Business Travel Tips

Last week, Continental Airlines introduced its mobile boarding pass at Frankfurt’s airport (FRA), Germany.

Through that, Continental says it became the first U.S. carrier to offer paperless boarding outside the USA.

The airline plans to expand its paperless boarding pass to more international destinations. It currently offers mobile boarding passes at 35 airports.

In these tough times, to show loyalty to their best customers, many airlines are launching promotions offering frequent-fliers a chance to earn or maintain their airline elite status easier.

USA Today listed some among the recent promotions.

- For travel through Dec. 15, American, Continental and United are offering double elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) that let customers reach elite level twice as fast on each flight they take during the period. It’s the second such promotion launched this year.

- Starting in mid-2010, code-share partners Continental and United will give each other’s elite frequent fliers unlimited free, space-available upgrades on domestic flights. Last month’s announcement also gives elite fliers free access to each airline’s premium coach seats.

- In changes announced this summer that take effect in spring, elite-level members in Delta’s SkyMiles program can, for the first time, roll over extra EQMs and credits not needed to reach a status level one year to the next year. So, for example, those who fly 30,000 miles but need only 25,000 to qualify for the lowest elite tier will have the rest at the start of the year toward requalifying.
Delta, whose frequent-flier program now covers both Delta and Northwest customers, will also add a new top “diamond” tier in spring that includes free membership in airport Sky Clubs and other benefits.
(source)

Travelers going from London to Heathrow through Heathrow Express will be able to print their boarding pass and view their flight information at Paddington station.
Heathrow Express turned London Paddington station into the first UK railway station to offer Flight Information Display Screens and Common User Self Service Customer Check In Services.

The launch of these new enhanced information services enables customers to print their boarding pass and view their flight information at Paddington station before they even arrive at the airport.
Once at the airport, they can then proceed direct to their airline’s designated bag-drop if they have hold luggage.

The Customer Check In Services machines, easy to use with touch screen facilities, are located below the screens and next to the Heathrow Express ticket office. They are initially available for passengers traveling on four airlines: Delta Air Lines, Finnair, Iberia and United Airlines.

The Flight Information Display Screens are placed by the Paddington Station Heathrow Express ticket office and half way down platforms 6 and 7.

With Continental Airlines announcing it accepts — starting Dec 1 — only credit and debit cards for on-board purchases, U.S. airlines gone to cash-free cabins are 10.
However expect you others carriers will make the move to cashless cabins soon.

At Dec 2, 2009, the airlines gone to cashless cabins include:
- AirTran
- Alaska
- American
- Continental
- Frontier
- JetBlue
- Midwest
- Southwest
- United
- Virgin America

Air Canada today launched daily non-stop flights between Montreal and Houston.

It is the only daily, non-stop service between these two cities.
Houston becomes the 17th U.S. destination Air Canada serves with non-stop flights from Montreal.

- Schedule –
Air Canada flight AC7997:
Departure Montreal at 9:00 a.m. – Arrival Houston at 11:55 a.m.
Air Canada flight AC7998:
Departure Houston at 12:25 p.m. – Arrival Montreal at 4:40 p.m.

Fares currently start at $226 each-way; taxes and other fees are not included.