United Welcomes Continental to Star Alliance - Business Travelers Benefit

On October 27, United welcomed Continental Airlines (CO) to Star Alliance. This marks a significant step in plans to link networks and services across both airlines and offer new, unparalleled convenience to the benefit of travelers. United, Air Canada, Continental, Lufthansa have joined in an expanded trans-Atlantic joint venture to offer customers – particularly corporate customers – service to more destinations, access to a larger inventory of seats in all booking classes, and a greater selection of routings.

The partnership covers transatlantic routings between North and Central America and Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Africa – 140 countries. Carriers will retain their corporate identities, brands and product offerings, customers will be offered enhanced benefits through the cooperative efforts of the carriers. This enhanced partnership broadens and depends the previous United/Lufthansa partnership.

• CO’s network includes more than 60 cities not currently served by United or another Star Alliance member.
• Star members now have access to two long-sought markets:
  • New York City: Significant presence at this key global gateway through CO’s New York/Newark Liberty hub
• Latin America: Improved access through a southern gateway at CO’s Houston hub.

The Star Alliance now offers customers a choice of flights serving 1,071 airports in 171 countries worldwide.

Try-Before-You-Buy Wi-Fi

United customers on transcontinental flights between New York Kennedy and our the airline’s Los Angeles and San Francisco hubs can enjoy a complimentary onboard Internet session with the new Try-Before-You-Buy promotion. Through December. 31, first-time users of Aircell’s Gogo ® Inflight Internet service will be offered one free session upon creating a new account. Gogo enables customers with Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops, smartphones and PDAs to surf the Web, check e-mail, send and receive instant messages, and access a corporate VPN. For more information on United’s inflight Internet service, visit united.com/Wi-Fi.

Boarding.fr Spending to much time at the airport?

Boarding helps you find other stranded travelers by simply tweeting #boarding along with your airport code (LAX, JFK, CDG, ...). Therefore, Boarding will send you a reply with a link to the other Twitter users who you can message directly to meet up with. "Hi there, I'm #boarding SFO !"

In a near future, Boarding will propose you coupons and tips to help you have a much nicer stay in your airport. Check it out at www.boarding.fr works for destinations around the world. Click on the icons to see who is also sitting at the same airport twittering.

The best new travel gadgets of the year

The new half-pound Callpod Fueltank Duo has adapters for nearly every cell phone, camera, MP3 player, and GPS navigation system on the market. Even better, it allows you to charge two gadgets at once. callpod.com; $70. Read more

Flight innovations you’ll love

It's all the rage to criticize the airlines. But we found some smart, practical initiatives that point the way to a better future. Read more

Body Language

Cultural Etiquette What to do with your hands when visiting other countries.

• When visiting Malaysia, you should only pass objects with your right hand but in South Korea and Vietnam, you should use both hands.
• Don't make a “V” sign in Ireland, or a “V” sign and “Thumbs Up” in Australia. They are considered obscene.
• Keep your hands out of your pockets when in Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Mexico.
• Never point with your finger when you are in Portugal, Venezuela, China, and Ecuador. To indicate “two” raise a ring and pinkie finger

Holiday guide to germ-free air travel

While the rest of us were preparing for Thanksgiving, the CDC was kicking off its largest-ever public awareness campaign about staying healthy while traveling. Read more