Virgin America Taps Points International to Power Frequent Flyer Options for Elevate Members

TORONTO, April 26, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----Elevate Members Gain Ability to Buy, Transfer and Gift Points on Virgin America's Web site

Points International Ltd. (TSX: PTS; OTCBB: PTSEF), owner and operator of the world's leading loyalty program management Web site, www.Points.com, has added Virgin America's Elevate frequent flyer program to its Points Partner Network. The 1.3 million members of the airline's Elevate frequent flyer program now have the option to buy points for themselves, transfer points from one member to another, or gift points to other members via Points' industry-leading miles and points purchase platform.

Lufthansa’s First-Class Makeover Aims to Out-Ritz BA

April 27 (Bloomberg) -- Deutsche Lufthansa AG will seek to out-Ritz British Airways Plc by evoking London hotel luxury in a makeover of its first-class cabins.

The revamp, to be unveiled when the German carrier gets its first A380 superjumbo on May 19, features high-gloss wood veneers and brown and beige leather, said Michael Oakey of Heath Tecna Inc., which is supplying seat components. The in-flight service will include wines chosen in tastings by frequent flyers, airline spokesman Jan Baerwalde said.

Alliance for Retired Americans - Friday Alert, April 23, 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

(Alliance for Retired Americans)

Alliance Seeks Open Government as Fiscal Commission Holds Its First Meeting

Two important summit meetings will be held in Washington next week to discuss ways of reducing the federal deficit. The first will be President Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which holds its first meeting on Tuesday, April 27. In advance of the meeting, the Alliance sent a letter on Thursday to Bruce Reed, Executive Director of the Commission. The joint letter - from Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance, Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance, and Edward F. Coyle, the Alliance's Executive Director - stated that while retirees fully support President Obama on the critical need to reduce our nation's budget deficit, many have been troubled by statements by commission members suggesting that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will be a primary focus to meet deficit reduction goals.

European Airlines Press to Get Everyone Home

AP – Condensation trails of aircraft are seen over Frankfurt, central Germany, Thursday, April 22, 2010, as

By SLOBODAN LEKIC and CARLO PIOVANO, Associated Press Writers Slobodan Lekic And Carlo Piovano, Associated Press Writers – Thu Apr 22, 10:04 am ET

BRUSSELS – European airports sent thousands of planes into the sky Thursday after a week of unprecedented disruptions, with airlines piling on more flights and bigger planes to try to get as many people home as possible.

Nearly all of the continent's 28,000 scheduled flights, including more than 300 trans-Atlantic routes, were going ahead. Every plane was packed, however, as airlines squeezed in some of the hundreds of thousands who had been stranded for days among passengers with regular Thursday tickets.

Former Continental CEO's 2009 Pay Worth $3.3M

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 23, 2010

Filed at 8:27 p.m. ET

DALLAS (AP) -- The former CEO of Continental Airlines Inc. got a compensation package valued at $3.3 million in his final year leading the nation's fourth-largest carrier, according to an Associated Press analysis of a regulatory filing made Friday.

The airline's new CEO has vowed to reject his $730,000 salary and any bonuses until Continental earns a full-year profit. It lost money the last two years, but analysts predict it will post a profit in 2010.

Ash Cloud Likely to be Just a Blip for US Airlines

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2010 file photo, a Delta airplane is de-iced at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport. Heavy winter storms hurt Delta Air Lines' results as the world's largest carrier said Tuesday, April 20, 2010, it lost $256 million in the first quarter.(AP Photo/Cliff Owen, file)

Harry R. Weber, AP Airlines Writer, On Tuesday April 20, 2010, 4:32 pm EDT

ATLANTA (AP) -- The volcanic ash cloud hovering over Europe shouldn't give Delta Air Lines Inc. anything worse than a migraine, as long as flight disruptions don't re-ignite. That's welcome news for a U.S. airline industry hoping for a big boost from summer travelers.

Delta said Tuesday that it lost $256 million in the first three months of the year, before the eruption of an Icelandic volcano shut down a large portion of air travel in Europe. The carrier expects to be solidly profitable in the current period, the second quarter. Analysts forecast a profit of about $559 million.

Spirit Airlines Chief Defends Carry-On Baggage Fee

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 21, 2010

Filed at 7:37 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The president of Spirit Airlines says there's been no significant fallout his new charge for carry-on bags.

Ben Baldanza defends his business model in a nationally broadcast interview while acknowledging it didn't sit well in some quarters. He joked that he'd never consider charging for bathroom use.

Jacksonville, Unions at Impasse but Still Talking

Posted: April 19, 2010 - 5:45pm

By Matt Galnor

Jacksonville is at impasse with four of its six unions and is looking at dates for hearings with magistrates to hear the disputes.

