Frequent Flyer

NO FEE FOR FIRST CHECKED BAG ON DELTA

One carrier, Delta Air Lines, has not implemented a fee for the first checked bag. Delta announced that they believe customers should be allowed to check a first bag, and carry on a bag and a personal item free of charge. However, they have announced that they will charge $50 for the second bag. 

In general, airlines say, about 50 percent of passengers check a first bag, but fewer than 20 percent of Delta customers check a second bag.

Delta said it would shield First Class, BusinessElite, Medallion and international passengers from the second-bag fee.

DOUBLETREE HOTELS SALUTES U.S. OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC MENDAL WINNERS

As a member of The Hilton Family of Hotels and a sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams, Doubletree Hotels announced a unique environmental tribute to celebrate the accomplishments of the U.S. athletes this summer. For every medal Team USA receives at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, Doubletree will donate trees to a variety of need-based, reforestation projects across America through the Arbor Day Foundation.

For every gold medal, Doubletree will donate 100 trees; 50 trees for each silver medal; and 25 trees for each bronze medal. Each will be planted in an athlete’s honor.

These trees will be planted by the Arbor Day Foundation and their local affiliate organizations in national, state and regional parks, forests and communities.

During the past five years, more than 250,000 trees have been planted as a result of collective environmental education and awareness campaigns by Doubletree Hotels and the Arbor Day Foundation

AMERICAN AIRLINES, BRITISH AIRWAYS, AND IBERIA SIGN JOINT BUSINESS AGREEMENT

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia signed a joint business agreement this week to cooperate on flights between North America and Europe, and announced a plan to expand their global cooperation. In conjunction with the agreements, the airlines also applied for approval of the plan by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Though the three airlines will continue to operate as separate legal entities – with their own fleets, employees and brands – the plan, if approved, will allow them to cooperate more closely to improve travel choices, offer more convenient schedules and give customers more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles.   

The plan includes an offer for expanded code-sharing and combinable fares, allowing customers to choose from multiple routings across their oneworld network, rather than just those flights marketed individually by each airline. 

Travelers also may have greater opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on each airline’s transatlantic flights.  

Continental unveils new lie-flat seats for BOEING 777’s

Continental Airlines’ new lie-flat seats will go into its Boeing 777 aircraft, used mostly on trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes, beginning in fall 2009. It will introduce these lie-flat seats later on its Boeing 757 and 787 jets.