EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT 12/11/06 Welcome to EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT for the week of December 11, the weekly e-mail of essential business travel news! To sign up for the e-Alert, click here. Will Northwest jump into merger fray? Continental, AmEx create website for business travelers TSA says new screening devices won't violate passenger privacy French all-business carrier due to launch this month American, Gulf Air start frequent flyer partnership Northwest, Korean expand code-share routes China Southern moves at LAX Helicopter firm links NYC, Newark Airport for Continental flyers Four Seasons opens In California; Taj takes over Boston Ritz-Carlton THIS WEEK'S QUESTION FOR READERS: The Transportation Security Administration will test a new scanning device at Phoenix Airport that essentially can see through your clothes - although TSA says it will maintain certain personal privacy safeguards (see story below). Do you think TSA is going too far? Would it bother you to be scanned with this device? Do you think TSA should set any limits in what it asks of passengers in the name of security? Send your replies to skyguide@aexp.com. AIRLINES Will Northwest jump into merger fray? Speculation was mounting last week that Northwest Airlines might be the next to jump into the merger marketplace, after reports emerged that the Minneapolis-based carrier asked its bankruptcy court for approval to hire a company specializing in investment banking and restructuring. The Financial Times suggested that Northwest might want to use the firm to help prepare a bid for Delta Air Lines - presumably a better one than the $8.7 billion offer made by US Airways. According to the Wall Street Journal, Northwest wants to take on New York-based Evercore Partners for $75,000 a month, plus a $3 million payment when the airline emerges from Chapter 11. "If a merger or other transaction is consummated, Evercore would receive a $2 million success fee," the Journal said. Meanwhile, the sparring continues over the proposed US Airways-Delta merger. US Airways executives last week met with Delta officials and with representatives of Delta's unsecured creditors to pitch their proposal, and US Airways CEO Doug Parker said afterward that he remains "fully committed" to pursuing the merger. The next step, he said, should be a "due diligence" process. But Parker also told USA Today in an interview that if Delta management keeps up its opposition to the deal instead of working with US Airways, "It's not going to happen." His counterpart at Delta, CEO Gerald Grinstein, told the Washington Post he remains committed to pursuing Delta's own reorganization plan in bankruptcy court. He said he doubted the proposed combination could overcome regulatory objections, noting: "There is no question that there are antitrust issues that won't be quickly or easily resolved." Delta's pilots voiced their opposition to the merger last week, claiming that a US Airways takeover would result in "several thousand" jobs lost at Delta, including those of 1,000 pilots. Delta pilots' chief Lee Moak said the pilots' contract with Delta could let them block the merger, and he pledged his union will not negotiate with US Airways. In response, US Airways said if the merger happens, it would continue to honor Delta's pilot contract. Continental, AmEx create website for business travelers Continental Airlines has unveiled a new dedicated web site for customers of American Express Business Travel who use the latter's online corporate travel booking tool for airline reservations. Customers can use the site to check in for flights, reserve or update seat selections and print boarding passes. "Functionally, clients who purchase Continental tickets through American Express Online are sent a check-in prompt via email within 24 hours prior to their flight's departure," a Continental spokesman said. The email links the traveler to a co-branded web site where online check-in can be managed. ADVERTISEMENT At the heart of Conrad Hotels lies a celebration of individuality. Its hallmark is the uniqueness of each of its hotels and resorts. While each hotel stands alone as a dynamic reflection of its destination city, all exemplify the brand's core values&luxury presented through exclusive offerings, a genuine attitude embodied by warm and attentive staff; and vibrancy felt through a stylish approach to cultural traditions. Stay at Conrad and experience the greatest luxury of all: the luxury of being yourself. FAA/SECURITY TSA says new screening devices won't violate passenger privacy After USA Today reported that the Transportation Security Administration is about to start testing a new passenger scanning device that amounts to a "virtual strip search," the agency quickly defended the technology and denied it would violate personal privacy. The newspaper reported that TSA this month will start using a new "backscatter" scanning machine that "takes potentially revealing x-ray photos of travelers." TSA put up an explanatory area on its web site where it shows how the devices work - and what kind of images they show; it's at www.tsa.gov/research/privacy/backscatter.shtm. According to TSA, the technology is helpful because it can show what objects people are carrying under their clothes - whether the objects are metal or not. The agency said it has "worked closely with the vendors to modify the image of the passenger that is taken by Backscatter," so nothing too detailed is seen in the way of body parts. It also noted that the TSA officer who monitors the screen will be "in a remote area from the screening process" so others can't see it; that the screen images can't be printed, stored or transmitted; and that they will be erased as soon as the security officer "has resolved any anomaly" that shows up. INTERNATIONAL French all-business carrier due to launch this month According to wire reports from Paris, another new all-business-class airline is about to start flying across the Atlantic - this time between Newark and Paris Orly. The new entrant is called L'Avion (www.lavion.com); according to wire reports, the airline will start flying December 27, using a 90-seat 757-200 that will initially operate six weekly roundtrips. The roundtrip fare will reportedly start at about $2,120. Early reports about the carrier noted that it would be called Elysair, which remains its corporate name; but it changed the name of the airline after market research found that consumers preferred L'Avion, which is simply French for "airplane." The carrier will promote its in-flight service - including, of course, French cuisine and wines - to attract business class flyers from mainstream carriers as well as full-fare economy travelers who might want to upgrade their in-flight experience for about the same fare. American, Gulf Air start frequent flyer partnership American Airlines last week began a new frequent flyer partnership with Gulf Air, the Middle Eastern carrier owned by Bahrain and Oman. The partnership means that members of American's AAdvantage program can now earn and redeem miles on Gulf Air flights worldwide, and members of Gulf Air's program can do the same on AA flights. AAdvantage members can fly American transatlantic to London Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt or Dublin and connect to Gulf Air for onward service to the Middle East and beyond to the Indian subcontinent or Africa. Details are available at www.aa.com/partners. Northwest, Korean expand code-share routes Northwest Airlines and Korean Air, which started code-sharing in 2005, said last week they will expand their agreement effective December 9 to more routes. Northwest's NW code will be placed on Korean Air flights between Seattle-Seoul, Chicago-Seoul, Tokyo-Seoul and Osaka-Seoul, as well as its Tokyo-Los Angeles flights, and services between Busan, South Korea and both Tokyo and Osaka. Korean's code will go onto Northwest flights between Seattle-Detroit, Seattle-MSP, LAX-Las Vegas, and between Chicago O'Hare and Detroit, Memphis and Minneapolis/St. Paul. China Southern moves at LAX China Southern Airlines, the largest carrier in the People's Republic of China, last week moved to new quarters at Los Angeles International Airport. Instead of flying out of Terminal 5, where it has been for the past nine years, China Southern flights now depart from the Tom Bradley International Terminal. China Southern, which flies 777s non-stop between LAX and Guangzhou, has reciprocal code-sharing and frequent flyer partnerships with Delta Air Lines. AIRPORTS Helicopter firm links NYC, Newark Airport for Continental flyers Continental passengers flying in or out of Newark have a new, fast option for Manhattan transfers. US Helicopter said last week it has a partnership agreement allowing Continental customers to book connections on flights linking its Manhattan heliport - located close to Wall Street - with Continental's Newark Airport hub. A one-way ride is eight minutes, departing on an hourly schedule from 6:40 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and costs $159. Passengers departing from Manhattan can check in for their Continental flights, check luggage, get boarding passes, and clear security at the Manhattan heliport. They'll be flown to the secure side of Terminal C at EWR, where they can proceed directly to Continental departure gates. Inbound passengers at EWR connect to the helicopter service through Gate 71 in Terminal C. For details, go to www.flyush.com, or look for a link on Continental's web site. HOTELS Four Seasons opens In California; Taj takes over Boston Ritz-Carlton Among recent hotel happenings, Four Seasons has cut the ribbon on its seventh property in California - the Four Seasons Westlake Village, about 45 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and from LAX … Look for a name change by mid-January for The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Hotel, which is being acquired by India's Taj Hotels; it will be reflagged as the Taj Boston … In Milwaukee, the Wyndham Milwaukee Center on January 1 will become the InterContinental Milwaukee … Hilton has opened a new Hilton Suites hotel in Atlanta's Perimeter Center district, north of downtown near the Perimeter Mall … The former Wyndham hotel in Syracuse, N.Y. is now the Doubletree Hotel Syracuse … Elsewhere in North America, there's a brand-new Embassy Suites hotel in Mexico City, in the Reforma neighborhood … And in Canada, the former Crowne Plaza in Montreal is now the Doubletree Plaza Hotel Montreal … In South America, InterContinental Hotel Group has opened a new property in Venezuela - the Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo Casino and Convention Center in Maracaibo … In Russia, the former Pribaltiyskaya Hotel in St. Petersburg has been rebranded as the Park Inn Pribaltiyskaya, operated by Radisson affiliate Rezidor Hotel Group … In China, Regent Hotels has cut the ribbon on the 500-room Regent Beijing in the city's Wangfujing commercial center, and Sheraton is due to debut the Sheraton Guiyang Hotel in Guiyang, China on December 18. AIR ROUTES ATLANTA (ATL). On December 11, Delta Connection/Atlantic Southeast Airlines will begin twice-daily service between Atlanta and Jacksonville, N.C. with 40-seat regional jets. On December 15, Delta kicks off new daily non-stops from Atlanta to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Delta will also beef up its Caribbean network this week, starting twice-weekly flights December 13 between Atlanta and the French island of Guadeloupe, and adding weekly Saturday service from Atlanta to Martinique on December 16. Spirit Airlines on December 14 will begin seasonal service between Atlanta and Tampa with one daily roundtrip. AUSTIN (AUS). Citing increased demand, American Airlines on December 14 will add capacity between Austin and San Jose, Calif. by switching two of its three daily flights from 136-seat MD80s to 188-seat 757s. And on December 15, Aeromexico will begin the only international service from Austin, with flights to Mexico City operating four days a week. DALLAS/FT. WORTH (DFW). On December 14, American Eagle will add new service from DFW to Alexandria, La., operating three daily roundtrips with 34-seat turboprops. FT. LAUDERDALE (FLL). Spirit Airlines will build up operations at its Ft. Lauderdale hub on December 14, adding a second daily flight to Kingston, Jamaica; a second to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; a third to San Juan; a second to Washington Reagan National; and a sixth to New York LaGuardia. LOS ANGELES (LAX). Delta continues to build up its Latin American network from Los Angeles this month, with Delta Connection/Atlantic Southeast starting daily service to LaPaz, Mexico on December 15 and to Loreto December 18, as well as three flights a week to Acapulco effective December 16. Delta starts daily LAX-Puerto Vallarta flights December 15 and LAX-Managua, Nicaragua service twice a week. Also on the new LAX schedule is weekly service to Liberia, Costa Rica starting December 15; on December 17, Delta will boost LAX-Guatemala City service from one flight a week to four. Delta Connection/Atlantic Southeast will also add LAX-Las Vegas service December 15 and LAX-San Francisco December 18, while Delta itself kicks off LAX-Jacksonville, Fla. and LAX-New Orleans service December 15. NEW YORK KENNEDY (JFK). A new African destination will be available from JFK starting December 11 when Delta launches non-stop service to Accra, Ghana, operating four times a week. Brazil's TAM will add a second daily non-stop between JFK and Sao Paulo on December 15, using an A330. On the same date, Deltas adds a second daily JFK-Mexico City flight. On December 16, American Airlines begins Saturday-only 757 service between JFK and San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. NEW YORK LAGUARDIA (LGA). Effective December 14, American Eagle will start flying one daily roundtrip between LaGuardia and Halifax, Nova Scotia, using a 17-seat regional jet. NEWARK (EWR). Continental set a December 16 start for weekly (Saturday) service between Newark and Roatan, Honduras; and between Newark and Bonaire, using a 737-700 on both routes. PHOENIX (PHX). US Airways Express/Mesa Airlines will offer twice-daily service between Phoenix and Telluride, Colo., from December 15 through March 31. SAN JUAN (SJU). American Eagle will boost turboprop frequencies out of San Juan to several Caribbean destinations on December 14, adding three more flights a day to St. Thomas, one more to St. Croix, one to Antigua, one to Anguilla (four days a week), and one extra flight to Dominica (three days a week). DEALS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS United Airlines (www.united.com; 800-864-8331) is having another international fare sale, this one good for travel through March 31, 2007 with a purchase deadline of December 19. The sale fares are valid for travel on off-peak days that vary by destination, and a roundtrip purchase is required. Sample roundtrip fares in the latest sale include Chicago-Mexico City, $290; Los Angeles-London, $368; Seattle-Tokyo $840. Delta SkyMiles members can now accrue substantial mileage credit when they take cruise vacations. Through a partnership between Delta and CruisesOnly, members who book a seagoing vacation at www.SkyMilesCruises.com or by calling 800-820-3244 can earn 1,500 miles for a cruise of one to five nights; 3,000 for a six to eight-night cruise; 5,000 for nine to 12 nights; or 10,000 miles for a cruise of 13 nights or longer. If the booking is made before January 31 and it's for a balcony cabin or a suite, members can earn double miles. For links to other websites where you can search for bargains, click here: www.eskyguide.com/reference/deals.html Check out the SkyGuide Web site at http://www.skyguide.net. You'll find business travel industry articles, helpful reference pages, interactive features and a special commerce section - all the elements you need to make business travel efficient and enjoyable. By Jim Glab Have a question or comment? Send it to skyguide@aexp.com. To sign up for the e-Alert, click here.