(June 17, 2010) – Delta Air Lines recently announced a major enhancement of its domestic schedule, with plans to make First Class service available on all domestic flights longer than 750 miles, or about two and one-half hours of flight time, beginning this fall.

The enhancement means Delta customers can enjoy the benefits of First Class service on more domestic flights, and SkyMiles members will have more opportunities for upgrades to First Class seating.

When the upgrade is complete, 50 routes that currently feature Delta Connection flights with only one class of service will be upgraded to two-cabin aircraft with First and Economy Class service. Some of the routes scheduled for enhanced service include flights between Atlanta and Albany, N.Y.; Boston and Memphis, Tenn.; Detroit and San Antonio; and Cincinnati and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Delta Connection aircraft featuring First Class cabins include Embraer 170, Embraer 175, Bombardier CRJ700 and Bombardier CRJ900 models.  The aircraft feature between nine and 12 seats in First Class and between 56 and 64 seats in Economy.

First Class service onboard flights operated with these aircraft is consistent with the amenities offered on Delta mainline flights.  Meals, china and linen service, pre-departure beverages, and complimentary cocktails, beer and wine are offered on all Delta Connection flights featuring a First Class cabin.

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 (May 18, 2010) – Delta Air Lines today announced it has received final Chinese government approval to launch nonstop flights between Seattle and Beijing, beginning June 4. The new route, which will operate five times weekly, will connect customers from destinations throughout Delta’s and code-share partner Alaska Air Group’s network to the Chinese capital via convenient connections at the Seattle hub.

Departure and arrival times have been revised from the initial announcement of the route based on the slot times granted at Beijing’s Capital International Airport.  Flights will operate as follows:

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The Iceland volcano eruptions that are causing flight cancellations and delays have created some uncertainty about upcoming trips to Europe.  You need a travel agent as your safety net!  Here’s what we’ll do for you at Stellar Travel:

• Our business and vacation traveler’s flights are monitored and we take care of re-booking all reservations.
• We use our inside contact relationships at international airlines because they give our clients priority.  During flight cancellation periods, it is very difficult for internet-booked customers to get through to a real live airline person.
• If flights are cancelled, we secure refunds and/or apply ticket values to future travel dates.
• We re-book the entire itinerary to ensure hotels and car rentals are re-scheduled to match flight changes.
• We help you sort through travel insurance programs for trip cancellation coverage options.
• Bottom line:  We do things you can’t do yourself and give you peace of mind!

There are some good, last-minute values on 2010 Europe tours and Mediterranean cruises. To be a happy traveler, email info@stellartravel.com  or call us at 425.747.1900.

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Alaska Airlines announced new baggage fees today:

For tickets purchased after May 1, 2010 for travel starting June 16, 2010 the following apply.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air will charge $20 each for a passengers first three checked bags. This represents a $5 increase for the first checked bag, a $5 decrease for the second bag and a $30 decrease for the third bag.  The fourth through tenth checked bag will decrease from $100 to $50 each. Excess size and weight restrictions still apply fees still apply. Please note that with our bag fee change, any new groups booked after April 22nd and ticketed for travel after May 1st for travel June 16th or later will have the new bag fees applied.

Group travel already in contract will have the first bag fee of $15 honored.

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As of Tuesday morning, April 20, a few Volcano-cancelled flights are now operating as some airspace is re-opened.

Here’s what we’ve been doing and will continue to do in the Stellar Travel corporate department for our affected clients:

• At the beginning of the crisis all of our travelers and their flights were monitored.  Where they were, where they were going, and contingency planning began.
• We use our inside contact relationships within the international airline sales departments.  These valued contacts give us direct access to flight status and assist with re-accommodation to other flights – giving our clients priority over internet or phone-booked travelers.
• As we monitor traveler’s flights for current and future travel, we re-book their reservations and keep them informed by email and phone in the U.S. and Europe.  Travel agency computer systems display all airline information in one source.
• Some alternate transportation has been available and reserved:  Eurail, car rental, and motorcoach options.
• We assist with business travel hotel reservations and re-booking to ensure the entire itinerary is re-scheduled or cancelled as needed.
• For cancelled trips, corporate agents work to secure refunds and/or apply ticket values to future dates of travel.

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Ash clouds from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokul volcano have caused airports across Europe to halt operations.  Full story is here.

