New hotels: Hilton, IHG in NYC, Hilton/Marriott in Dallas, Charlotte Kimpton, Las Vegas suites, Cincinnati

November 16, 2017

A room at the Crowne Plaza HY36 in Manhattan. (Image: Crowne Plaza)

In recent hotel news, InterContinental and Hilton both opened new locations in midtown Manhattan near Hudson Yards; Hilton added a new affiliated property in downtown Dallas, and Marriott opened a dual-branded hotel there; Kimpton Hotels broke into the Charlotte market; Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has added luxurious ‘villas’ as part of a $100 million renovation project; and Marriott brought its AC brand to Cincinnati.

On the west side of Midtown Manhattan, InterContinental Hotels Group has cut the ribbon on its newest Crowne Plaza property, called the Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan. It’s at 320 West 36^th Street, a few blocks from Penn Station, Hudson Yards and the Javits Center. The 251-room hotel has a restaurant called TGA (The Great American) serving American cuisine, a big fitness center, and a 24-hour business lounge. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout. Rates start as low as $193 (after the holidays).

Hilton’s new Garden Inn on the west side of Midtown Manhattan. (Image: Hilton)

Just around the block at 326 West 37^th Street is the newly opened Hilton Garden Inn New York Times Square South, a 23-story, 250-room property. Free Wi-Fi is also available throughout this hotel, and amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, sundries store, room service, and a full-service restaurant called Doyler’s, serving up pub-style food and drinks for three meals a day. There’s also a media room with gaming stations and big TVs. Weeknight rates start as low as $165.

The Statler in Dallas is back as part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. (Image: Hiulton)

Back when it opened in downtown Dallas in 1956, The Statler was one of Hilton’s first big convention hotels. Now the hotel at 1914 Commerce Street has been redeveloped into a mixed-use project that includes 159 hotel rooms, 219 residences, restaurants, nightlife, specialty retail stores and an events venue. The hotel segment is still called The Statler, and now it’s a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection, which makes it part of the Honors program. The complex has five food and beverage outlets, 33,000 square feet of meeting space, a rooftop pool and lounge (opening in December), a fitness center and a bowling alley. Rates start at $264.

Miss our New Hotels post from last month? Check this out!

Public area at the new AC Hotel in Dallas. (Image: Marriott)

Not far from the Statler at 1712 Commerce Street in Dallas, the old Mercantile Commerce Building – which had been empty for a quarter-century – has been redeveloped into a dual-branded Marriott property that includes a Residence Inn and an AC Hotel. Together they have 249 rooms, along with a shared bar, fitness center and indoor pool, but separate lobbies, dining areas and business centers.

Lobby in the new Residence Inn in downtown Dallas. (Image: Marriott)

The AC Hotel Dallas Downtown features the simplicity of design and functionality that comes from its European namesake; the lobby has communal tables and plenty of power ports, while food and beverage outlets include an AC Lounge for drinks, the AC Kitchen for breakfast, and the AC Market for snacks and more. The Residence Inn Dallas Downtown offers studio and one-bedroom accommodations with full kitchens. It has a 24-hour self-service food and beverage outlet called The Market, and offers free grocery delivery and hot breakfasts. Rates begin at $195 for the AC Hotel and $184 at the Residence Inn.

Rooftop restaurant at the Kimpton Tryon Park in Charlotte. (Image: Kimpton)

InterContinental Hotel Group’s Kimpton brand has opened its first hotel in Charlotte – the Kimpton Tryon Park in the city’s Uptown district. Connected to the new 300 South Tryon office complex next door, the 217-room Kimpton has a rooftop lounge/restaurant called Merchant & Trade (featuring a retracting sunroof) and an Italian eatery named Angeline’s on the ground floor. Guests have access to a 24-hour fitness center, outdoor yoga classes and high-speed Wi-Fi. Advance purchase rates start at $194.

Marriott’s new AC Hotel in Cincinnati. (Image: Marriott)

Just across from Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark, in The Banks mixed-use development, is Marriott’s newly opened AC Hotel Cincinnati at The Banks, at 135 Joe Nuxhall Way. It has 131 European-style rooms, free Wi-Fi and a fitness center, along with three meeting rooms, an AC Kitchen for breakfast service, a bar called the AC Lounge, and a library and lounge area off the lobby. There’s also a rooftop bar/event venue called The AC Upper Deck with sweeping views of the city. Rates start at $175 for Marriott Rewards members.

A posh new villa suite at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (Image: Caesars Palace)

In Las Vegas, the 1,181-room Palace Tower at the legendary Caesars Palace has just finished up a $100 million renovation. The centerpiece of the project was the addition of 10 new “villas” on the 29^th floor – lavish accommodations ranging in size from 2,750 to 4,085 square feet. The villas provide amenities you won’t normally find in a hotel, like giant-screen $20,000 TVs with surround sound; 24-karat gold-plated plumbing fixtures; whirlpool tubs; full pantries with appliances; hardwood floors; and curated art. Villa guests have private elevator access, butler service around the clock, and airport transfers via limousine. But the villas carry a considerable price tag (unless you’re a really high roller), with rates starting at $3,109 a night. The new villa suites have their own website at www.caesarssuites.com.

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

Reassessing your card strategy? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab up top to shop around! It helps us help you!

Don’t miss out! Join the 185,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

Routes: Delta, Frontier grow Cincinnati + Southwest, Alaska, Spirit

February 8, 2017

Delta is growing again at Cincinnati. (Image: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport)

In domestic route news, Delta will grow at Cincinnati, and keeps a key Dallas route for now; Southwest adds new routes from Long Beach and Ontario; Alaska enters a new market from Orange County; Frontier adds new service in 10 markets; and Spirit Airlines expands in the northeast.

For years, Delta has been scaling back operations at Cincinnati, which was once one of its hubs. But now the airline plans to grow there, citing 15 straight months of increasing passenger numbers. Delta said its plan calls for a capacity increase of 6 percent in total seats flown out of Cincinnati, including the addition of more frequencies in five key business markets, with additional daily flights from Cincinnati to Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Orlando and Toronto.

It will also upgrade Cincinnati-Denver service to mainline aircraft, and will offer first class seating on all flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Its seasonal winter service from Cincinnati to Ft. Myers will continue to operate daily through the summer, Delta said, and its seasonal Seattle flights will extend into the fall and spring. Finally, departures from CVG to Charlotte, Hartford, Newark and Philadelphia will be retimed to permit easy same-day trips out and back. The airline will have a total of 82 peak-day departures at Cincinnati this summer, to 35 destinations. (More Cincy news below!)

Dallas Love Field will keep Delta service to Atlanta — for now. (Photo: Chris McGinnis(

In other news, Delta has won a court victory – for now, at least – that allows it to keep operating five flights a day between Atlanta and Dallas Love Field. Southwest has been eager to kick Delta out of the Southwest gates it has been subleasing at DAL, in a court fight that is going into its third year. A district court has blocked Southwest from doing so until the matter goes to trial, and this week an appellate court upheld that ruling. So Delta’s DAL-ATL route is safe for the time being. Delta offers even more service between ATL and Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Southwest Airlines is adding two new routes out of southern California. From Long Beach, Southwest just started operating twice-weekly 737-700 service to Denver. The flights operate on Saturdays and Sundays. Southwest has also kicked off new daily 737-700 flights between Ontario, California and Dallas Love Field.

Continuing its growth at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, Alaska Airlines has set an August 18 start for new service from SNA to Albuquerque. The flights will operate once a day, using Horizon Air E175 jets with 12 first class seats, 12 in premium class and 52 in regular economy. That’s the same date that Alaska will begin recently announced new service between Portland and Albuquerque.

Frontier Airlines is adding 10 more routes this spring. (Image: Jim Glab)

Frontier Airlines plans to kick off new daily service between Cincinnati and New York LaGuardia on April 21, and it also announced new service with less-than-daily frequencies on nine other routes. From Austin, Frontier will begin four flights a week to Washington Dulles on April 21, and three a week to San Diego beginning April 23. Other new service from Cincinnati includes four flights a week to Minneapolis beginning April 21 and three a week to San Diego starting May 21. From Cleveland, Frontier will add four weekly flights to Charlotte on April 21, three a week to Minneapolis starting April 23, four a week to Houston Bush Intercontinental and four a week to San Diego, with both routes starting May 22. Also on the schedule is new service three days week between Chicago O’Hare and San Antonio starting April 23.

