What's New

United MileagePlus Account Numbers Will Change in 2012

As you all know, United and Continental are in the midst of their merger and there will be some changes to their mileage programs. In particular, all current United Mileage Plus numbers will be changing to an 8 character alpha/numeric number. This will happen mid- to late February.

Old 11-didget United numbers will be recognized until at least March 3, 2012. Once you receive your new Mileage Plus number please let us know so we can update your profile. We don't want you to miss earning your miles or benefits.

Sea-Tac Launches Experience the City of Music

Your next visit to Sea-Tac Airport will come with a free upgrade to include the sights and sounds of northwest music. The Sea-Tac Airport Music Initiative, Experience the City of Music—a cooperative effort by the Port of Seattle, Seattle Music Commission and PlayNetwork—will showcase the northwest region’s music culture and enhance the experience of passengers.

The Sea-Tac Airport Music Initiative, Experience the City of Music is a comprehensive program that uses speakers and screens airport-wide to feature a variety of northwest music from the soulful sounds of Quincy Jones to the poignant lyrics of Eddie Vedder. Travelers will also hear artist-read public announcements, enjoy curated videos on terminal and baggage claim monitors, and listen to a multi-channel web radio player available through the free airport Wi-Fi network.

Emirates and Alaska Airlines Launch Frequent Flier Partnership

Emirates and Alaska Airlines announced a new frequent flier partnership that will offer travelers to accrue Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles when they fly on Emirates. Emirates Skywards members can also accrue miles when flying on Alaska.

To celebrate the new partnership, both airlines are offering double miles on each others’ flights starting March 1 through May 31, 2012. To earn Double Miles, members must register their Skywards number at skywards.com or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number at alaskaair.com prior to their first qualifying flight.

American Serves Complimentary Beer and Wine in Select International Main Cabins

Beginning Feb. 1, customers traveling in the main cabin on American-operated flights between the U.S. and Europe, the U.S. and Asia and onboard long-haul flights between the U.S. and Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, can choose from a variety of complimentary beer and wine options -- compliments of the airline.

SkyTeam Introduces SkyPriority For Top Customers

SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, today announced the introduction of SkyPriority, a series of distinctively branded priority airport services offered to Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers. SkyPriority has been developed to ensure a common and consistent service standard for priority airport services across the alliance. The roll-out of the program will start in March 2012 at selected hubs. SkyPriority will gradually be implemented at 800+ stations in the course of the next few months, reaching over 1,000 airports by early 2013.

SkyPriority services will include:

• Priority check-in areas
• Priority baggage drop-off
• Priority service at airport ticket offices
• Priority service at transfer desks
• Priority lines at security, where available
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling

SkyTeam members: Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines

MasterPark Announces the Opening of New Self-Parking Lot, MPark

Mpark is offering a $7.49/Day Special Grand Opening Price at its new SeaTac self-parking lot. Mpark is a 24 hour attended secure, lighted facility with automated credit card only checkout and baggage assistance.

MPark is a division of MasterPark and is located at 3035 South 1606th St, SeaTac WA (206) 246-2222. Learn more.

United and Continental to Merge Frequent Flyer Programs

United and Continental plan to merge their frequent flyer programs during the first quarter of 2012. Until the merger, flyers can continue to use their respective account numbers. More details.

All Nippon Airways To ProvideNonstop Flights To Tokyo With Boeing 787 At Sea-Tac

All Nippon Airways (ANA) of Japan has chosen Seattle to be one of the initial international destinations for their Boeing 787 Dreamliner. In a Tokyo press conference today, ANA Group President and CEO Shinichiro Ito announced the company's intent to inaugurate nonstop service to Sea-Tac Airport from their Tokyo Narita hub from fiscal year 2012 onwards.

American Airlines Bankruptcy: Should You Worry?

If you’re one of the 240,000 passengers flying American Airlines daily, will the bankruptcy filing ground you? And what about your Frequent Flyer miles?

The answer is “little noticeable impact” to the first question. And almost certainly no to the second about miles. In fact, the good news for flyers may be that the filing will have a positive impact.

More questions and answers follow:

Q: Impact on flyers?

A: American continues to operate in business as usual. This follows a pattern of the past as bankrupt airlines continued to operate as they reorganized. Delta, United, Continental and US Airways have all gone through Chapter 11. Some flights will be cut.

Q: How many flights might be impacted?

A: Ten percent or even more, according to Bloomberg News, though the number could be higher. That only continues a current strategy at American and other airlines as they respond to higher jet fuel prices. Passengers whose flight is canceled or moved because of a schedule change will be rebooked, says Thomas W. Horton, who was named the new CEO of American's parent company, AMR Corp.

Q: Are Frequent Flyer Miles endangered?

A: They are safe, says Gary Leff, co-founder of frequent flier site MilePoint. In the past, other bankrupt airlines have started new promotions to keep loyal travelers. There is no reason to think American won’t do the same, so it could work to benefit this lucrative segment of the airline market

Q: Long-term, what’s the impact?

