Delta Air Lines Archives

Havana, Cuba airline tickets from US cities coming soon

July 7, 2016

Refrigerator magnets from a recent trip to Havana (Chris McGinnis)

Last month, the U.S. Transportation Department awarded U.S. carriers new route rights to serve secondary cities in Cuba, but not the biggest plum – Havana.

This week, DOT finally acted on all the requests it had from U.S. airlines to operate regular scheduled service to the Cuban capital, awarding Havana routes to eight airlines for flights that are likely to start sometime this fall.

The preliminary route awards are still subject a public comment period before being finalized. Tickets are not yet on sale, but should be later this summer. Right now, round trip charter flights from Miami to Havana are running at about $450 round trip, a price that we expect to drop significantly when competition cranks up in the fall.

The only Havana route from the West Coast went to Alaska Airlines, which will operate daily non-stops from Los Angeles using a two-class, 181-passenger 737-900ER. The flight will originate in Seattle, offering same-plane service top Cuba. Alaska said it expects to begin the service by year’s end. From LAX or SFO, current fares to Havana via Mexico City (Aeromexico) or Panama City (Copa) are about $625 round trip.

Recent: Curious about Cuba? Don’t miss this!

Vintage cars serve as tourist taxis in Havana’s Plaza de la Revolucion (Chris McGinnis)

Most of the new routes will be from the eastern U.S., especially Florida. The exception to that rule was DOT’s selection of United to operate Houston-Havana flights, but only once a week. United will also operate daily non-stops to Havana from its Newark hub.

American Airlines will offer four daily roundtrips to Havana from Miami and one a day from Charlotte; Delta’s new route authority includes daily roundtrips to Havana from Atlanta, New York JFK and Miami; JetBlue won rights for two daily flights from Ft. Lauderdale and one each from New York JFK and Orlando; Southwest’s new route authority provides for two daily roundtrips from Ft. Lauderdale and one from Tampa; Spirit Airlines got two daily Ft. Lauderdale-Havana flights; and Frontier will be allowed a single daily flight from Miami to Havana.

Don’t miss: Cruising into Cuba: It’s complicated!

Nonstops to Havana from US cities announced today (Image: Great Circle Mapper)

Technically, the U.S. still does not allow for simple tourist travel to Cuba; Americans who go there must fall into one of 12 categories approved by the government, including things like journalistic activity, professional research and meetings, educational activities and so on. Here’s a link to the Treasury Department’s rules for travel to Cuba.

Have you been to Cuba yet? Will you go in the near future? Why or why not? 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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Voluptuous tower + Delta experiment + World’s largest hotel + United’s most popular plane?

May 24, 2015

Gazing up at SFO’s new control tower is vertigo-inducing! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

TravelSkills’ 12 most popular posts over the last week… plus a few newsy nuggets we missed.

1. A TravelSkills exclusive and oh, what a view! First look: Inside SFO’s brand new control tower (photos)

2. Have you smelled it? Delta experiments with boarding & aromatherapy

3. Unless you are Muslim: The largest hotel you’ll likely never stay in

4. Special tags for right-size bags: Another carry-on crackdown coming?

5. Bay to ATL Southwest adds Oakland-Atlanta, other nonstops

6. Holdover from last week: Ugly Chinese worse than ugly Americans?

7. Bad news after huge build up at ATL, elsewhere: Frontier’s CEO dismissed as complaints soar

8. The dancing baby is back! Selected highlights of Delta’s clever new safety video

9. Get group discounts without being part of the group: Trip Report: A new kind of travel package

10. Airlines keep adding new flights: New routes: JetBlue + United + Delta + SAS + Air Canada + Southwest

11. Will all these new flights lead to lower fares? Don’t hold your breath Airfare war in the wings?

12. More evidence that there’s no single site that’s best for airfare shopping: Delta accused of blocking key data

Update: Delta Sky Club at SFO + Miami Centurion lounge opens in June

Singapore Airlines premium economy coming…but not for a while (Chris McGinnis)

Juicy nuggets of news from other sources that we missed on TravelSkills this week:

Singapore Airlines’ new premium economy seat- Coming Dec 15 at JFK. LAX & SFO in 2016

First new flights for Eastern Airlines from Miami to…

Except for Dreamliners, United’s remodeled 767s are its most popular widebody.

Roundup of Uber acceptance at airports

Nice gig if you’re a “people person”

Which airlines fare worst in on Twitter?

Supersonic business jet goes on sale. Cost? $120 million.

Oakland Airport offers free parking for travelers flying on new routes.

Best view of the week: Big bright and beautiful Barcelona El Prat airport. Wow!

Barcelona El Prat (Chris McGinnis).

Delta Sky Club SFO + Amex Centurion Lounge MIA

May 23, 2015

Delta's Sky Club at SFO during week of May 18 (Image: Chris McGinnis)

Delta’s Sky Club at SFO’s Terminal 1 boarding area C during week of May 18 (Image: Chris McGinnis)

It sounds like progress toward completion of Delta’s new Sky Club at SFO has stalled.

When the project began, Delta expected the new airside club would open in May, but this week the carrier revealed to TravelSkills that it “won’t open before August.”

From the inside of Delta’s Boarding Area C in Terminal 1, you can’t miss the big construction wall hiding the entrance to the new Sky Club as you enter the terminal just after security.

Since the club will be located one floor above the gate area, I assume we’ll access it by an elevator or escalator.

The current Delta Sky Club at SFO (see its mixed Yelp reviews) is inconveniently located outside the T1 Boarding Area C checkpoint, a location that has long been a sore point among Sky Club members.

Entrance to SFO’s Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3 (Chris McGinnis)

In related news, American Express is poised to open its new Centurion Lounge at Miami International Airport’s North Terminal in early June. Stay tuned for full coverage and updates from a media preview TravelSkills will attend on June 2!

As it has done at other Centurion lounges, Amex chose Miami celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein (of Delta fame) to inspire the food at the 8,000 square foot lounge. Here’s a blurb about that from the Miami Herald:

Bernstein’s buttermilk-brined fried chicken and Greek-style local watermelon salad will be available at MIA’s Centurion, located in the North Terminal that services American Airlines and Qatar Airways. She said she leaned toward lighter items, like a green goddess salad and a vanilla panna cotta dessert, to “make sure people are comfortable as they board their flights.”

If the lounge is anything like Amex’s most recent addition at SFO T3, frequent flyers will be wowed with fab locally inspired design, food and drink.

Next up on the list of airports getting the new Centurion lounge: Seattle!

About the only downside to these lounges is their popularity– crowding can sometimes be an issue.

So who gets in the Centurion Lounge? Here’s a link that explains who gets in— basically, it’s free for Amex Platinum and Centurion card holders only- this does not include Delta/Amex Platinum card holders. Anyone else with any type of Amex Card gets in for $50.

Have you been to one yet? Leave your comments below!

–Chris McGinnis

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

Selected highlights of Delta’s clever new safety video

May 20, 2015

Deltaline makes yet another cameo in Deltas latest safety video

As the peak summer travel season roars in, airlines are updating their inflight safety videos. The videos now seems to be as much a PR tool as they are a tool to keep passengers safe.

Last week, we saw Air New Zealand reveal a sexy, surfing themed video.

This week, Delta introduced a clever new video that includes highlights from the last decade or so of web culture and videos that went viral.

Who has time for a 6 minute video? For you dear reader, we’ve collected some highlights that should jog your memory:

Full video is below…

1:50 We get a finger wag from Deltalina, one of the first safety video sensations.

3:00 Here we see a cute rendition of “Charlie bit my finger.”

3:52 A handsome flight attendant douses himself with a bucket of ice water reminiscent of the ALS challenge that went viral last year.

The famous dancing baby

4:08 How many of you are old enough to remember the famous dancing baby? It’s here!

4:47 What happens when you mix Mentos and coke? Remember that?

4:59 A crazy recreation of a cat riding the robot vacuum cleaner also at :32
.

-Chris McGinnis

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What the near future holds for Delta

May 15, 2015

Will Delta eventually get the Boeing Dreamliner? (Image: Boeing)

Delta CEO Richard Anderson recently sat down with AP travel reporter Scott Mayerowitz for a wide ranging interview that’s a great read for TravelSkills readers, many of whom use the airline frequently.

Some highlights:

>Despite a very heavy summer travel season ahead, Anderson is confident that Delta’s operational stats will be off the charts– he’s proud of the fact that Delta has improved significantly in flight delays, pointing to a recent 95-day run without a single mainline cancellation. (However, regional operations are a different story, as you’ll see here.)

>Anderson is confident that cheap oil will be the norm in the near term and is basing his decisions on oil prices remaining well under $100 for a while. He thinks the US will be completely petroleum independent by 2020 due to enhanced drilling techniques (like fracking).

TravelSkills chatting with Delta CEO Richard Anderson last year in Atlanta (Photo: Ramsey Qubein)

>Delta plans to continue its conservative fleet management program by refurbishing older planes and buying used ones instead of new ones. However, Delta is looking closely at the yet-to-be-produced stretch version of the Boeing’s Dreamliner, the 787-10.

>Anderson thinks Cuba’s infrastructure is going to keep it from being a major travel industry player any time soon, although he does predict that Delta will fly there. (I agree that it’s going to be a slow road for tourism in Cuba.)

>He’s more gung-ho about building up Delta operations in Shanghai, Mexico City and Sao Paulo. He’s big on expanding partnerships with China Southern and China Eastern in Shanghai and Beijing

Here’s the link to the full story from AP.

Related: Here’s Chris’s big summer outlook report from TravelSkills HQ! Please tune in for a look-see 🙂

Delta bumps up summer seats to Europe

April 30, 2015

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s new 50,000 mile bonus + Easy 1,000 AAdvantage miles + The most outrageous luxury suites in the sky +Virgin’s new LAX Clubhouse!

Delta’s summer schedule includes more flights to Rome and other European cities. (Image: Jim Glab)

Delta has unveiled plans for a seasonal summer expansion of its routes to Europe.

This additional capacity should make it somewhat easier to find award seats across the pond…right? At least we can hope so. How’s your luck been so far?

Among the additions:

To Italy, Delta will resume daily Detroit-Rome service on May 2 with a 767-400, and will add a second Atlanta-Rome flight May 23, operating up to six times a week with a 767-300. (Delta also flies to Rome from New York JFK.) June 2 is the relaunch date for daily summer flights from Atlanta to Venice, using a 767-300; and starting June 16, Delta will lay on six 757-200 flights a week between New York JFK and Pisa, Italy. The carrier will supplement its current JFK-Milan service starting June 17 with a daily 767-300 flight from Atlanta to Milan.

Daily service from Delta’s Salt Lake City hub to Amsterdam is slated to begin May 2, with a 210-seat 767-300, operated with joint venture partner KLM.

New: United’s sweet 50,000-mile bonus is back

Effective May 2, Delta will resume daily New York JFK-Shannon, Ireland service using a 757-200.

May 2 is also the starting date for daily service from JFK to Reykjavik, Iceland, with a 234-seat 757-300; now in its fifth year, the Iceland service will continue through September. (A new option for Iceland trips is that country’s ultra-low-cost carrier Wow Air, with Boston-Reykjavik fares starting at $99.)

38 new Marriotts + Double SkyMiles + Wi-fi block spank + New Hyatt brand + Virgin in Nashville

February 1, 2015

Marriott just added 120 new hotels in Canada

Marriott just added 38 new Delta hotels in Canada, like this one in Toronto

More opportunities to earn Marriott Rewards. Marriott International will greatly increase its presence in Canada with the planned acquisition of that country’s Delta Hotels brand for $135 million. Delta has 38 hotels with 10,000 rooms in 30 Canadian cities; after the deal is complete, that will boost Marriott’s total presence in Canada to more than 120 hotels and 27,000 rooms. Marriott said that will make it “the largest full-service hotel company in Canada.” Meanwhile, Marriott also announced plans to bring its new Moxy brand from Europe to the U.S., with three new Moxy properties in New York City and others in San Francisco, Seattle, New Orleans and Chicago. The first Moxy opened in Milan last fall and others are coming in Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin Copenhagen and London. The Moxy brand will be modern and high-tech, with “highly social” lobbies, “free and furiously fast Wi-Fi” and such.

InterContinental offers double Delta miles. Members of InterContinental Hotels Group’s IHG Rewards Club who select Delta SkyMiles as their earning option can get double bonus miles for every qualifying stay at an IHG property from now through April 30. The offer requires online registration.

Blizzard warning in Chicago and heavy snow to snarl air travel Monday and Tuesday (Image: NWS)

Storm update: Airlines have started to cancel flights and issue waivers of change penalties for Monday/Tuesday flights across a wide swath of the northern US. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Chicago. Stay warm and remember: If your flight is canceled and you decide to bag your trip completely, the airline owes you a full refund.

FCC gets tough on Wi-Fi blockage. The Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau issued a stern warning last week that it won’t tolerate hotels or other commercial establishments blocking customers’ personal Wi-Fi hotspots. Last year, the enforcement agency fined Marriott $600,000 after one of its affiliated properties was caught doing just that in conference rooms; it said last week it is seeing a “disturbing trend” of similar activity and is currently investigating several complaints. “No hotel…may intentionally block or disrupt personal Wi-Fi hot spots on such premises, including as part of an effort to force consumers to purchase access to the property owner’s Wi-Fi network,” the FCC said. Think this has happened to you? Go to www.fcc.gov/complaints or call 888-CALL-FCC with details. Do you prefer your own hotspot to the hotel’s Wi-Fi? Under what circumstances?

Full capitulation by Marriott. At first, it Marriott put up a fight over the heated hotspot issue, but quietly issued this “we thought we were doing the right thing” statement Saturday morning: Bethesda, Md., January 30, 2015 – Marriott International has decided to withdraw as a party to the petition seeking direction from the FCC on legal Wi-Fi security measures. Our intent was to protect personal data in Wi-Fi hotspots for large conferences. We thought we were doing the right thing asking the FCC to provide guidance, but the FCC has indicated its opposition. As we have said, we will not block Wi-Fi signals at any hotel we manage for any reason. And, as of January 15, we provide free Wi-Fi to all members of our Marriott Rewards program who book directly with us. We’re doing everything we can to promote our customers’ connectivity using mobile and other devices, and we’re working with the industry to find security solutions that do not involve blocking our guests’ use of their Wi-Fi devices.

SpringHill Suites Security. Have you seen how SpringHill Suites is putting a wrap (and some cushy couches) on airport security? See this

Disappearing soon? (Photo: Consumerist Dot Com / Flickr)

Demise of the hotel room phone upon us? We’ll have a TravelSkills post this week about a new app that could spell the end to the room phone.

Hyatt’s new brand. Is there no end to new brands in the hotel industry as major companies try to capture the growing market of Millennial business travelers? Hyatt has introduced five brands since 2006, and here comes a sixth: Some 15 Hyatt properties in key business destinations (like New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami and Paris) will take on a new identity this summer as the company launches the Hyatt Centric brand. Hyatt says it will be “a full-service lifestyle brand” for travelers who want “a cosmopolitan vibe in the center of the action” (hence the name Centric). Like so many new brands, Centric will offer a public area where guests can work and socialize, along with a “knock ‘n’ drop” room service (i.e., no “formal delivery”). For more, go to www.hyattcentric.com. Which new hotel brands have you tried? What’s your favorite?

Related: Our take on Starwood’s Aloft brand – SLIDESHOW

A brand new Virgin hotel planned for hot-n-happnin-now Nashville (Rendering: Virgin Hotels)

Virgin’s Nashville plans. Virgin Hotels just opened its first property — in Chicago — but already has released plans for its second, which will open in Nashville in fall of 2016. Appropriate to its address at One Music Row, the 240-room hotel will include one non-standard facility: A recording studio. Also on tap are a live entertainment venue, Virgin’s trademark Commons Club bar/restaurant/hangout space, a gym, wellness center and rooftop pool.

Did you miss the Saturday issue of our WEEKEND EDITION? Here ’tis!

New jets SFO-LAX + Europe summer deals + United move at ATL + Delta wi-fi progress + Cathay biz class sale

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My two favorite airlines. Yours?

January 28, 2015

(Photo: Berit Watkin)

Last week a travel blogger for Forbes asked me to comment on what I feel are the two best U.S. airlines for business travelers.

You’ll find a snippet of what I told him here. But I thought my full answer would make for a good TravelSkills post.

So here’s what I wrote about my two current faves (which I’m sure will change over time):

I’m originally from Atlanta and have flown Delta extensively for the last 25 years (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Over the last 5-10 years, Delta has worked really hard to be the best US airline for business travelers and I think that it has succeeded. It finally has a world class terminal in New York City at JFK…. that old Worldport was something that was really holding Delta back from being world class.

It has upgraded and standardized Sky Clubs. Nearly all Delta jets have wi-fi– something near and dear to most business travelers and being able to count on having it on your flight (instead of wishing or wondering) is key. (Related: Delta’s progress on international fleet wi-fi)

Plus, it’s pretty easy to get into Economy Comfort with miles or dollars, which makes the economy flying experience better.

And even though everyone is groaning about new spend requirements for elite status, I think it’s going to make the experience better for frequent business travelers in the long run.

6 tips for better plane pics

I’m one of the lucky travelers living in a Virgin America hub. Love those US flag winglets! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Those business travelers lucky enough to be based in a city with service from Virgin America should take advantage of the carrier’s stellar inflight product and outstanding service. It has nice new planes, decent legroom, good inflight entertainment, 100% wi-fi, all of which is now Gogo’s faster ATG-4 variety.

Something about flying Virgin America makes you feel good– not worn out or abused like you might feel on other carriers. Its terminal facilities at SFO, JFK and Dallas Love are state of the art– really nice, bright, modern, etc.

The problem is that most business travelers are hesitant to fly Virgin because they don’t want to give up on earning their legacy airline frequent flyer program miles, and they don’t see Virgin’s Elevate program as overly generous.

Another drawback is lack of frequency between some key city pairs (hello SFO-ORD currently 1x per day!) but that could be fixed with a slew of new planes coming over the next few years bought with IPO money.

How Emirates welcomes a new plane [Photos]

An outstanding, fresh & healthy meal in JetBlue’s Mint class (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

I spread my airline business around quite a lot, so even though I have favorites, I don’t get to fly them all the time.

