to a maximum price of $98 for a 42-ounce (!) steak.

Pittsburgh International this week became the first domestic airport since 9/11 to allow members of the public into its secure airside facilities even if they are not ticketed passengers, according to Air Transport World. A TSA official told the publication that PIT is the only airport that has such a program, and there are no plans to expand it to others. Non-ticketed persons who want to access the airport’s restaurants and shops, or escort a relative or friend to their gate, must show a driver’s license or passport and have their name checked against the government’s no-fly list. Then they’ll get a stamped “myPITpass” and will have to go through security screening to access the terminals.

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TSA phases in tougher domestic screening procedures

TSA PreCheck

New TSA screening rules are coming to U.S. airports. (Chris McGinnis)

Those more stringent security inspection standards that the Department of Homeland Security recently stared requiring for overseas airports are being implemented for domestic travel as well.

The Transportation Security Administration said this week that persons who use the regular (non-PreCheck) screening lanes will be required to remove all electronic devices larger than a cell phone from their carry-on bags and put them in a separate bin to go through the x-ray machines. This includes tablet-sized devices. The devices should have nothing else below or on top of them – the same way laptops have been handled for several years.

TSA said the procedure will help its officers see a better x-ray image. The new requirement will not apply for persons using TSA’s PreCheck lanes- but be prepared for this for those times you don’t get selected, or your airline does not participate with PreCheck.

So far, we’ve heard that the enhanced screening for international flights is causing minimal delays, so let’s hope that stricter screening at domestic checkpoints follows suit.

Persons using PreCheck lanes will be exempt from the new requirements. (Image: TSA)

The new rules are already in place at 10 airports where they have been tested, including Boise, Colorado Springs, Detroit Metro, Ft. Lauderdale, Boston Logan, Los Angeles International, Lubbock, San Juan, Las Vegas and Phoenix Sky Harbor. They will be expanded “during the weeks and months ahead” to all airports, the agency said.

“In standard screening lanes, TSA officers will be stationed in front of the checkpoint X-ray machines to guide passengers through the screening process and recommend how best to arrange their carry-on items for X-ray screening,” the agency said.

“Travelers are encouraged to organize their carry-on bags and keep them uncluttered to ease the screening process and keep the lines moving. There are no changes to what travelers can bring through the checkpoint; food and liquid items that comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule, electronics, and books continue to be allowed in carry-on bags.”

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“Free” airport parking, cheap rentals back at SFO, LAX

Travelcar

TravelCar will rent your car to another traveler while you’re away. (Image: TravelCar)

Remember FlightCar? It was a San Francisco-based start-up that solicited air travelers to rent out their cars from the airport while they were out of town, giving them free parking and a share of the rental revenue. It had 12 airport locations (and several fans among TravelSkills readers) before it went out of business last year. Another company called RelayRides is out of the airport business, but still working in the car sharing/renting space as Turo.com

Now another company is offering a similar concept, and it’s already available for Los Angeles and San Francisco travelers with locations near both airports.

The new operator is called TravelCar, and it’s not really a start-up; it’s a five-year-old company based in France and has 30 locations there. It refers to itself as a ”peer to peer car sharing platform.”

Customers can use the TravelCar lots simply as an airport parking alternative, paying market rates (e.g. $13 a day at SFO), or they can agree to let the company rent out their vehicle while they’re away, at prices lower than major rental companies (around $30 a day), and take a share of the revenue. (That’s how you get “free” parking.)

The company provides insurance for owners’ cars while they are rented, and it sells insurance to renters with various levels of coverage for $9 to $22 a day.

On the rental side, let’s say you were flying into LAX in mid August and needed a car. TravelCar lists seven types of cars available that day, and a Toyota Prius  is going for just $37 per day plus tax for a total of $41.

Not bad considering a one day rental from Alamo prices out at a hefty $67 when you include all taxes and fees.

TravelCar prices at $41 including tax at LAX in mid August

 

Alamo comes in at $45 for one day including taxes and fees at LAX in mid August

Readers: Would you rent out your car to a stranger through a company like this in order to cut your airport parking costs? Would you rent someone else’s car to save? Please leave your comments below. 

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Airport news: Houston, LAX, Newark, Ft. Lauderdale, Seattle

United’s Concourse C North at Houston Bush Intercontinental (Image: United)

In airport news, United plans some operational changes at Houston Bush Intercontinental; Los Angeles International gets a popular new eatery for Delta flyers; Newark’s Terminal C adds several dining options; Southwest opens an international concourse at Ft. Lauderdale; and Seattle issues leases for several new concessions.

United Airlines said this week it will change its scheduling at Houston Bush Intercontinental  this fall to offer “shorter, more convenient connection times and better access to more destinations.” Specifically, United plans to “rebank” its flight operations at IAH on October 29, shifting from the current 10 daily flight banks to eight. (A flight bank is a window of concentrated arrivals and departures.) Besides making for shorter connections, the airline said, the change will let it better utilize its 90 gates at IAH and “use aircraft more effectively throughout the entire country.” And in 2018, United said, it will finish its $277 million investment in the airport’s C North concourse, offering more spacious gate areas, improved technology and new dining options.

Delta’s Terminal 3 at LAX gets a Shake Shack. (Image: Shake Shack)

Los Angeles International’s Terminal 3, part of Delta’s new home at the airport, is opening a new comfort food mecca this week: Shake Shack. The fast-growing fast-food favorite started with one location in New York City 13 years ago and now has 130 worldwide (including 80 in the U.S.). Its specialty is hamburgers (all-natural, antibiotic-free Angus beef), but it also offers chicken, hot dogs, fries, frozen custard and breakfast sandwiches. It’s open from 4:30 a.m. to midnight. The chain opened its first Los Angeles location last year in West Hollywood and now has five in the area.

That long-term overhaul of concessions at Newark Liberty International’s Terminal C – United’s hub – has opened three more dining venues. But there are actually six, because these new Terminal C eateries have one identity for breakfast and then change to a different one for lunch and dinner. For lunch/dinner, the new venues include Wabi-Sabi (Asian street food), Notorious P.I.G. (barbecue, of course) and Uptop Pizzeria (build your own pie). Earlier in the day, they serve up something totally different as Crepe Juliet, Flip Flop Pancake Shop and Breakfast Boli. Two months ago, the terminal opened two other split-personality eateries – Eggy Weggy and Supreme Bowl in the mornings, then Custom Burger and Philly Cheesesteaks later in the day.

Southwest’s Concourse A at Ft. Lauderdale Airport. (Image: Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport)

Southwest Airlines is due to cut the ribbon this week on its new Concourse A  linked to Terminal 1 at Ft.Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which will house the airline’s growing international operation at FLL. The new concourse has five gates that can handle both international and domestic flights, as well as a Customs and Immigration facility. It has several new shops and eateries – and even a pet restroom. Southwest flies to Nassau and to Cuba from FLL, and this month added new routes to Belize City, Grand Cayman, Cancun and Montego Bay. It plans to start service in November from FLL to Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos.

Travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International can look forward to plenty of new food and beverage options in the months ahead. The airport has just awarded leases for a couple of dozen new outlets, representing all kinds of global cuisine and branches of local favorites, as well as new retail stores. The biggest is probably the Marche Food Hall, which will be in Concourse A at Gates A5 and A6. It will include a juice bar, a bakery, an ice cream shop, a burger restaurant, a coffee shop and a beer bar. Other new options will include two locations of Starbucks Urban Market (selling news publications, sundries and travel necessities as well as the usual Starbucks fare) and eateries ranging from Asian to Italian to Alaskan seafood and more. You can see a full list here. The airport plans to boost the number of retail outlets and restaurants from the current 86 to 135 in the years to come.

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Amex Platinum lands a new lounge at Reno-Tahoe

The developers of Oakland’s Escape Lounge, pictured here, are opening one in Reno, which will be part of the Amex Platinum lounge network. (Photo: K Taylor)

The folks who brought you the Escape lounge at Oakland International Airport will soon open another one at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

MAG USA, which also operates pay-per-use passenger lounges at Minneapolis-St. Paul International and Connecticut’s Bradley International, was picked by the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority to build and operate a $1 million, 1,700-square-foot lounge – the airport’s first — but with with vague opening date of just “this winter.”

The company is expected to charge a walk-up fee of $45 for use of the lounge, or $40 if the visit is booked online (www.escapelounges.com). Like the Oakland Escape lounge, the Reno lounge will offer free access to American Express Platinum Card members and up to two companions.

The company’s Escape lounges offer free hot and cold food and beverages, abundant power outlets, free high-speed Wi-Fi and flight information screens. “In addition, premium food and beverage options are available for a fee,” a spokesperson said.

Oakland’s Escape lounge made its debut last fall. Here’s a slideshow we posted not long after it opened.

The facility will be located at the connector between the B and C concourses, just past the airport’s security checkpoint, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

“Common-use airport lounges are still a relatively new concept in North America and we look forward to working with more airports as they improve their passenger amenities,” said MAG USA CEO Rosemarie Andolino.

Reno-Tahoe Airport, which primarily serves Nevada and Northern California, is the second busiest airport in Nevada and has seen impressive passenger growth with passenger numbers up 10 percent on 2016; this was also the highest year-over-year annual growth since 2004 for the Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

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Can Oakland cope with global growth?

777 Oakland

British Airways Boeing 777 landing at Oakland International Airport (Photo: Port of Oakland)

Oakland International Airport today adds another transatlantic competitor as new low-cost Level begins Barcelona service. It’s the latest in a growing roster of international flights at OAK, and it makes us wonder how much the airport can handle in its current state.

The new service from Level – with a two-class, 314-passenger A330 flying the route three days a week – comes just five days ahead of new twice-weekly Oakland-Barcelona flights from Norwegian, which has settled on the East Bay airport as its preferred home in the Bay Area. (OAK-BCN fares started as low as $400 round trip, but are now running $500-$700 for peak summer season trips.)

Level’s parent, International Airlines Group (which owns British Airways and Iberia), has also settled on Oakland — as the gateway where it will fight back against the low-cost flights of Norwegian. At the end of March, British Airways started four weekly flights from Oakland to London Gatwick — a route that Norwegian has flown for more than a year, and will boost from three flights a week to four this fall.

Level is flying A330s from Oakland to Barcelona. (Image: IAG)

On the same day that BA launched those OAK-Gatwick flights, Norwegian started twice-weekly service from Oakland to Copenhagen; it already flies from OAK to Oslo and Stockholm.

Is your mind sufficiently boggled by all that?

That’s just part of the burgeoning international growth at Oakland. In addition:

  • Norwegian just announced plans to begin twice-weekly service next February from Oakland to Rome Fiumicino – the first Bay Area non-stops to Italy in many years. There is some speculation that IAG’s Level could decide to go head-to-head with Norwegian on that route as well.
  • In February, Southwest Airlines kicked off its first international service from Oakland, with daily flights to Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico.
  • Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris recently won rights to operate from Oakland to Mexico City, with service expected to begin by summer of 2018.

Norwegian flies Boeing 787 Dreamliners on its routes from Oakland to Europe.

With all the new transatlantic service, Oakland has surpassed San Diego to become California’s third-largest gateway to Europe.  The airport is doing its part this year to give those carriers a boost: Through August 15, it is offering five free days of parking, worth $120, to travelers flying roundtrip to Europe.

But all that growth comes at a cost: We’ve been hearing some grousing from readers about long waiting times at Customs and Immigration at Oakland airport.

Here are some select quotes from emails sent from the plane waiting on the OAK tarmac from reader SS: Trapped w/babies on sweltering Southwest flight from Puerto Vallarta. Customs can’t handle our flight & another big Norwegian flight that came in. So we’re stuck on plane. 

Later, SS wrote: There were TWO 200-300 passenger widebodies processed ahead of us. Norwegian Air & British Airways.  Only four customs agents processing passengers when we arrived to customs- three for US citizens, and one for non-US.  OAK clearly unprepared for this new level of international arrivals. Even customs hall wasn’t large enough to handle us well.

Emails like that make us wonder about the ability of OAK’s international terminal to handle all the growth (the airport recently reported that its overall passenger numbers during April jumped almost 13 percent  year-over-year).

We reached out to airport spokesperson Keonnis Taylor about this, and she wrote: The events of last evening were partially the result of irregular operations.  Southwest Airlines Flight 125 arrived 20 minutes early and the international arrival gates were occupied by other flights.  Unfortunately, about the same time as this early arrival, a system-wide outage of CBP’s APC (Automated Passport Control) kiosks occurred. The outage, which was not limited to OAK, required all passengers arriving on international flights to be processed through Customs without the benefit of the APCs, which streamline the process otherwise fully conducted by its agents.  This kiosk outage caused delays in passenger processing and, subsequently, a long period of waiting for other aircraft that had arrived, which were not able to access the International Arrivals Building until after previous international arrivals had deplaned all passengers.

Fortunately, OAK is hard at work on a $35 million expansion of its international arrivals facility, which should be finished this summer. Plus, Oakland does have Global Entry, which should help when things get backed up!

Have you flown from Oakland yet? Would you? Please leave your comments below.

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LAX’s Big Move was a Big Success

Delta’s overhauls of T2 and T3 at LAX will feature a light, spacious design. (Image: Delta)

Los Angeles International Airport finished up its monumental relocation of 20 airlines this week with no significant problems reported, and carriers are now proceeding to freshen up their new digs.

Over a period of five days, airlines moved from one terminal to another to accommodate the largest piece of the project, Delta’s shift from Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3. Only one little piece of the project is left – the planned June 4 move of XL France from T2 to T6.

Despite the scope of the operation, “There were no reported delays attributable to the airline move across all three operational periods,” an airport spokesperson said, “although some were initially reported due to East Coast weather conditions and previously-scheduled runway safety area construction.”

In the final stage of the project, on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, Delta completed its relocation into T2 and T3, and JetBlue, Hawaiian and Air Canada shifted their operations into T5 and T6. In addition, Southwest Airlines’ international flights now arrive and leave from the Bradley international terminal.

Delta said it is already seeing operational improvements from the move. “In the short-term, moving Delta’s operations closer to its partners has already improved its flight departure times and substantially lowered the time aircraft need to taxi before takeoff and arrival,” a spokesperson said. The move is the first step in what Delta is calling the Delta Sky Way at LAX, a $1.9 billion, seven-year project to modernize and connect T2, T3 and the Bradley Terminal.

Virgin America is now located near partner Alaska Airlines in T6. (Image: Alaska)

Also benefiting from the relocations is Alaska Airlines Group, as its Virgin America subsidiary moved close to sister company Alaska Airlines in Terminal 6. That will simplify Alaska Airlines Group’s plans to integrate the operations of the two carriers at LAX as their merger proceeds.

“By sharing the same space at LAX, it will be even easier for guests to make a connecting flight across the airlines’ combined network. Instead of changing terminals, guests will only need to walk a few steps,” Alaska said in a blog posting. “It also means that frequent flyers will have a new airport lounge to enjoy: The Alaska Lounge at Terminal 6.” That lounge is on T6’s mezzanine level near Gate 64.

JetBlue will remake its LAX T5 lobby to look like this one at its New York JFK Terminal 5 home base. (Image: JetBlue)

JetBlue, now in LAX’s Terminal 5, said it is planning  a series of redesign projects for its new check-in lobby there, using the same team that redeveloped the airline’s home base at New York JFK’s Terminal 5.

“The LAX plan will feature JetBlue’s new self-service lobby with ten check-in positions plus ten interactive self-service kiosks – both are more than double the number at Terminal 3,” JetBlue said. “The new interactive kiosks feature the latest personal, helpful and simple technology, including self-bag tagging and bag drop capabilities that increase efficiency and reduce frustrating airport lines. JetBlue Mint customers and Mosaic members will also have a dedicated check-in area.”

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Heads up: The Big Move at LAX starts

In just a few days, Delta and other airlines will be switching locations at LAX. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

We’ve advised you a couple of times that many airlines would be switching terminals at Los Angeles International this spring, and now those moving days are almost here: The big move starts this Friday night (May 12, 2017) and will continue the nights of May 14 and May 16.

The relocations are all a result of Delta’s big plans to shift its LAX operations from Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3, displacing a lot of other airlines.

Delta will move portions of its operations on each of the three nights – May 12, 14, 16. The carrier says that during the moving period, it will be operating flights from all four affected terminals, so it plans to maintain “constant communications” with customers regarding gate locations through its app, texts and emails. (See below for a map.)

Flying to/from or through LAX during the Big Move? Delta suggests the following:

  • Check terminal and gate information prior to arriving at LAX. Delta customers should use the Fly Delta app or delta.com and reconfirm gate information upon arrival at the airport.
  • Arrive early. Delta recommends arriving three hours prior to domestic departures and four hours prior to international departures.
  • When in doubt, ask for help. Delta and LAWA will have hundreds of employees and volunteers stationed throughout the impacted terminals to assist customers. They will wear bright green vests that say “Ask Me.”

The Delta Sky Club located in Terminal 5 will remain open through the end of scheduled operations on May 16. The Delta Sky Club location in Terminal 2 will open on May 13, and the location in Terminal 3 will open on May 17.

The Delta One “movie star” check-in facility located at Terminal 5 will remain open through the end of scheduled operations on May 16. After May 16, Delta will temporarily offer dedicated check-in space in Terminal 2 while a long-term Delta One experience is finalized.

Delta tells TravelSkills that it’s going to smooth frequent flyer feathers ruffled by the move with free massages, meditation pods, cucumber water, pressed juices, Kind bars and lavender scented mists. LAWA will also have dogs at the airport to provide stress relief and comfort to passengers through their Pets Unstressing Passengers program.

Source: Los Angeles World Airports

A few moves have already happened: China’s Hainan Airlines has moved from T2 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT); Copa’s flights still leave from the TBIT, but check-in for flights moved from T6 to T3. And American in January dropped four gates in T6 and picked up four in T5.

Los Angeles World Airports has released a day-by-day schedule of the additional airline moves starting later this week, and here it is:

>Moving on May 12-13 (Friday-Saturday) are:

Allegiant, Frontier and Sun Country (from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5), Boutique Air and Virgin America (from Terminal 3 to Terminal 6), and Virgin Australia (moving from Terminal 3 to TBIT (passengers bused from T2 to TBIT for check in, with flights continuing to depart from TBIT). Additionally, Volaris will move its aircraft from Terminal 2 to TBIT. Check-in will continue at Terminal 2 and passengers will access their flights via post-security bus service to TBIT.

>Moving on May 14-15 (Sunday-Monday) are:

Avianca and Interjet (from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 for check-in, with passengers walking to TBIT to catch their flights) and Spirit (from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5).

>Moving on May 16-17 (Tuesday-Wednesday) are:

Air Canada (from Terminal 2 to Terminal 6), Hawaiian (from Terminal 2 to Terminal 5) and JetBlue (from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5).

The final change will be XL France, which will move from Terminal 2 to Terminal 6 when it resumes seasonal service June 4.

LAX Terminals 2 and 3 will be Delta’s new home at the airport. (Image: Delta)

Airport officials note that on some days during the moving period, Delta flights will be operating out of as many as four terminals (2, 3, 5 and 6). Other airlines should be completing their move in just one night, as shown in the above schedule.

Work on all construction projects in LAX’s central terminal area will be suspended during the moves, officials said, but they are advising travelers to arrive at the airport earlier than normal from May 12 through the end of the month as they get used to the new airline locations.

What do you think of all the changes happening at LAX these days? Are you curious, or avoiding it? Please leave your comments below. 

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Charting progress of big LAX move starting now

LAX Terminals 2 and 3 will be Delta’s new home at the airport. (Image: Delta)

That massive move of airlines at Los Angeles International is just a few weeks away, but a few changes have already started – and the airport authority has put out a new chart of who’s going where.

As we reported earlier, the relocations are all a result of Delta’s big plans to shift its LAX operations from Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3, displacing a lot of other tenants. The changes will affect a total of 28 airlines.

Most of the moves will take place in the overnight hours of May 12, 14 and 16. But a few have already happened. China’s Hainan Airlines has just moved from T2 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). Copa’s flights still leave from the TBIT, but check-in for flights moved last week from T6 to T3. And American in January dropped four gates in T6 and picked up four in T5. Later this month, Qatar Airways is slated to move from T2 to the Bradley Terminal.

When the major moves begin next month, Delta will be operating flights on some days from four terminals (2, 3, 5 and 6).

Here’s a chart from the airports authority of who’s moving where, followed by a map of how the terminals will shake out when it’s all finished.

“During the relocation and in the weeks following, passengers are advised to check-in online, print boarding passes, and check terminal and gate information before coming to LAX,” Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) said. “They should also arrive to the airport earlier than normal.  Once at LAX, passengers should check flight and gate status on flight information display boards in each terminal to ensure they are in the correct location.”

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Airport news: San Jose, LAX, Boston, San Francisco, DFW

A new baggage carousel in Mineta San Jose’s expanded international arrivals facility. (Image: Mineta San Jose Airport)

In airport news, San Jose opens an expanded international arrivals space; Boston Logan’s Terminal E gets an overhaul and a pair of new premium lounges; Virgin America will lose its Loft at LAX; San Francisco International can record your license plate; and Dallas/Ft. Worth is greatly expanding a much-needed passenger amenity.

After a year of construction, Mineta San Jose International Airport this week cut the ribbon on an expanded International Arrivals Building. The project added 2,700 square feet and a second baggage carousel in the secure Customs area, along with a 3,100 square foot enclosed area for people waiting to meet inbound passengers. Airport officials said the larger space was needed because the number of carriers with international service at SJC has grown from three to nine in the past two years.

Virgin America will lose its Loft lounge at LAX next month. (Image: Virgin America)

That big multi-airline move at Los Angeles International coming next month will eliminate one of the airport’s favorite spaces for Virgin America customers: the airline’s popular Loft in Terminal 3. That’s because the move will take Virgin from T3 to Terminal 6, where it will co-locate with its new owner, Alaska Airlines. But the Travel Codex blog reports that persons who enjoy free access to the Virgin America Loft – i.e., first class and Gold Elite customers – will get the same privileges at the Alaska Airlines lounge in T6, and Virgin’s Elevate Silver members will get a reduced entry rate of $15.

At Boston Logan, work has been finished on an expansion of Terminal E. The project added three more gates to the facility, and gives it the capability of handling Airbus A380 jumbos. Along with the extra space, travelers will be seeing improvements in Terminal E concessions as well. A new Hudson News has opened, to be followed in June by a new duty free store. New restaurants coming this summer include a Legal Sea Bar seafood eatery and a branch of Stephanie’s, a popular dining spot on Boston’s Newbury Street. The project also brought some new space for premium international flyers, including a British Airways lounge for first and business class customers (including those of partner carriers Iberia, Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific); and a new Lufthansa lounge for first and business class flyers and elite-level customers, including those of Star Alliance partners at BOS like SAS, TAP and Turkish Airlines.

Part of Luftnhansa’s new lounge at Boston Logan’s Terminal E. (Image: Lufthansa)

Do you drive to San Francisco International? If so, your license plate data could be captured and stored electronically for up to four years. according to Endgadget.com, the city’s Airport Commission OK’d the data collection plan to help in monitoring revenues from commercial operations like parking and taxis, but it’s not clear why it needs anyone else’s plate numbers, or why it needs to be kept for years. The airport apparently also has permission to release relevant data to law enforcement authorities, and the whole thing is stirring up some concerns among privacy and civil liberty groups.

Passengers at Dallas/Ft. Worth International will find it easier to plug in during the coming months. The airport plans to spend $1 million on the installation of another 2,750 power outlets at the gate areas in all five terminals. Electrical plugs are currently available at 10 to 15 percent of the gate area seats, but this project should expand that to 40-50 percent.

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Airport news: San Diego, Newark, Atlanta, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland

San Diego is building a new customs and immigration facility. (Image: San Diego Airport)

In recent airport developments, San Diego will get a new federal inspections facility; faster security screening comes to Newark; don’t be afraid when you see this new device at Atlanta; Orlando gets another passenger lounge; there’s a new way to kill time at Portland; and Southwest has big growth plans at Phoenix.

Facing a big increase in international arrivals, San Diego County’s Regional Airport Authority Board has approved plans to build a new Federal Inspection Services facility in Terminal 2 West. Officials hope to complete the $229 million project by June of next year. The airport’s current total of 300,000 annual international arrivals is expected to grow by 33 percent over the next seven years. “The new facility will not only help operationally accommodate increased demand, but improve the processing experience for passengers with reduced wait times and a more welcoming environment,” said airport board chairman April Boling.

At Newark Liberty International, United has officially cut the ribbon on a big new security checkpoint with those automated lanes that have been spreading to more airports. To speed passengers to the gates at its Terminal C hub, United consolidated previous checkpoints into one big redesigned facility with 17 automated screening lanes (including dedicated Premier Access and TSA PreCheck lanes). Some automated lanes have also been installed for United’s passengers at Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles, but Newark is its first hub to offer nothing but the new lane designs, which move passengers through about 30 percent faster than traditional screening.

Next time you fly into Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, don’t get excited if you see a drone hovering around the airport’s skies. It’s not a security risk. As the airport proceeds with various phases of its ongoing $6 billion construction project, contractors concluded that drone flights above ATL provide the best technology for surveying and inspecting the pavement on the airport’s runways.

Orlando International Airport has opened a second shared-use passenger lounge created by Airport Lounge Development Inc. The new Club MCO lounge in Airside 1 (Gates 1-29) can accommodate up to 60 persons. It has a Relaxing Zone with comfortable eating and power outlets; a Resting Zone where you can put your feet up; a Productivity Zone for taking care of business; and a Kids Zone for youngsters. It also has showers and a food and beverage service. The company’s first lounge at MCO is in Airside 4. Lounge access costs $40 for a day pass, including food, drinks and Wi-Fi. Entry is free for members of Priority Pass, LoungeKey and Lounge Club, and some airlines arrange free access for their premium passengers.

Southwest plans to add a new concourse at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (Image: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport)

Southwest Airlines President Tom Nealon said at a recent Phoenix appearance that his airline has big growth plans for Sky Harbor Airport. According to USA Today, Nealon said Southwest wants to add eight more gates at PHX in addition to the 24 it currently uses in Terminal 4. He said the company has committed to occupy all of a new eight-gate concourse to be located near Southwest’s existing D gates at PHX. The new concourse is expected to open in 2021. Southwest is the number two airline at Phoenix, behind American.

What’s a microcinema? It’s a very small movie theater, and one recently opened at Portland International Airport. Operating as a branch of Portland’s renowned Hollywood Theatre, the airport cinema on Concourse C only seats 17, but it’s got a $200,000 projection and sound system, and is insulated from aircraft noise. It’s been showing an hour-long selection of short G-rated films by local auteurs.

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First look: D.C. Reagan National’s new commuter concourse

Serious construction work is expected to begin in a matter of weeks on a $1 billion transformation of Washington Reagan National Airport – including construction of a new passenger concourse.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) last week released a new video showcasing that new concourse, which will handle commuter flights at the crowded airport. The new concourse won’t be ready until 2021, but it will eliminate the need for travelers to take buses to parked regional aircraft from DCA’s busy Gate 35X in Terminal C, which handles some 1.2 million passengers a year.

Rendering of the walkway to DCA’s new commuter concourse. (Image: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)

“The concourse will provide regional travelers with direct, enclosed access to planes via jet bridges, spacious waiting and boarding areas, diverse seating options with integrated power outlets and new concessions,” MWAA said. “The concourse design includes architectural features consistent with the Terminal B/C’s exposed metal beams, glass walls and domed ceilings while maximizing open, navigable gate areas and panoramic views of downtown Washington D.C.”

The new 14-gate concourse – located on the airport’s northern end next to Terminals B and C — will cost the airports authority its current headquarters building, which will be demolished to make way for the commuter facility.

Plan for the new commuter concourse (Image: MWAA)

The massive improvement effort at the airport, called Project Journey, also calls for two new security checkpoints that will be built above the arrivals roadway for Terminals B/C, and will be connected to National Hall and linked by walkways to parking garages and the airport’s Metrorail station. That piece will increase the number of security lanes from the current 20 to 28. The new security checkpoints are due to open in 2020.

New security checkpoints will be built above the airport roadway. (Image: MWAA)

Officials said the work will have some impact on traffic flow along airport roadways, but they will schedule most of the work for nighttime hours to minimize inconvenience for travelers.

DCA last year handled more than 23 million passengers – about 50 percent more than its intended capacity, and more than the number that used Washington Dulles Airport, which is many times the size of National.

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5 key reasons to try new Lyft Premier

Lyft

A new upscale option from Lyft (Photo: Lyft)

In less than a decade, the introduction of ride-sharing services has changed the way we travel for business more than just about anything else. Starting this week those rides get more luxurious as Lyft’s new Premier option expands. 

Gone are the days of tense calls with terse dispatchers and uncertain waits for taxis to take us to the airport or to our meetings. Also gone: Overpriced limo rides to or from the airport.

