West United States

 

Southwest Airlines is planning a major increase in its services starting March 11 involving a number of western cities. Nonstop flights will begin then between San Diego International and Reno/Lake Tahoe Airport twice daily running through May 10. There will be an added nonstop service between McCarran International in Las Vegas and Albuquerque International giving that run seven daily trips; another flight between Burbank International and Sacramento International giving those cities 11 services; a second daily nonstop between Spokane International and Oakland International; two additional nonstops between LAS and San Jose International for a total of nine daily; an eighth daily between SAC and LAS; a fifth daily run between Los Angeles International and Salt Lake City International; a sixth daily between LAX and Tucson International; a fifth daily between San Diego International and Chicago Midway Airport; a sixth daily between Denver International and ORD; and a fourth daily between Seattle-Tacoma International and ORD.

Another salvo in the continuing war for the pocketbooks of premium passengers, those who frequent the pointy end of the airplane. American Airlines is shelling out $20 million to upgrade its fleet of 15 767-200s, the kind of craft that ply the lucrative transcon market. Look for updated First and Business Class seats beginning in 2007, as well as new audio and video-on-demand. Lots of decision-makers shuttle between New York JFK and Los Angeles International on American's 11 daily nonstops and, "keeping them happy on this route is important to us," says David Cush, American's senior vice president of global sales. "These are profitable runs, and it's First and Business Class cabins that drive [that]." On the ground, First Class flyers will be able to use AA's Flagship Lounge® at Kennedy when flying tri-class transcons. Business Class passengers will have access to the Admirals Club®. The new service will be fielded not just between JFK and LAX, but on American's three daily flights from Kennedy to San Francisco as well. American dominates the JFK - LAX run, with 70 percent of the market share.

Midwest United States

 

SkyTeam buddy Continental saw the need for this some time ago, now Northwest is following suit. NW sports special boarding lanes for premium flyers these days—those flying First Class, World Business Class or holding Elite status on either Northwest per se, or with another SkyTeam alliance member.

 

South United States

 

Another sign that Delta intends to go it alone, fighting US Airways’ merger proposal: DL is recalling an additional 1,000 flight attendants beginning in January…AirTran and Frontier have entered into an interesting marketing deal, one that lets flyers book passage on one carrier via the other’s Web site. Also linked are the airlines’ frequent flyer programs.

 

Northeast United States

Another salvo in the continuing war for the pocketbooks of premium passengers, those who frequent the pointy end of the airplane. American Airlines is shelling out $20 million to upgrade its fleet of 15 767-200s, the kind of craft that ply the lucrative transcon market. Look for updated First and Business Class seats beginning in 2007, as well as new audio and video-on-demand. Lots of decision-makers shuttle between New York JFK and Los Angeles International on American's 11 daily nonstops and, "keeping them happy on this route is important to us," says David Cush, American's senior vice president of global sales. "These are profitable runs, and it's First and Business Class cabins that drive [that]." On the ground, First Class flyers will be able to use AA's Flagship Lounge® at Kennedy when flying tri-class transcons. Business Class passengers will have access to the Admirals Club®. The new service will be fielded not just between JFK and LAX, but on American's three daily flights from Kennedy to San Francisco as well. American dominates the JFK - LAX run, with 70 percent of the market share.

Northwest United States

 

JetBlue is a big believer in the Web. Consider, it sells some 80 percent of its tickets over the Internet. That’s why a redesign of its site is so significant. The thing you’ll notice most readily is that the booking tool now resides on the homepage, saving customers a click.

 

Worldwide

 

Beginning December 5 British Airways is cutting the number of seats that are pre-assigned, while boosting those available at check-in. If you’re flying First Class, or hold Gold or Silver Executive Club status (and have a fully flexible ticket across all cabins) you still get a pre-assigned place to sit. If not, you’re going to want to go to www.ba.com from 24 hours prior to departure on in and choose your seat. All seats that haven’t been pre-assigned will be available. To make the process easier, BA has improved its online seat maps to offer up-to-the-minute status as to what’s open, and what’s shut…Once upon a time there was Sabena. Then, SN Brussels assumed the legendary carrier’s mantle. Now that SN Brussels and Virgin Express have merged, the resultant carrier is simply “Brussels Airlines.”…You’re going to have to wait a while longer to book passage on a Virgin Atlantic A380. VS just deferred delivery of the problem-plagued superjet for the second time. Instead of 2009, don’t expect to fly an A380 in Virgin livery until at least 2013…More aircraft news. Aeroflot has dumped the last of its fuel-slurping Il-86 widebodies. Not only were the Soviet-era craft too costly to fly, they failed to meet European noise and environmental standards…The oneworld alliance is adding a couple of Latin carriers: LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador.