Delta Announces Fleet Upgrades, New Meals, and Increased Lounge Access Memberships

It’s been a busy few weeks for Delta Airlines—and we’re not just talking about the 80’s-themed in-flight safety video. Earlier this month, the airline announced that it would be investing more than $770 million through 2016 to revamp its domestic fleet of Boeing 757-200 and 737-800, and Airbus A319 and A320. Overall, passengers can expect updated bathrooms, LED lighting, and overhead bins (increasing capacity by up to 60%)—plus power and in-seat video/satellite TV throughout. New slim-line seats with adjustable headrests will be made from lighter materials, making for a more efficient plane that uses less fuel. The pitch—or legroom—in Economy will average 31 inches, equal to most of the current configurations. The 757s and 737s will see an increase of about 10 to 20 seats in Economy (depending on the aircraft), and A319 and the A320 seats are actually increasing in width, from 17.2 inches up to 18 inches.

On the in-flight food front, passengers flying cross-country between New York and San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles now have some healthier meal options, thanks to a new partnership with Luvo, a company known for its low-calorie frozen meals. The new offerings—complimentary in Economy Comfort and available for purchase in Economy—are three all-natural wraps (think quinoa, vegetables, edamame hummus, and black rice-and-bean salad in an olive-oil wheat tortilla).

In Delta Sky Club news, the airline recently announced that it’s eliminating free guest passes for American Express Platinum, Centurion, and Delta Reserve cardholders—a huge perk to say goodbye to. The membership fee structure is also changing. Under the new pricing, the Executive Membership jumps from $450 to $695 annually—an increase of 54%—while the basic Individual Membership costs $450, plus $29 per guest. (Executive Memberships will get two complimentary guests.)

The official statement from the airline is, “Even with more than $50 million in investments over the last several years to renovate and expand existing Delta Sky Clubs and build new Clubs across the system, our customers tell us Delta Sky Clubs can be overcrowded. Changes to the program for 2014 aim to maintain the more exclusive atmosphere our Club members expect.”

On the list of just-announced Delta Sky Club changes are new food offerings and services, currently being tested at a handful of lounges in Atlanta, Detroit, LaGuardia, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Customer feedback will dictate whether or not dishes like pancakes, hot soup, dinner antipasti, and healthier snacks (energy bars, fresh fruit, smoothies)—plus amenities such as shoe shines, manicures, and chair massages—will roll out this summer. The big question is are these upgrades, and presumably less-crowded lounges, worth the price hike? 

Brooke Porter Katz is an Associate Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @brookeporter1.

Photo Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

Is Japan Cool? ANA Airways Proves It With New York Fashion Pop-Up

As T+L’s resident Japanophile, I’m always plotting my next trip to Tokyo, not only to revel in one of the world’s great food destinations, but also to discover the city’s amazing shopping scene. Luckily for me, All Nippon Airways (ANA) is participating with iconic department stores Mitsukoshi and Isetan in a Manhattan pop-up store during New York Fashion Week as part of its “Is Japan Cool?” campaign (47 Greene St.; through today, Feb.13).

What to expect? Only-in-Japan merch, ranging from bicycles and household products to clothing and cosmetics (fingers crossed that they’ll carry the brand of Japanese tights that we T+L editors obsess over).

Other highlights: a robot named Robi who can hold a conversation with visitors in close to 200 languages, and collections from designer Kansai Yamamoto, who has dressed the likes of David Bowie and Sir Elton John. Not in New York City? Whet your appetite for a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun by browsing (and even voting on) the country’s attractions, dishes, and souvenirs on the official website.

Jennifer Flowers is the Travel News Editor at Travel + Leisure and part of the Trip Doctor news team. Find her on Twitter at @JennFlowers.

Tips for Travel During Stormy Weather

Nearly 6,000 and counting. That’s the number of flights cancelled as of noon today. Already this year, there have been more than 71,000 cancellations—and we're only six weeks in. If you want to get a sense of what this means for travelers across the country, just take a look at FlightAware’s aptly named Misery Map (above), which highlights not only where the bottlenecks are worst, but also how they’re impacting the rest of the aviation system.

