Airport Check-in
Roger Yu, USA TODAY, 6/9/2008 and 6/16/2008 (excerpted)
SEATTLE: Seattle-Beijing trips begin
The Seattle-Tacoma area, which has a large Asian population, finally has non-stop flight service to China.
Starting Monday, Hainan Airlines begins flying to Beijing four times a week from Seattle-Tacoma International: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It's the first U.S. city for Hainan, which is China 's fourth-largest carrier and the largest non-government-owned airline.
"It's very important to the state of Washington. China is (its) No. 1 trade partner," says Hainan's North America general manager Joel Chusid, citing local companies with a heavy presence in China, including Starbucks, Microsoft and Boeing. "There's a lot of Asian influence in Seattle."
SeaTac's discussions with Hainan began about four years ago. But the service launch date was delayed in part to the airline's desire to operate the route using Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, Chusid says.
With Boeing's delay in delivering the new jet, Hainan chose to fly with Airbus A330s for now. Hainan's business class will feature lie-flat seats with 74-inch pitch.
Hainan hopes to expand to other North American cities, and has filed paperwork with Chinese officials to launch service to Boston, Chicago, Newark and Toronto.
But the airline has not yet begun the process for the necessary approval from U.S. and Canadian regulators, Chusid says.
MONTREAL: Hotel will be part of a 70-property chain
Aloft, a new midscale hotel brand launched by Starwood Hotels in 2005, opened its first property last week, choosing Montreal-Trudeau International as its inaugural site.
Aloft will be similar in style but generally cheaper than the W Hotel, which is also owned by Starwood. Rooms feature 9-foot ceilings in a loft-style design. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi and a panel in each room that allows guests to connect multiple electronic gadgets and link them to a flat-panel TV.
Located at the entrance to the airport, the hotel will run free shuttle service to the terminals. Its lobby kiosks will also allow passengers to print boarding passes for several airlines.
Aloft plans to open about 70 hotels by the end of 2009.
INDIANAPOLIS: Northwest passengers get new way to check in
Northwest has introduced electronic boarding passes to customers traveling on non-stop domestic flights from Indianapolis International.
Those checking in at the carrier's website can elect to receive an e-mail with a bar code containing flight information to their cellphones or other handheld mobile devices. The bar code is scanned at gates, allowing passengers to bypass the process of printing the boarding pass at home or using a check-in kiosk at the airport.
Northwest, which is working with the Transportation Security Administration, plans to expand the service to other cities. Continental runs a similar program at other airports.
SAN DIEGO: It'll cost more to park at airport after Oct. 1
Airport officials in San Diego have voted to approve higher parking rates at Lindbergh Field, effective Oct. 1.
Lindbergh's on-airport lots within walking distance of the terminal now charge $1 for the first hour. The rate will rise to $3 in October and to $4.50 in 2010.
Long-term rates in the on-airport lots will also increase from $18 for the first a day ($24 for each day after) to $24 ($26 for each day after) in October. The two economy lots closest to the airport will raise their daily rates from $12 to $16.
KANSAS CITY: Main roadways under renovation
Expect road bumps and fewer driving lanes at Kansas City International in the next six weeks as it renovates main roadways. Much of the work will involve the International Circle, a large circular roadway directly in front of the three ring-shaped terminals. The road from Terminal C's exit will be particularly affected, going from five lanes to two lanes. To minimize disruption, much of the work will be done between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
PITTSBURGH: Biking/walking trail heads to airport
Officials at Pittsburgh International have approved plans to link the end of the Montour Trail — a locally popular, 46-mile biking/walking trail — directly to the airport.
The idea is to provide another transportation option for employees who want to bike to work and travelers who live nearby and want to save on airport parking. Bike racks may be installed at the parking lots. The airport may also sponsor a bike rental program for guests of the nearby Hyatt Regency Hotel who want to exercise, says airport spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny.