Adding a Layer of Protection
The emergency medical evacuation membership program MedjetAssist has expanded its member benefits through a partnership with The Steele Foundation, a global enterprise risk management firm. Members of both organizations now gain access to a broader suite of medical and security services while traveling. MedjetAssist members can draw on Steele’s incident management and executive protection expertise, Global Rapid Response travel advisory centers, evacuation support, and security consulting. In Mexico, Steele’s FirstCall vehicle tracking and emergency roadside response will integrate Medjet services, improving coverage for travelers in the region.
The Book You Hope Everyone Reads
Travel manners define a passenger’s true class, argues Gailen David on his blog, where he advocates civility in the skies and at the airport. David offers a practical list of “Jetiquette” dos and don’ts: pack carry-on items so things that must be removed for security are easy to access; respect your personal seat space and that of others; use the lavatory for actions like blowing your nose; and watch for signals that a seatmate prefers not to chat. Among the don’ts is a perennial complaint — don’t let children kick the seatback ahead. These and other tips appear in his book, Jetiquette … The Customer Experience and You. As founder of Jetiquette Academy, David also coaches individuals and companies in business etiquette, international protocol, dining skills, and customer service.
Beats a String on Your Finger
If passport expiration dates slip your mind, the passport-expediting company ItsEasy.com offers a free registration and reminder service. They notify you nine months before expiration, giving time to meet the common six-month passport validity rule for many countries, and continue reminders until renewal. Each reminder includes links to the correct forms and instructions. This service is especially useful for children’s passports, which expire after five years and are often overlooked. ItsEasy.com also operates an emergency help desk at New York’s JFK Airport.
New Routes
Despite warnings about declining passenger numbers, airlines continue to introduce new routes. On May 1, American Airlines launched daily nonstop service between Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW) and Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD). A week later, Icelandair added flights to Stavanger, Norway (SVG), and Düsseldorf, Germany (DUS), bringing its European network to 20 destinations.
Who’s in First?
Air France and KLM’s Bluenity community helps passengers connect before and during travel. By registering, travelers can contact fellow passengers to arrange taxi-sharing, locate friends or colleagues to meet in the lounge or on arrival, and consult a reader-generated bulletin board with destination tips such as restaurant buzz, entertainment highlights, and hotel recommendations.
EL AL Comforts
EL AL introduced the first of its four upgraded Boeing 747-400 aircraft on New York (JFK) routes, with enhancements noticeable across all classes. First and business classes feature modern sleeper seats, while economy benefits from improved seating. Every seat includes an electronic socket for laptops and an advanced digital in-flight entertainment system with expanded programming. Comparable upgrades on the remaining B747-400 aircraft were scheduled for completion in April.
New Starwoods in the East …
The 429-room Westin Jersey City Newport opened in February in the heart of Jersey City’s waterfront financial district, about 15 minutes from Manhattan. The hotel offers convenient access to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and is one block from the Pavonia–Newport PATH station, Newark Light Rail, and NJ Transit buses. Also in the Starwood portfolio, The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel & Residences opened in spring in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. The property features 151 guestrooms and suites, 51 branded St. Regis Residences, and a 7,800-square-foot Remède Spa.
And Hyatts in the West
Seattle’s Hyatt at Olive 8, which opened in January, became the city’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)–certified hotel, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices. Guest-room systems control lighting automatically, bathrooms include dual-flush toilets and water-saving showerheads, and green housekeeping uses chemical-free cleaning products. The Urbane restaurant sources regional ingredients and serves beers and wines produced in Washington and Oregon. Also in January, the first North American Andaz opened in West Hollywood, replacing the former Hyatt on Sunset. The Andaz brand emphasizes art, luxury, and local character in its guest experience.
Shares Well with Others
Codeshare partnerships continue to shift airline networks. One notable development is Air France and KLM’s preliminary agreement with Iraq to support Iraqi Airways’ return to international service and assist in renovating Baghdad’s airport after it was returned to Iraqi control. The arrangement helps Iraqi Airways resume international flights, including routes to and from Europe. Virgin Atlantic and BMI expanded their codeshare to let travelers on BMI’s U.K. domestic and Middle East networks connect seamlessly to Virgin Atlantic’s North American flights, enabling bookings that link at London Heathrow (LHR) between cities such as New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), and Los Angeles (LAX) and points in the Middle East. Japan Airlines (JAL) also broadened its Europe network through a new codeshare with British Airways, adding destinations including Lisbon (LIS) and several U.K. cities—Aberdeen (ABZ), Edinburgh (EDI), Glasgow (GLA), and Newcastle (NCL).