Posted on 02/15/2010

According to the Society of Single Professionals, Carnival Cruise Lines has rejected their bid for another cruise. Why, because the California-based group hosts cougerevents.com. Events designed specifically for cougars, adult women and the younger men who love them. A Carnival rep, told the group, "We have decided not to have any future groups on our ships booked on this theme." As Carnival tries to shed its hard partying image, other cruise lines are welcoming the single professionals. The spring Cougar Mexican Riviera Cruise takes place May 16-23, and departs from Los Angeles aboard Royal Caribbean International's Mariner of the Seas.

Posted on 02/15/2010

According to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) 2009 was a great year for airline passengers! A report recently announced more flights were on-time and fewer bags were lost. Nineteen airline carriers increased on-time performance rates and recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 79.5 percent in 2009, an improvement over 2008's rate of 76.0 and the best annual record since the 82.0 percent on-time rate of 2003. In addition, the carriers recorded a mishandled baggage rate of 3.91 per 1,000 passengers in 2009, an improvement over 2008's 5.26 and the best mark for a calendar year since the rate of 3.84 recorded in 2002.

Posted on 02/11/2010

Princess Cruises is reviving a sailing day tradition aboard their ships, and they are calling it the "Bon Voyage Experience." The program offers passengers a chance to invite guests to join them onboard for four hours during sailing day for a four-course dining room lunch with wine, a ship tour and souvenir photo. Passengers and guests receive priority embarkation. Bon Voyage is $39 per person, which can be applied toward a future Princess cruise. The program will debut in March in the ports of Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale, and then roll out to New York, San Francisco and Seattle.

Posted on 02/11/2010

American Airlines non-premium passengers will have to pay a $50 fee to fly stand-by, effective on fares purchased on or after Feb. 22. The new fee will buy passengers a confirmed seat for same-day flight changes for domestic travel. Alternate flights must be for your same itinerary and your flight change can only be confirmed within 12 hours of departure of the desired flight. The new charge will apply flights in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and the Caribbean on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection. Elite frequent flyers, military fares, first and business class travelers are exempt from the charge.

Posted on 02/11/2010

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide just announced plans to open 14 new Westin Hotels across the globe. The new hotels will open in China, Greece, Japan, India, Mexico, the United States, Canada and Peru. Also slated to open this year are The Westin Mumbai Garden City in India; The Westin Nanjing in Shanghai, China; The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino in Messinia, Greece; The Westin Austin at the ...

Posted on 02/10/2010

OpenSkies, an all business class airline, is launching their newest route - Washington Dulles International Airport to Paris Orly Airport, starting May 3, 2010, with five flights per week. OpenSkies is a subsidiary of British Airways and shares a loyalty program with BA , so frequent fliers can accumulate miles on both airlines for "British Airways Executive Club.” OpenSkies flights carry ...

Posted on 02/09/2010

Continental Airlines has cancelled all flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) for Wednesday, Feb. 10, due to the severe winter weather conditions forecast for the area. The airline is encouraging customers affected by flight cancellations through Thursday, Feb. 11 to change their itineraries via "Manage Reservations" on continental.com. Customers traveling to affected cities ...

Posted on 02/09/2010

US Airways is encouraging customers who may be affected by the impending winter storm to reschedule as soon as possible. The airlines will wave the standard change fee, advance reservation and ticketing requirements for customers traveling to or from the following destinations through Feb. 11 on any US Airways, US Airways Express or US Airways codeshare flight: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, ...

Posted on 02/08/2010

According to several news reports coming out of Japan, including Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Service, and several US sources (Chicago Tribune, and USA Today), Japan Airlines intends on keeping its loyalty alliance with American Airlines. JAL is Asia’s second largest airlines in terms of destinations and passengers; the airlines had been in talks with ...

Posted on 02/08/2010

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is reaching out to their Priority Club Rewards, loyalty program members who recently lost their Hilton HHonors loyalty points in a recent devaluation. They are hosting a “Luckiest Loser” contest offering their loyalty club members a chance to win up to 400 million loyalty points to make up for their recent Hilton losses. Up to 20,000 "Lucky Losers" ...

Posted on 02/04/2010

In a last minute bombshell, the Norwegian Star has cancelled accommodations for around 1,600 travelers, including The Make A Wish Foundation, booked to stay on the ship during the Vancouver Winter Olympics. The company that charted the cruise ship, Newwest Special Projects Limited Partnership, told several Canadian papers that the cancellation was based on poor sales. Norwegian Cruise Lines has ...

Posted on 02/04/2010

Tripology, an online, consumer lead generator for travel agents, has closed shop while searching for new funding. The company recently announced the loss of capital from a new financial partner despite strong earnings in January 2010. In an interview with Travel Agent Magazine, John Peters, president and CEO of Tripology, stated, "agents may continue to buy leads using any existing paid and free ...

