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Home Airlines Airports Destinations Fidelity Programs Travel Health Travel Tech Travel Tips Aircraft Air Safety Air Security NEWS News Center Events FLIGHTS Flight Status Flight Schedules Airport Status Airport Guides City Guides AIRGUIDE Subscribe Advertising Marketing Content Info Services About Us Contact Us Site Map	HEADLINE NEWS Mexicana Airlines filed for protection from creditors in Mexico and the US late Monday August 2, conceding in a statement that its "financial and labor situation is no longer sustainable." It said it filed a "voluntary petition to commence a case under the Mexican Business Reorganization Act" and has also filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the US. Most of the aircraft operated by the airline are leased and court protection is needed to prevent the seizing of those assets. The company said it plans to continue operations with only "minor adjustments” adding that the filings "will in no way affect the operations, flights or itineraries of MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink." Despite being subsidiaries of MX, "these airlines operate under completely different business models," the airline stated. Rewards trip specialists can help maximize points. While you can use online tracking systems to keep track of your travel reward points, another option is to hire a "rewards trip specialist," who charges a flat fee and can help you get the best deal using your reward points. "It's much easier to rely on an expert to book your award travel and it is well worth the fee," says one customer. Air travelers face an array of fees. Travelers booking tickets on the nation's airlines face an array of fees, including those for changing tickets, standby travel fees and phone reservation fees. The growing number and cost of these fees has raised concerns among lawmakers; a House subcommittee recently met to discuss whether the fees should be more clearly disclosed to travelers. Frequent flier card offers increase as demand slackens. Banks and airlines are vigorously offering credit cards linked to frequent flier miles even as consumer demand has tapered off, Joe Sharkey writes in The New York Times. Observers say the flurry of card offers represents the symbiotic relationship between the banks and the carriers. Meanwhile, the card agreements remain big revenue generators for the carriers. Hotels raise the bar on fitness rooms with high-end gyms. Hotels in cities such as Miami and London increasingly are beefing up their fitness room facilities by incorporating some of the best-known gyms into their offerings. The stylish new Gansevoort Miami Beach, for instance, is home to the Miami branch of the David Barton Gym, a massive two-level, Moroccan-inspired fitness complex featuring everything from boxing classes to endurance spinning. And in London, St. Martin's Lane houses the upscale Gymbox, considered the largest hotel gym in Europe.   Unrest in Greece leads to decline in tourism revenue. Strikes, riots and negative press have hurt Greece during the height of its travel season, and European tourists have been booking travel to the Turkish Aegean cost instead. Hotels and other members of the travel agency predict revenue generated by tourists will decline by about 10% this year. Mission accomplished on cargo screening. Despite doubts by some government auditors, the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday it had met the Aug. 1 deadline for screening 100% of cargo on domestic passenger flights. The only cargo not currently being screened is that arriving on flights from overseas. "We did not expect to meet the international inbound mandate but will continue to work with the airlines and international partners to work toward that goal," TSA spokesman Greg Soule said. Continental will shed more light on proposed United merger. Continental Airlines will shed more light on its agreement to merge with United Airlines, Continental said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The merger is expected to close at the end of this year. The airline agreed to make the disclosure after it was sued for allegedly breaching its fiduciary duty to shareholders said The New York Times. Spirit Airlines' Next Fee? Talking to a Human. Just when you thought airlines couldn't get any stingier, the CEO of Spirit Airlines said he is considering a new fee to talk with a human at the airport. Spirit Airlines now charges for checked and carry-on bags, and customer service. Yes, the airline that just started charging for carry-on bags might someday add a fee for getting some help from one of its employees, Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza told ABC News. Baldanza said passengers won't see this fee "in the very near term." Or at least not until the airline improves its airport technology. http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/spirit-airlines-fee-talking-human-airport/story?id=11306933 Gulf Coast tourism groups brace for effects of oil spill. City and state tourism offices and convention bureaus in the Gulf Coast region are taking proactive steps as the oil slick moves toward the coastline. The universal message is to encourage travelers and companies to keep their travel plans. "New Orleans is 100 miles inland and foresees no disruption in guest service or any negative impacts on visitors," the website of Louisiana's Office of Tourism notes. "We are trying to prevent cancellations and to reassure visitors to come," said a representative of a multistateconsortium of destinations. TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY NEWS Search for a WiFi Zone Some developing countries might suspend BlackBerry service. Some developing countries in the Middle East or Asia are concerned BlackBerries create a security risk and are considering suspending or banning e-mail services. "It's a reflection of fears of cybersecurity and espionage that now extend to mobile phones," said Ron Deibert, director of the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab. Concerns the devices could be used in crimes might prompt the United Arab Emirates to suspend service in October. more Travel Tech news.....	Subscribe
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