Now we just push a button on our smartphones and watch our ride come to us on a map. We know how much the ride will cost before we even get in the car. When the ride is over, we thank the driver and step out of the car instead of waiting around for a receipt or worrying about leaving the right tip. While the wow factor of that has worn off on many frequent travelers, it still feels like magic to me!

To grab more of the lucrative corporate travel market, Lyft is now bringing even more magic to our airport or cross-town rides with the introduction of Lyft Premier – a new luxury ride service that will pick you up in high-end sedan or SUV like a BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Lexus LS, or Cadillac Escalade in minutes.

Lyft app

You’ll now see the new Premier option pop up on the Lyft app in 19 cities (Image: Lyft)

Last year Lyft introduced the new Premier option in a handful of major cities, and has been steadily expanding it across the US. Just this week it introduced Premier in eight more cities for a total of 19.

Ready for a little luxury in your next ride? Here are five key reasons to give Lyft Premier a try:

1> New cities: This week, Premier arrives in Baltimore, Boston, Denver, New Jersey, Orange County, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Seattle. It’s also available in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Phoenix, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C.

2> Tipping: As always (and thankfully!) you can tip your driver via the Lyft app. Once your ride is over, you’ll get a prompt on your phone to rate the driver and leave a tip if you’d like. No awkward moments when you don’t have cash, or the driver does not have change. For this reason alone, many frequent travelers use Lyft as their primary ride-share service. What about you?

Don’t miss: Should I tip my driver? Poll shows that 35 percent of TravelSkills readers do!

Lyft

Lyft Premier will pick you up in a BMW, Audi, Lexus, or Cadillac in minutes. (Image: Lyft)

3> Prices: Back in the day, I would pay about $50 or $60 for an uncomfortable taxicab ride between my house in San Francisco and SFO Airport. When I was lucky enough to have a client willing to pay for a cushy car service, that fare would rise to around $100. These days I pay about $30 for a regular Lyft ride to the airport– and when I want a little luxury, I’ll ping a Lyft Premier for about $60. Generally, Premier fares run about twice as much as regular Lyft fares. In New York, a Premier ride from Manhattan to JFK runs $101-$121, while a regular Lyft costs $52-$65.

4> Nicer cars: Premier offers users style, consistency and comfort, and Premier vehicles likely resemble the luxury car in your garage or driveway. To qualify as a Lyft Premier vehicle, it must be a top-tier luxury make/model and it can’t be older than a 2008 model. It must have leather seats and comfortably accommodate at least three passengers.

5> Higher-rated drivers: Premier drivers maintain stellar ratings. Since Premier rates are higher, drivers make more money on higher fares (plus Lyft reports that Premier rides earn 50% higher tips on average) and are more likely to offer those little extras such as phone chargers, mints and water.

Ride-sharing among frequent travelers has become ubiquitous– as a matter of fact, they are now more frequently expensed than taxis and rental cars combined. 

In addition to Lyft Premier, you’ll find Lyft, Lyft Line (shared rides) and Lyft Plus (6+ passenger vehicles) on the app. Since its founding in June 2012, Lyft has expanded to more than 200 cities in the U.S.

Do you or have you used Lyft? Why or why not? Please leave your comments below. 

Disclosure: Thank you for reading TravelSkills! We will periodically create posts or send out messages like this one from commercial partners about topics relevant to frequent travel.  Our sponsors’ support, and yours, help us keep TravelSkills a free publication. 


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Are airport lounges getting too crowded?

Waiting in line at the entry to United’s new Club at SFO Terminal 3 (Chris McGinnis)

Frequent travelers love airport lounges, but do we love them too much? Maybe.

Overcrowding is becoming a serious issue in airline clubs- so much so that members are rethinking annual memberships, or considering newer options.

During busy morning hours, the United Clubs and the American Express Centurion Lounge my home airport (SFO) are frequently more crowded than airport terminals. Club staff have difficulty keeping buffets stocked and tables cleaned.

Last time I was in New York-JFK, I had to squeeze onto a stool between two other travelers and peer out at the tarmac to mentally escape from the crazy-crowded Delta Sky Club where I’d just waited two-deep for a glass of chardonnay at the bar. In Istanbul last May I saw business class passengers wait in bathroom lines for 10-20 minutes at Turkish Airlines’ massive (but crowded) business class lounge.

When American Express announced that it was raising its annual fee for the Platinum Card from $450 to $550, I thought, “hmmm could Amex be taking a page from airline play books and jacking up fees to reduce crowding at Centurion Lounges?” Maybe. UPDATE: Amex has restricted the number of family members to two only.

And then yesterday, I heard from a reader reporting that Alaska Airlines clubs at Sea-Tac were turning away Priority Pass cardholders due to capacity issues.

Delta Sky Club San Francisco

Watching the sun and the planes from a pretty perch at Delta’s exceptional Sky Club at SFO (Chris McGinnis)

At one time, high fees and lack of publicity kept most airline clubs cozy, quiet and comfortable refuges from crowded airport concourses. But that started to change a few years ago, when airlines began offering one-time passes for $50. Then credit card companies got in on the act, offering membership or day passes to card holders. That started to swell the ranks of club visitors.

Then American Express saw a need for better airport lounges for its top tier Platinum and Centurion card members, and started to build lounges of its own. These Centurion lounges wowed members with chef-prepared meals, top-shelf bars, wine tastings, sophisticated design, and showers. The travel media fawned. But then Centurion lounges became overcrowded, too.

Club at SJC

The main room of The Club at SJC (Photo: Scott Hintz)

One solution to overcrowding has been the growth of airline agonistic lounges like The Club, which charges $40 per visit and has locations at 9 airports  in the US. In my experience, these lounges are rarely crowded, and relatively nice. There are also Escape Lounges in the U.S. and the U.K.

Technology can also help. For example, the LoungeBuddy app helps travelers determine which lounges have availability, how much they cost and if they have a “pay as you go” option for as little as $25. Founder Tyler Dikman credits much of his company’s recent growth to travelers frustration with with crowding, which he says has become worse in the last three years.

I don’t know about you, but with the help of PreCheck and Clear, I now feel that I’ve honed my travel skills 🙂 so well that I usually get to the airport without ample time to fully enjoy the airport club experience, so the perk is less valuable to me. Plus, many airports terminals are as nice as airport clubs these days (hello SFO T3E or T2 or Newark Terminal C, Los Angeles TBIT or Delta’s new C gates at LGA)

What about you? Have crowded conditions forced you to reconsider club memberships or credit cards offering lounge access as a perk? Please leave your comments below.

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AmEx expands Centurion Lounge network

Spacious seating area at the AmEx Centurion Lounge in Miami Airport. (Image: American Express)

Spacious seating area at the AmEx Centurion Lounge in Miami Airport. (Image: American Express)

American Express unveiled plans to add two more locations to its Centurion airport lounge collection this year – including its first international one — and to expand an existing location.

The first Centurion Lounge outside the U.S. will be at Hong Kong International Airport. The 8,000-square-foot Hong Kong lounge will be in Terminal 1, but AmEx provided no other details except to say it will offer “a unique selection of premium amenities, food and beverages.” The company noted that Hong Kong is one of Asia’s most popular destinations for premium AmEx cardholders.

The other new lounge this year will be in Philadelphia International’s Terminal A West. That 6,300 square foot facility will have a complimentary premium bar and a food menu with “Philadelphia favorites,” as well as floor-to-ceiling windows, bathrooms with a private shower suite, and free Wi-Fi.

AmEx did not give estimated opening dates for the new lounges. Centurion Lounges are available at no charge for AmEx Platinum Card holders with reservations for same-day travel; other AmEx cardholders can access the lounges with a day pass that costs $50, subject to capacity limits. Click here for details on the lounges.

Seattle's new Centurion Studio- small but nice (Photo: Amex)

Seattle-Tacoma’s Centurion Studio is getting bigger. (Photo: Amex)

Meanwhile, the company said it also will expand its Centurion Lounge in Seattle-Tacoma International’s Terminal B from the current 3,100 square feet to 4,500, adding a private shower suite, additional restrooms, extra seating, a full premium bar, and “spectacular views of Mount Rainier.” Work should be finished in the first half of this year, AmEx said.

I sure wish they’d find a way to expand the Centurion Lounge at SFO— nearly every time I go, the lounge is a mob scene and I turn around and leave.

Besides Seattle, existing Centurion Lounges are in Dallas/Ft. Worth International, Las Vegas McCarran, New York LaGuardia, San Francisco International, Miami International and Houston Bush Intercontinental.

What do you think of Centurion Lounges? Have you experienced crowding issues? Please leave your comments below. 

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How often are planes washed?

A shiny new British Airways A380. Clean as a whistle! (Photo: British Airways)

A shiny new British Airways A380. BA says that it “takes a lot of muscle” to keep planes clean (Photo: British Airways)

Like a shiny, freshly washed and waxed car, a shiny, clean plane is a thing of beauty. Right?

But have you ever excitedly peered out at the plane you’re about to board and thought, “Hmm, that big bird needs a bath!”

As much as what’s inside the plane is what counts, that first impression of the outside of the aircraft may be even more important. If it’s dull and grimy on the outside, you might raise an eyebrow and wonder what you’ll see inside.

So we asked several airlines about how they keep their planes sparkling clean — or at least try to.

“We wash the exterior of our aircraft every fifty days, and that schedule is the same regardless of fleet type,” United Airlines’ Jennifer Dohm tells TravelSkills. “The locations for washing are determined by where the aircraft are laying over at an airport for at least eight hours. As a global airline, United’s wash locations are found throughout the world at fourteen airports including Houston, Newark, Singapore, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo.”

All United aircraft are washed by hand (Photo: United Airlines)

All United aircraft are washed by hand using extension poles (Photo: United Airlines)

“The washing schedule is the same year round; it doesn’t vary by season,” Dohm notes, although “in the winter, we add three additional locations in Florida. A widebody aircraft typically takes about five hours to wash with a crew of three to five people and it’s all done by hand using an extension pole.”

Across the Atlantic, Richard Goodfellow from British Airways explains that the frequency its planes are washed “depends on the aircraft type, but typically every six to eight weeks. We try to wash the short-haul ones more often as they do more take-offs and landings each day than a long-haul jet.”

British Airways mostly washes its aircraft at the airline’s London Heathrow and Gatwick hubs, using “specialist cleaning detergent, high lifts, aircraft brushes and quite a bit of muscle!” Each aircraft takes up to eight hours to wash.

Does the schedule differ at various times of year, we asked. “Not particularly,” Goodfellow said, but noted that, “Obviously it is not practical to wash aircraft in certain poor weather conditions.”

Video: Watch an Air France A380 get a special kind of bath

Meanwhile, James Boyd at Singapore Airlines tells us, “Our aircraft are washed monthly. This does not include additional washes required if dirty spots are found on the aircraft. Our aircraft are washed at designated bays at Changi Airport in Singapore. It typically ranges from two to five hours, depending on the general condition of the aircraft and the services required.”

Singapore uses “an aircraft cleaning robotic system, scissor lifts, aerial lifts and water tankers,” and its schedule doesn’t differ between its aircraft types (although SQ operates only widebody aircraft so its planes are all in the ‘large’ category) or dependent on the time of year.

Washing the underbelly of a United Airlines jet-- it takes a lot of elbow grease! (United Airlines)

Washing the underbelly of a United Airlines jet– it takes a lot of elbow grease! (United Airlines)

Interestingly, no airline would tell us how much it costs to wash an aircraft, citing commercial sensitivity. Nor would any carrier comment on whether they intend to wash their planes more or less frequently than other airlines.

So it seems that “the world’s cleanest airline” isn’t (yet) part of the advertising we’ll see at the airport.

But which airline has the dirtiest planes?

 (This is a Blast from the Past! A similar post appeared on TravelSkills in 2014)

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CLEAR adds 5 big Delta airports

CLEAR will soon be available in 22 airports. (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR lanes will soon be available in 22 U.S. airports. (Image: CLEAR)

The CLEAR trusted traveler program, which provides members with expedited access to TSA security checkpoints, is embarking on a big national expansion.

CLEAR said it added a presence at New York JFK a few weeks ago, and will do the same at New York LaGuardia today (January 25). It will then add lanes at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson later this month, followed by Minneapolis-St. Paul and Los Angeles International later in the first quarter.

Are you noticing a pattern here? Last year Delta made an investment in the company, which refocused expansion efforts at Delta hubs. See CLEAR gets second wind.

At New York JFK, special lane are now available in Delta’s  Terminal 2, and at LaGuardia in Delta’s Terminal D, with more locations coming at both airports, the company said. At Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, the lane will be in Delta’s South Terminal. It will also be in MSP’s South Terminal, and locations at LAX will be announced soon– but at least one (if not the only) location will be Delta’s Terminal 5.

The new airport locations will give the company a presence in 22 airports around the country, “covering the majority of flights in the U.S.,” the company noted. In the past year, it added locations at Detroit Metro, Seattle-Tacoma, Washington Dulles and Washington Reagan National. 

But it’s important to note that while CLEAR is available at 22 airports, it’s NOT available at all entry points at those airports. And CLEAR lanes are not always open. So even if you are flying Delta, you should probably check to find out exactly where the lanes are located and when they are open.

CLEAR members with biometric IDs can bypass security lines. (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR members with biometric IDs can bypass security lines. (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR uses kiosks with biometric technology – fingerprint and iris scans — to verify the identity of its members at airport security checkpoints, and allows them to bypass the long lines that other travelers often encounter. (This is separate from TSA’s PreCheck program, and does not provide access to PreCheck lanes unless the member is also a participant in PreCheck.)

Membership costs $179 a year, although discounts are available to members of Delta’s SkyMiles program, varying by elite levels. Delta last year acquired a minority stake in the company and has supported its expansion to airports where the carrier has a hub or a major presence. New members who sign up at the airport will get a one-month free trial and can start using it right away. Read: How to get the Delta Discount at CLEAR

In addition to the airports mentioned above, lanes are also available at San Francisco, San Jose, Denver, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Houston Hobby, San Antonio, Austin, Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas, Baltimore-Washington, Seattle and New York’s Westchester County Airport.

More information is available at www.clearme.com.

Are you a CLEAR member? What do you think about the service? Are you more likely to get it based on this expansion? Please leave your comments below. 

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Mineta San Jose airport adding even more flights in 2017

United Airlines 737-800

United Airlines Boeing 737-800s will soon fly nonstop to New York and Chicago from San Jose (Image: Chad Slattery / United)

With major U.S. airlines adding more flights at Mineta San Jose International this winter and spring, and with international flight options taking off, the airport has been making substantial improvements to handle increased passenger traffic.

New domestic flights starting in the first half of the New Year include:

  • A pair of new nonstops for United Airlines, both starting March 9. United will begin twice-daily flights to its big hub at Chicago O’Hare, and one daily roundtrip to its East Coast hub at Newark Liberty International. United will use 737-800s on both routes.
  • Staking a bigger claim in California, Alaska Airlines will inaugurate new transcontinental service on the SJC-Newark route on March 12, operating one daily roundtrip, followed by new intrastate service three times a day from San Jose to Hollywood-Burbank beginning March 16. These are the fourth and fifth new Alaska Airlines routes at SJC since late 2015, giving the carrier a total of 16 destinations.
  • On May 1, Air Canada is due to add a third daily frequency between San Jose-Vancouver.
  • American Airlines’ seasonal service between San Jose and Charlotte is set to resume May 5.
  • Delta will boost its presence at San Jose beginning May 25, when it expands its schedule to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson from two flights a day to three.
  • And Southwest will kick off daily San Jose-Reno service June 4.

You can find more details about new San Jose routes here.

First stop: SJC's new business class lounge

SJC’s popular business class lounge awarded “Priority Pass Lounge of the Year for North America.” (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Even without these new flights, SJC has been experiencing healthy growth in passenger numbers. Through the first 10 months of 2016, the domestic passenger count topped the 4 million mark, an increase of more than 7 percent year-over-year. And thanks to new flights across both the Atlantic and Pacific, international traffic at SJC jumped more than 68 percent during that period.

New and improved passenger amenities at Mineta San Jose make life easier for travelers. The three-year-old Club at SJC in Terminal A, a lounge open to all travelers on a paid basis and also a part of the Priority Pass network of airport lounges, was recently named the Priority Pass Airport Lounge of the Year for North America.

International travelers at SJC are finding their lives a little easier thanks to recent improvements that help them to speed through passenger processing. Precheck logo TMMany domestic travelers rely on TSA’s PreCheck program to move through security screening more quickly, but now some international travelers at San Jose can also take advantage of that benefit: Lufthansa – which began San Jose-Frankfurt flights last summer – recently became the first European airline to begin participation in PreCheck.

International travelers at SJC can now download Customs and Border Protection’s free Mobile Passport Control app on their phones or tablets and use it to submit their passport data and Customs declaration form to CBP. A coded electronic receipt shown to the CBP officer lets them move quickly through the arrivals process. And the airport also offers CBP’s Global Entry kiosks for international arrivals who belong to that trusted traveler program, allowing them to bypass lines. Also available at SJC are Automated Passport Control kiosks where arriving travelers can submit their entry information.

Mobile Passport Control

No need to fill out paper customs and immigration forms when you have the new Mobile Passport Control app

And more enhancements are on the way. This spring, the airport is expected to finish a renovation of its International Arrivals Building that will add 5,600 square feet along with a second baggage carousel and an enclosed waiting area.

A look at what the new International Arrivals lobby (Image: SJC)

A image of the future International Arrivals lobby (Image: SJC)

On a lighter note, Mineta San Jose has garnered attention and acclaim for its recent deployment of three interactive customer service robots – an appropriate innovation for an airport that serves as the gateway to Silicon Valley. Even more interactive robots – smaller ones – are featured in the airport’s new play area for children in Terminal B.

You can find more details about new San Jose routes here.

This post is sponsored by Mineta San Jose International Airport  

San Jose Airport banner

Disclosure: Thank you for reading TravelSkills! We will periodically send out messages like this one from commercial partners about topics relevant to frequent travel.  Our sponsors’ support, and yours, help us keep TravelSkills a free publication. 


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Delta unveils latest Sky Club overhaul (photos)

The reception desk at Delta's Raleigh-Durham Sky Club. (Image: Delta)

The reception desk at Delta’s Raleigh-Durham Sky Club. (Image: Delta)

Delta this week cut the ribbon on its renovated Sky Club lounge at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, providing more capacity and new tech and food & beverage enhancements.

The airline said the expanded seating in the 5,600-square-foot lounge can now accommodate 140 passengers, using contemporary furnishings from the British manufacturer Boss Design. Guests will now find power plugs and charging stations near every seat, and the Club’s Wi-Fi has been improved with higher speeds.

American Express Platinum and Reserve cardholders get comped access to Delta Sky Clubs. Individual annual membership fees run around $450 depending on your Medallion tier. And single visit passes are available for $59.

The RDU Sky Club — located post-security on Terminal 2’s second level, across from Gate C3 – also features a larger business center, and the free beverages at the lounge’s bar now include local craft beers from Carolina Brewing Company, along with wines, seasonal cocktails and Starbucks coffee and espresso.

Don’t miss: First look at Delta’s nice new Seattle Sky Club

The RDU Sky Club overhaul is just the latest in a series of projects for the airline’s lounges. Early next year, Delta said it expects to unveil an expansion of its Club at Newark Liberty International, with a redesigned bar and additional food options. At New York JFK’s Terminal 4 and Atlanta’s Concourse E, Delta plans to add spa services including seated chair massages with meditation audio/videos and a new line of spa and wellness products.

Here are some more views of the RDU Sky Club, courtesy of Delta:

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See this! Delta’s SECOND largest Sky Club

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More airport-to-city rail links in trouble?

BART SFO

A BART train at San Francisco International. (Image: Peter Biaggi / San Francisco International Airport)

Last week, we reported that the Bay Area Rapid Transit System’s new line to Oakland International Airport is losing money due to competition from ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. But now there’s news that BART’s San Francisco International service is suffering the same problem.

According to the San Francisco Examiner, BART officials found that ridership on the overall BART network during October was down 1.7 percent compared to the same month a year ago; they also said that the airport line to SFO is performing 9.6 percent under budget.

Currently the BART fare from SFO to downtown San Francisco is $8.65 one-way and takes about 30 minutes. UberX or Lyft fares SFO to city run about $25-30.

And they made it clear that the slump in ridership is due to an explosion of rides on car-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. SFO airport rides by Uber vehicles increased from about 81,000 pick-ups and drop-offs in October 2014 to 469,823 in October 2016. For Lyft, the comparable numbers were 16,784 and 108,388 respectively. The ride-sharing services were authorized to serve the airport in 2014.

The newspaper said a BART official told it that Uber and Lyft have “changed the environment” for travel to and from the airport, with rail ridership leveling off in 2015 after being on a growth track.

BART’s board of directors have told the agency’s officials that rather than looking to cut service, they should try to find new ways to increase ridership. BART is said to be considering group discounts as one possibility.

According to the East Bay Times, figures from BART indicate that the Oakland Connector line is losing money and seeing its ridership decline – even though the airport’s passenger numbers are rising. Specifically, instead of meeting BART’s initial expectation of a $2 million profit on the Airport Connector during its first two years, the line has lost $860,000. And during the third quarter of this year, rider numbers fell 4.5 percent from the same period a year earlier.

What about you? How has your getting-to-the-airport routine changed since the emergence of ride sharing? Has this trend reached beyond the Bay Area? Please leave your comments below. 

 

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Airport news: LAX Terminal 1.5 | Raleigh-Durham | Chicago | Minneapolis | Montreal

LAX's Terminal 1.5 will link T1 and T2. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

LAX’s Terminal 1.5 will link T1 and T2. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

In airport news this week, Los Angeles moves forward with a couple of new construction projects; Delta overhauls its Sky Club at Raleigh-Durham; Chicago introduces a new tool for passengers to determine taxi waiting times; Minneapolis-St. Paul adds some new gates and restaurants; and Air Canada cuts the ribbon on a Maple Leaf lounge at Montreal.

Pending final approval from the city council, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has given a tentative OK to environmental and design plans for what it is calling the Terminal 1.5 project – construction of a six-level, 417,500 square foot building connecting Terminals 1 (Southwest) and Terminal 2 (International).   It won’t have any boarding gates, but will provide a new baggage claim area on the lower level, a ticketing lobby on the upper level, security screening on the concourse level and office space on the top two levels. Pre-security walkways on the first two levels will connect Terminals 1 and 2. The facility is expected to open in the summer of 2019. Meanwhile, airport officials are releasing a request for qualifications for design and construction of LAX’s planned Consolidated Rent-A-Car Center, which will be near Interstate 405 in Manchester Square. It will be linked to terminals by an automated people-mover system.

On December 6, Delta officials will cut the ribbon on the airline’s renovated Sky Club at Raleigh-Durham Airport, located on the second level of Terminal 2 across from Gate C3. The club has new contemporary furnishings; power outlets and charging stations near every seat; faster Wi-Fi; an expanded business center; a bar with free beverages including local craft beers, premium wines and cocktails as well as Starbucks coffee and self-serve espresso machines.

LoLo Kitchen has opened in MSP's Terminal 1. (Image: SSP America)

LoLo American Kitchen has opened in MSP’s Terminal 1. (Image: SSP America)

Noting that passenger counts at its Terminal 2 (Humphrey Terminal) have increased by 5.4 percent this year, Minneapolis-St. Paul International said it has opened four new aircraft gates at that terminal, which is used by Southwest, Sun Country, Icelandair and Condor. Besides the new gates (H11-H14), the project also included a new nursing mothers’ room and an indoor pet/service animal relief area. In Terminal 1, meanwhile, two new food and beverage options have opened. Concourse E is home to LoLo American Kitchen and Craft Bar, with seasonal local cuisine and craft beers; and Concourse D is the site of Republic, a “gastropub” offering local beers and small plate cuisine – along with live music performances during peak travel periods.

The Chicago Department of Aviation announced a new texting tool that passengers can use to get live updates on taxi waiting line times at the city’s two airports. Users simply text the word “taxi” to 312-883-8404 for O’Hare Airport waiting times, or 312-883-7969 for Midway Airport. The city also offers “e-hailing” for taxis through apps available at www.Chicabs.org, and the Aviation Department provides taxi wait times, traffic updates, weather and special travel alerts through its website at www.flychicago.com.

The food service area in Air Canada's Montreal Maple Leaf Lounge. (Image: Air Canada)

The food service area in Air Canada’s Montreal Maple Leaf Lounge. (Image: Air Canada)

Following a year-long overhaul, Air Canada’s International Maple Leaf Lounge at Montreal Trudeau has reopened. Located between Gates 52 and 53, the 11,000-square foot facility has room for 259 passengers. It has floor to ceiling windows, a full service bar with free drinks, a live food station, specialty coffees, free Wi-Fi, showers, a work area and more. It’s open to eligible Air Canada and Star Alliance customers.

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Is BART’s Oakland Airport rail service in trouble?

The BART link to Oakland Airport is losing money and riders. (Photo: BART)

The BART link to Oakland Airport is losing money and riders. (Photo: BART)

It was just two years ago that the Bay Area Rapid Transit system launched service on its Airport Connector line from Coliseum Station to Oakland Airport. But now the line is having money problems in the face of competition from ride-sharing companies.

According to the East Bay Times, figures from BART indicate that the Oakland Connector line is losing money and seeing its ridership decline – even though the airport’s passenger numbers are rising. Specifically, instead of meeting BART’s initial expectation of a $2 million profit on the Airport Connector during its first two years, the line has lost $860,000. And during the third quarter of this year, rider numbers fell 4.5 percent from the same period a year earlier.

At the same time, the report noted, business on ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft and Wingz has tripled. The fact that airport passenger numbers grew by 6 percent while BART’s Airport Connector ridership has dropped indicates to airport officials that the ride-sharing companies are benefiting at the expense of the mass transit line.

Also, Oakland Airport makes driving to the airport more attractive by offering a variety of on-airport parking discounts and freebies based on your airline or destination. More on those here. 

The AirBART station is located at the front door of Oakland International

The AirBART station is located at the front door of Oakland International

There has been some speculation that BART’s $6 fare for a ride to OAK might be too expensive compared with the convenience of door-to-door ridesharing service. BART officials defend the service, noting that the airport line coves 96 percent of its operating costs with passenger fares, vs. 76 percent for the BART system overall. Still, they say BART will take a comprehensive look at its fare structure in 2017, not just for the Oakland Airport Connector but for the whole system.

New airline service is boosting OAK’s passenger numbers. Southwest Airlines has been building up more domestic routes out of Oakland Airport, and transatlantic travelers are seeing new low-cost options from Norwegian Air Shuttle, which keeps adding European routes at OAK. Norwegian’s inauguration of Oakland-London Gatwick flights earlier this year has drawn a competitive response from British Airways, which will fly the same route starting in March 2017.

Have you used the BART connector or flown to or from Oakland lately? How does it compare to other Bay Area airports? Please leave your comments below.

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Gorgeous new United Club for Los Angeles LAX (slideshow)

United Club LAX

United’s new club at LAX Terminal 7 has a glassed-in outdoor terrace. (Image: Matthew Klint)

As a part of its ongoing $573 million overhaul of passenger spaces at Los Angeles International’s Terminal 7, United Airlines on Monday cut the ribbon on a big new United Club at the airport. (Official opening date is Dec 6)

At 20,000 square feet, the club is one of the largest in United’s system — more than three times the size of its year-old San Francisco International club, for instance (See our review of SFO United Club here.)

From a perch atop Terminal 7, the lounge offers sweeping views of the airport, the Hollywood Hills and the city skyline. Plus the new United Club features an outdoor terrace along with a big enhancement of food and beverage options for members. Members can take their drinks or meals onto the terrace to enjoy an alfresco experience- and oh, so LA.

As I was preparing this post at my desk in San Francisco, fellow travel blogger Matthew Klint popped up on Twitter from LAX with photos of the ribbon cutting (with United CEO Oscar Munoz!) and this overview: “The lounge is quintessentially LA –50s style with a great mix of open space and comfort. The outdoor terrace provides great views and the lounge food will be locally sourced. Bathrooms are spacious (but no showers) and bar is well-stocked. Oscar says the Polaris Lounge in Chicago opening later this week will blow away even this spectacular lounge.” 

United Club LAX

The new LAX club is one of United’s largest- with spectacular views (Image: Matthew Klint)

The new club is just one part of a much larger rehabilitation of United’s Terminal 7/Concourse 8 at LAX, along with a new lobby and new baggage claim areas. The airline is also working with the Transportation Security Administration to install five new automated security screening lanes, like those United recently opened at Chicago O’Hare and Newark Liberty International.

Scroll down for our slideshow- all photos courtesy of Matthew Klint, editor of the LiveandLetsFly blog.

