Tangerine Travel Top News

New DOT rules for airlines go into effect this week
Rules:

1. Once full payment is made, an airline is not allowed to increase its mandatory fees, such as a fuel surcharge, or its bag fees.
   
   
2. The airlines must allow a reservation to either be held at the quoted fare without payment, or cancelled after purchase without penalty, for at least twenty-four hours after the reservation is made.
   
   
3. The baggage allowances/fees that apply at the beginning of a passenger’s itinerary must apply throughout the entire journey.
   
   In the example below, airline “A” is the first segment of the journey, airline “A’s” baggage fees apply to the entire ticket.
   
   

Tangerine Travel eases winter weather woes
Major winter weather dealt the Pacific Northwest some direct hits recently, bringing with it heavy snow, freezing rain, high winds and even hail, weather that all but paralyzed the area and plunged more than 300,000 customers in the dark.

The weather effectively shut down Sea-Tac Airport for a time, causing the cancellation of hundreds of flights, having a widespread ripple effect on air travel across the country.

Tangerine Travel headquarters was right in the physical center of the worst of the storm, but remained open and operational the whole time, living up to our pledge of service 24/7.

At one point our travel consultants and advisors fielded about 1,000 calls in 24 hours. The phones were ringing off the hook with all sorts of requests, for everything from rooms for friends of clients to people who could not get out of their driveways and needed flights changed.  Those calls came in on top of the normal load of calls from corporate and vacation clients who were conducting regular business, unaware of the weather front slamming the greater Seattle area.

The average hold time for the calls to Tangerine Travel, at the peak of the worst of the weather, as tracked by the company's software, was nine seconds.

As coincidence would have it, the weather woes in the Pacific Northwest began, with heavy snow falling, on the same morning that the Today Show ran a piece about the importance and viability of using travel agents – the saving of money, the advice, the best deals, they covered it all. 

The people calling in to Tangerine Travel from all over the globe during that most recent storm may or may not have seen the piece on the Today Show, but they can attest, for certain, that waiting a short time on the phone, if at all, and being tended to personally, with care, experience, efficiency and great results made all the difference in the world to them. 

Best advice?  Keep our phone number with you, (425)-822-2333 / (800) 678-8202, and whenever you have a travel need or a travel headache or problem that needs a solution, call Tangerine. We are standing by to help.

FlightStats Announces Winners of Airline / Airport On-Time Perfomance
FlightStats announced its winners of their annual On-Time Performance Awards See the full list here

From FlightStats:
Winner – Arrival performance among major North American airlines:
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines achieved a 2011 on-time performance record of 87.79%. The average on-time performance was 76.40% for this category. This is the second year in a row Alaska has won the award.

Winner – Departure performance among major international airports:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
SEA achieved a 2011 on-time performance record of 86.28%. The average on-time performance was 71.02%% for this category. This is the second year in a row SEA has won the award.

Winner – Major North American airports:
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

Airline and Airport News

Southwest will redesign, modernize its jet interiors
Southwest Airlines is redesigning its cabin interiors to include six more seats, more comfortable cushioning, eco-friendly carpeting and brighter, more updated colors. Passengers will still have the same usable space because of less-bulky cushions. The new seats will feature improved ergonomics for better back support. The redesign will cost $60 million and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013.

Coming soon to Atlanta: Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines hopes to take a bite out of Delta Air Lines' Atlanta market-share as it begins offering service there Feb. 12 following its purchase of AirTran last year. Southwest plans to attract customers with its low fares, lack of baggage fees and cultivation of an image that emphasizes the fun of flying. "What's different about Southwest?” asks Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins. “Our legendary customer service, our low fares -- all of that showcased by the people who make a real connection with our customers,” he says.

AirTran will stay in Wichita, Kansas as Southwest
AirTran says it will stay in Wichita after it shifts to Southwest Airlines this year. Southwest has confirmed it will offer an "equitable amount of credit" to AirTran's A+ Rewards members.

Record year at European aviation giant Airbus
Airbus delivered a total of 534 commercial aircraft to 88 customers and booked 1,419 net orders in 2011, making it the most successful year in the company’s history. Last year also marked  the tenth year in a row which saw a production increase at the aviation giant.

Delta Air Lines launches new code-share with WestJet
Delta Air Lines and WestJet have announced a code-sharing agreement on flights within the United States and Canada, further expanding the partnership between the two carriers. The code-share flights are available for purchase now, for service that just started January 23rd.

ARC: Six weeks out appears to be time for cheapest airline tickets
The best time to book the cheapest airline tickets is six weeks out, according to ARC, which processes ticket sales for the world’s airlines. It analyzed its data and found consumers who booked at that point paid 5.8 percent below 2011’s average fare of $358.30. ARC analyzed nearly $80 billion worth of ticket sales, spread across almost 144 million transactions, for flights with a U.S. origin and destination.

British Airways rolls out first refitted Boeing 777-200
Customers flying to New York’s Newark Airport have been the first to experience British Airways’ latest seats and cabins, following the first complete refit of one of the airline’s Boeing 777-200s. The aircraft was the first of 18 to be fitted with British Airways’ recently launched First cabin, new World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins and the airline’s latest Thales in-flight entertainment system.

