Business Travel Tips

Travelers’ security complaints against the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have hit the lowest level ever recorded.

Bloomberg News writes: “Consumer complaints about the TSA last month were down 59 percent from a May 2004 peak. In September, they dipped to 1,418, the lowest since record-keeping began seven years ago, according to data provided by the TSA and the Department of Transportation.”

The source quoted Richard Bloom, director of terrorism, intelligence and security studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona,as saying that complaints probably are down because the agency “finally gets” that a targeted, intelligence-based approach is best.

Also Bloomberg says that complaints in the “courtesy” and “screening procedures” categories dropped to 360 last month — as last November, when the TSA introduced more intensive pat-downs, they increased 41 percent from a year earlier.

Members of United’s MileagePlus will earn 30 miles per dollar spent — plus 150 bonus miles per order — with floral wire service FTD.
(Miles are not applicable to fees such as service fees and shipping fees or applicable taxes).

According to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York city will have a record 90,000 hotel rooms available by the end of 2011.
This figure represents a 24% increase since 2006.

Overall hotel development in the city has been robust in 2011 with new properties recently opened or under construction in all five boroughs — 40% of new openings will take place in boroughs other than Manhattan.

With the highest occupancy rate in the U.S. — close to 85% — and with the city on track to reach a record number of visitors this year, room rates New York city are steadily increasing.

Hawaiian Airlines will start daily nonstop service between New York JFK and Honolulu starting June 4, 2012. The Honolulu-based carrier will operate this new route using 294-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft seating 18 passengers in first class and the remainder in coach.

New York is the airline’s first destination in the eastern United States.

Below is the schedule for the new Hawaiian’s JFK-Honolulu service:
New York JFK – Honolulu International Airport: departs 10:00 a.m. , arrives 3:00 p.m. ;
Honolulu International Airport – New York JFK: departs 3:05 p.m. , arrives 6:55 a.m. (the following day).

To celebrate the new route, Hawaiian is offering special introductory fares of $212 each way in Economy Class and $808 each way in First Class. The introductory fares are available for purchase through November 20, 2011 and are valid for travel between June 4 and June 30, 2012. Seats are limited. Additional taxes and fees apply.
Tickets can be purchased on Hawaiian’s website at HawaiianAirlines.com, by calling Hawaiian’s reservations department toll-free at 1-800-367-5320. (source)

Beginning Nov. 18, 2011, American Airlines will add three weekly nonstop flights between New York JFK and Caracas, Venezuela.

That means AA will increase to five — five days each week up from the current two — the number of nonstop flights between New York JFK and Caracas’ Simon Bolivar International Airport.

American Airlines operates the route with a Boeing 757 aircraft with 188 seats.

Below is the schedule for the service:

New York (JFK) – Caracas (CCS): departs 5:00 p.m. , arrives 10:30 p.m. (Frequency: Thursday through Monday);
Caracas (CCS) – New York (JFK): departs 11:00 a.m. , arrives 3:40 p.m. (Frequency: Friday through Tuesday).