Spirit Airlines will add new service out of Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport to sun destinations this spring. On April 27, Spirit will launch daily service from Bradley to Orlando, and four flights a week to Myrtle Beach, S.C. On June 15, the airline will add daily service from Bradley to Ft. Lauderdale.

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you.

Don’t miss out! Join the 200,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

Airport Update: Dallas/Ft. Worth, Boston, Chicago Midway, Houston, Long Beach

February 1, 2017

Dallas/Ft. Worth’s renovated Terminal A. (Image: DFW Airport)

In airports news, Boston Logan finally gets Lyft and UberX; Dallas/Ft. Worth finishes a big overhaul of Terminal A; Chicago Midway will revamp passenger concessions and security; new retail and dining options come to United’s Houston Bush Intercontinental hub; and Long Beach blocks international flights. And in case you missed our big update on the goings on at Los Angeles LAX, see this.

Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport said work is now finished on its renovation of DFW’s 26-gate Terminal A. The work involved expansion of three security checkpoints, the addition of more kiosks for passenger self-check-in, and the addition of 50 percent more space for passenger concessions, “located largely near checkpoints and Skylink stations,” the airport said. New restaurants include Salt Lick Barbecue, the Dallas Cowboys Club, Lorena Garcia Tapas y Cocina and Ling & Louie’s Asian Fusion. New retail stores include Brookstone, Tumi, an iStore and Teavana. A new Terminal A parking garage features an electronic parking guidance system: “Overhead LED beacons spotlight open parking spaces and the system alerts customers to available parking on other levels of the upgraded facility,” the airport said.

Get $20 off your first LYFT ride! Click here!

Finally! Starting today (Feb 1) UberX and Lyft have been given the all clear to pick up and drop off passengers at Boston Logan Airport. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve descended into a crowded mess at BOS ground transportation with a bunch of travelers staring into their phones saying, “wait, you mean I can’t get my Uber or Lyft at Boston Airport? This is crazy!” Logan was one of the last large airports in the country that didn’t allow the ride sharing services.

Big changes are in the works for Chicago’s Midway Airport, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The newspaper said the planned $248 million project will increase the number of security checkpoint lanes from 17 to 27, and will widen the pedestrian bridge over Cicero Avenue from 60 feet to 300 feet, creating a new security hall with 20,000 square feet of new concession space. Total concession space at MDW will grow from the current 26,000 square feet to almost 70,000, with many outlets focused on offering “Taste of Chicago” cuisine. The project would also give the airport 1,400 new premium parking spaces.

So far 1,300 readers have taken the TravelSkills trivia quiz. Have you? COME ON! It’s fun!

Rendering of new Tanglewood Grille at Houston Bush Intercontinental, with lots of iPads. (Image: OTG)

Plenty of new dining options are coming to the United hub at Houston Bush Intercontinental, where the airline is teaming up with concessions specialist OTG (the same firm United used to overhaul Terminal C at Newark) to develop new restaurants in Terminals C-South and E, in addition to five new eateries opening early this year in C-North that were previously announced. C-South and E will get eight new restaurants, “all inspired by local Houston chefs and flavors,” OTG said. And matching the concession overhaul at United’s Newark hub, the Houston project also involves the installation of 8,000 iPads “seamlessly integrated into the customer experience” at restaurants and gate lounges in all three terminals, the company noted. Terminal C-South will get a restaurant specializing in meatballs; a taqueria; and a ranch-to-table burger spot. Terminal E is adding a southern barbeque outlet; an Italian restaurant; a sushi and ramen bar; a steaks-burgers-and-seafood eatery; and a craft brewery with bar food.

The Long Beach, California City Council has rejected an application from JetBlue Airways to build a modest-sized (15,000 square feet) Customs and Border Protection facility at the city’s airport. The decision effectively kills JetBlue’s plans to add international flights from Long Beach, its west coast focus city. JetBlue had anticipated operating six to eight international flights a day; the city has set a ceiling of 50 flights a day at the airport, limited to operations between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you.

Don’t miss out! Join the 150,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

New hotels in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington, NYC

December 18, 2015

The Library in San Francisco's new Axiom Motel. (Image: Axiom Hotel)

The Library in San Francisco’s new Axiom Hotel. (Image: Axiom Hotel)

In domestic lodging developments, downtown San Francisco gets a new property; a Philadelphia classic reopens with a new identity and a new chain affiliation; Starwood opens a Westin in the heart of Dallas; there’s a new Hyatt Place in the nation’s capital; and InterContinental Hotels Group cuts the ribbon on another Holiday Inn in Manhattan.

In San Francisco, the former Powell Hotel — across from the cable car turnaround at the base of Powell Street, near the BART station– is being transformed into a new identity as the Axiom Hotel, and a representative tells TravelSkills it’s expected to open its doors to guests in mid-January. The 152-room boutique hotel — now owned by Host Hotels — will have a bar and cafe in the lobby and a Library nearby, and lots of original art work combining historical and high-tech themes. Other amenities include a business center, fitness center, and fiber-optic Wi-Fi throughout. Rooms have RFID locks, 48-inch smart TVs and refrigerators. We found rates starting as low as $199.

Relaxing library/lounge at Philadelphia’s Logan Hotel. (Image: The Logan)

Philadelphia’s Four Seasons Hotel at Logan Square, which closed in June, has gone through a multi-million dollar transformation and reopened this month as The Logan Philadelphia, a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection. (These are independent hotels that participate in Hilton’s reservations system and its HHonors loyalty program.) The hotel’s 391 rooms include 64 suites with separate living and sleeping areas. The Logan has a 24-hour fitness center and business center, a spa, and a heated indoor pool, along with 12,700 square feet of meeting space. There’s even a library with a fireplace and pool table. Rates start at $233.

A king room at the new Westin Dallas Downtown. (Image: Westin)

January 4 is the starting date for reservations at Starwood’s new Westin Dallas Downtown, a 323-room hotel built into the 33-story One Main Place tower. The 326-room Westin will occupy the top 10 floors of the building as well as public space on lower levels, and will have a separate entrance on Elm Street. The rest of the building will be office and retail space. The hotel has a WestinWORKOUT fitness studio (guests can borrow workout clothes), indoor pool, restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and high-speed Internet, as well as 31,000 square feet of meeting space. Rates start at $217.

Spacious standard king accommodations at Washington D.C.’s new Hyatt Place. (Image: Hyatt)

At 400 E Street SW in the nation’s capital, four blocks from the National Mall, is the newly opened Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall. It has 214 rooms with separate sleep and work areas, free Wi-Fi throughout, an outdoor pool, 24-hour gym, free hot breakfast, rooftop bar and 24/7 Gallery Menu & Market with freshly prepared meals and take-out items. Rates start at $169.

Guest room at the new Holiday Inn-Times Square in New York. (Image: Holiday Inns)

It’s actually a few blocks from Times Square at Eighth Avenue and 39th Street, but InterContinental Hotels Group’s newest property in Manhattan is the newly built, 35-story, 271-room Holiday Inn New York City-Times Square. It offers 24-hour business and fitness centers, a flight check-in kiosk, guest room charging stations, and a restaurant and bar (with 49 microbrews on tap!). Rates start at $118.

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

Do you follow us on Twitter? It’s a great way to keep up with the latest news!

Please join the 100,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

New Southwest routes + Virgin expands at Dallas + Alaska, AA add more

October 28, 2015

Southwest will add 10 domestic routes next spring. (Image: Jim Glab)

In domestic route news, Southwest unveils 10 new domestic markets it will enter next spring; Virgin American adds a new route out of Dallas Love Field; Alaska begins a west coast route next week, and American Airlines begins new service from LaGuardia.

Southwest Airlines said it plans to start flying 10 new domestic routes on April 12, 2016. From Chicago Midway, it will add flights to Dayton, Ohio; Flint, Mich. and Grand Rapids, Mich. New routes from St. Louis will include Des Moines, Iowa; Wichita, Kans. and Pittsburgh (starts March 10). Southwest will also begin flying from Newark Liberty International to Las Vegas and Orlando, and will switch its St. Louis-Seattle service to year-round instead of seasonal.

