Competing for your transcon business
BusinessWeek--U.S. carriers have intensified competition for full-fare passengers who frequently travel between New York and Los Angeles. New York-Los Angeles is both the busiest long-haul U.S. route, with about 3.2 million passengers a year, and the most lucrative, with $1.43 billion in annual sales, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
At American, a concierge greets first-class fliers at curbside and whisks them to a special transcontinental check-in room. They're then taken to the front of the security line and the Flagship Lounge, a private facility within American's Admirals Clubs.
Once airborne on Delta, business/first passengers are plied with Veuve du Vernay Brut sparkling wine from France's Bordeaux region, along with premium California offerings such as Merry Edwards sauvignon blanc.
Lie-flat seats are the latest front in the New York-L.A. war. Delta is shifting some wide-body Boeing 767s with flat-bed seats from trans-Atlantic to cross-country service and adding flat-bed seats on existing narrow-body 757s on the routes. In November, American will start flying Airbus A321 single-aisle jets specially modified for transcon service. They'll have 10 mini-suites with flat-bed seats, 20 fully flat business-class seats, 36 coach seats with extra legroom that sell for an added fee, and only 36 traditional coach seats.
HOTEL NEWS
The Sheraton Empire Expands
The Sheraton hotel chain is planning an aggressive expansion in 2013, opening 30 new branches in the Asia-Pacific area and four in Africa and the Middle East. The Sheraton Huzhou Hot Springs Resort is perhaps the most striking, designed by Beijing-based architect Ma Yansong of MAD Architects . It features an unforgettable form of layered floors creating a ring emerging from the south bank of Taihu Lake. Standing at just over 100 meters high, the hotel covers an area of 75 acres and provides 321 rooms and villas, including 40 suites, totaling an investment of about $1.5 billion. The design is the perfect embodiment of water, giving every room a view of the lake, natural light, and ventilation. An LED light system on the exterior skin of the construct brings the metal structure to life at night, displaying colorfully animated textures and patterns reflected on the water's surface.
Filling Prescriptions Abroad
If you are going abroad with a preexisting medical problem, you should carry a letter from your attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs. Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled. Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.
Tips: Pack medicines and extra eyeglasses in your hand luggage so they will be available in case your checked luggage is lost. If you have allergies, reactions to certain medications, foods, or insect bites, or other unique medical problems, consider wearing a "medic alert" bracelet. You may also wish to carry a letter from your physician explaining required treatment should you become ill.
Information on filling a prescription abroad and other health issues may be found at Travel Health Tips. To find an accredited English-speaking physician, you can also check with the International Association for Medical Assistance (IAMAT)
