bigdelta

many destinations and also a few good deals this month-book May 12-23 to fly May 24-August 25.

Since you want to pick nits,"direct means one or more stops",nonstop means nonstop.

Don't forget my separate thread re:20 days of strikes on BA.

Here's a link for those not familiar: http://www.viewtalaycondos.com/viewtalay1.htm BTW,which cable system does your unit have,Suckphon or UBC? I lived closeby in VT 2A and both VT1 & 2 are in a good location.

Airbus hikes A380 sales target- Doubles 2010 target to more than 20 superjumbos * Sales chief says single-aisle output could rise again * No decision on re-engining project PARIS, May 10 (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus (EAD.PA) doubled its target for 2010 sales of its A380 superjumbo to more than 20 on Monday, saying a rebound in passenger traffic pointed to resilience in the world economy. The world's largest passenger jet manufacturer also signalled confidence in a relatively shallow downturn in the aircraft business cycle by saying production could rise again following an increase already planned for later this year. The comments came in a briefing by Airbus sales director John Leahy, monitored by webcast. Leahy, who earlier this year forecast sales of up to 10 A380s worth $340 million each in 2010, said sales of the world's largest airliner could exceed 20 this year. Airbus, which competes with Boeing (BA.N), has predicted a total of 250-300 plane orders in 2010 and deliveries from previous sales in line with last year's record total of 498. It has found buyers for a total of 202 A380s but critics say the 525-seat plane, which entered service in 2007, has sold relatively poorly compared to upcoming mid-sized models because it is restricted to flying between large intercontinental hubs. Leahy said airline traffic was recovering from recession and that sharp growth in freight volumes carried by air indicated a strong recovery in the global economy. Over the long term, the growth of "megacities" would support A380 sales. "You can't have economic recovery without air traffic and you can't have air traffic without aircraft," Leahy said. Several airlines earlier reported drops of up to a quarter in traffic in April due to the volcanic ash crisis but Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA) said the underlying picture was positive. Leahy said aircraft production was likely to be less volatile than the 30 percent drops from peak to trough seen in previous downturns, since Airbus and Boeing had shown restraint. Airbus cut production of the A320-family short to medium-haul planes to 34 a month from 36 in October but has since announced plans to reverse the cut later this year. Leahy said the move after that was "more likely to be up rather than down". He said Airbus had not yet decided whether to push ahead with a possible project to upgrade the engine on the A320 family, whose single-aisle plane category is seen as the lifeblood for both Airbus and Boeing, with its rival 737. The "re-engining" project is designed to deliver interim fuel savings before a new generation of aircraft becomes available next decade and would cost $1 billion, Leahy said. Boeing has hinted it might pass on the re-engining and try to leapfrog Airbus by moving straight to an all-new plane earlier than anticipated, but Leahy predicted that Boeing would follow suit if Airbus decided to put new engines on the A320. He said a decision may not be ready for a few months and there was a case to be made both for and against re-engining. The re-engining project is significantly cheaper than the cost of a new plane, which would need an investment of $10-12 billion, but engine makers say the technology available for an all-new generation will not be available before next decade.

Action due to start May 18, run until June 9 * BA says action unjustifiable * Plans to operate substantial part of longhaul services By Michael Holden LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) - British Airways (BAY.L) cabin crew are to hold 20 days of strike action in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions threatening weeks of misery for travellers, the Unite union said on Monday. BA said it aimed to operate a substantial part of its scheduled longhaul services and flights from two London airports would be unaffected. The action, to be staged over a four-week period, will be the third wave of strikes by BA staff this year. Walkouts in March caused chaos for passengers over the busy Easter holiday period and cost the company millions of pounds. Unite said the first strikes would begin on May 18 and run until May 22. Then there will be further walkouts on May 24-28, May 30-June 3 and June 5-9. "Passengers and investors alike will be dismayed that British Airways management rejected an approach by the union over the weekend, after their offer had been comprehensively turned down by their own employees," Unite's joint General Secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley said in a statement. "Cabin crew are left with no choice but to take further strike action," they said, adding the seven days until the first strike gave BA bosses sufficient time to reopen negotiations. Unite said it would also hold a further ballot of BA cabin crew for industrial action over issues arising from the company's conduct during the dispute. The union, which represents about 90 percent of BA's 12,000 cabin crew, said 81 percent of those balloted had voted against BA's latest offer last week. [iD:nLDE6461DA] NO JUSTIFICATION BA said: "We are confident that many crew will again ignore Unite's pointless strike call and support the efforts of the rest of the airline to keep our customers flying." It said flights from London Gatwick and London City airports would be unaffected, and it aimed to operate much of its longhaul services from London Heathrow. "We are speaking to a number of carriers about leasing in extra aircraft to support our shorthaul schedule and also obtaining thousands of seats from other airlines to help our customers rebook if their original flight is cancelled," BA said, adding details of the revised Heathrow schedule would be announced four or five days before the strike begins. BA, which last month sealed its long-awaited merger with Spain's Iberia (IBLA.MC), is aiming to save 62.5 million pounds ($97 million) a year to counter falling demand, volatile fuel prices and greater competition. It has estimated the seven days of walkouts in March cost it 45 million pounds and that last month's volcano ash-related disruption cost it around 20 million a day in revenue.

