English: Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

British Airways is complying with the new security requirements from the US Government on flights from the UK to the US.

All British Airways flights continue to operate as normal. Please advise your clients to arrive in good time for the various stages of their journey including check-in, main security search areas and at the boarding gate. Customers may be subject to additional searches and questions.

Customers on flights from the UK to the US must be able to comply if asked with the following requests: 

Customers may be asked to turn on any electronic or battery powered devices such as telephones, tablets, e-books and laptops in front of security teams and/or demonstrate the item’s functionality.

Please advise your clients to do all they can to ensure that items they bring are fully powered before they arrive at the airport.

For more information including FAQs, please visit batraveltrade.com. To book our special fares, call Charles “CJ” Jones @ 1-800-438-5828 or email him @ cwjones@wilcoxtravel.com. To book online click here!

DALLAS — Delta is providing more details about changes to its frequent-flier program after complaints about the overhaul from some travelers.

Delta is changing its program so that starting in 2015, customers will earn miles based on how much they spend, not just miles flown.

On Thursday, the airline released charts showing how many miles you’ll need to earn a free trip. That’s a key piece of information for SkyMiles customers that Delta had planned to hold back until late this year.

Delta is leaving the minimum number of miles needed for a U.S. trip at 25,000 miles and lowering requirements on some flights, especially international ones in business and first class.

The the airline decided to release the miles-needed charts now instead of in the fourth quarter because “customers were asking for greater transparency,” Jeff Robertson, Delta’s vice president of loyalty programs, said in an interview.

The reaction among loyalty-program experts was mildly positive.

Brian Kelly, founder of travel website ThePointsGuy.com, said the redemption rates were good news, although much will depend on how many seats Delta makes available for people cashing in miles.

Jonathan Wu of the consumer-finance website ValuePenguin.com said the new redemption rates “look like minor tweaks.” Even though Delta didn’t broadly raise mileage requirements, the overall changes in SkyMiles will still make the program less valuable for leisure travelers, he said.

Last week, Delta announced that starting next Jan. 1, it will base miles earned on how much passengers spend — a big advantage for business travelers and others who buy expensive tickets. Robertson acknowledged that leisure travelers who won’t fare as well “shared their disappointment with us.”

Loyalty programs at Southwest, JetBlue and Virgin America are already based on spending, not miles.

www.delta.com/content/dam/delta-www/skymiles/2015-program/2015SMP-award.pdf

Airlines are scrubbing U.S. flights ahead of another winter storm forecast to bring snow to the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states after dumping a fresh blanket across the Midwest.

More than 500 U.S. flights already have been scrapped for today, industry data provider FlightAware said on its website. FlightAware said cancellations for the President’s Day holiday reached 1,379, along with 4,445 delays, as Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports lost the most flights.

East Coast airports including the New York area’s three hubs are in the path of the storm, putting carriers including American Airlines Group (AAL) Inc., United Continental Holdings (UAL) Inc. and Delta Air Lines (DAL) Inc. on alert. Early cancellations help airlines move jets away from bad weather, ensuring that passengers aren’t at risk and letting carriers fly elsewhere.

The industry had to scrap more than 7,500 flights on Feb. 13, a toll higher than any one-day count during 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, when a storm walloped the Northeast a day after smacking the Southeast. That one-two punch meant that Delta was still untangling its Atlanta hub as snow fell from Virginia to Maine.

Last week’s storm helped damp investor sentiment, Hunter Keay, a New York-based analyst at Wolfe Research, told clients in a Feb. 14 note. The nine-carrier Bloomberg U.S. Airlines Index fell 0.5 percent for the week, paring its 2014 gain to 12 percent. The Standard Poor’s 500 Index was down 0.5 percent so far this year.

MasFlight, an industry data provider, estimated that more than 98,000 U.S. flights had been scrubbed through last week since Dec. 1.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ed Dufner in Dallas at edufner@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Ed Dufner at edufner@bloomberg.net

MEMPHIS, TN –

(WMC-TV) – A huge burst of optimism is coming out of Memphis International Airport following two recent meetings with a low cost carrier interested in coming to the Bluff City.

“JetBlue is a great airline. Much like Southwest, they are customer focused,” Jack Sammons said. “I expect they will come at some point.”

Jack Sammons is chairman of the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority. He said that he and the airport’s president met with JetBlue executives a week ago and said they were “profoundly interested” in coming to Memphis.

A few days later, Sammons got an assist from Memphis Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien, who had business with JetBlue’s CEO.

