Business Travel Tips

British Airways cabin crew members will go on strike for three days from 20 March and for four days from 27 March.

The union representing British Airways cabin crew confirmed it would not strike over Easter, but warned there could be further action after 14 April if a resolution had not been agreed, BBC reports.

About fight cancellations, BBC quoted BA saying all flights to and from London City Airport would be unaffected by strike action, as would all long-haul flights from Gatwick […] Some short-haul Gatwick flights within the UK and Europe would be cancelled, while some short and long-haul flights to and from Heathrow would also be affected.

Consumer group Which? said passengers should be able to get their money back if they are directly affected by the strike, but only once their specific flight has been officially cancelled. (source)

US Airways announced four new nonstop routes, two to Canada and two to Mexico.

The new service will originate from the airline’s Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C. hubs.

On May 31, US Airways will begin daily, year-round service from its largest hub to Ottawa on a 50-seat CRJ-200 regional jet operated by US Airways Express partner Air Wisconsin. As for Halifax, US Airways say the service will begin from Philadelphia on June 1.

On June 5, year-round service will commence to Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, Mexico; both routes will operate on an Airbus A319 aircraft with seating for 124 customers (12 First Class, 112 main cabin). The new service to Mexico complements US Airways’ existing service to both cities from its Phoenix hub.

Customers can start booking their travel beginning March 13.

Hilton Garden Inn has launched a service enabling guests to print documents from anywhere in the world directly to the printers located in each of Hilton Garden Inn’s complimentary business centers.

The service — PrintSpots mobile printing from PrinterOn® — is complimentary to hotel guests and works with any smartphone device, including the Blackberry® and iPhone®.

- How it works

A guest can simply forward the document they want to print from their smartphone to a property-specific email address dedicated to the PrintSpot printer located in the hotel’s business center.

The PrintSpots service completes the task by processing the document and holding it until the guest releases it, using a unique release code.
(Source: Hilton Garden Inn’s press release)

WestJet has launched its frequent-flier program.
Canada’s second-biggest carrier said that its loyalty program is mostly offering dollars off flights and holiday packages.
The dollars can be used as cash to pay for a flight on any date to any destination. There are no blackouts or seat restrictions on the reward flights.

- WestJet vs Air Canada

WestJet is also attempting to lure Air Canada customers away from the 25-year-old Aeroplan frequent flier program by persuading consumers to participate in a new program that offers rewards once an individual traveller spends more than $1,500 on WestJet flights annually.

Patrick Sojka, chief executive officer at rewardscanada.ca, which tracks a wide range of loyalty programs, said the main drawback of the WestJet frequent guest program is the relatively high threshold of minimum annual spending on WestJet flights.
He said Aeroplan still provides a greater number of options for consumers, especially through Air Canada’s membership in the Star Alliance of carriers.
WestJet is gradually building its airline partnerships, but it could be years before consumers are able to have access to a worldwide network. (source)

Body-scanning technology is to be deployed at nine more airports in the U.S.

With Boston’s Logan International Airport installing today three body-scanning machines and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport receiving one next week, the list of of the U.S. airports — published by TSA — to install this technology by this summer includes 11.

The list includes Boston Logan International (BOS), Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), Chicago O’Hare International (ORD), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FFL), Kansas City International (MCI), Los Angeles International (LAX), Mineta San José International (SJC), Oakland International (OAK), Port Columbus International (CMH), and San Diego International (SAN)

TSA says that a total of 450 AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology) units will be deployed by the end of 2010 and the additional airports will be announced in the near future.