Hotel, Car and Travel Updates

Hertz acquires NeverLost
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. announced that it has acquired, from Thales Navigation, the remaining 35% stake in Navigation Solutions, the operational arm of Hertz’s award winning NeverLost customized, in car GPS system.  Navigation Solutions will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hertz Corporation.

NBC’s “Today” to broadcast from the Bahamas in February
NBC’s “Today” show will broadcast live from the Bahamas on Feb. 9 and 10, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism announced. The long-running morning news and entertainment program will use the Atlantis Paradise Island resort as a base, and show producers are coordinating with the Tourism Ministry officials to also spotlight “signature Bahamian attractions,” including the new $12 million Straw and Craft Market.

Tourists find history, culture outside Copenhagen, Denmark
Magnificent castles and a variety of museums entice travelers to venture out of Denmark's capital of Copenhagen and out into the glorious countryside. Visitors can take a tour around the Museum of National History in Frederiksborg Castle, which is itself a striking piece of historic architecture. The town of Roskilde, once the royal capital of the Danish empire, houses a 12th-century cathedral and the Viking Ship Museum, which features five restored Viking ships.

TSA and Department of State Updates

TSA scanner operators will receive radiation tests
The Transportation Security Administration will test employees who operate its scanners to determine if they are exposed to unhealthy amounts of radiation. "TSA is dedicated to the health and safety of its employees," TSA spokesman Nico Melendez said. "We continuously test our technology to ensure it is safe for both passengers and our officers, and post all results to our website." Some critics say the TSA's scanners expose travelers to levels of radiation that could be dangerous. However, the TSA at this point has no plans to retest the machines, which it insists are safe.

Travel warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff. 

The countries listed below meet those criteria.

Iraq    01/19/2012
Congo, Democratic Republic of the    01/12/2012
Nigeria    01/12/2012
Sudan    01/11/2012
Syria    01/11/2012
Philippines    01/05/2012
Central African Republic    01/04/2012
Republic of South Sudan   12/22/2011
Cote d'Ivoire   12/16/2011
Afghanistan    12/01/2011
Burundi    11/25/2011
Eritrea    11/04/2011
Kenya    11/04/2011
Guinea    11/04/2011
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of    11/03/2011
Iran    10/21/2011
Lebanon    10/12/2011
Mauritania    10/12/2011
Mali    10/04/2011

More Travel Warnings

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Port of Seattle (SeaTac Airport news)

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If you have any questions or comments, please email
angie@tangerinetravel.com

Tangerine Travel, Ltd.
16017 Juanita Woodinville Way NE
Suite 201
Bothell WA 98011

(425) 822-2333
(800) 678-8202

www.tangerinetravel.com

The Langham, Boston Valentine Packages


Couple's Romantic Escape Package
Treat yourself and your sweetheart this February with a romantic escape. Enjoy a pampering massage and a decadent, sweet treat with your overnight stay. This package is even sweeter with the exclusive savings of more than US$115. This special romantic offer includes:

• Luxury overnight accommodations
• Romantic In Room Amenity of Chocolate CoveredStrawberries
• 60 Minute Chuan Harmony Massage in our Chuan Body + Soul Couple's Suite
• Use of fitness facilities & indoor pool at Chuan Body + Soul

Save over US$115 when you book this package. Rates start from US$470 per room, per night, based on double occupancy and package must be booked 2 days in advance of arrival. Reservations are required for couple's spa treatment at Chuan Body + Soul.


Victorian Valentine's Day Package
Travel back in time with a romantic Victorian Valentine's Day dinner for two. Seated in the beautiful BOND restaurant/lounge or Wyeth Room, enjoy being treated like royalty while indulging in a delicious four-course dinner and listening to live music. Afterwards, cozy up with your loved one in any of our luxurious room accommodations. This package includes:

• Luxury overnight accommodations
• Victorian Valentine's Day four-course dinner and bottle of champagne for two in BOND restaurant/lounge or
  Wyeth Room
• Use of fitness facilities & indoor pool at Chuan Body+ Soul

Save over US$60 when you book this package. Package is valid for the night of Tuesday, February 14, 2012 only. Rates start from US$445 per room, per night, based on double occupancy and package must be booked 5 days in advance of arrival. Reservations are required for the Victorian Valentine's Day Dinner.

Spring Clearance Sale with Princess Cruises


Save up to $2000 and receive up to $100 on-board credit per stateroom. 14 warm weather itineraries are available for as little as $75 per day!

Here are a few choices to ask your Tangerine Travel Vacation Specialist about:

Treetops Lodge & Estate
Rotorua, New Zealand

Set in the mythical land of Rotorua, not far from where Lord of the Rings was filmed, Treetops Lodge & Estate is one of the world’s foremost ecotourism retreats. The timber and stone accents complement the natural features of the surrounding land. A spring-fed stream flows directly under the lodge, carrying trout as it tumbles past. Take advantage of 2,500 acres of native forest, seven trout streams and four lakes with more than 40 miles of walking trails, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and fishing. Return to the lodge for a succulent meal of the region’s most delectable game, produce and fine wines.

Virtuoso Amenity
Choice of $50 spa credit, once per stay, or leisurely hike to Bridal Veil Waterfall, including lunch with bottle of New Zealand Champenoise.