Sammons told Action News 5, “He was up there to meet with him and he thought, ‘Hey while I’m here why don’t I plug for Memphis.’ What a great partner he is for Memphis and a member of this community and delighted to have him join in the affirmation of this great opportunity for JetBlue to come to Memphis.”

This comes on the heels of Southwest Airlines’ success in Memphis. The company has been here officially since November 2013.

“They’re overwhelmed by their success here,” said Sammons. “I suspect at some point they may very well be our largest carrier in this market.”

Sammons says he will learn more about Southwest’s plans for the upcoming year next week when he visits the company’s headquarters.

As for JetBlue, the problem may be finding enough aircraft to fly in and out of Memphis. Another meeting with JetBlue and Memphis airport leaders is tentatively set up in two months.

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Holiday-makers hoping to travel to Scandinavia this summer will be forced to fly from Manchester after a leading airline cancelled all flights from Liverpool to Copenhagen.

John Lennon Airport (JLA) confirmed the Norwegian Airlines north European route was to be halted in March, at the start of the summer season.

Flights were expected to run twice weekly – on Mondays and Fridays – until the end of October, but bosses said the service “has not performed to their expectations.”

The cancellation could mean up to 10,000 fewer travellers pass through the Liverpool airport this year, as 64 flights carrying more than 150 passengers will now not go ahead.

A spokesman for JLA said: “Norwegian have decided not to continue their twice weekly service to Copenhagen from Liverpool for the forthcoming summer season, as this route has not performed to their expectations.

“However we are continuing to talk to the airline about opportunities to other destinations from Liverpool for the Winter 2014/15 season as they continue to open other bases across Europe.”

John Royle, who visits Scandinavia four times a year to see his daughter, said the change could impact on how regularly he made the trip. He added: “Every time I have been on that route it’s been packed.

“I think it is such a shame. It’s just so inconvenient having to go to Manchester to travel.“We used to go four times a year. We could get to the airport in 20 minutes, but this means we may be forced to go less. I hope somebody comes along and reinstates the service.”

The loss of Norwegian Airlines followed last week’s news that JLA had losses of £7.1m in the 12 months to March 31 last year  – worse than the £6.5m loss reported in 2011/12.

KPMG, the airport’s auditors, warned in the airport’s annual report that “material uncertainty” cast doubts on the company’s ability to maintain the site.

A JLA spokesman said the company “remains optimistic over future growth in business and is working closely with a number of existing and new airlines.”

Yesterday the ECHO revealed talks were ongoing with German airline Lufthansa, though no concrete plans were yet in place for it to run services to and from Liverpool.

Venezuela is cracking down on the scrape, a bargain-travel scheme widely reported last fall—and may wind up reducing its air service as a result.

Travelers in the inflation-wracked South American nation have been able to exploit the difference between the official exchange rate and the black market rate by buying airline tickets in the local currency and exchanging up to $3,000. That provision had meant flights from Venezuela got booked up months in advance and roused the ire of government officials, who are trying to conserve their supply of hard currency (the U.S. greenback), which has dwindled to a 10-year low. Due to Venezuela’s currency controls, airlines have $3.3 billion from their local sales “trapped,” as United Airlines’ (UAL) chief financial officer phrased it last week. Airlines are balking at the government’s offer to honor that debt with bonds, cash, and jet fuel, according to the Associated Press.

Panama’s Copa Airlines (CPA) has more than $400 million stuck in Venezuela and will likely need to write off some that it won’t be able to repatriate, Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth wrote in a client note last week. Copa shares have dropped 14.5 percent this month, mostly due to investor concerns over its Venezuelan exposure. United said Thursday that it has $80 million awaiting repatriation from Venezuela, and it has also stopped selling tickets there for Copa, a partner airline.

The government said Friday that it would allow travelers to Florida—one of the top destinations for Venezuelans—to charge only $700 annually on their credit cards, down from $2,500. The measure also applies to travel to Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dutch Antilles. The allowance for online credit card purchases at foreign sites was reduced from $500 to $300. The government will save $1.6 billion from the new rules, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing a foreign trade official.

Venezuela has devalued its currency multiple times, including on Jan. 22 when it erected a dual exchange rate that is established via weekly auction. The latest auction rate is 11.4 bolivars per dollar, compared with the official exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars. The official rate had previously applied to travel allowances, airline tickets, and foreign remittances but those will now be subject to the higher auction rate. The devaluations have intensified inflation—currently near 60 percent—but make Venezuela’s debt service easier to manage.

