Mexico to Adopt U.S. Currency
Restriction According to the Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Mexican finance ministry,
Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público de México (SHCP), has
announced new banking regulations that will restrict the amounts of
physical cash (banknotes and coins) denominated in U.S. dollars that
Mexican banks may receive from businesses effective Sept. 14, 2010.
While these new regulations are intended to mitigate risks of
laundering proceeds of crime tied to narcotics trafficking and
organized crime, they will also impact the Mexican tourism industry.
What this means to you and your clients visiting Mexico is that the
tourism infrastructure will be forced to severely limit their
acceptance of US cash currency. Currently, travelers to popular
resort destinations often do not need to exchange U.S. currency to
Pesos as many airports, hotels and restaurants readily accept U.S.
currency. Once the regulation begins, travelers will need to ensure
they have an appropriate amount of Mexican Pesos, a credit card or
traveler's checks to avoid any problems if paying for transactions
while in Mexico or at Mexican airports. The regulations do not
restrict non-cash transactions denominated in U.S. currency (e.g.,
wire transfers, ACH payments, credit card transactions, traveler's
checks, etc.).
Air Berlin Also Invited to
Join oneworld
American has signed an agreement
with Air Berlin outlining a comprehensive codeshare and frequent
flyer relationship that will allow customers of each airline to book
and travel on the other's network and earn frequent flyer miles as
well. The airlines expect to implement the codeshare as soon as all
government approvals are received.
The codeshare agreement with Air Berlin, the second largest carrier
in Germany and the fifth largest in Europe, not only adds more
cities to American's network throughout Europe, but also offers
customers a smoother, more convenient travel experience. American
currently serves Germany with service to Frankfurt from Dallas/Fort
Worth and Chicago. With hubs in Berlin and Dusseldorf, Air Berlin
offers service to more than 160 cities in Europe, Russia and the
Middle East as well as to six cities in North America – New York,
Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fort Myers, Fla., and Vancouver.
July 19
American and JetBlue tomorrow
will launch their partnership to offer customers convenient
connections and more travel options to and from New York and Boston.
American and JetBlue also
announced today that they have agreed to begin a frequent flyer
relationship later this year. Members of American’s AAdvantage®
program and JetBlue’s TrueBlue® customer loyalty program will be
able to earn AAdvantage miles or TrueBlue points, respectively, when
they fly only on the cooperative interline routes listed below.
Under the cooperative agreement,
customers will be able to easily connect between 14 of American’s
international destinations departing from JFK and Boston, including
Barcelona, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo and 18 JetBlue
domestic markets, including Portland, Maine; Rochester, N.Y.; or
Richmond, Va. None of the routes on which the airlines will
cooperate overlap current flights flown by the other. A full list of
the cities for each airline is available below.
Customers of both airlines will
benefit from improved connections, while each airline will see
additional customers fed into their networks – JetBlue’s domestic
network and American’s international network to Europe, Asia, and
South America.
As announced previously, on Nov. 1, American will transfer eight
slot pairs at Washington Reagan National and one slot pair at White
Plains, N.Y., to JetBlue, while JetBlue will transfer 12 slot pairs
at JFK to American.
Here are lists of the markets in
which the cooperative, interline service is available, including
seamless check-in and baggage drop services for customers
connecting:
AA Markets Served from JFK and/or Boston
Barcelona (BCN) London (LHR)
Brussels (BRU) Madrid (MAD)
Paris (CDG) Manchester (MAN)
Buenos Aires (EZE) Milan (MXP)
Rome (FCO) Tokyo (NRT)
Sao Paulo (GRU) Zurich (ZRH)
Rio de Janeiro (GIG) – New Service Begins Nov. 18, 2010
Tokyo Haneda (HND) – New Service Begins Jan. 20, 2011
JetBlue Markets Served from JFK and/or Boston
Nantucket, R.I. (ACK) Portland, Ore. (PDX)
Burlington, Vt. (BTV) Phoenix, Ariz. (PHX)
Buffalo, N.Y. (BUF) Portland, Maine (PWM)
Denver (DEN) Richmond, Va. (RIC)
Houston (HOU) Rochester, N.Y. (ROC)
Washington Dulles (IAD) Fort Myers, Fla. (RSW)
Jacksonville, Fla. (JAX) Salt Lake City (SLC)
New Orleans (MSY) Sarasota, Fla. (SRQ)
July 12
NEW YORK TO TOKYO.UP TO 15,000
BONUS MILES! Just book your trip and fly on American Airlines between New
York JFK and Tokyo Narita between July 8, 2010, and September 30,
2010, on a First or Business Class ticket, and you will earn 15,000
AAdvantage® bonus miles for round-trip travel or 7,500 bonus miles
for one-way travel.