Stellar Travel is working to rebook all of our travelers who have been effected by these closures.

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It looks like the British Air flight attendants will strike at midnight. 

From the BBC:

A strike by British Airways cabin crew will go ahead after talks between the airline and the Unite union collapsed.

The three-day walkout begins at midnight, with a further four days of action set to commence on 27 March.

BA chief Willie Walsh said the strike was “deeply regrettable”. The airline has said 65% of passengers will reach their destination during the action.

Full story is here.

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One Way Awards now available on United

• One-Way Awards are available for both Saver Awards (fewer miles) and Standard Awards (more miles and more flexibility).

• You can use these awards to fly United- or United Express-operated flights only. Sorry, these awards cannot currently be used with our airline partners.

• You must fly the most direct route from origin to destination. That means no stopovers. You can, however, make connections. Tip: If you want to visit multiple cities, you can use multiple One-Way Awards to create your itinerary.

• Complete One-Way Awards rules

Did your flight depart late but arrive early?

Airlines are padding their schedules by adding minutes to the flight duration to ensure that more flights arrive on time and boost their “on-time” performance ratings.   It used to be that if your flight left late, you knew you would arrive late.  But now, travelers are beginning to notice that you can leave late and arrive early.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, it analyzed 50 different domestic flight times and learned they are about 10% longer in March 2010 than March 1996.  Airlines say they have to build in congested airports and air-traffic control delays.  In addition, planes are flying about 2% slower to save fuel costs.  Airlines use historical data to estimate schedules and aim for about 65% of flights getting to the gate exactly at the scheduled arrival time.  The DOT gives a 15-minute cushion to rate “on-time”.

Northwest Airlines is no more

Delta has completed their integration of Northwest Airlines and January 30th saw the last flights operating as Northwest.  Any future flights that were ticketed as Northwest were automatically converted to Delta flight numbers over the past weekend.

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Delta announced an increase for checked baggage on domestic flights.  For tickets purchased after January 5th for travel beginning January 10th and beyond, it will now cost you $23 for the first bag and $32 for the second – that is a whopping 53% increase for the first bag.

Plus there is the added fee if you don’t prepay online.  From Delta’s website:

Effective for tickets purchased on or after January 5, 2010, for travel on or after January 12, 2010, customers who check in and pay bag fees at an airport kiosk or with an agent will incur a $2 surcharge for the first and a $3 surcharge for the second checked bag

Fees continue to be waived for SkyMiles Medallion Members and passengers purchasing full Y or first class fares.

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I had the opportunity to fly British Airways Club World (business class) on my recent trip to Europe.  It had been about 5 years since I had flown on British and was looking forward to experiencing their new Club World seat as well as the inflight service – neither one disappointed. 

Check in was breeze in Seattle as I had printed my boarding pass the night before  and had only carryon for this trip.  There was no one in the business class line so with a quick swipe of my passport I was off to the lounge.  The Terrace Lounge in the South Satellite at Sea-Tac is small but well appointed with plenty of seating, drinks and snacks.  Free Wi-fi is provided throughout the lounge and shower facilities are available.  There is a separate quiet lounge for first class passengers.

 My outbound flight was on a Boeing 777 with 48 seats in  Club World.  The configuration may seem a bit odd to those who have never flown on British.  The basic layout is 2 – 4 – 2.  The window/aisle seats on each side face each other.  The person in the window seat is facing the rear of the plane and the person on the aisle is facing the front which means you are looking at each other when seated.  This is a great setup when traveling with someone you know but can be awkward to be staring down a complete stranger.  But with a push of a button, a privacy screen raises and creates a very private space.  The flight attendants will lower/raise the screen during meal service but otherwise it can remain up the entire flight.  The seats in the center section of the plane are configured as follows:  the aisle seats all are forward facing and the two center seats are rear facing.  Those center seats are good for people traveling together but again, a bit awkward if you don’t know the person next to you.  The privacy screen doesn’t offer much privacy in those center seats.  My favorite seats on the plane are the window seats in the last row of Club World  (15A and 15K).  In these seats no one has to crawl over you when you lay flat and you don’t have to crawl over anyone. It’s a very quiet space, far from the toilets and galley.   

Next up:  review of the seats and inflight service

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