Business Travel Tips

According to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)’s forecasts domestic traffic on major U.S. airlines will decline by nearly 9 percent in 2009. The number of passengers will board U.S. airlines on flights international is expected to decline by 2.4 percent.

However FAA sees the downturn lasting only through 2009, and forecasts that growth will resume next year.
The agency predicts domestic boardings will grow 2.3 percent a year to reach 690.2 million by 2025. International boardings on the big carriers and smaller regionals will grow 4.3 percent a year from 2010 through 2025. […] The FAA based its forecasts on the assumption that the U.S. economy will grow 2.7 percent a year and worldwide economic growth will be 3 percent a year through 2025. The FAA assumed inflation will be modest, about 2 percent a year.

Last year, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines reported operating losses of $2 billion, compared with an operating profit of $10.1 billion in 2007. Revenue rose 8.8 percent but costs grew 16.9 percent as fuel prices hit an all-time high in July before tumbling.
The number of passengers boarding U.S. flights, including regional carriers, dipped to 679.6 million from 690.1 million in 2007, though international boardings rose to 77.8 million from 75.3 million.

British Airways has extended its business class flight sale. You can still take advantage of discounted business class fares British Airways is offering on several routes to Europe, North America and Asia, if you book by April 7.

The flights must be booked at least 28 days in advance. A minimum Saturday night stay is required.

Below a sampling of the BA’s business class sale.
(Please note: all flights have a maximum stay of 12 months; no changes or refunds are permitted; prices are return including all taxes, fees and charges.)

- from London Heathrow to Europe:
Amsterdam from £239
Barcelona from £299
Brussels (National) from £239
Frankfurt (Intl) from £279
Madrid from £299
Paris (Charles de Gaulle)£199
Vienna from £299

- from London Heathrow to North America:
Atlanta (Hartsfield Jackson) from £1399
Boston (Logan) from £1199
Houston from £1,549
Los Angeles (Intl) from £1699
New York from £1,099
Orlando from £1,299
Seattle from £1,799

- from London Heathrow to Middle East/Asia:
Dubai from £1359
Hong Kong from £1,999
Mumbai from £1,359
Singapore from £2,059

Find out details of this BA business class sale here.

American Airlines is offering women travelers discounts to its Admirals Club lounge.

Women travelers visiting AA.com/women can print out a flyer before May 15 and save up to $50 off a new annual membership or $25 off a membership renewal. The offer is valid for all the AA’s Admirals Club lounge located at airports worldwide.

AA.com/women is the section of website American Airlines dedicated to female passengers aimed at providing tips, trips and travel deals to women flyers.

Air Canada is offering discount fares on flights to Europe and Asia.

An example of these Air Canada’s deals: New York - London each way starting from $246, not including taxes and fees.  Tickets must be purchased by March 31.

Below a sampling of Air Canada’s discount flights to Europe and Asia (fares are each way based on round-trip purchase; they do not include taxes and fees).
Boston - Paris from $375
Boston - Beijing from $389
New York - London from $246
New York - Beijing from $389
Los Angeles - Zurich from $316
Los Angeles - Beijing from $390
Newark - Beijing $386
Find out details of this Air Canada promotion.

Hong Kong based Luxury hotel group Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, launched “CustomStay” — a programme giving guests the flexibility to tailor their own hotel package according to their personal preferences.

In order to take advantage of CustomStay, guests are required to make their room reservations online and book “Best Available Rate.” After selecting the preferred room category, a range of optional services and benefits such as airport transfers, dining credits, buffet breakfast, laundry, spa treatments and resort activities can be added to complete a customised package.

With CustomStay guests are not forced to pay for extra services and benefits that are not required. Moreover, the more options a guest selects, the more he or she saves. In addition, all Shangri-La hotels and resorts now provides guests with free broadband Internet access throughout all hotels, including guestrooms, public areas, restaurants, lounges and function areas.

Kent Zhu, Group Director of Sales and Marketing, says: “We are responding to a market today that expects greater selection, flexibility and personalization […] With CustomStay guests now have complete control of their hotel stay options and pricing flexibility”.