Racial profiling?

Scam,what scam?With my newfound riches,I plan to buy FLB and put Martin out of his misery. I will then offer him reduced barfines and drink prices and also lower barfines for those over 60. But if your BMI is above the norn,you'll pay extra,so it's a tradeoff.

Lou was installing a new door and found that one of the hinges was missing. He asked his sister, Diane,if she would go to Home Depot and pick up a hinge. Diane agreed to go. While she was waiting for the manager to finish serving a customer,her eye caught a beautiful bathroom faucet. When the manager was finished, Diane asked him, "How much is that faucet?" The manager replied, "That's a gold plated faucet and the price is $500.00. Diane exclaimed, "My goodness, that is a very expensive faucet. It's certainly out of my price bracket." She then proceeded to describe the hinge that Lou had sent her to buy. The manager said that he had them in stock and went into the storeroom to get one. From the storeroom the manager yelled. "Ma'am, do you wanna screw for the hinge?" Diane paused for a moment and then shouted back, "No, but I will for the faucet." This is why you can't send a woman to Home Depot !!!

Boeing says Dreamliner on track for 2010 delivery. HAMBURG, May 9 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) is on track to deliver its first 787 Dreamliner, which will compete with Airbus's (EAD.PA) A380 jet, the company's head of commercial airplanes said late on Saturday. Boeing is due to deliver the first 787 to All Nippon Airways (9202.T) by the end of this year. "Testing is going well. If there are no unexpected discoveries, we'll be on track," said James Albaugh, President and Chief Executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes on the sidelines of an event. Production of the carbon-composite airplane was delayed five times in three years, and the first flight was postponed six times, due to a shortage of bolts, faulty design and a two-month strike at its factory. Some market experts have said the delivery schedule for the Dreamliner, which made its first test flight in December after two years of delays, is too ambitious. Boeing has already received more than 850 orders for the plane. Boeing and rival Airbus were dogged in 2009 by fewer orders for planes as carriers around the world grappled with falling travel demand in a sagging economy. But a recovering economy and brighter outlook for airlines point to a stronger 2010. Boeing shares have rallied about 26 percent this year on expectations of a commercial rebound. The company reported a higher-than-expected first-quarter profit despite making fewer deliveries as it held down costs at its commercial airplane division [iD:nN20252563]. EADS's shares have meanwhile eased 3.8 percent on persistent cost problems on the A380 aircraft as well as concern that the company could be hit with additional costs related to the delayed A400M military transport plane. Commenting on the planned merger of United Airlines parent UAL Corp (UAUA.O) and Continental Airlines (CAL.N), which will create the world's biggest airline, Albaugh said he expected the carriers to profit from the deal. He sidestepped a question on whether the two airlines could cancel some outstanding aircraft orders as a result of the merger, saying only that he had sent the companies congratulatory notes via e-mail. The merger was expected to trigger a scramble between Boeing and Airbus, as well as engine makers, over the fate of almost $22 billion in outstanding plane orders and control of any future fleet replacement decisions. Both Continental and United have order for Boeing planes, including 35 single-aisle 737s and 50 Dreamliners. "I expect they will rationalise their fleets," Albaugh said, without being more specific. Albaugh also said Boeing still plans to announce in June whether it will increase production of its 737 single-aisle plane from its current rate of 31 planes per month. The company has not yet said by how much it would raise the production rate.

