Business Travel Tips

Passengers flying from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport will soon pay a $3 surcharge per ticket.
This “passenger facility charge” (PFC) will help pay for the airport’s planned $1.1 billion expansion of Terminal B.
Houston airport officials say total amount raised by this surcharge could be almost $400 million by 2015.

PFC, which will apply only to outbound flights, is expected to become effective beginning December 1st 2008. Construction could begin as soon as late summer and end in 2014.

More than 330 airports in the U.S. collect such fees according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The money must be used for airport capital improvements. Airports that collect the fee get less in federal grants for building projects than airports that do not collect it.

Dallas/Fort Worth International and San Antonio International charge $4.50 per ticket, the maximum allowed by the FAA. (source).

Two new co-branded credit cards were launched by American Express and Delta Air Lines for U.S.-based consumers and small businesses.

The new credit cards, called Delta Reserve Credit Card and Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card, will provide premium customers a preferential treatment when flying Delta.

The Cards, available for an annual fee of $450, offer distinct benefits and options that allow Cardmembers to:
- Achieve higher Delta SkyMiles Medallion status faster:
- Give the MQMs earned from Card spending to colleagues, friends or family – for the first time ever.
- Enjoy complimentary access to Delta’s Crown Room Clubs with two guests when flying on Delta.
- Access to the dedicated Breezeway priority boarding lane and frequent traveler security line.
- Utilize American Express’ Personal Concierge Service with features such as gift buying and restaurant reservations – 24 hours a day/seven days a week.
- Receive one complimentary companion certificate each year on the Cardmember’s anniversary, good for either First or Coach Class travel.
- Access to Pay with Miles, a new exclusive benefit for Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Cardmembers — and now Delta Reserve Credit Cardmembers. Pay with Miles offers added flexibility, allowing Cardmembers to redeem miles for any available Delta seat, any time. Cardmembers can book flights on delta.com and use Delta SkyMiles to pay for all or part of a Delta ticket, with no blackout dates or inventory restrictions.

For details visit americanexpress.com/deltareserve . (source)

You can save up to 15% off economy fares on flights from London Heathrow to some destinations in the U.S. if you book by April 30 with Air Canada.

The Canadian carrier is offering 15% discount for travel outbound between May 1 to September 30, 2008, with departure from London Heathrow.

Here’s an example of some of the special discounts Air Canada is offering:
from London Heathrow to:
- Boston £377.00
- New York £334.00
- Los Angeles £372.00
- Las Vegas £392.00
- Raleigh Durham £392.00
- Honolulu £498.00

One Saturday night stay is required. Maximum stay, 1 month. Fares include taxes, calculated at exchange rate April 15, 2008. Taxes may vary depending on destination.Weekend surcharges apply. Offer details here

British Airways announced to start daily flights between London Gatwick and New York JFK from October 27, 2008.

BA currently serves the route from London to New York JFK with 55 weekly flights leaving from Heathrow. The adding of the new route means that the airline will fly 62 times each week from London to New York JFK.

British Airways has also announced it is to suspend its daily flight from Manchester to New York JFK in October and it is planning to launch business-only flights from London City to JFK next year.

The new Gatwick – JFK route will be operated with a Boeing 777 in a four-class configuration featuring First, Club World, World Traveller Plus, and World Traveller cabins.

Virgin America is offering big discounts for flights through June 11. Book by Friday April 25 to land some real deals. An example: San Francisco to Las Vegas one-way for $44 .

Below a sampling of Virgin discount airfares. The fares are one-way, round-trip purchase is not required. Taxes and fees are not included.
- San Francisco (SFO) to Las Vegas (LAS) $44
- San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX) $44
- San Francisco (SFO) to New York Kennedy (JFK) $139
- San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego (SAN) $39
- San Francisco (SFO) to Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) $73
- San Francisco(SFO) to Washington, DC Dulles (IAD) $119
- Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX) $83