Business Travel Tips

With reports projecting a strong growth in the next years for business and convention travel, the competition among the airlines seems not to be about slashing prices, but about serving up hospitality and luxury.

Several airlines offering luxury services are attracted from the U.S. - U.K. route, which represents about one-third of transatlantic travel.

Maxjet is adding a Washington-to-London flight. It uses Boeing 767s outfitted with 102 business-class seats. From New York, round-trip tickets start at $1,500.

Another start-up, Eos, has reconfigured Boeing 757 to accommodate just 48 passengers in walled pods, where the seats convert into beds, complete with feather pillows and cashmere blankets. Tickets start at $1,475 each way.

A first-class ticket at United Airlines is from $4,000 to $6,000, but economy plus also is available for less than $400, if you book 30 days in advance.

Several air companies offer a chance to get a little bit of luxury, by paying a bit more:
- On Northwest, pay $15 more to guarantee a seat on an aisle or exit row;
- Virgin Atlantic charges $75 for an exit row seat;
- Air Canada has a $12 fee for a guaranteed seat assignment in advance;
- United adds $24 to $99 to the ticket price for an upgrade to economy plus.
(Source)