THE AMERICAN AIRLINES FLAGSHIP EXPERIENCE AWAITS.
In addition to increasing your mileage balance, you will enjoy your
flight onboard our Boeing 777 aircraft, the largest and most
comfortable aircraft in the American Airlines fleet. The 777
features lie-flat sleeper seats in First Class and a professional
atmosphere for working or resting in Business Class. Visit
www.aa.com/flagship to take a virtual tour.
REGISTER NOW.
To qualify for bonus miles between New York and Tokyo, register
prior to travel at www.aa.com/offers and enter promotion code NRT15.
If you are not already an
AAdvantage member, you can join instantly for free at
www.aa.com/enroll.
July 9
AAdvantageGold®members now
have a new check-in area at JFK. A special section of
Lane 3 is now dedicated to check-in for AAdvantageGold status and
customers traveling
on full-fare Economy tickets to help speed you through the airport.
So the next time you need personal assistance when checking in for
your flights, we will be waiting for you at Lane 3.
AAdvantageExecutive Platinum®and AAdvantagePlatinum®members may
continue to check in at any First Class check-in position.
For your convenience you may also check-in online. To use Online
Flight Check-in visit
www.aa.com/checkin
July 7
American Airlines has been
awarded final approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT) to operate daily, year-round, nonstop service between New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Tokyo International
Airport at Haneda (HND), two of the world's principal financial
centers.
The new service also will complement the two daily flights that
American's oneworld partner, Japan Airlines, plans to operate
between Tokyo Haneda and the U.S., which will give oneworld the most
daily nonstop U.S.-Haneda flights of any aviation alliance. With
almost 70 million annual passengers, Haneda is the busiest airport
in Asia, and the fourth busiest airport in the world.
The new service strengthens American’s relationship with JAL, which
has extensive operations at Haneda, and also benefits the airlines’
respective customers as oneworld will offer more daily frequencies
between the U.S. and Haneda than any other alliance. JAL initiates
service to San Francisco and Honolulu from Haneda this coming fall.
American starts service between JFK and HND on Jan. 20, 2011, with
247-seat Boeing 777, which can carry 16 passengers in First Class,
37 in Business Class, and 194 in Economy Class.
June 30
Did you know that when you travel
on select American Airlines/American Eagle itineraries, you can have
your boarding pass sent right to your mobile phone?
Since November 2008,
AA.com has given you the option to have your boarding pass sent
directly to your mobile device on select flights - saving paper and
time. This service continues to expand, and now includes American
Airlines and American Eagle flights originating from London
Heathrow, Colorado Springs, San Jose and Washington Reagan.
June 28
American Airlines is giving
AAdvantage® members the opportunity to earn triple bonus miles and
triple elite qualifying miles for travel on nonstop flights operated
by American or American Eagle between New York LaGuardia (LGA) and
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and between LaGuardia and Boston Logan (BOS).
With this offer, AAdvantage members can add more bonus miles to
their available award balance and, at the same time, qualify for
AAdvantage Gold®, AAdvantage Platinum® or AAdvantage Executive
Platinum® status at an accelerated rate.
To participate in this offer, customers need to book their ticket
and complete their travel by Aug. 31, 2010. Register prior to travel
at www.aa.com/offers using promotion code NYTPL.
June 25
American Airlines has been
awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation rights to fly 11
new flights per week between the United States and Brazil beginning
Nov. 18.