Southwest also has some previously announced new routes starting on November 1, including daily flights between Oakland-Atlanta, Austin-Boston, Austin-Seattle, Denver-Cleveland, LaGuardia-Indianapolis and Washington Reagan National-Orlando. New international routes starting November 1 include daily flights from Denver to Puerto Vallarta and Houston Hobby to Liberia, Costa Rica and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Virgin America Airlines has set a December 1 launch for new service between Dallas Love Field and Las Vegas — a route thoroughly dominated by Southwest. Virgin said it will offer two daily roundtrips on the route. One of the flights will be a red-eye leaving Las Vegas at 1:30 a.m. and arriving in Dallas at 6:10 a.m.

November 5 is the starting date for new Alaska Airlines service linking Los Angeles International with Monterey, Calif. — a route that American dropped last month. United also flies the route. Alaska will serve the route with a Horizon Air 76-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop.

Also on November 5, American Airlines is set to begin new service from New York LaGuardia to a pair of domestic destinations: Akron, Ohio and Memphis, Tenn. On the same date, American will start flying from Charlotte, N.C. to Springfield, Mo.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Global Entry gets more global + New York’s lowest ranked hotels +Best/worst hotel programs for awards + More flat seats

Do you follow us on Twitter? It’s a great way to keep up with the latest news!

Please join the 100,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

Shiny new hotels for you: Chicago, NYC, Dallas, Houston…

September 22, 2015

Outdoor Terrace at Starwood Luxury Collection’s The Gwen in Chicago. (Image: Starwood)

In hotel news, leading properties in Chicago and Manhattan change their identities; mid-priced hotels open in the heart of Dallas and Houston; and more independents join up as affiliates of national chains.

Starwood Hotels’ Luxury Collection has added its first property in Chicago. The company has finished the previously announced conversion of the former Conrad Hotel (part of the Hilton family) into a Starwood property called The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel. It’s at 521 North Rush Street in the River North/Magnificent Mile area, directly linked to The Shops at North Bridge. It’s in the old McGraw-Hill Building, an art deco structure, and it’s named after Gwen Lux, a sculptor from the 1920s whose work influenced the design of the period. The Gwen has 300 rooms, three restaurants, and terraces overlooking the Chicago skyline. Rates start at around $360.

Another leading hotel in Manhattan has been acquired by an Asian company and changed its identity. This time it’s the New York Palace Hotel at 50th Street and Madison Avenue, right behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The elegant hotel which underwent a $140 million overhaul two years ago, has been acquired by South Korea’s Lotte Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of the Lotte Group, one of Korea’s biggest conglomerates. The hotel is now called the Lotte New York Palace. Earlier, the Waldorf Astoria was purchased by a Chinese company.

The new Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Dallas. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton Worldwide has cut the ribbon on the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Dallas at 1600 Pacific Avenue, next to Thanksgiving Square and the Thanksgiving Tower. It’s part of a mixed-use project in the city’s LTV building, not far from Dealey Plaza and the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The 171-room Garden Inn has free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a 24-hour business center, outdoor pool, fitness center, restaurant with Southern cuisine, and a 24-hour Pavilion Pantry. Rates start at $135.

Marriott’s new SpringHill Suites in downtown Houston. (Image: Marriott)

The newest lodging option in downtown Houston is Marriott’s 167-suite SpringHill Suites Houston Downtown/Convention Center, located at 914 Dallas Street, between Main and Travis streets, three blocks from The Shops at Houston mall. The building, a former apartment complex, was originally the Humble Oil Building, dating to 1921. Guests get a free hot breakfast every day, and guest accommodations provide separate living, working and sleeping spaces. There’s an outdoor pool, a fitness center and a 24-hour market. Rates start at $229.

Meanwhile, leading hotel companies continue to expand their roster of independent affiliate properties, which participate in their reservations systems and their loyalty programs. In the latest developments, Marriott has added the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Charleston, S.C., to its Autograph Collection; and Hilton’s Curio Collection has taken on The Admiral Hotel in Mobile, Ala. and The Partridge Inn Augusta in downtown Augusta, Ga.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: TSA PreCheck: No more free rides + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

100,000

BEST for Big Sign-up Bonus. British Airways Visa Signature® Card 0ffers a nice 50,000 Avios sign up bonus after you spend $2,000 in the first three months. But get this: You’ll earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend $10,000 on purchases for a total of 75,000 bonus Avios. Even better: You earn another 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend a total of $20,000 on purchases within your first year for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios. In addition to the sign up bonus, you earn three Avios for every dollar spent on BA, and a free companion ticket (any class) when you spend at least $30,000 in a year. Plus there are no foreign transaction fees, and the card has a chip making it easier to use in Europe and beyond. Annual fee is $95. More.

Do you follow us on Twitter? It’s a great way to keep up with the latest news!

Please join the 100,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

Airport updates: LAX + Dallas + Minneapolis + Houston

September 11, 2015

Minneapolis-St. Paul’s new Escape Lounge will be open to all passengers who pay a fee. (Image: Metropolitan Airports Commission)

Travelers departing Los Angeles International could see passenger drop-off delays due to new construction; members of Virgin Atlantic’s Elevate program are offered free UIber rides at Dallas Love Field; a new passenger lounge will soon come to Minneapolis-St. Paul; and the first portion of Southwest’s new terminal at Houston Hobby opens.

Officials at Los Angeles International are warning travelers to expect nighttime traffic delays for passenger drop-offs along the departures level roadway of the LAX Central Terminal Area. A construction project to overhaul those roads, including the laying of new concrete, will begin Monday night, September 14, and continue until sometime before Thanksgiving. Monday through Thursdays, the work will begin at 11 p.m. and should finish up by 5 a.m. (but you never know)., and Friday and Saturday nights it will start at 11 p.m. and continue to 1 p.m. the next day. The roadway will always offer access to the terminal, but lane closures should be expected, LAX officials said.

Members of Virgin America’s Elevate loyalty program who buy a Virgin flight originating at Dallas Love Field are being offered free Uber rides (up to $20) for a trip to or from that airport. It’s good for flight bookings made through October 12 “while supplies last,” Virgin said. If the customer is a first-time Uber rider, he’ll get an additional discount of up to $20.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International is expected to cut the ribbon on a new passenger lounge sometime in the next few months. The new Escape Lounge will be open to all travelers for an as-yet-undetermined fee, although it is expected to be around $30. Located on the mezzanine level of Terminal 1, the 5,000-square-foot Escape Lounge will offer free Wi-Fi, free food and beverages, and reading materials.

The white portion of the terminal represents Southwest’s new international facility at Houston Hobby. (Image: Hobby Airport)

At Houston Hobby, the first phase of the new Southwest Airlines international terminal and concourse has opened, and the entire facility should be operating by October 15 — the same day that Southwest starts flying from HOU to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and Mexico City, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and San Jose, Costa Rica. Elements of the first stage are a new Southwest ticketing area and self-service kiosks; and Southwest check-in counters. The whole complex, known as the West Concourse, will also include a new federal inspection station and gate area. The first phase of a new West Concourse parking garage is expected to open in November.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Delta’s new Sky Club at San Francisco International + LAX will allow Uber, Lyft pick-ups + British Airways coming to San Jose + Airbnb draws corporate customers

Do you follow us on Twitter? It’s a great way to keep up with the latest news!

Delta gets a reprieve

June 27, 2015

The fight for gate space at Love Field continues in the courts. (Image: SWABlogGuy/Flickr)

Southwest Airlines has agreed to let Delta keep operating its five daily flights between Atlanta and Dallas Love Field, eliminating a July 6 deadline for Delta to drop the service and get out of that airport.

The reprieve for Delta will remain in effect indefinitely while the airlines and the airport “pursue a long-term resolution in the courts,” Delta said.

Delta has been using gate space leased by Southwest, which controls 18 of the 20 gates at Love. Virgin America holds the other two.

Southwest, claiming it needs all 18 gates to accommodate its planned schedule expansion at Love Field, had told Delta it would have to give up the space on July 6, but the U.S. Transportation Department intervened, telling the City of Dallas — which owns Love Field — that it would have to find some way to accommodate Delta’s service.

The city has filed suit, asking the federal courts to sort everything out and tell it what it must do.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Delta wants to add even more service at Love in mid-August, including two more daily flights to Atlanta and two a day to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit and Salt Lake City; and American hopes to begin four flights a day there as well, although the destinations are unknown.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Trip Report: SWISS Roche Coach + San Francisco mistakes + CLEAR goes cardless + Cool gasoline price heat map + More!

