Dollar Premium car rentals $32.99/day / 169.99/wk February 26th, 2012
NAPA, Calif., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Anger and frustration abounded at Newark Liberty International Airport Thursday after three hundred travelers on two Caribbean Airlines flights were left stuck on the tarmac for six hours. The flights were diverted to Newark instead of their original destination —JFK Airport. Passengers were forced to wait in the planes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and said they really didn’t know why.
“It’s like a recurring nightmare,” said Kate Hanni, Director FlyersRights.org. “We thought the DOT rules would send a strong enough message to international air carriers and Airports to stop entrapping people on the tarmac in hot, sweaty metal tubes absent food and water, hygienic toilets. They’ve shown again they have no intention of fixing these issues on their own. Clearly Congress must act and act swiftly. For four years we have fought for permanent protections, like they have in the European Union, to protect all airline passengers traveling in and out of the United States from long tarmac delays, and for four years Congress has kicked the can down the road. Enough is enough.”
The DOT rule announced last week offers protections beginning August 23rd for international flights stuck on the tarmac after four hours, but it’s longer than most people can tolerate. The DOT rule has passengers wait for two hours before offering them food, water, access to medications or servicing toilets. Congress has a formal passengers bill of rights in the FAA Reauthorization Bill that would limit international flights to three hours on the tarmac, and would provide food, water, access to medications and TEMPERATURE control at all times on the tarmac.
Following are comments made by effected passengers on these fated flights: “I felt like I was claustrophobic,” said 11-year-old Jasmine. “They didn’t have any food per se on the plane,” said Nikita Job of Somerset, N.J. “It’s disgusting. It’s really terrible. I mean we’re human, nobody should have to go through this,” said Raj Wahid of Queens.
The Port Authority of New York has the resources to get folks off of planes even on international flights, to say they “don’t service Caribbean Airlines” is simply unacceptable. Have they learned nothing from the nightmare of Christmas 2010 when at least 36 + jets sat from 4-12 hours on the tarmac at JFK?
So, following their long wait, passengers were eventually taken home by bus.
“I hope it never happens again,” said Theresa Abraham of Long Island.
FlyersRights.org is the largest, non-profit airline passengers’ rights organization in the world with 33,000 members.
Vision Airlines Extends $19 Seat Sale on Flights to and From Destin/Fort Walton Beach for Another 72 Hours March 24th, 2011
SUWANEE, Ga., March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Due to an overwhelming response from travelers wanting to take advantage of Vision Airlines’ super $19 seat sale, the company has made the decision to extend the promotion through Sunday, March 27, 2011. Vision Airlines launched an introductory $19* one-way seat sale on the carrier’s flights to and from cities in 11 states to NW Florida Regional Airport. It serves the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area, which is also known as Florida’s Emerald Coast. The Destin/Ft. Walton Beach area is among America’s top-10 spring break vacation destinations. Orlando, with its theme parks, is the nation’s number one family spring break spot.
Our call center was swamped with travelers anxious to take advantage of this great fare and since many of them may have experienced long wait times or problems with our website, we felt it was important to extend this sale so everyone would have an opportunity to purchase the available seats said David Meers, Vision Airlines’ COO.
Vision Airlines offers service to the Orlando/Sanford International Airport from multiple cities.
Vision Airlines’ specially-priced, limited $19* fares are also available on flights from NW Florida Regional to Orlando/Sanford International Airport; Punta Gorda/Fort Myers Airport and St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport.
The $19* fares apply to flights that take-off the morning of March 25, 2011 through May 21, 2011. There is a limited number of $19* seats on each flight. The sale ends on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 11:59 PM (ET).
Inaugural Flights Launch
Between March 25 and April 1, 2011, Vision Airlines begins new service to the following cities; Atlanta GA, Baton Rouge LA, Destin/Ft Walton Beach FL, Ft. Lauderdale FL, Ft Myers/Punta Gorda FL, Greenville SC, Huntsville AL, Knoxville TN, Louisville KY, Savannah/Hilton Head, and St. Pete/Tampa FL.
Beginning April 1, 2011, Vision Airlines launches service to Asheville NC, Chattanooga TN, Columbia SC, Little Rock AR, Orlando/Sanford FL, Shreveport LA,
Vision Airlines is currently flying scheduled service to Atlanta, Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, Houston, St Petersburg, Louisville, Gulfport, Miami and Niagara/Buffalo. More routes will be added on or after March 25th 2011.
Tickets and complete vacation packages are now on sale at www.VisionAirlines.com; or through the airline’s reservations call center at 1-877-FLY-A-JET.
