Travel News You Can Use
By Judy Newell November 14, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Airline News US regulators approve Delta-Northwest merger

U.S. regulators gave final approval October 29 to the planned merger of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines. Delta is now the world’s largest airline, with more than 800 jumbo jets, 75,000 employees and $35 billion in annual revenues. Both carriers will continue to operate separate reservations systems, websites and frequent flyer programs for the near future, gradually combining operations over the next two years.

Northwest holiday fare sale

In other news, Northwest rolled out its annual holiday fare sale, with discounts on tickets booked by November 26 for travel November 20–December 3 and December 17–January 5, 2009, within the continental United States and between the US and Canada.

United offers “door-to-door” baggage service

United Airlines has introduced overnight baggage shipping service, Door-to-Door Baggage, which enables customers in the continental US to conveniently ship their suitcases or other travel items such as skis or golf clubs. Pickup will be from a home or office directly to their destination within the 48 contiguous states. At $149 one way for flights less than 1,000 miles, or $179 for longer flights, United’s prices are simple and more economical than similar overnight services offered by other luggage shipping services. 

Up to 10 days prior to travel, customers can visit United’s website, select their trip reservation, schedule and pay for their shipment and print the shipping documents that will be attached to their bags. On the scheduled pickup day, the bags are picked up at a home or office, and by 4:30pm the next day the bags are delivered to the customer's final destination.

Lufthansa buys control of bmi

Lufthansa agreed to buy a controlling interest in bmi, a major discount airline in the United Kingdom. The airline already owned 30 percent of bmi, but it bought another 50 percent from bmi’s chairman. (SAS owns the other 20 percent.) The move gives Lufthansa a greater presence at the London/Heathrow airport.

Inside the world’s most luxurious plane

With the global economy in a tailspin, few travelers may be eyeing a luxurious first-class seat. That’s not stopping Qantas. The Australian carrier has started service of its highly anticipated A380 luxury aircraft. The inaugural flight departed Melbourne, Australia, and landed in Los Angeles on October 27.

The aircraft is the ultimate in luxury travel. The double-decker airliner has a first-class section with 14 private suites. Each suite includes a large swivel chair that converts into a bed; a dining table; an extra guest seat; a 17-inch LCD screen loaded with movies, TV shows, music and games; an eight-course tasting menu from Australian chef Neil Perry; Payot skincare products for men and women; and Akira Isogawa pajamas, slippers and socks. The tab?: about US$25,000.

Qantas has ordered a total of 20 A380s from manufacturer Airbus. Each A380 costs approximately $318 million. Qantas will have two A380 planes that fly from Melbourne and Sydney to Los Angeles by mid-November. The airline said it will have two nonstop flights from Melbourne to L.A. and three nonstop flights from Sydney to L.A. per week.



Cruise News

Queen Elizabeth 2 sets sail for retirement

British queens typically don’t retire to Dubai, but the Queen Elizabeth 2—arguably the world’s most famous ocean liner—has never been typical. On its 710th and final call to New York, the vessel sailed through New York Harbor for the last time, escorted by the US Coast Guard and FDNY fireboats. She met sister ship Queen Mary 2 for their final rendezvous at the Statue of Liberty before departing in tandem for Southampton, England. 

The QE2, which bridged the period between the heyday of opulent luxury liners and the more recent trend toward bigger, more democratic megaships, has carried more than 2.5 million passengers. Among them were Hollywood stars and British royalty. Many of those on board for the final trip were veteran QE2 passengers. QE2 also served as a hospital ship transporting injured troops during the 1982 Falkland War. 

The 40-year-old Cunard ship sailed en route to Dubai where she will live out her years as a hotel. The Queen Mary has enjoyed a similar “afterlife” as a hotel and tourist attraction based in Long Beach, California. Cunard expects to debut yet another Queen in 2010. 

Sources: Mexico Tourism Board, Travel Pulse Daily, OSSN, Forbes, TRO Travelgram 

Judy Newell, a writer and travel industry executive, heads the custom tour company Perfect Journeys that specializes in luxury and adventure travel. Contact her with comments or suggestions at JudyNewell_03@msn.com or go to her website www.PerfectJourneys.net.