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 Fri, Mar 13 1992 Date: Fri, 13 Mar 92 05:47:47 EST Message-ID: 03-13 0000 DECISIONLINE: Travel USA TODAY Update March 13-15, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network FORMER PAN AM WORKERS SUE DELTA: About 8,000 former Pan Am workers Thursday filed a $1.1 billion suit against Delta Airlines, charging that Delta breached its contract to support Pan Am's reorganization. The suit says Delta's failure to support Pan Am after acquiring its most valuable assets resulted in the loss of jobs and benefits for Pan Am workers. In January, Pan Am Corp. filed a $2.5 billion suit against Delta. FLIGHT LAWSUIT CAN GO TO TRIAL: A class-action suit charging American Airlines of cheating frequent fliers out of bonus flights can go to trial in state court, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The case could affect 9 million people in the USA enrolled in the AAdvantage program before rules changes and could cost the carrier hundreds of millions of dollars. CARIBBEAN HOTEL MARKET HOT: There's a freeze on hotel construction in most markets thanks to the recession and a glut of rooms. But builders are still blazing away in the Caribbean. Industry newsletter Real Estate Perspectives reports that developers and investors like prospects for the tourist trade in such spots as the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Belize. FINANCE AGENCIES BOOST MARKET: "There's a lot of stale product associated with the Caribbean hotel industry," says Michael Stein of Arthur Andersen. "Except for one or two destinations" the hotel construction market's been flat. Making it hot again are international financing agencies such as the World Bank. They've made tourism a key element in plans to boost economic growth in the Caribbean nations. RENTALS OFFER REAL-TIME BILLING: National Car Rental System Inc. said Thursday it has teamed up with EDS Inc. to begin a cellular phone program for its car rental fleet. The program begins this month in Dallas and involves the use of a handset designed to promote safety and ease of use. It also includes "real-time" billing, providing customers with phone usage charges when they return their car. FREE TICKET BONUS OFFERED: Delta Air Lines said Thursday if will offer a free ticket or class upgrade on international flights to passengers completing roundtrips to one of 20 Japanese and European cities. Called "BetterBonus," the program is available to passengers traveling full fare to any of 20 overseas destinations between now and June 15. AMEX ADMITS DIFFICULTIES: Jim Robinson of American Express Thursday made a rare public admission of the problems the Optima credit card division faces. The travel and financial group has been hard hit by Wall Street criticism and heavy Optima losses. Robinson said "competitive pressures have arisen in every arena in which we operate." He said bank card issuers have "turned their sights" on key markets. TRAVEL EARNINGS FALL: Earnings from American Express' core travel-related services division fell by 59% to $396 million after a $697 pre-tax increase in credit loss provision. The company also has had well-publicized disagreements with such retail merchants as Laura Ashley. HILTON VERDICT REVERSED: Hilton Hotels Corp. announced Thursday that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has reversed the verdict entered against the company in the case of Brooks vs. Hilton. That 1989 decision, in the U.S. District Court for Nevada, had awarded approximately $45 million in damages to 37 former Las Vegas Hilton employees who were terminated in 1983. FAMILIES VACATION CLOSE TO HOME: Families are staying closer to home for vacations this season, say industry experts. Day tour packages grew from $3.5 billion in 1989 to $4.3 billion in 1990. "Driving around the countryside is a top getaway," according to Marj Jensen of the Association of Travel Marketing. "So is going fishing." Other popular vacation destinations include historical sites and museums. IBERIA BEGINS LATIN SERVICE: Iberia Airlines of Spain said Thursday it will begin Miami-Latin America service May 1 with three flights a week to Guatemala. The airline also will increase its Madrid-Miami flights to 10 per week from seven. The three additional flights - Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - will continue on to Guatemala. Iberia also has gateways in Los Angeles and New York. VISIT REELFOOT LAKE: Northwestern Tennessee's Reelfoot Lake is a top spot for a quiet getaway, according to USA WEEKEND. Fishing season opens Sunday. the State Resort Park's "Spring Escape," featuring "swamp tromps" with naturalists, is May 1-3. Most motels, restaurants and fish camps are along the western and southern shores. Motel prices are about $38 for a double. Call 901-253-7756 for more info. 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. 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