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United
will outsource reservations work to India
October 26 - United Airlines will use workers in India to take some reservations
calls and close an Indiana call center to cut costs. The airline said
it may need fewer reservations workers in the future. The company will
use 650 call-center representatives in India through agreements with two
suppliers. The move comes as United faces pressure to cut costs as it
struggles to exit bankruptcy. Many companies have reduced labor costs
by outsourcing work to companies in India and other countries. |
US
Airways offers special sales to sunny destinations
October 27 - Just as winter coats are starting to come out of storage,
US Airways is offering special sale fares to many warm, sunny destinations
in Florida, the Caribbean and Latin America for as low as $79* each way.
Under this sale, tickets must be purchased by Nov. 5, 2004, for travel
through Feb. 16, 2005. Florida travel must be purchased seven days in
advance, and Caribbean and Latin American travel requires a three-day
advance purchase. (SEE
DETAILS)
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Amtrak
issued new baggage policy
For the safety and comfort of passengers, beginning November 1, 2004, Amtrak
will strictly enforce the two-bag carryon, three-bag checked baggage limits
as stated in the guidelines. (SEE
DETAILS) |
Amtrak
implemented new refund and exchange policy
Effective November 1, 2004, Amtrak will implement the following exchange
and refund policy:
- Exchanges: Passengers will not be charged a fee
to exchange tickets of equal value or to purchase tickets of greater
value. If the cost of the new ticket is less than the original ticket,
a passenger may elect to receive the difference in full credit for
future travel or a refund of the balance, subject to a service charge.
- Refund: Customers may receive full credit on any
applicable refund, in the form of a non-refundable exchange voucher
valid toward future travel purchases. Passengers wishing to receive
a refund of cash or credit to a credit card will be subject to a 10%
refund service charge, based on the amount actually refunded, up to
a maximum of $100 per transaction on any single reservation.
- Refund Calculation: Most rail fares are refundable
before travel begins. Some discount tickets are non-refundable and/or
non-exchangeable once payment is made.
- Acela Express and Metroliner First class accommodation
charges and Business class accommodation charges on trains
other than Acela Express and Metroliner are refundable (minus the
service charge) if the reservation is cancelled at least one hour
prior to departure. If not, the accommodation charge may be refunded
(minus the service charge) or fully credited toward future travel.
- Sleeping car accommodation charges are refundable
(minus the service charge) if the reservation is cancelled at least
seven days prior to departure. If the reservation is cancelled less
than seven days prior to departure, the accommodation charge may be
refunded (with a 10% service charge) or fully credited toward future
Amtrak travel. If not cancelled before departure (a “No Show”),
no credit or refund will be made.
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Amtrak
On-Board Passenger Identification Verification
Beginning in November, Amtrak, in compliance with a security directive
issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will implement
a random passenger identification verification policy on board trains.
Passengers will be randomly asked to produce valid photo identification
along with their tickets by conductors on board all trains. If the name
of the passenger on the ticket and the passenger’s identification
do not match and a reasonable explanation is not provided, conductors
will be required to alert Amtrak Police for further investigation.
Federal TSA guidelines specify that the following are
acceptable forms of passenger identification:
- Photo identification issued by a government authority, i.e. driver’s
license, valid passport, official government-issued identification
(e.g., federal, state, county, or foreign government), military identification,
Canadian federal or provincial identification, or Mexican government
issued identification or papers.
- Two other forms of identification (e.g., university, college, or
high school photo identification), at least one of which is issued
by a government authority.
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Amtrak
Guest Rewards Earns Double Points
Travel between select city pairs on Acela Express®
or Metroliner® between now and December 15th, Amtrak Guest Rewards®
members will earn double points for every trip and bonus points for every
two roundtrips, which can be used toward free tickets and other great
rewards. Amtrak Guest Rewards members must sign up at www.amtrakguestrewards.com/AE904. |
NTSB
Cites Pilot Error in 2001 N.Y. Crash
October 27 - Moments after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International
Airport, an American Airlines pilot pressed hard on rudder pedals to help
stabilize the shaking plane from wake turbulence. But instead of smoothing
the ride, the National Transportation Safety Board said yesterday, the
pilot's action was "unnecessary and too aggressive" and resulted
in the plane's tail falling off. Seconds later, the plane plunged into
a New York neighborhood, killing 260 people onboard and five on the ground.
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Condor
Flight-Only Strategy Boosts Sales
October 28 - Condor, the charter airline owned by tourism company Thomas
Cook, said its strategy of selling cut-price, one-way tickets was helping
to fill its aircraft and increase sales. The number of passengers booking
seats on its flights independently, without being part of a leisure package,
rose 30 percent in the period from May to September from the year-earlier
period, Condor said on Wednesday. |
ATA
Board Agrees Employee Retention Bonuses
October 29 - The board of ATA Holdings, parent of low-cost air carrier
ATA Airlines, has approved payments to key executives and employees who
stay with the company after its bankruptcy filing, according to a regulatory
filing on Thursday. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
on Tuesday as falling fares and soaring fuel prices drained it of cash.
The retention plan agreement applies to seven executives, including Chief
Executive George Mikelsons as well as 44 other employees, Indianapolis-based
ATA said in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The report
did not include financial details. Under the plan, each affected employee
would earn up to two incentive bonuses. ATA said the agreements will not
be effective until bankruptcy court confirmation. |
Delta,
Pilots In Tentative Agreement
October 28 - Delta Air Lines' pilots union reached a tentative agreement
with the airline on a pilot costs savings package late Wednesday afternoon.
The union said its leadership would review the agreement with Delta management
this evening and it would not release any details until it completed its
deliberations. Delta has been in talks with pilots for more than a year
and has said it could be forced to file for bankruptcy without pilot givebacks
and other cost savings. |
Tensions
Remain As Lufthansa Pilots Deal Awaited
October 28 - Tensions remain between Lufthansa and unions representing
some 55,000 workers at the German airline as its chief presses for a pay
agreement following a year of talks without a result. |
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Air
Passenger Traffic Rebounds - IATA
October 27 - International air passenger traffic continued to rise in
September, with traffic up 17.7 percent year-on-year in the first nine
months of 2004, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said
on Wednesday. |
NWA
Cargo To Expand Service To China
October 25– NWA Cargo plans to expand its all-cargo freighter service
between the United States and China as a result of the July bilateral
agreement between the two nations. |
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DC
Airports Authority To Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Regulation Changes
October 20 - The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates
Reagan National and Dulles International Airports, will conduct a Public
Hearing on proposed amendments to the Authority Regulations regarding
the possession of weapons on Airport property. The hearing will be held
at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 4th at the Hyatt Dulles in Herndon,
Virginia. |
Seminar
Set for Business Opportunities at Washington Airports
October 20 - The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will hold
its Annual Business Opportunity Seminar for Local Disadvantaged Enterprises,
Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, and Minority and Woman-Owned Businesses
on Wednesday, November 3, 2004. The Airports Authority operates Washington
Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airports. |
American
Airlines Begins Negotiations to Enhance Collateral Provisions of Tulsa
Municipal Airport Trust Bonds
American Airlines, Inc., has begun negotiations with the Trustees of the
Tulsa Municipal Airport Trust (the "Trustees") and the Bond
Trustee with a view to enhancing the collateral provisions of the $112,355,000
Trustees of the Tulsa Municipal Airport Trust Revenue Bonds, Refunding
Series 2000A ("Series 2000A Bonds") and all other bonds of the
Trustees which were issued under the same bond indenture, the proceeds
of which were used to finance the construction or acquisition and installation
of certain improvements at American's Tulsa maintenance base. This step
is being taken in contemplation of a potential remarketing of the Series
2000A Bonds, which are subject to mandatory tender on Dec. 1, 2004. |
Star
Alliance Announces Circle Asia Fare
October 20 - Star Alliance introduced Circle Asia Fare, providing more
choice and value for those travelling through North Asia*, Southeast Asia*
and the Southwest Pacific*. The fare, which is available for sale and
travel as of November 1, can be used for a circle trip covering all three
of the aforementioned geographic regions. |
America
West offers shopping trip to Vegas
October 25 -- Customers who purchase tickets in the next two weeks can
get fantastic deals from America West Vacations that'll make the shopping
trip a treat for the shopper as well -- including free spa passes and
a two-for-one lunch buffet from Luxor. |
Choice
Hotels Offers Choice Privileges Members Award Redemption at International
Hotels
October 28 - Choice Hotels International's U.S.-based Choice Privileges
rewards program members may now redeem Choice Privileges points for free
nights internationally at nearly 1,200 Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality,
Sleep Inn and Clarion brand hotels in nations outside of the U.S. including
hotels throughout Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Scandinavia,
and Asia Pacific. |