United Club LAX

Check out that iconic LAX view!

United Club LAX

All food to be locally sourced

United Club LAX

Fantastic ramp and runway views all around

United Club LAX

Real espresso

United Club LAX

At 20,000 square feet, this lounge is larger than the new one at United’s SFO hub

United Club LAX

No showers in the bathrooms, and United’s now standard airplane window mirrors

Oscar Munoz

United CEO Oscar Munoz and blogger Matthew Klint

Many thanks to Matthew Klint for kindly acting as our correspondent and sending us photos from the ribbon cutting event in Los Angeles!

 

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SkyTeam’s fancy new Beijing lounge (photos)

The new Beijing lounge is SkyTeam's sixth worldwide. (Image: SkyTeam)

The new Beijing lounge is SkyTeam’s sixth worldwide. (Image: SkyTeam)

The global SkyTeam alliance – including Delta, Air France-KLM, China Eastern, China Southern, Korean Air and others – will soon open a new lounge at Beijing’s Capital International Airport.

The alliance’s sixth lounge worldwide, the Beijing facility is for first class and business class passengers and elite-plus members flying on any of the 12 SkyTeam carriers that serve the Chinese capital.

This is especially good news considering Beijing’s notorious reputation for delays. 

The Beijing lounge in Terminal 2 can accommodate 160 persons in its 8,600 square feet. It features a buffet service with hot and cold Chinese and international cuisine; bar service; big, curved windows with airport views; free Wi-Fi; a business area with computers; power outlets throughout; showers with towels and toiletries; a TV room; relaxation area; and VIP room.

The other lounges are in Dubai, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London Heathrow and Sydney. The alliance said its 12 member airlines at Beijing operate more than 3,700 flights a week there.

Here are some views of the lounge courtesy of SkyTeam:

beijing2

beijing3

beijing4

beijing5

beijing6

Have you used a SkyTeam lounge before? Which one? How would you compare it to others? Please leave your comments below.

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First look: LAX’s fancy new Terminal 6 (photos)

The new Blu2o restaurant at LAX's Terminal 6. (Image: Westfield)

The new Blu2o restaurant with California cuisine at LAX’s Terminal 6. (Image: Westfield)

Following up on a redesign and overhaul of its Terminal 2 earlier this year, Los Angeles International Airport has now finished a similar redevelopment of Terminal 6. T6 is used by Alaska Airlines, American, Copa and Great Lakes Aviation. It is connected to Delta’s Terminal 5 by an underground pedestrian tunnel.

Image: LAWA

Image: LAWA

The $70 million, 20-month project – carried out in partnership with airport concessions and design specialist Westfield — brought 21 new retail and food & beverage concepts to the terminal, officials said, with an overall theme “inspired by L.A.’s iconic Sunset Boulevard.” Besides the shopping and dining options, the project also gave the terminal new bathrooms, floors and ceilings as well as new electrical and IT infrastructure.

T6's new Osteria Italian restaurant is from celebrity chef (Image: Westfield)

T6’s new Osteria Italian restaurant is from celebrity chef Fabio Viviani. (Image: Westfield)

New eating options in T6 include Osteria, an Italian restaurant run by “Top Chef” Fabio Viviani; a multifaceted Marketplace by Wolfgang Puck including The Kitchen, WPizza and The Wine Bar; a restaurant called Blu2o, with “L.A. beach-inspired cuisine;” The Habit Burger Grill; a venue called Earthbar, serving up healthy juices and salads; and a Wahoo’s Fish Taco outlet.

The bar at Wolfgang Puck's Marketplace. (Image: westfield)

The bar at Wolfgang Puck’s Marketplace. (Image: westfield)

Concessions also include a Peet’s Coffee & Tea; See’s Candies, with 100 kinds of candy and chocolate; a pair of Starbuck’s outlets; and Point the Way Café, specializing in craft beers. Retail shopping outlets include a Tumi luggage store; Belkin electronics accessories; M. Fredric  apparel; a MAC Cosmetics store; and several newsstands/sundries locations.

Healthy grab-and-go items at T6's new Earthbar. (Image: Westfield)

Healthy grab-and-go items at T6’s new Earthbar. (Image: Westfield)

“The new terminal experience is organized by interconnected neighborhoods that guide travelers on their journey,” Los Angeles World Airports said. “After passing through the TSA checkpoint, travelers initially encounter a Downtown L.A. vibe. This neighborhood feels like an urban street, complete with concrete walls and metal finishes.  The new ribbon ceiling and terrazzo floor guide travelers into Sunset Plaza, which has inviting, open spaces to eat, drink and people watch. Travelers then flow into the Sunset Strip and Garden Terrace zones, where high-end retail and local dining burst with the energy of West Hollywood.”

WPizza is part of Wolfgang Puck's Marketplace. (Image: Westfield)

WPizza is part of Wolfgang Puck’s Marketplace. (Image: Westfield)

 

LAX's Terminal 6 has a new Tumi store. (Image: Westfield)

LAX’s Terminal 6 has a new Tumi store. (Image: Westfield)

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Huge changes at Washington Reagan National [VIDEO]

TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis is in Washington DC this week-- flew nonstop SFO-Washington National on Virgin America

Big changes coming to Washington DC’s preferred airport (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Preliminary work is about to begin on a massive renovation project at Washington Reagan National Airport.

Airport officials this week released an animated video (below) of what the overall facility and its new security checkpoints will look like after all the work is finished, which won’t be for about four years. It will bring the biggest changes to DCA since its Terminals B and C opened almost 20 years ago.

Although the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority had always looked to Dulles International to handle the region’s long-term growth in air traffic, it seems that passengers continue to prefer the short trip to close-in Reagan National over a long journey out to IAD, so DCA’s passenger numbers have been setting records every year. Last year they topped 23 million, well above the airport’s capacity.

The primary goal of the big renovation is to reduce congestion in the terminals. One big piece of the project will be construction of a new concourse for commuter and regional flights on the north side of the airport. Once it opens, passengers will no longer have to use what the Washington Post has called the airport’s most “notorious choke point,” Gate 35X, where they board shuttle buses to get to their aircraft. That will require demolition of the airport’s executive offices and a couple of hangars.

 

National Hall, which offers dining and retail venues along a glass-enclosed walkway on the Terminal B and C concourse level, will also get a makeover, with security screening moved to the arrival level.

The plan also involves work on airport roadways and construction of a new parking garage. Much of the roadway work will be done at night to minimize inconvenience to passengers. The overall project is expected to cost about $1 billion.

Which DC area airport do you prefer? Why? 

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Airport news: San Francisco, Atlanta, Newark, Philadelphia

San Francisco's Terminal 1 overhaul is leading to some closures. (Image: San Francisco International Airport)

San Francisco’s Terminal 1 overhaul is leading to some closures. (Image: San Francisco International Airport)

In the latest airport developments, San Francisco warns travelers about some upcoming closures; Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson starts work on a major project; an international carrier opens a lounge at Newark Liberty International; and American will adjust its presence at its Philadelphia hub.

At San Francisco International, officials are advising travelers that due to ongoing renovation work in Terminal 1, some facilities and areas there will be closed in the days ahead, possibly resulting in some inconvenience or congestion. On Monday (October 24), the connecting walkway linking Terminal 1 and International Boarding Area A will be closed, so passengers will have to use AirTrain to transfer between those points. Also, the Southwest Airlines ticket counters will move to a new location closer to Delta and Frontier. On the arrivals level, October 21 is the starting date for closure of the traffic lane closest to Terminal 1 from Doors 1 through 10; and on the departures level, closure of the lane closest to Terminal 1 from Doors 1 through 5 starts October 28. Click here to see details and suggested tips for affected passengers. The airport has created a cool video simulation of the reconstruction process for T1. Worth a look but turn down the volume to avoid the Game of Thrones-like soundtrack 😉

Atlanta, ATL canopy

A dramatic new canopy and a new tunnel are part of Atlanta Airports $20 billion in improvements (Photo: ATL)

Preparatory work has begun at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson for the installation of those massive overhead glass canopies above the pickup and drop-off areas outside the domestic terminal. It’s one of the most visible parts of the airport’s ongoing $6 billion expansion and renovation project. The initial stage of the canopy project – construction of the foundations — has led to some lane closures in the area around the terminal. The closures started earlier this month for shuttle and commercial vehicle pick-ups and drop-offs in the outer lanes of Terminal North, and similar closures will begin October 30 at Terminal South.  Airport officials are advising travelers to build in extra time if they’re going into those areas.

Air Canada opened a Maple Leaf Lounge at Newark. (Image: Air Canada)

Air Canada opened a Maple Leaf Lounge at Newark. (Image: Air Canada)

At Newark Liberty International, Air Canada has opened a new Maple Leaf Lounge for premium passengers near its departure gates in Terminal A, beyond the security checkpoint. The facility offers free Wi-Fi, refreshments, and work areas that include free printing. Air Canada operates up to 23 flights a day from Newark (including United code-shares), serving Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. The airline said it will open a new Maple Leaf Lounge in Montreal next month, and an expanded facility in Vancouver next summer.

American Airlines inherited a hub at Philadelphia International from its merger with US Airways, and it is planning some changes to its operations there in the months ahead. On January 1, American will consolidate its arrival and departure banks – scheduled to maximize connections – from eight a day to six. This will mean rescheduling of flight times in many cases, so if you’re a regular PHL traveler, check AA’s schedules.  The airline also reportedly plans to reduce the number of flights it operates at Philadelphia, although in some cases it will switch from smaller to larger aircraft to minimize the impact on passenger capacity.

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Gorgeous new hotels: New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Maui, Buffalo

The impressive lobby of the new Four Seasons New York Downtown (Image: Four Seasons)

The impressive lobby of the new Four Seasons New York Downtown (Image: Four Seasons)

In domestic hotel developments, Four Seasons adds a second Manhattan location; the hotel closest to Los Angeles International Airport gets a makeover and rebranding; Hilton adds a DoubleTree in South Beach; Marriott Rewards members get a new option in Maui; and Starwood opens a Westin in the heart of New York State’s second-largest city.

At TravelSkills, we love NEW hotels– don’t miss our archive of the best of this beautiful new bunch here

Four Seasons Hotels, which has had a flagship property in midtown Manhattan for many years, has now opened a downtown location in the Big Apple. Located at 27 Barclay Street, at the corner of Church Street, The Four Seasons New York Downtown is close to the new World Trade Center and a block from City Hall Park. The property has 189 rooms and suites ranging from 400 to 2,400 square feet, and is home to the first Wolfgang Puck restaurant in Manhattan, called CUT. The hotel has a spa, an indoor lap pool and a 6,000 square foot fitness center. The building housing the hotel also has 157 Four Seasons private residences from one to five bedrooms, with access to hotel facilities. Rates begin at $629.

A refurbished suite at the Hyatt Regency at LAX (Image: Hyatt)

A refurbished suite at the Hyatt Regency at LAX (Image: Hyatt)

The Concourse Hotel, a block from Los Angeles International Airport at 6225 West Century Blvd., was already a Hyatt affiliate, but now the 580-room property is getting a $75 million overhaul and has been rebranded as the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport. The work should be finished in a few months, equipping all guest rooms with the Hyatt Grand Bed, wall-mounted 55-inch TVs with HDMI streaming, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and rain shower heads in the bathrooms. The redesigned lobby will feature a pair of new eateries: Open Market, with grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, soup, noodles, pastries and Illy coffee; and an all-day dining option called Unity LA. Free shuttles for guests depart to LAX every 10 minutes. Rates start around $186 for Gold Passport members.

Hilton's new DoubleTree in Miami's South Beach (Image: DoubleTree)

Hilton’s new DoubleTree in Miami’s South Beach (Image: DoubleTree)

What was once the 1954 Ankara Motel in Miami’s popular South Beach has been rebuilt and is now the newly opened Gates Hotel South Beach-A DoubleTree by Hilton. Located at 2360 Collins Avenue, the 235-room property is a walk away from Ocean Drive and the area’s dining and nightlife options. The hotel has a lobby bar that exits to an outdoor pool with solar-powered device charging stations. There’s a restaurant called The Continental; free Wi-Fi throughout the property; 24-hour business center and fitness center; guest bicycles; and free transportation to the beach. Rates start at $122.

The pool at Marriott's new Residence inn in Maui (Image: Marriott)

The pool at Marriott’s new Residence Inn in Maui (Image: Marriott)

Marriott Rewards members looking to redeem points for a Hawaii vacation have a new option: the newly-built, newly-opened Residence Inn by Marriott Maui Wailea. The all-suite property has studio, one-, and two-bedroom units with fully equipped kitchens and balconies. Recreational facilities include an outdoor pool and hot tub, putting green and basketball court. Guests get free hot breakfasts, grocery delivery service, and access to a fitness center, Wi-Fi, 24-hour grab-and-go market, and a business center. The hotel is located close to a shopping center, beaches, golf courses and a tennis club. Rates begin at $269.

Buffalo's new Westin is in the heart of downtown. (Image: Westin)

Buffalo’s new Westin is in the heart of downtown. (Image: Westin)

Got business in Buffalo? As part of an ongoing revival of the city’s downtown, Starwood Hotels has opened the newly-built Westin Buffalo at 250 Delaware Avenue, in the midst of the business and entertainment districts. All 116 rooms and suites have the signature Westin Heavenly Bed and Shower. The Westin offers 7,300 square feet of meeting space and a pair of dining venues: a signature restaurant called Patina 250 and the casual bistro-style Jake’s Café. Guests can take advantage of the WestinWORKOUT fitness center, and can borrow workout gear from New Balance or bicycles from the local Reddy Bikeshare program. Rates start at $166.

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Airport news: Newark, Seattle, Phoenix, Dulles, Boston

United's hub operation at Washington Dulles got a new lease on life. (Image: metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)

United’s hub operation at Washington Dulles got a new lease on life. (Image: metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)

In airport news this week, Seattle Tacoma International is giving a preview of what its new international arrivals facility will look like; Phoenix Sky Harbor will inform travelers about the waiting times for TSA lines; a unique restaurant concept is coming to Newark Liberty; United signs a new lease at Washington Dulles, and Turkish Airlines opens a lounge there; and Virgin America switches terminals at Boston Logan.

Those recurring rumors that United Airlines is about to get rid of its Washington Dulles hub have been put to rest by the news that United has signed an extension of its lease at IAD, guaranteeing it will keep a big presence there through 2025. There had been speculation that United might shift more of its East Coast connecting traffic and international flights to Newark. In other developments at Washington Dulles, Turkish Airlines has its first U.S. airport premium lounge there. The 5,000 square foot facility has showers, free Wi-Fi, a buffet, business area with six Cs, and a selection of newspapers and magazines.

The Port of Seattle has released renderings of the new international arrivals facility (IAF) to be built at Seattle-Tacoma International, due for completion in 2019. Citing a “dramatic increase” in the number of international flights at SEA’s South Satellite, the Port said the existing federal inspections area at the airport is already beyond peak capacity. The 450,000-square-foot IAF will be east of the current Concourse A, and will be linked to the South Satellite by a 900-foot elevated walkway across the top of Concourse A. “Creation of a secure international corridor on Concourse A will mean more gates for arriving international flights with a direct connection to the IAF,” the Port said. The facility will increase the number of international widebody-capable gates from 12 to 20; increase the number of Passport booths and kiosks from 30 to 80; increase bag carousels from four to seven; and reduce minimum connecting times from 90 to 75 minutes. Here’s a link to a gallery of images for the new IAF, and an animated fly-through video.

A rendering of the interior of Seattle's new international arrivals facility. (Image: Port of Seattle)

A rendering of the interior of Seattle’s new international arrivals facility. (Image: Port of Seattle)

Flying out of Phoenix Sky Harbor? You can now see what the waiting times are for TSA security lines before you head to the airport, if you’re leaving from Terminal 2 or 4. The airport now posts security waiting times on its website (www.skyharbor.com), on flight information displays in the terminals and at PHX Sky Train stations, and on visual paging screens in the terminals. “This amenity will be especially helpful for customers traveling through Terminal 4, since passengers can use any of the four security checkpoints in that terminal to access any gate,” the airport noted, adding that T4 handles 80 percent of the airport’s customers. The service will add T3 data later this year. Note: The waiting times are for regular TSA lines, not PreCheck.

The new Daily restaurant at Newark's Terminal C. (Image: OTG)

The new Daily restaurant at Newark’s Terminal C. (Image: OTG)

The newest dining venue to open at United’s Newark Terminal C hub – part of the facility’s ongoing $120 million redevelopment — is called Daily, described by concessions partner OTG as “the world’s first airport restaurant where the entire menu changes every day.” Why? In order to present the freshest possible cuisine, the restaurant will base its menu on the produce, meats and fish currently available from nearby farmers’ markets. (Which has us a little concerned considering what’s near Newark Airport 😉 The centerpiece is a wood-burning grill for preparing meat and fish entrees. Other new venues recently opened at EWR Terminal C include Saison, a French bistro; Riviera, with French country dining; Little Purse, serving up dumpling and noodle dishes; and Tacquila, specializing in street tacos.

At Boston Logan, Virgin America has moved its operations from Terminal B to Terminal C, in order to be close to merger partner Alaska Airlines. Virgin flies from BOS to San Francisco and Los Angeles, while Alaska has flights to Seattle, Portland and San Diego. Spirit Airlines has also relocated at BOS to Gates B37-38 from another part of Terminal B.

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Inside Delta’s newest SkyClub (Slideshow)

New Delta Sky Club

Over the last two years, you’ve likely seen the huge structure being built atop of Concourse B at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Now you can take a look inside the posh new lounge via the slideshow provided by Delta above. (Hover over image to start show)

The new 25,000-foot space boasts floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views– and when you are up that high, you can get a nice view of the downtown Atlanta skyline.

Delta’s Andrea Robinson has curated a wine selection that is featured at a unique wine wall where guests can request a taste, glass or a flight of wines. A wine ambassador will help you sample just what they’re looking for. (Sounds a lot like what the American Express Centurion Lounge in San Francisco is doing- see post and photos.)

At the bar, you find the standard variety of premium and complimentary options including cocktails, Sweetwater craft beer and Starbucks coffee, freshly brewed or espresso-based drinks from a Swiss coffee maker. (Similar to what we have seen at Delta’s stellar SFO SkyClub which opened last year– see post and photos here.

Delta SkyClub

It almost feels like you are in the ATL control tower when peering out from Delta’s new SkyClub at Concourse B (Photo: Chris Rank, Rank Studios)

Delta says that the food offerings will include locally inspired soups, salads and breads exclusive to the Atlanta B Delta Sky Club. Additional menu items include pasta and rice salads, corn and blueberry muffins, rye rolls and soup toppings, including crispy chickpeas, coconut shavings and croutons. At breakfast, there are locally baked bagels, hard boiled eggs and a yogurt bar with toppings.  Fruit and snacks are offered throughout the day.

This club is second in size only to New York – JFK’s T4 facility. Located on Concourse B near Gate B18, the new space 500 seats and is expected to be the busiest Club in the entire Delta system. Delta’s two original SkyClubs on Concourse B are now closed.

What’s Next for Delta’s SkyClubs? 

  • In mid-October, Seattle’s second Delta Sky Club will open between Concourses A and B, offering another option for global travelers.
  • The renovated Club in Raleigh-Durham is set to open in late November 2016, and will offer additional seats, more accessible power and a new food and beverage area.
  • A new Club expansion is coming to Newark in late 2016, including a redesigned bar and more food options.

What’s your favorite airline lounge? The best Delta SkyClub? Which airline has the BEST clubs overall? Please leave your comments below.

(All photos provided by Delta and Chris Rank of Rank Studios in Atlanta)

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Kicking support animals off planes | Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | Marriott-Starwood: Higher prices, better rewards | The 10,000 points question! | Eye-catching maps explain state of the world | Test your planespotting skills! )

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Airport news: Inside newest Delta SkyClub + Phoenix, Seattle, Boston, LAX

Delta SkyClub

An exclusive preview party for Delta’s newest, and second largest SkyClub (Photo: Delta / Flickr)

In airport news this week, Delta opens its newest SkyClub, ride-hailing service passenger pick-ups will soon be legal at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson; Phoenix travelers should be prepared for flight delays in October; more gates will be added at Seattle-Tacoma; American will consolidate its gates at Boston Logan; and Alaska Airlines tests a new baggage procedure at Los Angeles International.

Delta hosted a special preview this week of its newest SkyClub located in a dedicated space on the top of Concourse B at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. Delta is calling the new SkyClub its “flagship” lounge, which is the second largest in its system behind the one at New York-JFK. The carrier says that the new $24 million, 25,000-square-foot, 500-seat space follows the airline’s strategy of “giving each new club a sense of place.” It features locally sourced fare, craft beer from Georgia breweries, artwork from seven Atlanta galleries and other local artists. Its modern design features “tiered ceilings bracketed by massive windows to let in the Southern sun and afford views of downtown,” but alas no outdoor space like you get out at the Concourse F (Int’l) club. It is located at the center of the concourse, adjacent to Gate B18 and opens to the public on Sept 23. Delta’s two other SkyClubs on the concourse will close.  Next up for Delta SkyClubs is a new opening in Seattle expected in late October or November. See this video from the ATL preview party. More details from the Delta News Hub here.

Also at ATL… Some UberX and Lyft drivers have been picking up passengers for months at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, but they have to try to avoid enforcement officers, since what they are doing is technically illegal. But that will soon change: The Atlanta City Council this week approved a measure that will make passenger pick-ups at ATL legal beginning January 1. The measure will add a $3.85 fee to the passenger’s fare for airport pick-ups. ATL is the largest airport in the nation that doesn’t yet allow legal ride-hailing service.

Travelers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International are being advised to expect delays during the coming month due to runway improvement projects. Officials said the airport’s north runway – one of three at the facility – will be closed from Thursday, October 6 through Sunday, November 6. “Arrival and departure delays of up to 30 minutes are possible during peak travel times: 7:30 a.m.-10 a.m. and 5 p.m.-8 p.m.,” the airport said. It advised passengers to check flight status before coming to the airport.

Sea-Tac's North Satellite will get eight more gates. (Image: Port of Seattle)

Sea-Tac’s North Satellite will get eight more gates. (Image: Port of Seattle)

The Port of Seattle’s governing body has approved final plans for an expansion of Seattle-Tacoma International’s North Satellite terminal, which is used by Alaska Airlines. The project will add eight gates to the terminal, with construction starting early in 2017 and completion expected in 2019. According to the Seattle Times, the project will also expand Alaska Airlines’ lounge on the terminal’s upper floor to 14,485 square feet, and will bring 3,000 square feet of retail and food and beverage concessions to the space. Alaska will continue to use concourses C and D as well. SEA is also building a new international arrivals terminal due to debut in 2019. Passenger numbers at SEA this year are running 10 percent ahead of last year, and 2015 passenger numbers posted 13 percent growth over 2014.

Big changes are coming to Boston Logan’s Terminal B. The Massachusetts Port Authority said an improvement project will consolidate all American Airlines gates from two different locations in Terminal B to 18 contiguous gates on the side of the terminal formerly occupied by US Airways. Also, the three existing security checkpoints on that side of Terminal B will be consolidated into one checkpoint. The project will also bring expanded ticketing/kiosk areas, improvements to the baggage handling space, and reconfigured concessions. Overall, the effort will add 75,000 square feet of passenger space, Massport said, adding that once the project is finished, Southwest Airlines will move from Terminal A into the former American Airlines gates in Terminal B.

Alaska Airlines is testing self-service bag drops at LAX. (Image: Alaska Airlines)

Alaska Airlines is testing self-service bag drops at LAX. (Image: Alaska Airlines)

At Los Angeles International, Alaska Airlines has started testing self-service baggage drops for passengers. Customers participating in the test – which runs through November 10 — will check in online, by mobile app or at an airport kiosk; they can print a bag tag at home or at an airport kiosk. Then they’ll show an ID to a customer service agent and use one of the six new bag-drop lanes to deposit their luggage. Touch screens will walk customers through the process. “This technology will allow customer service agents to interact more with customers one-on-one in the lobby while having the machines complete the technical work of dropping the bags,” an Alaska official said.

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | More Delta SkyMiles for Asian trips | Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | JetBlue-Delta slugfest means lower fares | Test your planespotting skills! )

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An amazing upgrade for LAX- in pictures

DONT MISS! The 100,000 points question!

 

The planned east intermodal facility at LAX will connect an automatic people mover with a new light rail link. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

The planned east intermodal facility at LAX will connect an automatic people mover with a new light rail link. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

Departing passengers coming into Los Angeles International Airport too often ride into a traffic nightmare as they try to get to their terminals. Los Angeles World Airports – the agency that operates LAX – has big plans to make that better, and it just came out with some renderings of what the “new” LAX might look like after it implements its years-long overhaul of intra-airport transportation.

“Today, regardless of transportation mode, passengers, employees and visitors face uncertain travel times, congestion and overcrowding to and from LAX. Approximately 63 percent of all departing air passengers used private vehicles, taxis, limousines, or Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber or Lyft to get to LAX in 2015; this percentage is even greater for those departing passengers who are residents. During peak periods, over 6,000 vehicles enter the airport on an hourly basis,” the agency said in its new Draft Environmental Impact Report for LAX’s Landside Access Modernization Program.

New walkways woll link people-mover stips with the adjacent passenger terminals. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

New walkways will link people-mover stops with the adjacent passenger terminals. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

You can see the full report here, as a .pdf file – but keep in mind it is really long. Basically, LAWA’s plan aims to bring more people to the airport via mass transportation, and get them to their terminals on a new Automated People Mover (APM) system that will run up through the middle of the central terminal area, with the APM stops linked to the terminals on either side by new pedestrian passageways.

Here's a map of the people-mover route through the central terminal area. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

Here’s a map of the people-mover route through the central terminal area. Dark yellow lines are new pedestrian walkways linking the people mover stops to terminals. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

The APM line will originate on the east side of the airport at a new consolidated car rental center – which will also take the many rental car shuttles off airport roadways. It will be linked to an intermodal transportation facility on the east side of the airport for passengers connecting to or from a new light rail line that will be part of the city’s mass transit system; and another one closer to the terminals for bus connections.

Don’t get too excited yet; all of this construction will take several years. But the airport is well into the planning stages for improving passenger access to LAX terminals, many of which are getting their own massive upgrades. Keep scrolling down to see more renderings:

An automated people-mover station with LAX's iconic theme building in the background. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

An automated people-mover station with LAX’s iconic theme building in the background. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

DONT MISS! The 100,000 points question!

The plan calls for terminals to get new facades as well. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

The plan calls for terminals to get new facades as well. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

 

The west intermodal facility will let passengers connect with bus lines. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

The west intermodal facility will let passengers connect with bus lines. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

 

This map of the east side of LAX shows the planned consolidated rental car center, intermodal station, light rail line running top to bottom and peole mover running right to left. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

This map of the east side of LAX shows the planned consolidated rental car center (CONRAC), intermodal facility (ITF East), light rail line running top to bottom and people mover running right to left. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | More Delta SkyMiles for Asian trips | Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | JetBlue-Delta slugfest means lower fares | Test your planespotting skills! )

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Are you a boozy traveler? [Poll]

cocktails

Drinking and traveling go together like gin and tonic (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

No matter how abstemious Americans may be at home, the prospect of going on a trip seems to loosen their inhibitions a bit – or a lot – when it comes to drinking. That’s according to a new survey from Cheapflights.com that asked 1,000 respondents about their drinking practices at airports and on the plane.

As you might expect, the survey found that a traveler’s inclination to imbibe depends in part on where she’s from. According to the poll, 53 percent of those from western states and 51 percent from the east coast said they drink when they travel. By contrast, only 43 percent of Midwesterners said the same. TAKE OUR POLL BELOW!

How do travelers spend time at the airport when they’re faced with a long layover? Just over one-third of the respondents said that situation will send them to the airport bar.

The proportion of drinkers bumps up to 37 percent on their flights – although the survey found that one-fifth of its respondents only do so when the drinks are free. (Speaking of spending money on drinks, seven percent of the respondents admitted that when they go on vacation, they spend more on alcohol than on food.)

Related: Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water

Drinking on trips varies by area of residence. (Image: Cheapflights.com)

Drinking on trips varies by area of residence. (Image: Cheapflights.com)

And what do Americans drink when they travel? Forty-eight percent of men said they prefer beer, while women were divided between cocktails (28 percent) and wine (26 percent).

The survey didn’t ask subjects exactly how much they pour back on their trips, but we’ve seen plenty of evidence from the evening news that overindulgence can be a big contributor to air rage, in-cabin misbehavior and even diverted flights. One in five of the men surveyed said that they had been intoxicated at the airport or on a plane, while 11 percent of women admitted the same.

And it could be a hair of the dog situation 🙂 , but six percent of the respondents conceded that they have had their first drink before 8 a.m. during a trip (11 percent of men and 2 percent of women). I’m always surprised to see folks kicking back the vodkas on those early flights… but who am I to judge?

POLL:

What about you? Do you tend to drink more, less or about the same amount, or not at all? Please take our poll!

When it comes to drinking and traveling, do you:

View Results

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Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | More Delta SkyMiles for Asian trips | Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | JetBlue-Delta slugfest means lower fares | Test your planespotting skills! )

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Delta’s striking new plans for New York – LaGuardia

The new LaGuardia will replace separate terminals with a unified structure. (Image: New York Governor's Office)

The new LaGuardia will replace separate terminals with a unified structure. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)

When New York State officials unveiled plans last year for a huge reconstruction of LaGuardia Airport, they said that Delta Air Lines would play a major role in the project. And now Delta has firmed up its plans for a new presence at LGA.

Just hours after it revealed that it will undertake a major overhaul of Los Angeles International’s Terminals 2 and 3, where it will relocate its LAX operations, Delta announced plans to replace its Terminals C and D at LaGuardia with a new 37-gate terminal featuring four concourses linked by a central check-in lobby, security checkpoint and baggage claim area.

The new terminal will include a new and bigger Sky Club with a Sky Deck, Delta said, along with wider concourses, bigger gate areas with more seating, and 30 percent more concessions space than the existing Terminals C and D.

“The facility will also offer direct access between the parking garage and terminal, improved roadways and drop-off/pick-up areas, and a curbside check-in bypass leading directly into the security checkpoint,” the company noted. And most of the new gates will have access to dual taxi lanes for aircraft, which will mean less taxi time to and from the gate.

The current terminal layout at LGA. (Image: LaGuardia Airport)

The current terminal layout at LGA- Delta is in Terminal C and D. (Image: LaGuardia Airport)

Delta said construction of the new facility will begin “as soon as possible, following regulatory approvals and final lease negotiations.” The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey this week approved the project as part of a new lease agreement to be negotiated for Delta’s continuing presence at LGA through 2050.

Delta currently operates 275 departures a day at LaGuardia from Terminals A, C and D.

The plans for a new Delta terminal at LGA are just part of a larger multi-year redevelopment of the entire airport that will cost $4 billion and will bring passenger terminals together into a large, modernistic structure that will be hundreds of feet closer to the Grand Central Parkway than the airport’s existing facilities. The project will also create new transportation links to Manhattan via an AirTrain system and passenger ferries, as well as a new hotel/conference center.

Related: Delta seeks La Guardia-California nonstops

The approval of Delta’s plans for a big new terminal at LaGuardia has revived speculation that the airline might expect a favor from New York State and the Port Authority in return – specifically, a lifting of LaGuardia’s Perimeter Rule, which limits flights out of LGA to a maximum of 1,500 miles – preventing airlines from tapping into lucrative transcontinental non-stop routes, now available only from New York JFK and Newark airports.

Would you fly Delta more if it could finable nonstops to LGA from the West Coast? What are your thoughts on La Guardia airport overall? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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Delta’s stunning plan for Los Angeles – LAX

LAX Terminals 2 and 3 will be Delta's new home at the airport. (Image: Delta)

Los Angeles International’s Terminals 2 and 3 will be Delta’s new home at the airport. (Image: Delta)

Just a year after Delta partnered with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) for a big redevelopment of Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International, the airline has revealed details of a much larger project at LAX – and it doesn’t involve Terminal 5 at all.

The airline said this week it will team up with LAWA again to undertake a massive, years-long overhaul of what will become Delta’s new home at LAX : Terminals 2 and 3, replacing its current base in Terminals 5 and 6.  LAWA’s board has just signed off on the deal, which will also include the eventual construction of a post-security connector to the north side of the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

The overhauls of T2 and T3 at LAX will feature a light, spacious design. (Image: Delta)

The overhauls of T2 and T3 at LAX will feature a light, spacious design. (Image: Delta)

It seems like there is no end to the ongoing construction and improvement projects at LAX, and this new one will certainly keep things going for a while. Delta said completion of all aspects of the big $1.9 billion project isn’t expected for seven years.

The idea is to bring Delta close to its various partner carriers in T2 and T3, including Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia. The new connector to the Bradley Terminal will also mean “seamless access” for Delta passengers to international partner airlines like Air France-KLM, Alitalia, China Eastern and China Southern.

Delta said that after the terminal overhauls are finished, its customers will see new Delta Sky Clubs in both terminals, a private check-in lounge for Delta One travelers, expedited check-in services for its Delta Shuttle flights, and an integrated in-line baggage system. “The facility will offer convenient passenger flows, sufficient gate-area seating, and a world-class concession program in partnership with Westfield Corporation,” Delta said.

The airline’s announcement didn’t give a timeline for the actual move into the new T2/3 space, but Delta won’t wait until the work is finished before it changes locations. That move is likely to happen as soon as next year. “We will renovate while there (i.e., in T2/3), so four years of construction,” Delta’s Ranjan Goswami told TravelSkills. “It was the only way to do it.” He added that the airlines currently occupying T2 and T3 that are not Delta partners will move over to T5 and T6.

Related: San Francisco’s new $2 billion terminal

The overall layout of LAX terminals. (Image: Los Angeles International Airport)

The overall layout of LAX terminals. (Image: Los Angeles International Airport)

The move to the north side of the airport will give Delta the extra space and gates it needs to support its ongoing expansion of operations at LAX. The company noted that over the past seven years, it has increased its LAX operations from 70 daily departures to more than 175, and has more than doubled the total number of seats it offers there. Just this year, it added five flights a day from LAX to Denver, broadened its Delta Shuttle service to include LAX-Seattle as well as LAX-San Francisco, and added a third daily LAX-Boston flight.

Do you fly through LAX much? Thoughts on the move? We were just there today, and the place was bulging at the seems! See below.

Delta, LAX, T5

Delta’s Terminal 5 at LAX on a busy summer day (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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UPDATED: Turkish Airlines: We’re back! (but…)

Turkish Airlines

Passengers board a Turkish Airlines B777 in Istanbul (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

UPDATE: Monday July 18 11:30 PDT: BREAKING: New official FAA Statement:
“The FAA lifted all restrictions on flights to and from Turkey at 1:45 p.m. EDT, July 18, 2016.” Flights to US are expected to resume on Tuesday, July 19. Read updated post on TravelSkills here. 

This alert from Turkish Airlines popped into our email box Saturday morning…at about the same time we started hearing that the FAA had banned flights from Turkey from flying into the US….

Turkish Airlines is the only carrier with nonstops between the U.S. and Turkey. Friday, Turkish Airlines Flight 80 departed SFO at 6:10 pm in the midst of the crisis, and has apparently landed safely according to FlightAware. 

Currently, all flights to/from the US show as canceled on the Turkish Airlines website flight cancellation page. 

The US Embassy in Turkey has stated that the FAA has banned flights from Turkey to the US, so the situation remains fluid. The US State Department tweets that it has “no updates on when flights to the US will resume.”

You can watch flight traffic over Istanbul here which shows flights from IST to other countries has resumed. This means that Americans should be able to get out of the country, then change planes at a European airport to get back to the U.S. For its part, Lufthansa/SWISS says that it will not alter schedules to Turkey, which provides a way for US citizens (and Star Alliance partners) a way to get in and out of the country. 

Update: 11 am PDT: Regarding FAA ban on Turkish Air in US, company spokesperson tells TravelSkills: “We are waiting on final statement from TK headquarters.”

Update 7 am PDT SUNDAY: Although we have not yet received any subsequent official statements from Turkish Airlines, this is the latest from the US State Department: Expect further disruptions in commercial and public transportation, and check with your transportation provider (e.g., airline, train operator, etc.).  Per the Federal Aviation Administration’s notice to airmen (NOTAM), U.S. airline carriers are prohibited from flying to or from Istanbul and Ankara airports.  All airline carriers, regardless of country of registry, are prohibited from flying into the United States from Turkey either directly or via a third country.  Further, although some airlines resumed service, travelers should be prepared for changes to flight schedules and paths.  Please contact your airline for the latest flight information and to confirm your travel plans.

UPDATE: Sunday 6 pm PDT. Turkish Air finally addresses US cancellations in a tweet:

 

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Istanbul, 16th July 2016

Announcement from Turkish Airlines to our Valued Passengers and Dear Nation,

With the unflinching will of the people, Turkey has awakened to a new day with a much stronger sense of democracy and freedom.

Upon the call of our President H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan our operations at İstanbul Atatürk Airport are now back to normal and flights have begun.

As of the 16th of July by 14:30 (EEST) all our flight operations will resume as planned. Grateful to our Dear Nation, we extend our thanks to our passengers for their understanding for the inconvenience.

Due to this situation, for individual and group reservations, provided that:

  • Flights operated by Turkish Airlines ( including AnadoluJet trademark )
  • Departing/arriving to Turkey (including domestic flights) and/or transit flights via Turkey
  • Flights operated between 15 July 2016 – 17 July 2016 (inclusive)
  • Ticketed on/before 15 July 2016
  • Tickets are revalidated untıl 15 August 2016 (ınclusive)

And disregardıng of related fare rules:

1) All Rebooking/ReRouting will be made without any charge provided that new destination is same IATA region & same cabin class

2) Refund requests:

  1. a) Unused tickets: refund will be made without any charge; or
  2. b) For partially used tickets, when planned trip is not complete; the remaining flights will be refunded without any charge.

3) Extension of ticket validity:

Validity of ticket can be extended until 15 August 2016 (inclusive) without any fare difference or penalty.

Regards,

Turkish Airlines Inc. (Website here)

Turkish Airlines

Click for one of our favorite trip reports…ever! (Image: Chris McGinnis

Don’t miss this one from! Trip Report: Turkish Airlines business class SFO-IST (June 2016)

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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Airport news: SFO, Denver, Washington, Hartford, Uber/Lyft

San Francisco will break ground next week on a big Terminal 1 overhaul. (Image: San Francisco International Airport)

San Francisco will break ground next week on a big Terminal 1 overhaul. (Image: San Francisco International Airport)

In airport news this week, San Francisco next week will break ground on a massive overhaul of Terminal 1; Denver International gets its first Delta Sky Club; Washington Reagan National will get a new concourse as a part of a massive renovation; a new passenger lounge comes to Hartford Bradley; and a leading newspaper offers a recap of Uber/Lyft status at major U.S. airports.

On June 29, officials at San Francisco International will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a $2.4 billion, multi-year project to renovate and upgrade the airport’s Terminal 1, which dates back to the early 1960s. The overhaul will cover the terminal’s north, south and central areas, and will give T1 a new Boarding Area B (primarily Southwest, Frontier) with new boarding bridges and concessions, a revamped Boarding Area C (Delta), a new central area with a consolidated security checkpoint, new baggage system and claims area, and new mezzanine with links to the AirTrain and central parking garage. TravelSkills will be there for the groundbreaking, and next week we’ll show you what all the changes will look like.

Delta's new Sky Club at Denver International. (Image: Delta)

Delta’s new Sky Club at Denver International. (Image: Delta)

Delta Air Lines has cut the ribbon on its first Sky Club at Denver International Airport. The 4,600 square foot lounge, which can seat 90, is on Concourse A, and it opened just after Delta inaugurated service between Denver and Los Angeles International, with five Delta Connection/SkyWest flights a day. That gives the airline a total of 40 weekday departures at DEN. The facility is decorated with works from local art galleries, and it offers free beer (New Belgium Ranger) from a Colorado craft brewery along with other amenities. Later in 2016, Delta expects to open additional new Sky Clubs at Atlanta (Concourse B) and Seattle (between Concourses A and B).

Washington Reagan National this fall will break ground on its ”biggest building project in nearly two decades,” according to the Washington Post – a $1 billion effort that will improve life for passengers on regional flights by replacing Terminal C’s Gate 35X, where travelers now  board shuttle buses to their aircraft, with a new commuter concourse. Renovations also include National Hall, the glass-enclosed walkway on Terminal B and C’s concourse level, where security screening will be moved up to the arrivals level. The changes are expected to relieve congestion at space-constrained DCA, which has been setting new passenger records annually for the past six years, and now handles more travelers than the much larger Dulles International.

Rendering of the Escape Lounge coming to Bradley International. (Image: MAG USA)

Rendering of the Escape Lounge coming to Bradley International. (Image: MAG USA)

Northern Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport, which serves Hartford, Conn, and Springfield, Mass., will be getting a new passenger lounge this fall, developed by MAG USA, which has been creating pay-per-use Escape Lounges at various U.S. airports. (It has one at Minneapolis-St. Paul, and will open another at Oakland International this summer.) The 2,000-square foot lounge will be in Bradley’s East Concourse, and will offer free hot and cold food and drinks, restrooms, free high-speed Wi-Fi, flight information screens, and newspapers and magazines.

Airports where Uber is available | Airports where Lyft is available 

What’s the status of Uber/Lyft ride-hailing app services at your favorite airport? USA Today has compiled a roundup of Uber/Lyft services at a number of major U.S. airports, indicating when they started operating, what kind of airport surcharge applies to rides, and approximate fares to and from downtown. It notes that the services are still absent from the nation’s busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, where “rules were expected to be in place by July 1, but talks have been delayed over discussions on driver background checks.” Unfortunately the lists are not exhaustive and don’t cover some major airports like Newark, Miami, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Seattle, but it’s a start!

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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Clear gets a second wind

The Clear trusted traveler program will be expanding to more airports. (Image: Clear)

The Clear trusted traveler program will be expanding to more airports. (Image: Clear)

Longer PreCheck lines and a big new investor are breathing new life into Clear, the biometric-based trusted traveler membership program that lets travelers go directly into the TSA screening process.

Once TSA revved up its PreCheck expedited screening program, things didn’t look good for Clear, which costs more to join ($179 a year for a standard membership vs. PreCheck’s $85 for five years) and was only available in a handful of airports (13, vs. 160 for PreCheck). But now Clear’s fortunes appear to be changing, according to The Wall Street Journal  (paywall).

It notes that Clear’s membership roster has tripled over the past 12 months, and now totals half a million.  PreCheck has also been growing, leading to longer lines at its airport checkpoints as the number of travelers continues to surge and TSA implements more stringent security procedures following terrorist attacks in Europe.

Nonetheless, Clear handles only a tiny fraction of the traffic at airport security– for example, the WSJ reported that it handled only about about 10,000 out of the 2 million passengers at Las Vegas McCarran in March. At SFO, Clear entry points usually look like the one pictured below.

A CLEAR card entry point in SFO's Terminal 3 at about 8 pm last Monday (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Clear entry points at SFO rarely appear to have much business (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

But Clear members, who check in with biometric identifiers, are are escorted straight into the front of the screening lines (although they don’t qualify for PreCheck screening unless they join that program separately). What’s more, some PreCheck members have complained that TSA doesn’t always keep those expedited checkpoints open even at airports where they exist.

And Clear recently got a big vote of confidence from Delta Air Lines, which bought a 5 percent stake in the company and plans to hand out memberships to its top SkyMiles elites.

The new investment from Delta is expected to speed up Clear’s expansion to more airports – especially those where Delta has a major presence. For example, Clear is expected to debut at Seattle-Tacoma next month, the Journal noted, adding that Clear expects to be in 24 airports by year’s end.

Readers: Do you use Clear, or did you use it in the past? Tell us about your experience with it, and whether you might use it again in the future.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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New: Global Entry enrollment office to open 24/7

Global Entry SFO

Global Entry members bypass regular immigration lines at SFO (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Nearly every truly frequent international traveler now enjoys the magic of the Global Entry program. Those who enroll submit to a background check, and once approved, can re-enter the U.S. via a special kiosk lane at customs & immigration that takes seconds instead of minutes (or in some cases, hours).

What makes Global Entry even better is that once approved, you automatically get into the TSA’s essential PreCheck program, which speeds you through airport security.

At $100 for five years, you get two proven line-busters at the airport. That’s just $20 per year. That’s a no-brainer, right?

Well, the problem with Global Entry is that it might have become TOO popular. Especially after all the recent falderal about long airport lines. That popularity means that the wait to get your Global Entry status has swollen to unacceptable levels.

Global Entry

Special lanes marked by floor signs at SFO (Photo Chris McGinnis)

For example here’s one of several emails we’ve received recently at TravelSkills:

Wondering if you can discuss the ridiculous long waits for the Global Entry appointments at SFO?  The wait is now six months!  Luckily I managed to get a cancelled time slot, so I only needed to wait two months. My “interview” took less than five minutes, even though each interview is allotted 15 minutes.  There were three agents there at the enrollment office.  So instead of handling just 12 people in that hour, they clearly could have handled 24-36 people in that one hour, at least halving the wait times.  

Well, that frustration might be ameliorated soon at San Francisco International and elsewhere. According to SFO, US Customs & Border Protection has announced a pilot program to expand the hours of the Global Entry enrollment office to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The pilot is set to begin on June 12 and run for 60 days, at which time the program will be evaluated.

“Due to the overwhelming success of the Global Entry program and the subsequent increase in applications, CBP clearly recognizes the need for additional interview opportunities,” said Brian J. Humphrey, CBP’s Director of Field Operations in San Francisco.

A CBP spokesperson told TravelSkills that currently the the 24/7 pilot program will be tested at SFO only. 

The Global Entry Enrollment Center at SFO is located pre-security on the arrivals level of the International Terminal. The facility already offers permanent hours of 7:00am-11:00pm, and will expand to 24/7 on June 12, 2016 for the 60-day pilot program. The expanded hours will offer an additional 826 appointment slots for travelers to enroll. For more information, visit: www.globalentry.gov.

Do you have Global Entry? Or are you in the queue waiting to get your membership? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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United unveils new business class, dumps first

A typical window seat in United's new Polaris business class. (Image: United)

A typical window seat in United’s new Polaris international business class. (Image: United)

December 1 is the launch date for what United Airlines is calling a ”reimagined international travel experience” – the carrier’s long-awaited new business class, which will come with some new airport lounges as well.

United is calling the new cabins “Polaris Business Class” and they’ll start to appear in December on the airline’s 777-300ERs, and later on its new 787-10s and A350-1000s. United said its 767-300s and 777-200s will be retrofitted with the new cabins and that the fleet-wide retrofit is a “multi-year process” that we expect to take up to three years. United’s current first class product will disappear with the retrofit. So will those controversial rear-facing, four-across BusinessFirst seats.

Also on December 1, United will cut the ribbon on a new Polaris business class airport lounge at Chicago O’Hare, the first of nine such installations. Others will be coming at Los Angeles International, San Francisco, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita, London Heathrow and Hong Kong, United said.

Related: First class phase out picks up steam

New business class seats will recline up to 180 degrees. (Image: United)

New business class seats will recline up to 180 degrees. (Image: United)

The new Polaris business seats, custom-designed for United, come in “forward-facing, suite-like pods,” the airline said. They all offer aisle access and 180-degree lie-flat recline. The seat dimensions are 6 feet 6 inches long and 22 inches wide. A spokesperson told TravelSkills that “bed length, width, side furniture and storage are all in line with Global First today.”

Passengers will find 16-inch high-def video screens, mood lighting, and the perfect level of seat recline achieved via a wheel instead of a button (something we first saw on the Hawaiian Air biz class rollout last week), along with multiple storage areas and surfaces for simultaneous working and dining.(Always a difficult feat to do both so will be interesting to try this!)

For those traveling with companions, the two seats in the center of the cabin will have electronic privacy dividers. And another nice touch: All seats have toggled do-not-disturb notifications.

Improved in-flight menus are designed by the Chicago-based Trotter Group. (Image: United)

Improved in-flight menus are designed by the Chicago-based Trotter Group. (Image: United)

Other enhancements to business class will include new custom-designed luxury bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue; free pajamas and “cooling gel filled pillows” on flights longer than 12 hours; new amenity kits; and upgraded in-flight menus and wine selections.

“In-flight service will also include made-to-order signature ice cream sundaes, a dessert cart with a variety of petit dessert options, chocolate truffles and wine flights. On daytime flights longer than eight hours and on all flights longer than 12 hours, hot mid-flight snacks such as lobster macaroni and cheese will be available,” United said.

Seats come with innovative storage spaces and new amenity kits. (Image: United)

Seats come with innovative storage spaces and new amenity kits. (Image: United)

The new Polaris airport lounges will feature new custom chairs, private daybeds, spa showers, and hot meals “served in a boutique restaurant setting” so travelers can dine before boarding if they want. Private seating stations in the lounges come with pull-out desks, induction chargers, AC/USB ports and table-mounted lamps.

Polaris lounges offer some private seating spaces for work and device recharging. (Image: United)

Polaris lounges offer some private seating spaces for work and device recharging. (Image: United)

The airline has created a special website at www.United.com/Polaris to introduce all the features of the new cabins and lounges. It also offers a virtual tour of the cabin via YouTube video.

Related: First class phase out picks up steam

So dear readers…. what do you think? What do you like…or not like about this? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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New solutions emerge for TSA airport security mess

A shortage of TSA inspectors is contributing to long lines. (Image: TSA)

A shortage of TSA inspectors is contributing to long lines. (Image: TSA)

The Transportation Security Administration has been warning travelers to expect extra-long lines at airport security checkpoints during the busy summer travel season. The agency has announced some steps it is taking to alleviate the problem, but other stakeholders in the industry are groping for solutions to the problem as well.

TSA got some good news this week as Congress approved the agency’s request to let it shift funds around among its accounts, freeing up $34 million that can be used to pay overtime for its airport officers, and also allowing it to hire another 768 new inspectors. It remains to be seen, though, how much this might help with the problem of long lines this summer.

One proposal that’s getting the most attention is one that’s least likely to happen. Two Democratic Senators – Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut – have asked U.S. airlines to eliminate their checked bag fees for the summer. The thinking is that if travelers can check bags for free, they won’t haul so many overstuffed carry-ons through the security checkpoints, backing up the lines. Even if that might work, there’s no reason to believe that airlines are going to give up one of their most lucrative revenue streams just because a couple of politicians asked them to.

Delta is taking a more pragmatic approach. The airline said this week it will assign some of its airport employees to take over non-security-related tasks at checkpoints to free up TSA inspectors for actual inspections. That includes things like managing lines and returning plastic bins from one side of the checkpoint to the other. The airline will also lend expertise “from industrial engineers and other areas” to make recommendations on redesigning checkpoints for a more efficient flow of travelers, the company said.

Baggage fees mean more overstuffed carry-ons and thus longer TSA lines. (Image: Jim Glab)

Baggage fees mean more overstuffed carry-ons and thus longer TSA lines. (Image: Jim Glab)

Speaking of checkpoint redesigns, officials at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport are hoping for a May 24 debut of an overhauled south security checkpoint, which has been closed for a few weeks for reconstruction. Two new lanes there will each have five stations where five passengers can simultaneously put their belongings into plastic bins for screening. The conveyor belts are automated so passengers don’t have to linger to push their bins into the scanner. And RFID tags on each bin will allow a TSA screener to shuttle suspect bins off to a separate line where an officer can manually inspect the items in them. There’s also a lower-level conveyor belt that automatically returns plastic bins back to the other side of the inspection station so that TSA agents don’t have to haul them there manually.

Some stakeholders want to give up on TSA altogether. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey – which operates LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports — has become the largest airport authority thus far to tell TSA it is thinking of going private with its security inspections, replacing TSA staff with contractors of its own choosing. A similar idea has already been expressed by the Seattle and Atlanta airports. In a letter to TSA, the Port Authority said it can “no longer tolerate the continuing inadequacy of TSA passenger screening services.” It cited statistics showing that waiting times this spring at its airports were almost twice as long as last year.

The airline industry started a social media campaign to complain about long security lines. (Image: Airlines for America)

The airline industry started a social media campaign to complain about long security lines. (Image: Airlines for America)

Meanwhile, the airline industry, as represented by its trade organization Airlines for America, has launched a social media campaign called “I Hate the Wait.” At that site, travelers who are waiting in long security lines at the airport can click on pre-set buttons to send a Tweet to TSA customer service (@AskTSA) with the tag #ihatethewait or to post a photo of their waiting line on Instagram and tag it @TSA. “Help improve efficiency by sharing your security line experience with the TSA,” A4A says – although it seems like this program is designed more to harass the agency than to bring about real efficiencies.

TSA has suggested that the best way travelers can help alleviate the long lines is by joining the PreCheck program (or Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry, which includes PreCheck privileges). It has also put part of the blame on Congress for cutting back its budget, leading to a reduction in the number of agents available for front-line inspections.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Airport briefs: Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Boston, Vancouver, Dubai

Cathay Pacific's new Vancouver premium lounge has a Noodle Bar. (Image: Cathay Pacific)

Cathay Pacific’s new Vancouver premium lounge has a Noodle Bar. (Image: Cathay Pacific)

In airport news, Atlanta signs a crucial lease deal with Delta; Salt Lake City will add a second new concourse; a new independent passenger lounge opens at Boston Logan; Cathay Pacific debuts a new lounge at Vancouver; and a global airline alliance cuts the ribbon on a lounge at Dubai International.

The City of Atlanta has signed a long-term lease agreement with Delta Air Lines for use of Hartsfield- Jackson International Airport that will keep the carrier’s headquarters there for the next 20 years. The deal was critical for the airport’s ambitious expansion plans. According to a statement from the airport, “The agreement allows Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to move forward with a $6 billion capital expansion program, which includes plans to build two new domestic parking decks, add five additional gates to Concourse T, construct a sixth runway, and invest more than $900 million in a new international concourse.” Signing the contract was the last major executive action for Delta CEO Richard Anderson, who retired this week and was replaced as CEO by Ed Bastian, formerly the airline’s president.

The rebuilding of Salt Lake City's airport now features two concourses instead of one. (Image: Salt Lake City International Airport)

The rebuilding plan for Salt Lake City’s airport now features two new concourses instead of one. (Image: Salt Lake City International Airport)

That big construction project at Salt Lake City International Airport just got a lot bigger. The original plan called for a total reconstruction of the existing terminal and concourses into a new terminal and a single long concourse with 45 aircraft gates. But now airport officials plan to add a second new concourse as well – the 30-gate North Concourse — increasing the overall cost by $740 million to a total of $2.6 billion. They are still planning to have the whole thing finished by 2020. Officials said the new concourse will replace existing gates in Concourses B, C and D, which would have required costly renovations to keep them open for a few more years. The concourses will be linked by an underground tunnel.

Boston Logan has a new pay-per-use passenger lounge in Terminal C near Gate C19. Called simply The Lounge at Boston Logan, it’s the 12th U.S. location opened by Airport Lounge Development Inc. Visitors will get free buffet food; free beverages, including alcoholic drinks; a work area with a computer and printer; high-speed Wi-Fi; a variety of seating areas; and TV and flight monitors. The lounge offers airfield views through floor-to-ceiling windows. A day pass costs $35, and the lounge is also open to members of the Priority Pass, Priority Pass Select, Lounge Club and LoungeKey programs, as well as invited guests of Emirates and Aer Lingus.

Cathay Pacific this week cut the ribbon on a new lounge for premium passengers at Vancouver International Airport. In the International Terminal between Gates D66 and D67, the lounge is open to Cathay’s first and business class flyers, as well as Marco Polo Club elites and Oneworld members with Sapphire status or higher. With a capacity of 108 persons, the facility offers free Wi-Fi, three workstations with iMacs and printers, a Noodle Bar serving Asian soups, and The Pantry, with a selection of other foods. The décor features limestone floors, cherrywood walls and abundant plants.

The new SkyTeam lounge at Dubai International has an international buffet. (Image: SkyTeam)

The new SkyTeam lounge at Dubai International has an international buffet. (Image: SkyTeam)

The global SkyTeam alliance, which includes Delta, Air France, KLM and 17 other carriers, has opened its fifth consolidated lounge, this one at Dubai International Airport. Located in Terminal 1’s new Concourse D, it’s open around the clock, with a capacity of 180 persons. It offers free hot and cold snacks from a variety of global cuisines, free Wi-Fi, a business center with printing facilities, a VIP room, and a separate TV room. It’s open to Elite Plus, first and business class passengers of the 10 SkyTeam member carriers that serve the airport. Other SkyTeam lounges are at London Heathrow, Sydney, Hong Kong and Istanbul.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Uber/Lyft news: Newark, Twin Cities, Miami, Denver

Uber and Lyft rides will soon be legal in Miami -- including its airport. (Image: Marc Averette/Wikimedia Commons)

Uber and Lyft rides will soon be legal in Miami — including its airport. (Image: Marc Averette/Wikimedia Commons)

Ride-hailing is caught in a tangle of competing regulators at Newark Airport; airport pick-ups start at Minneapolis-St. Paul International; ride-sharing wins a big vote in Miami; and an Uber car races the new train to Denver International.