For example, I was super impressed on a recent JetBlue Mint flight to New York (Trip Report coming soon), and would love to fly JetBlue more if it had more Bay Area flights. (It would likely be one of my favorites if I lived in NYC.)

United is the largest airline at my hometown airport (SFO) and I fly it a lot but my experiences, and those of many of my readers, have been uneven. Over the last year, I must say that my positive experiences have tipped in United’s favor, and I’m a fan of its lie-flat international business class product- especially upstairs on a 747. I’m also a fan of its new terminal at SFO.

I’m excited to see what American/US Airways are doing, but I barely fly them at all. I used to fly AirTran quite a lot when it was cheap and easy to upgrade to their business class seats. But now that upgrades are no longer possible on Southwest, I’ve shied away from the carrier, especially on long haul flights.

Everyone has an opinion about which U.S. airline is best. What’s yours? Why? Please leave your comments below.

–Chris McGinnis

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Delta rebrands cabins, classes of service

December 8, 2014

New quilted seat covers for Delta’s first class flyers (Photo: Delta)

SkyMiles members who are thoroughly versed in all of Delta’s cabin and seating options will have to do a little re-education following the airline’s announcement that it is “redefining” and rebranding its products into five categories.

The new cabin/seating regime takes effect March 1, 2015, with the following designations:

>What is currently BusinessElite becomes Delta One, available on long-haul international routes and prime transcontinental routes (JFK-LAX/SFO). The company said that by next spring, it should have fully-flat beds in Delta One as well as the new Comfort+ seat upgrades on those two lucrative domestic routes.

>The front cabin on short-haul international and domestic routes is designated First Class — although Delta notes that “select international flights may offer Business Class service in lieu of First Class,” with amenities that vary by flight and aircraft.

>The current Delta Economy Comfort seating option is being rebranded as Delta Comfort+. It will include free booze (domestic and international), better snacks and dedicated overheard bin space.

>Regular economy seating on Delta is split into two tiers: Main Cabin and Basic Economy. The Main Cabin is for travelers flying on most economy class fares. Delta’s Basic Economy is for those on unadorned fares of the same name, which the airline introduced two years ago to stay competitive with low-cost carriers, and has been expanding to more routes in recent months. Available now in dozens of markets out of Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salt Lake City, those fares do not allow changes, refunds or advance seat selection.

New quilted seat covers on Delta’s rebranded Comfort+ cabin (Photo: Delta)

Effective February 1, Delta’s Basic Economy fares will no longer include some things they offer now.

When flying on a Basic Economy fare, Medallions will still get waived baggage fees, priority check-in and boarding and Medallion mileage bonuses. However, “Medallion members will not receive paid or Complimentary Upgrades or Preferred Seats, or paid, complimentary or discounted Economy Comfort when flying on a Basic Economy fare on or after February 1, 2015,” Delta noted.

What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

Also on February 1, Basic Economy travelers will no longer be able to purchase “Trip Extra” priority boarding, nor will they be eligible for paid or complimentary Preferred Seats or for same-day confirmed or same-day standby travel.

Except for those booked in the new Basic Economy, SkyMiles Diamonds and Platinums will still get free upgrade eligibility to First Class, as well as free access to the renamed Comfort+ seating at the time of booking– sorry Golds, you don’t get that perk anymore. Delta added: “On March 1, 2015, Gold and Silver Medallion members will continue to enjoy complimentary upgrade eligibility to First Class as well as complimentary access to Delta Comfort+ seats starting 72 hours and 24 hours prior to departure, respectively.”

Currently, the extra-legroom Economy Comfort seats are available at a 50 percent discount prior to check-in for Silvers on domestic and short-haul international flights, and at a 25 percent discount for Silvers and 50 percent for Golds on longer international flights. (Delta’s current Economy Comfort comparison chart)

Delta has created a chart displaying the amenities and services (see below) that come with each of its five cabin/fare categories; scroll down on that page and you’ll see the specific markets where Basic Economy is currently offered. The airline has also put up a video on YouTube to illustrate the new cabin categories.

Perhaps the most tactile change is that Delta will install new quilted seat covers on all Delta One, First Class and Delta Comfort+ seats through the middle of next year.

As usual, we’d love to get your take on these changes. Please leave your comments below.

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

What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

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Uber out in Vegas + United changes routes + Delta in Philly + Virgin’s next moves? + New India visa

November 30, 2014

Alaska Airlines is sticking to a miles-based program unlike most other carriers (Photo: Jim Glab)

AIRLINES

Alaska boosts mileage bonuses. Alaska Airlines has an early Christmas present for its Mileage Plan members: bigger earning bonuses for certain fare classes and for MVP Gold 75K elites starting January 1. The bonus for first class fares jumps from 50 to 75 percent, and for refundable coach (Y) fares from 25 to 50 percent. Some nonrefundable fare classes will start offering 50 percent (S class) or 25 percent (M and B) bonuses. And MVP Gold 75K elites will see their bonus rise from 100 to 125 percent. An Alaska official said airlines that have moved to revenue-based loyalty programs “have the potential of diluting the rewards earned for the average passenger,” and said Alaska will stick with a generous mileage-based plan. (Take that, Delta!)

United draws heat for Sacramento suspension. United Airlines will suspend its non-stop service between Sacramento and Washington Dulles for the winter season (January 6-April 6), drawing criticism from local politicians and members of Congress, who will have to make the trip via a connection during that period. United said the suspension is due to weak seasonal demand. California has 53 members of the house of representatives and two senators.

JetBlue debuts free Wi-Fi content. JetBlue last week went live with its new “Fly-Fi Hub,” a collection of free content that passengers can view on their personal devices aboard aircraft equipped with JetBlue’s Fly-Fi service. Content available both online and off-line includes Fox TV shows; e-book excerpts from 20 HarperCollins best-sellers; National Geographic programs; and educational videos including courses from Wharton Business School. Users also will have the option to buy Time Inc. magazines. Coming early next year is PBS programming for kids, as well as full access to the Wall Street Journal.

Virgin America routes as of November 2014 (Source: Virgin America)

Virgin America: Ready for takeoff? With its initial public offering successfully completed, its balance sheet in the black and fuel prices remaining low, Virgin America appears to be poised for a new period of growth and expansion, according to a newly released analysis by the CAPA Centre for Aviation. With new funds and 10 new aircraft joining its fleet in the next two years, it is expected to achieve capacity growth of 10-15 percent in 2015, and to focus on attracting an increasing number of higher-yielding business travelers. There’s room to grow, since Virgin only serves 15 of the top 50 U.S. markets, the report notes. Where would you like to see Virgin America fly next? On our wish list: Atlanta, New Orleans, Phoenix. What about you? Please leave your comments below.

Route news: United, Alaska, Delta. United plans to add a pair of new seasonal routes to Europe on June 4 and double its service on another: Daily Newark-Venice service operates through September 23 with a 767-400ER; daily Chicago-Dublin service through August 17 with a 757-200; and a second daily Washington Dulles-Paris CDG flight through August 17 with a 757-200 … This week, United adds two Latin American routes: Denver-Panama City starting December 3, and Houston-Santiago December 7 … On July 1, Alaska Airlines will add three routes operated by partner SkyWest’s Embraer 175s: Seattle-Milwaukee, Seattle-Oklahoma City and Portland-St. Louis, each with one daily flight … Delta plans to drop even more routes from Memphis on January 5, including Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Dallas/Ft. Worth; in April, it will end MEM-Washington Reagan National service.

MileagePlus tests new shopping app. United recently revealed plans to let MileagePlus members use miles to pay for meals and drinks via iPads at Newark’s Terminal C once renovations are finished, and now it is expanding its app-based shopping technology. The airline said it has started testing with a select group of members what it calls the MileagePlus X mobile app, which lets members with iOS and Android phones instantly earn up to 24 miles per dollar spent at participating retailers, including Lowe’s, Sears, the Gap and AMC Theaters. “The airline plans to expand MileagePlus X to all members and offer more retailers soon,” a spokesman said. “United is continuing to improve MileagePlus X and plans to launch additional features, including the ability to redeem miles for in-store purchases.”

Philadelphia (Photo: Murray Hedley, Flickr)

AA, Delta battle for PHL-London. When Delta recently began its own non-stop Los Angeles-London Heathrow service, American responded with plans to double its service on the route to two flights a day starting next spring — and now the same thing is happening on the Philadelphia-London Heathrow route. Delta said it will launch daily 757-200 flights between PHL and LHR on April 8 as part of its partnership with Virgin Atlantic. And American said it will add a second daily PHL-LHR flight starting March 29, operated by a US Airways 757-200, with a 9:55 a.m. departure time. That will give the AA-British Airways joint venture four daily PHL-LHR flights.

What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

CARS

Uber suspends Nevada service — for now. Ride-sharing app Uber’s presence in one of its newest big markets — Las Vegas — has been suspended after a Nevada judge issued a temporary restraining order against the service. It’s apparently the first time that Uber has failed to overcome the many legal and regulatory challenges to its business model, which generally involve whether or not the firm should have to follow the same rules as taxi operators.

Gas prices plunge. As air fares keep going up, gas prices keep going down. Late last week, the price of a barrel of oil plunged to a low of about $66. If this trend continues, it could lead some business travelers to consider adding more road trips to their schedules in place of shorter flights. Last week, average U.S. gas prices hit $2.82 a gallon, down 47 cents from last year at this time and at their lowest late-November level in five years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Are you planning to drive more now that fuel prices are lower… but airfares are not? Please leave your comments below.

International

Easier entry to India. The notoriously difficult Indian visa application process is now apparently a thing of the past according to Quartz. The Narendra Modi government on Thursday launched a “tourist visa on arrival” scheme for nationals of 43 countries (including the US and Cananda) traveling to India for 30 days or less—and only for “recreation, sightseeing, short duration medical treatment, casual business visit, casual visit to meet friends or relatives.” Applications must now be made online (instead of the previously required visit to a consulate) at least four days prior to arrival and cost $60.

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Delta raises bar for Medallions + More LAX flights + Ebola poll results + Delta back in Love

October 11, 2014

This is part one of this weekend’s Catching Up on Travel News (part 2 comes tomorrow)

AIRLINES

Delta keeps making moves to improve the ride for it’s customers with deepest pockets. (Photo: Jim Glab)

Delta tightens SkyMiles rules — again. Will United? In the latest tweak to its ever-changing SkyMiles program, Delta is increasing by 20 percent the minimum spend required during 2015 to achieve 2016 Medallion status — e.g., Medallion Qualifying Dollar requirements go from $2,500 to $3,000 for Silver status and so on, up to $15,000 for Diamond from the current $12,500. Delta says it is upping the ante to increase exclusivity of higher status– much like it’s done with more restrictions on guests allowed in Sky Clubs to control crowding. And keep an eye on United, which in keeping with it’s WWDD (What Would Delta Do) policy of mimicking every Delta move, could impose similar higher spending requirements. Is it working to make the experience more exclusive? We frequently hear from both sides of this issue, so please leave your comments below.

Another Delta squeeze. In another change, Delta will downgrade its Basic Economy fares (E fares). Effective February 15, passengers on those low-cost fares (typically on fares where the carrier competes with the likes of Spirit or Frontier) will not be able to get free Medallion upgrades, paid upgrades or advance seat selection; no refunds, changes or same-day standbys are allowed; and Preferred and Economy Comfort seats are off-limits.

Delta gets more time at DAL. Instead of being forced out of Dallas Love Field on October 13 as reported earlier, Delta will now get a reprieve at least until January 6 to keep operating its five daily DAL-ATL flights. What changed? Southwest Airlines — which controls 16 of DAL’s 20 gates — agreed to let Delta use one of them for a few months, and United anted up ticket counter space as well. Delta has been subleasing two gates from American Airlines, but those will be transferred to Virgin America this week.

An American Airlines B737-800 will soon fly ATL-LAX (Photo: BriYYZ / Flickr)

American adds another key ATL route. A week ago, American revealed plans to revive LaGuardia-Atlanta service on January 6. And now AA announced another stab at the heart of Delta’s network: It will begin three flights a day between Atlanta and its Los Angeles International hub on March 5, and is already taking reservations. LAX-ATL will be a mainline AA route, operated with 737-800s. So for those of you who say you are ready to dump Delta for a carrier that (so far) has not made the move toward revenue-based frequent flyer rewards, you now have more options.

Ebola fears in check. Based on our recent Ebola Fear Poll and post, it sounds like frequent travelers are not too alarmed about the possibility of contracting Ebola. With nearly 500 votes from TravelSkills readers in so far, 68% say that they are not fearful about Ebola, 22% say they are somewhat fearful and just 10% say that they are very fearful. Have you participated in the poll? In case you missed it, here’s one of the most viral travel videos this week showing hazmat crews entering a plane where a passenger joked about having ebola. VIDEO

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

Speaking of germs, we got a kick out of this email from TravelSkills reader MM about a recent flight where she was seated next to one of the 10% who are very fearful of Ebola: Dear Chris: I had to share an inflight experience I had tonight traveling from DFW to the ATL. So I am seated on a three seat row, when a passenger seated beside me (I was stuck in the middle seat) gets to her aisle seat to settle in. I said a quick hello and continued looking at my phone. She then began to pluck what I appeared to be antibacterial wipes from a container…they were ALCOHOL wipes—big ones!! She proceeded to stand up and wipe down her entire seat…every inch…seat belt included..straps too. Then she wiped down her tray table, light and ac controls, arm rests…the whole kit-kat and caboodle! By this time, I am having flashbacks to having my ears pierced in seventh grade at Rich’s department store where they doused you in alcohol. Then she neatly sat down. There were so many fumes that I felt like I needed the pull down the oxygen mask before take off! This is what happens when the fear of germs affects the quality of flight I thought to myself. Then I smiled and thought…I couldn’t wait to email TravelSkills about this! I am anti-germy myself but keep my hand sanitizer neatly tucked away. This woman was ready to do battle with bacteria! Oh, the stories that will emerge from all this…”

HOTELS

Marriott’s new Kube wireless charger

Marriott tries a new tech amenity. if you see an odd black box in a Marriott lobby, don’t hesitate to put your phone on it — that’s what it’s for. Marriott installed Kube Systems wireless charging stations in the lobbies of 29 hotels, acting on a suggestion from customers at its idea website, www.TravelBrilliantly.com. Besides the wireless charging surface, the boxes have built-in connectors to power up to six devices.

In Case You Missed It…

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>Eight essential tips for business trips to San Francisco.

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

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Peek behind the scenes at Delta

July 1, 2014

Chatting with Delta CEO Richard Anderson (Photo: Ramsey Qubein)

Delta invited TravelSkills to a rare, behind-the-scenes look at its operations in its massive Atlanta hub last month. Here’s a peek at what makes the third largest US airline tick, and a few nuggets of info we never knew:

-Our group had an intimate chat with the surprisingly down-to-earth Delta CEO Richard Anderson about the new Seattle/Tacoma hub. He says Delta is working with airport officials to consolidate gates at Seattle into a single concourse (right now, they are spread out across various concourses). Delta plans to add even more SEA flights due to its key location for transpacific traffic. The build up in Seattle comes as Delta pulls down its Tokyo hub in favor of connecting passengers in Seattle instead. Some other interesting nuggets about Anderson: He traveled primarily by Greyhound bus (and hitchhiking!) during his childhood in Texas. And these days he carries a black American Express Centurion card.

-Do you ever wonder how Delta pays attention to its best customers during a delay? We took a peek at their software systems in the Operations Control Center. Delta scores each of its flights with a “value” number, which is partly based upon how many “high value customers” (HVCs) are on board (Diamond Medallions, Platinum Medallions, Million Milers) and how many unaccompanied minors (children traveling alone) are onboard. This factors into how they manage flights during irregular operations. This means that when you see an unaccompanied minor on your plane, you have a better chance of not being canceled, since Delta does not want these kids flying alone. Flights with a lot of HVCs are also given more priority in delay/cancelation scenarios.

Do you know why there’s a swirl in the middle of a jet engine? (Photo Ramsey Qubein)

-That swirling cone in the center of a jet engine is a visual aid to show ground workers when an engine is on or when it is idle. While it seems like you would be able to hear if it is on, the tarmac is one noisy place! Another interesting nugget: All engine parts get taken apart regularly and washed in a giant washing machine to remove dirt and debris.

-The new baggage system in Atlanta has reduced lost/delayed bags by 80 percent for Delta flyers. Part of the decrease could be from fewer bags overall due to new bag fees. But did you know there is a high-speed conveyor belt underneath the concourses that whisk bags through a tunnel where they are scanned and deposited at the appropriate concourse to be delivered to the plane by truck? We learned it is important to remove loose straps and make sure the agent places the bag “wheels facing up,” which helps to keep it from getting stuck on the baggage belt in the tunnel.

Delta’s massive Atlanta hub is busiest in July (Photo: Ramsey Qubein)

-Did you know that 40 percent of Delta’s fleet passes through the 150 gates at the Atlanta airport daily, and 70 percent of Atlanta-bound passengers are connecting to other flights (not locals)? We learned that Delta is less likely to hold hub-to-hub flights like Atlanta to New York or Atlanta to Minneapolis since passengers may miss connecting flights at the next airport. On Delta’s busiest day this summer, it will fly 1,038 flights. You may be surprised to know that the busiest travel days at Delta’s Atlanta hub are in the summer (mostly in July) and not around Thanksgiving or Christmas.

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-If a flight has a lot of regular local Atlanta passengers, especially Medallions, Delta tries to put those flights at Concourse T (closest to security- walkable from the main terminal). That’s why you see most of the important ATL-New York LaGuardia and ATL- Washington Reagan flights departing from there.

Delta’s airy Sky Deck at New York JFK (Photo: Bryan Jones / Flickr)

-Do you like grabbing a bellyful of fresh air at the new outdoor Sky Decks in Sky Clubs? Delta is looking at adding more…possibly in a new ATL Concourse B club in the future. The facility located near gate B-10 in Atlanta has the highest complaint rate in the entire Sky Club network. That place is one cramped, small room! Sunny LAX is also a possible location for a future Sky Deck. Speaking of Sky Clubs, we heard that Delta is not satisfied with the level of maintenance and housekeeping in many of its clubs and is making an effort to boost cleanliness. Have you noticed? Please leave your comments below.

