Delta & NWA Merger

Delta & Northwest Airlines have made it official. They are merging to created the largest airline in the world.

Does this mean higher fares in the horizon?

According to Delta & Northwest, you'd think it is a done deal but in reality the "Deal" is already facing chanllenges.

Skybus Files for Bankruptcy

Another one bits the dust...

Skybus know for their $10 fares has decided to call it quits after one year of service. I guess it it was too good to be true... $10 fares?

ATA Files Bankruptcy

A few days after Aloha files for Bankruptcy, ATA also files for bankruptcy protection. Indianapolis based airlines says it can't maintain its business without a key miltary charter contract.

"The decision to shut down was just totally unexpected and happened very quickly," ATA spokesman Michael Freitag said.

United Grounds 11% of Fleet

UAL temporarily grounded 11% of her fleet and cancelled 31 flights on Wednesday, so they can test the Cargo suppression system on their 777s.

United carried out unscheduled maintenance on seven of its Boeing 747 jets last month but found no safety-related issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been checking maintenance records at all domestic airlines after revelations surfaced about missed safety inspections at Southwest Airlines Co.

Aloha Air Quits after 60 yrs

After 60 years of being in business, Aloha Air will end passenger service March 30, 2008. The writing has been on the wall. With the increase in fuel cost and inter-island fares of $19 meant their end was inevitable. Their air cargo unit will continue to operate while under bankruptcy.

The 1,900 employees who are affected, we are sorry. Aloha Air you will be missed.

Nipple Ring NO NO NO

A Texas Woman was forced to remove her nipple ring with a pair of pliers before she was allowed to board a plane. Ouch ...

I cannot believe these stories with TSA... Oh wait, yes I can !

Carnival's Circle C

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES is also continuing its push for the family market by introducing an onboard program targeting the 12- to 14-year-old set called Circle C, which fills the age gap in Carnival's youth-oriented programming (Camp Carnival is for younger kids and Club O2 is for 15- to 17-year-olds). Circle C, which is overseen by a trained staff, includes facilities with a dance floor, movies and music videos screens and gaming pods with video games; activities will include basketball, ping-pong, water games and nighttime pool parties. Facilities are in place on the Carnival Legend, Pride, Victory and Valor, and the rest of the fleet will be outfitted in stages by 2010.

Continue Shakeup at Carnival

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES saw a continued shakeup in its top ranks. Maurice Zarmati, a 36-year veteran of sales at Carnival Cruise Lines, was named president and CEO of Costa Cruise Lines North America, another Carnival Corp.-owned company. Zarmati assumes his new role at Costa on March 31, where he will be responsible for sales and marketing efforts for Costa's North and Central American regions. The Costa role was most recently held by Lynn Torrent, who left Costa to join Carnival Cruise Lines as its senior vice president of sales and customer service. Roberto Martinoli, Carnival's executive vice president of operations, meanwhile told the line he would leave on March 7. Martinoli is moving back to Monaco and returning to the consulting business.

CARNIVAL CORP. is also losing an executive: Jack Anderson, vice president of marketing for Carnival Corp. and the executive director of the World's Leading Cruise Lines, a marketing identity for Carnival's North American cruise brands, is retiring at the end of March. He has been with Carnival Corp. since 1999; prior to that he spent 25 years with Carnival Corp. brand Holland America Line.

Southwest: too pretty or too bitchy?

Two Coeds from University of South Florida claims they were discriminated because they were young and too pretty... give me a break.

"I think they were just discriminating against [us] because we were young decent-looking girls," Williams told TampaBays10.com. "I mean, nobody else on the plane looked like us except us. [The flight attendants] were like older ladies. We were younger. Who knows, they could have been just jealous of us because we were younger.”

Flight Attendant Sues After being Slapped

A Singapore Airlines flight attendant is suing after a passenger slapped her on a flight between Singapore and Tokyo last September. The Passenger was the wife of CEO Venture Corp, Wong Ngit Liong, one of Singapore's richest men.

Ms Then Jiamin, SIA flight attendant, is suing for "general damages and damages for consequential loss and emotional and mental distress" she suffered as a result of the "wrongful assault and battery". She is also claiming damages for defamation.