THERE is a new wave of fees gaining momentum in the airline industry — surcharges for certain seats — but the prices carriers are charging are all over the map. While fees for checked luggage have settled to around $15 to $35 per bag, airlines are still experimenting with how much extra they can charge for seat assignments, which currently range from $5 to $50 or more for a domestic flight. Seat fees generally fall into two categories: the extra $6 to $20 AirTran Airways and Spirit Airlines charge passengers to reserve any seat (rather than be assigned a random seat at check-in); or premiums other airlines are charging for more desirable seats, like those with extra legroom. Continental, Frontier, JetBlue, United and US Airways are pursuing this premium seat approach, while British Airways is doing both; it charges extra to reserve any seat before check-in, and more still for premium seats. In some cases, the so-called premium seats offer a tangible benefit — typically, more legroom — but carriers are also trying to earn a few extra dollars for seats in more favorable locations like those at the front of the plane, and that may be a tougher sell. “Exit rows have extra legroom so I understand trying to sell those seats,” said Matt Daimler, founder of SeatGuru.com, which offers airline seat maps and tips on choosing a better seat (for instance, avoiding ones that don’t recline). Mr. Daimler said he is more skeptical about carriers charging for seats simply because they are at the front of the plane. “The ostensible benefit is you’re getting off the plane quicker,” he said. “But is that worth an extra $8 or so a flight? Not in my opinion. If you have carry-on bags and you want to make sure you get overhead space, being toward the back is better because airlines usually board back to front.” Based on surveys of SeatGuru visitors, Mr. Daimler said extra legroom is the benefit passengers most value when choosing a seat, and that seems to be the main perk airlines are hoping to sell. JetBlue promotes its premium seats as EML seats, which stands for “even more legroom” and promises customers at least four extra inches of legroom if they pay for these seats (typically in rows 2 to 5 and the exit rows). Mateo Lleras, a JetBlue spokesman, said that the airline is testing price points for its EML seats, but they generally cost $10 for short flights, $25 for medium-length flights and $40 for longer flights, like from New York City to Los Angeles. But when I bought a JetBlue ticket on that route recently, and the only seats available at no surcharge were in the middle, I thought $40 for a seat with more legroom was a little steep — particularly since JetBlue charges the same price for a middle EML seat as it does for one on the aisle. I decided to wait and see if a regular aisle seat opened up by the time I checked in online; one did, so I switched at no extra charge. That is the gamble with the new seat shuffle: a better (free) seat might open up during check-in or at the airport, especially if the plane is full and airlines have to release their premium seats to give everyone a seat on the plane. How that process works is a bit murky, and many of the details of these seat policies seem to be closely guarded secrets. Spirit Airlines does not even inform customers until after they have bought a ticket that there will be an additional fee to choose a seat, while representatives from Continental and US Airways refused to reveal the range of seat fees they charge. In general, prices for premium seats are based on the distance of the flight and when you’re traveling, so they may cost more during peak travel times. The fees are typically nonrefundable and do not transfer to a new itinerary if you change your plans; nor do they usually come with advance boarding privileges. Southwest, which still has an open seating policy, has taken a different approach and is selling priority boarding instead. For $10 per flight, Southwest’s Early Bird Check-in service automatically checks passengers in 36 hours before flight time, ahead of the typical 24-hour window. That doesn’t guarantee a spot in Southwest’s “A” boarding group — the first passengers allowed on the plane — but Christi Day, a Southwest spokeswoman, said it usually results in an “A” boarding pass, which means that you board after “A-List” Rapid Rewards members and passengers who have paid for higher-priced Business Select fares. Knowing that I wasn’t going to be near a computer before a recent Southwest flight, I paid for the Early Bird Check-in and ended up being among the first 10 people to board the plane. As it turned out, the flight was half empty, but I didn’t regret spending the extra money. As Ms. Day said, “It takes some of the stress away.” To me, $10 was a fair price for that peace of mind.

When I saw this headline,it all became clear as to why our own "villayouth" is such a big Aston Villa fan.

http://www.travelerscenturyclub.org/

I have only spent 2 nights there and it is very nice and a great location but I can't imagine using my points for the stay,unless you're not planning on using them elsewhere.My point is with so many affordable places in Patts,why waste Marriott points there.I have quite a few points with them and never considered using,or I consider wasting them,in Patts.I will use Vegas as an example.How much time do you actually spend in the room or loom in Patts?

Only time will tell but it appears to be a good price.Those potential $$ you saved can be spent wisely in Patts.

I agree.I took an old Northwest 747-400 back from Tokyo to Atlanta.You may be stuck with those 747s for a while because DTW is a former NW hub.Even in Business,it wasn't the greatest-food and service were fine but it's an old plane.I much prefer the much newer 777-200 on that route.And this winter,the longest distance commercial plane out there will be flying Atlanta/Tokyo-777-200LR.

Lauderhill is just up the road... Guess I'll have to bringh a book to kill the ensuing boredom. Now if the All Blacks had been in town,that would have been different.

easily

The ONLY way we'll score a goal would be from the penalty spot! Not to worry-just find a favorite watering whole and enjoy your stay.

MNL-GUM $690 RT-add your Yap segment on CO and BKK-MNL segments on whomever. Or MNL-YAP $1209 just add your BKK-MNL segs and you're good to go. Doing separate tkts on various carriers works often times.If I liked you better,I'd make more of an effort to help.