As a result of the changes, several airlines have stopped selling tickets in Venezuela, including Air Canada, Air Europa, a Spanish airline, and Tame, an Ecuadorean carrier. Tame has also suspended its daily flight from Quito to Caracas owing to difficulties in repatriating about $43 million since April 2013. An Air Canada spokeswoman said that the airline’s flights from Toronto to Caracas will continue. Martha Pantin, a spokeswoman for American Airlines (AAL)—which flies to Venezuela from Miami, New York, Dallas, and Puerto Rico—says the airline has no plans to reduce its service and is working with the government to obtain its money.

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Southwest Airlines will be launching daily nonstop service from the United States to several new destinations in the Caribbean, the company announced Monday.

The service will begin on July 1, 2014, Southwest President and CEO Gary Kelly announced in a release.

The carrier will be launching daily nonstop service from Atlanta to Aruba and Montego Bay Jamaica and from Baltimore/Washington to Aruba, Nassau and Montego Bay, with twice-daily service to Montego Bay.

The carrier will additionally be launching daily nonstop service from Orlando to Montego Bay and Saturday-only service to Aruba.

It represents the first phase of what Southwest is calling an “international conversion plan.”

AirTran, which was acquired by Southwest in 2011, will continue operating flights between Atlanta and Nassau and between Chicago and Montego Bay and to and from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

“Southwest Airlines democratized the sky from our first flights more than four decades ago,” Kelly said. “Today’s milestone enables us to reach new territory, new Customers, and build upon a four decade foundation of doing right by the travelers who trust our value and our people.”

Last Updated: January 24, 2014

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens planning to attend the 2014 Olympic Games in Russia that they should remain attentive regarding their personal security at all times. The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens planning to attend the 2014 Olympic Games in Russia that they should remain attentive regarding their personal security at all times. The Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place in Sochi, Russia, from February 7 to March 16, 2014. This travel alert replaces the alert issued on January 10, 2014, and provides updated information on reported threats against the Games. It expires on March 24, 2014. Full information about the Olympic and Paralympic games for U.S. citizen visitors is available on the Sochi Fact Sheet and the Country Specific Information for the Russian Federation on our website, travel.state.gov. The Department strongly recommends that all U.S. citizens residing or traveling abroad enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in order to receive pertinent safety and security information.

MEDICAL CARE: The Olympics are the first large-scale event to be held in Sochi and medical capacity and infrastructure in the region are untested for handling the volume of visitors expected for the Olympics. Medical care in many Russian localities differs substantially from Western standards due to differing practices and approaches to primary care. Travelers should consider purchasing private medical evacuation and/or repatriation insurance.

TERRORISM: Large-scale public events such as the Olympics present an attractive target for terrorists, and the U.S. government continues to monitor reported threats of potential terrorist attacks in Sochi or in Russia in general. Acts of terrorism, including bombings and hostage takings, continue to occur in Russia, particularly in the North Caucasus region. Between October 15 and December 30, 2013, there were three suicide bombings targeting public transportation in the city of Volgograd (600 miles from Sochi), two of which occurred within the same 24-hour period. In early January 2014, media reports emerged about the possible presence of so-called “black widow” suicide bombers in Sochi. These reports have not been corroborated, and the U.S. government continues to seek further information. Other bombings over the past 10-15 years occurred at Russian government buildings, airports, hotels, tourist sites, markets, entertainment venues, schools, and residential complexes. There have also been large-scale attacks on public transportation including subways, buses, trains, and scheduled commercial flights, in the same time period.

In July 2013, Doku Umarov, the head of the Caucasus Emirate (an organization the United States designated as a terrorist organization in 2010, and known in Russian as the Imirat Kavkaz or IK) released a video message rescinding prior directions not to attack civilians and calling for attacks on the Winter Olympics in Sochi. The Caucasus Emirate is responsible for many of the aforementioned attacks. The group has targeted civilians, as indirect supporters of the government, including through attacks on a ski resort, metro system, high-speed rail, airport, and a theater. Westerners have not specifically been targeted, but are viewed by IK as complicit in the Russian government’s efforts to control the North Caucasus region. In January 2014, another video was released by a radical Islamist group claiming responsibility for the Volgograd bombings and promising “a present for tourists” in connection with the Olympic Games in Sochi.

Travelers to Sochi should expect increased police presence and enhanced security measures in and around the Olympic venues. There is no indication of a specific threat to U.S. institutions or citizens, but U.S. citizens should be aware of their personal surroundings and follow good security practices. U.S. citizens are urged to remain vigilant and exercise good judgment and discretion when using any form of public transportation. When traveling, U.S. citizens may wish to provide a friend, family member, or coworker a copy of their itinerary.