If you’ve got an airline ticket for the next few days—or have any important travel scheduled during this wild winter—we’ve got some advice for navigating the storms.

Tips for Travel During Stormy Weather
 
1. Stay informed and be the first to know. Sign up for text and email alerts about flight delays and cancellations from your airline and services such as FlightStats. And be proactive about checking their websites, Facebook pages, and Twitter handles for updates; sometimes it can take a crucial few hours for a text message to arrive. Get a sense of what’s happening with live flight-tracking service FlightAware’s cancellation page.

2. Airlines have worked to get ahead of storms in recent years by cancelling flights in advance and waiving fees for rebooking (which can be up to $200 for domestic tickets). Your best bet is to take advantage of that cancelled flight right away and book the first flight out of your destination for when the storm is scheduled to be over.

3. Be your best advocate. Get on the phone, get in line, or pay for a day pass at an airline lounge (about $25 - $50, if you’re not a high-ranking member of a loyalty club) to reach someone at an airline who can assist you with switching flights. Use the Seat Availability tool on Flightstats to look for other options if your flight is cancelled (remember that just because your flight is cancelled, doesn’t always mean all flights to a particular destination are).

4. Something to keep in mind for future: as you’re booking a trip, make sure to purchase travel insurance, especially if you’re flying in winter. And be sure to get it before the storm is named—otherwise you’re too late. 

Have a travel dilemma? Need some tips and remedies? Send your questions to news editor Amy Farley at tripdoctor@aexp.com. Follow @tltripdoctor on Twitter.

Photo credit: FlightAware

Mumbai Airport Unveils New Terminal 2 to Public

Mumbai's international airport unveiled its new four-level Terminal 2 to the public this week, after much anticipation. The stunning airport section, originally slated to open in January, took five years to complete, and will provide relief to the millions of fliers streaming in and out of India’s busy Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

Sprawling 42 square meters of space, the terminal was built to handle up to 40 million annual passengers and to effortlessly escort them to their departure gates via 37 travelators, 48 escalators, and 72 elevators. Outside, the 5,200-car parking area is beautifully concealed by the city’s largest open garden. While inside, travelers can spend their layovers window shopping or eagerly purchasing items throughout the 21,000 square meters of retail space—more than four times the size of the airport’s original shopping area. An art museum—India’s largest, might we add—may also be of interest, with over 6,500 artifacts to contemplate while waiting. Finally, a terminal with more to explore than the nearby bar.

Travelers who weren’t smitten with the bright geometric ceilings and golden lighting could fall for the food—traditional snacks like spicy bhakarwadi and chiwda (rice flakes) were served while kids were kept happy with complimentary chocolates and toys. Airlines were also anxious to make their way to the airport: Air India’s Singapore-Mumbai flight was the first to arrive, although an Emirates flight from Dubai nearly stole their shine when they landed close behind. We’re excited to see how the high expectations for CSIA’s Terminal 2 pan out this year: so far, we’d much rather be on the arrivals side of traffic, flying into this gorgeous, innovative new space.

Read more:

Coolest New Airport Terminals 

World's Most Beautiful Airports

World's Ugliest Airports

Maria Pedone is on the digital team at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @mariapedestrian. 

Photo Credit: MIAL team

Delta and United Add Seasonal Flights to Yellowstone

Just in time for summer—the most popular season to visit National Parks—Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are increasing service to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana. Delta’s seasonal non-stop service will depart from New York-LaGuardia Airport on Saturdays from June 21 to September 27. Meanwhile, United will fly out of George Bush International Airport in Houston on Saturdays and Sundays between June 28 and August 17.

Brooke Porter Katz is an Associate Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @brookeporter1. 

Photo Credit: Jim Peaco

How Far in Advance Should I Buy My Airline Tickets?

Question by Mark Hastings, San Jose, Calif.

A: When to book flights is a question that torments even the most experienced of travelers. Who hasn’t sat in front of the computer wondering: Do I wait for a better deal, or is this the best I’m going to see?

There are no hard-and-fast rules for hitting the right booking window. A recent report from online travel agency CheapAir found that, historically, the lowest average fares have been available seven weeks before departure. Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), which manages airline ticket sales for U.S. travel agencies, conducted a similar study and located the best airfares six weeks prior to flying. But that window changes dramatically depending on where you are traveling—and when.