FLYING IS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN DRIVING TO FLORIDA
For decades people living in Vision Airlines’ focus cities have been vacationing and retiring along the Emerald Coast. “Because there has never been affordable air travel to Destin-Fort Walton Beach, families have had to endure grueling drives to get to Florida’s gulf coast says,” COO, David Meers. That all changes with the launch of our inaugural Florida flights. ”With this fare sale, it became very clear people were anxious to return to their favorite vacation spots along Florida’s Emerald Coast.”
Meers emphasizes, “With gas prices creeping closer to $4 per gallon in many states, flying Vision Airlines to Florida is now less expensive than driving, especially since we are offering fares as low as $19*”
On average, Vision Airlines’ normal one-way fares to Florida are $89 – $99.
REVITALIZE EMERALD COAST ECONOMY
Vision Airlines is expected to play a pivotal role in revitalizing Florida’s Emerald Coast tourism industry as the economy was crippled by last year’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Florida Governor Rick Scott forecasts that Vision Airlines will generate approximately 4,000 new jobs and will help fill the area’s tens of thousands of hotel rooms, many of which remained vacant during the 2010 tourist season, due to the oil spill.
“While there were some tar balls on the Emerald Coast’s beaches, there were no off-shore oil slicks,” says Mark Bellinger, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. “Despite limited environmental impact, tourists avoided the gulf coast altogether in 2010.”
The Governor and local tourism officials encourage tourists to see for themselves that Florida’s Emerald Coast beaches are still sugary-white and the water is still crystal clear.
Boeing and Saudi Arabian Airlines Upgrade Fleet February 20th, 2011
SEATTLE, Feb. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Saudi Arabian Airlines have teamed to modernize the flag carrier’s 777 fleet to enhance the passenger experience and environment. The project involves modifying the interiors of 22 of Saudi Arabian Airlines’ 23 Boeing 777-200ERs (extended range).
The passenger cabin modification program began in early 2009 after certification of the new Business Market seating configuration. Modifications on this scale are generally scheduled to coincide with required heavy maintenance checks. However, under this modification program, the majority of the fleet already has been modified and returned to service. The modifications are scheduled to be completed in 2011.
“This interior modification affects an important segment of our long-haul fleet and our passengers expect the best from us,” said Ali Milaat, CEO of Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries. “With its experience as the airplane manufacturer, Boeing has done a great job in working with us to develop and support this process and we look forward to sharing the great results with our customers.”
Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, working with the airline team, developed a cabin layout that provides increased comfort and amenities for passengers while providing the airline with an attractive, new in-flight identity. Boeing also provided the engineering services and program integration.
“Saudi Arabian Airlines plays an important role in Middle East and global aviation and this interior refresh is a great opportunity for Boeing to bring value to an important customer,” said Dennis Floyd, vice president, Fleet Services for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Boeing is uniquely positioned with experience and expertise to engineer, certify and manage modification programs for our customers.”
Eight of the airplanes feature Saudi Arabian Airlines’ new Business Market configuration with 24 first class, 38 business class and 170 economy class seats. The remaining jetliners are in the new High Density configuration that accommodates 14 business class and 327 economy class seats.
The airplanes are configured with new Avio Interiors first, business and economy class seats. Widescreen displays are at each seat, connected to a Thales TopSeries i5000 In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system. This system features on-demand movies, music and games and provides for a laptop power connector, USB port and RCA jack.
The first class seats feature 15.4-inch (39.1-cm) in-seat video monitors with PC power and powered seat adjustment, at a 79-inch pitch. Business class seats have 12.1-inch (30.7-cm) in-seat video monitors, also with PC power and powered adjustment capability, at a 58-inch (147.3-cm) pitch. Economy seats are on a 32-inch (81.3-cm) pitch and have 8.9-inch (22.6-cm) video monitors in-seat.
Boeing produced the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration-certified service bulletin and kit of parts to accommodate the seat installation and the new in-flight entertainment system. Boeing also relocated and updated floor coverings, ceilings, sidewalls, class divider partition walls, stowage bins, closets and plumbing to enable the airplane modernization. As a full-service integrator, Boeing can perform as much of an airline interior upgrade as required, including management of all aspects of the project through certification.
Save $20 on Hertz Weekend Car Rental!
Delta Fined for Violating Rules Protecting Air Travelers with Disabilities February 17th, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today assessed a civil penalty of $2 million against Delta Air Lines for violating rules protecting air travelers with disabilities.
This civil penalty is the largest penalty ever assessed against an airline by the Department of Transportation in a non-safety-related case.
