Author: Laura Schad

Airlines say to expect higher fares and other changes due to rising fuel costs

 At the recent International Air Transport Association general meeting, which was held in Sydney, Australia, airline officials shared concerns that the continued rise in fuel prices would force carriers to respond with higher ticket prices. In fact, some fares are already up. According to Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, some domestic airfares are about $5 to $10 higher, especially in markets with less competition.  Transatlantic rates are also up on some routes, but in markets with ultra-low-cost startup airlines fares have remained stable.

Another means for airlines to combat higher fuel costs is to implement fuel surcharges. Some long-distance flights to Asia are already subject to surcharges ranging from $50 to nearly $200. Airlines can only use this tactic on international tickets as the U.S. Department of Transportation disallowed the practice on domestic tickets several years ago.

In addition to boosting fares or adding surcharges, airline officials said they would also be looking at cost cutting measures including reducing capacity or discontinuing underperforming routes.

Amtrak alters operations due to repair work at New York’s Penn Station

As repair work continues at New York’s Penn Station, Amtrak announced that this summer some New York trains will operate out of Grand Central Terminal instead. Included in the move are all Empire trains to upstate New York and the Ethan Allen to Rutland, Vermont, along with the Adirondack to Montreal and the Maple Leaf to Toronto.

Amtrak also said it will temporarily suspend service between New York and Chicago aboard the Lake Shore Limited. A separate Lake Shore Limited between Boston and Chicago will continue to run.

Trains moved to Grand Central will be returned to Penn Station on Sept. 4. The New York Lake Shore Limited will also be restored on Sept 4, 2018.

American Express to open Centurion Lounge at LAX

The twelfth American Express airport Centurion Lounge will be located at Los Angeles International Airport. According to an American Express release, “The new lounge will feature amenities inspired by Los Angeles including a unique tranquility area, spa, family room, custom visual wall installations in addition to the premium amenities found across Centurion Lounge locations.”  The lounge at LAX, which is slated to open in 2019, will be located beyond security in the Tom Bradley International Terminal but will be accessible to travelers flying from Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 as well.

Newark Airport is home to new Polaris Lounge

A new United Airlines Polaris Lounge for select elite travelers is now open at Newark Airport. The lounge, which has features similar to those at San Francisco International Airport, is located airside between gates C102 and C120. 

Priority Pass adds two Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse locations to its portfolio

The Priority Pass airport lounge program operated by the Collinson Group has two new sites in its portfolio. Members will now have access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse locations at Washington Dulles (Concourse A across from gate A32) and Newark Liberty (Terminal B, directional signs are located just beyond security in the first corridor). Both lounges offer complimentary Wi-Fi, beverages and dining but some restrictions apply.

Washington Reagan National will begin new round of construction

Construction will begin on a new three-level, 230,000-square-foot concourse. The project, which is part of a larger $1 billion terminal redevelopment plan, will feature a new 14-gate regional carrier concourse that will be accessible via passenger bridge instead of shuttle bus to keep travelers out of the elements. The concourse will also offer new food and retail opportunities, device-charging areas and an airport club. Construction is expected to be complete in 2021.

A captivating wine experience on a Food & Wine Trails custom cruise

Adelman’s April Torina recently returned from a special wine-themed cruise aboard Oceania Cruise Lines’ luxurious Riviera. April served as program manager and onsite coordinator for our Food & Wine Trails’ custom itinerary, which featured Napa Valley’s Elizabeth Spencer Winery. Owner’s Elizabeth Pressler and Spencer Graham personally hosted the group, sharing their expertise during wine receptions, tastings, seminars, dinner and shore excursions.

This special epicurean cruise, which started with an optional pre-package in Barcelona, took guests on a unique journey to ports in Spain, France, Italy and Monaco where guests were immersed in the wine culture at each destination.  While each day of this adventure brought exciting experiences, April said one of the highlights included an all-day excursion to the island of Mallorca for a tour and tasting at the Bodega Ribas winery followed by a visit to Mesquida Mora winery.  According to April, the owner, Barbara Mesguida, is one of a handful of female winemakers on the island. “We enjoyed a special tasting and wine-paired lunch in Barbara’s mother’s family home,” said April. 

