Business Travel Tips

AirTran has announced it has increased its first checked-bag fee by $5.

The change, that has raised AirTran’s fee for a first checked-bag to $20, is effective September 1, 2010, for all coach class reservations made after August 16, 2010.

For all coach class reservations, AirTran’s charge for a second checked bag is $25.

Irish carrier Aer Lingus is offering discount fares on a number of flights between United Kingdom and the United States.

One-way flights to New York or Boston start at £199 from several airports including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff.

Other U.S. destinations of this Aer Lingus promotion include as follows:
- One-way flights to Orlando, Florida start at:
£219 from London Gatwick and Glasgow,
£225 from London Heathrow and Edinburgh,
£209 from Manchester,
£215 from Birmingham.
- One-way flights to Chicago start at:
£235 from London Heathrow
£225 from London Gatwick,
£215 from Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow,
£209 from Birmingham.

Travel period: between October 4, 2010 and March 25, 2011. Flights must be booked by midnight, August 23, 2010.
Details can be found at aerlingus.com.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is clearing up what types of razors passengers are allowed to take in their carry-on baggage.

Basically, safety razor — using the removable blade — are not permitted in your carry-on luggage with the blade. The blades must be stored in your checked luggage.

Electric razors are ok to take in carry-on luggage.

Also TSA says the disposable razors are permissible in carry-on luggage — and for the kind where you replace them with cartridges — with the blade and replacement cartridges.

American Airlines has introduced a fee for sitting near the front of the plane.

With this newest program, Express Seats, AA requires customers to pay a fee starting from $19 to sit in the first two or three rows of coach class.

In a press release the airline says that Introductory pricing for Express Seats begins at $19 per flight, with pricing based on distance.
Here are some examples of introductory prices for Express Seats on popular American Airlines routes:
- $19 for St. Louis to Chicago O’Hare
- $29 for San Francisco to Dallas/Fort Worth
- $29 for Boston to Chicago O’Hare
- $39 for New York JFK to Los Angeles
- $39 for Chicago O’Hare to Honolulu

Elite frequent fliers and customers purchasing full-fare tickets will not be subject to the new seat charges.

Express Seats are available to all American Airlines customers and can be purchased exclusively via airport Self-Service Check-In machines anytime from 24 hours to 50 minutes prior to scheduled flight departure for travel wholly within the United States. (source)

Fairfield Inn Las Vegas Airport launched a promotion on their Facebook page.

The hotel offers 200 Marriott Reward points to those who become a fan of Fairfield Inn Las Vegas Airport on their Facebook page by August 31st.

Simply become their friend and send an email to fairfieldinnrewards@hotmail.com with your Facebook name and Rewards number and your 200 points will be credited within 4-6 weeks.
(see promotion details)