“Ensuring that passengers with disabilities receive fair treatment when they fly is a priority for the Department of Transportation,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We take our aviation disability rules seriously and will continue to enforce them vigorously.”
The DOT requires airlines to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities while boarding and deplaning aircraft, including the use of wheelchairs, ramps, mechanical lifts and service personnel where needed. Carriers also must respond within 30 days to written complaints about their treatment of disabled passengers, and specifically address the issues raised in the complaints. In addition, airlines must properly code and record their disability-related complaints in connection with required reporting to the Department.
An investigation by the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Enforcement Office of disability complaints filed with Delta and DOT revealed many violations of the requirement to provide assistance getting on and off the airplane. The carrier’s complaint files also showed that it frequently did not provide an adequate written response to disability complaints from passengers. The Aviation Enforcement Office further found that Delta also failed to properly report each disability complaint in reports filed with the Department.
Of the of $2 million penalty, $750,000 must be paid by the carrier and up to $1,250,000 may be used to improve its service to passengers with disabilities beyond what is required by law. Delta may target up to $834,000 of the civil penalty amount toward the development and implementation of an automated wheelchair tracking system at the carrier’s major hub airports. Up to $236,000 may be used toward developing and distributing customer service surveys for passengers with disabilities to rate Delta’s accommodation services and provide specific feedback to the carrier on how it can improve. In addition, up to $150,000 may be used to expand audits of the carrier’s compliance with Air Carrier Access Act rules and for consultation to help improve the quality of Delta’s services to passengers with disabilities at airports and up to $30,000 to enhance its website to improve air travel accessibility. The actual costs of these improvements by Delta will be significantly greater than the credited amounts.
Save $20 on Hertz Weekend Car Rental!
Hotwire Reveals Hotel Rate Report for February 2011 February 16th, 2011
Winter Weather Across North America Likely Impacting Hotel Rates at Several Destinations
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –HotWire®, a leading discount travel site, today announced the results of the February 2011 Hotwire® Hotel Rate Report. The report features the top five cities in North America where hotel rates have dropped the most and the top five cities where rates have experienced the biggest price increase. While one report guides customers to the destinations that will maximize their travel dollars, the other highlights places where using Hotwire to save money will be even more essential.
Whether it’s snowstorms in colder climates or unusually low temperatures in warmer climates, the extreme winter conditions in North America continue to affect travel. This has resulted in lower hotel prices in a variety of top markets as hoteliers try to entice travelers by dropping rates. Even hotels in some normally mild or warm locales are feeling the effects of the chill.
Number one on the list, San Antonio, is seeing less than expected demand for hotel rooms this month, primarily driven by the colder than normal winter. As a result some hotels are reducing prices to attract last minute bookers. That’s good news for travelers who may want to take advantage of the cooler weather and lower prices. Famous for its Spanish missions, the Alamo, the River Walk, and the Tower of the Americas, San Antonio can be much more pleasant this time of year as compared to the peak pricing and blistering heat of the summer months.
Key West holds steady at the number two spot as hotels in the area are also feeling the effects of the unseasonably strong weather. The winter storms up north have been negatively impacting pockets of air travel, prompting some travelers to change their travel plans to the region. As a result, local hotels are lowering prices in order to increase their number of bookings.
Vancouver and New York jump back on the list after long absences. Vancouver’s hotel rates have dropped dramatically versus last year when the city hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, which in turn drove up occupancy rates throughout the city. For number five New York, the demand for the Valentine’s Day weekend did not materialize as high as expected, so hoteliers are dropping prices last-minute.
Frontier Airlines Expands Flights from Omaha January 16th, 2011
New nonstop San Diego service; seasonal non-stop Florida service returns
DENVER, January 15, 2011 – Frontier Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:RJET), is kicking off its Omaha (OMA) expansion this weekend with the return of seasonal non-stop service to Orlando (MCO) and St. Petersburg/Clearwater (PIE) and the launch of new non-stop service to the sunny beaches of San Diego (SAN).
Non-stop service between Omaha and Orlando begins today, Jan. 15, 2011, and the non-stop service to St. Petersburg/Clearwater and San Diego both begin on Sunday, Jan. 16. Frontier will also launch non-stop service from Omaha to Los Angeles (LAX) beginning Feb. 14, 2011.
Frontier will operate its Embraer 190 aircraft – operated by Republic Airlines – on each of these new routes. The E190 features comfortable all-leather seating in a two-by-two configuration. The E190 aircraft comes equipped with four rows of STRETCH seating, which provides an additional five inches of legroom. The aircraft will also feature in-flight Wi-Fi in spring of 2011