Business Travel Tips

American Airlines put on sale Economy Class seats on a number of international routes for travel in the next weekend. Tickets must be purchased no later than 11:59 p.m. (CT), January 18, 2009.

Travel period: depart anytime Tuesday, January 20, 2009, through Friday, January 23, 2009; return anytime the following Monday through Wednesday.

Below a sampling of fares AA is offering for next week-end.
Fares shown below are each way, based on round-trip Economy Class travel purchased on AA.com; they do not include taxes or fees.
- Baltimore, MD to San Juan, PR $114
- Chicago O’Hare, IL to Delhi, India $479
- Chicago O’Hare, IL to Frankfurt, Germany $209
- Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX to Cancun, Mexico $180
- Miami, FL to Paris Charles De Gaulle, France $256
- New York Kennedy, NY to Brussels, Belgium $214
- New York Kennedy, NY to St. Thomas, USVI $121
- Raleigh / Durham, NC to London Heathrow, United Kingdom $287
- Tampa, FL to San Juan, PR $69
More details on AA website.

To celebrate the launch of its new service between Sydney and Los Angeles, V Australia is offering discounted fares for flights from United States to Australia.

V Australia is offering flights from Los Angeles to select destinations in Australia including Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane for as low as $549+ R/T (fuel surcharge included).

Tickets must be booked by Jan. 18.
Travel period: between March 1, 2009 and June 15, 2009.

This daily service will begin on Feb. 27 (three times a week becoming daily service from March 20). The start of service between Los Angeles and Brisbane is scheduled on April 8, 2009.

United Airlines is to launch wireless Internet service.
The carrier today is expected to announce plans for in-flight Wi-Fi, the Chicago Tribune reports.

United will begin offering the service during the second half of this year.

Initially, it will be offered on the premium service for business travelers between New York and Los Angeles and between New York and San Francisco. If it will succed with customers on the cross-country flights, then United will consider to put it everywhere on its fleet.
Using Wi-Fi-enabled devices on United Airlines will cost up to $12.95 per flight.

To provide in-flight Wi-Fi, United will use GoGo service, the AirCell’s air-to-ground in-flight network.

A new legislation to protect passengers caught on grounded airplanes has been introduced in Senate.

Passengers’ rights group Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights — FlyersRights.org, says the bill, introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Olympia Snowe, requires airlines must offer passengers the option of safely deplaning once they have sat on the ground for three hours after the plane door has closed.

Also airlines would offer passengers free food, water, refreshments, and restrooms while a plane is delayed on the ground.

Under this bill, carriers and airports would also be required to develop contingency plans to be reviewed and approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Beginning January 6 members of Hilton Hotel Group’s loyalty program HHonors can earn double points when booking hotel stays at one of Hilton Family hotels around the world.

Members who are willing to take advantage of the Hilton’s offer are required to register online at www.HiltonHHonors.com and then book a stay at participating Hilton Family hotels (to participate, you must first register before you make your reservation.).
The promotion runs through April 6, 2009.