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Travel Updates - Weekly Edition

February 11, 2010

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American Airlines

American Airlines announced it will charge $8 for a pillow and blanket in coach class for domestic trips and some international flights longer than two hours, beginning May 1. The international flights are to and from Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Central America.

American announced that for all tickets purchased on and after Feb. 22, they will charge all customers, including those sitting in premium cabins, $50 for confirmed same-day changes on domestic and Canada flights. Flyers with premium status previously were able to make same-day changes for free. Premium customers (including those with elite frequent-flyer status), active U.S. military personnel and customers redeeming miles for AAnytime Awards travel can continue to standby for free. However, the standby option no longer will be available to most coach passengers. The changes apply to American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights, too.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier announced it will be shutting down the Lynx subsidiary. Service will continue to nine of the 11 current Lynx destinations. Operations to Fargo, ND. and Tulsa, OK. will end April 5.

Frontier is launching service into 7 new cities! Out of Denver, CO. Frontier will begin flights to Branson, MO., Grand Rapids, MI., Long Beach, CA., Madison, WI., Newport News-Williamsburg, VA., and Santa Barbara, CA., and seasonal nonstop service to Green Bay, WI. These cities will be served with E-190 aircraft.

Frontier will add a third daily frequency to La Guardia, NY. on April 19 and a fifth daily frequency to Portland, OR., San Francisco, CA., and Seattle, WA. on May 14 for the peak summer travel period. Fort Myers, FL. will also be expanded to year-round service.

Midwest Airlines

Midwest Airlines announced it will add flights from Milwaukee, WI. to both St. Louis, MO. and Raleigh/Durham, NC. on April 1, and on April 19, Midwest will begin flying from Milwaukee to San Francisco, CA. To St. Louis, Midwest will fly three daily round-trip flights on the weekdays and two daily round-trip flights on weekends on 37-seat Embraer 135 regional jets. To Raleigh/Durham, Midwest will fly two daily round-trip flights on weekdays (and a slightly reduced schedule on weekends) using 76-seat Embraer E170 jets. And to San Francisco, Midwest will fly one daily round-trip flight on 136-seat Airbus A319 jets.

OpenSkies

OpenSkies, a British Airways' business-class subsidiary announced it will add service to Washington Dulles. The carrier will fly from Dulles to Paris Orly with five flights a week. OpenSkies flies 72-seat Boeing 757-200 jets with 12 seats in the carrier's "biz bed" cabin that fold down into lie-flat beds. OpenSkies says its remaining 60 seats "recline to 140° with a 52" seat pitch" and are "equipped with universal outlets for personal computers and electronics and supply power for the video-on-demand entertainment systems that contain over 50 hours of programming.

	Southwest Airlines
	Southwest has announced that it's expanding at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, MO. The airline will add nonstop service to Los Angeles, CA., San Diego, CA., Seattle, WA., New Orleans, LA., Nashville, TN., and Raleigh-Durham, NC. beginning May 9.

State Dept. Travel Warnings and Public Announcements

For the full announcements or further detail on Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, please see http://http://travel.state.gov/travel

Haiti - OOn February 9 the U.S. Department of State updated its Travel Warning for Haiti to read as follows: "The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the situation in Haiti in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake, measuring 7.0 magnitude, that struck Haiti near Port-au-Prince on January 12. The Department of State has ordered the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel from Haiti.

"U.S. citizens are strongly urged to avoid travel to Haiti. The January 12 earthquake caused significant damage to key infrastructure, and access to basic services is extremely limited. Additional aftershocks remain a possibility. All forms of communication within Haiti are limited. The country is experiencing a severe shortage of food, water, transportation, and adequate shelter. All commercial airline carriers have suspended their operations until further notice. Medical facilities are operating beyond maximum capacity, and the lack of adequate sanitation poses serious health risks. Despite good intentions, travelers may increase the burden on a system already struggling to support those in need on the ground. In addition, the Embassy's ability to provide emergency consular services is limited. The following website has information on how best to assist in the Haiti earthquake relief effort: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/15/help-haiti.

"In the event of an aftershock, persons outside should avoid falling debris by moving to open spaces, away from walls, windows, buildings, and other structures that may collapse. If indoors, persons should take shelter beside furniture, not underneath. Experts believe that curling into a fetal position beside a table, desk or couch creates a 'survivable void' inside collapsed buildings. Avoid damaged buildings and downed power lines. Do not use matches, lighters, candles, or any open flame in case of disrupted gas lines.

"The U.S Embassy has evacuated more than 15,000 U.S. citizens from Haiti and evacuation flights continue to depart the International Airport in Port-au-Prince. U.S. citizens wishing to depart Haiti should make their way to the airport between 4PM and 8PM. They are encouraged to bring their passport and identification, and any available food, water, and supplies, as facilities at the airport are limited. U.S. citizens in Haiti should contact friends and relatives outside of Haiti to inform them of their welfare. "The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has assembled a task force at the Embassy which is taking calls as conditions permit. The Embassy is working to identify U.S. citizens in Haiti who need urgent assistance and to identify sources of assistance."