Brazil is an ever-expanding South American market. Americans’ new
service to Brasilia from Miami – AA’s largest U.S. gateway to Brazil
and to all of South America – will be the first service in a long
while from a U.S. carrier.
Brazil also is a key source of business and leisure travelers,
making it an equally important and growing market for New York City.
Flights will be available for sale beginning Sunday, June 27, 2010.
June 22
American Airlines today announced
that airport employees using the airline’s mobile YADA device –
which stands for Your Assistance Delivered Anywhere – are even
better equipped to serve customers anywhere in the airport with the
additional ability to print boarding passes.
Customers in Dallas/Fort Worth; New York (both at JFK and
LaGuardia); Chicago; Miami; Boston; Albuquerque N.M.; St. Louis; and
San Juan, Puerto Rico, can now be aided by airport employees
anywhere in the airport. The mobile YADA device enables airport
employees to provide real-time information on flights, gates,
standby lists, print bag tags and boarding passes, and even pull up
maps of other airports.
June 21
The Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) is stating that they will begin to reject
reservations for travel on or after November 1, 2010 that do not
include full Secure Flight Passenger Data. This data includes
passenger’s full name, date of birth, gender and Redress Number, if
one exists (collectively referred to as SFPD). All Secure Flight
data must be in the reservation record within 72 hours of travel, or
immediately if the reservation is made within 72 hours of departure.
Delta Air Lines has announced
that by this fall, all of its domestic flights that are longer than
750 miles, or roughly two-and-a-half hours, will offer first-class
service. The move, which is a part of the airline’s $1 billion
product and services investment, will affect 50 routes with Delta
Connection flights.
Beginning July 2, 2010,
American Eagle offers five daily nonstops between Atlanta, Georgia,
and New York LaGuardia. To celebrate this new service, they are
offering double AAdvantage miles for travel on these new nonstops
between July 2 and September 30, 2010. To qualify for the promotion,
you must register prior to travel at www.aa.com/offers and enter
promotion code LGATL.
June 17
Spirit Airlines has reached a
tentative agreement with its striking pilots, with flights
restarting as soon as Friday. Spirit said on its website it will
offer discounts and bonus miles for new bookings for a limited time.
June 14
American Airlines today announced
it will offer customers additional options when traveling on
American, with its "Your Choice"(SM) services. Your Choice provides
key services intended to make the customer travel experience even
more personalized, convenient, cost-effective and flexible than ever
before.
As part of the initial Your Choice offering, American is introducing
a "Boarding and Flexibility Package." More Your Choice services will
be offered in the future. Customers can purchase the Boarding and
Flexibility Package for travel within the continental United States
when they purchase tickets at American's website, AA.com. Details on
the Boarding and Flexibility Package are as follows:
•places you in Group 1 of General Boarding, which allows you to be
one of the first groups to board the plane for your flight. (Group 1
boards immediately following PriorityAAccess(SM) customers);
•provides a $75 Flight Change Discount, which means that if you need
to change your itinerary, you'll save $75 off the regular service
charge when applicable;
•allows you to standby for an earlier flight on your day of
departure at no charge;
•applies to all travelers in your reservation per-person charge;
•offered for an introductory price of as little as $9 each way.
Prices vary based by market and routing;
Here are some examples of
introductory prices for the Boarding and Flexibility Package on
popular American Airlines routes, (based on nonstop routing):
•$9 for Dallas/Fort Worth to Kansas City, Mo.
•$14 for Chicago O'Hare to Boston
•$14 for Dallas/Fort Worth to Orlando, Fla.
•$14 for Miami to Washington, D.C.
•$19 for New York JFK to Los Angeles
In addition to the Boarding and Flexibility Package available to
customers when purchasing their tickets at AA.com, later this summer
American will offer Group 1 of General Boarding as a stand-alone
option for customers, upon arrival at the airport. The introductory
price for the Group 1 of General Boarding option is $10 each way,
regardless of flight length, markets or routing. Services must be
purchased for the entire itinerary. This option will be available
for purchase up to one hour prior to scheduled flight departure, via
the self-service check-in machines at most U.S. – and many worldwide
– airports. Certain limitations apply for both the Boarding and Flexibility
Package and Group 1 of General Boarding. For details, please visit
www.aa.com/yourchoice.
As a reminder, American's premium
customers, including AAdvantage® elite status members and oneworld®
elite status members, will continue to enjoy PriorityAAccess
privileges, including early boarding, expedited check-in and
security screening, and the option to standby for an earlier flight
on the day of travel at no charge.
June 11
Spirit Airlines has stopped selling tickets for flights this
weekend, according to a check by The Associated Press, and has
canceled other flights as a deadline approaches for a pilots'
strike. The airline's pilots are scheduled to start striking early
Saturday morning if a deal is not reached.
June 10
Tired of
tiptoeing around baggage fees on your domestic flights? As of
this month, American Express Delta SkyMiles credit card
members can check their first bag for free on every Delta
flight. The benefit extends to as many as nine people under
the same reservation, saving each traveler as much as $50 on a
round-trip flight.
Austrian Airlines has
opened its Business Lounge Plaza and Pier Ost in Vienna to all
passengers. While lounge access is still complimentary for
business-class passengers, economy-class passengers can purchase
a day pass for €35.
Singapore Airlines
passengers who check in online and travel without check-in
baggage can now proceed directly to the immigration access point
at Changi Airport. The new Passenger Reconciliation System (PRS)
was installed at Terminals 2 and 3 this month.
May 25, 2010
American Airlines
AAdvantage® members now have one more way to boost their mileage
balance, with the introduction of AAdvantage Mileage Multiplier,
an exciting new product that lets AAdvantage members increase their
mileage balance faster by purchasing extra AAdvantage bonus miles
with every eligible flight.
Mileage Multiplier is currently available at Self-Service Check-In
machines throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands. Travel on purchased fares on American, American
Eagle or American Connection®, which are scheduled to depart within
24 hours, are eligible for the Mileage Multiplier offer. Bonus miles
purchased through the Mileage Multiplier offer are added to the
standard base miles and class of service bonus miles AAdvantage
members already earn for their flights. Mileage Multiplier bonus
miles do not count toward elite status qualification.
How it Works
· Step 1: AAdvantage members will be given the option to purchase
extra bonus miles in conjunction with their trip when checking in
for their flight at an airport Self-Service Check-In machine.
Customers who check in at AA.com will also be able to purchase
Mileage Multiplier miles – they simply need to visit a Self-Service
Check-In machine upon arrival at the airport and select the Reprint
Boarding Pass or Check Baggage option.
· Step 2: If a member’s flight is eligible for the Mileage
Multiplier offer, the screen will present a bonus mile offer of
double or triple miles, at an introductory cost of approximately
$0.03 per mile plus applicable taxes, and will navigate the customer
through the purchasing process.
· Step 3: After the purchase is complete, the bonus miles will
appear in the AAdvantage members’ account – in most cases, before
the customer arrives at their final destination.
Mileage Multiplier miles are bonus miles and do not count toward
elite status qualification. The Mileage Multiplier product is
currently offered at a rate of approximately 3 cents per mile.
Prices shown exclude 7.5% excise tax, which is applied at the time
of purchase. Prices/offers are subject to change and cancellation.
As the strike is gaining control over the problems of the passengers
of the British Airways, it just seems to be getting worse and any
sign of the situation heading towards normal routine looks grim.
The Cabin Crew of the Airways began their first of the three
five-day strikes which arose due to the long running disputes
between the Union and the Airlines.
BA authorities hope that the flights from London City and London
Gatwick airports will proceed as the Heathrow airport is paralyzed
as it is submerged in crisis.
____________________________
AMERICAN AIRLINES UPDATE
American Airlines today received authority from the U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT) to operate daily, year-round scheduled
service from New York Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Tokyo International
Airport at Haneda (HND), starting Oct. 1, 2010.
American Airlines today announced it will begin nonstop service
from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Beijing Capital
International Airport on May 25, with four flights per week, and
will operate four nonstop flights per week from Beijing to Chicago
starting May 27. Beginning July 3, American will offer daily
departures from both cities.
