Business Travel Tips

Air Canada is offering discounted flights fromLondon Heathrow to a number of destinations in Canada. Requirements and limitations: booking must be done by April 10; a Saturday night stayover; maximum stay: 12 months.
Travel period: April, May and June.
The fares below include taxes.
From London Heathrow to:
Calgary from GBP 548
Edmonton GBP 548
Halifax from GBP 462
Montreal from GBP 397
Ottawa from GBP 462
Toronto from GBP 397
Vancouver GBP 548

- From U.S. to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Dublin starting from $668 round-trip

UK carrier bmi is offering round-trip flights from U.S. to a number of top European destinations including Amsterdam, Brussels, and Dublin at fares starting from $668. Requirements: booking must (more…)

To celebrate the Open Skies treaty, British Airways‘ new Europe-U.S. subsidiary airline OpenSkies is to launch inaugural service on March 30, date when the agreement of the same name goes into effect.

The inaugural route between New York and Paris will be operated with a Boeing 757 featuring a three-class cabin structure, Biz, Prem+, and Economy. Each section accommodates no more that 30 passengers.

With Open Skies going into effect March 30, trans-Atlantic business travelers can expect more options. The agreement signed between the United States and European Union to free up routes to and from the U.S. and the E.U. to all carriers, will give fliers more flight choices as well as more carriers to choose from when flying.

That means increased competition on various routes and so expectations of lower airfares.

However, industry analysts are hesitant to forecast decreasing prices on trans-Atlantic routes, particularly given the recent fare increases by major domestic carriers in response to the rising price of oil.
Kevin Maguire, president and CEO of the National Business Travel Association, interviewed by Forbes says E.U. airlines frequently have newer and more efficient aircraft that use less fuel with savings on fuel costs that could be as high as 15% to 20% when compared with less efficient aircraft. That, according Maguire, could allow foreign carriers to undercut the U.S. carriers and at least hold fares stable.

As in Asia and in Europe airlines are already allowing passengers to use cell service in flight (the first authorised mobile phone call was made last week from a Emirates flight), that does not happen in the U.S.

However many U.S. airlines are to offer Wi-Fi connection on planes. AirCell, company which won critical spectrum licenses in 2006, announced today that their national air-to-ground in-flight network, called gogo, was ready for action.

The company has signed American Airlines for a 15-plane cross-country trial and Virgin America for its entire fleet. Service will cost about $10 for hops of 3 hours or less and $13 for cross-country flights. Other carriers including Alaska, JetBlue, and Southwest will deploy or test other systems.
(source).

As airlines are continuing to increase fares ar add new fees — see fee for second bag or for overweight and oversized luggage, here are some helpful tips by experienced travelers to keep business-travel costs under control.

- Exploit the Two-Seat Coach Scenario
If you’re able to plan ahead, when t is time of deep-discount sales, buy two sale-priced coach seats, which will cost less than one walk-up. That will guarantee the seat next to you will be empty, allowing you to spread out and affording you some privacy. But you need to call the airline and alert them to your two-seat purchase.

- Work the Premium-Class Pricing System
However, if you are used to flying up front, especially on longer-haul international trips, don’t assume you have to pay the inflated walk-up retail price. Airlines long ago broke the last taboo about business-class discounting. If you book between three and 60 days before departures, you’ll find discounts of as much as 75 percent.

- Fly Alternate Airlines
The days when the major carriers could dominate the skies and the business-travel agenda are long gone. Domestically, AirTran Airways, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue Airways have all gone after business travelers with terrific value-added features and sells upgrades for just $10 to $20 above the going fare.

- Get a Good Carry-on, Ship the Rest
Pack smarter and buying better carry-on bags. And when you must travel with lots of luggage, ship with Fed Ex, U.P.S., or the special services rather than paying for the privilege of using the inefficient airline system.

- Use Alternate Airports
The airlines overcharge us for flying into a city’s best-known facility. Alternate airports often have less expensive flights and may be closer to your business destination.

- The Fine Print
Never buy tickets between Friday and Monday morning. Why? Airlines file fare increases on Thursday evenings and watch over the weekend to see if all of their competitors match the price bumps.
(source: Portfolio.com).