–Ramsey Qubein

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Delta & Virgin like ice cream & hot fudge

December 3, 2012

When news broke over the weekend about the possibility of Delta Air Lines buying a large stake in Virgin Atlantic, I knew I had to get the opinion of Henry Harteveldt, co-founder of The Atmosphere Research Group, and one of the smartest people I know when it comes to the airline biz. Read through his analysis and see how such a deal could affect the fate of San Francisco-based Virgin America

Here’s his take… please read it and let us know how YOU feel about the possibility of a Delta-Virgin tie up– or the possibility of Virgin America joining a global alliance like SkyTeam.

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Atmosphere Research Group co-Founder Henry Harteveldt

This will be one of the best pairings since ice cream and hot fudge.

Delta and Virgin Atlantic have cooperated in the past (the two had a limited code share relationship in the 1990s). Virgin Atlantic will bring both Delta and all of SkyTeam access to London– one of the most important business markets in Europe. Delta, in turn, can help generate more feed for Virgin’s flights through its JFK hub. Importantly, I think both airlines have similar, “customer first” cultures. I think Virgin Atlantic would find itself more welcome and able to have more influence in the SkyTeam alliance, which is smaller than Star Alliance.

For this deal to truly work, the two will need to secure the ability to enter into an antitrust-immunized joint venture or joint business agreement. A joint venture or joint business agreement will give the two airlines the ability to align their flights and fares, while pooling both revenues and expenses. These are common, especially between US and European airlines (American Airlines and BA have a joint business agreement).Delta and Virgin Atlantic have cooperated in the past (the two had a limited code share relationship in the 1990s). Virgin Atlantic will bring both Delta and all of SkyTeam access to London– one of the most important business markets in Europe. Delta, in turn, can help generate more feed for Virgin’s flights through its JFK hub. Importantly, I think both airlines have similar, “customer first” cultures. I think Virgin Atlantic would find itself more welcome and able to have more influence in the SkyTeam alliance, which is smaller than Star Alliance.

This won’t be an easy deal to accomplish. It will have to obtain regulatory approval in both the UK and US. A key part of a deal’s success will hinge on making sure that Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Group work to facilitate a Virgin Atlantic-Delta deal. Partnering with Delta and joining an airline alliance will take Virgin Atlantic in a very different direction compared to its present state.

It’s unclear what impact, if any, this will have on Virgin America. Virgin America is an independent business unit. It doesn’t rely on Virgin Atlantic for a substantial amount of its passenger feed. It would be interesting to see if Delta will invite Virgin America to join SkyTeam, either as a full or affiliate member. A Delta-Virgin America partnership could be beneficial to Bay Area and Los Angeles Basin travelers and businesses, and enable SkyTeam to offer stronger competition in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles region.

Thank you, Henry! – cjm

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Flip through this slideshow to see its famous Suites and the widest Business Class seats in the sky. SQ1 departs SFO at 10:50 pm and arrives in Hong Kong at 5:50 am two days later. Flight time is about 13 hours to Hong Kong, and with another 3.5 hours to Singapore, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up the luxury and explore the 1000+ onboard entertainment options. SQ2 arrives daily in SFO at 7:45 pm on the same day it departs from Singapore and Hong Kong.

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Problems w PreCheck, Faster wi-fi, Delta devalues miles, fall season outlook

September 19, 2012

Delta introduced Economy Comfort on domestic flights this time last year, and by June of this year it was on all two-class aircraft. Does that make you happy…or sad? Please leave your comments about EC below. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

PROBLEMS WITH PRECHECK? We are hearing from an increasing number of travelers frustrated that they are not being chosen for PreCheck, the TSA’s new trusted traveler fast lanes at ATL and elsewhere. While the TSA will not reveal why or why not travelers are chosen, we are now hearing about some patterns… for example, those who are NOT chosen have made their reservation within 24 hours of flight time. Others report that they are never chosen if they are flying on the domestic leg of an international trip. I’ve found that using the Delta mobile app, which displays my boarding pass on my smartphone, nearly always gets me the “three beeps” and into the fast lane. What about you? Are you noticing any other patterns in the TSA’s “random” selection process? Leave your comments below.

BETTER, FASTER INFLIGHT WI-FI. Canadian regulators have given the greelight to Gogo, the popular in-flight wi-fi provider, to get started on extending its ground-based network north of the US border. Service should be available starting in 2013. Also, JetBlue now says that it will (finally) offer a faster new satellite-based inflight wi-fi product—for free—starting in early 2013. JetBlue says that the new service is fast enough to allow streaming of movies in-flight—something you cannot do on the current version of Gogo. Maybe this competition will force Gogo to temper its recent price increases—now running at $18 for transcon flights. Not to be outdone by JetBlue, its largest competitor in the key NYC market, Delta now says that using new technology, it, too will offer the option of streaming movies and TV shows using inflight wi-fi on all 800 of its domestic two-class aircraft “by the end of 2013.”

WI-FI SURPRISE. With Delta and AirTran leading the industry with in-flight wi-fi on nearly every flight, we in Atlanta are pretty spoiled. Such ubiquity is not the case elsewhere, and in fact, only 31% of domestic flights (1,165 aircraft) in the US have it. At Southwest, 35% of planes have it, just 22% of American Airlines planes have it, and at United, the world’s largest carrier, only 1% of its flights have it. Another big surprise: Usage of inflight wi-fi on the planes that offer it it miniscule—just 5.4% for the first half of 2012. I think that number is quite low due to the fact that most flights are so short that it does not make sense to log on in-flight— but I have witnessed a much higher usage rate on those 3-5 hour transcons out west. As a matter of fact, the availability of wi-fi is THE main factor when I’m chosing an airline for flights longer than three hours. What about you? How important is in-flight wi-fi in your airline decision? Please leave your comments below.

TOUGHER TO TRACK SKYMILES. Customers who keep track of their mileage program balances on sites like AwardWallet.com or TripIt Pro are losing the ability to track their Sky Miles. Delta is cutting off these sites from accessing our frequent flyer program data and frustrating members in the process. According to a cease and desist letter, Delta feels these sites are performing “computer trespass.” What this means is that Delta is making it tougher for its best, most loyal customers to keep track of multiple programs in one place. In addition to Delta, American and Southwest/AirTran do not participate with third party programs designed to make life a little easier for frequent travelers. To us, that’s short-sighted and frustrating. Frequent flyers, not the airline, should be able to choose with whom they share their program data. Do you agree? Have you used these programs to help monitor your miles? Please leave your comments below.

EASY 500+ SKYMILES BONUS. You gotta park at the airport anyway, so why not help out The TICKET, and our newest sponsor, Peachy Airport Parking, on your next trip? You’ll help yourself, too, since Peachy is offering TICKET readers 500 SkyMiles plus three SkyMiles per dollar spent. If you are tired of worrying about on-airport lot sellouts, long, dark walks to your car or the congested mess that is Camp Creek Parkway, just exit I-85 south at Sylvan Road, one mile north of the airport, and follow the signs to Peachy. Once there, you’ll find extra wide spaces in a secure, climate controlled indoor lot, a free car wash and a short two-minute shuttle ride to the airport. Daily rates are just $6.99 outdoor or $8.99 indoor. COME ON! Help keep The TICKET free by clicking on this link or on the ad to the right to learn more about ATL’s newest parking option. Note: You have to click on the link and print the page to get the SkyMiles!

SEEING DOUBLE AT SOUTHWEST/AIRTRAN. From now through November 15, Southwest Rapid Rewards and AirTran A+ Reward members earn DOUBLE points on all flights. On Southwest, more expensive Business Select fares earn 24 points per dollar– that’s four times more than the standard six per dollar on its cheapest Wanna Get Away fares. Must register here to get the bonus: Southwest | AirTran

TICKET editor Chris McGinnis discusses his outlook for the fall travel season on national news! If you have plans for trips between now and through the holidays, tune in!

SKY CLUB NUMERO 54. The 54^th Delta Sky Club (and third at La Guardia) has opened in the lounge that was formerly the US Airways Club in Terminal C. Now part of the expanded Delta operation there, passengers transfer between the two terminals by shuttle bus, but a bridge is already under construction. The club features the same snazzy look of other renewed clubs around the system and has excellent views of Delta’s new gates and terminal operation. (Stay tuned to The TICKET for a slideshow of Delta’s new Sky Club at ATL’s new Terminal F.)

EASIER CHARGING. Tired of being one of the huddled masses gathered around the single electrical outlet near your gate? Delta is adding new charging stations at gate areas in 13 more airports. For example, in Tokyo, four of Delta’s gates were recently updated with power stations that feature six standard U.S. 110 volt outlets and two powered USB ports. Delta also is adding the popular feature at airports in Anchorage, Alaska; Austin, Texas; Denver; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Houston Intercontinental; Kansas City, Mo.; Milwaukee, Wis.; New Orleans; Ontario, Calif.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; and Syracuse, N.Y.

DC-9’S STILL FLYING. With Comair out of the picture, Delta has reinstated mainline jet service (using its fleet of ancient DC-9s inherited from Northwest) between Atlanta and Chattanooga, and Atlanta and Wilmington, NC.

