Free Unlimited Wi-Fi coming to O’Hare and Midway
Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports will now offer free unlimited Wi-Fi and streaming capabilities. Previously complimentary Wi-Fi was limited to 30 minutes. Under the new unlimited free use program, ads will roll every 45 minutes. Airport users can obtain access to faster Wi-Fi speeds by purchasing a one-day or monthly subscription.
Airport Report: Security and amenities continue to be enhanced
Airports are still intent on boosting security while also upgrading passenger amenities in order to enhance the travel experience. The following are just some of the latest changes and improvements customers will find in the future.
Dallas: The Transportation Security Administration is now using robotic carts for baggage screening at Dallas Love Field. The carts will expedite the screening process by cutting down on backups caused when luggage requiring extra screening is detected. Meanwhile, American Airlines will launch a major new renovation project at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The Terminal E project will bring 15 new gates designed especially for regional jet usage along with other amenity upgrades aimed at elevating the customer experience.
Denver: A new American Express Centurion Lounge is slated to open by the end of the year. The 14,000-square-foot upscale lounge will be located in Concourse C.
Orlando: After successful tests at select airports around the country, funding was approved so that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection can deploy its biometric entry and exit program at Orlando International Airport across 30 gates with international departures and CBP checkpoints. The program uses cameras to match passengers with data collected by the CBP. Orlando International will be the first U.S. airport to fully implement the CBP biometric program.
Osaka: The JAP Diamond Premier Lounge and Sakura Lounge will both undergo extensive renovations at Osaka International Airport. Construction will begin in late May and will last about a year. JAL Diamond Premier Lounge will be temporarily relocated to the current Sakura Lounge while an alternate location will be designated for the Sakura Lounge.
San Francisco: United plans to open its new Polaris Lounge on April 30. Among the amenities, passengers can sit down for a complete dinner prior to boarding in order to maximize sleep time once on board.
New legislation could change how airfares are displayed and impact other passenger-oriented rules
Under new proposed Federal Aviation Administration legislation there are several provisions that are being debated in Congress that would affect airline passengers. Perhaps most hotly contested is a possible change that would reverse full-fare advertising rules established in 2012. Under the new proposal, airlines would be allowed to quote an initial, low “base” ticket price and then add taxes and fees later in the booking process. Proponents say this change would be better for passengers since they would know exactly how much they would be paying for the fare itself and how much of the total price comes from taxes and fees. Consumer groups say the current advertising requirements are better for travelers because they help to prevent misleading or bait-and-switch advertising.
Other customer-focused changes being consider include:
Direct rail service linking London and Amsterdam is launched; may lead to lower airfares
Eurostar is now offering the first direct rail service from London to Amsterdam. The journey, which is scheduled to take just over 3.5 hours, will be offered twice daily on weekdays and once a day on weekends. With a low ticket price of just 35 Euros one-way, industry watchers are expecting the new rail service to spark a price war with the airlines.
Travelers should note that the direct rail service is currently only available in one direction, from London to Amsterdam. Passport control agreements have yet to be reached for travel back to London. So, for now, London-bound passengers must connect in Brussels for passport control.
Alaska Airlines
Following other airlines including American and Delta, Alaska Airlines will begin offering a basic economy fare product this fall. The new Saver Fare will come with a variety of restrictions including not being able to make changes or receive a refund. Purchasers will also not be eligible for upgrades as part of Alaska’s elite level loyalty program. Passengers will board last, though customers will be able to obtain a seat assignment when making a reservation. Alaska officials also said the carrier will add a fee for exit-row seats and will introduce dynamic pricing for all premium seats over the next few months.
Then, Alaska Airlines unveiled new rules for emotional support animals. Similar to Delta and United’s recently revised policies, customers will need to provide documentation validating that the emotional support animal is not only in good health but has been appropriately trained for public settings. Owners will also need a letter signed by a doctor or licensed mental health professional and will need to certify that they will be responsible for any possible damage caused by the animal. The new policy, which is intended to curb potential abuses by passengers who try to take advantage of current rules in order to bring untrained and possibly aggressive animals in the aircraft cabin, will go into effect on May 1, 2018. The new policy applies to emotional support animals. It does not impact those with official service animals.
Passengers traveling out of Los Angeles (LAX) airport should be aware that Alaska is now using separate ticket counters for domestic and international flights in Terminal 6. Domestic check-in counters are located on the west side of Terminal 6 while international check-in counters can be found on the east side.
British Airways
The British Airways’ Avios rewards program will end by the end of July. (Avios, the currency will continue.) Members of the rewards program and their points will be transferred to the British Airways Executive Club this summer. Accounts will be automatically established unless members opt out. Customers who already have a BA Executive Club account can transfer accrued points through the Avios website. Officials say the change will give members more opportunities to earn and spend points.
Delta Air Lines
Delta will expand its service from New York’s JFK to the Caribbean later this year. A second flight to Nassau, Bahamas will commence Oct. 1. New daily nonstop service will be launched to Kingston, Jamaica starting Dec. 20 while Saturday service to Port-au-Prince, Haiti will kick-off Dec. 22, 2018.
Discover captivating and diverse, but often overlooked, Poland
Adelman’s Diana Wray recently had the privilege of visiting Poland as a guest of the Polish tourist board. “Truthfully, I didn’t know much about Poland other than its role during World War II. I expected to see blocks of grim and gray Soviet era apartments and buildings, but nothing could be further from the truth. Poland is a wonderful place to visit,” Diana says.
The first stop on Diana’s trip was Warsaw. “It is a modern, sophisticated city, but still retains many historical areas such as Old Town along with many beautiful cathedrals and churches. Clean streets, pedestrian-friendly areas, restaurants and shops abound,” Diana notes.
Besides visiting the fascinating historical sites around Warsaw, Diana enjoyed participating in a Pierogi making class, visiting the famous Wedel Old fashioned shop for hot chocolate and cake, and the Chopin piano recital. As Diana learned, “Chopin spent his early years in Warsaw before moving to France. He loved Warsaw so much that his dying wish was for his heart to be buried there. It was smuggled out of France and is now residing in the Church of the Holy Cross.”
Just a short train ride away is Krakow. According to Diana, “Krakow has the feeling of an exciting tourist hotspot with its many restaurants, shopping areas and active nightlife. Plus, in the center of the city are Old Town, Cloth Hall and Market Square where everyone seems to congregate.” The 12th century gothic St. Mary’s Basilica is located on Market Square. Diana notes, “The towers of St. Mary’s are impressive, and the interior is stunning.” Another impressive sight is the ancient Wawel Castle, which is located high on a hill overlooking the city and can be seen from miles away.
Diana also took a few side trips including to the town of Wadowice, which is the childhood home of Pope John Paul II, and to the Wieliczka Salt mine, which has been in operation since the 13th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage. Diana notes, “The centerpiece of the mine tour is the St. Kingas Chapel, which is carved from salt. Everything in the chapel is made from salt including the beautiful chandeliers.”
Diana visited the Auschwitz concentration camp, also a UNESCO World Heritage site. “The visit was both informative and heartbreaking at the same time, but certainly a worthwhile trip,” Diana says. “While this era in our history is so terrible it must not be forgotten.”
If you are looking to experience a different side of Europe, Diana recommends a trip to Poland. “Every hour of everyday on this trip brought a new understanding of this wonderful country. Both Warsaw and Krakow are worthy alternatives to the more traditional European destinations. While I only saw a fraction of Poland, I intend to go back and explore the rest of this beautiful country,” Diana concludes.
If you would like more information on Poland or would like help in planning a trip to any one of Europe’s great cities, give Diana or any one of our expert vacation advisors a call at 800-749-7116 or visit our website at www.adelmanvacations.com.
The Frederick Hotel: A historic stay in trendy Tribeca
The newly reimagined and remodeled Frederick Hotel in New York’s trendy Tribeca neighborhood offers guests a unique experience. As New York City’s longest continually operated hotel, the former Cosmopolitan originally opened in 1845 as the Gerard House. It later operated as the Bond Hotel. Its newest name, The Frederick, is derived from a mysterious historic rendering of the property. The Frederick’s rich history can still be felt amongst the interesting enhancements that are part of its latest re-creation.
Today, the Frederick’s redesigned lobby and guestrooms express an eclectic design from different eras creating an artful mix of old and new. For example, the new lobby lounge was constructed from reclaimed bricks found in the hotel’s historic vault. The Frederick also features the three-story Serafina Italian restaurant. In addition, The Frederick provides guests with easy access to Tribeca’s growing shopping and nightlife along with other tourism and business destinations in the area and around the rest of New York City.
As a member of the Adelman Hotel Collection, The Frederick offers our customers special pricing with last room availability. For help booking this unique property at our great Adelman rates contact your professional Adelman travel consultant.
Earn more loyalty points with Marriott/Starwood by enrolling in the new bonus program
Members of the Marriott Rewards and/or Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) loyalty programs can earn more points for every night they stay beginning with their third night. This joint bonus promotion runs through July 20, 2018. Members need to register to be eligible for bonus earnings.
Marriott Regards members can learn more about the MegaBonus program and can register at http://www.marriott.com/rewards/promotion.mi?promotion=MZ18.
SPG members can get additional information and register for the More Nights, More StarPoints promotion at https://www.spgpromos.com/morenights/?language=en_us&EM=PR.
Marriott moves toward unification of its three loyalty programs
After months of anticipation, Marriott International released details on its plans to unify its three customer loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest. The new plan will roll out in stages, but for now Marriott will keep all three programs as is.
Starting in August, Marriott will revamp the three programs so that the same points-redemption system applies to all. Members will be allowed to combine their points within a single account to provide seamless ability to book stays and earn or redeem points across 29 of Marriott’s 30 hotel brands instead of having to convert points between programs (Bulgari Hotel brand is the exception).
By early next year Marriott expects to debut a new loyalty brand that will replace all three along with a single reservation system.
Marriot says it will enhance the program in a variety of ways. Among the changes, Marriott said every lodging dollar spent will result in more points, in most cases about 20 percent more, plus members will earn points for food and beverage purchases. The thresholds required for various perks and status eligibility will be reduced. The new loyalty framework will include five elite status tiers. Lifetime status in both SPG and Marriott Rewards will continue to be recognized. The new loyalty program is also expected to emphasize benefits related to unique experiences for its members such as special tours, access to high-demand events, master classes, celebrity meet-and-greets and more.
For more information on Marriott’s loyalty program plans please visit http://news.marriott.com/2018/04/marriott-international-unveils-unified-loyalty-programs-with-one-set-of-benefits/
U.S. considers new visa vetting requirements; Public invited to comment
The U.S. government is accepting public comments on a proposed plan that would require all U.S. visa applicants to submit a five-year history of social media usernames, email addresses and phone numbers along with international travel and deportation status and a statement as to whether any family members have been involved in terrorist activities. Currently this information is only sought from applicants identified for extra scrutiny.
The new requirements could affect nearly 15 million applicants each year including travelers from Brazil, China, India and Mexico. Citizens from the 40 countries that are part of the visa waiver program would not be affected.
The public comment period is set to expire May 29, 2018. For more information please see http://web.archive.org/web/20180405182915/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-03-30/pdf/2018-06490.pdf and
Avis to add 10,000 Toyota Connected vehicles to its fleet
Under a new partnership with Toyota Connected North America, Avis Budget Group will add 10,000 cars to its fleet of connected vehicles. According to company officials, “The Toyota vehicles will deliver increased benefits to Avis customers by tapping into Toyota’s proprietary MSPF (Mobility Services Platform) suite of software and connected services.” For example, customers can receive real-time rental information and vehicle data such as virtual odometer and fuel level readings via the Avis mobile app. The system can help customers locate the vehicle. It will also create shorter processing times when picking up and returning the rental.
Japan to add “Sayonara Tax”
Starting January 7, 2019, all travelers leaving Japan will be required to pay a departure fee of 1,000 yen (about $10 USD). The so called “Sayonara Tax” applies to foreign travelers and Japanese citizens alike. The tax will be added to the fares for travelers departing by air or sea. Travelers staying in Japan for less than 24 hours and children under two years of age will be exempt.
Air Canada
Economy customers now have five new fare levels from which to choose when flying Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. Tiers range from Basic, which is only available in select markets and is the lowest and most restrictive economy fare class, to Latitude, which is fully refundable and comes with a variety of perks such as two free checked bags, same-day changes and a voucher for Air Canada Bistro.
Starting June 1, Air Canada will add lie-flat seating to its premium cabins on select transcontinental wide-bodied flights between Toronto and Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and between Vancouver and Newark and Montreal. The new seating will be part of Air Canada’s newly launched Signature Service, which provides a host of added amenities such as airport concierge service and expedited check in and security clearance, elevated onboard menus and more.
Alaska Airlines
Officials at Alaska Airlines announced that its subsidiary Virgin America brand will no longer be used after April 24, 2018. All business will be transacted under the Alaska Airlines brand with a single reservations system, website and app. Other customer-facing operations including airport kiosks, check-in desks and gate areas will also be flagged with the Alaska brand. Only some aircraft will retain the Virgin American brand as planes wait for their turn to be to be refashioned. The airline promises “a single Alaska Airlines experience for all guests” starting April 25.
Alaska is also alerting customers that beginning April 20 its check-in counter at the Denver International Airport will be located in the East Terminal. Officials caution that signage might not be updated right away so passengers are advised to “please disregard any guidance that directs you to the West Terminal.”
American Airlines
American and its joint venture partners British Airways, Iberia and Finnair have begun selling more restrictive budget economy fares on select transatlantic routes. American is calling its lowest fare tier Basic Economy while Finnair has named their low-cost option Light fares. Both British Airways and Iberia call their budget pricing simply Basic fares. Customers choosing this lowest pricing level will have to pay extra for checked bags and advanced seat assignments and are subject to other restrictions as well.
Delta Air Lines
Delta and Korean Air have officially received formal approval for their planned joint venture partnership from both the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Under the approved partnership, the two airlines will be able to launch full reciprocal code-sharing on each other’s networks. The two carriers will also offer joint loyalty program benefits.