Posted on 02/03/2010

United Airlines has revamped their frequent flier program - Mileage Plus. Under the new terms, Mileage Plus has introduced two new award options for 2010, One-Way Awards and Miles & Money Awards. One-Way awards lets frequent flyers fly one-way for half the miles of a roundtrip on United- or United Express-operated flights (starting at 12,500 miles for a domestic Saver Award). With Miles & Money ...

Posted on 02/03/2010

Air Jamaica is realigning their business plan to improved efficiency and profitability. The airlines announced plans to reduce their fleet and slash service from several US routes. Starting March 9, Air Jamaica will suspend (JFK)-Grenada and Jamaica-Orlando service. Also disappearing in April are the airline’s Jamaica-Chicago, Jamaica-Curacao and Jamaica-Nassau routes. Effective April 12, ...

Posted on 02/02/2010

Southwest Airlines, senior vice president of marketing and revenue management, Dave Ridley, revealed on his company blog, Nuts about southwest, that the airline will be adding onboard wi-fi capability to its entire fleet. Southwest will begin installing the equipment in the second quarter of this year, at a rate of 15 aircraft per month. The company expects the entire fleet to be wi-fi enabled by ...

Posted on 02/02/2010

The Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency in the Machu Picchu Pueblo region. Torrential rains, mudslides and floods have destroyed rail access, roads, and infrastructure into the South American country’s renowned Incan ruins - Machu Picchu. Perurail, the regional train operator, announced to the press that it could take months to repair the railway. Travelers with trips ...

Posted on 02/01/2010

While the cruise industry has been slow to court solo travelers on luxury cruise ships, Norwegian Cruise Line is foraging a trend. In an effort to attract single travelers the company is offering 128 chicly appointed studio cabins, first staterooms designed and priced for single occupancy. They offer 100 square feet of living space, a contemporary design with a full-size bed and separate areas ...

Posted on 02/01/2010

According to SkyScanner, a Scotland-based travel search engine, 76% of people agree an airlines should charge a"fat tax" to overweight people taking up more than one seat. The poll was based on 550 participants, and received only 22% voter disapproval. Although the majority of voters agreed with the "fat tax" many voiced concerns about fairness. Voter suggestions included, charges should be ...

Posted on 01/29/2010

Christophe Grosjean has been named the new executive chef at L'Auberge Carmel, the luxury hotel and restaurant in the heart of Carmel-by the Sea. Grosjean brings extensive culinary roots and experience in fine French dining to the hotel's kitchen. His focus will be on the seasonality of local ingredients, and building strong relationships with local farmers, foragers and fisherman. Grojean has ...

Posted on 01/27/2010

Starting Nov. 2010, passengers flying Air New Zealand';s new Boeing 777s, will be able to lie-flat in coach - on the Skycouch. The Skycouch is a three-seat block that folds out into a bed. Twenty-two Skycouch sets will be available in the first 11 window rows in the economy class cabin. For two adults travelling, purchasing the Skycouch will be based on buying two seats at standard prices with ...

Posted on 01/26/2010

NASA has just reveled designs for their latest personal aircraft - the Puffin! It's a cross between a flying suit and personal VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. Although still in its theoretical stage, the Puffin will run on a tilt-rotor flight system, powered by electric batteries. The craft is designed to be 12-foot height with a 13.5-foot wingspan. The pilot flies the craft from a ...

Posted on 01/26/2010

A new boutique hotel has opened directly across from the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain - the Radisson Blu Madrid Prado. The central location is within walking distance of Madrid's major attractions including the Golden Triangle of Art's Thyssen Bornemisza Museum and Reina Sofia Museum, Gran Via shopping district and the city's famous nightlife. The hotel's accommodations include 54 individually ...

Posted on 01/26/2010

Starting Feb. 1, 2010, US Airways will charge $23 to check the first bag online, and $32 to check the second. Previous online baggage fees were set at $20 and $30. The new rate applies to tickets purchased on or after Jan. 18th for travel beginning Feb. 1st. The fees to check bags at the airport remain unchanged at $25 for the first and $35 for the second.

Posted on 01/26/2010

The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism is reassuring visitors, that all of its tourist areas, hotels and resorts, eight international airports, seaports, marinas and cruise terminals are open and operating effectively and receiving visitors. The country has not been damaged by the Haitian quake or aftershocks. Punta Cana and La Romana on the East Coast, as well as Samaná and ...

Posted on 01/12/2010

The world famous Bellagio hotel is offering a luxurious, one night Romantic Retreat package. The offer includes a stay in the exclusive Cypress Suite overlooking the fountains of the hotel's 8-acre lake, dinner for two, a bottle of Veuve Cliquot and a 50 minute couples massage. This package is sure to make any day feel like valentines day.

Posted on 01/11/2010

Qantas rings in 2010 with a round-trip airfare sale to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney with an option to visit Auckland, NZ for free! Fares from New York's JFK start at $998 and Los Angeles/LAX flights start at $798. Tickets must be booked by February 1st, 2010.