REPORTE INTELIGENICA
ENERO 2009
JetBlue Airways Inaugurates the New Year with a 2009 More for Less Sale
- Flights on sale now from the Northeast to sunny, warm-weather destinations including Florida, California and the
Caribbean - Bogota, Colombia available for as little as $99 (a) from Orlando or $159 (a) from Boston, Buffalo or New York/JFK NEW YORK, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To celebrate 2009, value airline JetBlue Airways today announced a New
Year's More for Less Sale, with fares to more than 40 destinations in the Northeast, Florida, California and the Caribbean
on sale in the New Year. Travel must be booked online at www.jetblue.com by Wednesday, January 14, 2009.
Customers can jet between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Burbank, Las Vegas, L.A./Long
Beach, Oakland, San Francisco or Seattle for as little as $139 (a) each way. One-way sale fares as low as $119 (a) are
also available between JFK and Bermuda or $114 (a) to Nassau, Bahamas.
New flights to Bogota, Colombia start January 29, 2009, pending receipt of government operating authority, are available
for as little as $99 (a) from Orlando or $159 (a) from Boston, Buffalo and New York/JFK. New western routes are on sale
between Long Beach and Las Vegas or San Jose for $39 (a) or between Las Vegas and Burbank or Salt Lake City for
$39 (a).
Sale fares must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. MST on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 and require up to a 7-day advance
purchase. For most city pairs, travel must take place between January 12, 2009 and April 1, 2009. Travel must be
completed by April 1, 2009. Fares are most often found on midweek travel dates. Blackout dates and other restrictions
apply (a).
More for Less Sale fares include:
New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) to/from:
Aruba
$149 (a)
Austin, TX
$149 (a)
Bermuda
$119 (a)
Bogota, Colombia
$159 (a)
Buffalo, NY
$49 (a)
Burbank, CA
$139 (a)
Burlington, VT
$49 (a)
Cancun, Mexico
$149 (a)
Charlotte, NC
$59 (a)
Chicago, IL
$119 (a)
Denver, CO
$129 (a)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$84 (a)
Fort Myers, FL
$84 (a)
Houston, TX
$149 (a)
Jacksonville, FL
$74 (a)
Las Vegas, NV
$139 (a)
Long Beach, CA
$139 (a)
Nassau, Bahamas
$114 (a)
Oakland, CA
$139 (a)
Orlando, FL
$74 (a)
Phoenix, AZ
Pittsburgh, PA
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Portland, ME
Raleigh/Durham, NC
Richmond, VA
Rochester, NY
Sacramento, CA
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
Seattle, WA
St. Maarten
Syracuse, NY
Tampa, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
New York/Newark (EWR) to/from:
Bogota, Colombia
Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando,
Ft. Myers, Tampa or
West Palm Beach
$129
$49
$99
$49
$59
$59
$49
$159
$129
$139
$149
$109
$139
$125
$49
$84
$84
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
$159 (a)
$84 (a)
New York/White Plains (HPN) to/from Florida:
Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando,
Ft. Myers or Tampa
$79 (a)
New York (LGA/) to/from Florida:
Orlando
Ft Lauderdale and
West Palm Beach
Boston, MA to/from:
Aruba
Bogota, Colombia
Buffalo, NY
Cancun, Mexico
Charlotte, NC
Chicago, IL
Denver, CO
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Myers, FL
Jacksonville, FL
Las Vegas, NV
Long Beach, CA
Nassau, Bahamas
Oakland, CA
Orlando, FL
Pittsburgh, PA
Raleigh/Durham, NC
Richmond, VA
$74 (a)
$84 (a)
$159
$159
$49
$149
$69
$109
$139
$89
$89
$84
$139
$149
$109
$149
$89
$69
$69
$69
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Tampa, FL
Washington, D.C. (Dulles)
West Palm Beach, FL
Orlando, FL to/from:
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Bogota, Colombia
Burlington, VT
Cancun, Mexico
Nassau, Bahamas
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Richmond, VA
Rochester, NY
Santo Domingo, D.R.
Washington, D.C./Dulles
$179
$139
$89
$69
$89
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
$79
$99
$84
$89
$49
$79
$59
$79
$99
$69
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
Washington, D.C./Dulles to/from:
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$79 (a)
Fort Myers, FL
$79 (a)
Long Beach, CA
$139 (a)
Oakland, CA
$139 (a)
West Palm Beach, FL
$79 (a)
Fort Lauderdale, FL to/from:
Charlotte, NC
Long Beach, CA
Nassau, Bahamas
Raleigh/Durham, NC
Richmond, VA
San Juan, Puerto Rico
$69
$139
$49
$59
$69
$89
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
Long Beach, CA (L.A.) to/from:
Chicago, IL
Las Vegas, NV
Oakland, CA
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
Seattle, WA
$109
$39
$49
$79
$49
$59
$49
$39
$59
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
Austin, TX to/from:
Boston, MA
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Long Beach, CA
Orlando, FL
San Francisco, CA
$139
$79
$79
$89
$89
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
Buffalo, NY to/from Florida:
Bogota, Colombia
Fort Myers
$159 (a)
$79 (a)
Las Vegas, NV to/from:
Burbank, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
$39 (a)
$39 (a)
San Diego, CA to/from:
Seattle, WA
Salt Lake City, UT
$79 (a)
$69 (a)
Santo Domingo, D.R. to/from:
San Juan, Puerto Rico
$89 (a)
Tampa, FL to/from:
Cancun, Mexico
$89 (a)
About JetBlue Airways
New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. Known for its
award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers Lots of Legroom
and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue introduced complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging
services on aircraft "BetaBlue," a first among U.S. domestic airlines. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to
offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by
service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 51 cities with 600
daily flights. New service to Bogota, Colombia, and San Jose, Costa Rica, begins in 2009. With JetBlue, all seats are
assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or
reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com.
