Business Travel Tips

Live Luggage has just introduced suitcases that have motors built into the wheels, an innovation making easier carrying luggage through the airport. These suitcases — PA (Power Assist), have motors built into the wheels and force sensors integrated in the handle.

Concerning the battery life and distance you can run, Live Luggage says: “Under average conditions, using a combination of inclines, uneven ground and flat surfaces you should see a minimum of 2 hours battery life from a fully charged unit [...] Our tests resulted with an average distance of 1 3/4 miles with a 32 kg load”.

Features include:
* Flat motor technology built into the wheels
* Anti-gravity handle putting 85% of the weight over the wheels
* TSA approved combination locks
* Stress frame technology for additional strength and weight reduction
* Live Locator™ ID – a unique ID to help locate your suitcase in the event of loss
* Force sensors and tilt switches
* Unique umbrella storage (umbrella included)

For those who, after knowing the price — $1365, are still interested to it, here the link to Live Luggage website.

Book and buy on Air France no later than June 30 and get deals on flights between several U.S. airports and major Europe cities.

Discount fares start as low as $464 each-way from New York JFK to Berlin. The fares are one-way, based on a round-trip purchase. Neither taxes nor fees are included.
Tickets must be purchased at least seven days in advance.
A Saturday night stay is required. Travel period: through August 31.

Below’s a look at the discounts Air France is offering:
- from New York (JFK) to Berlin (TXL) $464;
- from Boston (BOS) to Barcelona (BCN) $508;
- from Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH) to Amsterdam (AMS) $520;
- from Los Angeles (LAX) to Kiev (KBP) $605;
- from Philadelphia (PHL) to Rome (FCO) $613.

Members of Southwest Airlines‘ frequent flyer program Rapid Rewards will be able to earn extra frequent-flyer miles when renting a vehicle from Avis as well as to receive a 25 percent discount on regular Avis prices.

Members who opt for a weekly rental of five days or more from now until August 15, 2008 can receive triple credits and save up to 25% off on rental price.

Main conditions:
- Rentals must be picked up by August 15, 2008.
- An advance reservation is required.
- To get this discount, enter code K024700 at time of reservation in the “Corporate ID/Rate” field on southwest.com.
- Requires a minimum five-day rental period.
Details of this offer on Southwest Airlines’ website.

Continental Airlines is offering discount fares in Business Class — Continental’s BusinessFirst, on several U.S. – Europe routes.

The fares start as low as $899 each-way. These one-way fares are based on a round-trip purchase, neither taxes nor fees are included. Also there is an advance purchase requirement — 30-day or 14-day, attached to these discount airfares.

Travel period: travel outbound through August 29, with trip that must be completed by September 5.
A Saturday-night stay is required and for Saturday departures a stay over at least seven days.

Here’s a look at the discount airfares Continental is offering:
- from New York/Newark to London Gatwick (LGW) $999;
- from New York/Newark to Dublin (DUB) $908;
- from New York/Newark to Geneva (GVA) $999;
- from New York/Newark to Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) $1,099;
- from New York/Newark to Rome (FCO) $1,099;
- from New York/Newark to Madrid (MAD) $1,099;
- from New York/Newark to Berlin (TXL) $1,099;
- from Houston (IAH) to London Heathrow (LHR) $1,099;
- from Cleveland (CLE) to Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) $1,199;
Details of the offerings on the Continental Airlines’ website.

As many big airlines are cutting flights, the largest low-fare airline, Southwest Airlines, appears ready to take advantage of opportunities originating from flights and capacity cuts made by other carriers.

Philip Baggaley, Standard & Poor’s credit analyst, said Bloomberg News, Southwest Airlines has the financial strength to exploit opportunities created from deteriorating market conditions. (source)

They are expanding more selectively adding flights on more profitable routes, where other carriers are retreating.

Southwest has lower costs than other carriers and despite it increased fares in the last two months has no plans to charge fees for services such as checking an extra bag or non- alcoholic drinks, as other airlines are doing.