Other News Highlights

Rearden Commerce Transforms the Business Traveler’s Experience with Best-in-Class Technology
Rearden Commerce, developer of the leading on-demand platform that helps companies buy and manage services online, today announced additional technology services and capabilities available within the Rearden Personal Assistant™ that create new savings opportunities for businesses and redefine the travel experience for employees. For the first time, travelers will be able to leverage the company’s unique “Book Again” technology to rebook previously traveled routes, personalize their dining experience, and purchase Amtrak inventory directly through the Rearden Personal Assistant. Collectively, the new capabilities further increase productivity in the workplace, drive employees to select in-policy services and vendors, and provide a superior corporate and employee experience.

CLEAR registered travelers will not be refunded
More than 250,000 customers who are members of CLEAR’s registered traveler program will not be getting refunds, according the company’s website. Attempts to reach the company were unsuccessful, with its phone line’s voicemail full. In a surprise move that caught travelers and airports off-guard, New York-based Verified Identity Pass announced late Monday that it will cease running its CLEAR program at 18 airports throughout the country.

Southwest to land Sunday at New York's LaGuardia
The Dallas-based carrier is launching service at LaGuardia Airport, the kind of heavily congested airport it eschewed for three decades in its dedication to keeping costs low.

US Airlines Raise Fares As Travel Picture Stabilizes
Major U.S. airlines Thursday raised fares across parts of their domestic networks, the second hike in as many weeks amid signs that the travel market is stabilizing. American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp. (AMR), and UAL Corp.'s (UAUA) United Airlines late Wednesday added $10 and $20 to roundtrip fares, on top of a similar industry-wide increase two weeks ago. By midday Thursday, other U.S. carriers joined the latest round of fare increases, although low-cost carriers, including Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) didn't raise fares.

Alaska Airlines Inaugurates Nonstop Bellingham-Las Vegas Service
Alaska Airlines today will inaugurate nonstop, year-round service between Bellingham, Wash., and Las Vegas. The thrice-weekly service between the two cities will expand to include a fourth weekly flight starting Aug. 3.

United Airlines to trim more flight attendants
United Airlines will cut 600 additional flight attendant jobs, starting Aug. 31, as it struggles with two side effects of the recession: lower-than-anticipated attrition and a steep drop in air travel.

Marriott gets a wake-up call
Shaken by the plunge in travel, the hotel giant presses ahead with a makeover: freshening its look, trying new brands, and preparing a successor to the patriarch.