A: Passengers may find lower costs, just as they did when Delta and United worked their way out of Chapter 11.

Q: What’s behind the move (bankruptcy)?

A: The company could not afford to keep losing money. High oil prices also played a part. But American is also trying to cut back on labor costs, betting that the move will force concessions by unions.

Q: Could this lead to another merger?

A: The most likely candidate right now is US Air, which has so far not commented on the move.

By David Wilkening

Hertz Offers 2 Free Days of NeverLost^®

Hertz is offering 2 free days of NeverLost^® GPS on rentals through 12/31/12.

Travelers to Canada with Criminal Convictions May Be Denied Entrance

Members are reminded to advise customers traveling to Canada of an enforced law that may deny them entrance if they have ever been convicted of a criminal offense. The list of applicable convictions include: 1) a minor offense (including shoplifting, theft, assault, possession of an illegal substance, etc.); 2) an "indictable" criminal offense (including assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter; etc.), or 3) Driving While Impaired (DWI).

Delta Phishing Email Alert

Delta Air Lines has recently received reports from customers of fraudulent emails claiming to be from Delta Air Lines

These emails claim that a customer has purchased a Delta ticket, a credit card has been charged and/or an invoice or receipt is attached to the email. If you receive one of these emails, do not open the attachment as it may contain potentially dangerous viruses or harm your computer..

As such, please be advised of the following:

• Delta recommends customers change their SkyMiles account PIN immediately and monitor their account for any misuse.
• These emails were not sent by Delta Air Lines.
• Customers should not click on the link in the email or open any attachments.
• Instead, they should delete the email from their inbox.
• Please call Delta at 1-888-750-3284 if you have questions or need further information.

Be assured that Delta did not send these emails, and your credit cards have not been charged by Delta as a result of the emails. These emails did not originate from Delta, nor does Delta believe that any personal information that you provided to Delta was used to generate these emails.

American Airlines Offers Perks to Alaska MVP Members

Alaska Elite Level Mileage Plan Members can now receive Priority AAcess benefits when flying on American Airlines. Benefits include:

• Priority Check-in and Boarding
• Express Security Lines at Select Airports
• Preferred Seating
• Checked Baggage Fee Waiver for First 2 Bags

American AAdvantage members receive reciprical perks when flying on Alaska Airlines.

Frequent flier members of both airlines can earn miles that count toward qualifying for elite status when traveling on the other carriers' flights.

Alaska to Start Nonstop Service to Kansas City

Starting March 12, 2012, Alaska Airlines will fly daily to Kansas City. Members of Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan can also earn double miles on the nonstop flights between Seattle and Kansas City from March 12 through April 25, 2012.

ETC Clients Get Free Coach Preferred Seats on American Airlines

American Airlines has expanded and renamed its Express Seats offering, now called Preferred Seats. The expanded seat choice is now available to all American Airlines customers 24 hours prior to departure through all of American's direct booking channels including AA.com, AA.com Mobile, self-service check-in machines, and American's phone reservations.

Preferred Seats provide customers the option to select and reserve more desirable seats, with prices beginning at $4 per segment and varying based on length of flight and time of day. Preferred Seats are now complimentary for Elite and full-fare customers and their companion traveler(s) on the same reservation, including: AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, Platinum®, and Gold® members. Full-fare customers, AAirPass and oneworld® elite customers.

Sound confusing? Not to worry. Executive Travel currently has access to American Airlines' entire seat inventory regardless of your frequent flyer status or departure date at no additional charge.

United States Issues Worldwide Travel Alert

The U.S. Department of State issued a Worldwide Travel Alert to citizens traveling in sensitive areas to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan.

Due to the uncertainty of the situation, travelers in sensitive areas are urged to limit travel outside their hotels and to avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations.

In addition, citizens traveling abroad are encouraged to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), to receive the latest travel updates and information and to obtain updated information on travel and security issues.

U.S. Adds Five Mexico States to Travel Warning

The U.S. State Department updated and expanded its travel warning for Mexico due to growing drug violence.

The warning dated April 22 replaces a warning that had been in place since Sept. 10, 2010. The updated warning advises against travel to areas in five additional Mexican states: Jalisco, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi, Sonora and Zacatecas.

The warning includes a major highway into Monterrey where suspected drug gangs shot two U.S. customs officials in February, killing one of them.

Travelers also are warned to defer nonessential travel to the states of Tamaulipas and Michoacán and to parts of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sinaloa, Durango, Northern Baja California and Nuevo Leon.

Contemplating Electronic Expense Reporting?

If you are thinking about investing in an electronic expense reporting product, you should be aware that there are several products available and there are compatibility issues among them. Executive Travel can provide guidance and recommendation as to what system best fits your company---give us a call.