Delta’s Love Field fight down to the wire

June 19, 2015

Southwest Airlines passengers at Dallas Love Field. (Image: Southwest)

Things are coming to a head in Delta’s battle to keep its presence at Dallas Love Field, where its five daily flights to Atlanta are facing a July 6 deadline.

That’s the date when a temporary pact between Delta and Southwest ends; it provides that Delta can use Southwest gate space until that date, but after that, Southwest wants Delta out.

The Transportation Department has intervened in the dispute, and this week it sent a letter to Dallas city officials reiterating its insistence that city-owned Love Field find a way to accommodate Delta’s service. Southwest leases 18 of the airport’s 20 gates; Virgin America holds the other two.

The letter from the Transportation Department suggested that if Dallas didn’t find a way to provide space for Delta at reasonable rates, it could be disqualified from receiving federal government grants.

Southwest Airlines responded with a statement saying it disagrees with DOT’s guidance on the use of Love Field gates “by non-tenant airlines like Delta. That guidance not only violates Southwest’s legal and contractual rights but would also reduce competition, costing consumers millions of dollars in higher airfares,” Southwest said.

The airline noted that it has already scheduled and started selling tickets on additional flights out of Love that will keep all of its 18 gates busy after August 9 with “an industry-leading gate utilization of 10 flights a day per gate.”

The City of Dallas this week filed a suit in federal court, asking a judge to intervene and specify what the city must do before the July 6 deadline. Stay tuned.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Free airport parking? + Fastest airlines + CLEAR goes cardless + Cool gasoline price heat map + More!

Hottest new hotels in New York, Dallas, Chicago

May 16, 2015

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Delta’s future + Aircraft size and flight delays + First class summer fare sales+ Chris’s summer travel outlook + United’s plans for LAX overhaul + Hertz’s fleet renewal

Guest room at Marriott’s New York EDITION. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott opens its new EDITION hotel in New York City this month, the old Statler Hilton in downtown Dallas is getting a new life, and a leading Chicago property will change brands.

In New York, one of Manhattan’s older landmark buildings — the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, also known as the Clocktower — is becoming Marriott’s New York EDITION this month. Located on Madison Avenue near E. 23rd Street, the easily recognizable building dates back to 1909. As part of the EDITION brand — created by Marriott with hotel guru Ian Schrager — the hotel will have 273 rooms, a restaurant from celebrity chef Jason Atherton, and a design inspired by “turn of the 20^th century private clubs, Fifth Avenue’s Gilded Age Mansions and Stanford White’s architectural masterpieces,” Marriott said. Rates start at $675.

The former Dallas Statler Hilton. (Image: Hilton)

The old Dallas Statler Hilton at 1914 Commerce Street downtown opened in the 1950s and has been sitting idle for a decade, but it is getting new life. A developer plans to renovate the historic building with 161 hotel rooms on the lower floors and 219 apartments on the upper levels, with work starting this month. It will also get meeting rooms, office space and four restaurants. And when it’s finished in about a year and a half, it will be called the Statler Hotel and Residences, and will be a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection.

Entrance to the Conrad Chicago. (Image: Conrad Hotels)

The Conrad Chicago at 521 North Rush Street, just off Michigan Avenue, is a part of the Hilton family of brands, but it will change its name and affiliation this coming fall. The hotel’s new name hasn’t been picked yet, but it will become a part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection following a renovation project, Starwood announced.

A new way to get to New York – La Guardia

October 29, 2014

Virgin America get a ceremonial squirt with its inaugural flight from Dallas to New York La Guardia (Photo: Virgin America)

Virgin America’s first flights into New York’s close in LaGuardia Airport arrived yesterday. The new nonstops originate from Virgin’s new mini-hub at Dallas Love Field (DAL) and are currently on sale for just $89 each way. Virgin now offers four daily roundtrips on the important business route. Southwest Airlines offers three daily roundtrips.

The new service provides an additional one-stop transcon option for travelers who might prefer to skip the traffic and hassles of JFK or Newark for the close-in ease of LaGuardia, even though total flight time is longer.

For example, Virgin’s one-stop (same plane) flight from SFO via DAL departs at 7:20 am and arrives LGA at 5:35 pm and takes about 7 hours. Southwest’s one stop flights are routed through Denver or Chicago Midway and take about the same amount of time.

Please join the 80,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

LaGuardia Airport is the closest airport to Manhattan

From LGA, the trip to Manhattan via cab or car is about 25 minutes vs 45-60 minutes from JFK. (Cost is $30-35 plus tip and toll from LGA and a flat $52 plus tip and toll from JFK.)

Virgin’s return flight from LaGuardia to SFO via Dallas Love takes 8.5 hours, departing LGA at 3:45 pm and arriving SFO at 9:10 pm.

By comparison, Virgin’s nonstop SFO>JFK takes 5-6 hours (depending on winds), departing SFO at 7:00am and arriving JFK at 3:35pm. Return flights take about 6.5 hours due to winds.

TIP: In the market for a new credit card? With the holidays coming up, apply now and you’ll likely meet the spending requirement for BIG bonuses! How about $500 in free travel?

At LaGuardia, Virgin and Southwest both use the main “Central Terminal B.” This week the Central Terminal celebrates the opening of a the first batch of nearly 60 new food and specialty stores which are part of an $18 million re-do of the aging terminal. Long term, LaGuardia could get a multi-billion dollar makeover.

Maybe one day there will be nonstop flights between west coast cities and La Guardia (click here to read more about that). But in the meantime…Would you fly Virgin via Dallas Love to get to NYC or vice versa? Leave your comments below.

TIP: In the market for a new credit card? With the holidays coming up, apply now and you’ll likely meet the spending requirement for BIG bonuses! How about $500 in free travel?

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!

Would you rather get TravelSkills Weekly instead of Daily? No probs! click here to sign up for TravelSkills Weekly.

Please join the 80,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

Cadillacs on the tarmac + 2nd Ebola case in US + Dallas Love Field recap + Virgin hotels splash

October 12, 2014

This is Part 2 of this week’s Catching up on Travel News with TravelSkills! Here’s Part 1. (Sorry if you get this email more than once today…we are still getting the hang of our email distribution system)

AIRLINES

American will soon be picking up its best passengers at LAX in Caddies like this one. (Source: GM)

American Airlines teams up with Cadillac. Following the lead of Delta’s partnership with Porsche and United’s with Mercedes-Benz, American Airlines is teaming up with Cadillac to provide rides across the tarmac to connecting flights — starting at Los Angeles International — for ConciergeKey members with tight transfer times. AA said it will expand the service next to Dallas/Ft. Worth and New York’s LaGuardia and JFK, using Cadillac CTS, SRX or Escalade models. Also, as part of the promo AAdvantage members can earn 7,500 miles for test-driving a new Cadillac.

Breaking news: A health care worker in Dallas has contracted Ebola according to health officials there. If confirmed by CDC, this would be the first case of Ebola transmitted in the US. Hmm. I’m wondering how many TravelSkills readers (including yours truly) might want to change their answer to our recent Ebola fear poll from “not fearful” to “somewhat fearful” after hearing this news. One thing you can count on: Increased Ebola screening at airports that could cause long lines.

Loading ...

(click on the vote button or the clear looking button to cast your vote)

Love Field route recap. October 13 marks the end of the Wright Amendment at Dallas Love Field, and here’s a reminder of what’s happening there route-wise.

Virgin America, which moves operations from DFW to DAL, will have three daily flights starting Monday, October 13 from DAL to SFO, LAX and DCA, adding four daily DAL-LGA roundtrips October 28. (Still no word on when it will add flights to Chicago.)
Southwest on Monday starts five daily roundtrips between DAL and Chicago Midway; three each to LAX, Baltimore, Denver, Las Vegas and Washington National; and two to Orlando.
On November 2, Southwest adds one more daily frequency to Midway, Las Vegas, LAX and Orlando, and boosts DAL-DCA to six a day. Also on November 2, Southwest begins service from DAL to Atlanta (4x/day), LGA (3x), PHX (4x), Ft Lauderdale (2x), Nashville (2x), San Diego (2x), Orange County (1x) and Tampa (2x).

