Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.travel From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: travel Wed, Feb 26 1992 Date: Wed, 26 Feb 92 06:30:01 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: Travel USA TODAY Update Feb. 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network LUFTHANSA OFFERS COMPANION DEAL: Lufthansa Airlines Tuesday announced a promotion for passengers buying first- and business-class tickets until June 30. By flying roundtrip from Los Angeles or San Francisco, a companion may travel for 50% off normal fare. Lufthansa also offers free sedan service between home or office for first- and business-class fliers. It's available for returning passengers as well. AIRLINE TO SERVE LITHUANIA: Lufthansa Airlines Tuesday said it will begin service to Lithuania on March 29. The German carrier has a well-developed network in Eastern Europe and recently began flying to Riga, Latvia, and Kiev, Ukraine. Lufthansa serves virtually every Eastern European capital from its hub in Frankfurt. DELTA ADDS OVERSEAS FLIGHTS: Delta Air Lines Tuesday announced new international destinations from New York and Newark. The carrier will begin nonstop service between Newark and Frankfurt and between Kennedy and Budapest, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Vienna. Service to Vienna begins May 1, while Budapest service starts May 2. Copenhagen service begins May 11; Helsinki, May 14; and Frankfurt, June 12. EMBASSY, HERTZ OFFER PROMO: A joint promotion from Embassy Suites and Hertz offers Hertz car-rental customers $15, $20 or $25 to switch their hotel reservations to the local Embassy Suites. At the hotel, they get discount coupons for their next Hertz weekend rental. Embassy Suites still is chasing prospects because it's a newer hotel brand, according to spokeswoman Karen Rodgers. NOT MEANT TO UNDERMINE POLICY: Embassy Suites spokeswoman Karen Rodgers says a deal to get travelers to switch to Embassy Suites is not meant to undermine travel managers concerned with meeting volume commitments. The target market: The "knowledgeable professional" such as doctors or architects who don't work for companies with travel policies. "We hope (others) respect" company travel policies, she says. UNITED TEAMS WITH MAKE A WISH: United Airlines Tuesday announced a partnership to provide free air travel to children who need vital medical treatment in another city or help fulfill a wish for a child with a life-threatening illness. United has formed a partnership with Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Make A Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Permanent Charities Committee. ALL WANT CHOICE TAKEOFF TIMES: Airlines stack up waiting for takeoff because they know there are peak hours that business travelers want to fly: 7-9 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. All carriers must offer flights during that time to stay competitive. And airlines know that people don't complain so loudly when the plane leaves late, only when it arrives late. A few minutes are added to flight time during peak hours. SEND COMPLAINTS TO SOCIETY: Travelers who have a complaint against a travel agency and get no satisfaction from firm can write to the American Society of Travel Agents, Consumer Affairs Department, 1101 King St., Alexandria, Va. 22314. It will get both sides of the story and try to mediate a solution. The trade association has no power to sanction travel agents beyond kicking them out of the organization. BUSINESS COACH FARES CLIMB: Business coach fares were up 20% in December over December 1990, according to data provided by American Express Travel Related Services. The top jump was recorded in Orlando, where fares jumped 33% from $220 to $292. But fares in Minneapolis and Denver - the two highest-priced cities in the roundup of nine top cities - decreased 8% and 7% respectively. NO RECOURSE FOR MISSED EVENTS: Fliers who miss an event because of airline delays can complain to the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration but really have little recourse. Imagine the cost if the airlines had to reimburse every client who missed an event. Try a polite letter. Especially for frequent fliers, the airline might try to patch things up with a coupon good for one thing or another. WATCH CUTS JET LAG: A watch designed to eliminate jet lag runs faster when its wearer flies East and more slowly when the traveler heads West. The Acclimator watch says it eliminates jet lag's "psychological toll." Inventor Ross Mitchell, president of the Acclimator Time Corp., says the $99 timepiece lets travelers feel like "they're traveling seamlessly through time." BWI WANTS SURCHARGE: Baltimore-Washington International Airport has said it is looking for federal approval to add a $3 surcharge to incoming passengers' ticket fees. The revenue would finance an expansion for its international wing. 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Weather Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Travel Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 08:0002260000D0226 WEAT- R C Winter-takes-plains-break............. A D0226 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM