msnbc.com: Business travel

Continental shifting toward cashless cabin

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:15:12 GMT

Continental Airlines Inc. said Monday that credit and debit cards will be accepted for purchases onboard most its aircraft starting Tuesday.
Continental Airlines - Debit card - Business - Credit card - Aviation

DOT fines airlines for six-hour tarmac delay

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:49:36 GMT

The Department of Transportation issued a fine against Continental Airlines and Express Jet Airlines for stranding passengers in Rochester, Minn., for nearly six hours last August.

United States Department of Transportation - Airline - Continental Airlines - United States - Rochester New York

Airlines: No review for frequent flier programs

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:09:47 GMT

The airline industry says there's no need to interfere with frequent flier programs despite U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer's request for a federal review to protect consumers.
United States - Chuck Schumer - Airline - U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer - Government

Holidays will again test N.Y.-area bottleneck

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:50:03 GMT

Fewer people are expected to fly over Thanksgiving, but travelers shouldn't expect a reprieve from the horrid flight delays of holidays past, especially at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark.

Thanksgiving - John F. Kennedy International Airport - LaGuardia Airport - Newark New Jersey - Holidays

The best airport lounges in the U.S.

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:59:16 GMT

Fifty dollars or so will get you into the lounges of most U.S. airlines. See these offerings in Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles to find out which carrier surveyed has the best.
Los Angeles - United States - Atlanta - Chicago - California

World’s best business hotels 2009

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:19:31 GMT

These top hotels combine service, technology, and comfort—everything that today’s business traveler needs on the road.

Hotel - Business - Travel and Tourism - Accommodation - Lodging

Continental matches peak days fee hike

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:36:12 GMT

Continental Airlines Inc. said Thursday it matched a move by other carriers to raise surcharges for travel on a few peak days in March and April to $30 each way.
Continental Airlines - Airline - United States - Travel - Transportation

Government wants faster airport screening

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:54:27 GMT

The Homeland Security Department wants to expand speedy screening of preapproved, low-risk air travelers arriving in the United States to most international airports in the country.

United States - United States Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Department - Business - Government

Air Canada starts trial use of in-flight Internet

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:25:45 GMT

Air Canada said Thursday it has begun trial offers of Internet service onboard some flights between Toronto and Los Angeles.
Los Angeles - Air Canada - Toronto - United States - California

AirTran giving double rewards for Milwaukee travel

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:22:55 GMT

Discount carrier AirTran Airways, a unit of AirTran Holdings Inc., said Friday that it will offer double reward credits to all of its frequent flier club members when they travel between Milwaukee and any AirTran destination through Feb. 10.
AirtranHoldings - Frequent-flyer program - Low-cost carrier - United States - Travel

AirTran to put ads on seatback tray tables

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:13:49 GMT

It soon will be harder to avoid advertising if you fly on one major carrier. AirTran Airways is installing ads on the bottom of seat-back tray tables on all its planes.

AirtranAirways - Advertising - Major carrier - Recreation - Business

2 carriers to offer new benefits to elite fliers

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:46:05 GMT

Codeshare partners United Airlines and Continental Airlines said Tuesday that starting next year they will allow members of each carrier's frequent flier program who have earned elite status to receive unlimited free upgrades on flights operated by both airlines when space is available.
Airline - Frequent-flyer program - Continental Airlines - United Airlines - Codeshare agreement

Airlines boost peak-day surcharges

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:16:27 GMT

It could cost you even more to travel next spring and summer. US Airways said Tuesday it will add a 5 percent surcharge to all U.S. flights on or after May 8.

Travel - Recreation - Publications - Spring break - Specialty Travel

Google offers free Wi-Fi for the holidays

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:42:32 GMT

Google, Yahoo, eBay and Microsoft, competitors on the Web, all have the same idea this holiday season: providing free Wi-Fi access in airports, airplanes and public places.

Google - Wi-Fi - search engine - Boingo - Searching

Southwest launches new fare sale

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:39:04 GMT

Southwest Airlines said Tuesday it would offer sale fares for travel in December through March, excluding the Christmas holiday season, with prices on some seats starting at $59 each way for the shortest trips.
Southwest Airlines - Christmas - Christmas and holiday season - Holidays - Directories

Hotel rates down 8.8 percent this year

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 18:03:33 GMT

Hotel room prices are expected to drop a total of 8.8 percent in 2009 compared to 2008 and will continue creeping down in 2010, though at a much slower rate, a lodging forecast suggests.
Hotel - Travel and Tourism - Lodging - Prefectures - Greece

Airlines boost on-time arrivals in September

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:02:21 GMT

The government says flights operated by the major airlines were more likely to arrive on time in September than in the previous month or September 2008.

Government - United States - September 11 2001 - Terrorism - Incidents

Bangkok airport launches free Wi-Fi service

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 22:30:59 GMT

Bangkok’s international airport now offers free wireless Internet access for passengers, matching services already available from regional competitors.

United Airlines retires its last 737

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:21:19 GMT

United Airlines retired its last Boeing 737 on Wednesday, sending it off with a cross-country trip that was a retirement flight for one of its longtime pilots, too.

Business travel pitched as economic engine

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:10:09 GMT

The travel industry hopes redefine itself as a key player in the American economy: a means by which companies can improve profits, a source of tax revenue and a provider of jobs.

Continental Airlines joins Star Alliance

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:59:32 GMT

Continental Airlines on Tuesday officially joined the Star Alliance, a move it says will give passengers more options and the airline more places to expand.

Airlines still looking for business travelers

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:49:10 GMT

Airlines value premium travelers above other customers, letting them board first, eat a meal, and order a cocktail without whipping out a credit card.

Will a passenger bill of rights ever fly?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:45:42 GMT

Despite regular reports of tarmac delays and a strengthening movement for government to get involved, a passenger's bill of rights is a long way from getting off the ground.

Upgrading using miles: A wild fare chase?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:17:36 GMT

Using your frequent flier miles to upgrade can be really confusing, impossible or not worthwhile.

Southwest chases add-ons besides bag fees

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:03:50 GMT

Southwest is the only big U.S. airline that doesn't charge baggage fees, but that's not going to stop it from looking for other add-ons to sell to travelers, its CEO said on Thursday.

Airlines trying to find ‘that magic balance’

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:51:41 GMT

Airlines are challenged by weak revenue and volatile fuel prices, but many executives think keeping loyal customers happy is the best way to improve their business.

Lufthansa to launch in-flight Web, phone system

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:21:17 GMT

Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Monday it will develop with Panasonic Corp. a service to offer passengers in-flight Internet and cell phone connections.

Airlines expand $10 surcharge on busy travel days

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:43:56 GMT

Several big airlines have added $10 surcharges for busy days around the holidays, making days that already tended to be expensive to fly a little more costly.

Airlines improve on-time arrivals in August

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 19:13:58 GMT

The DOT said on Tuesday that 79.7 percent of flights arrived on time in August. That was an improvement from 78.4 percent in August 2008, and 77.6 percent in July.

United tries $249 fee to check bags for a year

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 22:33:17 GMT

United Airlines put a new twist on baggage fees Monday, introducing a sort of all-you-can-carry fee for luggage.

Airfares going up, hotel rates down in 2010

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:45:23 GMT

An American Express Business Travel forecast released Wednesday says airfares will go up around the globe next year as airlines pare their schedules and demand revives.

United Airlines to offer more uses for miles

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:02:55 GMT

United Airlines said Tuesday that members of its mileage program can use miles on hotel rooms and car rentals.

Baggage fees join your overseas flights

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:46:22 GMT

You can leave the U.S., but it's getting harder to leave behind baggage fees. Fees to check bags on international flights are creeping in.

Airlines filling more seats in business class

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:38:23 GMT

Airlines are at last beginning to fill vacant business-class seats in a sign that a slump in cross-border trade is easing, an industry body said on Thursday.

Study: Business travel can help bottom line

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:26:53 GMT

Business travel — often the target for cutbacks by companies cutting costs expenses — actually boosts profits and could help the U.S. economy come back from the recession, a report found on Tuesday.

Continental tweaks frequent flier program

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:13:06 GMT

Continental Airlines Inc. said that it is changing its OnePass frequent flier program on Oct. 27, when it joins the Star Alliance, an airline group that sells seats on one another's flights.

Global air travel may not recover until 2011

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 19:09:15 GMT

International air travel, whacked by the economic downturn, is starting to stabilize but may not recover until 2011 as companies and passengers continue to scale back, executives say.

American offers frequent flier promotions

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 17:47:39 GMT

American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp., said Wednesday it is offering promotions to its frequent flyers geared toward helping make them eligible for elite status and extra rewards.

Delta adds full-flat beds to flights from N.Y.

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:03:14 GMT

Delta Air Lines said Tuesday it has expanded its BusinessElite offerings over the Atlantic by adding full-flat beds to all flights between New York-JFK and London-Heathrow.

How to snag a more comfortable airline seat

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:11:54 GMT

Now, more than ever, upgrading can be a trip-saver. Here are eight ways to help make your next flight more comfortable.

Southwest Airlines says it will expand Wi-Fi

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:41:44 GMT

Southwest Airlines is on its way to providing in-flight Wi-Fi access on all of its aircraft.