South African Airways Starts New JFK-South Africa Service

South African Airways has announced that it will operate new non-stop service from New York (JFK) to Johannesburg beginning May 1, 2009.

Flight SA204, which will now depart at 11:35 a.m. and arrive in Johannesburg at 8:45 a.m. the following day, opens up a host of connections, taking more travelers to more of Africa through SAA’s Johannesburg hub. As an African airline with global reach, SAA’s unmatched African network will now make it possible to leave New York in the morning and connect throughout South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa as well as Africa’s Indian Ocean islands, all with seamless connections. Within South Africa, SAA offers frequent service to cities such as Cape Town and Durban, and the new flight schedule will allow travelers to arrive at these popular cities mid-day. Coupled with SAA’s commitment to excellence and its award-winning service, there is no better choice for service from the U.S. to Africa.

The same-day connections feature flights to Botswana, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Domestic airlines push ahead with in-flight WiFi, 2,000 planes in 2009

After hearing that Delta would equip its entire US fleet with Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi in 2009, along comes a release from Aircell that says otherwise. In fact, it proclaims that "Delta Air Lines is expected to launch service before the end of 2008." Furthermore, the company has confessed that "most major US carriers are in advanced discussions with or are already contractually committed to Aircell," which certainly bodes well for avid travelers who take issue with long periods of disconnection. Aircell is hoping to have its in-flight internet tech installed in 2,000 commercial aircraft by the end of 2009.

Delta aligns its fees with Northwest's

Delta said it is making changes in its fee structures to make them consistent with those of Northwest, which will eventually be merged into Delta.

Among the changes:

• For travel starting December 5, Delta domestic travelers will have to pay $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second, the same fees that Northwest charges. Delta currently lets passengers check one bag free and charges $50 for the second. SkyMiles Medallion and WorldPerks elite members, as well as first and business class passengers, will be allowed to check up to three bags for free; full-fare coach passengers will be allowed two checked bags for no charge. 
• Effective immediately, Delta is scrapping the fuel surcharges that were instituted earlier this year at both airlines for claiming award tickets in the SkyMiles and WorldPerks programs.
  
• Delta has started selling "Choice Coach Seats" on select flights for a charge of $5 to $25 — the same as Northwest has been doing for some time. The option is offered to persons using self-service check-in, guaranteeing them a preferred seat assignment. The fee varies based on distance and seat location. SkyMiles Medallion members, WorldPerks elites, SkyTeam elites and those traveling on full-fare Y or B tickets can select a Choice Seat for no fee when they check in online or at an airport kiosk.
• Delta has cut the fee for telephone ticket purchases from $25 to $20, the same as Northwest's; the same fee reduction also applies to frequent flyer award tickets booked over the phone.
• Effective December 5, Delta said it will eliminate its $3 "curbside check-in administrative fee" paid by passengers who check their bags with a skycap at airports worldwide.
  

Delta executive VP Steve Gorman said Delta does not expect to be affected by ending its first-checked-bag-free policy, since it is the last of the legacy carriers to add a fee. "The increase in bags being carried on board Delta aircraft this year tells us that customers are not differentiating Delta as the only major airline not charging for a first checked bag," he said.

Some commentary on this... Actually, Southwest is considered a major airline, and it does not charge for a checked bag.

United Cancels Fee Increase for Second Checked Bag

United Airlines has canceled its previously announced plans to increase the domestic second bag fee from $25 to $50 one way. The fee to check a second bag on a domestic flight will remain $25 one way. It also is offering customers a 20 percent discount on the fee to check a first bag when they pay for it on www.united.com between Nov. 10, 2008 and Jan. 31, 2009.

Northwest is joining Delta

It's official !! Northwest is joining Delta.

Just hours after they received clearance from the antitrust regulators at the Justice Department, Delta and Northwest Airlines announced the completion of their long-awaited merger, making Northwest a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta.

The company will be headquartered in Atlanta, and the airlines announced plans to combine their operations over the next year or two—although some changes will come sooner.

Among them:

• Delta will put its code on "nearly all the Northwest system" by the end of this year 
  
• The two airlines will institute "immediate complimentary upgrade reciprocity" for the elite members of their frequent flyer programs, so that a Delta SkyMiles elite member's status will apply when he seeks a Northwest upgrade, and vice versa. 
• Delta and Northwest will roll out "a fully consolidated worldwide flight schedule" by next summer. 
• Delta's staff uniforms, aircraft livery, in-flight entertainment and other amenities will be introduced to Northwest's system beginning in the spring. 
• The two airlines' mileage programs will eventually be consolidated, "ultimately including the ability to combine miles from SkyMiles and WorldPerks accounts at a one-to-one ratio." 
• The two airlines' web sites, passenger kiosks and other "customer-facing technology" will be fully integrated.

Fly private jets at a discount

So, you would like to fly from New York to Geneva. What do you do? First and foremost you would visit Etripinfo. Thats obvious !!

The other option would be to use your credits with a private jet company such as Marquis or Netjets. That is if you are so lucky so have $1 Million in your bank account and can afford travelling luxuriously.

Well, now you have a new option.  What happens to the plane that flies a CEO from Geneva to New York? Usually it flies back to its home base empty.  Well, now you can take advantage of the empty flight.

LunaJets, a company based out of Geneva, allows travelers to take advantage of its empty planes on a return flight at a discount.  LunaJets negotiates with jet operators to allow you to “jump” on these flights, and enjoy all the luxury and convenience of private jet flying. LunaJets also reroutes empty legs to match your itinerary, organizes shuttles on frequent routes, jet shares and can find a private jet at anytime. Travelers can book anything from a single seat to a whole cabin on flights shorter than 2h30m; on longer flights, they must reserve the whole cabin. Booking and payment can both be handled online, and prices are fixed and open, beginning at EUR 890 for a single seat on a flight up to one hour long.

What a novel concept. For travelers, this is one to try out; for operators, it's one to get in on ASAP!

‘Pay-for-what-you-use’ In-flight Café

Beginning in August, US Air will charge $2 for all non-alcoholic beverages (including sodas, juices, bottled water and coffee) and $7 for alcoholic beverages (currently available for $5). They will continue to serve complimentary beverages on US Airways Shuttle, and in First Class and Envoy.
We saw this one coming, first was headsets, then food, finally baggage, and now beverages. We actually don't believe this will really help out the airlines as much as they think. It really means that everyone will be buying their water and soda at the airport stands. Since passengers can't bring their own beverages through security, the airports and airlines now will have a monopoly on this one.

Continental, United plan cooperation

We received notice on Thursday evening announcing that United and Continental plans to cooperate globally, linking their networks and services worldwide. Also, Continental will go on to join the Star Alliance network. This is a huge blow for the Sky Team network whose key members in the US were Delta, NWA, and Continental. With 2 of the 3 merging and now Continental leaving, this potentially leaves Delta/NWA in a uncertain situation with Continental’s strong presence in flights to Latin America.

Obviously, the new partnership will allow customers to have a new frequent flier reciprocity on both carriers, along with access to both airport lounges for elite status members. Also, this will allow for code sharing flights not only domestically, but also internationally.