The wife, Madom Tan Siew Hoon, allegedly slapping Ms Then and saying loadly: "Why are you talking to my husband!"

Can we say insecure...

Delta Merge with Northwest

The NY Times is reporting that Delta and Northwest Airlines are close to a merger and supposedly it will follow with a merger between Continental and United. Yikes !

As I had myself gone through two mergers with Continental and let me tell you... DON"T. Mergers are never easy for the employees and seldom benefits the consumers. I guess only time will tell as to what will really happen.

Hang on tight it's going to be a bumping ride !

USA Today | CNN | MSNBC

Bye Bye Pride of Hawaii

The Pride of Hawaii, owned by NCL, sailed its final cruise from Honolulu last week, a 5-night trip to Los Angeles, where it entered a 6 day wet dock to transform her into the Norwegian Jade. NCL America's Pride of Hawaii left the Hawaiian waters and gave up it's U.S.-flag status in hope of better yields in the European cruise market this coming summer. The newly named Norwegian Jade is slated to arrive in Barcelona on March 13 and will undergo another wet dock, where NCL said it would add a casino to the ship and she begins her first Europe cruise March 30.

Is Fuel Surcharges Legal?

THE FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL is investigating the legality of cruise line fuel surcharges, after more than 150 consumer complaints were filed with the attorney general's office since November. The office is reviewing whether the charges were properly and legally administered, and if cruise lines can retroactively impose a fuel surcharge on passengers. The cruise lines cited record-high fuel costs before instituting the charges in November; Carnival Corp.'s six North American brands added a charge of $5 per person, per day, on all sailings departing after Feb. 1, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and NCL Corp. shortly followed suit, each with different policies.

New Celebrity Solstice

THE CELEBRITY SOLSTICE will boast 10 restaurants when it debuts in November. Some of the eateries will be designed by Adam Tihany, who created some of New York's best known restaurants, including Per Se, Jean Georges and Le Cirque. Tihany designed the Solstice's two-level Grand Epernay dining room with a two-story wine tower; the Tuscan Grille steakhouse; and the casual Oceanview Cafe and Grill on the ship's lido deck. The ship's menus, meanwhile, were created by Celebrity's Vice President of Food and Beverage Jacques Van Staden, who previously headed kitchens in Las Vegas and Washington. Van Staden is also redesigning the menus on the rest of the Celebrity fleet.

Independence Being Scaped

THE INDEPENDENCE made its final departure from a U.S. port last week: The 57-year-old ocean liner left its berth in San Francisco en route to a scrap yard in Asia. Norwegian Cruise Line, which bought the vessel for a reported $4 million in 2003, sold it to an interim purchaser, which has renamed the ship the Oceanic and is sending the ship to Singapore to be sold for scrap. NCL bought the Independence along with the United States, another U.S.-flagged ocean liner, in 2003, but the Independence was said to be in worse shape than the United States. The Independence is a sister ship to the Constitution, an ocean liner that sank while being towed to Asia to be scrapped in 1997; that ship had also been renamed the Oceanic.

Princess New Disembakation

PRINCESS CRUISES said it streamlined its disembarkation system by giving passengers a letter the day before the end of the cruise telling them where and when to meet depending on their return air arrangements. A crew member will wait with them in their assigned room until it is time to escort them to the gangway. In some ports, passengers can opt for express disembarkation if they choose to carry their own luggage off the ship as part of the first group to leave. The new disembarkation process complements Princess' early embarkation program, the line said.

Carnival Names Sr. VP of Sales

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES named Costa Cruises executive Lynn Torrent as its senior vice president of sales and guest services. Torrent replaces Vicki Freed, who resigned from the post at Carnival after almost 30 years with the line to take the top sales position at Royal Caribbean International. Torrent is currently president and CEO North America for Costa. She previously served as vice president of marketing for Carnival Corp., the parent company of Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa, where she worked with Gerry Cahill, who was Carnival Corp.'s CFO before becoming CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines last year. Torrent starts in her new role March 3.

MSC Double Caribbean Presence

MSC CRUISES will double its presence in the Caribbean next winter when it brings the MSC Orchestra to the region in January 2009. The 2,550-passenger, 92,400-ton Orchestra is currently the line's newest and largest vessel; it will operate seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale between Jan. 2 and April 25, 2009. The MSC Lirica will continue to operate 10-day trips to the southern Caribbean. Richard Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA, said that the Orchestra's arrival in the Caribbean market would be the beginning of MSC's "real presence" in North America.