Despite Delta, Mergers Not Easy- CHICAGO (TheStreet) -- Because the last airline merger, between Delta(DAL) and Northwest went smoothly, it is presumed the next merger will go smoothly as well. And why not? The economy is improving. Continental(CAL) and United(UAUA), which announced their intent to merge on Monday, are performing well. The airline industry, which cut capacity in response to the 2008 fuel-price spike and the subsequent recession, seems to have positioned itself to benefit from the recovery. Still, "airline mergers are not easy work, in part because so many of the major influences are completely outside everyone's control" said consultant Robert Mann, who cited the SARS epidemic, the Sept. 11 attacks, rising fuel costs and a recessionary economy as examples. "People on TV are saying that putting together these airlines is easy," said Robert Roach, general vice president of the International Association of Machinists. "It isn't. People say the Delta merger is all put together, but (Delta) is still trying to work out representation issues, and a few thousand of people have lost their jobs" since the merger. Additionally, Roach noted, pilots at US Airways(LCC) have yet to work out seniority integration five years after the merger with America West. Today, it is widely forgotten that before the Delta merger, airline industry chatter frequently included the thought that airline mergers are disruptive and often unsuccessful. Failure models abound, including Pan Am with National in 1978, Piedmont with US Air in 1987, American(AMR) with Reno in 1999 and American with TWA in 2001. Not to mention the 1986 Texas Air purchase of Eastern, whose stripped assets helped to build the new Continental. The list goes on and on. Yet the warm glow from the Delta/Northwest merger seems to have overwhelmed the unpleasant memories. So forgive Roach, who entered the airline industry as a TWA ramp worker, if he raises a few questions. The IAM, by the way, is the largest union at United, representing 16,000 workers: it also represents 9,500 Continental flight attendants. "There are various scenarios in mergers -- how they intend to integrate and operate; whether certain cities lose service, which means you lose employees, employee pensions, benefit and job security, and the harm or benefit for passengers." Roach said. "We have not seen any details," he said. "Once we scrutinize the filing, once we do all the due diligence, then we will make a decision as to what position we will take." Pilots at Continental and United seem willing to discuss a deal along the lines of the one that Delta negotiated with its pilots. But the leaders of both pilots unions say the Delta deal is just a starting point, particularly when it comes to outsourcing flying to regional carriers. One potential loser in the merger is Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, one of the worldwide 10 hubs that would be operated by the combined carriers, but one that appears to have a role similar to that of Chicago's O'Hare International. Asked about Cleveland's future on a conference call with reporters and analysts, Continental CEO Jeff Smisek, who would lead the new company, responded: "We understand how important good air service is to Cleveland (and) Cleveland will always be important to the combined carrier." However, he said, "We are always responsive to market demand (and) you need to look at where the demand is." In fact, although Continental calls Cleveland a hub, that role must be defined broadly, because the Cleveland hub has only about 170 daily departures, mostly on regional jets. In 2008 and 2009, Continental briefly tried trans-Atlantic service from Cleveland, first to Paris, then to London, but shut it down in the recession. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Continental has reduced Cleveland flights 24% since late 2007, compared with cutbacks of 18% at Houston and 10% at Newark. Its Cleveland workforce totals 2,200, while its affiliates employ another 1,000. On Monday, local officials, including U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, held a news conference to seek to assure that the importance of Cleveland Hopkins is not diminished in the merger. "I wouldn't call us a loser, because we don't know," said airport spokeswoman Jacqueline Mayo. "I don't think they have sat down with us and said 'this is what will happen.' I am sure that eventually, (they) will." Of course, a key question involves regulatory approval. On the conference call, Smisek reminded that the partners have no international route overlap and that "Continental is strong where United is weak and United is strong where Continental is weak." From a regulatory standpoint, this is "a match made in heaven," he said. Even for airline geeks, it is a challenge to find a route where Continental and United are the only carriers that provide service. Try it. The only one we found was Cleveland-Denver. Still, it is a bit early to declare victory. Recall that on the Delta earnings conference call in April, CEO Richard Anderson warned that regulatory approval now comes more slowly than it did in the latter days of the Bush administration, when the Delta/Northwest merger was approved in less than seven months. Delay is the foremost enemy of this proposed merger, because that allows for more of the exogenous events that always have and always will plague the airline industry.

My thoughts too until I saw it was in "Airline Deals". BigD probably booked a return immediately before reading post.....

I have heard good things about Ponape though the subject of toplessness wasn't discussed. As an alternate routing to Micronesia,how about a cheap ticket on Air Asia to the Australian island/continent and a separate ticket on another carrier onward?

So,I guess the curry is better than the football in Birmingham,(Villa Park)huh? OUCH!

How about a Cinco de Agosto also..............