Upon arrival in the Italian port of Livorno, April and the group headed out for an all-day tour around Tuscany.  The day included visits to the quaint medieval town of Bolgheri, where they tasted wines in the local Tognoni Wine Shop, and to the famed Tenuta dell’Ornelliai for a tour and lunch with winetasting. They also took in the beautiful scenery at the Bellaria Vineyard.

April also said the pre-packaged Barcelona area excursions were fantastic and included trips to Clos de l’Obac Winery, one of Catalonia’s original wineries, and Ferrer Bobet Winery, which is built high up on a cliff and offers stunning views of the region. 

“We also took an exciting 4-wheel vehicle drive into the mountains to Pares Balta, which was my favorite winery visit,” said April. “This winery is over 200 years old. Their winemakers farm organic and biodynamic. Hearing how they treat the land, smelling the fresh country air and tasting the wine was fabulous!” 

While at sea, exclusive onboard events included a welcome reception, seminars and special wine tastings.  Guests also enjoyed a 20^th anniversary celebration for Elizabeth and Spencer and the highly anticipated winemakers dinner where they announced their next hosted wine cruise for 2019, a 10-day sailing to wine destinations in Greece, Croatia and Italy aboard Oceania’s Sirena.

April spoke very highly of her experiences aboard Oceania’s stunning Riviera. “Oceania’s staff is world class. They worked very hard to help us make our program so successful!”  

If you would like to take part in a special wine cruise such as the one hosted by Elizabeth Spencer Winery, please visit our Food & Wine Trails website at http://foodandwinetrails.com/Cruises for a complete list of offerings. You can also call us at 800-367-5348 or 800-749-7116.

NoMad Los Angeles

In the midst of a cultural renaissance, downtown Los Angeles provides some of the most interesting dining, shopping and entertainment around. Visitors can now immerse themselves in the action at the new NoMad Los Angeles.

Located on the vibrant corner of 7th and Olive Street, the NoMad Los Angeles continues in the spirit of the original NoMad Hotel in New York. Situated in the historical Giannini Building, the NoMad Los Angeles offers 241 rooms and suites, each with custom-designed furnishings and Bellino linens and an in-room art program from a Paris-based design studio.

The NoMad Los Angeles also features the first restaurants and bars outside of Manhattan from Chef Daniel Humm and restaurateur Will Guidara, the team behind The NoMad New York City and Eleven Madison Park, which have been ranked No. 1 on the World’s 50 Best restaurants. Guests will enjoy exquisite dining in both formal and informal spaces along with 24-hour in-room dining provided by The NoMad Restaurant.

NoMad’s other public spaces include its elegant lobby, which is highlighted by a fully-restored, gold and blue Italianate ceiling, 10,000-square feet of meeting and event space, a rooftop pool and gathering space overlooking downtown.

Adelman clients can take advantage of special pricing through our Adelman Hotel Collection program. For more information please contact your professional Adelman travel consultant.

Strategies for saving money when traveling

Travel can be expensive, but you can bring costs down by employing the following tips.

1. Be flexible: If you have the option to travel off-season or to be flexible when choosing flights, you stand to save a considerable amount of money. It’s important to remember that peak season or peak travel days differ for business destinations versus vacation destinations.

2. Make sure Basic Economy is right for you: Highly restrictive, bare bones basic economy fares do offer a certain level of savings to some travelers. However, if you want amenities such as luggage allowances, pre-assigned seating and the ability to make changes, purchasing a basic economy ticket may cost you more in the long run.

3. Don’t overpack your bags: Make sure you are aware of your airline’s baggage size and weight limits. Airlines are much more diligent about enforcing their size and weight policies, and if you go over you may be faced with a large surcharge. It is also important to note that some airlines, especially overseas, have weight restrictions for carry-on items as well.

4. Use the right credit cards: Many credit and debit cards include travel perks such as travel or car rental insurance coverage. Others come with points or miles accrual for discounted or free future travel. When traveling overseas, remember some payment cards can charge 3 to 5 percent on transaction fees. If you don’t own a foreign fee-free card, try to apply for one before you depart.

5. Verify your phone coverage before leaving the country: Never assume your cell phone offers coverage abroad and at the same rates. For more affordable calling abroad, you may need to purchase a special limited-time international plan or obtain a local number SIM card for the country you are visiting. Often these SIM cards can be ordered in advance.

6. Avoid exchanging currency at the airport: Bureaus of exchange located at the airport typically have some of the highest fees for converting currency. If possible wait until you leave the airport. Using an ATM to obtain currency may also be a cheaper option, but be sure to verify the costs with your bank before you depart.

7. Book a hotel room with a refrigerator/microwave or small kitchen area. Even if don’t cook meals, these conveniences can save you money by allowing you to store cold beverages, items for a light breakfast, lunch or snack. Plus, restaurant leftovers can be stored and reheated for a future meal.

8. Avoid eating in touristy areas: The restaurants in any tourist district are almost always more expensive. Worse they may not even deliver the best dining experience. Try restaurants off the beaten path for a more authentic meal, which more than likely will cost you less. There are a variety of apps such as Local Eats, ChefsFeed, Foodspotting or Happy Cow that can help you find local gems.

9. Understand toll road needs: With so many roads across the country using automated tolling systems, many car rental companies offer the use of a toll transponder during your rental, for a fee. These fees can quickly add up and be a waste if you are not actually encountering any automated toll roads. However, failure to rent a transponder can cost you money too as many toll roads charge more to use a manual toll collection lane (assuming there is one), and failure to pay a toll can lead to significant surcharges and fines from the car rental company after the fact.

10. Return your rental car with a full tank: When you sign your car rental agreement you usually are confirming that you will return the vehicle full of gas. Failure to do so can lead to hefty surcharges.

Oneworld aims to bring more carriers together to boost traveler experience

The Oneworld global airline alliance has created a new partner program called Connect. While the Connect program won’t give full alliance status to member airlines, it will provide a more seamless experience for travelers on participating carriers.  Potential Connect member airlines must be sponsored by at least three of the Oneworld alliance partners to join the Connect program. Additionally, they have to meet certain standards while offering passengers enhanced benefits such as priority check-in and boarding for elite Oneworld members, through luggage handling and frequent-flyer benefits. Airlines that sponsor Oneworld Connect airlines will also offer customers the opportunity to earn and redeem miles and points, earn status credits, have luggage checked through to the final destination and obtain lounge access. Connect airlines can also participate in Oneworld’s Global Explorer round-the-world fare.

Fiji Airways has become the first airline to announce its participation in the Connect program.

Uber releases features aimed at passenger safety

New safety-related features for Uber passengers are now in place. As part of its app, Uber passengers can summons 911 with a new icon located at the bottom right corner of the display. The app will then show the car’s exact location, so it can be provided to the 911 dispatcher. Uber is testing new technology in seven markets that would automatically share the car’s location with 911. Uber is also adding functionality that would allow passengers to share trip details to a “trusted contacts” list. Then, Uber said that instead of running a criminal background and driving history check on its drivers only upon hiring, it would expand the program to run driver checks annually.

In other news, the Turkish government decided to ban ride-hailing services such as Uber in order to protect its existing taxi system. Turkey joins several other countries including Bulgaria, Denmark and Hungary in banning the service. Other countries including France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Taiwan allow ride-hailing services only in limited circumstances. Meanwhile, Uber’s license to operate in London was not renewed last year, though it is still operating while it appeals the ruling.

Amtrak trials pre-assigned seats in Acela Express first class

Customers traveling in first class on Amtrak’s Acela Express trains operating in the Northeast corridor can now select their seats in advance. Passengers can choose single or double seats, an aisle or window, or a two- or four-person conference table. Amtrak officials said they will evaluate this new enhancement before expanding it to other routes.

American Airlines

Passengers purchasing tickets in American’s Main Cabin Extra section will now receive complimentary beer, wine and spirits along with the early boarding benefits and extra leg room that comes with the premium class of service.

Delta Air Lines

Delta unveiled plans for its new Delta Sky Way modernization project at Los Angeles International Airport. The Delta Sky Way, 27-gate complex will feature a new centralized lobby and security checkpoint along with a private Delta One check-in area for Delta One customers. Other enhancements include an airside bridge connecting Delta’s terminals, a new Delta Sky Club along with new shops and restaurants. The project will include a complete reconstruction of Terminal 3, which is expected to begin this fall.

JetBlue

Following other airlines, JetBlue is tightening its policies regarding emotional support animals on its flights. Under the new policies, which will go into effect on July 1, customers will have to advise the airline 48 hours in advance that they plan to travel with an emotional support animal. Passengers will also have to submit required paperwork including forms from a veterinarian vouching for the animal’s health and vaccinations. Customers will also have to sign a liability form that affirms that the passenger is liable if the animal damages property or hurts someone. JetBlue has not made any changes to its policies regarding service animals.

Southwest Airlines

Airline officials said the carrier will be shuffling a number of its flights in California. Effective November 4, the airline will cut back on service out of San Francisco International while it adds new flights out of Mineta San Jose. It will also launch new service from Burbank to Chicago Midway and Houston Hobby and from Sacramento to Philadelphia.

Sail sooner or sail later, but book now to save

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) is offering great savings for reservations booked by July 1, 2018, for sailings this summer and beyond! You and your whole family can escape on a summer cruise adventure by taking advantage of the special sale that gives customers 50 percent off on the second guest and 25 percent off for third and fourth passengers.  For travelers planning further in advance, RCCL is offering an early booking bonus that gives our customers up to $100 to spend at sea on sailings reserved at least 6 months in advance under the line’s Non-Refundable Deposit program. Even holiday sailings are currently on sale! With Deck the Holidays deals customers can save up to $150 instantly.

For more information, contact our team of knowledgeable vacation advisors including Meaghan Dye, who just participated in a Learning Immersion Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to experience the Oasis of the Seas,” said Meaghan. “For starters, we were allowed to board early to get an extensive tour of the ship before everyone else was able to board. Later in the trip we got an all-access tour of the bridge. We were able to meet the captain and his crew and we also got to see how the ship is run.”

Besides participating in several informational seminars, Meaghan had plenty of time to experience the ship’s great amenities and explore the various ports of call. She took the RCCL sponsored Island and Shopping Tour in Jamaica. “The tour was great, and the guides were so informative, I learned so much about the island,” said Meaghan. 

In Cozumel, Meaghan chose to stay closer to the ship and explored the pier area while doing a little shopping. She was then able to reboard the Oasis early to take advantage of more of the ship’s amenities. “There are specials in the spa on port days. I booked their deal of the day, which was a terrific top-to-toe package.”

Meaghan also had a complete tour of Labadee, RCCL’s private island. “Labadee was definitely my favorite port. There are so many choices for active fun, but you can also just relax in a beach chair by the ocean and enjoy the sun and sand.” Meaghan is excited to share more of what she learned on her recent RCCL cruise. Simply give her a call at 800-749-7116, or visit our website at www.adelmanvacations.com.

The James Chicago

Ideally located just two blocks from Michigan Avenue, The James Chicago attracts style-conscious travelers. Designed by architect Deborah Burke, this luxury boutique hotel features a sleek, minimalist feel with dark-wood furniture, marble and slate bathrooms and Gen Art installations. Added touches in the guestrooms include iPod docking stations, 42-inch plasma televisions, well-stocked mini-bars, eco-friendly pillow options from Keetsa, specially curated in-room wellness programing and twice-daily maid service.  

Guests can take advantage of 24-hour concierge service; complimentary mezzanine office/workspace; and an all-day dining venue, The James Kitchen + Bar, which boasts the highest quality ingredients secured through local farmers and purveyors to create locally-inspired, seasonal dishes morning, noon and night.

Adelman customers will receive exclusive pricing that includes complimentary Wi-Fi when booking the Adelman rate.