Yet city negotiators continue to hold bargaining sessions with those same unions, as they did Monday with the Fraternal Order of Police, to continue to work on a new contract.

Problem is, there's still no movement on the big three issues that drove the two sides to impasse: wages, pensions and health insurance.

City, Unions Still Talk — Just Not About the Big Stuff

Submitted by Matt Galnor on April 19, 2010 - 1:52pm

Think of it as moving all of the knick-knacks and clothes out of the house by yourself and waiting on the movers for the couches and heavy, clunky furniture.

Jacksonville is at impasse with four of its six unions, including the Fraternal Order of Police, but city negotiators sat down this morning at the police union hall.

Both sides are trying to hash out smaller items now and leave only the heavy lifting for outside arbitrators and, possibly, the City Council.

Jacksonville City Departments Show Potential Cuts

Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton

Early proposals include dimming street lights, closing libraries, laying off workers

Posted: April 20, 2010 - 4:24pm

By Matt Galnor

A 5 percent cut in Jacksonville's city budget could mean shuttered libraries, darker streets and about 150 fewer workers on the city payroll.

All are among ideas offered by city department heads, told by Mayor John Peyton to show what cutting 5 percent would look like.

Those ideas started coming into Peyton's office this week and will be taken into consideration as Peyton tries to plug a projected $58 million shortfall largely tied to rising employee costs.

United In 3-Way Deal?

Copyright 2010 Gannett Company, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

USA TODAY

April 19, 2010 Monday
FIRST EDITION

MONEY; Pg. 6B

601 words


Is United seeking three-way deal with US Airways and Continental?;
Merger would face antitrust obstacles

Dan Reed


United Airlines' talks with US Airways and Continental Airlines could result in more than just a simple merger of two big airlines.

Some analysts suspect that United is trying to put together a complex three-way deal that, in effect, would create a global aviation leader almost 50% larger than current No. 1 Delta.

To pull that off, United -- which is already a Star alliance partner with both airlines -- would have to convince antitrust regulators and Congress that such a large and unprecedented combination of carriers wouldn't reduce flight options and lead to higher fares. They'll also have to win the support of labor unions.

"United's 'Plan A' all along has been to do a merger with US Airways and keep Continental as their alliance partner with antitrust immunity," says independent analyst Hubert Horan. An executive at Northwest Airlines in the 1990s, Horan helped build the first international airline alliance, with KLM.

The current alliance between United and Continental allows them to divvy up international routes to fly and jointly set fares on those routes.

United's alliance with US Airways, because it does not have antitrust immunity, is mainly promotional.

The size of the combined airlines and significant overlap among the markets they serve could make it hard to get any deal approved by antitrust regulators.

United/US Airways would dominate the Washington, D.C., market. And the three airlines together would have unmatched strength in the Northeast -- with hubs in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Charlotte. Over time, the airlines might squeeze out competition and drive up average fares in the region and to and from Europe.

Rivals, including Delta and American, would likely fight such a mega-combination.

But Horan argues that by using "the same legal language and concepts already used to justify all the other (airline) alliances that have been given antitrust immunity, you could justify allowing Continental to continue to have antitrust immunity with a larger, merged United."

A merged United and US Airways would rank as the second-largest U.S. airline, behind Delta, in passenger miles flown. Delta reported 163.7 billion passenger miles flown in 2009 by itself, and 188.9 billion including its regional airline partners.

United and US Airways combined flew 158.4 billion passenger miles last year. And if the miles flown on their regional partners are included, they combined to fly 209.2 billion passenger miles, 20 billion more than Delta and its regional partners.

Meanwhile, Continental flew 79.8 billion passenger miles last year, 89.1 billion counting those flown on its regional partners.

The carriers also would have to persuade unions to accept a deal that some don't appear to favor. Wendy Morse, head of the Air Line Pilots Association at United, said last week that her pilots prefer merging with Continental. Other unions at United also are leery of a US Airways merger.

Analyst Vaughn Cordle at AirlineForecasts.com, says labor's support for a merger can be "bought" by using a combination of big pay raises in the 10% range and shares in the merged airline.

Convincing United's and Continental's shareholders and employees that a United-US Airways merger is the better approach won't be easy. A merger with Continental creates more value, Cordle says.

Horan sees it differently.

"In 2008, Continental decided it was better to get 85% of the benefits of merger by joining in a partnership with United ... (than to) deal with all the labor issues and fleet issues and integration issues that would have come with" a full merger, he says. "Nothing's changed."


April 19, 2010

United Airlines At Center of Potential Merger Hookups

(Reuters) — United Airlines is now in separate merger talks with Continental Airlines Inc. and US Airways Group Inc. for the second time in two years as carriers feel pressure to further cut capacity, build revenue and accelerate the industry's recovery.