______________________________
May 7
American Airlines has recently
made the following modifications to its existing standby procedures
and Confirmed Flight Change service.
Standby Policy Change for Day of Travel
For travel within and between the United States, Puerto Rico, the
U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada
Only American’s Premium customers will continue to be eligible to
standby at no charge for a flight on which they are not confirmed:
* AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage
Gold members
* Customers confirmed in First or Business Class cabins
* Customers flying on certain Coach cabin fares
* Travelers book in same reservation as an eligible customer
* Customers traveling on Military fares
Confirmed Flight Change (CFC) Policy The CFC applies to all customers, regardless of status -
* A CFC may be purchased for $50.00 on the day of travel, and is
subject to availability
* A CFC may be purchased from Reservations offices, Self Service
Kiosk or Airport
Ticket Counter
* A CFC may be confirmed within 12 hours of departure of the desired
flight
______________________________
May 5, 2010
From American Airlines
We have received official
confirmation from the Mexico Embassy that as of May 1, 2010 any
passenger holding a valid US Visa and a valid passport, regardless
of their nationality is exempt of obtaining a Mexico visa when
travelling to Mexico as a transit, tourist or for business.
This decree was signed by the government of Mexico in an attempt to
promote and facilitate tourism and business into their country.
______________________________
May 3, 2010
United and Continental confirmed
this morning that the airlines would merge, a combination that will
create the world's biggest airline. In a press release, the carriers
say the all-stock deal – worth about $3 billion – will bring the
airlines together in a "merger of equals."
______________________________
American Eagle Airlines,
the regional affiliate of American Airlines, will begin nonstop jet
service between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and
Columbus Metropolitan Airport (CSG), beginning July 15. Eagle will
operate the service with 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140 jets.
On July 2, 2010, American Eagle
will begin daily nonstop service from Atlanta, Georgia to New York’s
LaGuardia airport!
SERVICE ON
AMERICAN AIRLINES FROM CHICAGO (ORD) TO BEIJING (PEK)
BEGAN MONDAY APRIL 26th WITH CONVENIENT CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE
AA SYSTEM.
American is using the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Beijing (PEK) for
customers. It is located in Terminal 3E, opposite from Gate E21,
with operating hours from 5:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily. Access will be
available for AA First and Business Class customers, as well as
oneworld Emerald/Sapphire (EP & PL), regardless of cabin. Please
note that Emerald & Sapphire tier are also permitted one guest.
Business Class is the only criteria not permitted a guest.
AMERICAN
AIRLINES UPDATE APRIL 15, 2010
As a result of a volcanic ash cloud that has penetrated Northern
European airspace the UK’s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have
advised us that UK airspace will be closed until at least 7 a.m.
local time on Friday, April 16. As a result, American Airlines
regrets to advise that all flights into and out of the UK are
cancelled until that time and that later flights could also be
subject to delay or cancellation.
Check-in at Heathrow will close at 10.50 and any passengers
scheduled to travel on flights over the next 24 hours are advised to
contact the American Airlines Reservations at 0844 499 7300 (UK),
800-433-7300 (US) or visit www.aa.com for the latest information.
We have been advised by BAA that no re-ticketing will be possible at
the airport, but all affected passengers will be re-accommodated on
alternative flights and a schedule irregularity policy allowing
passengers to change their travel plans is now in place and details
are available at www.aa.com/travelalert.
To discuss or apply any of these options please contact American
Airlines or your travel agent, whichever issued your original
documents.
__________________________
Effective April
10, 2010, AA.com check-in capabilities will include eligible
customers who are traveling on international flights.
Once a
reservation has been made, customers will have the ability to
add passport /resident alien card data and country of residence.
24 hours prior to departure, customers will be able to check-in
for their flight.
Certain
conditions must apply for travelers to be eligible for AA.com
check-in. Please visit www.aa.com/checkinfor additional
information!
__________________________
AMERICAN AIRLINES
OFFERS UP TO 50,000 AADVANTAGE BONUS MILES ON
TRANSCONTINENTAL FLIGHTS
Bonus Offer Runs April 6 - June 30, 2010