All-you-can-fly airline comes to OAK. California’s Surf Air, which charges a flat fee starting at $1,750 a month for unlimited flights in its Pilatus turboprops, is expanding to two more airports — Carlsbad’s McClellan-Palomar (CRQ) north of San Diego on November 18 and Oakland (OAK) on December 15, with flights to Hawthorne, Santa Barbara and other locations. “Both markets were added based on the high current and potential member demand–with more than 100 deposits already placed for membership in these regions and relatively limited service by other carriers to either market,” Surf Air said.

Love your United FA, then say so via the carrier’s website (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Thank your flight attendants. Members of the flight crew seem to be regularly bashed by frequent fliers more times than they are appreciated. Here is a way you can quickly send your message praising a flight attendant who served you well on a recent flight via United’s web site. Although this topic is primarily for passengers of United Airlines, other airlines are discussed in this MilePoint string as well. Have you thanked a flight attendant lately?

HOTELS

The brand new Conrad Seoul hotel is on the south side of the Han River which bisects the city (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis just returned from a business trip to Seoul, South Korea with a big batch of great pics and news about this burgeoning, modern, high-tech (and quirky) Asian city. Stay tuned for a few fun trip reports and another in our series of new hotel updates. Have you been to Seoul recently? What did you think? Please leave comments below or email Chris.

The first Virgin Hotel will be located in this Chicago building. (Virgin Hotels)

First Virgin Hotel opening soon. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has been working for years on a hotel subsidiary, and its first property — in downtown Chicago — is set to open January 15. The 250-room property (including 42 suites) is in the Old Dearborn Bank Building at 203 N. Wabash. Rooms start at $209 and bookings are open now through a new website at http://virginhotels.com.

In Case You Missed It…

>Looks like a major renovation is in store for New York’s iconic Waldorf-Astoria following its sale by Hilton to a Chinese insurance company for nearly $2 billion.

>Airline lounge memberships: Why they’re not for everyone.

>Try these tips for catching some Zs in your hotel room.

>Eight essential tips for business trips to San Francisco.

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!

Would you rather get TravelSkills Weekly instead of Daily? No probs! click here to sign up for TravelSkills Weekly.

Are you in the market for a new credit card? Looking for a fat points or mileage bonus to sweeten your balance? Then check out our BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS and scoop up the deals!

Please join the 80,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

Big day in big D + New carrier for ATL? + New LAX lounge + NYC grand dame facelift

September 28, 2014

Will Turkish Airlines land in Atlanta any time soon? (Photo: Turkish Airlines)

AIRLINES

Big day approaches in Big D. In two weeks — on October 13 — the Wright Amendment expires, opening up Dallas’ close-in Love Field to a new era of long-haul domestic routes, and the major players are getting ready. Virgin America teamed up with ride-finding service Uber and with HotelTonight to offer discounts and digital promotions at a special website, www.ShareTheLoveDallas.com. Southwest has scheduled a series of concerts and a golf tournament, and will give away prizes in-flight to passengers during the first week of service. Southwest set up a website detailing its new DAL routes at www.nonstoplove.com.

Turkish Airlines eyes ATL service. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil said the fast-growing carrier plans to start flying from Istanbul to Atlanta, although he gave no date for the service. The airline already announced it will begin San Francisco flights next April. Kotil said the carrier also plans to add more frequencies to Chicago, Washington Dulles and LAX. Turkish is part of the Star Alliance, and its other U.S. routes include New York, Boston and Houston. Turkish giving the fast growing Gulf carriers like Emirates or Etihad a run for their money competing for passengers headed to the Middle East, India and Africa. A new carrier in ATL might help the airport retain its title as “world’s busiest,” which this NPR story says might be in jeopardy.

Air France strike ends. According to AP, the painful Air France strike has ended. Meanwhile, Lufthansa braces for it’s own pilots to strike by canceling a raft of transatlantic flights.

Big smiles at Delta. If you notice that your Delta flight attendants or gate agents have a bit more spring in their step in coming months, it could be because Delta is giving all employees a nice 5% profit-sharing payout for 2014 and has promised a 3-4% payout next year. Forbes reports: “Delta will report record profitability in 2014, while its stock is a top twenty S&P 500 performer and its operational reliability and customer satisfaction are at the top of the industry.” In similar news, United Airlines announced Monday that it will offer its thousands of flight attendants an early and voluntary buyout option, a lump-sum payout worth up to $100,000. Time reports that United would not disclose the criteria needed to earn the maximum buyout but is hoping at least 2,100 employees take advantage of the offer.

Frontier Airlines is expanding from its Denver stomping grounds with new nonstops in SFO & PHX. (Phot0: Jim Glab)

Frontier grows at SFO, PHX. Frontier Airlines — whose strategy as a new ultra-low-cost carrier (along the lines of Spirit Air) is to nibble at the edges of major business markets — plans to start flying from San Francisco International to Houston Bush Intercontinental and Phoenix November 20. Technically, the service will break up United’s SFO-IAH monopoly and could impact its high fares, but it’s hardly a big threat since Frontier plans one flight a day vs. United’s 10 — and since Frontier levies some heavy fees, like a carry-on bag charge for low-fare passengers. SFO-Phoenix is dominated by Southwest and American/US Airways, with dozens of daily flights vs. Frontier’s planned single departure. Also on November 20, Frontier will add once-a-day flights between PHX-Houston and PHX-Salt Lake City.

People Express suspends service. After a big kick off last summer, Virginia-based People Express is already hitting hard times. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the carrier suspended service suddenly last week. But it said that it might crank up again by Oct 16 according to a press release. Hmm.

Cost of a disrupted trip: $1,475. The most common “travel mishap,” according to a new survey of 500 business travelers, is a flight disrupted by a delay, cancellation or missed connection (like those entangled in the Chicago air traffic shutdown on Friday) — and the average cost to the traveler caught up in the problem is $1,475 in missed work and out-of-pocket expenses, according to the Global Business Travel Association. If the mishap occurs overseas, the average cost jumps to $2,148. When a mishap causes the traveler to miss work, the average time lost is 2.3 days. What was your worst ‘travel mishap’ and how did it impact your schedule?

Plan now: How to get a free trip home for the holidays

AA plans DFW-Beijing flights. American Airlines wants to add Beijing as the newest transpacific spoke from its Dallas/Ft. Worth hub. The carrier last week filed for government approval to begin daily 777-200ER flights from DFW to Beijing’s Capital International Airport sometime next summer. AA already flies from DFW to Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo, and it serves Beijing from Chicago O’Hare.

Wi-Fi progress at JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic. JetBlue has only installed its super-speed Fly-Fi Internet service on 70 planes thus far — and is adding a dozen aircraft a month — but it said more than a million devices have already connected to the free Ka-band satellite service. “On JetBlue we see 40 percent of customers logged on, while other airlines get single-digits only,” a JetBlue official said. Fly-Fi claims data speeds of 12 to 20 Mbps …. Wi-Fi provider Gogo said Virgin Atlantic has signed on to become the first European carrier to install its satellite-based 2Ku Wi-Fi service fleetwide, offering “unprecedented bandwidth.”

Lower fares at ATL thanks to Spirit. Ultra low-fare carrier Spirit Air’s entry into the Atlanta-Detroit market has resulted in lower fares on not just Spirit, but on Delta and Southwest, which had significantly jacked up fares over the last two years, according to the Detroit Free Press. In related news, when United announced a big downsizing of its Cleveland operation several months back, Frontier started beefing up its presence there, and now Spirit Airlines is doing the same. Spirit will begin new CLE service in mid-January to Orlando, Tampa and Ft. Myers; on February 5 to Ft. Lauderdale, DFW and Las Vegas; and April 16 to Los Angeles and Myrtle Beach.

Please join the 80,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

AIRPORTS

Southwest’s expansion at Denver International’s Terminal C (Photo DIA)

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX. In airport news this week, Virgin Atlantic will build its own Clubhouse for Upper Class passengers at Los Angeles International. No details yet, but it will occupy 4,000 square feet and open next spring. Currently, the airline’s premium flyers use Virgin America’s and Air New Zealand’s LAX lounges …Los Angeles International has installed 40 of those new automated passport control kiosks for arriving passengers in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, and Delta opened up 10 of the devices in Terminal 5 .

Uber, Lyft, Sidecar back in hot water. Ride sharing companies are facing a new round of legal threats from city officials in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Seems like a never ending story… and thankfully, Uber and others seem to just ignore the threats and continue hauling business travelers around town and to the airport. In a related note, Uber has reportedly reinstated it’s flat $65 fare between San Francisco and SFO. TravelSkills riders in Pacific Heights had complained loudly about airport trips costing $95 or more… apparently Uber heard the squawks and fares are back down. Have you noticed?

Southwest grows at DEN.Denver International cut the ribbon on a five-gate expansion of Terminal C, allowing Southwest Airlines to expand…pushing Frontier into other cities and keeping United on its toes.

Free wi-fi at Houston airports. Houston started rolling out free Wi-Fi at its airports; it’s now available in all terminal areas at Hobby, and in Terminals A and D at Bush Intercontinental; it should be in all IAH spaces by year’s end …

Speeding up at Ft Lauderdale Flight delays at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International should ease up considerably following the opening last week of a new 8,000-foot runway there.

Are you in the market for a new credit card? Looking for a fat points or mileage bonus to sweeten your balance? Then check out our BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS and scoop up the deals!

HOTELS

The grand old InterConti is going dark for an extensive (and much needed) 18-month facelift.

Manhattan’s grand old Barclay InterContinental is going dark for an extensive (and much needed) 18-month facelift. (Photo: IHG)

NYC property closes; new Ritz-Carlton in Florida. The InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel in Midtown Manhattan has closed its doors for a much needed, 18-month, $175 million renovation. (The Barclay is located alongside another NYC grand dame that needs the same type of loving restoration…which hotel are wer referring to?? Leave your guesses and comments below!) In other hotel news: Florida’s One Bal Harbour Resort north of Miami Beach will become The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami effective October 2 … A former Sheraton a mile from Washington’s Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va., is now the Westin Crystal City.

In Case You Missed It…

>Here’s how to save money on overseas mobile roaming.

>The latest on the great in-flight voice calling debate. (Check out your comments! They’re great. Thanks!)

>Try these tips for making free or low-cost calls from overseas.

–Jim Glab & Chris McGinnis

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!

Would you rather get TravelSkills Weekly instead of Daily? No probs! click here to sign up for TravelSkills Weekly.

Are you in the market for a new credit card? Looking for a fat points or mileage bonus to sweeten your balance? Then check out our BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS and scoop up the deals!

Please join the 80,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

Virgin America wants YOU, business traveler

April 28, 2014

(Photo: Virgin America)

Fresh from announcing its first annual profit, San Francisco-based Virgin America is busting out all over. This week it proudly announced that that US Department of Justice selected Virgin alone to compete with Southwest Airlines at close in, convenient Dallas Love Field (DAL). It’s also making other moves to make it more attractive to business travelers. (Previous post)

First, let’s look at Dallas. Attempting to set its sassy self apart from Southwest’s no-frills flights, Virgin’s announcement stated that it will be, “the only carrier at DAL to offer a consistent, upscale product on every flight with three classes of service [first, premium economy, economy], as well as wi-fi, in seat power outlets, confirmed seating and touch-screen seat back entertainment.”

Part of what has held Virgin back on some routes is its thin schedule, something that’s a turn off to business travelers who value frequency due to changing plans. So in Dallas, it’s going in big. On Oct 13, it will offer three round trips per day between DAL and Washington Reagan National (DCA), San Francisco and Los Angeles. Starting Oct 28, 2014, it will offer four round trips per day from Dallas to La Guardia airport. Departures are in the morning and late afternoon– just what business travelers like. Plus, Dallas Love Field, New York La Guardia and Washington National are small, close in and convenient… all about 15 minutes from downtown (when traffic is light)— a huge draw for business travelers. In some cases, it might make sense for a traveler from SFO or LAX to connect through Dallas to be able to fly into La Guardia instead of the distant JFK or EWR. Would you? Please leave your comments below.

Why don’t you join the 25,000+ people who get insider info, news and tips from TravelSkills every month? Sign up here to receive posts via email. Don’t miss out!

Check out close-in, cuddly Dallas Love Field compared to distant DFW (AllAirports.net)

Then, in 2015, it plans to bulk up its DAL schedule, with daily round trips to Chicago O’Hare and additional daily flights to SFO, LAX, DCA. That’s starting to sound like a hub operation to me. I would not be surprised to see Virgin add flights to other cities in the eastern half of the country, too, which means that flyers from its western hubs at SFO and LAX could connect to (hopefully) cities like Atlanta, Miami or New Orleans. Virgin has 10 new jets on order for delivery in 2015-2016, so they are going to have to fly somewhere! Note: While Virgin has a deal with DOJ, to operate at Love Field, it still must pass muster with the City of Dallas, according to this USA Today story.

To celebrate the new service, Virgin is offering a great deal– just $160 round trip to all cities it will serve from Dallas, if booked by 11:59pm CT on Saturday, April 26. Details here.

There was even more good news for Virgin this week when JetBlue announced that it would ground its 2x daily “Nerd Bird” flights between SFO and Austin. On the same day JetBlue announced its pullout, Virgin announced it would expand at Austin-Bergstrom with a second daily SFO nonstop. The new service will start on July 8 with business travel friendly early morning and late afternoon departures. The only other carrier in the lucrative SFO-AUS market is United, which offers five daily roundtrips.

In its scramble to take advantage of its new landing slots at New York La Guardia, Washington National and now Dallas, Virgin is having to re-jigger its fleet quickly. As a result, it’s withdrawing from the Philadelphia market in October.

What do you think about Virgin’s big moves? Would you be more likely to choose Virgin if you could connect in Dallas to more cities? Fly via Dallas to connect to La Guardia? Please leave your comments below!

–-Chris McGinnis

Virgin America’s big plans for Big D

March 5, 2014

Check out close-in, cuddly Dallas Love Field compared to distant DFW (AllAirports.net)

In Dallas, nearly everybody loves Love Field. It’s compact, recently renovated, and only seven miles from city center. Nearly everything about it is the opposite of the mammoth Dallas Ft Worth Airport located in the city’s far western suburbs.

Last month, Southwest Airlines announced a slew of new nonstops from its base at Dallas Love Field (DAL) due to upcoming changes in federal regulations. Interestingly, none of the new flights included a Bay Area airport and I immediately saw this as an opportunity for Virgin America. Especially since Virgin America CEO David Cush is from Dallas, worked for American Airlines there, and has deep connections in the city.

When I contacted Virgin last month about possibilities at Love Field, a spokesperson said that the carrier “would be very interested in expanding service into Dallas Love should the opportunity arise.”

Dallas Love Field…the color scheme looks very Virgin America, don’t you think? (Photo: Hensel Phelps)

Sounds like that opportunity is at hand. Here’s what Virgin said today about plans for Dallas Love— where it hopes to move operations as soon as this October:

Virgin America today announces plans to significantly expand its Dallas presence by operating new daily nonstop flights from Dallas’ Love Field (DAL) to New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). In addition …the airline plans to increase flights to current destinations (San Francisco and Los Angeles) from Dallas.
Virgin America is seeking to secure two Love Field gates in order to expand flight options for Dallas travelers, as the airport’s centralized location makes it a more convenient choice for Dallas-based and Dallas-destined business travelers. If successful, the airline would move its current operations from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Love Field in October 2014.
Virgin America’s service to and from DAL would begin from October 2014, after the expiration of the Wright Amendment, which has restricted flights at Love Field since 1979. The airline would plan to operate daily nonstop flights from October 2014 and would announce full schedules for the following routes should the Love Field gates be approved:
      DAL to LGA (four roundtrip flights a day).
      DAL to DCA (four roundtrip flights a day).
      DAL to LAX (three roundtrip flights a day, expanding to four in 2015).
      DAL to SFO (three roundtrip flights a day, expanding to four in 2015).
In addition, the airline would add two roundtrip flights a day from DAL to Chicago O’Hare in early 2015.

As you may recall from previous BAT posts, Virgin has been busy snapping up slots and New York LaGuardia and Washington National, but has been mum about what it was going to do with them. Now we know what it is hoping to do with four of them.

But it snagged six slot pairs at LaGuardia, and the Dallas Love plan would only use up four. What about the other two slots?

I’m still holding out great hope that somehow, some way Virgin will be able to convince the feds to grant an exception to LaGuardia’s perimeter rules, allowing it to use the left over slots at LaGuardia to operate nonstops from both SFO and LAX into the heart of NYC at close in, convenient La Guardia. Imagine that?? Land in New York and get to Manhattan in 15 minutes instead of 45? That’s what I call a “BAT dream!”

