Business Travel Tips

Beginning July 1 JetBlue will add new daily flights between New York JFK and Los Angeles LAX.

The carrier will double its flight schedule on this route bringing the number of daily flights to four.

Others carriers flying nonstop on New York JFK - Los Angeles LAX route include American, Delta, United and Virgin America. 

JetBlue also offers the nonstop service from the East Coast to nearby Burbank and Long Beach airports.
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Beginning this fall Continental Airlines will start to charge for meals in coach class on most flights within the USA and Canada.

The airline announced it will begin selling meals in economy class on all domestic and Canadian flights of less than six hours.

In its press release the airline says “Continental will change its in-flight meal service this fall by introducing a variety of high quality, healthy food choices for purchase in economy class on many U.S./Canada and certain Latin American routes.

The airline will continue to offer complimentary food in the economy cabin on all intercontinental and certain other international routes, and on long-haul domestic routes over six hours.[…] Traditional non-alcoholic beverages and accompanying snacks like pretzels will continue to be complimentary on every Continental flight.[…]
New first-class lunch sandwiches (such as a chicken parmesan Tuscan sandwich) and updated first-class dinner pasta dishes (such as spinach & cheese cannelloni with pomodoro sauce) will debut April 1.”

British Airways cabin crew members will go on strike for three days from 20 March and for four days from 27 March.

The union representing British Airways cabin crew confirmed it would not strike over Easter, but warned there could be further action after 14 April if a resolution had not been agreed, BBC reports.

About fight cancellations, BBC quoted BA saying all flights to and from London City Airport would be unaffected by strike action, as would all long-haul flights from Gatwick […] Some short-haul Gatwick flights within the UK and Europe would be cancelled, while some short and long-haul flights to and from Heathrow would also be affected.

Consumer group Which? said passengers should be able to get their money back if they are directly affected by the strike, but only once their specific flight has been officially cancelled. (source)

US Airways announced four new nonstop routes, two to Canada and two to Mexico.

The new service will originate from the airline’s Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C. hubs.

On May 31, US Airways will begin daily, year-round service from its largest hub to Ottawa on a 50-seat CRJ-200 regional jet operated by US Airways Express partner Air Wisconsin. As for Halifax, US Airways say the service will begin from Philadelphia on June 1.

On June 5, year-round service will commence to Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, Mexico; both routes will operate on an Airbus A319 aircraft with seating for 124 customers (12 First Class, 112 main cabin). The new service to Mexico complements US Airways’ existing service to both cities from its Phoenix hub.

Customers can start booking their travel beginning March 13.

WestJet has launched its frequent-flier program.
Canada’s second-biggest carrier said that its loyalty program is mostly offering dollars off flights and holiday packages.
The dollars can be used as cash to pay for a flight on any date to any destination. There are no blackouts or seat restrictions on the reward flights.

- WestJet vs Air Canada

WestJet is also attempting to lure Air Canada customers away from the 25-year-old Aeroplan frequent flier program by persuading consumers to participate in a new program that offers rewards once an individual traveller spends more than $1,500 on WestJet flights annually.

Patrick Sojka, chief executive officer at rewardscanada.ca, which tracks a wide range of loyalty programs, said the main drawback of the WestJet frequent guest program is the relatively high threshold of minimum annual spending on WestJet flights.
He said Aeroplan still provides a greater number of options for consumers, especially through Air Canada’s membership in the Star Alliance of carriers.
WestJet is gradually building its airline partnerships, but it could be years before consumers are able to have access to a worldwide network. (source)