Lufthansa Restructures German Fares
Lufthansa German Airlines tomorrow will make available restructured fares across the domestic network for the winter schedule. The carrier said the more flexible fares do not require a minimum stay or advance booking and are as low as 98 euros (US$97), or 88 euros if booked online. "Lufthansa's new fare system will enable customers to select the fares and the conditions attached to them that best suit their requirements and also make enormous savings if they book their flights carefully," the carrier said. Officials said the new offerings "make flying at off-peak times more attractive for business and leisure travelers alike." Lufthansa's fare redesign, the latest in a series of pricing changes enacted by European carriers, comes amid growing domestic competition from a pack of low-fare carriers. It will expand in October to the United Kingdom and Turkey and later to other European countries.
More Lawsuits Hit Marriott
Marriott International—already coping with lawsuits filed this spring by owners of various hotels it manages—was served with additional court actions in late-August. The latest complaint, brought by Strategic Hotel Capital LLC, alleged that, among other things, Marriott concealed profits. Of special interest to buyers is the related charge that the operator sold its guest lists to third parties, raising questions about the privacy of this data and the purposes for the information such third parties might have in mind.
Cendant Acquisition Raises Buyer Concern
Cendant Corp.'s acquisition last month of online hotel reservations site Lodging.com has left corporate buyers in a quandary. Already coping with questions from travelers who have found cheaper than the negotiated rates for preferred hotels on sites such as this, buyers are questioning Cendant's good faith in negotiating rates for brands in another part of its operation, including Ramada, Days Inn and Wingate Inns.
Delta, Virgin To Link Loyalty Programs
Effective Oct. 1, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways will provide frequent flyer program reciprocity to their customers. The agreement includes mutual mileage accrual and redemption and a double mileage promotion on certain routes through Dec. 15.
Carriers Prep New Routes
Alaska Airlines this fall will expand its transcontinental network when it launches daily nonstop flights between Seattle and both Miami and Newark. Beginning Oct. 28 and Nov. 21, respectively, the two new routes will add to the carrier's existing Seattle-Boston and Seattle-Washington, D.C., service. Alaska noted two of its codeshare partners, American and Continental airlines, operate hubs at Miami and Newark, respectively. For its part, Continental on March 6 will initiate daily nonstop flights between Newark and Geneva, complementing existing Newark-Zurich flights. Meanwhile, Emirates Airlines next June plans to launch its first North American route, Dubai-New York, if the U.S. Department of Transportation gives it the green light. The Dubai, U.A.E.-based carrier plans to follow with additional North American gateway openings in late 2003 and early 2004, including Chicago, Los Angeles and Toronto.
Rosenbluth Lands J.V. in Mexico
Rosenbluth International last week entered into a joint venture agreement with VillaTours S.A. de C.V., a corporate travel agency based in Monterrey, Mexico. The new jointly managed business, now operational, is named VillaTours-Rosenbluth and is set to be one of the three highest grossing travel management companies in Mexico with $60 million in annual air sales, according to Pieter Rieder, Rosenbluth vice president of strategic markets.
Oracle Re-Ups With E-Travel
Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Oracle Corp. late last month upgraded to version 4.7 of the E-Travel Aergo corporate booking tool it formerly owned, according to an employee communication. The company's commitment to extending its usage of the tool comes just as E-Travel, now owned by Amadeus, is planning the late fall release of version 5.0, to include Jet Blue and Southwest airlines, Web-only fares and enhanced hotel functionality. Meanwhile, E-Travel last week said it released the 4.0 version of its Aergo Global, formerly the Amadeus Corporate Traveller booking tool, which it said is used in more than 20 countries.