Insider:
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Huntsville man sues American Airlines:
A Huntsville man has sued American Airlines over the air travel delays of late December, saying the carrier was
unprepared for bad weather.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Birmingham last week, and is seeking class-action status on behalf of as
many as 2,400 passengers who were stranded after snowstorms hit.
James Harper said in the suit it took 28 hours for his family to get from Cancun, Mexico, to Huntsville on Dec. 29.
Inconveniences included spending seven hours aboard an idled jet at the New Orleans airport.
"During the period plaintiff and his family members were sequestered on the aircraft, the toilets backed up and began
to smell strongly," the suit says. "The flight attendants also explained that the aircraft had not been provisioned for an
extended period and therefore had no food or beverage for the passengers."
The suit seeks $5 million in compensatory damages to be split by the class. American Airlines declined comment.
Russell Hubbard
Mexico's Asur December passenger traffic up 1 pct
MEXICO CITY, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Mexican airport operator Asur said on Wednesday its
passenger traffic rose 1 percent in the busy December holiday month, as international
visitors favored the Caribbean resort of Cancun and the cities of Oaxaca and Tapachula.
But Asur's (ASURB.MX) (ASR.N) results showed domestic passengers fell by 8.6 percent last
month, partially reflecting economic woes hurting clients amid a financial crisis.
International traffic rose 9.3 percent in December from the previous year.
Asur, which operates nine airports in southern Mexico, struggled for most of 2008 with
rising fuel prices. (Reporting by Cyntia Barrera Diaz, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)
UPDATE 1-Tough year ahead for Mexican airport firms
Wed Jan 7, 2009 4:59pm EST
MEXICO CITY, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Mexican airport operators are bracing for a tough 2009 as
small airlines, hurt by the financial crisis and fuel costs, close businesses and travelers fly
less.
Leading airport operator GAP (GAPB.MX) (PAC.N) warned on Wednesday it sees 2009
passenger traffic down between 3 percent and 5 percent compared with the expected
results for 2008.
GAP forecast in October a decline in 2008 passenger traffic of between 3.5 percent and 5.5
percent.
Despite weaker traffic expectations, GAP said it still aims for an earnings before interest,
tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin of 64 percent to 65 percent in 2009.
GAP, which operates 12 airports, said December passenger traffic plunged 16.8 percent. Los
Cabos was the only destination with traffic growth in December.
Earlier rival Asur (ASURB.MX) (ASR.N) reported a 1 percent rise in traffic during December
as international visitors favored the Caribbean resort of Cancun and the cities of Oaxaca and
Tapachula.
At least five low-cost Mexican carriers faced financial trouble in 2008 that prompted route
cancellations, cuts in flight frequency or shutting down all together.
(Reporting by Cyntia Barrera Diaz; editing by leslie Gevirtz)
Caribbean's all-inclusive vacation resorts take a turn for the luxurious
12:33 PM CST on Thursday, January 8, 2009
By DAVID SWANSON / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Order breakfast while you're still in bed at the new Aura Cozumel Wyndham Grand Bay. You'll
have just enough time for a dip in the private plunge pool above your third-floor suite before
room service delivers smoked salmon, fruit and coffee.
Check into a suite at Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica and head straight to the sand while a butler
unpacks your luggage and presses your clothes.
St. Lucia's rain forest, then head to the bar at the intimate East Winds Inn for a sunset libation
before a dinner of lobster caught fresh that afternoon, and an evening shared with no more than
60 guests.
If you thought all-inclusive options in the Caribbean were limited to huge, impersonal resorts
short on island personality and quality dining, you're in for a revelation.
You can still find plenty of cost-wise hotels geared to travelers who want no more than a beach,
a swim-up pool bar and a bill without surprises. But today's options include upscale resorts with
only a few dozen rooms. From the fussiest jet-setters to wallet-battered survivors of the
economic downturn, just about every traveler can find a suitable fixed-price Caribbean resort.
As a result, all-inclusive converts are coming from unlikely places.
"I always resisted all-inclusives, and then I stayed at the humongous Iberostar in Riviera Maya,"
said Maribeth Mellin, author of The Unofficial Guide to Mexico's Best Beach Resorts (Wiley,
$19.99). "I finally got it: that an entire family of several generations could vacation in the same
place. The kids could play in a fabulous pool area, the grandparents could sit in a shaded bar area
playing cards, and that there was a huge, wonderful spa."
To these families, whether they were in Cancún or Punta Cana didn't matter, Mellin said. "What
they cared about was the price and the ability to spend a week somewhere where everyone could
have a good time."
Travelers who do care about location have plenty of choices. Although the vast majority of hotel
rooms in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and along Mexico's Caribbean coast are all-inclusive,
set-price resorts also have opened in St. Lucia, Antigua and Cuba. In fact, few islands are
without at least one all-inclusive option.
Jamaica, one of the early meccas of all-inclusive vacations, once again is experiencing
hypergrowth. By the end of 2009, the number of hotel rooms will climb by 20 percent, and most
of the additions are midrange all-inclusives run by Spanish hotel chains. Established firms such
as Sandals are countering with the new Grand Pineapple Beach Resort, priced lower than its
current Sandals and Beaches resorts. SuperClubs is going a step further: Last summer, it opened
its second branch of Rooms on the Beach, a no-frills hotel that includes only breakfast, with rates
starting at $100 a night in high season.