Moves like this make Virgin a much more attractive alternative to business travelers, which are key to its long term success…as well as its ability to look good enough to investors to pull off an IPO this later this year.

All of this requires approval government approval. For example, in Dallas, Delta Air Lines is also gunning for gates at Dallas Love, but it’s not clear if there is room for Delta AND Virgin (and Southwest). Both have good arguments why they should get the gates. But if the government has to choose one or the other, I think Virgin will likely win given the current environment.

Delta is now the second largest airline in the country and is acting like it (see Delta’s recent change to its SkyMiles program). The DOJ nearly nixed the American-US Airways merger due to competitive concerns. Virgin is a young fun upstart hoping to break into a new market and spread its wings east from its SFO and LAX hubs. Approving Virgin America for those Dallas Love gates just has better optics for the government than giving them away to the Delta behemoth.

Delta and Virgin are now waging a PR war over the gate space at Love Field. Delta assumed that its application for the slots was a slam-dunk, so much so that it has already started selling seats on its proposed flights out of DAL. When Virgin made its intentions known, Delta fired off a press release stating why it thought it should have the slots, or why it thought both Delta and Virgin could enter the market. Responding to this, a Virgin spokesperson told TravelSkills: “We believe that Delta is not eligible for these assets. In response to the creation of now four ‘mega-airlines,’ the DOJ has provided clear guidance that any new entrant at Love Field would need to be a low-fare carrier that would provide new competition — particularly in markets like these, where increasing airline consolidation is limiting choices for the traveling public.”

Barbie Cobb, CEO of hat maker Brim Couture in Dallas, flies frequently between Dallas and the Bay Area. “Dallas Love is definitely the preferred airport among folks who live in town, especially since the renovation. To have Virgin America flying from there would make it even more attractive. Beautiful Virgin planes at beautiful new Love Field. I love that idea,” she said. However, it remains to be seen if business travelers are willing to give up the American Airlines AAdvantage or United MileagePlus miles and choose Virgin instead. Perhaps flights from Love Field could provide that competitive edge.

Do you fly to Dallas much? Would you prefer to fly into Dallas Love field instead of distant DFW? What do you think about the possibility of Virgin flying nonstop SFO to New York LaGuardia? Please leave your comments below.

—Chris McGinnis

And just in case you missed it, here are some of our most popular, recent TravelSkills posts :

United carry-on “crackdown” not all it’s cracked up to be

Another spin on the frequent flyer merry-go-round

SFO by the numbers

Shoes + New STL flight + New A321T + Where’s the luv? + T3E cities + Free ice cream

Bikini-clad safety video

Stormy weather slowing you down? Here’s why

What’s next for SFO?

United biz class giveaway + New Chicago flight + MileagePlus deadline + Southwest overwater + Rocketmiles

First look inside United’s new terminal at SFO

New Year. New credit card?

***

Subscribe to TravelSkills- via e-mail!

Why don’t you join the 25,000+ people who get insider info, news and tips from TravelSkills every month? Sign up here to receive posts via email. Don’t miss out!

✈ Summer airline & airport news

August 15, 2012

Hello TICKET readers! We hope you are having a great summer. We’ve been busy working on new endeavors. The best way for you to keep up with what we are reading and seeing this summer is via Facebook and Twitter. If you are not already following us on these outlets, please sign on today!

Here’s a brief chronicle and links to some of the most important travel news for TICKET readers over the last couple months:

Delta flight attendant Katherine Lee, aka “Deltalina”

NO MORE DELTALINA? If you are a fan of Delta’s popular 2008 safety video and the lovely Deltalina finger wag, get ready for a surprise. Rumor has it that later this year Delta will be unveiling a new safety video featuring a different cast of crew members– with a possible cameo appearance by flight attendant Katherine Lee, a.k.a Deltalina. The new video is reportedly going to be light hearted and funny to attract the attention of those who don’t think it’s important to watch. Delta has neither confirmed nor denied the rumor of a a new safety video. Have you ever had Deltalina as your flight attendant? How do you feel about Delta possibly changing its pre-flight safety video?

NO MORE COMAIR. Delta has finally pulled the plug on long-ailing Comair– a move that continues the shrinkage of Delta’s once large hub operation at Cincinnati. Comair was founded in 1977. Delta purchased Comair for almost $2 billion in 2000.

ECONOMY COMFORT. Delta has made it easier for corporate travelers to book economy comfort seats via their travel agencies by making them available through the Amadeus GDS. Prior to this, travelers only had access to the roomier coach seats via Delta.com

TRIPLE MILES. You’ll earn triple Delta SkyMiles at Marriott brands beginning with your second stay from July 1-October 31. Details here.

DISADVANTAGED MULTI-MILLIONAIRES? Several of Atlanta’s politically connected elite with lucrative airport concessionaire contracts (including Maynard Jackson’s heirs) may not deserve “disadvantaged” designation…and some have never even visited the stores that they “own.” According to this investigative story by the AJC, there’s a standoff between the FAA and GDOT over the recent reshuffling of airport contracts.

DELTA DOES DALLAS. With Southwest Airlines in its crosshairs, starting Sept 5, Delta will launch 5x daily roundtrips between ATL and close-in Dallas Love Field using 50 seat CRJs. Delta is able to get around the Wright Amendment by using aircraft with fewer than 56 seats. Since Southwest only flies much larger 737’s, it can’t offer ATL-DAL flights until the Wright Amendment expires in 2014. Would you fly to Dallas Love? Or will you stick with the more familiar DFW? Leave your comments below!

Southwest Airlines California state flag themed 737 at SFO (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

ATL-SFO&LAX. Southwest Airlines begins offering a two daily nonstops between ATL and San Francisco on September 30. Outbound flights depart ATL at 11 am and 6 pm. Return flights depart SFO at 7:40 am and 3:00pm. AirTran will continue with its two daily, two-class roundtrips through at least early March 2013. Similarly, both Southwest and AirTran now fly nonstop between ATL and Los Angeles LAX. Eventually, as AirTran phases out, your only nonstop, non-Delta option on these 4-5 hour flights to the west coast will be on Southwest. AirTran has already turned over the long ATL-Seattle run to Southwest only. It’s on these transcons that the absence of AirTran’s business class is going to be felt most!

PRIORITY CLUB 24-HR SALE. From noon Aug 15 until noon Aug 16, you can book Holiday Inn Resorts using Priority Club points for half price. Only good for trips September 4 thru November 2– but not a bad deal at all if you have the points and the time off.

PRE-CHECK GROWTH. We are hearing that PreCheck lanes at ATL security are frequently longer than other, supposedly less exclusive lines. Agree or disagree? PreCheck expanding fast, and is now available for Delta flyers at Charlotte, Chicago ORD Terminal 2, Detroit Checkpoint 2, Indianapolis Checkpoint A, New York La Guardia Terminal D, Las Vegas D gates, Boston-Logan Terminal A, LAX Terminal 5, Minneapolis Checkpoint 4, Orlando East Checkpoint, Portland PDX, Washington-Reagan South Pier, Salt Lake City Terminal 2, Seattle Checkpoint 5 and Tampa Terminal E.

LOSS OF SERVICE. This month AirTran ends nonstop service between ATL and Sarasota. It’s also dumping its popular nonstops between ATL and New York’s Westchester County airport. On September 1, Delta will stop flying between ATL and New York’s Stewart Airport, located about an hour north of NYC. Delta has axed CRJ nonstops between ATL and Meridian, MS, to be replaced by Silver Airways, which uses Saab turboprops.

TATTY SKY CLUBS? From TICKET reader GN: “We just spent 2 hours in the renovated Philadelphia Sky Club. While it is a vast improvement over the old Crown Room location, I was very disappointed to discover that the ‘new’ furniture is already worn out and broken. The designer made some furniture selections that do not hold up to the wear and tear this space receives. It’s a shame because it detracts from an otherwise very nice space.”

Gorgeous circles at Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul. (Photo: Turkish Airlines)

BEAUTIFUL LOUNGES. Check out my latest Executive Travel Magazine slideshow on the World’s most Beautiful Airline Lounges! (NOTE: Look for the purple “Launch Slideshow” box to the left of the copy.) Do you agree with my choices?

DELTA WI-FI OVERWATER. Delta announced that starting in early 2013 it will begin installation of new satellite-based inflight Wi-Fi from Gogo on 150 long-haul internationally configured Boeing 777, 767, 747, Airbus 330 and transoceanic Boeing 757 aircraft. Currently, the Gogo system only works via a land-based network of antennae in North America.

SORRY, SILVERS! The Wall Street Journal ran an interesting story on the plight of silver elite level members of Delta and United. It points out that the pool of elite level flyers has swollen in recent years, primarily due to mergers and exaggerated credit card mileage bonuses. At The TICKET, we covered this sad state of affairs in 2010 and that post remains the #1, most read and commented-on post of all time.

DELTA PENTHOUSE. Take a look at Delta’s new business class configuration upstairs in its 747s.

BETTER FLYING ON BIG DELTA JETS. The recent announcement of Southwest/Air Tran’s 717 fleet moving to Delta is good news for those who hate the small 50-seat jets operated by Delta Connection. These new planes are part of a plan to phase out the smaller jets (which have poor efficiency in the current high fuel environment) while maintaining similar capacity in the marketplace. The new 717s, not expected to come online for at least a year, will be outfitted with 12 first class seats, 15 Economy Comfort seats, and 83 economy class seats, all of which will have access to Gogo wi-fi.

NEW NEW YORK FLIGHTS. Delta will launch a series of new nonstop flights from New York LaGuardia and JFK to feed into its growing New York hub. A new daily LaGuardia to Bermuda flight will operate aboard a Boeing 737-800 beginning in April 2013. Nonstop service to Nassau will switch from weekly to daily from LaGuardia beginning in December. From JFK, new daily service to Montego Bay, Aruba, and Punta Cana will please sun seekers who want to get away from the cold. These new daily flights begin in December just in time for the holidays. Floridian-bound travelers will also have expanded service from LaGuardia with double dailies to Sarasota/Bradenton and additional frequencies to Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Ft. Myers. The latter also will gain a new daily nonstop to JFK.

DON’T CRY FOR ME. In anticipation of Aerolineas Argentinas’ entry into SkyTeam, the agreement has now been inked to allow earning and redeeming of SkyMiles on the Argentine national carrier’s flights. The airline should formally join SkyTeam later this year.

Aeromexico jets lined up at Benito Juarez Int’l in Mexico City (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

HOLA MEXICO. In addition to Delta nonstops, SkyTeam partner Aeromexico now has nonstops between Atlanta and Mexico City. Daily flights using an Embraer 190 depart Atlanta at 2:40 p.m. and arrive at Mexico City at 5:25 p.m.; flights depart Mexico City at 9:05 a.m. and arrive at Atlanta at 1:40 p.m. If you are headed to Mexico City soon, be sure to see my latest BBC Travel story Business Trip: Mexico City for the latest and greatest tips and info.

DESERT-BOUND? Saudia Airlines has officially joined SkyTeam opening dozens of new destinations throughout the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent that were previously unreachable with partners. These include cities in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. While they may not be at the top of your vacation plans, many are important business destinations and this strengthens SkyTeam’s global position since most airlines in the Middle East are not part of a larger alliance as of yet.

Long waits for cabs at ATL turning away convention biz.

EMBARRASSING CAB QUEUES AT ATL. From TICKET reader BB: “Only in Atlanta. Did you know that to use a credit card in a taxi at ATL, you first have to stand in one line, and have a clerk run your credit card to get an authorization. She then hands you a paper slip with the authorization and only then can you stand in another line for cabs. Whaaaa?? No where else in the world…… Just ridiculous! This was actually mentioned in a feedback forum for the conference I was attending as another reason it won’t be held in Atlanta again.”

BUH-BYE PARTNERS. Indian carriers Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines will discontinue their partnership with SkyMiles Oct. 1. Until then, travelers can earn and redeem miles on both carriers on applicable fares. This is a great value as both airlines offer excellent networks within the region although Kingfisher has been undergoing severe financial problems as of late.

HOW TO USE TERMINAL F. (Thanks to TICKET reader Richard Higgins for the following advice)

>To get to new international terminal F, drive down I-75, NOT the old route via I-85. The MARTA does not go all the way to the new terminal. There is a shuttle bus between (old) domestic terminal and new terminal F, but allow an extra half-hour if you choose this option.
>International departures may go out either from F or E, but all departing international passengers are processed at the new terminal F.
>Arrivals: International flights may arrive at either F or E, but you and your baggage will be processed through F, so arrange ground transport at F.
>Baggage from all international flights to Atlanta will be picked up at F.
IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS:
>If your departing international flight has a USA stop before going international, ignore these instructions and go to domestic terminal as before.
>If your arriving international flight has a USA stop before arriving in Atlanta, ignore these new instructions; you will arrive at domestic terminal as before.

Speaking of Terminal F, check out what the AJC has to report on that LOOOONG walk between Terminal E and Terminal F reported by TICKET readers earlier this summer.

HELP US HELP YOU! If this info was helpful to you, please tell your friends and colleagues about The TICKET! Tell them to SUBSCRIBE!

*****

Subscribe to The TICKET via E-mail!

Follow @cjmcginnis

*****

Clever Virgin America campaign: Twin-tested

October 11, 2011

You may have missed this Virgin American video campaign if you’ve not been to Dallas recently… but it’s clever enough to share here in SF— especially if you are into twins.

The videos are part of a Virgin campaign in Dallas–Fort Worth that invites local travelers to determine the “best of two airlines.” In the videos, three sets of twins are sent on trips…one twin on Virgin America, the other on “the competition.” After the flight, the twins compare their experiences– with, I might add, predictable results considering this is a Virgin campaign. Nonetheless, it’s fun to watch!

—

(Chris McGinnis publishes TravelSkills and The TICKET blogs for frequent travelers.)

Virgin America’s messin’ with Texas

December 1, 2010

A Texas-style greeting for Virgin America's inaugural flight to DFW today.

A Texas-style greeting for Virgin America’s inaugural flight to DFW today.

First it was the San Francisco-based Giants. Now it’s San Francisco-based Virgin America tearing into Texas and hoping to tan some hide.

Virgin America is throwing a big hoedown in Dallas today to celebrate its arrival at Dallas-Ft Worth International Airport, the primary hub and headquarters of American Airlines. (American also happens to be the former employer of Virgin CEO David Cush.)

Dallas is also home to Virgin archrival Southwest Airlines, so it is time to pull out all the stops.

Those lucky enough to be on Virgin’s first flight (from LAX…SFO service starts Dec. 6) were treated to a catered Texas-style barbecue lunch on the tarmac upon arrival. Mayors of both Dallas and Ft. Worth along with small herd of Texas longhorn steers were there to greet them (see photo above).

Tonight, there’s a big party benefiting cancer research at the Dallas Opera House that will include a performance by Willie Nelson and an appearance by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson (natch).

American Airlines is not about to take a whoopin’ from a San Francisco-based outsider like Virgin, especially when it comes to the lucrative business travel market. To fight back, it’s pulled out its most powerful (and expensive) marketing gun: double elite qualifying miles on all flights between DFW, SFO and LAX from now through February 28. (To get the bonus miles, AAdvantage members must register prior to travel.)

From SFO, Virgin will operate just two flights per day compared to American’s nine. Its arrival in the market has brought down fares, with the lowest promotional ones now running about $260 round trip– matched, of course, by American and United. (Like Virgin, United offers only two SFO-DFW roundtrips per day and so far has not matched American’s double mileage promo.)

How will Virgin’s fleet of brand new planes equipped with seatback TV, Wi-Fi, signature cocktails and mood lighting stand up to American’s more conservative offering? Wrangling business travelers could be a tough for Virgin according to San Francisco resident Henry Harteveldt, principal travel analyst at Forrester Research. He said,

“It’ll be tough for Virgin America to get many business travelers with its limited schedule. Still, American’s actions show that it takes Virgin America seriously as a competitor, as they should. American will have to work hard to defend its market share. Virgin’s product and experience are tangibly better than what American offers. If Virgin adds more flights between Dallas and LAX/SFO, or adds other cities from DFW, they will give American a run for its money.”

In addition to some tough competition from American, Virgin is going to have to fend off nonstop competition between SFO and Dallas Love Field from Southwest starting in 2014. That’s when the Wright Amendment fizzles out, allowing Southwest to offer nonstop flights from SFO, OAK, SJC to Dallas Love. (Currently, it’s only allowed to offer one stop or connecting flights.)