| November 19, 2004 |
|
Due to a planned Air Traffic Control strike in Italy on Friday 19 November 2004, British Airways will experience disruption to some of its Italian flights.
Flight
Attendants Union Prepares For Nationwide Strike
November 16 -- The board of directors of the Association
of Flight Attendants today unanimously passed a resolution that prepares
the union to strike against any airline that abrogates its AFA collective
bargaining agreement. The resolution specifically calls for flight attendants
to enact a strike vote and then walk off the job if their employer, "with
or without the approval of a bankruptcy court," terminates or unilaterally
alters an existing contract.
November 19 --United Airlines' flight attendants plan to use CHAOS (create havoc across our system) job actions should the US Bankruptcy Court agree to the carrier's request to abrogate its contract with the Assn. of Flight Attendants.
November 15 – With United EasyCheck-in® kiosks now deployed at all United U.S. airport locations and 29 United Express locations, customers can check in quickly and easily at 104 airports nationwide using United's self-service check-in units. Also, at many of these airports, travel-ready customers checking bags can take advantage of United's EasyCheck-in Curbside skycap service.
November 17 – Delta Air Lines SkyMiles frequent flier program members in the United States and Canada can transfer miles to friends and family members at delta.com/transfermiles. Through Jan. 31, 2005, members may transfer miles in increments of 1,000 miles, with a minimum transfer of 5,000 miles.
November 19 – Delta Air Lines, Inc. announced today that it was extending its outstanding offer to exchange up to $680 million aggregate principal amount of three series of newly issued senior secured notes to the holders of $2.6 billion aggregate principal amount of outstanding unsecured debt securities and enhanced pass through certificates.
November 16 -- Customers flying Delta Air Lines during the holidays can now benefit from “inside” travel tips offered by its employees. The Wednesday before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday and the Sunday and Monday after are traditionally the busiest travel days of the year, and Delta airport experts are giving helpful hints to assist passengers in catching their flights as quickly and easily as possible.
November 18 -- US Airways wishes a safe and happy holiday travel season to all our customers. To make holiday travel as smooth as possible, US Airways would like to remind our passengers that being informed is being prepared, and usairways.com is the ideal source for travel information, including online check-in, weather reports, and holiday travel tips.
November 17 -- US Airways will begin nonstop daily seasonal service to two new European destinations next summer, bringing customers convenient access to the art and magic of the Venetian canals and the unique architecture and Catalan culture of Barcelona. Additionally, US Airways will again offer seasonal service to Dublin, Glasgow and Shannon next summer, bringing the airline’s European network to thirteen nonstop destinations.
November 17 -- US Airways is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Dividend Miles this month, and is inviting members to join the celebration with an offer to earn up to 20,000 miles for booking only five roundtrip tickets on usairways.com and completing travel by Feb. 16, 2005.
November 12 -- US Airways Group, Inc. has filed a comprehensive motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to initiate proceedings for rejection of collective bargaining agreements with the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), as well as to reduce retiree health benefits and terminate the remaining defined benefit pension plans for US Airways mainline employees
November 19 --American Airlines yesterday announced a major fare restructuring at its Miami International Airport hub, embracing a simplified structure offering dramatically lower walkup fares for mainline, American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights.
Continental
Airlines Needs $500 Million Annual Reduction in Payroll and Benefits Costs
November 18 -- Continental Airlines needs an annual $500 million reduction
in payroll and benefits costs. This reduction is necessary because the
company has lost hundreds of millions of dollars since 2001, and expects
to lose hundreds of millions of dollars more in 2004. Continental must
adjust its costs to a level that will let it survive and grow; otherwise,
it will have no prospect of returning to profitability under prevailing
market conditions.
The BA7063 from London to Madrid on 24 December 2004.
The BA7075 from London to Barcelona on 24 December 2004.
The BA7087 from London to Seville on 25 December 2004.
The BA7086 from Seville to London on 1 January 2005.
America West Airlines is offering customers an easier way to give the gift of air travel, with the America West gift card -- the first airline gift card. The credit card-sized gift cards can be purchased at thousands of neighborhood stores throughout the country this holiday season, including many Kroger Co. stores (including locations in Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Indiana, Georgia and Illinois, along with Fry's and Smith's), Valero Food Shops, Diamond Shamrock Corner Stores, Staples, Winn-Dixie, Bashas' and more. A complete list of retailers that have America West gift cards and their locations may be accessed at any time at http://www.americawest.com/travelplanning/gift/default.htm?c=PRGiftCards111804
To make travel as easy as possible, America West Airlines made several recent upgrades to its self-service check-in options and there are even incentives for customers who take advantage of these enhancements. The first time every FlightFund customer uses Web check-in before Dec. 31, 2004, he or she will receive 500 FlightFund bonus miles. FlightFund is America West's frequent flyer program.
Now through March 31, 2005, travelers can Earn 350 Bonus Miles and Save $5 per day on qualifying Leisure Weekend Rate rentals of two or more days, or Earn 350 Bonus Miles and Save $20 on qualifying Leisure Weekly Rate rentals. Take advantage of this offer by renting any car class, including Sport Utility Vehicles, Minivans, and Hertz Prestige Collection vehicles, at a participating location in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada.
November 18– Adria Airways and Croatia Airlines signed contracts which will see both carriers become regional members of the Star Alliance network as of December 15, 2004.
November 17 - Anticipating the busiest travel week of the year, Amtrak is planning ahead for Thanksgiving and encouraging customers to do the same.
During Thanksgiving week, Amtrak expects to serve nearly 600,000 passengers nationwide. With ridership expected to be 80 percent higher than a typical Wednesday, as many as 125,000 passengers will travel on Nov. 24, making it the busiest travel day of the year.
Amtrak
Guest Rewards Introduces New 'Select Plus' Membership Tier
November 8, 2004 - Amtrak today announced it will introduce a new premium
membership tier for its Amtrak Guest Rewards program - "Select Plus"
- and set new minimum point award and redemption levels enabling members
to earn free travel and other rewards faster than ever before.
November 1 - Just in time for the holiday season, Amtrak and Radio City Entertainment have teamed up to offer a special holiday package to see the world-famous Rockettes perform in New York City.
November 17 -- The Transportation Security Administration began testing the technology and business processes involved in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Program at the Port of Long Beach Container Terminal. The Prototype will expand to 34 sites in six states and will last seven months.
November 16 -- The Transportation Security Administration is ready to accept applications from commercial airports that wish to participate in the Screening Partnership Program (SPP). This option will allow participants to choose security screeners employed by qualified private companies while maintaining TSA standards and government oversight.
November 12 -- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced the issuance of the Final Order (PDF 253 KB) in the Federal Register on Monday, November 15, requiring air carriers to provide historical passenger name record (PNR) information to TSA for testing. The 30-day block of PNR data will be used to test TSA’s new passenger pre-screening program, Secure Flight, which will work to prevent terrorists and others who pose a threat from boarding aircraft. The deadline for airlines to submit the data to TSA is November 23.
A duplicate transmission of credit card billing information was sent in error to the Visa and MasterCard processor of a number of ARC participating carriers. Potentially affected transactions are dated Friday, November 12.
Steps have been taken by the credit card processor to
reverse duplicate charges effective November 17. Cardholders should expect
to see offsetting debits and credits on their credit card statements shortly
thereafter. Customers holding debit cards whose accounts suffered overdrafts
as a result of the error may be directly referred to ARC for assistance.
Calls should be directed to ARC's Customer Service Center at 703 816-8003
or e-mailed to
csc@arccorp.com.
Additional information will be shared via e-mail as this becomes available.