While there is plenty negative news coming out of ATL’s new Terminal F, here’s a bright spot: The Varsity is there! Have you been? I love to sit back and watch non-English speakers try to understand the “whaddya haves!” (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

SHOOTING THE MESSENGER? Atlanta Airport has fired three long-term PR professionals in the wake of the generally negative reception by travelers and the media of ATL’s new terminal F. Yep, these were they key contacts who helped The TICKET with our extensive coverage of the new terminal. They have all received stellar employee reviews over the years, but were served termination papers effective this month. We are vexed by the whole thing…. it just smells funny. What do you think? On our Facebook page, W Evans comments: “It is so political there. From what I understand these three were wonderful employees. Guess someone’s relative needed a job!” Leave your comments below.

DID YOU KNOW… Did you know: That the TSA now allows travelers aged 75 and older to pass through airport security screening with jackets and shoes on?

MUSICAL SEATS ON THE AIRBUS. Delta has quietly removed a row of first class from its Airbus A-319 and A-320 planes. When these were in the Northwest fleet, they offered 16 seats, but now the planes offer just 12. It’s important to understand that Delta did this to add Economy Comfort seats in the main cabin. Since many of these planes are used on routes to Latin America or cross-country, the added space in Economy Comfort when an upgrade doesn’t clear is certainly appreciated. What do you think? Is it better to have more first class… or more Economy Comfort? Leave your comments below.

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STEALTHY SKYMILES AWARD CHANGE. Earlier this month, Delta quietly raised the award redemption levels for a few mid- and high-tier mileage awards by 5,000 miles—with no advance warning. These include economy class awards to and from the Caribbean, Mexico, deep South America, and Europe where, for example, the mid-tier redemption increased from 90,000 miles to 95,000 miles. Luckily, travelers willing to pay the exorbitant high-tier mileage for a business class ticket to Southeast Asia can save 20,000 miles since Delta dropped the redemption level on that lone award. Surprisingly, many travelers do redeem their SkyMiles for these mid- and high-tier awards despite being a very poor redemption value. For now, at least, none of the low level awards were affected. Hmm. This does not bode well for the future…as airlines have consolidated and competition is reduced, I’m afraid we’ll see more high-handed and troubling moves on the part of Delta…and all the remaining legacy leviathans. What do you think? Is it time to start dumping those miles before they are devalued out of existence? Please leave your comments below.

B-A-A-A. Did you hear that ATL, like a handful of other airports in the country, is considering using a herd of sheep and goats to help keep plant growth near runways trimmed back? WXIA reports that these goats would be the same ones that have helped clear kudzu and other growth at City of Atlanta parks like Chastain. Apparently the herbivores do a better job than humans, and help avoid the use of harmful herbicides.

Coming soon to The TICKET! Our slideshow of images and our take on Delta’s newest Sky Club at ATL’s Terminal F (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

EASIER ORDERING AT MSP. Flyers used to ordering a meal on the built-in iPads in the New York Delta gate areas can now enjoy the same service when flying through Delta’s Minneapolis/St. Paul hub. The concept has proven quite popular and Delta is now working with restaurant operators to distribute 250 iPads to restaurants in Concourse G: , MinniBar, an upscale “sandwich bar;” Mimosa, a French country restaurant and raw bar; and Shoyu, a Japanese eatery. The iPads will be placed inside the restaurants at each seat so diners can order from a visual menu. While waiting for their meals, customers can use the iPads to surf the Internet, check email, or visit social media sites. Plans call for expanding the program with 4,500 iPads to other Delta hub airports.

HOLA ARGENTINA. Aerolineas Argentinas, Delta’s first full South American partner is now officially a part of SkyTeam. However, the full roster of reciprocal benefits does not begin until the end of 2012. Between now and then, travelers can earn and burn miles on the Argentine carrier and make use of its lounges, but Sky Priority benefits will not be extended until the end of the year at their hubs. From the US, Aerolineas Argentinas flies nonstop from Miami to its hub in Buenos Aires only. Have you ever flown Aerolineas Argentinas? If so, what did you think?

FREE WI-FI AT LAX. On your next visit to LAX, be sure to take advantage of their new, free-of-charge wireless Internet service. The airport is dropping its expensive fees to use its signal and joins numerous other major airports like San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, and Orlando in easing the strain of waiting for a flight. Hello, Atlanta Airport?? Hello?

TICKET readers see a lot of gross things on the plane such as barefeet on the bulkhead. What do you think? Should travelers be allowed to prop their feet (bare or shod) on the bulkhead? Please leave your comments below. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

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Op-Ed: Will you give Southwest a try? I bet not.

February 9, 2012

Earlier this week, I wrote the following Op-Ed for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The newspaper asked me to write about what effect Southwest’s arrival in Atlanta would have on business travelers. My take? Most Atlanta business travelers are too heavily invested in SkyMiles and their “complex” relationship with Delta to give Southwest a try– so there won’t be that big of an effect.

Take a read and let us know if you agree…or not. (Here’s a link to the column on AJC.com)

Here goes:

Even with the exciting entry of a respected airline like Southwest Airlines, most frequent business travelers in Atlanta will continue to fly Delta Air Lines despite their complex relationship with our hometown carrier.

Atlanta business travelers love Delta for its deep southern roots. They appreciate being able to catch a Delta nonstop to just about every major city in the world, getting Porsche rides from the plane to the parking lot or relaxing in plush Sky Clubs.

But most of all, they love Delta for its SkyMiles program, and the dream of “free” travel and special recognition. Despite whining about the dearth of upgrades and difficulty finding award seats, they keep going back for more—and in fact go out of their way to earn those SkyMiles that they love and loath.

So for now, despite mixed feelings about Delta, frequent flyers in Atlanta will likely stick with it due to a mix of loyalty, inertia and fear of the unknown.

At the top of frequent flyers’ list of fears about Southwest is its so-called “cattle call” boarding process. Southwest does not allow advance seat selection. But those traveling on more expensive, less restricted tickets, elite level Rapid Rewards members and those who have paid an extra $10 “early bird” fee board first, and can lay claim to the best seats and overhead bin space.

But frequent flyers like the security of being able to choose their seat ahead of time. The boarding process at Delta is familiar, yet frustrating in Atlanta since so many elite-level passengers can skip to the front of the line, which feels like a cattle call. But at least there is no uncertainty around where they’ll be sitting—and frequent travelers don’t like uncertainty.

Then there’s the fear of getting on board a plane without wi-fi. While it’s aiming for fleet-wide wi-fi, Southwest has it on only 150 of 550 planes and makes no guarantees regarding availability. On the upside, wi-fi connections run a flat $5 per flight, regardless of flight length. But Atlanta-based business travelers have been spoiled by the availability of in-flight wi-fi on nearly 100% of Delta and AirTran flights. That certainty is increasingly important in our “always connected” business world.

Business travelers have plenty of other fears about straying over to Southwest: They fear starting off at the bottom rung at Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program, which is based more on how much you spend than how many miles you fly. With Southwest’s intention of eliminating AirTran’s popular business class, they worry about losing the ability to upgrade (or afford) to fly at the front of the plane on long flights out west. Time-deprived executives will be irritated at the extra step of checking Southwest.com every time they want to do a complete fare comparison, since its fares are not listed anywhere else.

But despite those fears, the fast-growing population of more independent business travelers who are entrepreneurs, freelancers or those who work for small and mid-sized companies will be the early adopters of Southwest. They are the ones for whom Delta’s $150 fee to change a ticket comes right out of their wallet, or shrinking per diem. (Southwest does not charge change fees.) They are the independent sales reps who must travel with a couple of suitcases of samples and don’t want to pay Delta’s $120 fee to check two bags roundtrip. (No bag fees on Southwest.) The ones who just want quick, dependable and cheap transportation and don’t care much about airport lounges, lie-flat seats to London or what type of metallic card is in their wallet.

So Atlanta-based business travelers shouldn’t expect any major changes when Southwest arrives at Hartsfield-Jackson next week, especially those with an expense account to fall back on. But if you’re an independent, budget-focused, or an up-and-comer without a big investment in Delta SkyMiles, you’ll find a fresh new option to consider on your next flight.

Agree or disagree? Are you too invested in SkyMiles to give the new kid in town a go? Or will you welcome Southwest with open arms…and open wallet? Please leave your comments below!

Finding Delta's true lie-flat seats

June 29, 2011

Delta's true lie-flat seat on 767-400

Delta clocked another milestone in progress toward a fleet of truly lie-flat business class seating this week.

It completed the installation on ALL its 777 aircraft and ALL its 767-400 aircraft. The last of 18 Boeing 777 aircraft, each with 45 BusinessElite seats per plane, and all 21 Boeing 767-400ER aircraft with 40 BusinessElite seats per plane have been retrofitted with full flat-bed seats. Each seat includes direct aisle access.

Currently, 25 percent of Delta’s international fleet has true lie flat (versus the old-school cradle or the “fake” lie-flat— those that do go flat, but at an uncomfortable angle.) Delta says that its entire widebody international fleet of more than 140 aircraft will be flying with true lie-flat seats in BusinessElite by the end of 2013

Despite the progress, it’s still tough to know for sure if you are buying a true lie-flat seat on Delta. (See the popular TICKET post about this from last year: 31 flavors of Business Elite)

So, now, when booking, you know you are buying a true lie-flat seat if you see that your aircraft will be a Boeing 777 or a Boeing 767-400.

Look for this icon when booking on Delta.com:

This icon means you’ll get a cradle seat:

Delta’s web site says true lie-seats are currently available on the following routes: Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Tokyo, and Sydney.

Delta tells The TICKET that you’ll also get true lie-flat on ALL Delta flights (from ATL or elsewhere) to London-Heathrow. From Atlanta, they are on ALL flights to Munich and Frankfurt. They are also on Detroit-Frankfurt and JFK-Milan flights.

Have you paid the big bucks for a seat up front on a transoceanic flight lately? Did you get TRUE lie-flat or fake lie flat? Would you move to another carrier in order to get a true lie-flat seat? Please leave your comments below.

Delta News

January 27, 2011

Fresh new look at Delta’s Sky Club Miami (photo: Delta Air Lines)

SPIFFIER SKY CLUBS. Sky Clubs have been getting a makeover across the country with trendsetters Los Angeles and Miami (see photo) among the first to reopen with a contemporary new look. The latest additions to the pack include the long-awaited changes at the dated Minneapolis-St. Paul G Concourse club, now proudly sporting a 21st century look, the new Sky Club at ATL’s gate B-10, and New York LaGuardia’s club, now expanded since the Northwest merger. Philadelphia’s long-awaited terminal D lounge should open soon. Self-service bars, snacking areas with fresh vegetables, charging stations, complimentary Wi-Fi and wireless printers are the new standard. Did you know… that Delta’s Sky Clubs are the only airport clubs that serve premium booze brands gratis? All other airline clubs charge for call brands.

TRIPLE SKYMILES TO THE SUN. Hop on a Delta jet to sunny Florida between now and February 15 and you’ll earn triple SkyMiles on flights between ATL and Ft Myers, Miami, Orlando or Tampa. Registration required.

THE SPIRIT OF ATLANTA. Watch Delta execs christen a brand new Boeing 777, The Spirit of Atlanta, with a bottle of Coke (natch!). This month Delta celebrated 70 years in Atlanta. Here’s the video.

TOKYO BONUS. Don’t like the lengthy and pricey transfer between Tokyo and its distant Narita Airport? Then consider Delta’s new service from Los Angeles and Detroit nonstop to Tokyo Haneda Airport. Recently opened to long-haul traffic, Haneda is much closer to downtown Tokyo than Narita. To celebrate, Delta is offering a double SkyMiles offer for all Economy Class fares and triple SkyMiles for BusinessElite fares. Register and then purchase a ticket and fly between Feb. 19 and May 31 to qualify. Since Delta’s got a hub operation at Narita, nonstops from ATL will continue to land there.

THAT NEW PLANE SMELL. Delta has put feelers out to aircraft manufacturers for a major order of up to 200 narrow body aircraft of various sizes for delivery as early as 2013. The new aircraft will help lower the overall fleet age while placing an emphasis on minimizing fuel burn and being more energy efficient (in fact, that was a mandate from CEO Richard Anderson). These new planes would be used domestically and put an end to the decades-old DC-9s that Delta inherited from Northwest after the merger. Despite getting interior face-lifts and being outfitted with GoGo Wi-Fi access, those creaky DC-9’s are showing their age.

SKYMILES FOR HOTEL STAYS. This winter several hotel programs are offering SkyMiles bonuses. Marriott is offering triple miles with any qualifying stay between February 1 and April 30. Be sure to register. Hilton offers up to 2,000 bonus miles after an eligible stay at any of its participating brands. Register here. Headed to Europe or Asia? Japanese chain Nikko Hotels is offering double miles (1,000) for stays at any of its properties through March 31.

SHOP ONLINE. EARN MILES. Now that the holidays are over, shopping portals like SkyMilesShopping.com are encouraging New Year spending with special promotions like this one with American Express. Visit americanexpress.skymilesshopping.com to enjoy special deals for SkyMiles Amex cardholders such as bonus miles offers of up to 25 miles per dollar spent and sales designed just for Delta-branded cardholders.

NIFTY ARTY NUGGET: Did you know that you can use your Bank of America debit or credit card for free admission to 150 museums one weekend per month throughout 2011? Nice deal! Details here

DELTA GROWTH FOCUS: LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA. “To really comprehend Delta’s international growth, consider that in 1996 — the year that Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympics — Delta flew to only 12 international destinations out of Atlanta. Today, it is flying to 79 international destinations out of ATL. Historically, Delta had been focused on European destinations out of Atlanta. Then it increased its service to Latin America. And recently it has discovered the opportunities that exist in Africa. Click here to read Maria Saporta’s interesting analysis of Delta’s international growth.

SKYTEAM INVADES MIDDLE EAST. SkyTeam is on a growth spurt of late with news breaking this month that Saudi Arabian Airlines and MEA, Middle East Airlines of Lebanon, have plans to join in 2012. The two airlines will fill a major white space in the alliance network since there are no Middle Eastern carriers in SkyTeam at the moment. This is somewhat of a first as there are few airlines in the region that have joined a global alliance. Two modern hubs at Riyadh and Beirut will ease connections in the Gulf and the Levant regions respectively. While at first glance the two airlines may raise some travelers’ eyebrows, both have excellent safety records, strong route networks, and high service standards.

THE MOST POPULAR TICKET POST OF 2010?? Silver Medallions, Million Milers, What’s your Beef? From June 17. We are STILL getting comments almost weekly on this post.

ANOTHER AMEX>SKYMILES TRANSFER BONUS. American Express, Membership Rewards members can transfer points to Delta SkyMiles accounts and earn a 30 percent bonus on points transferred. There is no limit to the number of points that can be moved over so this is a nice way to top off your SkyMiles account with some extra points. A small fee to offset the federal excise tax is imposed, but it is more than worth the price considering the bonus miles awarded. Details. This deal is not as lucrative as the one we included in December. But if you missed out, go for it!

LAUNDRY LIST. Loyal SkyMiles members know that the SkyMiles Clothing Care network is a mileage-earning staple. There is no sign up charge and new members earn a bonus. Earn SkyMiles for every dollar spent at participating dry cleaners in your area by visiting www.SkyMilesClothingCare.com. Can’t find one nearby? Print the form on the web site and submit it with your next batch of dry cleaning to encourage your local dry cleaner to participate.

BOINGO FOR SKYMILES. Most frequent users of Boingo’s extensive international Wi-Fi network are champions of the service. And now, Delta SkyMiles members can rack up 500 SkyMiles for signing up for an unlimited access account. The service provides unlimited access at thousands of airports, hotels, restaurants, and public access. Members regularly save significant amounts if traveling and logging on frequently. Visit http://www.boingo.com/sales/skymiles.

SMALL BIZ BONUS. Own a small business or handle the travel plans for your company? Then you need to know about Delta’s Sky Bonus program (if you don’t already) designed to reward small businesses AND individual travelers. All that is needed is a tax ID number to sign up. Both the company and the passenger earn points for their flights. This double dip enhances the incentive to fly with Delta and offers awards like free tickets, Sky Club passes, and in-flight beverage/headset coupons for redemption. Between now and February 28, SkyBonus is offering a promotion for companies based in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania (Details). Earn a free roundtrip flight after signing up and flying one trip plus other bonus prizes. Atlanta-based travelers with a company based in NY, NJ, CT, and PA are eligible for this promotion.

VACATION BOOKING BONUS. Consider stopping by Delta Vacations’ Talkin Travel blog (blog.deltavacations.com) before booking to read travel experiences and tips from others who have booked combined air and hotel packages with this Delta affiliate. For social media fans, follow Delta Vacations on Facebook or Twitter for a chance to win a gift card redeemable for a Delta Vacations package. Medallion members can even earn up to 2,000 bonus miles when booking a vacation package at DeltaVacations.com between now and Feb. 28. Often, these hotel and flight packages can be cheaper than booking them independent of each other so be sure to compare prices before booking. Booking luxury packages adds up to even bigger bonuses.

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airtran.com | delta.com | Hotwire

Bidding for bump compensation at Delta

January 13, 2011

Have you tried Delta’s new bidding for bumps process at check in? Instead of the old process where Delta would ask for volunteers and start the bidding over the PA system at the gate, the carrier now asks passengers as they check in (online or at kiosks) if they’d be willing to give up their seat and take a later flight. Once you say yes, you are then asked for the minimum amount you’d be willing to accept in exchange for your seat.

Your offer is then sent to gate agents and added to a list of other volunteers, with the lowest bids at the top. If your bid is accepted, gate agents will call you to the podium to discuss the flight options they can offer (standby or confirmed), as well as extras like meal vouchers or upgrades. At that point, you can accept or refuse their offer. If you refuse, they just move on to the next lowest bidder (if there is one).

What do you think? Is this a stroke of genius on Delta’s part? How has the new system worked for you? Have you seen it in action yet?

Don’t Forget! BOOK ALL YOUR ONLINE TRAVEL VIA LINKS FROM THE TICKET! It helps us help you!

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airtran.com | delta.com | Hotwire

Silver lining for weather-weary travelers?

January 12, 2011

The new “three-hour rule” that forbids holding passengers on board grounded aircraft for more than three hours is forcing airlines to change the way they deal with winter storms.

In the past, airlines hesitated to cancel flights hoping that weather might quickly change for the better and allow them to resume operations.

But with the threat of heavy fines for holding passengers on planes over three hours (now $27,500 per passenger) or having them stuck at the airport, airlines are now much more likely to cancel flights hours or even days ahead of time. Affected passengers are instructed to stay away from the airport until operations are up and running.

I think this is a good thing, because with ample warning, fewer passengers are likely to be marooned at airports for hours waiting for flights to take off. When airlines pre-cancel thousands of flights, as they’ve done during recent winter storms, they’ve done a relatively good job of letting affected passengers know to just stay home and stay warm.

Early notification of flight cancellations is also allowing more travelers to take advantage of an option airlines rarely trumpet: that passengers on canceled flights can opt out of any alternatives the airlines offer and get a FULL REFUND. That’s right. For example, let’s say you were booked on a flight from ATL to New York this past Monday for a Tuesday meeting, returning on Wednesday. If your flight was canceled on Monday and it no longer made sense to go to New York at all, you could refuse alternate flights and get a full refund.

The downside of this is that airline websites are still rather weak when it comes to handling the re-booking process, forcing many travelers to phone overburdened call centers and wait endlessly on hold. As a result of this weakness, I expect airlines to double up on current efforts to develop and roll out mobile applications that will allow passengers to re-book themselves on canceled flights from their smart phones.

Overall, despite all the recent bad weather and delays, there’s good new for air travelers here. I’d rather wait out a storm at home or in a hotel rather than at the airport. Plus, I’d be willing to accept a slightly longer delay to do so.

What about you?

Speaking of being weather weary, home bound or sick with cabin fever, we thought we’d share this short trailer from The Shining. It makes you realize that you don’t have it THAT bad. Right??

(Hat tip to ice-bound TICKET reader Jeff M for sending this our way!)

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airtran.com | delta.com | Hotwire

Delta News

November 30, 2010

DELTA BRINGS WI-FI TO REGIONAL JETS. Delta is bringing wireless Internet access to its fleet of 70-90 passenger EMB-170, CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 Delta Connection aircraft. This industry first for a U.S. carrier will help ease the pain of flying on those smaller, cute-but-cramped “Barbie jets” (as we like to call them around here). Anyway, don’t expect to enjoy the free Wi-Fi that Google is offering during the holiday season on Delta mainline flights. Retrofits will begin next month and should take all year to complete as each aircraft takes its turn getting the antennas. As of now, each of Delta’s mainline aircraft is fitted with wireless Internet. Both Air Tran and Delta offer 100 percent Wi-Fi equipped planes keeping Atlanta travelers connected in the air. I’m glad to know that Wi-Fi’s an option on Delta’s RJs, but I rarely use it for flights less than two hours. And have you tried to open up and work on a laptop on a Barbie jet? Maybe Delta’s doing this for those using tablets and PDAs… What do YOU think? Leave your comments below.

DELTA PREMIUM ECONOMY. As reported earlier in The TICKET, Delta is reportedly introducing a new premium economy product on its international aircraft. More rumors have emerged hinting that it will be closer to United’s Economy Plus product rather than a separate cabin with individual service– with more leg room, but no different than the rest of the economy cabin. While details are still being fleshed out, it’s certain that there will be a slight premium to purchase these seats, but Delta’s Medallion and SkyTeam Elite/Elite Plus members will likely be able to select seats in these rows without a fee.

MAJOR MEMBERSHIP REWARDS BONUS OPPORTUNITY. Participants in American Express’ Membership Rewards program can take advantage of one of its best mileage transfer deals ever this month. Move points from the AMEX program to SkyMiles and receive a 50% bonus on miles plus 25,000 MQMs if transferring 50,000 points or more. A small fee is incurred when transferring miles. Hurry, the promotion ends Dec. 15. https://www.delta.com/pet/gofarther/pet/main

CONTRIBUTE TO TO A CAUSE, EARN MQM MILES. Check this out! SkyMiles members hoping to top off accounts with Medallion Qualifying Miles this year can donate to a variety of causes, including AID Atlanta, and earn 2500-5000 MQMs. Not bad! Details.

DOUBLE SKYMILES ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. Bonus SkyMiles abound this winter especially for international travelers. To celebrate Delta’s joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia, it’s offering double miles no matter what class of service is flown. Registration is required: https://www.delta.com/pet/transatlanticdouble/pet/main. Routes include JFK-Brussels, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Madrid, and Manchester; Dallas/Ft. Worth-Amsterdam; Houston-Amsterdam and Paris; and Seattle-Paris among others. You might have to take a circuitous route, but you’ll rack up miles twice as fast on transatlantic trips thanks to this excellent deal.

GOLD MEDALLION = SKYTEAM ELITE PLUS. Delta insiders have told The TICKET that it will be making a major change to the Gold Medallion frequent flyer elite level in March 2011 when it elevates the tier to SkyTeam Elite Plus status. This puts SkyTeam in line with other alliances like Star Alliance, which consider flyers with 50,000 annual miles to be in their alliance’s highest tier. Privileges of SkyTeam Elite Plus include increased baggage allowance with some carriers and access to any SkyTeam carrier’s lounge when traveling on an international SkyTeam ticket (no matter the class of service). NOTE: Remember to always carry your Medallion card as it is required to gain entry in conjunction with a same-day departing SkyTeam boarding pass.

DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU ARE READING? PLEASE HELP THE TICKET INCREASE READERSHIP! Think of it as your holiday gift to us! Just copy and paste the following message into an email to your frequent traveling family and friends: >> Hey there: You should check out The TICKET, a blog I always take the time to read and one that always provides a tip or two I have not read anywhere else. It’s free. There’s no spam. You’ll get 2-3 emails a month from them. Check it out and subscribe here: https://www.travelskills.com <<

NEW “LITE” VERSION OF SKY CLUB? Rumors are in the air about a new concept dubbed “Sky Club Lite,” which would be a scaled-down version of the existing Sky Club product in cities that may not be able to justify the expense of a full-service Sky Club. While still under consideration, the club will most likely be “unmanned,” and offer a self-service drink and snack station. No decisions have been made regarding what the product would be and how it would be accessed if implemented. Fifteen airports across the system are reportedly under consideration for the offering, but no official date has been set for a decision. This concept was in use in the 1980s when airlines offered private club rooms to premium customers who accessed them by entering a pin code at the door.

SKY CLUB COMING TO ATL CONCOURSE D. Sky Club members have something else to look forward to in the coming year: Delta is apparently building a Sky Club in ATL’s D Concourse. The concourse is served by Delta Connection regional jets, and is the only terminal at the airport that lacks a SkyClub. Previously, passengers had no lounge option when flying from D gates, but the new club will provide a self-service bar and snack stations. The club will be located on the ground level near departure gates, but no completion date has been set.

Note the iPads at each table in this mock up of Delta’s Bar Brace at La Guardia

HIGH TECH GATE GRUB AT JFK. Delta has installed special iPad kiosks near boarding gates 15, 21 and 22 at JFK that allow passengers to place orders at various gourmet eateries in the terminal for guaranteed delivery within ten minutes at the gate. Special seating areas near the gate feature charging stations and allow you to enjoy an expedited meal near the gate rather than take too much time in the actual restaurant. Expect similar service at New York LaGuardia (gates 1 and 2) sometime next spring.

CAR SERVICE IN NYC. Nothing is worse than flying up to NYC during the winter and facing an hour-long wait in a taxicab queue. At this time of year, we ALWAYS use a car service. The cheapest one with the most reliable service that we’ve used over the years: Dial 7. Memorize its number: 212-777-7777. Rates from airport to city typically run only $5 or so more than taxi fares. Cars are not always brand new and shiny, but they get the job done. Many times you can call as soon as you land and get a car at the last minute, but we recommend a reservation. DO YOU USE A CAR SERVICE? If you’d like to recommend others, please do so in the comments box below.

DELTA EXPANDING OUT WEST. Delta is boosting its point-to-point network further with the addition of B737 nonstop flights between Las Vegas and Orange County beginning in January.

NEW SKYTEAM PARTNERS. In 2012 both Garuda Indonesia and Aerolineas Argentinas will join the SkyTeam alliance. Despite a spotty safety record, Garuda has made a big turnaround recently and was named the “World’s Most Improved Airline” in 2010 by SkyTrax. It’s been a somewhat bumpy ride for Aerolineas Argentinas in recent years, too, which lead to a nationalization (and stabilization) of the carrier two years ago.

VIETNAM? ROMANIA? GET A BONUS. Speaking of SkyTeam, travelers flying on two of the alliance’s newest members, Vietnam Airlines and TAROM Romanian Airlines, can take advantage of a unique promotion that offers 3,000 bonus SkyMiles for your first roundtrip international flight on either of the airlines. Registration is required at https://www.delta.com/pet/tarombonus/pet/main for TAROM and https://www.delta.com/pet/vietnambonus/pet/main for Vietnam Airlines. Both members joined the alliance this past summer and offer excellent award availability for those looking to redeem frequent flyer miles. Unfortunately, the only way to find out which flights are available for award redemption is by calling Delta directly as delta.com does include these partners yet.

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Related: Our take on Starwood’s Aloft brand – SLIDESHOW

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What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

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What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

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

What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

Please join the 85,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

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

Extra Bonus! Here’s an easy way to top off your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance with 20,000 points!

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