The U.S. Embassy will continue to monitor the security situation in Sochi throughout the Olympics. In the event the U.S. government receives information of any specific and credible threat, the Department of State will immediately provide information to the public. Information about potential threats to safety and security can be found on the Embassy’s website and the Department of State’s travel website. Individuals who have enrolled in STEP will receive this information directly via email.

CRIME: U.S. citizens planning to attend the Games in Sochi should remain alert regarding their personal security at all times. Criminal activity in Sochi is similar to other cities of comparable size. However, major events such as the Olympic Games are a prime opportunity for criminal elements to target tourists. Travelers should avoid carrying large amounts of money or other valuables. Since cash may be the only accepted form of payment outside Olympic venues, consider keeping money in a hotel safe or dividing money and placing it in several different locations on your person. Purses, wallets, cell phones, and electronics should be secured while traveling on buses, trains, or other forms of public transportation. Travelers should only use marked taxi services and prearrange transportation through hotel concierge or other reputable services whenever possible. Photocopies of passports, visas, credit cards, and other important documents should be kept in a secure location so proper notifications can be made if original documents are lost or stolen.

PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS: U.S. citizens should avoid large crowds in areas that lack enhanced security measures. Use caution in any areas where protests, demonstrations, or other public disturbances are taking place. Demonstrations intended to be peaceful can develop quickly and unpredictably, sometimes turning violent.

On January 10, Vice Prime Minister Dmitriy Kozak announced that the Sochi authorities have determined that the village of Khost, located seven miles from the Olympic venues, will be the designated area for political demonstrations during the Winter Olympics. Demonstrations must be unrelated to the Olympics and the organizers must receive permission prior to the event from the regional authorities of the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Security Service (FSB). It is also worth noting that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter states “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) ISSUES: In June 2013, Russia’s State Duma passed a law banning the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” to minors. The U.S. government understands that this law applies to both Russian citizens and foreigners in Russia. Russian citizens found guilty of violating the law could face a fine of up to 100,000 rubles ($3,100). Foreign citizens face similar fines, up to 14 days in jail, and deportation. The law makes it a crime to promote LGBT equality in public, but lacks concrete legal definitions for key terms. Russian authorities have indicated a broad interpretation of what constitutes “LGBT propaganda,” and provided vague guidance as to which actions will be interpreted by authorities as “LGBT propaganda.” LGBT travelers should review the State Department’s LGBT Travel Information page.

LODGING: There may be shortages of hotel rooms during the Olympics. While some hotels are under construction, visitors are urged to book rooms well in advance. Advertised rates for standard rooms are currently $750-1,000 per night. Now is the time to determine where you will stay and make your arrangements.

AMERICAN CITIZENS SERVICES: The U.S. Embassy’s American Citizens Services (ACS) unit will have an office in Sochi during the Olympic and Paralympic Games to provide a range of services to U.S. citizens in need. U.S. citizens who need assistance should contact U.S. Embassy Moscow’s ACS unit during business hours, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., by phone at +7-495-728-5577 or by email at MoscowWarden@state.gov. If you are a U.S. citizen with an emergency outside of business hours, please call the Embassy’s after-hours ACS hotline at +7-495-728-5000.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Russia enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/step. STEP enrollment allows you to receive the Department’s safety and security updates, and makes it easier for the nearest U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you do not have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Regularly monitor the State Department’s website at http://travel.state.gov, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution, and read the Country Specific Information for the Russian Federation. For additional information, refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” on the State Department’s website. Current information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and on Facebook.

Thousands of passengers have been hit by widespread cancellations of flights to and from the northeast coast of the US today ahead of a severe snow storm that is expected to hit several cities including New York, Boston and Washington DC.

British Airways has cancelled all six flights to New York JFK from London Heathrow from 14.20 this afternoon and one flight that was due to leave for Newark at 17.25. A flight to Washington DC, due to depart at 14.30, has been cancelled, along with several return flilghts from both cities.

Virgin Atlantic said it has also cancelled some flights and it is urging passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. Heathrow Airport said other airlines might also be affected.

The brunt of the storm is expected to hit the northeast today with heavy snow, reaching Washington first and New York and Boston by early afternoon.

Airlines have cancelled 279 flights at New York’s La Guardia Airport and 259 at Philadelphia International Airport, according to FlightAware, a Houston-based flight tracking service.

Forecasters expect up to 12 inches of snow to fall in New York and Washington over the next 24 hours, making it the biggest storm to hit the US capital for three years.