Word of potential consolidation, confirmed by a source familiar with the matter, has pushed the shares of U.S. airlines higher.

Many Wall Street analysts have responded positively to the prospect of a deal, especially between United, a unit of UAL Corp.and Continental.

Baggage Bind: How Fees Are Affecting Carry-on Luggage

Southwest Airline passenger Robin Bonner, of Solon, Ohio, places her luggage into the overhead compartment on a flight from Midway Airport in Chicago to Cleveland, Ohio, April 2, 2010. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

By Julie Johnsson
Chicago Tribune

Posted: 04/18/2010 12:01:00 AM PDT

Every airline passenger is entitled to overhead space, right?

Wrong. On a typical domestic flight, six passengers share luggage bins that fit four wheelie bags, at most, leaving some fliers out of luck at a time when more opt to lug their bags, rather than check them, to avoid airline fees.

More passengers also are competing for that space because planes are again filled to near-record levels, the result of carriers' capacity cuts and a rebound from last year's recession.

Unite - The Union For Life

With over two million members, Unite is the UK's largest trade union covering every industrial, occupational and professional sector of the economy. Here you will find information about what Unite is doing in each sector.

Unite is the union that represents the British Airways cabin crew, among others.

Eruption's Disruption of Air Traffic Deepens Across Europe

AP – A car is seen driving through the ash from the volcano eruption under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier


By Anthony Faiola and Karla Adam
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, April 17, 2010; 5:59 AM

LONDON -- The global bottleneck in air travel from a spectacular volcanic cloud emanating from Iceland deepened Saturday as nations as far south as Italy were forced to shut down airports and others, including Britain, extended closures into Sunday.

First Coast Educators, Parents Applaud Gov. Crist's Veto of Senate Bill 6

Florida Gov Charlie Crist

Posted: April 15, 2010 - 12:38pm

By Topher Sanders
Educators, parents and school leaders celebrated Thursday after Gov. Charlie Crist’s veto of Senate Bill 6, the much-talked-about teacher pay reform bill.

Annette Worthen, president of the Duval County Council PTAs, said Crist’s veto was an example of the power of citizens’ voices on important issues.

“The governor listened to the parents, teachers and superintendents and didn’t put this burden on the backs of the children of Florida,” Worthen said.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta CEO on State of Economy

Submitted by Abel Harding on April 15, 2010 - 3:16pm

Abel Harding

Dennis P. Lockart, the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, delivered a speech on the state of the economy at the Pensacola Surburban West Rotary Club earlier today.

In it, he discussed several key issues, including the state of the current recovery, the housing crisis and concerns about the commercial real estate sector.

I'm posting his remarks in their entirety - they're well worth the read.

Jacksonville Unemployment Rate Falls for First Time in 18 Months, But Remains High

Posted: April 16, 2010 - 10:36am

By Mark Basch

Jacksonville's unemployment rate fell in March for the first time in 18 months, the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation reported today. But the jobless rate remains extremely high.

The unemployment rate for the Jacksonville metropolitan area - consisting of Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties - fell from 12.2 percent in February to 11.9 percent in March, the state labor agency said. That was the first monthly drop in the rate since it fell by 0.2-percentage points to 6.4 percent in September 2008. The jobless rate had been rising steadily since then.

The 10 Most Common Travel Booking Mistakes

If you're planning to travel during a busy time like Presidents' Day week in Orlando book well in advance for the best prices and availability. (AP FILE PHOTO)

USA TODAY • April 16, 2010

If you're a long-time reader of SmarterTravel, you may consider yourself an old pro when it comes to booking airfare, hotels, and rental cars. But even the savviest of travelers can always use a refresher course, especially in light of travel's new realities—fees aplenty, confusing regulations, and endless fine print. Read on to see the 10 most common travel booking mistakes, and how to avoid them.

On Main Street, Wall Street's Big Profits Seem Like Bad Manners

By Tomoeh Murakami Tse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 16, 2010; 9:43 AM

NEW YORK -- Any other year, blockbuster earnings would be something to brag about.

But this is a precarious moment for Wall Street, as Congress buckles down on its efforts to pass a financial regulatory bill that could erase billions from the bottom lines of big banks.

"It's got to be mixed emotions -- like your teenage daughter coming home at 3 a.m. with the Gideon Bible," said A. Gary Shilling, former chief economist at Merrill Lynch and president of an investment management and economic consulting firm.

April 2010 Business Meeting

The April 2010 Business meeting for IAM LL731 will be held Tuesday, April 13, 7pm at the Union Hall, 277 Tallulah Ave, Jacksonville, FL, 32208. Please click on Maps & Directions on how to reach the hall. If you arrive before 7pm please be respectful and wait in the outer lobby for the Executive Board to finish their meeting.

Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association Opposes Delta/USAirways Slot Swap Proposal

Mon Apr 5, 11:12 am ET

DALLAS, April 5 –

Unprecedented agreement would shut out low fares in New York and Washington, D.C.

DALLAS, April 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association is pushing for the Department of Transportation to disallow the permanent exchange of several hundred slots between Delta Airlines and USAirways at LaGuardia (LGA) and Washington National (DCA) Airports. This unprecedented anti-competitive deal would create hubs dominated by Delta at LGA and USAirways at DCA, giving them unchecked market and pricing power.

US Airways Starts Tarmac Delay Response Early

Mon Apr 5, 4:02 pm ET

TEMPE, Ariz. – US Airways is getting an early start in dealing with new rules requiring airlines to let passengers off the plane after a three-hour delay.

The new rule starting April 29 means airlines risk big fines if they keep passengers on the tarmac more than three hours. To keep that from happening, US Airways says its flights will return to the gate after two-and-a-half hours, unless takeoff is imminent. It says it began following its new procedures on Thursday.

The airline says it expects more cancellations as crews who return to the gate run up against federal rules limiting how long they can fly.

United, Brussels Airlines Reach Sales Agreement

United, Brussels Air reach codeshare agreement to sell tickets on 1 another's routes

On Thursday April 1, 2010, 6:17 pm EDT

CHICAGO (AP) -- United Airlines said Thursday that a new sales agreement with Brussels Airlines will give United customers new connections to cities in Europe and Africa.

The flights, which begin Monday, add to nonstop service between Chicago and Brussels that United launched March 28, the airline said.

United customers may now purchase tickets on flights operated by Brussels Airlines between Brussels and 24 destinations in Europe 12 in Africa. Some African markets are subject to government approval.

Southwest Airlines' Partnership with WestJet May be on Skids

07:23 AM CDT on Friday, April 2, 2010

By TERRY MAXON / The Dallas Morning News
tmaxon@dallasnews.com

Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday that its partnership with WestJet Airlines Ltd. is in jeopardy because the Canadian carrier also wants to partner with Delta Air Lines Inc.

The dispute is a setback for the Dallas-based carrier's efforts to begin offering international service through other airlines.

Delta and WestJet have both said recently that WestJet may start a code-sharing arrangement with Delta. Southwest said the Delta-WestJet linkup "could be inconsistent with the agreement presently in place between Southwest and WestJet."

Passengers Pushed to the Limit by Airlines' Increased Baggage Fees

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO US AIRWAYS, LEFT, CHARGE $25 FOR THE FIRST BAG, $35 FOR A SECOND.

Sunday, April 4, 2010
Last updated: Sunday April 4, 2010, 12:03 PM

BY NANCY TREJOS
Wire Service
THE WASHINGTON POST

When she heard how much US Airways was going to charge to check her suitcase for a recent flight to Houston from Washington, D.C., Mary Barber took drastic action.

Got a bag weighing more than 50 pounds? That's $50 extra to fly American Airlines. At the check-in counter agent's suggestion, Barber ran into a store at the Reagan National terminal and snapped up a neon-green nylon bag on sale for $6. She stuffed what she could from her suitcase into it. The remainder went into a cloth Whole Foods tote she had packed in her bag.

Branson Tells Brussels to Block BA Tie-up Deal with American Airlines

Sir Richard Branson is to demand that the European Commission overrules a tie-up deal between British Airways and American Airlines which would see them controlling more than 60pc of lucrative flight slots between Heathrow and the United States.

By Kamal Ahmed
Published: 10:38PM BST 03 Apr 2010

Virgin Atlantic will present fresh evidence to the Commission this week following a ruling by the US Department of Transportation that the alliance between BA and AA should be given anti-trust immunity.

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Sir Richard said that the "unholy alliance" between the two leading carriers would mean increased fares and less competition. "Inevitably when people control 60pc-70pc of a market they can pretty well charge what they want," Sir Richard said.

Proposed Jacksonville Fire Cuts Include Layoffs, Downsizing Stations

Posted: April 2, 2010 - 5:37pm
By Matt Galnor

Without concessions from the Jacksonville firefighters union, city leaders say they'll have to lay off more than 40 firefighters and pull engines from four fire stations, city records show.

Fire Chief Dan Kleman said he doesn't recommend the moves but was asked by Mayor John Peyton's office to provide a list of $4.8 million in cuts.

Not coincidentally, that figure is how much the city would save if the union agreed to take a 3 percent salary cut, freeze tenure-based raises and assume a greater chunk of health insurance costs.