You know what that means... More Interline Discounts for the Caribbean with MSC Cruises.

China Warns Airline - Don't be late !

China has warned the airlines not to be late for the up coming Beijing Olympics. Airlines that fails to keep up with the standards being set will not be allowed to expand their services for two years.. oouch ! I have a feeling China's General Administration of Civil Aviation, Li Jiaxiang is not kidding around.

Hmm, I wonder if our Head of US Aviation has that kind of pull to try to straight out some of our problems.

Windstar Cruise Sale

InterlineRates.com has several Windstar sailing available at an interline discount of $1000 per person. Check out the details.

Wind Surf
7 Night Exotic Caribbean
Roundtrip - Barbados (Northbound)
Ports Include: St. Kitts - Nevis - St. Martin - St. Barthelemy - Guadaloupe - Iles des Saintes - St. Lucia
2/3, 2/17 & 2/24, 3/16 & 3/30/08
$1000 - Ocean View

Wind Surf
7 Night Exotic Caribbean
Roundtrip - Barbados (Southbound)
Ports Include: Grenadines (Bequia) - Dominica - St. Lucia - Grenadines (Mayreau) - Grenada - Tobago
2/10, 2/24 & 3/23/08
$1000 - Ocean View

Wind Spirit
7 Night Exotic Caribbean
Roundtrip - St. Thomas
Ports Include: St. John - St. Martin - St. Barthelemy - Tortola - Jost van Dyke - Virgin Gorda
2/9 & 2/16/08
$1000 - Ocean View

Call Cruise Vacations for details and booking 800 298 8688

Delta Merger Talks

As many have speculated and now acknowleged, Delta is now seeking a merger with Northwest or United.

Yet another committee has been formed and yet another talk of reducing capacity...

You be the judge. I lived through two mergers when I worked for Continental and I can tell you, it is NOT easy. Airlines seldom share, technology, way of doing business, labor force etc. It will not be easy no matter what.

Princess expands Chef's Table Program

PRINCESS CRUISES will expand its Chef's Table dining program to most of its fleet over the next few months, citing positive reception on the Emerald Princess, the Crown Princess and the Caribbean Princess, where it is currently available. The $75 per person meal offers guests a dining event that begins with appetizers and cocktails in the ship's galley and then continues with a custom-designed, multi-course tasting dinner paired with wine in the main dining room with the ship's executive chef. The meal can be reserved by up to 10 passengers per night. It will debut aboard most vessels in the fleet in early 2008, with the exception of the line's smaller ships, the Tahitian Princess, the Pacific Princess and the Royal Princess.

Lufthansa buys 19% of JetBlue

A few days ago Lufthansa opted to invest in 19% of JetBlue. It is never what it seems. I have a feeling this is Lufthansa's way of controlling the JFK market. Since the deregulation of the European routes between the U.S. and Europe, don't be too surprise if the landing slots at JFK trade between Lufthansa and JetBlue.

I remember this had happened years ago when United needed landing slots in ORD and bought Air Wisconsin. Then only to turn around and sell the airline after striping them of their ORD landing slots.

I do not think this is the end of this story, just you wait...

Delta Creates Planeguage

Delta has created a series of animated short videos and I think the are hilarious. Now that is a unique way of addressing some of the issues we see in the air everyday.

It's good when we can laugh at ourselves... Enjoy the videos

Your Jetiquette Needs

This article from USA today features Gailen David, a twenty-year American Airlines flight attendant, answers some of your 'jetiquette' questions and answers.

After years of flying, I would say some of these Q&A are obvious, but then who am I to say what's obvious..

Interline Story

12 nts Exotic Cruise on Azamara

Interlinerates.com has a 12 nts Exotic Caribbean Cruise on Azamara Cruises. Azamara is a cruise line which was recently created. It is not well known right now and thus there are some incredible last minute interline discounts on this.

The Cruise is on the Azamara Quest - November 12 - visiting the ports of Grand Turk/Bahamas, Samana, Mayaguez, St. John, Gustavia, Cabrits, Basse-Terre City, Virgin Gorda, and back to Miami.

If you have the time, don't miss this cruise -
Call Interline Rates for more details or check out their website, http://www.Interlinerates.com, it is listed in Eastern Caribbean under Celebrity Cruises

Luggage Falls from Sky

You think you've got a lost luggage story, well think again. As far as I know, no luggage has ever fallen from the sky, blue ice... maybe but luggage?

The NY Times reports that two pieces of luggage fell from an Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight between Chicago & Atlanta. The Express Carrier apparently had not secure the Cargo door and was having problems pressurizing the plane after take off. When the plane safely returned, they discovered two pieces of luggage were missing.

Now for the amazing part of the story.. someone found one of bags a mile away.

Pilot Accused of Prank Calls

A Singapore Airlines pilot was accused of making prank calls to fast-food outlets for food delivery to a fellow pilot. Under Singapore laws anyone who transmits a false message by phone can be fined up to $10,000 Singapore dollars and jailed for up to three years. Ouch !!

Disney Continues Million Dreams Promo

Throughout 2007, Disney guests experienced the magic of The Year of a Million Dreams. Now, Disney Parks have decided to extend their "Million Dreams" promotion until December 31, 2008.

Leonard & I just returned from the Disney Conference and we got a tour of the Cinderella Castle Suite, along with some of their new attractions.

The Dreams promotional giveaways are fun and cannot be beat. In addition to current giveaways, Disney will grant even more one-of-a-kind, money-can't buy experiences including:

• The chance to stay, on the night awarded, in the park overnight inside the Disneyland® Dream Suite in New Orleans Square at Disneyland® Resort or in the Cinderella Castle Suite in the heart of Walt Disney World® Resort.
  
• DREAM FASTPASS badge
  
• Ultimate Character Meet & Greet
  
• In-Park Shopping Spree

So go visit Disney Parks & keep Dreaming

Cunard's Queen Victoria

Eight more weeks before Cunard Line launch their newest ship, Queen Victoria on December 10, 2007, in Southampton, England. The ship will have a special two storey Library, distinguished by a spiral staircase and rich wood paneling.

The Library will be the 2nd largest at sea, next to the library aboard the sister ship, Queen Mary 2.

Here are some early pictures of the Library...

Boy Survives in Wheel Well

A 15 year old Russian boy survived a two hour flight after hiding in the wheel well of a 737. The boy had ran away from home and ended up in Perm. The boy was so frozen that initially they could not removed his clothing.

The Russian airport authorities did not confirm the report (of course they didn't)

Mesa CFO Deleting Porn

Mesa Says CFO mistakenly deleted computer files related to the case between Hawaiian Airlines and Mesa Air, as he was attempting to purge pornography from his computer.

Seriously, that were porn not legal documents, I swear...

Celebrity Cruises Revamp Dining

Celebrity Cruises is revamping its dining fleetwide by the end of January. Overseeing the menu redesign is the Celebrity's new vice president of food and beverage, Jacques Van Staden, who joined the line after working with Blau & Associates, a top restaurant consultant in Las Vegas. Blau is also consulting with Celebrity on the new menus. The cuisine will be revamped in all restaurants on all seven ships except for the specialty restaurants, she said. Specialty restaurants will be reviewed in a second phase once the new menus are in place.

Queen Victoria Christen

Cunard Line announced today that the 90,000-ton Queen Victoria will be Christen by the Duchess of Cornwall - also known by us commoners as Camilla Parker-Bowles, the wife of Princess Charles. The Ceremony will be December 10 in Southhamton, England and the Prince is expected to attend.

The President Carol Marlow of Cunard said " We are most honored that Her Royal Highness will name our newest Cunarder. Every one of our Cunard Queens has been named by a member of the Royal Family and we are therefore delighted that Queen Victoria will follow in that tradition."

How Short is Too Short?

Kyla Ebbert was thrown off a Southwest Airline flight for wearing an outfit that was too bare for the air.

Well you be the judge, Miss Ebbert is after all a Hooters Waitress so keep that in mind. She has had quite a lot of press from the Today Show to Ellen

Check out some of SWA commercials from the past and you be the judge, How short is too short?

Goat Sacrificed to fix Jet

Napal Airlines has confirmed that they sacrificed two goats to appease the Hindu god, since they were have problems with maintenence of the 757.

Remind me again, which century are we living in?

Carnival's Adult only Retreat

Carnival Cruise Line announced their new, "Serenity Adult Retreat". This area is design to be an oecan-going oasis for relaxation, tranquility and comfort. The new "Serenity" areas are part of Carnival’s $250 million "Evolutions of Fun" ship enhancement initiative which is resulting in a dramatic transformation of the line’s eight "Fantasy-class" vessels. The Carnival Inspiration will be the first Carnival ship to feature this when she emerges from a month long dry dock in early October. Digital renderings of the new "Serenity" adults-only area, along with images of various other "Evolutions of Fun" initiatives, including the "Carnival WaterWorks" aqua parks and redesigned pool areas, can be viewed at www.evolutionsoffun.com

737-800 explodes in Okinawa

Last week a Boeing 737-800 caught on fire in Okinawa. China Airline (Taiwan) flight 120 from Taipei to Naha with 165 passengers and crew onboard landed safely and then the aircraft caught on fire while taxiing. All crew and passengers evacuated safely before the plane was engulfed in flames. Check out the video. It is amazing that everyone got safely.

Costa Maya Port Damaged

As Hurricane Dean came through on Tuesday morning, Costa Maya, one of Mexico's fastest growing destination, was seriously damaged. The port's infrastructure was estimated to be 50% distroyed, including the cruise ship pier. An early estimate indicates that the port will remain closed for 6 to 8 months. For more information visit Costa Maya's website And for a complete story on the Hurricane Dean check out the Environment News Service.

Trust the Pilot

A friend, Todd, who is a pilot, forwarded me these photos and his caption was "Times when you Just have to Trust the Pilot". click on the individual pictures to see a large version and when you see how small the runways are, you will see why he titled the email "trust the pilot"

Now my question is, "why is the pilot taking these pictures instead of paying attention to landing the plane?"

NWA Buy Midwest

NWA and a group of investors have bid $16 a share to buy Midwest Airlines. It is a counteract effort to AirTran's hostile takeover bid valued at $15.75 a share.

“The board concluded that the TPG offer presented greater value and certainty for Midwest shareholders than the AirTran offer,” officials at Midwest said in a statement today.

Interline Story

Drunk Attendant arrested

It just wasn't her day. Sarah Mills was arrested before takeoff for drinking. Even though she is her blood alcohol level was .032 - which is lower than Kentucky's legal limit of .08. She still faces a civil review by the FAA on charges of being a crew memeber of airplane while drunk.

She pleaded not guilty, well you be the judge...

2 day Interline Cruise Sale

InterlineRates.com is having a 2 day Interline Cruise Sale with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. August 15 & 16, 2007

- Deposit Reduced 50%
- Best Available per Super Category
- New Dates for Sale through March 2008
- "ITP" Promo Codes only

Call Interlinerates.com for details. (800) 298 8688


Interline Cruise Sale

Disney Park Tickets Increase

It just got a little bit more expensive to visit Walt Disney World. Disney increased their one-day park pass to $71 from $67. This is the second increase in seven month.

But what choice do you have? If you want play, you got to pay. At least Interliners still get discounts on Disney Resort stays. Check out InterlineRates.com for details.

Walt Disney World Hikes Ticket Prices
Disney ticket price Calculator

RCI - Genesis Class Ship

Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale may become the homeport for Royal Caribbean's $1.2 billion, 5,400-passenger Ship, when it debut in 2009 and 2010. In order to accommodate these megaships Port Everglades will have to undergo a $37 million expansion of Terminal 18, said Ellen Kennedy, port spokeswoman. The port predicts the ship's year round presence would create 3,800 jobs, producing total income of $172 million.

Alaska Cruise - Holland America - Noordam

Holland America – Noordam – Alaska Cruise (7-29-07)
This week we are leading a group to Alaska onboard Holland America’s Noordam. Our trip is round trip from Seattle and we will visit Glacier Bay, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, & Victoria.

Seattle
We stayed at the Westin Downtown, and I was pleasantly surprised that we were so close to so many of the local attractions. We were able to walk just about every