Business Travel Tips

Members of United Airlines’ Mileage Plus frequent flyer programme will be able to to earn and redeem their miles while flying with the Indian airline Jet Airways.

Similarly members of Jet Airways’ JetPrivilege frequent flyer programme will be able to to earn and redeem their miles while flying with United Airlines.

Jet Airways flies to 42 destinations in India with 357 flights daily and operates flights to 20 international destinations, including among others, New York / Newark, San Francisco, Toronto, London Heathrow, and Brussels.

Members of Delta Air Lines’ frequent-flier program SkyMiles can earn double miles on Delta and Air France flights between the U.S. and Europe.

Delta or Air France passengers who fly between Los Angeles or New York City and London; New York City and Lyon, France; and Salt Lake City and Paris are eligible to earn double miles.

In order to take advantage of this promotion, Delta frequent-flier members must register online at delta.com/worldbonus and fly on or before Dec. 15, 2008.
Customers can earn an additional 1,000 bonus miles by booking at delta.com.

United Airlines will begin charging $50 to check in a second piece of luggage per way, doubling so its fee to check a second bag.

The $50 one-way fee will apply for bookings beginning Tuesday for travel on or after November 10 within the U.S. or to or from Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Holders of Premier frequent flier status — with United or Star Alliance, first and business class travelers are exempt.

Last July Delta Air Lines increased its fee to check a second bag from $25 to $50 per way.
However, the first bag check-in is free with Delta, as United charges $15 to check the first piece of luggage.

Delta Air Lines passengers who fly on domestic flights to or from New York’s JFK Airport, for a limited time can enjoy a discounted of $45 one-way fare for the helicopter shuttle service between Manhattan and Delta’s terminal at JFK.

This promotional offer is valid for Economy Class tickets, purchased after Sept. 1 for travel through Oct. 31, 2008. Taxes and fees of up to $16.50 apply.
The service normally runs $159 each way (plus additional taxes and fees); it is complimentary for Delta’s BusinessElite customers. 

US Helicopter Airport Shuttle Service, which provides the service, says the travel time between its two Manhattan Heliports (located in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan) and JFK is eight minutes.

Benefits for passengers from US Helicopter service include convenient check-in and boarding passes to final destinations and baggage check to final destination (for passengers traveling to and from Manhattan).
Also, for departing flights, as customers land inside the secure area of JFK, TSA security screening is not required again at the airport.

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia have signed a “Joint Business Agreement” to cooperate commercially on flights between North America and Europe.

The carriers say that through this agreement consumers will benefit of more competitive fares and improved flight schedules thanks to more global destinations with better connections.
Flyers will be able to travel on combined route networks including more than 443 destinations in 106 countries. They’ll also have enhanced frequent flyer benefits.

This new alliance still requires approval from Department of Transportation (DOT) as well as from regulatory authorities in the European Union.

The three airlines say they will expand their codeshare arrangements on flights within and beyond the EU and U.S..