Domestic Tickets

“There’s such a thing as booking too early,” says Rick Seaney, CEO and cofounder of online research tool FareCompare. “Airlines don’t really begin managing their domestic flights until about three months in advance—that’s when they start releasing the more affordable seats.” The sweet spot, he says, lies between three months and six weeks in advance. Recent data from Kayak supports this. The airfare aggregator looked at a year’s worth of searches and found that six months before departure, domestic ticket prices were about 20 percent higher than the lowest fares. They started dropping three months out and hit a low three to seven weeks before departure. Whatever you do, don’t wait until the last week, when prices shoot up—by about 25 percent, according to Kayak.

Far-Flung Flights

For long-haul tickets, start your search early. Kayak’s data located the best average fares for Asian flights a full nine to ten months out; they drop again (though not as low) between three and four month in advance. For South American tickets, the ideal booking window was around six months before departure. For African trips, the site found that prices started to fall about three months out. Interestingly, they didn’t bottom out until about five weeks before departure. Of course, these are all average prices. If you’re hoping to catch a fare sale to a farther-flung destination, focus your search between five and two months out, when they usually appear, Seaney says. The best plan for long-haul shopping: search for fares early to get a general sense of prices and sign up for a fare-watching service—Airfarewatchdog, CheapAir, and FareCompare all have good ones. You’ll know to book when the right price comes along.

Summer Trips to Europe

You’ll have to plan in advance to get the best tickets to Europe. When ARC crunched the numbers for travel between Memorial Day and Labor Day last year, it found the lowest average fares to Europe a full 31 weeks before departure. Seaney recommends beginning your search around four to five months out. (That means now.) And don’t get caught in magical thinking: sales on summer airfare to Europe are rare. According to Jeff Klee, CEO and cofounder of CheapAir, they usually occur when there’s an increase in capacity (i.e., new flights or routes). But if you can’t be flexible about your dates or destination, you likely won’t be able to take advantage of these deals. If you do have some flexibility, the booking window decreases and the fares drop for travel in the spring or fall—outside of the school holidays.

Winter Caribbean and Ski Getaways

There’s no use waiting for fare sales here. High demand and limited airlift mean that prices for winter flights to Caribbean islands and smaller ski-country airports usually don’t fluctuate much—and rise dramatically fairly early. Looking at last winter’s economy-class fares from the United States to the Caribbean islands, ARC found the lowest average fares 21 weeks before departure. That jibes with Seaney’s advice to book both Caribbean and ski getaways about four to five months before your trip. The exceptions: flights to Denver, Salt Lake City, and other large airports serving ski destinations. You’ll have extra time to book because the airports have more capacity.

Holiday Travel

The earlier the better, once again. Last year, analysts with CheapAir tracked domestic airfares for more than 11,000 markets for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s travel. Notably, for all three holidays average ticket prices hit a low in early June. They fluctuated throughout the rest of the summer and early fall, but by the end of September they were steadily rising. Not everyone can plan a winter holiday in June, of course. But if you’re considering going from somewhere cold to somewhere warm, Klee advises getting the tickets as soon as possible. A similar principle is at work for spring-break travel. Tickets to Florida and other popular warm-weather destinations start rising early—and tend not to vary. Seaney recommends planning these trips five months in advance. “Airlines are really good at knowing when an airport’s local school districts are on spring break, and will adjust airfares accordingly,” he cautions.

Of course, all of these booking windows are estimates and should be taken as guidelines rather than rule of law. As George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog, says: “If there were an established best time to book, airlines would identify it and hike fares accordingly.” Consider yourself warned.

By the Numbers

$1,284: Lowest average economy-class airfare to Europe last summer, booked 31 weeks in advance.

$589: Lowest average economy-class airfare to the Caribbean last winter, booked 21 weeks in advance.

Source: Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)

Related Links:
Air Travel Tips
Best Money-Saving Hotel Tips
Travel Etiquette Dos and Don'ts

Have a travel dilemma? Need some tips and remedies? Send your questions to news editor Amy Farley at tripdoctor@timeinc.com. Follow @tltripdoctor on Twitter.