Price and style in the region vary significantly, from luxury boutique hotels charging $700 per
room in low season to sprawling campuses with basic rooms that cost less than $200. Says Adam
Stewart, CEO of Sandals, "All-inclusive can mean anything today."
In 2007, Sandals replaced the term "all-inclusive" with a trademarked tag line: "Luxury
Included."
But "luxury" may be the most overused word in lodging today, and as the chains compete ever
more fiercely for an increasingly cost-sensitive market, quality is often the first item to get
trimmed.
"I think it's better to emphasize value," said John J. Issa, executive chairman of SuperClubs, the
Jamaica-based operator of the Grand Lido, Breezes and Hedonism resorts.
John Long, a vice president for the Spanish chain Iberostar, which operates 100 hotels around the
world, said, "At first glance, they all look luxurious."
So, how's a traveler to sort it all out? As always, price is one signpost, but not the only one. Here
are some of the options.
Family-oriented
Two decades ago, most all-inclusives were designed for couples, and some are still for couples
only. Then, Sandals launched the Beaches brand to tap the family market. SuperClubs has the
Hedonism resorts with an atmosphere that borders on X-rated, but also has family-oriented
Breezes and Starfish hotels. Most Club Meds have shifted to a family-friendly ambience where
parents can join their kids in trapeze classes.
The smaller FDR resorts in Jamaica even include a nanny for each family checking in. She takes
the kids swimming, teaches them tie-dye or travels with you on day trips to Dunn's River Falls.
The stakes are increasingly being raised. Kids may think they've gone to Disney-World-by-thebeach come Jan. 20, when upscale Beaches unveils the expansion of its Turks and Caicos resort,
with 600 new rooms and 16 restaurants. Its Pirate's Island Waterpark will grow to 10 times its
original size, with nine water slides and a surf simulator that replicates white water and surf
conditions for boogie boarders.
Some resorts have off-season specials for single-parent families (most all-inclusives base prices
on two adults per room).
Euro-style
Spanish-speaking destinations have long courted the European market. So it's no surprise that if
you stay at one of the midpriced, Spanish-owned Barceló properties on Mexico's Riviera Maya,
you'll find many languages, a breakfast buffet oriented to European tastes (lots of cold cuts and
cheeses) and hundreds of lounge chairs lined up in the sand, as on Mediterranean beaches.
Club Med, with French roots, also tends to have a more European style and crowd, although the
company has resorts in non-French destinations such as Turks and Caicos and Cancún.
Boutique
If the quantity of restaurants and pools at some all-inclusives overwhelms, smaller hotels such as
the Aura Cozumel and East Winds Inn focus on intimate settings.
In Jamaica, just a stone's throw from a huge Riu resort, 65-room Sunset at the Palms is one of the
few in Negril not directly on the beach. The hotel turns this into an advantage, by emphasizing
its intimate environment among lush gardens, away from the beach bustle.
Despite having only two restaurants and one pool, the resort consistently ranks at or near the top
of Jamaican hotels recommended by Trip Advisor readers.
Dollars-wise
The Spanish Riu chain showcases options for budget-conscious travelers.
Its resorts are eye-grabbing, and Riu calls all but one of its 23 Caribbean hotels "luxury." But
pools and beaches can be crowded, and dining options limited. At the 400-room Riu Palace
Riviera Maya, guests line up each morning hoping to snag dinner reservations for the 12-table
gourmet restaurant Krystal.
Still, the price may be right. The Riu chain often advertises off-season per-person rates below
$100 a night. This includes the chain's fourth Jamaica property, a resort opened in Montego Bay
last year next door to a Sandals.
Something for all
North of Playa del Carmen in Mexico's Riviera Maya, Iberostar offers almost 2,000 rooms
scattered across a minicity of five side-by-side hotels with shopping mall, spa, discos and a
shuttle service between them.
Prices and amenities are set at four levels, from the budget- and family-oriented Paraiso Del Mar
and Paraiso Beach starting in March at $2,338 per week, double occupancy, to the adults-only,
all-suite Grand Hotel Paraiso, priced from $4,186.
A similar Iberostar complex in Jamaica opened a year ago near Montego Bay, with three levels
of hotels.
Stealth options
Some hotels don't wear the all-inclusive badge on their sleeve.
At Curtain Bluff in Antigua, "fully inclusive" includes more than almost any other hotel in the
region: meals, drinks, water-skiing, diving and even deep-sea fishing.
What you won't find is rah-rah theme nights, and at dinner – served in a single restaurant – men
are required to wear slacks, a collared shirt and dress shoes.
Nightly winter rates start at $995 plus 20.5 percent tax-and-service fee, double occupancy. The
price falls to $645 after May 15.
Me, too
And then there are the traditional hotels getting in on the act.
The dominance of all-inclusives in Jamaica prodded the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall to create an
Escape to Luxury package for summer (from $409 nightly per room) that includes three meals,
drinks, tax and gratuities. For a true luxury hotel with room-only rack rates starting at $209 plus
21.25 percent tax-and-service fee, the package is a smart buy.
David Swanson of California writes the "Affordable Caribbean" column for Caribbean Travel &
Life magazine.
By Scott Seroka, KARE 11 News
A nice combination: Air fares plummet along with Minnesota
temps
If you're thinking about making a last minute break for warmer climates, travel analysts will tell you air fare prices are
dropping as fast as a thermometer in the metro.
"Availability is good. These are about as low of prices as we've seen in many years," President George Wozniak of
Hobbit Travel said.
He also said the current air ticket prices are at their lowest level since 9/11. What gives?
Wozniak believes people who usually book their winter getaways in September or October couldn't pull the trigger
based on a plummeting economy.
Now it is January and the airlines aren't paying a lot for fuel; but they are looking at a lot of seats that haven't been
booked.
"It's everybody, I think we're seeing some ripple effects of air fare wars," Wozniak said. Still thinking about getting
away? Consider this: December of 2008 was the coldest December in Minnesota since 2000.
"If you take all the winters, put them in a big pot and stir them up, the coldest part of the winter usually happens about
the 3rd week of January through about the first week of February.
That is the bottom of winter," Assistant state climatologist Pete Boulay said. We asked Wozniak about his recent "fare
tracking." "How bout' Cancun? $169 (round trip) if you want to go next week," he said. "The lowest price we saw in
September for Mexico round trip fares in January, February, and March were about $450. So here we are, less than
half the price," he explained.
Hobbit travel researchers have also found round trip fares out of Minneapolis to just about all sunny domestic
destinations for under $200. That includes Arizona, California, and Florida.
Wozniak says the discounts, for the most part, will run from now until April. One exception might be the busy spring
break week of March.
Mexico's 'little brother' grows up
1/9/2009 3:30:01 PM
Comments (0)
By Bob Retzlaff
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
Mexico's Riviera Maya, which stretches some 70 miles along the Yucatan Peninsula south of world-famous
Cancun, has within a few years become the country's red-hot tourist destination.
Like Cancun, the region boasts some of the region's best and most famous white sand beaches, with a touch
of lush jungle thrown in. And in addition to a year-round balmy climate, the area boasts ages-old Mayan
culture including Chichen Itza, which was recently named to the new listing of the Seven Wonders of the
World.
This quickly growing area, virtually unheard of and undeveloped just a decade ago, is a relatively untouched
tropical paradise on the edge of the waters of the Caribbean. And it is expected to stay that way.
The reasons? Local laws cap the height of the hundreds of hotels, resorts and other buildings now scattered
along the beaches at three stories low enough to keep them hidden from the highway by a half-mile-wide
buffer zone of dense jungle and palm trees.
In addition, the developments tend to be far apart because another law restricts development to generally
only five percent of an owner's land.
The area, called the "Little Brother," to older Cancun, is easily reached from almost anywhere in the world
via Cancun's International Airport, certainly one of the finest in Mexico.
To show how quickly the area has become popular, in the mid-'90s there were only a few secluded
hideaways along the beach, and the room count was only about 1,500, according to local tourist officials.
Now it boasts some 35,000 rooms most of them at the all-inclusive resorts that dominate the region. And
the room count is increasing by about 3,000 a year.
The visitor count now reaches nearly three million a year we were among them last Christmas for a most
enjoyable stay at the Palace Resort. Our visit was a package put together by Northwest World Vacations and
was at an all-inclusive property.
The stay was almost exclusively at the resort, as there is plenty to do on property swimming, shopping,
sunning, many beach activities and nightly entertainment. Many of the resorts offer all-inclusive day tours to
some of the most notable 3,000-year-old Mayan civilization sites that are nearby.
A two-hour bus ride from Cancun and most other areas on the Yucatan takes you to the main attraction of
Chichen Itza, an area of symmetrical stone temples, pyramids and a giant ball field.
For years, visitors could climb the 91 steps to the top of the El Castillo pyramid. Each of the four sides has
the same number of steps, for a total of 365 including the top platform one for each day of the year. But the
climbing isn't allowed now or at least wasn't when we were there a year ago because of wear and tear from
tourists.
There are many other reminders of the once-great civilization, particularly in small towns. Street music and
handicraft shops are among their main attractions.
The best time to visit the region is from November to May when the weather is relatively temperate and dry.
The high tourist season starts in mid-December and runs through Easter.
Weather conditions in the summer are generally hot and humid. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to
Dec. 1, and the Yucatan sometimes is in the path of those destructive storms.
Air Transat leaves local travellers high and dry
By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
NEWS RELEASE
SAULT STE. MARIE
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT CORP.
*************************
The Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation (SSMADC) has been advised by Air
Transat on January 12, 2009, that they will not be providing service to Sault Ste. Marie this
winter season due to lack of ticket sales.
Passengers that have scheduled flights or tour packages with Air Transat which had been
promoting Monday flights to Cancun are encouraged to visit their local travel agency and have
their Transat packages refunded and then book with Sunwing.
The Cancun Mexico flights with Sunwing are the exact same time frame as may have been
booked through Transat or Nolitours.
Sunwing airlines flights which have been announced previously by the SSMADC with flights on
Mondays to Cancun Mexico and Fridays to Varadero Cuba have not been affected.
These flights began on Friday December 19, 2008 with direct flights on Boeing 737-800 aircraft
from the Sault Ste. Marie Airport to Varadero Cuba and Monday December 22 to Cancun
Mexico.
Direct flights to and from Varadero will continue every Friday until the end of the winter sun
destination season on Friday March 20.
Flights to Cancun Mexico will run to March 23.
These tour packages and flights are through Sunwing.
Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) -- SACI Falabella SA, Chile’s biggest department-store operator, cut by more
than half the number of new stores it plans to open this year, according to company
presentations.
Santiago-based Falabella will spend $305 million this year, opening 20 new stores and shopping
malls, it wrote in notes from a presentation in Cancun, Mexico, posted on the company’s Web
site.
That compares with a planned 48 new stores in 2009 outlined in notes from a September
presentation.