Ride-hailing firms have been going through tough negotiations with Newark’s city council to win the right to pick up passengers at Newark Liberty International Airport – at one point the city threatened to have police tow the cars of their drivers at EWR — and now a new agreement has been reached between Uber and the city. It would require Uber to pay Newark $3 million up front for airport access, plus $10 million over 10 years. Drivers would get a separate staging area at EWR but could not wait at the terminals. But there are two problems. First, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey claims it has control of who can operate at the airport, not the city, and said it might try to block the deal. And second, Newark’s Terminal A is actually inside the border of the city of Elizabeth, N.J., and the city council there is considering an ordinance that would ban ride-sharing firms from picking up passengers at that terminal.

Despite heavy opposition from local taxi companies, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has started allowing UberX drivers to pick up passengers at the airport. The deal imposes a $6 pick-up fee on drivers. Passengers who summon an UberX car can meet up with it at a designated area in the airport’s Ground Transportation Center. The higher-priced Uber Black cars had already been operating at MSP.

In Florida, Miami Dade County Commissioners have passed an ordinance that will allow Uber and Lyft to operate legally in the county – including Miami International Airport – starting in 10 days. In fact, ride-hailing cars have been operating there for many months without official approval, with drivers sometimes asking riders to sit in the front seat to avoid suspicion. But in the process, they racked up some $4 million in fines, with enforcement especially tough at the airport. Uber and Lyft drivers can only be at the airport if they are summoned by a rider; they can’t hang out there waiting for a fare. The new rules also allow licensed taxis to charge less than their posted rates in order to compete.

In Denver, a new airport train started operating last month between Union Station downtown and Denver International Airport. So a local TV station decided to run a test comparing an Uber ride to DEN with a trip on the new A Line train. Results: The train, which makes six intermediate stops between downtown and the airport, took 37 minutes – about what its schedule calls for. An Uber driver made the trip from Union Station in 26 minutes. So Uber won on travel time by 11 minutes. But the cost? A ticket on the train goes for $9; the Uber ride was just under $44.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Denver International Airport rail line opens

Denver's airport train takes riders to the city's new transit center at Union Station downtown. (Image: Denver RTD)

Denver’s airport train takes riders to the city’s new transit center at Union Station downtown. (Image: Denver RTD)

Travelers to Denver International Airport finally have a new way to get downtown: The airport’s new rail link will officially open for business on Friday, April 22. Denver’s new transport option is one of the few (but growing) number of one-seat rides to the airport favored by frequent travelers.

The airport station is located underneath the new Westin Denver International Hotel just south of DIA’s Jeppesen Terminal. The 23-mile rail line – designated by Denver’s Regional Transportation District as the University of Colorado A Line – runs through suburban Aurora and the eastern part of Denver all the way to a recently renovated Union Station in the heart of downtown, just steps from the 16th Street Mall.

The 23-mile rail trip has six intermediate stops. (Image: Denver RTD)

The 23-mile rail trip has six intermediate stops- including one in the community built on the old Stapleton airport (Image: Denver RTD)

The Union Station terminus is the city’s new transportation hub, serving regional bus lines and Amtrak trains as well as the airport line. It’s also easy to get to major downtown hotels thanks to the free 16th Street Mall shuttle buses that stop close to Union Station.

The 37-minute airport-downtown trip costs $9; trains operate every 15 minutes and make six intermediate stops. Interestingly, one of the stops along the route to downtown is at Central Park, the center of Stapleton, a new live-work-play community built on the old Stapleton Airport grounds.

The airport rail station is under the new Westin Hotel at DEN. (Image: RTD)

The airport rail station is under the new Westin Hotel at DEN. (Image: RTD)

Denver is just the latest of several major U.S. airports to get new rail links. Within the past three years, San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit system extended its service to Oakland International Airport; Dallas’ DART system opened an Orange Line link to Terminal A at Dallas/Ft. Worth International; Utah’s TRAX extended a six-mile light rail line to Salt Lake City International; and Phoenix created a Sky Train connection from Sky Harbor International’s Terminal 4 to the Valley Metro Light Rail network. And Toronto’s one-seat ride from airport to downtown opened last year.

Denver officials see the new rail line as an essential factor in the economic development of the area around the airport. In addition to the new Westin Hotel that opened at DEN last fall, a spokeswoman said that a new Panasonic Enterprise Solutions technology center is being developed near the last rail stop before DEN, bringing more than 300 jobs with it. And the 1,500-room Gaylord Rockies Hotel is being built not far from the airport.

New signage at the airport directs travelers to the Transit Center. (Image: Jim Glab)

New signage at the airport directs travelers to the Transit Center. (Image: Jim Glab)

“In total, Denver is expecting nearly 40,000 new jobs through new and expanding businesses and $2.6 billion in economic impact over the next three decades along the (airport rail) corridor,” the spokeswoman said.

A 2013 study by the American Public Transportation Association and the U.S. Travel Association found that hotels in “rail cities”—i.e., those with direct rail links from the airport to downtown – achieve an 11 percent revenue premium over hotels in non-rail cities. And they tend to attract more meetings.

“Intermodal infrastructure that provides direct transit service from our nation’s airports to these convention cities not only makes rail cities more advantageous than non-rail cities, but also provides a competitive edge in winning global business meetings, conventions and events,” the report said.

Readers: What’s your favorite or most frequently used airport-to-city rail link? Please leave your comments below. 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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United could face more competition at Newark

 

United jets on the ramp at Newark Terminal C (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

United jets on the ramp at Newark International Terminal C (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

With a stranglehold on most of the takeoff and landing slots at Newark Liberty International – the bulk of them obtained from its merger with Continental — United Airlines hasn’t had to worry too much about competition there. But that could change later this year, thanks to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA said it plans to open up more capacity at Newark beginning at the end of October; the airport has been operating under a maximum limit of 81 flight operations per hour since a “temporary” capacity restraint was put in place there in 2008.

Technically, the FAA lists Newark as a Level 3 slot-controlled airport, but on October 31 it will change that designation to a Level 2 schedule-facilitated airport.

FAA said the change will “increase access to the busiest airspace in the world” (i.e., the New York area), and will “allow more efficient use of the airport terminal and runway capacity.” The agency did not specify how many more flights it would allow at Newark, but it did say the changes will mean increased “market access and new entry for carriers and increased competition.”

Related- Trip Report: United p.s. class SFO-Newark

FAA chief Michael Huerta said the change in Newark’s status is made possible by “significant improvements in on-time performance and delays at Newark.” The FAA said that the number of on-time gate arrivals at EWR from May through August 2015 was down 11 percent from the same months in 2007, just before the current slot controls were imposed. Average arrival and departure delay times were also down, and the number of flight operations has dropped by 8 percent, FAA said.

The FAA said its action also reflects a concern about capacity at nearby New York JFK Airport and how it might be affected by major runway reconstruction projects there in 2017 and 2018. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said it expects a three-month closure next year for JFK’s Runway 4Right-22Left, which handles almost half of the airport’s landings.

Last fall, the U.S. Justice Department filed a complaint in federal court in an effort to block United’s plans to swap 24 of its slots at JFK for 24 Delta slots at Newark. DOJ noted that United already controls 73 percent of the slots at Newark, and said that the proposed swap would make it even more difficult for other airlines to add operations there and thus would hinder competition.

What do you think about Newark Airport? Can it handle more flights? How does it compare to JFK? Please leave your thoughts below. 

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NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Munich Airport: Big new terminal, new US route, new hotel

Lufthansa will be able to expand its Munich hub with the opening of the Terminal 2 Satellite. (Image: Lufthansa)

Lufthansa will be able to expand its Munich hub with the opening of the Terminal 2 Satellite. (Image: Lufthansa)

There’s a lot going on at Munich Airport these days. Later this month, officials will cut the ribbon on a big new terminal as Lufthansa expands its second hub. Not long after the opening, the airline plans to add a new U.S. route from Munich. Meanwhile, Marriott has cut the ribbon on a new hotel at MUC, and a European carrier is adding a base of operations there.

April 26 is the scheduled opening date for Munich Airport’s new Terminal 2 Satellite, a standalone facility that will give Lufthansa another 52 gates. Fifty meters wide and longer than three football fields, the T2 Satellite provide travelers with 20 more security checkpoints and 42 new passport stations. Other features of the big new facility include a 7,000 square meter central marketplace, two bars with great views of the airfield, and five new lounges.

Munich's new T2 Satellite's marketplace includes a vegetable stand. (Image: Koch + Partner Architects)

Munich’s new T2 Satellite’s marketplace includes a vegetable stand. (Image: Koch + Partner Architects)

Lufthansa started building up a hub at Munich after its original Terminal 2 opened there in 2003, but that facility was designed to handle up to 25 million passengers a year – a limit that the airline said has been exceeded over the past few years. The new satellite will expand Lufthansa’s capacity at Munich by another 11 million annual passengers. It will be linked to Terminal 2 by an automated underground people-mover system that can handle up to 9,000 passengers an hour in each direction. “In order to comply with EU security regulations, the passenger transportation system is conceived so that three different passenger groups can be transported separately according to the country of origin of their flight,” Lufthansa said.

As part of its ongoing expansion at Munich, Lufthansa plans to add a new U.S. route. On May 11, the airline will begin operating five flights a week to Denver International, an airport that it already serves from its Frankfurt hub. Airport officials at DEN said the new Lufthansa service will increase capacity from Denver to Europe by 20 percent.

Related: Berlin’s glitch-plagued Brandenburg Airport won’t open until late 2017

Marriott's new MOxy Hotel at the airport has bold colors and designs. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott’s new Moxy Hotel at the airport has bold colors and innovative designs. (Image: Marriott)

Meanwhile, Marriott has cut the ribbon on a new hotel at Munich Airport – a 252-room property that belongs to the lodging giant’s new Moxy brand. What does the Moxy brand represent? According to Marriott’s brand-speak, the Moxy brand “boldly reinvents the select-service hotel paradigm offering a spirited experience– to fully embrace today’s Next Generation traveler and to show the world what ‘moxie’ really means – fun, spirited and stylish.” Its “bold design and affordable style” include a “living room” that’s a guest hub, with fast free Wi-Fi and lots of USB and power ports. There’s also a library, a fitness center, 24/7 self-service food and beverage. It’s five minutes by shuttle bus from the terminals.

Finally, the European carrier Transavia – a low-cost subsidiary of Air France-KLM – this spring is developing a new base of operations at Munich, putting four 737s there. Transavia’s only existing route from Munich is to Paris Orly, but it plans to add MUC service to 16 more destinations in Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Portugal, Spain and Morocco.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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Uber/Lyft at airports: Seattle, San Diego, Milwaukee, New Orleans

Uber and Lyft pick-ups at Seattle-Tacoma cold start in a few days. (Image: Port of Seattle)

Uber and Lyft pick-ups at Seattle-Tacoma could start in a few days. (Image: Port of Seattle)

Ridesharing has changed the business trip more than just about anything else in recent memory (except maybe PreCheck!). Luckily, the phenomenon is now pervasive in most cities around the world. But, when it comes to highly regulated airports, it’s still hit or miss. You never really know if you can or can’t legally use your app when you step off the plane.

So we try to keep TravelSkills readers up to date on that front…

In airport ride-sharing developments, passenger pick-ups could start next week at Seattle-Tacoma, a new competitor starts up at San Diego, UberX and Lyft lift off at Milwaukee, and approval moves ahead for New Orleans.

March 31 is the launch date for ride-sharing services to begin passenger pick-ups at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, assuming that operators like Lyft and Uber can sign agreements with the Port of Seattle by then. The port authority has authorized the use of ride-sharing firms, which it calls Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), for a one-year test period. The airport designated an area on the third floor of its parking garage for arriving passengers to meet drivers, and it will assess a fee of $5 per pick-up. One innovative requirement set by the port authority is a “green standard” for ride-sharing services. That standard “establishes a threshold for emissions based on fleet weighted average MPG, deadheading, and pooling or ridesharing for unrelated passengers,” the airport said. “If TNC’s do not meet the environmental performance standards after six-month and nine-month periods, an additional $5 per trip fee will be incurred until standards are reached.”

Inside San Diego's snappy new Terminal 2 West (Chris McGinnis)

Inside San Diego’s snappy new Terminal 2 West (Chris McGinnis)

After running a limited pilot program for a few months, ride-sharing service Wingz has officially started operations at San Diego’s Lindbergh Field, taking on Uber and Lyft with a slightly different concept. Like those two operators, Wingz uses app-based bookings via iPhone or Android, and its drivers use their own vehicles, but it quotes a flat price. The rate may be slightly higher than the lowest rates of Uber or Lyft, but it will not change based on levels of demand. A Wingz ride from Lindbergh Field to downtown San Diego is estimated to cost around $25. With San Diego, it now operates at 16 airports, mostly in California.

Passenger pick-ups by UberX and Lyft started last week at Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Before that, only Uber Black and Uber SUV pick-ups were permitted. The approval of UberX and Lyft is for a 90-day pilot period, the newspaper said, and the airport will collect a $3 fee per passenger for pick-ups. The airport has designated a pick-up area between baggage carousels 1 and 2, through doors marked “Exit to Ticketing.”

Approval for ride-sharing services to pick up passengers at New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport moved ahead last week, but no start-up date has been set. Last week, the Aviation Board that oversees the airport approved a resolution to authorize ride-sharing pick-ups and to develop a new fee structure that will cover Uber and Lyft passenger pick-ups, but the actual fee levels still have to be determined. According to the website nola.com, the airport’s general counsel said that the ride-sharing companies have “an unequivocal constitutional right” to pick up passengers, but the city’s taxi drivers are challenging that notion: They have filed a lawsuit to block UberX and Lyft, and a court hearing is slated for April 1.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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Fly through Atlanta’s dramatic new airport canopy (VIDEO)

Screen Shot 2016-03-10 at 5.36.40 PM

This week Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials reveal plans for a $6 billion renovation and expansion that will last nearly 20 years.

The most dramatic new addition will be a giant, translucent canopy that covers the roadways that run between the north and south terminals and adjacent parking lots. Scroll down for a look at renderings of how the iconic new canopy will look, inside and out. And don’t miss the full video if you have a few minutes to watch it.

In addition to the canopy, the airport plans to update all domestic terminals, adding bigger windows for more light and tarmac views. Terminal renovations start later this year, and after that (starting 2021) a massive project to demolish and replace the airport’s parking decks commences.

Add to that a new 450-room hotel (located in the current west parking lot), a new terminal (G) and a sixth runway, and you have one whopper of a project that we’ll be living with for the next 20 years.

(All images courtesy Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport)

Screen Shot 2016-03-10 at 5.35.31 PM

Screen Shot 2016-03-10 at 5.35.59 PM

Screen Shot 2016-03-10 at 5.38.41 PM

Screen Shot 2016-03-10 at 5.38.15 PM

Screen Shot 2016-03-10 at 5.37.09 PM

To see the dramatic fly-through video rendering, click here or view below:

ATLNext Canopy Animation from Hartsfield-Jackson on Vimeo.

Here’s a full rundown of key features of the project:

Airport main terminal

  • Terminal modernization, now-2018, $393 million
  • Concourse T extension, 2016-2021, $200 million
  • Plane Train people-mover turnback relocation, 2016-2027, $307 million
  • Concourse G, 2016-2023, $983 million
  • Concourse D gate area expansion, 2019-2025, $50 million

Parking

  • ATL West parking deck next to Georgia International Convention Center, 2016-2017, $150 million
  • Sullivan Road Park-Ride Lot, 2016-2018, $7.6 million
  • Domestic garage enabling work, 2016-2021, $100 million
  • South garage teardown and replacement, 2021-2024, $420 million
  • North garage teardown and replacement, 2024-2027, $245 million

Hotel

  • Hotel, travel plaza, mixed-use commercial complex, 2016-2018, $500 million

Airfield

  • Taxiway/runway pavement replacement, 2016-2017, $24 million
  • End-around taxiway, 2017-2021, $58 million
  • Runway pavement replacement, 2021-2023, $35 million
  • Other airfield renewal/replacement, 2016-2035, $310 million
  • Sixth runway, 2023-2034, $943 million

 


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New hotels: Minneapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle

A standard king guest room at the new Hyatt Regency near Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. (Image: Hyatt)

A standard king guest room at the new Hyatt Regency near Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. (Image: Hyatt)

The latest U.S. hotel openings include a Hyatt Regency near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, a New York City debut for a leading European chain, an all-suite property in downtown Pittsburgh, a Marriott affiliate in the heart of San Diego, and a Starwood location at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

A few months ago, we reported on the opening of a new JW Marriott Hotel in Bloomington, Minn., near Mall of America and Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. And now there’s a new Hyatt there as well. The Hyatt Regency Bloomington-Minneapolis is in the Bloomington Central Station mixed-use development just east of the mega-mall and just south of the airport. It’s along the Blue Line light rail, two stops from MSP. It has 289 guest rooms and 14 suites, all equipped with Hyatt Grand Beds, 55-inch HDTVs with plug-and-play capabilities for personal devices, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel offers a Regency Club Lounge with free breakfast; an indoor pool; and a fitness center. The restaurant has locally-sourced ingredients, and there’s also a market with grab-and-go food items. Rates start at $239.

Melia International's INNSIDE New York NoMad on West 27th Street. (Image: Melia)

Melia International’s INNSIDE New York NoMad on West 27th Street. (Image: Melia)

European hotel giant Melia International is slated to cut the ribbon on its first New York City property in March – the 313-room INNSIDE New York NoMad, at 132 W, 27th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenue. Rooms come with floor-to-ceiling windows and are equipped with Nespresso machines, 42-inch TVs with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and complimentary minibars. Its Impero Caffe restaurant will serve bistro-style Italian cuisine both inside and on an outdoor garden terrace. Conference rooms can handle meetings of up to 95 persons. Rates start at $249.

The Embassy Suites in downtown Pittsburgh has plenty of living space. (Image: Embassy Suites)

The Embassy Suites in downtown Pittsburgh has plenty of living space. (Image: Embassy Suites)

Pittsburgh’s 106-year-old Henry W. Oliver Building, in the heart of downtown at 535 Smithfield Street, now has a new Embassy Suites by Hilton occupying its top 11 floors. Claiming to be the only full-service all-suite hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, the Embassy Suites  by Hilton Pittsburgh Downtown has 225 two-room units equipped with a wet bar, microwave, mini-fridge and two TVs. The hotel offers free made-to-order breakfast and a free two-hour evening reception with drinks and snacks, as well as a 24/7 fitness facility and indoor pool. Check-in is in the hotel’s 25th-floor Sky Lobby, and the property has a full-service restaurant called Elevation with American comfort food. Rates start at $169.

Marriott's new Residence Inn in downtown San Diego's Bayfront district. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott’s new Residence Inn in downtown San Diego’s Bayfront district. (Image: Marriott)

Another new all-suite property – this one in San Diego – is Marriott’s Residence Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayfront, at 900 Bayfront Court. It’s close to the water just west of the city’s famous Gaslamp District, around the corner from both the Amtrak station and the Coronado Ferry, and just minutes from the airport. The hotel has 147 studio, one-, and two-bedroom suites, all equipped with spacious work areas, free high-speed Wi-Fi and full kitchens, and guests can get free hot breakfasts. Rates start at $249.

This new Four Points by Sheraton is five miles south of Sea-Tac. (Image: Starwood)

This new Four Points by Sheraton is five miles south of Sea-Tac. (Image: Starwood)

Just off Interstate 5 five miles south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in suburban Des Moines, Wash., is the newly opened Four Points by Sheraton Seattle Airport South; it’s also convenient to Boeing’s Renton plant, Amazon’s HQ, and the Link light rail station into downtown Seattle. Its 225 rooms include some two-story loft suites with views of Puget Sound. Northwestern cuisine is served up at the hotel’s Olympus Grille, and the lounge offers local beers and BBQ-style appetizers. There’s an outdoor pool, 24/7 fitness center, business center, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Rates start at $131.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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Airports: LAX connector, SFO dining, ATL flap, CPR at ORD, DFW app,

Rendering of the new connector at LAX between T4 and the Bradley International Terminal. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

Rendering of the new connector at LAX between T4 and the Bradley International Terminal. (Image: Los Angeles World Airports)

In airport news, Los Angeles International opens a new post-security connector to the Bradley International Terminal; some new food & beverage options are coming to San Francisco International; travelers at Chicago O’Hare can brush up on their CPR skills; Dallas/Ft. Worth has a new app for international arrivals; and Atlanta no longer wants to be called the world’s busiest airport.

It’s a couple of months behind schedule, but Los Angeles International has finally opened up a $115 million connector between American Airlines’ Terminal 4 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Since it’s behind the security checkpoints, T4 passengers heading to an international flight in the TBIT will no longer have to go through a new screening, and will save transfer time since the walk between terminals through the new connector is estimated at five minutes or so. The two-year-old project isn’t finished yet; still to come are retail outlets, an outdoor patio, streamlined baggage transfer station and more. Want to see it? A member of the Flyertalk forum posted a video walk-through of the new passageway.

How many times have you seen Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson referred to as “the world’s busiest airport”? It’s true that ATL has the most flights and the most passengers, but according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the airport’s general manager told a city council committee that the “world’s busiest” designation will no longer fly – from now on, ATL will now refer to itself as “the world’s most traveled” airport. Why the change? ATL’s marketing experts decided that “busy” has a negative connotation, implying crowds, long lines and delays. Maybe someone should tell that to the TSA.

United's new Boarding Area E is the best place at SFO to go planespotting (Photo: SFO)

Even more, better food coming to San Francisco International (Photo: SFO)

San Francisco International’s International Terminal will add some new dining options for travelers in the months ahead. The popular Napa Valley restaurant Mustard’s Grill plans to open an airport location there, serving up classical American food with international twists. Due to open in 2017, it will be connected to a new Napa Farms Market (there’s already one in Terminal 2) that should open later this year; that will replace Andale Mexican Food, located post-security in the G concourse. Also coming in the A (Int’l) concourse is Samovar Tea and Chai Lounge, offering full-service meals and a bar with tea-infused cocktails; it will replace FirewoodPizza.

If you’re in Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal 2 and you have some time to kill, you can brush up on your CPR skills at a new kiosk located post-security near the Kids on the Fly play area. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, the kiosk has “a specially-designed rubber torso that allows users to practice compressions. In fact, it feels just like it would if performed on a person,” according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. It also provides instant feedback on the effectiveness of your CPR technique.

Mobile Passport Control

Dallas/Ft. Worth is the latest international gateway airport to support a Mobile Passport Control app that arriving travelers can use to clear Customs faster. It’s free from the Apple App and Google Play stores. Users can create a profile with their passport information and complete the “new trip” section upon arrival from overseas. They then submit their Customs and Border Protection declaration form through the app and get an electronic receipt with a digital bar code that they show to a CBP officer. In other tech developments, DFW has upgraded its mobile app with news and weather alerts, enhanced flight search, and access to the airport’s social media channels; it has also released an app for the Apple Watch.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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Uber, Lyft progress at Newark, Atlanta, Phoenix airports

The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Terminal at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. (Image: Atlanta Airport)

The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Terminal at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. (Image: Atlanta Airport)

Although they often meet with stiff resistance from local officials and taxi drivers, ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft continue to make slow but certain progress in their fight for the right to pick up passengers at major airports. Three of the latest battlegrounds are Newark, Atlanta and Phoenix.

We reported recently that Newark’s city prosecutor had threatened to have police start towing the vehicles of Uber and Lyft drivers this week if they were caught waiting for passengers at Newark Liberty International Airport. But now there’s apparently been a change of heart. According to local media, Newark public safety officials have now promised that the city will not start towing cars at the airport, and said they would meet with the city prosecutor and his staff in a bid to work things out. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also said it would not act against the ride-sharing drivers. UPDATE: It seems the City of Newark has flip-flopped on this and the ban is back on according to NY Post (We will monitor status)

Airport officials at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson are said to be getting close to announcing a plan that would allow ride-sharing services to make passenger pick-ups legally at the nation’s busiest airport. Some drivers have reportedly been operating on the sly at ATL, taking the risk of getting a ticket, but a firm plan to legitimize ride-sharing pick-ups has been long overdue. According to Atlanta’s WSB-TV, airport officials are expected to “soon go public” with an approval plan. Noting that such a plan is half a year behind schedule due to rabid opposition from taxi drivers, the station quoted an airport spokesperson as saying that there is clear customer demand for ride-sharing, and that the airport is “fine-tuning” legislation to legalize pick-ups at ATL. The station said the airport is expected to designate pick-up spots for Uber and Lyft drivers, and noted that police have routinely been patrolling the cell phone waiting area, telling ride-share drivers to move out.

The Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board has passed a new policy for ground transportation at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport that would clear the way for UberX and Lyft to pick up arriving passengers. The measure still requires approval by the City Council, where it faces opposition from taxi services and other ground transportation providers (although it has public support from Arizona Governor Doug Ducey). The proposal would require drivers to pay a fee for each pick-up, but would ease up on some of the security requirements that officials had been demanding, like a fingerprint background check for drivers. According to the Arizona Republic, the ride-sharing services could start picking up arrivals at PHX by this summer.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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American’s new look for lounges (Photos/Video)

Rendering of seating area at AA's new and expanded Flagship Lunges. (Image: American)

Rendering of seating area at AA’s redesigned and expanded Flagship Lounges. (Image: American)

As U.S. carriers haul in record profits, they are reinvesting some of that money in an improved passenger experience – especially for premium customers. The latest effort along these lines is an announcement from American Airlines that it will overhaul and expand its top-of-the-line Flagship Lounges at key hubs, and make them accessible to more customers; add a new Flagship Dining experience with table service; and open new Admirals Club lounges.

American said it plans to “redefine” its Flagship Lounges – exclusive airport retreats for its first class passengers (and separate from its Admirals Clubs) – by renovating and expanding the existing facilities at New York JFK, Los Angeles International and Chicago O’Hare, and adding new ones at Dallas/Ft. Worth, Miami International and Philadelphia International. The work starts this spring.

Because the Flagship Lounges will be larger and in more airports, American said that starting in 2017, it will open them up to more passengers – specifically, customers booked in first class and business class on transpacific and transatlantic flights, as well as flights to “deep” South America and first/business class passengers on the airline’s transcontinental A321T flights.

Besides enlarging the Flagship Lounges, AA said it will refurnish them, add more connectivity and power outlets, and bring more hot and cold selections to their buffet food service.

Related: First look at new United Club at SFO

Rendering of AA's new Flagship Dining facilities, coming to major hubs. (Image: American Airlines)

Rendering of AA’s new Flagship Dining facilities, coming to major hubs. (Image: American Airlines)

Speaking of food, the airline also plans to create new Flagship Dining facilities starting in 2017 at its JFK, DFW, Miami and LAX hubs.  Instead of the buffet service in Flagship Lounges, these new facilities will provide full table service, seasonal menus and locally sourced ingredients. Access will be limited to first class passengers on AA’s three-class international and transcon flights.

This month, American is also beginning an overhaul of its arrivals lounge at London Heathrow; the renovation includes private showers and dressing areas, food and beverage service, and a valet pressing service.

Design for American'snew Admirals Club coming to Orlando International. (Image: American Airlines)

Design for American’s new Admirals Club coming to Orlando International. (Image: American Airlines)

As for American’s paid-membership Admirals Club airport lounges, it will open new ones in Orlando International and Houston Bush Intercontinental, and will continue to renovate existing locations. The first Admirals Clubs to get the new look and renovation were recently completed at Sao Paulo Guarulhos in Brazil and at Phoenix Sky Harbor. The renovation schedule includes 15 more locations over the next few years, starting with Admirals Clubs at New York JFK, Miami and Los Angeles.

The company has put up a Youtube video  where you can get an idea of what the new and renovated facilities will look like.

 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Boeing 747 nearing its end? + “Targeted” for an upgrade? + 5 newest biz class hotels in New York + TSA PreCheck is exploding + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 

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How to really upgrade your next car rental

National's Premier Selection lets you upgrade on the spot. (Image: National Car Rental)

National’s Premier Selection lets you upgrade on the spot. (Image: National Car Rental)

Car rentals tend to be one of the more routine parts of business travel: You book your standard mid-sized sedan and don’t really think about it — it’s just transportation. But rental companies have been expanding their fleets in recent years with more luxurious, powerful and sporty models so that road warriors can put a bit of excitement and comfort into their driving experience and feel a little extra oomph when they step on the gas pedal.

And when you’re trying to close a deal with an undecided client, it can’t hurt your image when you pick him or her up for lunch with a set of fancy wheels.

sponsored-sliderTypical of this trend is National Car Rental’s Premier Selection, now entering its third year. Renters who walk into the National lots at 25 major U.S. airport locations will see a clearly designated area where the Premier Selection vehicles are kept, and they can easily upgrade to one no matter what type of car they’ve reserved.

This year, National is rolling out an expanded range of Audi and BMW vehicles in its Premier Selection fleet, and is also adding the outdoorsy 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser.

The special fleet started out with posh rides like Cadillac Escalades, Lincoln Navigators and Lexus IS250s and has been branching out from there. In 2014, one newcomer to the Premier Selection fleet was the Kia K900 sedan, a full-size, rear-drive luxury vehicle loaded with all the extras. (Note: Not all vehicle types may be available at all locations.)

Maserati's Ghibli S Q$: Can you handle it? (Image: Maserati)

Maserati’s Ghibli S Q4 Can you handle it? (Image: Maserati)

Another newcomer to the fleet about a year ago is the high-performance, all-wheel-drive version of Maserati’s Ghibli S Q4. It’s equipped with a twin-turbo V6 Ferrari engine that cranks out more than 400 horsepower, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also has a leather interior, heated front seats with eight-way power adjustments, dual zone climate control and other luxury amenities. 

Who knows? You might like one of these hot cars so much that you end up buying one.

A study commissioned by Enterprise Holdings, National’s parent company, found that renters at National’s airport locations were 45 percent more likely to buy a new car within six months of their rental than the average U.S. consumer — and of those who did so, more than three-fourths bought a vehicle different from the type they already owned. The finding “strongly indicates that many car rental customers are using their rentals to experience new makes and models,” a spokesman said.

National created its Premier Selection program with input from a few hundred of its most loyal Emerald Club members. Customers who see something they like in the Premier Selection area can easily upgrade without going to the rental counter.

Would you upgrade your next car rental to Premier Selection? Why or why not? Please leave your comments below.

Disclosure: Thank you for reading TravelSkills! We will periodically send out messages like this one from commercial partners about topics relevant to frequent travel.  Our sponsors’ support, and yours, help us keep TravelSkills a free publication. 

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Airports: Uber at Newark, O’Hare gates, Atlanta pods, Miami app

Might consider the AirTran instead of Uber at Newark (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Might consider the AirTran instead of Uber at Newark (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

In airport news, Uber drivers at Newark get an official warning; Chicago O’Hare will finally start to see new aircraft gates being built; and Miami International releases an updated smartphone app that uses geo-location to assist passengers.

With all of United’s transcontinental p.s. flights from the West Coast now flying into Newark instead of New York JFK, arriving passengers might just instinctively tap their Uber app for an airport pickup upon landing. But that could be a problem in a couple of weeks. According to local media in New Jersey, the chief prosecutor for the city of Newark has sent a letter to Uber headquarters setting a February 22 deadline for Uber’s drivers to stop picking up passengers at Newark Airport. If they don’t, they could have their vehicles towed by police and face “civil and criminal penalties,” the letter said. The same warning applied to Uber drivers working at Newark’s Penn Station. (Although Newark, LaGuardia and JFK airports are all operated by the New York/New Jersey Port Authority, the rules governing ground transportation are set separately by Newark for Newark Airport and New York City for LaGuardia and JFK. The two New York airports do permit Uber pickups if the driver is licensed by the city.) Last month, Newark’s licensed taxi drivers staged a big anti-Uber protest at the airport.

Earlier this month, Chicago city officials announced plans for a huge infrastructure project at O’Hare Airport, including construction of a sixth runway, and some critics reiterated the complaints they made after the fifth runway was completed – namely, that building more runways to increase capacity isn’t going to do much good unless there are more places to park airplanes. But now the city is moving to start fixing the gate shortage, announcing a deal with American Airlines that will allow the carrier to build five new gates at O’Hare’s Terminal 3. The new gates, due to be finished by 2018, will be added to T3’s Concourse L. That will increase the total gate count for American at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 from 66 to 71. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, they represent the first significant construction of new gates at the airport since 1993.

It's a new thing at Atlanta's airport. Can you guess what it's for? (Image: Mamava)

It’s a new thing at Atlanta’s airport. Can you guess what it’s for? (Image: Mamava)

Nursing mothers never have it easy when they travel, but Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is trying to give them a break. The airport has set up four “lactation pods” that mothers can use for nursing or breast milk pumping in privacy. The stations are located past the security checkpoints near Gates T-7, B-5, D-34 and F-5, and another one will soon be added pre-security in the airport’s Domestic Terminal. The pods, designed by a company called Mamava, can be locked form the inside and provide seating, a changing table, and an electrical outlet for pumps.  

Miami International Airport is going super high-tech with an upgraded version of its smartphone app, called MIA Airport Official 2.0. The airport has installed more than 500 Bluetooth data beacons so that app users can simply scan their boarding pass to get turn- by-turn directions to their departure gate or other locations, estimated walking times, real-time flight updates and shopping/dining suggestions, based on their personal profile. Users can also get weather information for anywhere in the world, and can use a “near me” feature that identifies the closest dining and shopping outlets. “Future enhancements will include notifications for special offers from the user’s preferred shops and restaurants at MIA, the ability to reserve parking, and estimated security checkpoint wait times,” a spokesman said. The app is available at the Google Play and Apple App stores. MIA has put up a Youtube video explaining the new app.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Boeing 747 nearing its end? + “Targeted” for an upgrade? + 5 newest biz class hotels in New York + TSA PreCheck is exploding + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 

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Finally! UberX joins Lyft legally at LAX

UberX started pick-ups at LAX. (Image: Uber)

UberX started pick-ups at LAX. (Image: Uber)

A few weeks ago, ride-sharing service Lyft started to pick up passengers at Los Angeles International Airport, and now UberX is dong the same.

Uber said on its website that effective today (January 21), its UberX drivers can start to pick up passengers at LAX terminals (Note: the new approval for UberX does not yet include UberPool).

In August, the Los Angeles City Council approved a plan to give ride-sharing app services the right to pick up passengers at the airport, but it took months of haggling between regulators and the ride-sharing companies to agree on licensing and permit requirements.

Lyft came to terms with the city first, and now Uber has followed suit for its UberX drivers. While a regular taxi ride from LAX to downtown costs about $50 -plus tip, the fare is estimated at $30 on UberX or Lyft, although it would be higher in times of peak demand. 

Uber said arriving LAX passengers using its app should select a vehicle type, terminal and airline to request a ride. Pick-ups could be on the lower or upper levels of the terminal; the driver will call to confirm the location.

Rides on UberX and Lyft incur a $4 surcharge for both pick-ups and drop-offs under terms worked out with airport authorities.

Get up to $50 off your first Lyft ride with our link! 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  United packages Economy Plus with amenities + Ride-sharing firm goes out of business + Bucket list for air travelers + Useless travel gadgets + ‘Uber of the Skies’ dies 

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Big change at San Diego International airport

The new car rental center at San Diego's airport opens January 20. (Image: San Diego International Airport)

The new car rental center at San Diego’s airport opens January 20. (Image: San Diego International Airport)

January 20 will be the first day of business at a big new facility in San Diego International Airport that will change things for everyone who rents a car there.

It’s the opening of the new $316 million Consolidated Rental Car Center on the northeast side of the airport grounds, just off Pacific Highway — a location that will give renters easy access to Interstate 5. 

The facility will serve as the base of operations for the 14 rental operators serving the airport, including big national brands as well as independents and local firms.

Its opening is expected to mean a big reduction in rental car traffic on North Harbor Drive, the access road from downtown San Diego to the airport terminals. Most of the major rental companies previously had their operations just off that road, immediately southeast of the terminals.

X marks the location of the airport's new rental facility. (Image: San Diego International Airport)

X marks the location of the airport’s new rental facility. (Image: San Diego International Airport)

It will also mean fewer shuttle buses moving around the airport, since the individual rental company shuttles will be replaced by a fleet of alternative-fuel buses that will carry all rental car  customers between the terminals and the new rental center.

Construction of the new facility started in 2013. It is financed by airport user fees that the rental companies pass along to customers.

Even more changes are in store for the airport in the future; last month, airport officials settled on a design for a massive reconstruction of the facility’s dated Terminal 1 and part of Terminal 2, although that project is still a few years away.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  United packages Economy Plus with amenities + Ride-sharing firm goes out of business + Bucket list for air travelers + Useless travel gadgets + ‘Uber of the Skies’ dies 

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Atlanta’s passenger record + fixing Uber surge pricing + NYC Marriotts on sale + more

Here are some newsy nuggets from other sources that we missed on TravelSkills this week:

Atlanta airport's Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal (Image: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport)

Atlanta airport’s Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Image: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport)

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson will break a huge passenger record today.

Harvard Business Review suggests ways to fix Uber’s surge pricing model.

This week only: Book Marriott’s NYC hotels for up to 20 percent off.

Hyatt notifies customers of computer security breach.

TSA may require scans instead of pat-downs for some travelers.

United’s new ‘Big Metal Bird’ Youtube videos explain how the airline biz works.

Study says DOT’s three-hour tarmac rule led to more flight cancellations.

Fiji Airways will begin twice-weekly seasonal service to San Francisco in June.

New Malaysian domestic airline operates according to Islamic law.

The new frontier for top chefs: airport restaurants.

 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Delta free upgrades disappearing + Shipping vs. checking a bag +_San Francisco’s new long-haul routes + Is Newark our worst airport? + Delta, United forge new international partnerships

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Airports: Atlanta’s airport hotel + Speedier Boingo + New Oakland lounge + more

Rendering of the hotel planned for Atlanta's airport. (Image: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport)

Rendering of the hotel planned for Atlanta’s airport. (Image: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport)

In airport news, Atlanta officials have reportedly selected a brand for their new airport hotel; Boingo boosts Wi-Fi speeds at a number of U.S. airports; a new passenger lounge is coming to Oakland Airport; Chicago airports now offered reserved parking spaces; and Tampa adds a huge number of charging outlets for travelers.

The new hotel planned for construction near Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson’s domestic terminal is expected to be an InterContinental, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The 300-room high-end hotel is envisioned to be part of a $600 million “Airport City” project that will include commercial space, retail outlets and a travel plaza, and perhaps even residential space. The newspaper reported that renowned Atlanta architect John Portman will design the hotel, which will have meeting rooms, a restaurant, lobby bar and grill and other amenities. It is expected to be built within three years.

Boingo, the leading airport Wi-Fi provider, said that its paid subscribers can now select from options that will give them speeds of up to 20 Mbps at seven major airports, with more coming soon. The highest-speed airports include Baltimore/Washington, Boston Logan, Chicago Midway, Chicago O’Hare, New York JFK, New York LaGuardia and Newark. The company said all travelers can now get free Wi-Fi, and “power users” can select from a number of paid options, including speeds of 20 Mbps, bursting to 50 Mbps. “All Boingo subscribers, including those enrolled in the American Express Preferred Plan, will automatically receive the highest tier of speed when they log in,” Boingo said.

Oakland International Airport said that the U.S. subsidiary of U.K.-based MAG will develop a new passenger lounge at OAK that should open in June 2016. The 2,600 square foot Escape Lounge will be open to all passengers for a per-use fee, offering free food and beverages, Wi-Fi, and other amenities. Earlier this month, MAG opened its first U.S. airport Escape Lounge at Minneapolis-St. Paul International.

Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports this month introduced a new option of reserved parking spaces close to the passenger terminals. The reservation fee is $10 per space, per day (plus parking charges, taxes and fees). All spaces are inside the garages, and are guaranteed even when the facility is full. Parking spaces can be booked at https://ord.clickandpark.com/ for O’Hare or at https://mdw.clickandpark.com/ for Midway.

Tampa International Airport next year will make life easier for power-hungry business travelers and their devices. The airport is planning to install thousands of power outlets and USB ports for passengers — 4,683 of them, to be exact. Some will be at 299 new work stations the airport will install; the rest will be on towers wedged between seat rows at gate areas. Currently the airport only offers 237 outlets at work stations scattered around the terminal.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Delta free upgrades disappearing + Shipping vs. checking a bag +_San Francisco’s new long-haul routes + Is Newark our worst airport? + Delta, United forge new international partnerships

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Lyft starts LAX passenger pick-ups; Uber coming soon

Lyft has started passenger pick-ups at LAX. (Image: Los Angeles International Airport)

Lyft has started passenger pick-ups at LAX. (Image: Los Angeles International Airport)

It’s been four months since the Los Angeles City Council approved ride-sharing app services like Lyft and UberX to pick up customers at Los Angeles International Airport, but this week — after long negotiations between those companies and regulators over licensing and permit requirements — Lyft finally started to handle arriving passengers at LAX.

UberX, which got a later start in the process, still isn’t authorized for airport pickups, although it is expected to begin soon.

Lyft agreed to pay the airport a fee of $4 for each passenger pick-up and drop-off at LAX. Those fees will be passed along to passengers. The airport designated a special parking area for Lyft drivers to use while they are waiting for a ride request. The pick-ups will be on LAX’s upper departures level.

As in other cities, the airport pick-ups in Los Angeles were bitterly opposed by taxi drivers. But city officials considered the ride-sharing services an important step forward. “As we continue rebuilding nearly every terminal at the airport, and work to bring rail to LAX, our passengers deserve access to all available options to ensure they have an excellent experience,” said L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.

A ride from the airport to downtown L.A. on Lyft or Uber is expected to cost about $30 during non-peak periods, compared with $50 in a taxi.

Through January 1, Lyft is offering customers $5 off two rides to or from LAX when they enter code FLY2015 in the payment section of the app.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Delta free upgrades disappearing + Shipping vs. checking a bag +_San Francisco’s new long-haul routes + Is Newark our worst airport? + Delta, United forge new international partnerships

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TSA Pre✓® keeps you moving this holiday season

Deserted PreCheck lines at Delta's Terminal 1 Boarding area C security checkpoint (Chris McGinnis)

Speedy TSA Pre✓® lines at San Francisco International Airport(Chris McGinnis)

What’s the fastest way to run the airport security gauntlet and get home or off on vacation for the holidays? TSA Pre✓® of course!

sponsored-sliderBy now you’ve likely heard of TSA Pre✓® — or seen the dedicated lanes at airport security where members speed through without removing shoes, belts or jackets. They also don’t have to remove laptops or liquids from their bags prior to screening. Eliminating those unwieldy steps from the screening process makes getting through airport security a breeze, which means less stress getting to your flight on time…and getting to your final destination.

At TravelSkills, we were some of the earliest adopters of TSA Pre✓® when it began accepting applications back in 2013 and have been evangelists ever since. So if you’ve not yet taken the leap, now’s the time to join the more than 1.5 million fellow travelers who have enrolled in the popular TSA Pre✓® program. Here’s how:

First off, you need to apply online. Or, you can complete the application process in person, which is a lot easier now that 350 new IdentoGO® Centers by MorphoTrust have opened.

The centers are located at many airports of course, but there are hundreds of off-airport locations to enroll as well. For example, you can now sign up for TSA Pre✓® at H&R Block locations in 27 states. Many of these locations have expanded their hours of operation, and some are even open on Saturdays.

TSA Pre✓® enrollment center at Washington Dulles Airport. (Image: TSA)

TSA Pre✓® enrollment center at Washington Dulles Airport. (Image: TSA)

Once you have applied, you’ll make an appointment at an IdentoGO Center, where agents verify your identification (a birth certificate or passport plus another government issued ID like a drivers license), obtain background information and scan your fingerprints and securely transmit your application package to TSA for review.

The agency completes the application vetting process and, once you are approved, it will send you your Known Traveler Number (KTN) via mail. While the whole process takes only a few weeks, you can now check the status of your application online.

The application fee is $85, and it’s good for five years– so just $17 per year. Ask any TSA Pre✓® member and they’ll tell you that it’s money well spent!

Disclosure: Thank you for reading TravelSkills! We will periodically send out messages like this one from commercial partners about topics relevant to frequent travel.  Our sponsors’ support, and yours, help us keep TravelSkills a free publication. 


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Briefs: New Virgin planes, Delta PJs, MileagePlus store, JetBlue’s app

Virgin America's new Airbus A321neos will hold 24 percent more passengers than its A320s. (Image: Airbus)_

Virgin America’s new Airbus A321neos will hold 24 percent more passengers than its A320s. (Image: Airbus)

Virgin America is ordering some new, larger aircraft; Delta is offering free pajama/lounge suits to some long-haul passengers; United MileagePlus members can shop with miles in a real store; and JetBlue has a new and improved version of its app.

With a fleet that has always relied on Airbus A319s and A320s, Virgin America announced it is moving on up to the next-generation Airbus A321neo. The carrier has initially ordered 10 of the next-generation planes for delivery starting in early 2017. Besides reducing fuel burn by 20 percent compared with the current Virgin fleet, the A321neos will be have a greater passenger capacity thanks to a longer fuselage. The Virgin configuration will hold 185 seats, about 24 percent more than its current A320 models.

Delta's new front cabin loungewear only comes in gray. (Image: Delta)

Delta’s new front cabin loungewear only comes in gray. (Image: Delta)

Delta has a new amenity for passengers traveling in the Delta One cabin on flights from Los Angeles to Sydney and Shanghai: In-flight sleepwear/loungewear, so you don’t have to get your nice clothes all wrinkled on those ultra-long trips. The unisex cotton loungewear only comes in gray, with a choice of two sizes: small/medium or large/extra large. They’re available now on the LAX-Sydney and LAX-Shanghai flights, and will be introduced in March 2016 on all Delta flights between the U.S. and China, including Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing.

United's Miles Store at Newark Terminal C.(Image: OTG)

United’s Miles Store at Newark Terminal C.(Image: OTG)

Don’t have time for holiday shopping? If you’re a United MileagePlus member, you can shop and pay for your purchases with miles at an actual retail store during this holiday season. United’s new Miles Shop, created by airport restaurant and retail specialist OTG, is in Terminal C at United’s Newark hub. A variety of gifts and electronics are on the shelves, including luggage, headphones, books, travel kits and power adapters, as well as kids’ toys and clothes. Items are prices from 600 to 50,000 miles. If you pay the old-fashioned way (i.e., cash or credit), you’ll earn 5 miles per dollar spent.

JetBlue said that its iPhone and Android apps have been improved: Customers can now use the apps to select and change seat assignments after check-in, buy ‘Even More Space’ seats and other ancillary services, cancel a check-in for rebooking, and use the phone’s camera to input credit card and passport information. JetBlue also released a new app for the iPad, designed for its larger screen. Besides accessing the usual customer service functions, iPad users can also use the new app to browse through destination guides for many of JetBlue’s 93 destinations.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  New Oakland-London route + Big hotel acquisition + Uber at Las Vegas McCarran + American’s international Premium Economy service + Healthy eating for travelers

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Uber gets OK to pick up at Las Vegas McCarran

Uber pick-ups are now legal at Las Vegas McCarran. (Image: Jim Glab)

Uber pick-ups are now legal at Las Vegas McCarran. (Image: Jim Glab)

After several weeks of back-and-forth with the Clark County Commission, which oversees Nevada’s Las Vegas McCarran Airport,  UberX drivers this week finally got clearance to begin passenger pick-ups at the airport effective immediately.

Competitor Lyft had reached agreement with regulators earlier, and began to serve the airport last month.

Some Uber drivers apparently took matters into their own hands before the agreement was reached, according to the Las Vegas Sun; the newspaper said that by December 1, airport authorities had issued some 1,600 tickets to Uber drivers for unauthorized rides at McCarran.

It’s another big win in airport access for the ride-sharing apps, which are steadily adding more legal authority to pick up arriving passengers. Last month, they started pick-ups at Chicago’s busy O’Hare and Midway airports.

At Raleigh-Durham International Airport, officials are expected to formally approve an agreement next week that will permit ride-sharing pick-ups, although according to the Triangle Business Journal, those drivers have already started making pick-ups there, using special zones dedicated to their services.

In Atlanta, an Uber official told local station WABE that the company has started car-pool pickups at Hartsfield-Jackson International — a service it calls uberPOOL — even though the airport still does not allow any Uber pick-ups there. Uber will also offer the uberPOOL service in downtown Atlanta, Midtown, and Buckhead.

Uber is testing a light bar that makes its cars easy to find. (Image: Uber)

Uber is testing a light bar that makes its cars easy to find. (Image: Uber)

In other news, the Washington Post reports that Uber has started testing a new feature in the Seattle market: a colored light in the windshield that will help passengers find the Uber car that has come to pick them up. An enhanced app lets the passenger select a color while he’s waiting for pick-up and the approaching driver activates the light in the windshield to glow in that same color, making it easy to spot in areas with lots of traffic.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: 5 ways to save using Uber/Lyft  + New overseas plan from Verizon + Trans-Pac fare war?

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Lovely new lounges; Seattle, Orlando, Hong Kong

Orlando's new Club at MCO is open to all n a day pass basis. (Image: Airport Lounge Development)

Orlando’s new Club at MCO is open to all on a day pass basis. (Image: Airport Lounge Development)

Delta plans a second Sky Club to serve its growing Seattle operations; a new independent lounge opens its doors at Orlando International; and the SkyTeam global alliance cuts the ribbon on a new Hong Kong facility.

Delta unveiled plans to develop a second Sky Club lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, with opening tentatively set for late next year. The airline said the 21,000 square foot facility — one of its five largest systemwide — will be located between Concourses A and B, offering views of the runways and of Mount Rainier in the distance. Every seat in the lounge will have power outlets nearby, and the facility will offer “a unique spa space” and a rotating selection of art from local galleries. Free menu selections will focus on local cuisine.

At Orlando International Airport, there’s a new 8,000 square foot private passenger lounge open to anyone on a pay-as-you-go basis. Called The Club at MCO, it’s the 11th airport facility created by Airport Lounge Development, Inc. Day passes cost $35, and the club is also available to members of the Priority Pass, Priority Pass Select and Lounge Club membership programs. Located at Airside 4 near Gate 91, the lounge has a Productivity Zone with a laptop bar, printer, and two private rooms for conferences calls; restrooms with showers; a children’s zone; high-speed Wi-Fi; bar service; and a selection of free snacks and beverages.

The new SkyTeam loun ge at Hong Kong's airport is anything but dark. (Image: SkyTeam)

The new SkyTeam lounge at Hong Kong’s airport is anything but dark. (Image: SkyTeam)

The SkyTeam global alliance — Delta, Air France/KLM, China Eastern, China Southern, China Airlines etc. — has opened a new premium lounge for all its member carriers at Hong Kong International Airport. Called the SkyTeam Exclusive Lounge, it’s in Terminal 1, open from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. Amenities include a noodle bar with cooked-to-order dishes; a yoga room; charging stations for electronic devices; free Wi-Fi; showers and a bar. The lounge can seat up to 230 persons, and it’s available to first and business class travelers and Elite Plus members of the 12 SkyTeam airlines that serve the airport.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: 5 ways to save using Uber/Lyft  + New overseas plan from Verizon + Trans-Pac fare war?

 

 


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First look: Westin at Denver International Airport (photos)

The new Westin at Denver's airport is a short walk from the terminal. (Image: Jim Glab)

The new Westin at Denver’s airport is a short walk from the terminal. (Image: Jim Glab)

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock cut the ribbon this week on the striking, wing-shaped Westin Denver International Airport Hotel, the first of a new wave of premium on-site lodging options in the works at key U.S. airports.

The 519-room, 35-suite Westin is only about 30 yards from the south doors of the  airport’s Jeppesen Terminal, an easy walk across an open plaza under a soaring glass canopy. In fact, the design theme of the property seems to be big, sweeping curves and huge windows.

Check-in desks and lobby bar are on the sixth floor. (Image: Jim Glab)

Check-in desks and lobby bar are on the sixth floor. (Image: Jim Glab)

Andy Cohen, CEO of the architectural firm Gensler that designed the hotel, said the Westin offers “a new paradigm of seamless travel,” since it combines airport terminal, lodging and ground transportation in a single project.

The airport’s new Transit Center, which is still under construction, lies directly beneath the hotel. When it opens in April 2016, it will provide light rail service into downtown Denver‘s Union Station (a 23-mile trip), as well as parking gates for regional bus service.

The airport's new transit center is right under the hotel. (Image: Jim Glab)

The airport’s new transit center and light rail station are right under the hotel. (Image: Jim Glab)

Before the Westin opened, the only lodging for travelers was a few miles away — a string of mid-priced chain properties along Tower Road. Besides offering airport on-site lodging, the Westin also has a 37,500-square foot conference center, an all-day restaurant called Grill & Vine (with a brewpub coming soon as well), a lobby bar, and fitness facilities on the 11th floor including a pool and hot tub and a workout room.

What about rates? The front desk staff at the hotel tells us that room prices can vary considerably, depending on the level of demand. The lowest prices start around $185 a night, but they could soar to $500 or more — although they will generally be somewhere in between those extremes.  As a grand opening special, the hotel is offering 11 percent off best available rates plus 1,000 bonus SPG Starpoints per stay. (And by the way: Since this hotel is so close to the airport, we should note that all rooms and windows are thoroughly soundproofed.)

TravelSkills attended the grand opening, so here’s a look at some more of the hotel’s facilities:

All guest rooms have Westin's signature Heavenly Beds. (Image: Jim Glab)

All guest rooms have Westin’s signature Heavenly Beds. (Image: Jim Glab)

 

There's a pool and hot tub on the 11th floor. (Image: Jim Glab)

A pool and hot tub are on the 11th floor. (Image: Jim Glab)

 

Conference facilities allow same-day, fly-in/fly-out meetings. (Image: Jim Glab)

Conference facilities allow same-day, fly-in/fly-out meetings. (Image: Jim Glab)

 

Treadmills in the fitness room face the terminal's iconic rooftop. (Image: Jim Glab)

Treadmills in the fitness room face the airport terminal’s iconic rooftop. (Image: Jim Glab)

 

The Grill & Vine restaurant faces the Jeppsen Terminal. (Image; Jim Glab)

The Grill & Vine restaurant faces the Jeppsen Terminal. (Image: Jim Glab)

 

The walk from hotel to terminal is across a plaza under a soaring glass canopy. (Image: Jim Glab)

The walk from hotel to terminal is across a plaza under a soaring glass canopy. (Image: Jim Glab)

Hotel website here. 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: 5 ways to save using Uber/Lyft  + New overseas plan from Verizon + Trans-Pac fare war?

 

 


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Stunning new airport designs: FRA, SLC, PDX (images)

Expansive check-in hall at Frankfurt Airport's new Terminal 3. (Image: Fraport)

Expansive check-in hall at Frankfurt Airport’s new Terminal 3. (Image: Fraport)

As air travel keeps growing, airports must expand to keep pace with the traffic. The most recent new airport designs include Germany’s Frankfurt Airport which this month started construction on a new Terminal 3; Salt Lake City released renderings of the ongoing massive overhaul of its airport; and Portland will add a new wing to one of its terminals.

Frankfurt

Exterior of Frankfurt's Terminal 3. (Image: Fraport)

Exterior of Frankfurt’s Terminal 3. (Image: Fraport)

Marketplace at Frankfurt's new Terminal 3. (Image: Fraport)

Marketplace at Frankfurt’s new Terminal 3. (Image: Fraport)

Officials in Germany this month held a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction on Frankfurt Airport’s big Terminal 3 complex — a project that will take years to complete. The first phase of construction, which won’t be finished until 2022, includes the main terminal building and two piers of aircraft gates (designated Piers H and J) that can handle up to 14 million passengers a year. (Officials of Fraport, the airport’s owning company, noted that the passenger capacity of the existing terminals 1 and 2 will soon be exceeded due to continuing traffic growth.)  In the future, the airport will be able to add another two piers to increase T3’s capacity to 25 million passengers. The new facility will be linked to the existing terminals with a new SkyLine people-mover system.

Salt Lake City

Rendering of central plaza in Salt Lake City Airport's new terminal. (Image: HOK Architects)

Rendering of central plaza in Salt Lake City Airport’s new terminal. (Image: HOK Architects)

Salt Lake City's new terminal will have plenty of huge windows. (Image: HOK Architects)

Salt Lake City’s new terminal will have plenty of huge windows. (Image: HOK Architects)

Sweeping roadway approaches to Salt Lake City's new terminal. (Image: HOK Architects)

Sweeping roadway approaches to Salt Lake City’s new terminal. (Image: HOK Architects)

The firms handling design and construction of the new terminal at Salt Lake City International Airport have released renderings of what the finished project will look like. Preliminary work started last year, and the terminal won’t be finished until 2020. The three existing terminal buildings will be consolidated into a $1.8 billion, three-story terminal building and 4,000-foot-long linear concourse will include 75 new gates, moving walkways, and new shopping, dining and parking areas.

Check out a video fly-through of the new terminal here.

Portland

External view of Portland Airport's Concourse E expansion. (Image: Portland Airport)

External view of Portland Airport’s Concourse E expansion. (Image: Portland Airport)

In January 2016, Portland International Airport in Oregon will begin work on a $98 million, 44,000 square foot expansion of Concourse E on the north side of the terminal, adding new gates and food-and-beverage outlets. When it’s finished, Alaska Airlines will move from concourse space south of the terminal to the newly expanded north side, and United will do the reverse. In the months ahead, Portland will also redesign its security checkpoints, and overhaul the ticket lobby and baggage claim areas.

Interior space at Portland's expanded Concourse E. (Image: Portland Airport)

Interior space at Portland’s expanded Concourse E. (Image: Portland Airport)

What do you think is the most beautiful airport in the world? Why do you think so? Please leave your comments below.

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This new car rental idea will disrupt

Skurt is trying a new app-based model fro car rentals. (Image: Skurt)

Skurt is trying a new app-based model for car rentals. (Image: Skurt)

It’s not new for rental car companies to offer a car delivery or customer pick-up service, but it may involve a trip back to their office to handle the paperwork. Now a new entrant in the business is offering a no-paperwork, app-based service that lets renters go directly from the airport terminal into the driver’s seat with no intermediate stops.

It’s called Skurt (www.skurtapp.com), and the only airport where it’s currently available is Los Angeles International. The company recently secured $1.3 million in venture capital financing, and it is targeting San Francisco International as its next location.

Here’s how it works:  When a customer who has booked a car with the app arrives at his destination airport, a company rep will be waiting in the arrivals area holding up a sign with the renter’s name on it, and will take the customer right to the car nearby and hand him the keys. To return the car, the customer drives to Skurt’s LAX location near the airport entrance to pick up a rep who will ride back to the terminal with them and take the car from there.

The company said customers can use their phone to scan the barcode on the back of their driver’s license, verifying their eligibility to rent; the license information is stored, making it easier to book additional rentals in the future.  The minimum age requirement is 21, and Skurt promises roadside assistance if necessary. The Skurt app is currently available only for iPhones.

Skurt doesn’t own its own fleet. Instead, “We currently partner with independent rental car companies to help maximize overall fleet utilization. Our partners consider it another distribution platform for them which allows them to earn on units sitting without potentially affecting their brand,” said Skurt co-founder John Mangel on the website Producthunt.com, which highlights new and innovative companies.

Would you use an app like this to avoid that pain point of a business trip between your airplane seat and your car seat? Please leave your comments below. 

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Big inside-the-airport hotels coming soon at DEN, JFK, SFO

The new Westin at Denver International opens this fall. (Image: Westin)

The new Westin at Denver International opens this fall. (Image: Westin)

If an “airport hotel” is a few miles away from the terminals, is it really an airport hotel?  Maybe so, but it can’t compare with a location right on the airport grounds, especially at large airports — like the Hilton at Chicago O’Hare, or the two Hyatts at Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Not many of these have been built in recent years, but three of them are in the works at some of the nation’s busiest airports — Denver, New York JFK and San Francisco.

The first to open will be the new Westin at Denver International Airport, due to start accepting guests on November 19.  If you’ve passed through the airport recently, you must have noticed the big, curvey, greenish-blue building at the south end of the main terminal. The Westin has 519 rooms including 35 suites, all thoroughly soundproofed. The same structure accommodates the airport’s new Transit Center, which will be the terminus for the light rail line that starts carrying passengers next spring. The trains will run every 15 minutes on a 35-minute ride linking the airport with Union Station in downtown Denver. The hotel has a fitness studio, indoor pool and multiple dining venues. Rates start around $229.

The classic TWA terminal at New York JFK will serve as public areas for a new hotel. (Image: DmItry Avdeev/Wikiimedia Commons)

The classic TWA terminal at New York JFK will provide the public areas for a new hotel. (Image: Dmitry Avdeev/Wikiimedia Commons)

In New York, the Port Authority and Governor Andrew Cuomo have just given approval to a lease deal on the old TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport that will permit the construction of a 505-room hotel on the site with 40,000 square feet of meeting space and at least half a dozen restaurants. It will be built by a partnership of JetBlue Airways and MCR Development, and the original Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal building — with sweeping curves and huge windows — will serve as the lobby. To be called the TWA Flight Center Hotel and due to open in 2018, it will be the only hotel on the grounds of JFK. It’s connected to JetBlue’s Terminal 5, and it will boast a 10,000 square foot observation deck for planespotters.

Artist't renderign of the new hotel coming to San Francisco International. (Image: San Francisco Airport)

Artist’s rendering of the new hotel coming to San Francisco International. (Image: San Francisco Airport)

Officials in San Francisco are about to close the bidding for construction of a four-star hotel on the grounds of San Francisco International that will be owned by the airport but operated by a private company yet to be selected. Also aiming at a 2018 completion date, the hotel will have 350 rooms, a restaurant, wine and sushi bar, casual cafe, rooftop cocktail lounge, health club, pool and spa. Located near the entrance to the airport, it will be linked to an AirTrain station for easy access to the terminals. The building site — at South McDonnell Road, Interstate 101 and the off-ramp from the interstate to the airport — was previously occupied by a Hilton that was demolished 20 years ago prior to construction of SFO’s new international terminal.

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UberX, Lyft at LAX finally gets green light

Uber and Lyft will soon start picking up passengers at Los Angeles International. (Image: NTSB)

Uber and Lyft will soon start picking up passengers at Los Angeles International. (Image: NTSB)

Los Angeles International Airport will become the largest in the country to allow passenger pick-ups by ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft following a final vote of approval this week by the Los Angeles City Council. Uber still has to apply for a permit under new rules and while no firm start date has been set,  service could commence “in coming weeks.” 

Earlier, the ride-sharing services were expected to start full operation at LAX in August, but that was pushed back after the city council got involved.

SNEAK PEEK! New Delta Sky Club at SFO (PHOTOS)

Once LAX officials finalize operating contracts with the companies, the pick-ups could begin within a matter of weeks. A ride from LAX to downtown that costs $50 in a licensed taxi is expected to run about $30 in an UberX or Lyft car — or more in periods of peak demand, according to the Los Angeles Times.

There was some uneasiness among city council members about the qualifications — or lack of qualifications — required of ride-share drivers, so the council will ask the state’s Public Utilities Commission to demand fingerprinting and background checks of all for-hire drivers.

Uber and Lyft would be also required to pay the airport a $4 fee for each pick-up and drop-off at LAX; drivers will have to do both on the airport’s upper departure level, and will have to wait in a specified holding area until they are summoned by a customer.

 

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Delta seeks California – NY LaGuardia nonstops

Soaring glass ceiling will link portions of the terminal and a new hotel. (Image: New York Governor's Office)

Soaring glass ceilings will link portions of the new LaGuardia terminal and a new hotel. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)

With New York now officially on the way to starting a massive reconstruction of LaGuardia Airport, there is speculation that one of the major partners in that project — Delta Air Lines — might be expecting to get something in return, like an agreement by state officials to lift the 30-year-old “perimeter rule” that limits flights out of LGA to no more than 1,500 miles. 

If that happens, it would open the door to non-stop flights from LaGuardia to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle, among other cities.

As the $4.3 billion redevelopment of LGA proceeds over the next several years, Delta will make a substantial investment in improving its own terminals there. Delta controls about 40 percent of the flights out of LaGuardia, while American has 28 percent. In the new design, Delta’s Terminals C and D would be linked to a new central arrivals hall as the separate parts of LaGuardia are combined into a single modernistic structure.

In announcing the redevelopment plan, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo even said that without the participation of Delta, the project wouldn’t be happening.

Even before the LaGuardia announcement, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had started to investigate whether its LGA perimeter rule should remain in effect; and now the thinking seems to be that with a brand new airport close to Manhattan, New York should also adopt a new outlook toward airline service there.

Delta tried to advance that thinking in a recent letter it sent to New York officials, arguing that everyone — especially business travelers — would benefit from a LaGuardia that could offer flights across the country. (American Airlines also is on record backing an end to the perimeter rule, saying it would add transcontinental flights at LGA if it could.)

In its letter, Delta noted that lifting the perimeter rule is “especially important for business travel.” The airline said more than a third of the corporate domestic travel spending in the New York area is to destinations outside the 1,500-mile limit. That percentage is even higher for some key industries, Delta said, like media/entertainment (55 percent) and banking/finance (38 percent).

To answer the concerns of politicians from upstate New York, Delta pledged that if the perimeter rule goes away, “no small city will lose service to New York City…We remain fully committed to our current service to upstate.”

Delta’s letter cited the examples of Washington Reagan National’s partial lifting of its flight distance limits, citing studies showing that growth there “did not come at the expense of BWI or Dulles airports,” and that keeping a perimeter rule would “contribute to the underutilization of slots.” The airline also predicted similar benefits for Texas from the recent lifting of the Wright Amendment restrictions at Dallas Love Field.

Delta said with three airports serving New York City, lifting the perimeter rule at slot-constrained LGA “would simply allow the airlines to take the same number of daily slots at each airport and allocate those slots to the airport that best serves true demand. And most importantly, passengers would have the freedom to decide their preferred airport.”

 

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First look at the new $4 billion LaGuardia (photos)

The new LaGuardia will replace separate terminals with a unified structure. (Image: New York Governor's Office)

The new LaGuardia will replace separate terminals with a unified structure. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Vice President Joe Biden and other officials were in New York City Monday to officially unveil plans for the complete reconstruction of the city’s cramped, aging LaGuardia Airport, with construction due to start next year.

The multibillion-dollar project will involve the gradual demolition of the existing separate terminals and gate areas, and their replacement with a single modernistic structure. The new terminal will be linked to new gate areas by passenger bridges, and it will be 600 feet closer to the Grand Central Parkway than the existing Central Terminal, allowing more room for aircraft operations.

The governor’s office released several artists’ renderings of what the new LaGuardia will look like (see below).

Plans also call for the development of an AirTrain system to link the airport to Manhattan; a ferry terminal so passengers can travel to and from the city by boat; new terminal roadways; and a hotel/conference center. Security checkpoint areas will be three times their current size, and food and beverage concessions will be expanded.

Although the finished product will be on the same site as the existing LaGuardia, it will essentially be an entirely new airport, officials said — the first one to be built in the U.S. since 9/11.

Officials have said previously that the airport will remain open and operating during the construction, although it is likely to cause some inconveniences for travelers as it progresses. Officials hope to break ground on the project next year, and it could take 2-3 years to complete.

Taxpayers and the private sector are expected to split the cost of the $4 billion reconstruction. Cuomo said that Biden — who last year called LaGuardia a “third world” facility — has been instrumental in speeding up regulatory approvals for the new LaGuardia project. Here’s a link to a video of Cuomo’s remarks.

LaGuardia's new terminal will be much closer to the Grand Central Parkway. (Image: New York Governor's Office)

LaGuardia’s new terminal will be much closer to the Grand Central Parkway. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)

Soaring glass ceiling will link portions of the terminal and a new hotel. (Image: New York Governor's Office)

Soaring glass ceilings will link portions of the terminal and a new hotel. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)

A LaGuardia ferry terminal will permit quick boat rides for passengers into the city. (Image: New York Governor's Office)

A LaGuardia ferry terminal will permit quick boat rides for passengers into the city. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)

Bridges linking the terminal to gate areas will allow more room for aircraft movements on the tarmac. (Image: New York Governor's Office)

Bridges linking the terminal to gate areas will allow more room for aircraft movements on the tarmac. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)

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UberX, Lyft cleared for pick-ups at LAX

Uber and Lyft pick-ups at LAX could start soon. (Image: Thomas Hawk/Flickr)

Uber and Lyft pick-ups at LAX could start soon. (Image: Thomas Hawk/Flickr)

Ride-sharing services won a big victory this week when Los Angeles officials agreed to let the UberX and Lyft pick up passengers at Los Angeles International, the largest airport yet to grant such rights. (Until now, only pricey UberBLACK cars were allowed to pick up at LAX.)

But that victory came just a day after a potentially big legal setback for Uber that could see its operating rights suspended in California.

LAX airport commissioners gave a go-ahead to the ride-sharing apps in spite of the usual solid opposition from local taxi, shuttle and limo operators. According to the Los Angeles Times, an UberX ride from LAX to downtown would cost about $30 during times of low demand — although that could rise due to Uber’s dynamic pricing model — vs. about $50 for a traditional taxi.

Before the pickups can start in August, the ride-sharing companies have to connect their apps to a digital service that alerts the airport to Uber and Lyft vehicle arrivals at the airport, because the agreement requires them to pay a $4 fee for each pick-up and drop-off.

A day before the airport’s approval was announced, a judge at California’s Public Utilities Commission recommended that Uber should pay a $7.3 million fine and have its operations suspended in the state.

The commission’s administrative law judge said Uber is in violation of a 2013 law that authorized the ride-sharing companies because it has not submitted data required by the state. The rules require ride-sharing companies to provide lots of information about its business, including zip codes where riders were picked up, fares paid, dates and times of rides and so on.

Uber is expected to appeal the ruling, a process that could take months to sort out. So you’ll still be able to get your ride on… at least for now.

LAX is the third in a string of recent ridesharing victories in California where UberX and Lyft are now able to pick up and drop off at SFO, San Diego as well as LAX.

UPDATE: Sounds like LA officials might be getting cold feet about all this. So be sure to check with your rideshare before you arrive at LAX.

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Atlanta airport’s exclusive new lounge (photos)

USO ATL

Atlanta’s newest lounge is available to a select few (Image: Atlanta Airport / Vimeo)

Atlanta’s newly refurbished USO lounge is open to active duty military and their families, only. The 3,200 square foot lounge on the third floor of the main terminal atrium (pre-security) has been in the works for about a year.

An Atlanta Business Chronicle reporter attended the grand opening and wrote that the new lounge “now includes a food and beverage hospitality suite, a Skype-only dedicated computer for video conferencing, ample electrical outlets, and furniture upgrades on par with airline clubs throughout the airport.” See full slideshow of the lounge here

USO ATL

A nice place to kick back and soak up some American TV before deployment (Photo: Atlanta Airport / Vimeo)

ATL USO

Plenty of space to relax and get in a few emails on the way out or on the way back from deployment (Photo: Atlanta Airport / Vimeo)

ATL USO

The kiddie play area looks as nice as the ones we’ve recently seen at American Express Centurion Lounges. (Photo: Atlanta Airport / Vimeo)

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Are you a passenger with priority? See this

Like this Skyteam project, the Oneworld alliance is adding airport signs to steer elite members to their benefits. (Image: Skyteam)

Like this Skyteam SkyPriority project, the Oneworld alliance is adding airport signs to steer elite members to their benefits. (Image: Skyteam)

Taking a page from Skyteam’s book, the Oneworld global alliance has kicked off a new branding and airport signage project to let frequent travelers know where the group’s benefits are available to them.

Although not as large and prominent as the Skyteam displays, the Oneworld effort will highlight the group’s logo and display the word “Priority” along with color-coded symbols representing Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby status, as appropriate for the benefit available at that point.

Don’t miss today’s other TravelSkills post> Trip Report: A heaping helping of SWISS inflight food

The Star Alliance has been rolling out a similar signage program called Gold Track this year, which helps members find their way to shorter, exclusive security lines. SkyTeam’s SkyPriority led the way in this effort, and says that it’s signage is now “at 1,000 airports across the globe.” (1,000 airports? Hmm. But anyway…)

oneworld

The first Oneworld signs went up in Perth, Australia’s airport, to be followed in August by Sydney, Melbourne, Berlin Tegel and Dusseldorf. Various U.S. gateways will get the treatment in September, and Oneworld promises that it will complete the project in 125 of the top business travel airports worldwide within a year.

Elite-tier benefits, depending on the traveler’s level, include things like priority check-in desks, security fast-track lanes, access to airport lounges, and priority boarding.

“Identifying where to take advantage of those privileges in often cluttered airport environments, particularly in unfamiliar surroundings, can sometimes be a challenge, even for the most frequent traveler,” said Oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby. “The new Oneworld Priority signage is designed to overcome that.”

The Oneworld alliance includes American Airlines, Qantas, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and others.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: San Francisco hotels NOT most expensive + New Centurion lounge opens + Planespotting 101: Airbus + Pay to join loyalty programs? + More!


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New runway hasn’t reduced O’Hare delays

A new runway hasn't reduced delays at Chicago O'Hare. (Image: Adam Fagen/Flickr)

A new runway hasn’t reduced delays at Chicago O’Hare. (Image: Adam Fagen/Flickr)

The conventional wisdom has always been that big airports could make flight operations run more efficiently and on-time by adding a runway. But the Associated Press studied flight statistics for Chicago O’Hare, which opened a new runway in fall of 2013, and found that the opposite was true.

The new AP analysis found that from the time the airport’s newest runway opened in October 2013 through March 2015, departure delays at ORD totaled 28 percent of all flights, up from 22 percent over the previous five years; and arrivals delays rose from 20 percent to 26 percent.

Before O’Hare’s eighth runway (10C/28C) opened, planners had promised that it would reduce delays, benefiting travelers nationwide since O’Hare is a bottleneck for a large part of the aviation system.

“The poor results raise the prospect that the complexity and enormity of O’Hare, combined with its vulnerability to problems originating elsewhere in the nation’s air system, will sometimes swamp whatever performance gains come from the more efficient design,” AP said.

The increase in flight delays happened even though the number of takeoffs and landings at O’Hare have decreased by 110,000 from 2004 to 2014, the article noted.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Delta adds more widebody transcons + Cute new Centurion Lounge opens + Planespotting 101: Airbus + Cool gasoline price heat map + More!


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Atlanta airport to get half-billion dollar facelift

Rendering of proposed new atrium at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. (Image: City of Atlanta)

Rendering of proposed new main terminal atrium at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. (Image: City of Atlanta)

We’ve always thought that Atlanta’s sprawling Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport airport looks and works a lot like a Xerox machine- not too pretty, but efficient, reliable and easy to understand.

But this week airport officials announced plans to spend nearly half a billion dollars to overhaul the main domestic terminal and concourses T, A, B, C and D.

From what we’ve seen, it appears that the entire airport will eventually look a lot like the new International concourse F with plenty of smooth lines and more light.

Lots of light and designer touches inside ATL's new Terminal F (Chris McGinnis)

Lots of light and designer touches inside ATL’s new Terminal F (Chris McGinnis)

The airport is currently asking for bids from companies that can do the work (now estimated at $430 million now, but you know what that means…), which will make the facilities brighter and airier, with larger windows and an airport atrium in the main terminal that offers lots of live plants and trees.

Besides the modernization, the project will also include the replacement of about half the existing jetways.

The three-year project is not expected to mean any disruptions for travelers or flight operations.

Below is a look at some more renderings of the remade facility. What do you think? Does the airport really need a makeover or does its current utilitarian look and feel work for you? 

The new baggage claim area. (Image: City of Atlanta)

The new baggage claim area. (Image: City of Atlanta)

The terminal's new and improved ticketing area. (Image: City of Atlanta)

A new and improved ticketing area. (Image: City of Atlanta)

Curbside at the revamped domestic terminal. (Image: City of Atlanta)

Curbside at the revamped domestic terminal includes a canopy. (Image: City of Atlanta)

What do you think? Does the airport really need a makeover or does its current utilitarian look and feel work for you?

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How to get free airport parking

Flight Car

FlightCar is now operating at 14 airports in the US (Photo: FlightCar)

Parking at the airport is a pain. And an expensive pain at that! How would you like to avoid it, and maybe even make a little money instead of spending it during the peak summer travel season?

If your car is less than 13 years old and has fewer than 150,000 miles, here’s what you can do:

Two years ago, three college kids created FlightCar, which now operates at 14 airports across the US– up from just three when we wrote about it last year. The company now has more than 70,000 members and employs 120.

Current FlightCar airport locations

Current FlightCar airport locations

The basic idea behind FlightCar is this: Instead of driving to an airport parking lot and paying to park your car, you drop it off at the nearby FlightCar lot instead.

While you are away, FlightCar will try to rent your car to an inbound traveler. If it does, you’ll get paid. If it does not, you’ll get free parking and a free car wash! How does that sound?

Here’s how it works.

First, you’ll make a parking reservation online by filling in some basic information about your departure/return dates and your car.

On the day of your trip, you’ll drive your car to the FlightCar parking lot near the airport. There they’ll make copies of your proof of insurance and title, and a black car will drive you to the airport.

Back at the lot, FlightCar posts your car for rent on its website. You’ll receive an email advising you whenever your car is rented.

When you fly back, you call for for an airport pickup back to the lot.

If your car was rented while you were away, you are notified that you will receive a check in the mail based on the number of miles your car was driven, in addition to your car’s age, make and model. Since most rented cars are driven less than 40 miles, the bulk of the money you’ll make doesn’t come from rental fees, it comes from not having to pay for airport parking.  If your car was not rented, well, then as always–Parking is absolutely free, as is the mandatory car wash.

Here’s a video that describes how it all works.

For this post we are only highlighting the parking side of the program, but if you’re on a tight budget, you might also look into the rental side of things— FlightCar rentals can cost half as much as you’d pay for a standard rental car.

Another company called Relay Rides offers a similar rental service, as well as airport parking at LAX and SFO.

Certainly, if you have a new or expensive car that you don’t want a stranger driving, FlightCar is not for you. But for some others, it can be a viable option.

Have you tried FlightCar? Would you? 

.

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O’Hare’s big new construction project

Artist's rendering of O'Hare's big new consolidated rental car facility. (Image: Chicago Dept. of Aviation)

Artist’s rendering of O’Hare’s big new consolidated rental car facility. (Image: Chicago Dept. of Aviation)

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other city officials gathered at O’Hare Airport last week to break ground on the facility’s biggest new construction project in years: a consolidated rental car facility.

The $782 million project includes not only the 4.5 million square foot building — on the northeast side of the airport property near the intersection of Mannheim Road and Zemke Road — but also an extension of O’Hare’s Airport Transit System to connect it to the passenger terminals.

Spacious lobby at the planned rental center. (Image: Chicago Dept. of Aviation)

Spacious lobby at the planned rental center. (Image: Chicago Dept. of Aviation)

The building will contain all rental company facilities, from check-in counters and back offices to parking for 4,200 rental vehicles. It will also have 2,600 public parking spaces. With no more need for shuttle vans, airport officials estimate the new rental center will eliminate 1.3 million vehicle trips per year through the terminal roadways after it is finished in 2018.

Three easy ways to snag 50,000 miles this month!

O’Hare is a little behind the curve in this area; consolidated rental car centers have been all the rage at major U.S. airports for the past decade or so, and they continue to spread — e.g., Charlotte just opened one this spring. O’Hare smaller sister airport, Midway, has had a consolidated rental facility since 2013.

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Toronto opens airport-downtown rail link

Toronto's new downtown-airport rail link takes 25 minutes. (Image: Union Pearson Express)

Toronto’s new downtown-airport rail link takes 25 minutes. (Image: Union Pearson Express)

Travelers to Toronto will have a new option for getting to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport starting June 6; that’s the starting date for passenger service on the Union Pearson Express.

The new rail link runs from Union Station in downtown Toronto to Terminal 1 at the airport via intermediate stops at the Bloor and Weston GO Transit stations.  Trains operate every 15 minutes, and the estimated travel time between Union Station and the airport is 25 minutes. Trains will be equipped with Wi-Fi and flight information screens.

The individual one-way fare is $27.50 — about half the taxi fare for an equivalent trip. Frequent users might want to take advantage of the PRESTO regional transportation card, which brings the cost of an airport-downtown trip down to $19. Tickets are available online or via mobile device at upexpress.com, or from vending machines at stations.

Entrance to the new express trains at Pearson Airport. (Image: Union Pearson Express)

Entrance to the new express trains at Pearson Airport. (Image: Union Pearson Express)

The decision to build the airport rail link was made in 2010, with plans to have it ready in time for Toronto’s hosting of the Pan Am Games, which will be held there this summer.

In the U.S., the next big airport-rail link is coming at Denver, running from Union Station downtown to Denver International. That one is due to start carrying passengers next year.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Airport smoking ban? + Trip Report: Aer Lingus + Terminal shuffle at Heathrow + More Uber at airports


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Uber progresses, one airport at a time

Airports are Uber's final frontier for passenger pick=-ups. (Image: Uber)

Airports are Uber’s final frontier for passenger pick-ups. (Image: Uber)

How do Uber drivers pick up their passengers at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport? Very carefully, as the old gag says.

That’s because it is still illegal for them to take on customers at Atlanta’s airport — and many other U.S. airports — and they risk getting a ticket if they are too open about it. But the drivers and their passengers have developed ways of getting around the ride-sharing police at ATL and other airports, according to a report in the New York Times.

Although many major airports have the same ride-sharing restriction as Atlanta, the article notes, Uber and other ride-sharing services are gradually making deals with airport authorities to gain access to their lucrative passenger markets.

In some cases that means rules and ordinances must be revised or rewritten, but more and more airports are “aware that the tidal wave of acceptance of the ride-hailing phenomenon will not recede,” the article says, so they’re willing to accommodate the new services.

Among the issues to be worked out is how airports can collect user fees from ride-sharing vehicles just as they do from licensed taxis, and where exactly the drivers from Uber and its rivals should park their cars while they wait for ride requests from incoming flyers.

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Extinguish airport smoking for good?

Atlanta's airport will stand by its smoking lounges. (Image: Grant Frederiksen/Flickr)

Atlanta’s airport will stand by its smelly smoking lounges. (Image: Grant Frederiksen/Flickr)

Fewer and fewer U.S. airports still offer special lounges where smokers can light up in a controlled environment, but Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International has apparently decided to stick with them in spite of a specific request from the U.S. Surgeon general.

According to Atlanta’s WXIA TV News, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently said in a tweet: “World’s busiest airport can be its healthiest. Make Atlanta Airport tobacco-free.”

But when the station talked to airport officials, they said they have no plans to eliminate ATL‘s 12 smoking lounges even though other major airports have done just that. The report said 28 of the nation’s 35 largest airports now ban all smoking in their terminals.

The Atlanta Airport smoking lounges were recently renovated, getting new ventilation systems, windows and flooring. Officials said as long as the smoke is contained within the lounges, it shouldn’t present a problem to other passengers. However a recent CDC study refutes that claim, and I know I get a several whiffs of second hand smoke when near the lounges.

WABE reports that Phillip Morris paid for the lounges initially, but that the City of Atlanta is responsible for maintaining them.

Should ATL and other airports get rid of smoking lounges… or not? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Largest hotel you’ll likely never visit + Delta accused + Starwood Hotels’ new tech touches + Southwest adds Oakland-Atlanta service


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United’s big plans for LAX (Photos)

Rendering of the terrace at the new United Club atop LAX's Terminal 7. (Image: United)

Rendering of the terrace at the new United Club atop LAX’s Terminal 7. (Image: United)

As part of an ongoing systemwide overhaul of United Airlines’ airport facilities, company executives hosted Los Angeles city officials this week to outline their plans for a $573 million renovation of the carrier’s public spaces at Los Angeles International Airport.

The two-year project will take in everything from a new ticketing lobby with new self-tagging baggage kiosks to an enhanced security screening area to redesigned gate areas to a new and expanded United Club on top of Terminal 7.

“United’s new-look terminals and gate areas will feature a modern design with relaxed and inviting spaces, including a variety of comfortable seating options and abundant charging stations for customers’ electronic devices,” a spokesman said.

United offered some renderings of what the finished product will look like.

Entrance to United's new security screening area at LAX. (Image: United)

Entrance to United’s new security screening area at LAX. (Image: United)

United's planned overhaul of its ticketing area. (Image: United)

United’s planned overhaul of its ticketing area. (Image: United)

New United bag claim area at LAX after renovations. (Image: United)

New United bag claim area at LAX after renovations. (Image: United)

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s brand new website breaks out + Chinese tourists on notice + Fast trains in Spain + United’s 787 Dreamliner plans + New Oneworld lounge at LAX +


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Global Entry comes to Oakland

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Economy class meals rated + New rules for travel to Cuba + Star Alliance adds fast lanes to security + New international air routes + Gogo speeds up Wi-Fi + Trip Report: Cathay Pacific 777

Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry kiosks speed up the arrivals process. (Image: CBP)

Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry kiosks speed up the arrivals process. (Image: CBP)

Oakland International Airport is the latest to add Customs & Border Protection’s Global Entry option for participating travelers.

The airport has installed two Global Entry kiosks in the international arrivals area.

Members of the CBP trusted traveler program can bypass the usual inspection lines and use a kiosk to complete the re-entry process, scanning their passport and fingerprints and answering Customs declaration questions. The kiosk prints out a receipt for presentation to a CBP officer and a quick exit from the area.

Port of Oakland officials said Global Entry has become increasingly important for the airport , which now handles up to 28 international flights a week– primarily from Mexico, but also including a Norwegian Air 787 nonstop that’s helped keep transatlantic fares from the Bay Area in check over the last year.

Global Entry members are also eligible for TSA‘s PreCheck program.

Do you have Global Entry? Is it the smartest $100 you’ve ever spent, or what? 🙂

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Economy class meals rated + New rules for travel to Cuba + Star Alliance adds fast lanes to security + New international air routes + Gogo speeds up Wi-Fi + Trip Report: Cathay Pacific 777


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Drenched in raw sewage at the airport- twice

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Ceiling pipes (Photo: Michael Coghlan / Flickr)

Ceiling pipes at airports in London and Atlanta break and spew raw sewage (Photo: Michael Coghlan / Flickr)

I remember reporting on a nasty incident at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 in 2012 where a sewage pipe broke in the ceiling of the baggage claim, contaminating a few hundred suitcases in the Terminal 5.

“The smell was absolutely foul, as was the mood of the passengers who had to leave without their bags,” one passenger told The Sun.

The airport had to send the bags out for professional cleaning before returning them to passengers.

Passengers with bags damaged or soiled beyond repair were paid up to $1600 per bag. Yuck! Imagine getting off a plane after a 12 hour journey and ready for a big meeting only to be told that you would not be getting your bag because it had been sprayed with sewage? Yikes!

That was in 2012.

This week yet another airport sewage-spewing incident emerged in a lawsuit.. this time it took place underneath the A Concourse at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport… at about the same time in 2012. 

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:

Delta Air Lines flight attendant Tina Brock was dozing in a sleep room in the flight attendants’ layover lounge at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport one morning when she and her colleagues heard a loud gushing sound and saw a cascade of liquid suddenly pouring through the ceiling tiles onto the floor.

As Brock got out of a recliner and scrambled to move her suitcase and other personal items from the area she realized it wasn’t water that was flowing down.

It was raw sewage, Brock says in a new lawsuit — urine and feces — and it wasn’t just soaking her things; it was getting all over her, too, splashing on her hair, face and mouth, and then completely dousing her.

Yikes! But it gets even worse…. The AJC reports that the flight attendants were stuck in the room where the sewage soon became about a foot deep. They reportedly hid in a closet where they began to gag and vomit due to the stench. They escaped by wrapping themselves in plastic bags.

Brock is now suing Atlanta Airlines Terminal Corporation, the body responsible for airport maintenance, for damages from the incident. In the days following the incident, the AJC reports that she became depressed and had the feeling of “bugs eating away at her skin” and is claiming severe psychological damage, PTSD and fear of crowded spaces at airports.

–Chris McGinnis

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Star Wars invade DEN + United’s new 50,000 mile bonus + Secret stash of hidden hotel deals + Big new carrier for ATL + Roomier widebodies on domestic flights! 

 


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UberX okay in LA by summer?

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Star Wars invade DEN + United’s new 50,000 mile bonus + Secret stash of hidden hotel deals + Big new carrier for ATL+ Roomier widebodies on domestic flights! 

(Photo: Jason Tester Guerilla / Flickr)

(Photo: Jason Tester Guerilla / Flickr)

Most Uber- or Lyft- loving frequent travelers know the silly drill when arriving at LAX: You get off the plane hoping to summon an UberX or Lyft ride, and you get a message stating “no cars available.”

At that point, you sigh and decide to pay the premium for UberBlack or SUV. Or pay a taxi $50 for a ride into town vs UberX or Lyft fares of about $30.

Or, like others, you jump on a hotel, rental car or parking lot shuttle, take a ride off airport grounds, and have your UberX pick you up there for your ride into town.

Deal: Get $20 off your first Uber ride!

The practice has become so common that companies providing shuttle services are now asking for proof that you have a reservation and are not freeloading.

All that may be coming to an end soon, though. Thankfully. Here’s what the LA Times is reporting today:

Screen Shot 2015-05-05 at 8.15.17 AM

Luckily in San Francisco, Portland and many other cities, airport officials have worked out a deal allowing UberX and Lyft to pick up passengers at at the airport. The deals require drivers to pay the airport a fee of around $4 for each pick up.

The hope is that LA can reproduce that- and soon. Let’s hope so!

Deal: Get $20 off your first Uber ride!

–Chris McGinnis

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Star Wars invade DEN + United’s new 50,000 mile bonus + Secret stash of hidden hotel deals + Big new carrier for ATL+ Roomier widebodies on domestic flights! 


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Coyotes (and other rare sights) on the runway

SFO

Fake, or decoy, coyotes are used to scare birds off the runway at SFO. JetSuites Phenom, too!  (Image: Chris McGinnis)

Last week when I was between the runways at SFO to watch and report on British Airways’s new A380 arrival, I spied upon several interesting things.

First off was this fake coyote located on a grass strip between the runways. It’s there to scare off birds and prevent bird strikes, which have been on the rise at Bay Area airports recently.

Have you ever seen this little fella? He (or she) is one of several located around the airfield.

Air traffic controllers who read TravelSkills report that pilots frequently spot the decoys, think they are the real thing, and then report them as runway hazards.

According to FAA data, there were 10,856 recorded birdstrikes nationwide in 2013. That’s almost double from 2003, just 10 years before (5,886 strikes), according to a report on NBC Bay Area news.

Then there was this big bird that buzzed over my shoulder! (See video)

Then there was this unusual sighting:

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways A340 at SFO- a rate bird indeed (Chris McGinnis)

Qatar Airways does not offer commercial flights to SFO, yet here was a big Airbus A340 parked over by the United hangar. While I have not been able to confirm this, rumor has it that a member of the Qatari royal family comes to San Francisco for periodic treatment at a local hospital. So the plane comes, and waits, for the royal to receive treatment, then flies home. An A340 typically holds about 300 passengers. But not this one! I wonder if any TravelSkills readers have the scoop on this plane?

–Chris McGinnis

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How to catch an earlier flight without paying a fee

Photo: Nick Harris / Flickr

Can you guess in which airport this photo was taken? Answer at the bottom of this post! (Photo: Nick Harris / Flickr)

Getting on an earlier flight can mean getting home in time to have dinner with your family, rather than a solo snack around midnight. If you are headed off on vacation, it means you might be able to make it to the beach in time to get some sun.

During normal airline operations, changing to an earlier flight will cost you, unless you’re an elite level frequent flyer or purchased a full-fare ticket. Arguing that it’s in the airline’s best interest to allow you on an earlier flight because it opens a seat that could be sold to others just won’t cut it. A request like that will elicit a very brief response that ends with, “NEXT IN LINE PLEASE.”

(This is a Blast from the Past post — one of last year’s most popular– making a reappearance on TravelSkills. Enjoy!)

There are two scenarios that can often lead to getting on an earlier flight, free. Your seat assignment may not be ideal but at least you’re on your way sooner. The key is finding and exploiting the fact that something bad is happening and it will cost the airline a lot less to put you on an earlier flight than staying with your current reservation. It requires a bit of on-the-spot research combined with a high-degree of diplomacy. You have a lot more options if you don’t check luggage.

First scenario: your missed connection.

Let’s say you’re in Sioux Falls with a ticket to Atlanta via Chicago O’Hare; your flight departs at noon and has a one hour connection in Chicago, arriving in Atlanta around 5:00 PM.

When you get to your gate at the Sioux Falls airport around 10:45 AM, you see that the early morning flight (on the same airline) was delayed, is still at the gate and departs in 15 minutes. Getting on this earlier flight would allow you to connect in Chicago and grab an earlier flight to Atlanta.

There are two things to do immediately: check the status of the aircraft that’s in route to Sioux Falls that will become your scheduled (noon) flight to Chicago. Don’t trust the airline’s monitors, check via FlightAware’s mobile app, it can track multiple legs of an inbound aircraft on many (but not all) airlines.

If your inbound flight is running late and there is a reasonable possibility of missing your ticketed connection from Chicago to Atlanta, it’s definitely in the airline’s interest to put you on the earlier flights (provided that a seat is available) especially if your scheduled flight from Chicago to Atlanta is the last flight of the day and/or oversold.

The same argument can be made even if you’re not making a connection but your incoming aircraft is running late. With justification, gate agents have the ability to waive fees. Your job now is to make them aware of your impending connection problem and how the airline can avoid it.

Did you miss: How to enjoy dining alone

Second scenario: other passenger’s missed connection.

You’re in San Francisco with a ticket on the last flight of the day to Seattle. However, there is an earlier flight and you’re at SFO in plenty of time to take it.

First thing to do is to see if there are available seats. You can ask an agent or log onto the airline’s mobile site and see if it’s possible to buy a one-way ticket (don’t abandon your effort even if shows full). It will also be very helpful to know if your ticketed flight is full or even oversold.

There are likely numerous other passengers en-route to San Francisco who are connecting to Seattle. Some of those inbound flights could be late or cancelled; gate agents can view the passengers whose inbound flights may not arrive in time. They’re called “miss-connects” and you want one of their seats! Approach the gate agent and ask about miss-connects and inform the agent that you’re on the later flight (it will be very helpful if your ticketed flight is full or oversold).

Putting you on the earlier flight allows the airline to accommodate the “miss-connects” onto your later flight without hassle or cost to anyone.

Gate agents: handle with care.

(Photo: dykstranet / Flickr)

(Photo: dykstranet / Flickr)

Gate agents are the most powerful people you will ever encounter when dealing with an airline.

They rarely hear good news; be especially nice to them. I find that asking for their help or advice with a bit of empathy or humor goes a long way toward success: “It looks like my noon flight is running late and my connection is in doubt, do you think it would be possible for me to take this earlier flight to Chicago and then the earlier one to New Orleans?”   or “Does it appear there’ll be any miss-connects for this earlier flight, I’d be very happy to open a seat for you on the later flight.”

Sometimes also mentioning that the earlier flight allows you to get home and see your family helps as well, empathy goes a long way. Gate agents have families too.

How often are you able to get gate agents to bend the rules and allow you to change flights without a fee? Please leave your comments below. 

-Bob Cowen

PHOTO: This photo was taken by Nick Harris at Chicago O’Hare airport! How many times have you walked through this tunnel?

Blast from the Past is an occasional feature on TravelSkills where we revive old, but still relevant and previously popular posts to enlighten our newest readers. This week, we revive one our most popular posts from 2014! 

 

Have you checked out Personal Capital yet? A powerful new tool from the former CEO of PayPay and Intuit (Quicken) to help busy people manage finances– some say it’s a better tool for wealth management than Mint.com. If you, like many business travelers, have a tough time keeping up with your investments, you should check it out today and help support TravelSkills!

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A bright spot at LAX’s drab Terminal 3

Virgin America's Loft at LAX is hidden away in the upper level of Terminal 3 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Virgin America’s Loft at LAX is hidden away in the upper level of Terminal 3 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Anyone who has flown through Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport knows that, despite efforts to gussy it up, it is a hulking relic from the 1960s.

To get inside, you must first pass through a TSA screening area wedged in a cramped, low-ceilinged and awkward space (that luckily has a mostly fast-moving PreCheck line). Once inside, there’s a Burger King, a Starbucks, a grab and go bakery and a few Hudson’s news shops. The outpost of LA’s popular Gladstone’s seafood restaurant is nice, but there’s frequently a line to get in, especially when flights are delayed.

Terminal 3 is the LAX home of Allegiant, Virgin America, Frontier, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines- all low-cost, low-fare carriers that don’t really have the funds for deep terminal renovations like Delta has underway at Terminal 5…or that the major international carriers (and the city) have created at the outstanding new Bradley International terminal.

Virgin's LAX Loft is not huge, but it feels that way due to brightness from floor to ceiling windows (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Virgin’s LAX Loft is not huge, but it feels that way due to brightness from floor to ceiling windows (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Standing out from the drab dreariness of Terminal 3 is Virgin America’s colorful LAX Loft. I have known about the Loft for a while– via Virgin’s PR machine, from TravelSkills readers, and from reading the lounge’s mixed reviews in the blogosphere. It’s been open since 2012.

Since I’ve had relatively good luck with flight delays at LAX, I have never had reason to decamp from the main terminal, so I’d never seen it in person.

When Virgin invited me to check it out during my recent trip to LA, I jumped at the chance.

Here’s the lowdown:

Entering the Virgins' LAX loft is like entering one of its planes. Moody & mod. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Entering the Virgins’ LAX loft is like entering one of its planes. Moody & mod. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Entry: Anyone traveling on Virgin America or its partner airlines can pay a $40 fee to enter the Loft. Full-fare first class passengers on long haul flights get in free. So do Gold and Silver Elevate members with their annually allotted day passes. Priority Pass or Lounge Club cardholders (plus companions) can also get in without a fee by presenting a valid membership card.

It’s located on the upper level of the terminal main gate area, accessible by elevators or a staircase and is open daily from 6am to 11pm. LAX is one of Virgin’s two primary hubs, so there is a steady stream of passengers all day long who might duck into the club.

Endlessly entertaining views plus loaner binoculars. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Endlessly entertaining views plus loaner binoculars. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The views: The club’s most outstanding feature? The breathtaking runway views. Plane-spotters can just sit back, relax and watch those colorful tails LAX is known for float by on the runway. Endlessly entertaining!

Wi-fi: free, password-protected, very fast and much better than the LAX’s free wi-fi. Plus, in Virgin style, there there are plenty of power plugs all over the place.

Design: It’s fun, mood lit and very much in keeping with what you see onboard Virgin America flights- lots of red, white and black. Modern furnishings (like Frank Gehry tables and big red Vitra sofas) float on a glossy gray (recycled material) floor. Regrettably, there is scant desk or table space for business travelers planning to get some work done. There’s a lively bar area, several separate seating areas, bathrooms, a marble-topped snack buffet and big views out to runways. There’s even a pair of powerful binoculars to check out what’s happening outside the big floor to ceiling windows.

I visited during late morning and only saw breakfast offerings like fruit, yogurt, pastries and cereal. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

I visited during late morning and only saw breakfast offerings like fruit, yogurt, pastries and cereal. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Food: Basic but good. There used to be a more elaborate buffet when Virgin Australia passengers used this lounge. But since that carrier moved into the Bradley International terminal last December, the repast is now on par with what you may find at most domestic US airline lounges- the current Loft menu in the morning includes pastries, bagels, breads, yogurt, fresh fruits, juices, cereal, and an espresso bar. In the afternoon/evenings, there is hot soup, breads, a cheese platter, fresh fruit, cookies and grab-and-go snacks like Krave Jerky and mixed nuts.

Hanging out at the bar and soaking up what's going on outside. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Hanging out at the bar and soaking up what’s going on outside. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Cocktails: Complimentary! I noted booze brands such as Glenfiddich, Jack Daniels, Tanqueray Sapphire, Bacardi and Sauza. Plus there are a couple vats of fruited, iced waters and an espresso bar. In addition to the usual beverages  you can also order “Lofty Libations” crafted by the bartender that include the Virgintini, Mile-High Margarita and Runway Ruddy Mary.

If you were stuck at LAX would you pony up the $40 for a visit? Have you visited Virgin’s LAX Loft? Please leave your comments below.

–Chris McGinnis

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Feast your eyes on new United Club lounge in London (PHOTOS)

United's big bright new Club at London Heathrow Terminal 2. CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW

United’s big bright new Club at London Heathrow Terminal 2. CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW

United Airlines moves into London-Heathrow’s spiffy new Terminal 2 (The Queen’s Terminal) today and will open up its posh new business and first class lounges to passengers for the first time.

Last month United invited a small group of media folks (including TravelSkills!) to London for a preview of its brand new United Global First Lounge and a United Club.

United is the first airline to operate from Terminal 2. Starting today it will finally bringing its 17 daily Heathrow flights – currently split between Terminals 1 and 4 – “under one roof.”  Later this year, the operations of United’s 22 Star Alliance partners at Heathrow will progressively move to Terminal 2, the alliance’s new home at the airport.

The airport is moving airlines in slowly at T2– it does not want a repeat of the fiasco that occurred when British Airways moved into the massive Terminal 5 overnight.

Conversation nook in United Club along with vintage photos (Chris McGinnis)

Conversation nook in United Club along with vintage photos (Chris McGinnis)

Together, the two lounges occupy 22,000 square feet of space near United’s gates in Terminal 2’s T2B satellite concourse. Both feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of runways, modern décor and walls adorned with vintage black and white photos from United’s archives. Like T5, the Queen’s Terminal is comprised of a main terminal (T2A) and a satellite (T2B) connected by an underground walkway.

 

Warm canapes from the elaborate United Club buffet (Chris McGinnis)

Warm canapes from the elaborate United Club buffet (Chris McGinnis)

Both the Club and the Lounge will offer elaborate meals (unlike anything you’ll see stateside), plenty of high end booze, wine and, of course speedy, free Wi-Fi.  It remains to be seen whether the quality and quantity of the spread laid out for the media will be the ongoing standard.

Nearly every seat in the joint is within a foot or two of a power outlet. And there are seven private “phone booths” set up with desks and glass doors for private conversations.  See slideshow

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Global First Lounge

The United Global First Lounge is for United or Star Alliance customers traveling in first class. The centerpiece of the lounge is an oversized Big Ben-style clock in the tea lounge section.  Other features include a buffet area, an intimate dining room, private phone booths and a quiet zone with loungers and privacy drapes.

United Club

The United Club is for United Club members, those traveling in business class and Star Alliance Gold members. It’s the first Club outside the U.S. to feature the new United Club design concept– which we’ll likely see at SFO when the new United Club opens by T3E in 2015.

The Club has a big bright and open layout with seating over 280 guests.  Against a backdrop of runways is a 25-seat full service bar, two buffet areas, a TV lounge and seven private phone booths. See slideshow

There are eight well-appointed and spacious shower suites

There are eight well-appointed and spacious shower suites

There are eight spacious shower suites with complimentary toiletries and valet service– put your suit in the valet door while showering, and an attendant will press it and have it ready by the time you dry off.

While United executives would not reveal a dollar figure for the cost of the London clubs, they did say that this is part of a $50 million investment in club renovations across the system.

United operates 17 flights per day from Heathrow to six US cities: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C./Dulles. See slideshow

United laid out quite a spread for the media— and we’ve yet to determine if food of the abundance and quality we saw (See slideshow) during the media visit will be the standard. Let us know what you see! Does the addition of lounges like this make you more likely to choose United when flying to London? Please leave your comments below. 

Please join the 100,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email per day updates!

—Chris McGinnis

 

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Catching up on Bay Area Travel News, March 17 2013

In this issue: New flights to Newark; free mags at Bay Area airports; new lie-flat seats to Japan; more car sharing at Bay Area Airports; take our POLL about car-sharing!; how to jump in a seat on a private jet.

Jersey in Noe Valley (Chris McGinnis)

Jersey in Noe Valley (Chris McGinnis)

25% OFF JERSEYLICIOUS FLIGHTS. To celebrate its new nonstops between SFO/LAX and Newark, New Jersey (EWR), Virgin America is offering a nice 25% discount on a future flight  to or from EWR. (somewhat restricted– no Fridays or Sundays). To get the discount, you must enter its “Fly Like a Boss” Facebook campaign. You can also win a chance to fly on the inaugural LAX-EWR run with Richard Branson and Mashable’s Peter Cashmore. Details here. Virgin says that since it announced the launch of EWR flights, fares on the EWR-West Coast routes have dropped by as much as 30 percent “and travelers now have an airline option that guarantees Wi-Fi, live TV and new aircraft on every flight.” Current roundtrip fares on the SFO-EWR run for mid-May flights are about $365. Virgin is also offering a double or triple points promo on flights between now and June 30, but you have to register to get the bonus.

FREE PREMIUM MAGS AT SFO/OAK/SJC. Here’s a helpful new app for TravelSkills Readers (BATs) who frequently find themselves stuck at the airport during delays, yearning for a good read, but hesitating to weigh down their bags with heavy magazines. The new Foli iPad app offers free access to premium magazine content (the stuff that’s normally behind a pay wall at glossies like Vogue, Car & Driver, GQ or Bon Appetit)—but it only works at the airport. Foli uses geolocation technology to limit access to Bay Area airports only—as well as a few coffee shops and hotels.  Download the Foli app for free at the iTunes store. It’s definitely worth a download because you never know when the fog will roll in.

Delta's flat bed seating on a 767. (Photo: Delta Air Lines)

Delta’s flat bed seating on its Boeing 767s. (Photo: Delta Air Lines)

MORE LIE-FLAT SEATS TO JAPAN. Starting April 1, Delta will offer business class seats that recline to a full 180 degree flat bed for sleeping on its Boeing 767-300ER flights between SFO and Tokyo Narita. That means that all business class seats on all airlines (United, ANA, Delta) on the heavily traveled SFO-NRT route are now flat.  Japan Airlines flies between SFO and the closer-to-downtown Tokyo Haneda Airport, but offers the less popular “angled lie flat” business class seat.  (Did you know that JAL’s SFO-Haneda flights are numbered 001 and 002?) Headed to Tokyo? Then be sure and check out my latest dispatch from the Land of the Rising Sun for BBC: Business Trip: Tokyo.

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One of BMW's electric DriveNow cars in SF (Photo: DriveNow)

One of BMW’s electric DriveNow cars in SF (Photo: DriveNow)

DRIVING TO SFO. TravelSkills recently included mention of FlightCar’s car sharing service but we’ve heard from readers about other similar options. For example, DriveNow is a car sharing service that allows travelers to drive all-electric BMW cars from several locations in and around downtown San Francisco to parking lots near SFO or Oakland airports for less than the average cost of airport shuttle services and more than 50% cheaper than cab fares. The first 30 minutes costs $12 and then 32 cents for every additional minute. (There’s a $39 fee to join the car sharing service.) The service is part of BMW’s sustainable transportation initiative and currently only available in the Bay Area. A similar car sharing service for airport trips called Hubber is in the works, too, with locations at SFO and LAX expected to open this April.

DRIVING TO/FROM NYC AIRPORTS. Hertz on Demand has a similar service in New York City—members can drive a Hertz car between airports and several locations in Manhattan for less than half of what you’d pay a cab or car service…and with the Hertz plan, there is no membership fee. (Hertz on Demand has a location in downtown SF, but currently does not offer one-way drop offs at local airports.)

What do you think about new car-sharing options for airport transfers?

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A Gulfstream IV (Photo: Nima Pirzadeh)

A plush Gulfstream IV awaits private-jetsetters (Photo: Nima Pirzadeh)

PRIVATE JET SHARING, TOO. Since we are on the topic of sharing transportation, let’s take a look at a brand new service called Jumpseat, which has been billed as “the Airbnb for private jets.” Since many seats on private jets fly empty, Jumpseat is a new app that connects people looking to share those seats with those looking to fly, producing significant savings for both parties. Shopping is free and takes only a few clicks. Registered members can book a JumpSeat without paying a membership fee. For example, when I recently searched for flights from the Bay Area, I found several flights in March and April from San Jose to Santa Ana, CA available for $1000-$2,250 each way. In March, there’s a nice big Citation X jet flying from LA to Eagle (Vail), Colorado with two seats available at $5000 each. Eight seats on a March flight from New York to Aspen on a posh Hawker 4000 are going for $20,000 each. Flying private is not cheap, but there are few hassles—no airport security, for example, when using private jet terminals. Interested? Then check out this article about it on Forbes.com.

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World's favorite airport?

Urinals with an amazing view

Urinals with an amazing view at Singapore’s Changi Airport (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Singapore’s Changi Airport is frequently recognized as the best in the world. On a recent trip to Singapore (on an assignment for my BBC.com Business Trip column, I wanted to find out what all the fuss was about, so I asked its communications team for a tour.

We walked all over the facility– smaller than you might imagine, and not really remarkable architecturally like airports in Seoul or Hong Kong– but it feels very welcoming, comfortable and easy. Come on along for the ride and see why people love this place so much. (Slideshow starts below.)

Some interesting tidbits I picked up during the tour:

>There is an outdoor pool, jacuzzi, patio and tiki bar that anyone can enter for a $14 fee. Nice! (See photos below)

>Airport security screening is done at each gate instead of a central security checkpoint– that means all you have to do is show your passport and ticket to get into the terminals. This decentralized approach eliminates any peak time lines. Smart!

>There’s an outdoor butterfly garden open to all passengers. Talk about peaceful…and beautiful! (See slideshow below)

>The airport has a full time staff of 10 horticulturalists and 100 gardeners and there’s not one fake plant anywhere.

>Changi is pronounced “Chawng-eee” with a soft g sound.

>The airport provides free internet access via wi-fi and 550 free terminals placed in pods throughout.

>What we call “moving sidewalks” they call “travelators.” (I like travelator and plan to incorporate that into my lexicon!)

>There is a basic by-the-hour hotel in each of its three terminals. There’s also a 280-room Crowne Plaza hotel in the middle of the airport, which mainly houses travelers on layovers from the “kangaroo route” between the UK and Australia. (However, QANTAS is switching its stopover point on the kangaroo route to Dubai next year.)

>Changi is the name of a local tree– a pleasant, eco-friendly change from other big airports named after politicians.

What’s your favorite airport in the world? Please leave your comments below.

–Chris McGinnis

Use the arrow keys on each image to move forward or back. Be sure to read the captions for an explanation of each shot.

[pb_slideshow group=”0″]


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The world’s favorite airport?

Urinals with an amazing view

Bathrooms with runway views are one of many passenger friendly innovations at Singapore’s Changi Airport. (photo: Chris McGinnis)

Singapore’s Changi Airport is frequently recognized as the best in the world. On a recent trip to Singapore, I wanted to find out why, so I asked their communications team for a tour. We walked all over the massive facility, and even took a breezy ride in one of those beeping carts! Come on along for the ride and see why people love this place so much. (Slideshow starts below.)

Some interesting tidbits I picked up along the way:

>There is an outdoor pool, jacuzzi, patio and tiki bar that anyone can enter for a $14 fee. Nice! (See photos below)

>Airport security screening is done at each gate instead of a central security checkpoint– that means all you have to do is show your passport and ticket to get into the terminals. This decentralized approach eliminates any peak time lines. Smart!

>There’s an outdoor butterfly garden open to all passengers. Talk about peaceful…and beautiful!

>The airport has a full time staff of 10 horticulturalists and 100 gardeners and there’s not one fake plant anywhere.

>Changi is pronounced “Chawng-eee” with a soft g sound.

>The airport provides free internet access via wi-fi and 550 free terminals placed in pods throughout.

>What we call “moving sidewalks” they call “travelators.” (I like travelator and plan to incorporate that into my lexicon!)

>There is a basic by-the-hour hotel in each of its three terminals. There’s also a 280-room Crowne Plaza hotel in the middle of the airport, which mainly houses travelers on layovers from the “kangaroo route” between the UK and Australia. (However, QANTAS is switching its stopover point on the kangaroo route to Dubai next year.)

>Changi is the name of a local tree– a pleasant, eco-friendly change from other big airports named after politicians.

What’s your favorite airport in the world? Please leave your comments below. 

–Chris McGinnis

Use the arrow keys on each image to move forward or back. Be sure to read the captions for an explanation of each shot.

[pb_slideshow group=”4″]


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✈ Bypassing security lines with CLEAR at SFO

CLEAR lanes are fast lanes at SFO security (Photo taken June 25)

Did you know that July is the busiest month of the year for air travel? As summer crowds begin to swell at SFO, frequent travelers are increasingly facing longer than expected lines at security… except for those who subscribe to the $179 CLEAR card, which cranked up operations at SFO in May.

From the looks of this photo, regular security lines during peak summer season are becoming reliably long, while CLEAR lines are reliably short…or even non-existent.

CLEAR is not revealing how many new subscribers it has in the Bay Area right now– the only number I could coax out of them was that members had used CLEAR lanes 600,000 times since the service re-started in 2010. The company also claims that 80% of its users in Denver and Orlando have returned since the company re-opened CLEAR lanes at airports in those cities. Prior to shutting down in 2009, CLEAR had 40,000 members in the Bay Area.

See the quiet CLEAR line at the bottom of this photo?

Currently, CLEAR has cranked up service in Orlando, Denver, San Francisco and just this week at Terminal E at Dallas Ft Worth. While it says it is working on getting back into other airports, it won’t name names.

To convince more of us to jump for the $179 annual subscription, CLEAR has started to layer on extras meant to appeal to frequent travelers. For example, they are offering a free one-year gold membership to the Regus network of workspaces and offices around the world. New members can also get a free three-month trial of of TripIt Pro, a service that helps travelers consolidate and keep track of their travel reservations. They are also offering free two-month trial memberships to those who have never been CLEAR members before.

Even with airline elite status, security lines are still rather unpredictable, especially in airline hub cities with a lot of frequent flyers (i.e. United hubs here at SFO or in Denver) so CLEAR execs are heavily promoting how having a CLEAR card provides predictability and no surprises when it comes to airport security. For a busy business traveler, this means leaving for the airport at the last minute and knowing that you won’t face a long wait at airport security.

Is that peace of mind worth $179 a year? Are airport security lines still a hassle or headache for you? Have your tried or re-activated your CLEAR membership? I’m waiting to renew mine until my heavy travel schedule kicks in this September. What about you? Please leave your comments below! 

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