 

Photo by Javier Jaen

Travel Warning Issued to Airlines for Possible Shoe Bomb Threats

According to an NBC News report, the Department of Homeland Security has issued a warning to airlines about a possible new threat of shoe bombs—specifically on U.S.-bound overseas flights. The warning mentioned nonstop flights from Johannesburg, Paris, London, and Cairo. Though it did not come with any directives to the airlines, passengers should expect heightened security, including additional pat-downs and full-body screenings.

Homeland Security released the following statement—the same one they used after the temporary ban earlier this month on carry-on gels, liquids, powders, and aerosols on flights from the U.S. to Russia.

 “Out of an abundance of caution, DHS regularly shares relevant information with domestic and international partners about relevant threat information as we work to meet our mission of keeping the traveling public safe. These types of regular communications are part of that important priority. Our security apparatus includes a number of measures, both seen and unseen, informed by the latest intelligence and as always DHS continue to adjust security measures to fit an ever evolving threat environment.”

Brooke Porter Katz is an Associate Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @brookeporter1. 

Photo credit: Juice Images/ Alamy

Four Seasons Resort Lanai Introduces an Airport Lounge in Honolulu

We’ve told you about new developments in airline and airport lounges (most recently here and here)—but now the Four Seasons Resort Lanai has debuted its very own version at Honolulu International Airport. Located in the commuter terminal, the 1,000-square-foot lounge means that guests start their hotel experience even before setting foot on the island—and the hotel. Visitors awaiting their 25-minute flights to Lanai will have all the free perks: food, beverages, iPads, Wi-Fi access, charging stations, luggage holding areas, TVs. Plus, a Four Seasons concierge is on hand to assist with check-in and reservations at the restaurant or spa.

Brooke Porter Katz is an Associate Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @brookeporter1. 

Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

JetBlue's GoPacks Offer Major Deals for Group Travelers

JetBlue makes headlines again with the announcement of their new GoPacks; bundles of 6 or 10 one-way tickets to some of the nation’s most frequented destinations. 

If you’re getting ready to book your family summer vacation, or coral a group of friends for spring break, grab a pack to take advantage of the unmatched rates.

GoPack trips can be booked from March 31 through June 17 travel, and are eligible for True Blue miles. 

While flights from New York to Orlando, and JetBlue’s Intra-California package between Long Beach and the Bay Area scream easy getaways, the $939 stack of tickets for travel between Boston and Washington, D.C. or the GoPack of northbound flights from JFK may be the perfect option for large business trips.

Melanie Lieberman is an editorial intern at Travel + Leisure. 

Photo Courtesy of JetBlue Airways

Lufthansa Ups the Ante with New Premium Economy Class

After making waves with their incredible new business class cabins last year (lie-flat seats; multiple outlets; leg room galore), Lufthansa is upgrading its fleet once again. And this time, the news is in the back of the plane. Starting in November, you’ll find Premium Economy Class seats on the German carrier’s planes—not only with 50% more leg room than Economy, but a slew of luxe amenities as well. Passengers in Premium Economy will be greeted with a welcome cocktail, receive complimentary amenity kits (we’ve yet to learn what brands might be found inside), and will be served meals on porcelain tableware. Sound a little like business class? Good news: the prices will skew closer to Economy, with a return flight across the Atlantic carrying an average premium of $800 (that’s almost $2,000 less than the cost of your typical Lufthansa business seat).

But how do Lufthansa’s new offerings stack up with the competition? Compared to AirFrance, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic, the seat specs are basically the same (a seat pitch of 38”; similar comfort considerations such as adjustable foot and heat rests) though you will get a bit more privacy, with wider center consoles between the seats, and larger seatback entertainment screens. Booking begins in May, with fleet-wide rollout planned by Summer 2015.

Nikki Ekstein is an Editorial Assistant at Travel + Leisure and part of the Trip Doctor news team. Find her on Twitter at @nikkiekstein. 

Photo credit: © Photographer: Lufthansa - © CGI: Pixomondo - © conditions: worldwide, unlimited