Falabella, which also operates home-improvement stores, supermarkets and shopping centers,
plans a total of $2.02 billion in investments and 130 new store openings in the next four years, it
wrote in the Cancun document.
For Related News: Stories about Chilean stocks: NI CSS BN <GO> Stories about Chile’s
economy: TNI CHILE ECO <GO> Top Latin America stories: TOPL <GO>
Last Updated: January 15, 2009 07:42 EST
LIFE TRAVEL BEST FARES
How to catch short-lived airfare bargains
12:58 PM CST on Tuesday, January 13, 2009
As I predicted, we're seeing bargain airfares to many destinations. A lot of these sales are shortlived; act fast to nab a great fare.
Southwest has coast-to-coast fares of $198 round trip, plus taxes and fees, in its current online
sale (www.southwest.com). Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 19, with a 14-day advance, for
travel through April 30.
These prices are back to those Southwest charged five years ago, although the lowest prices are
now $49 instead of the earlier $29 each way. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are cheapest for travel.
We've also seen Southwest offering two-day sales with fares that are nearly 50 percent off. A
recent example was Dallas to Las Vegas for $160 round trip, plus taxes and fees, if you
purchased Dec. 30 or 31. The next-cheapest fare offered by competitors was $296.
AirTran often launches three-day sales on Tuesdays; check its Web site each week
(www.airtran.com).
Last Tuesday, AirTran launched a longer-lasting sale, with purchase through Jan. 15. Sample
one-way fares from Dallas include $74 to Atlanta, $119 to Sarasota, $124 to New York and $159
to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Taxes and fees are additional. A 10-day advance is required, and travel
is valid through March 11 to Florida and San Juan and through May 20 to other destinations.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are cheapest for travel, and sale fares aren't available
Sundays. Blackout dates apply.
When you see a sale, keep in mind that prices often will be matched by other carriers. Frontier
and US Airways usually follow Southwest's lead on sales. American often will match Southwest
and AirTran sales, but may charge slightly more for security taxes.
We've been seeing deals from multiple airlines, including American and United, from Dallas to
Hawaii.
Recent finds include $389 to Honolulu, $499 to Maui and $519 to Kona, including taxes and
fees. These fares have been fluctuating by hundreds of dollars, so if you're in the market for a
Hawaiian vacation, check fares repeatedly.
We've also seen fares to Mexico as low as $299 to Cancun and $368 to Puerto Vallarta,
including taxes and fees.
Great fares to ski destinations are cropping up. We found a round-trip fare from Dallas to Vail
for $188, plus taxes and fees. That price beat the fares to Denver.
If fares to your desired destination are high, it may be cheaper to buy two round-trip tickets. For
example, when we checked flights from Dallas to Panama City, Fla., the cheapest fare we found
was $763 round trip. Travelers could save $307 per passenger by buying a round-trip flight from
Dallas to Miami at $212 on US Airways and from Miami to Panama City at $244 on TACA or
American
REUTERS
AirTran U - Home of the Really Cheap Standby Flight
AirTran Airways Gives Young Travelers a Break from the Books with Low Fares
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary
of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), has announced that it will open
registration for its third year of the AirTran U standby travel program for
young travelers. Now college students can visit family or friends and still
have money left over for next semester's textbooks.
AirTran U is the best college deal around - all applicants between the ages
of
18 and 22 are cleared for travel on a standby-only basis to any of the 58
cities AirTran Airways currently serves (excludes Cancun, Mexico and San
Juan,
Puerto Rico) for a fare of just $69* per short-haul segment, or $99* per
long-haul segment of travel. To participate, travelers simply select the
destination, dates and times they want to travel and arrive at the AirTran
Airways counter no fewer than two hours before the scheduled time of
departure. AirTran U passengers can also earn 1/2 A+ Rewards credits** per
completed trip. Visit http://www.aplusrewards.com to become an A+ Rewards
member.
"Whether they are visiting a friend or heading home for the weekend, students
and young vacationers can save money on flights with AirTran U," said Tad
Hutcheson, vice president of marketing and sales for AirTran Airways. "Our
airline understands the tight budgets these young travelers face, and we are
pleased to offer them the same outstanding, friendly service and comfortable
aircraft at an affordable price."
Application Requirements and Fees:
-- Travelers must be 18 to 22 years of age
-- Travelers must present valid, government-issued photo identification
-- For placement on a standby list, travelers must arrive at the AirTran
Airways ticket counter no fewer than two hours prior to the
flight's scheduled departure
-- Reservations cannot be made in advance
-- To earn A+ Rewards credits, travelers must present their A+ Rewards
membership card at the ticket counter
-- Short-haul segments cost $69 per segment (defined as one takeoff and
landing)
-- Long-haul segments cost $99 per segment (Flights to/from San
Francisco,
Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, Seattle and Phoenix are
considered long-haul segments)
-- The per-segment taxes of $3.50 are not included
-- Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 per segment are not
included
-- The September 11th security fee of up to $10 per segment is not
included
BUDGET TRAVELER
Acapulco a spring break bargain at $250 round trip on
Continental
By CLARA BOSONETTO MAERZ
For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, January 05, 2009
Need an inexpensive spring break trip idea?
DAILY DEALS
Clara Bosonetto Maerz's column is published weekdays on ajc.com.
Most recent deals

Puerto Rico resort's sweet Valentine package lasts all month

NYC'S Hotel Gransevoort offers upscale, sexy Valentine's package

NYC hotels have a sweetheart deal for you starting at $199

Fort Lauderdale a romantic getaway with lots of waterways

Fly to sunny Miami for $148 R-T on American Airlines
NOTE: Good deals disappear quickly, so search immediately. Sale fares are subject to change and do not
include taxes and fees.
MORE
AJC Deals To Go: Amazing vacation packages
Web Fares: Last-minute fares published every Wednesday
.
AJC Deals To Go: Amazing vacation packages
Web Fares: Last-minute fares published every Wednesday
One of North America’s original Oceanside playgrounds - and still growing strong in popularity for fun-in-thesun breaks - is Acapulco, Mexico. This flashy glam resort town was the site of the first disco - “Tequila a GoGo” - and today a competitor of Cancun’s for a hot nightlife scene.
With a fabulous today-only airfare deal from Continental Airlines, plan a gal or guy getaway, or a romantic long
weekend for two, for less than the cost of an airline ticket to Phoenix, Ariz.!
The deal of $250 round-trip, or $358.13 inclusive of all taxes and fees, is valid seven days a week (based on
availability) on trips completed on or before March 2.
Go as soon as today as no advance purchase notice is required. Plan to stay at least any two nights.
By Carole Malone, 04/01/2009
AS our cream-canopied boat sliced silently through the sparkling emerald waters
of lush mangrove to take us to our hotel room, that Disney song A Whole New
World kept echoing in my head.
Why? Well, when I was last in Mexico—Cancun, about 15 years ago—I hated it.
I hated the hotels, the commercialism, the whole ugliness of it. Oh yes, and the food.
But the Rosewood Mayakoba Hotel definitely wasn’t the Mexico I remembered. This really
WAS a whole new world.
Built along a network of lagoons, this spectacular edifice to modernity is mind- bogglingly
beautiful. Acres of glass and Yucatan limestone glint in the sunlight as you arrive at
reception in the house-sized Jeep sent by the hotel to collect you. It makes you feel very
small (not to mention messy—I was in an old sundress and flip-flops). But the mile-wide
smiles of the staff waiting to meet us made me forget my embarrassment at looking like a
tramp.
I’ve never been in a hotel where the staff remember your name at once. And they attend to
your every need without making you feel bad about being so damned lazy.
MD of the Rosewood, Pablo Graf (he looks like a movie star), told me he’d interviewed
5,000 people to get the 500 staff just right. And they were.
My heart leapt when we were told Arnie Schwarzenegger was arriving with his family—but
sank when I found out it would be two days after we left. I asked if other celebs had stayed
there since it opened in 2007, and was told Piers Morgan had been there two weeks before.
That was the only time I wondered if we’d come to the right place.
But of course we had—128 suites, all overlooking the beach or the lagoon.
Every suite is shaped like giant white cube—a gorgeous tribute to everything natural and
ecologically responsible. Inside they’re gloriously contemporary— giant beds with cherrywood headboards, and limestone floors and showers. There are showers outside too.
The spa is 17,000 sq ft of unadulterated luxury that sits on a limestone pool fed by
subterranean springs flowing throughout the Yucatan.
Your own private butler is on call 24/7, and every night he leaves beautifully wrapped
home-made sweets. Plus there’s the two award-winning food restaurants—Casa Del Lago
and Punta Bonita—a raw food bar, an organic café and a tequila library that serves Mexican
food and tequila.
The food is divine. We feasted on fresh lobster, (just £15) jumbo shrimp and fish “ceviche”
style (raw and in lime juice).
We also spent three fabulous days at the Maroma Hotel, a 20 minute-drive from the
Rosewood and on 25 acres of a coconut plantation.
It’s traditionally Mexican (whitewashed buildings and galleried rattan roofs) but in a 24carat, knock-your-socks-off way.
We (four friends, The Husband and I) were in the villa Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had
stayed in recently. It was the size of a small castle—way too big for a titchy thing like him.
The ancient Mayan culture is evident everywhere—each building is crafted to ensure proper
energy flow, so mind, body and spirit are at peace.
My spirit was certainly at peace after several cocktails and mind-blowing massages and
facials at the hotel spa. We also had a “Temazcal”, where we were sealed inside a dark brick
cavern on the beach—heated to boiling point by lava rocks—to “make our way back to the
womb”. If it had got much hotter, I’d have been making my way to God. It ended with us
running into the sea and smearing ourselves with mud.
One of the best-preserved archaeological sites is around the little town of Tulum on the
edge of the Caribbean Sea.
For those of us who prefer to shop there’s Cancun, a huge and busy resort. The pretty
island of Cozumel is also worth visiting. With its famous coral reefs, it’s a divers’ paradise.
Playa del Carmen is a gloriously traditional Mexican town bustling with cafes, restaurants
and the most magnificent silver shops. But barter—I got at least 40 per cent off everything.
I’ll admit I had to be persuaded by friends to go to Mexico again but this magical world with
its easy, gentle people, laid-back lifestyle and majestic beauty has seduced me.
As Schwarzenegger famously said: “I’ll be back . . . ”
Travelers will be getting lots of deals in 2009
Posted 1/1/2009 8:21 PM |
By Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY
Wallet-watching travelers will be taking fewer trips, waiting longer to book them in hopes of a deal and downscaling
vacations.
Las Vegas will remain a big draw, and Mexico will be hotter than a chili pepper.
That's the outlook for 2009, according to travel analysts and providers and a survey of 547 agents, managers and
agency owners with Travel Leaders (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates), out today.
Vegas is the No. 1 U.S. destination Americans are booking (as it was last year), the survey says, followed by
Orlando. Perhaps fueled by Obama fever, the Abraham Lincoln bicentennial and a Harry Potter exhibit at the
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (No. 10) is more of a tourists' kind of town. It moved into the top 10 "for the
first time in years," says Travel Leaders spokesman Steve Loucks.
Internationally, Caribbean cruises rule yet again, but dollar-stretching Mexico has five destinations in the top 10:
Cancun, No. 2; Riviera Maya, No. 3; Puerto Vallarta, No. 4; Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos, No. 9; and Mexican cruises
(tied for No. 10). Additionally, some Caribbean cruises call at Mexican ports.
GOGO Reaffirms Travel Agency Commitment
Published on: January 12, 2009
GOGO Worldwide Vacations reaffirmed its commitment to working with leisure travel agents in the
United States and Canada with an “only at your travel agent” marketing campaign to highlight its
ongoing commitment to focusing exclusively on the agency sector to increase sales. GOGO Worldwide
President Dean Smith said the “only at your travel agent” campaign would be promoted on GOGO’s
websites, brochures, flyers and other promotional materials. “At a time when many travel wholesalers
are actively targeting leisure agency customers by selling direct, GOGO is taking the opposite
approach by working with -- not against -- its agency partners,” Smith said. “We recognize the value
that travel agents add to our business and are committed to working with our partner agencies in
mutually beneficial relationships. Our message is very simple -- GOGO Worldwide Vacations will help
agents grow their business by being here for them and ensuring its expanding global product range is
available ‘only at your travel agent.’”
GOGO’s business development managers are currently visiting agency partners throughout the
country to highlight GOGO’s commitment to agents. Smith said the company would also continue to
proactively promote its Price Beat Promise to encourage further growth in agency sales. Under the
terms of the policy, if an agent finds a vacation package from another travel provider (excluding
auction sites) at a lower price, GOGO Worldwide Vacations will beat the same package and price by
$10 per paying adult and $5 per paying child upon verification. For more information, visit
www.gogowwv.com.
OSSN Surveys the Home Based
By James Shillinglaw
Published on: January 12, 2009
With the recession and current economic crisis hitting the travel business, many are wondering just
what the ultimate effect is going to be on travel agents. In particular, I’ve been especially curious
about how home-based agents are faring as the downturn continues. This week the Outside Sales
Support Network (OSSN) is releasing results of a survey of its home-based agent members – and
surprisingly it’s not all doom and gloom.
For example, 58 percent of the home-based agents polled in OSSN’s 2008 year-end survey said they
are optimistic that their businesses will grow in 2009, while 69 percent said their revenues increased
in 2008, despite the souring economy. So perhaps things are not as bad as they seem -- at least as
far as home-based agents are concerned.
“I found that the increase for 2008 was fairly surprising,” says OSSN President Gary Fee. “I’m happy
to see it. If you look at stats, it doesn’t seem so dismal for the home-based seller compared to what
we hear in the trades. I’m pleasantly pleased that optimism is running high in spite of all the
doomsayers.”
In some more good news, when asked whether they would increase or decrease their advertising
dollars in 2009, nearly 50 percent said they would increase ad dollars, compared with just 13.85
percent who said they would decrease advertising and 36.92 percent who said they didn’t know. “I
think increasing advertising is a smart thing to do,” says Fee. “You aren’t going to make any money by
hunkering down and going into a shell.” On the marketing side, 70.77 percent of agents surveyed said
they are developing a plan for 2009, which is also a good sign.
Another hopeful indicator, according to Fee, is that agents are finding suppliers are more anxious to
work with them in this down economy. More than 52 percent said suppliers were more receptive,
compared with 3.85 percent who said suppliers were not receptive and 43.85 percent who found no
difference.
According to OSSN’s survey, home-based agents remain a seasoned and veteran group. When asked
how long they had been in the travel business, 5.11 percent of agents responding said less than one
year; 10.95 percent, one to two years; 21.90 percent, five to 10 years; and 44.53 percent 10 years or
longer. That means more than 60 percent have been in the business for five or more years.
OSSN’s survey also found that over the past five years 41 percent of the responding agents had
changed their travel niche or specialty, while 26 percent switched from the host agency model in favor
of securing a booking ID number and handling their own reservations.
When asked what ID booking code they use, 54.62 percent said TRUE, 23.85 percent said CLIA, 4.62
percent said TSI, and 16.92 percent said IATA (which is perhaps not too surprising given that OSSN
helped to form the TRUE code system). Some 37.35 percent of agents surveyed said they had a
destination specialist designation, while 22.89 percent said they had some other designation; 12.67
percent are Accredited Cruise Counsellors, 11.45 percent are Master Cruise Counsellers, 1.81 percent
are Elite Cruise Counsellors, 7.83 percent are Certified Travel Counselors, and 6.02 percent are
Certified Travel Associates.
When asked whether they had a database, 65.38 percent of agents said yes while 20.77 percent said
they would have one soon – numbers that are very encouraging, according to Fee. The same survey
two years ago showed that many home-based agents did not have a database at all.
When asked whether they have participated in virtual trade show this past year, 61.54 of agents said
“yes” compared to 38.46 percent who said “no” – a statistic that bodes well for the new kind of show
that we at Performance Media Group introduced to the travel trade last year. Even more important,
more than 65 percent said they thought such shows were beneficial or somewhat beneficial. More than
80 percent of home-based agents surveyed by OSSN also plan on attending traditional travel industry
trade shows in 2009 as well.
On the less positive side, almost 55 percent of those agents surveyed said declining commission levels
have affected their desire to sell cruises. “There is discontent there among the tribe and a real lovehate relationship with the cruise industry,” says Fee. “They are clearly not happy with the
compensation. Cruise lines are going to have to do something about that.”
When asked about their websites, 26.32 of agents surveyed said they get leads from website, 11.18
percent said they close sales from website, 8.55 percent said they hardly get any traffic, 11.84
percent said the website is a significant cost but not a profit center, 23.03 percent said they need help
with their website, and 11.84 percent said they are shutting their website down. “That’s not a real
rosy picture for web sales,” says Fee.
Yet another OSSN survey statistic doesn’t bode so well for the trade. When asked about their holiday
bookings, just 11.64 percent of agents surveyed said they were up, 54.62 percent said they were
down, and 33.85 percent said they were the same as last year. Let’s hope the optimism expressed by
most home-based agents for 2009 can overcome those poor numbers.
Visit www.ossn.com/ossn_survey/2008yearendsurvey/index.html for the complete survey and more
results.
James Shillinglaw, CTC
Editor in Chief
jshillinglaw@travelpulse.com
GOGO Promotes New Gay Product Range
Published on: January 15, 2009
GOGO Worldwide Vacations has boosted its specialist product range by launching its first gay and
lesbian travel catalog for United States travel agents. The wholesale travel group, which services
almost 20,000 US agents, has just produced a guide that outlines exclusive offers for gay and lesbian
travelers at more than 130 international and domestic hotels and resorts. GOGO President Dean Smith
said the “Outgoing” catalogs were produced in response to strong travel agent demand for specialist
product information and deals for customers. The catalogs feature exclusive deals from leading
properties in the Caribbean, Mexico, Coast Rica, Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Europe and the United States.
“Like all sectors of the community, gay and lesbian travelers are looking to travel agents for expert
advice and details on the special offers that are available today,” Smith said. “GOGO’s new Outgoing
catalog brings all of this information together and will help agents deliver an improved service to their
clients. Featured resorts and hotels were chosen for their quality, location and value, in addition to
their respect for gay and lesbian travelers. The exclusive offers represent genuine savings and range
from guaranteed room upgrades and gifts to dinners and spa treatments.”
The Outgoing catalog will be available for distribution to interested travel agents later this month In
addition to the catalog, GOGO’s specialist brochure range now includes: Spa & Wellness, Family, All
Inclusive and Honeymoon Planner (Romance). To view the brochure, visit
www.gogoworldwidevacations.com. To order a copy, email sales@gogowwv.com.
What Women Really Want…in Travel!
By April M. Merenda
Published on: January 20, 2009
Women today look at travel as a necessity, not a luxury, so despite economic trends, women’s travel
continues to be strong. The stigma associated with married women or mothers traveling on their own
has also dissipated as women have come to realize that while they may love their husbands,
significant others or kids, they still have the right to pursue their own interests. They can explore the
world and come back to their families renewed, energized, and better able to handle the stresses and
hassles of everyday life.
Unfortunately this realization has come to the fairer sex a little late. There are many female travelers
today who waited until their 50s, 60s or even 70s to finally get out there and see the world. As they
were growing up and raising families, women traveling alone is something that just wasn’t done.
Thank goodness times have changed!
Over the years it has become more and more apparent that women travel differently than men. They
are, by nature, multi-taskers and are used to doing a zillion things at once in their daily lives. That’s
why they want to do a lot when they are on vacation as well. Women like to experience as much of a
destination as possible -- and that includes cooking classes, wine tasting, sightseeing, shopping, etc.
In fact, when women have free time scheduled on trips, they often ask for other things they can do so
they can make the most of every minute they are away. Women strive to enjoy unique and multiple
experiences at a destination to fortify their lives and also have bragging rights. After all, who wouldn’t
be impressed by hearing that you took a cooking class in Paris, created your own perfume in
Provence, had high tea at The Plaza Hotel in New York City or hiked to the top of Macchu Picchu!
Women innately seek opportunities where they can bond. They also appreciate the opportunity to
meet like-minded women to connect with (the natural nurturer in all women). This is true for divorced,
single and widowed women, as well as married women whose husbands don’t want to travel or have
different vacation schedules (such as teachers) or different interests.
Women also look for safety when traveling -- particularly in countries and to destinations that are
unfamiliar to them or where they don’t speak the language. They also know what they want when it
comes to the specifics of their trip. For example, they prefer centrally located hotels; smaller, boutique
style properties with a significant design flair; someone on tour to assist them if something goes
wrong; and an overall sense of security knowing the tour manager has been there, done that, speaks
the language and can handle anything.
Today’s woman also is all about celebrating and memorializing special triumphs in her life during a
vacation, whether it’s a milestone birthday, conquering a serious illness, surviving a divorce, earning a
promotion, reaching retirement, or just celebrating life in general with the women in their lives they
cherish (e.g., mothers, daughters, sisters, best friends). Work and family may be top priorities for
women, but more and more it is about building memories and gathering experiences that will last a
lifetime.
We all know that women are time-deprived -- in fact, I don’t know any woman who doesn’t have way
too much on her plate! Yet, women still make the time to travel and experience the world. Younger
women in their 20s or 30s prefer long weekends, while women in their 40s and up, many of whom
have older children, can steal away for a getaway of seven days or more. The most popular times of
year for women to travel are in the spring and fall, primarily March, April, September and October.
And as women continue to build successful careers today, they have a higher degree of disposable
income and often choose to spend that income on travel. That’s why women’s travel remains an
extremely lucrative market for any travel agent -- even in these challenging times.
April M. Merenda is president and co-founder of Gutsy Women Travel, a tour operator for women and
their unique interests founded in 2001. For more information, call 866-IM-GUTSY or visit
www.gutsywomentravel.com. April also can be reached at amerenda@gutsywomentravel.com.