Traveling Solo? You're Not Alone

BOSTON, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- If your New Year's resolution includes more travel, yet you worry that you can't travel alone, fear not. Latest data from leading travel company Grand Circle show that traveling solo has never been more popular or more satisfying, particularly for women.

As we all know, with advancing years, comes the likelihood of more serious and unexpected life changes – death of a loved one, divorce, and ill health of your regular travel companion – and that very often these challenges blind side us. Grand Circle understands this better than most having served more than 500,000 Americans travelers over 50 in the last 5 years alone. But this doesn't mean that personal desires and life ambitions have to come to an end, too. 

"Absolutely not," says travel expert and Grand Circle Vice ChairHarriet Lewis.  'I'm in my early-sixties and in the last 12 months alone I traveled thousands of miles. My husband is not always available to come with me – and like most women, I sometimes prefer the company of other women, so I travel with my daughter and my girlfriends. I also like traveling on my own but in an environment in which I know I'll meet travelers and be safe and have access."

Harriet finds that traveling the world gives her enormous personal satisfaction, and believes that it makes her a better person. "Climbing Egypt's Mount Sinai at night, so that I could see the sunrise at dawn, is a life changing experience I will never forget. The Middle East was an area of the world I had explored before, but not in such depth, and experiencing the people, cultures and places of Syria, Jordan, Israel, and most recently, the Sudan—all of which are in the midst of great change has shifted my world view. Travel changes us. It makes us more curious, more thoughtful, more tuned in to our world." Harriet advises other women who are considering traveling solo to ask themselves the following questions as part of their preparation: 

• What do I want to gain from my travel experience: Adventure? Culture? Relaxation? Inspiration?
• Which destination, countries or regions interest me most?  Make a list and put them in order—develop your travel "bucket list."
• Do I want to travel with like-minded people - friends, family, or other vacationers –or go it alone?
• If I'm with a group, and all begin as strangers, who will I eat my meals with? Does my tour operator help facilitate these situations? Will the guides help me meet people? Will the group be small enough so that I matter or is it so large that I get lost in the crowd?
• Will I have chance to explore and 'go off the beaten track' on my own or must I stay with my group the whole time?  Will I have knowledgeable local guides at my destination, and will they help pursue my individual interests?
• How can I get the best value for my money?  Does my tour operator waive the single supplement fee?
• How else can I save money? Does my tour operator match singles as roommates or help us to arrange these ourselves? What else is offered to me if I'm traveling solo? 

Harriet says that women who take the time to ask themselves these key questions will ultimately have a much more fulfilling experience.   "Travel is the best way I know to enhance your life. I really believe that what Mary Anne Radmacher said about travel is true for women:  'I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.'"

You can receive a complimentary copy of Harriet Lewis' latest book "101 Tips for Women Travelers" by calling 1-800-or visit www.oattravel.com/tips.  

American Eagle jet makes emergency landing

 American Eagle is sending a maintenance crew to West Virginia to examine one of its aircraft following an emergency landing at the Eastern Regional Airport.

American Eagle spokesman Ed Martelle says the twin-engine Bombardier CRJ-700 jet landed without incident at the Martinsburg airport at 8:30 p.m. Monday.

American Eagle Flight 3879 was carrying 54 passengers and three crew members from Chicago's O'Hare to Washington's Reagan National when an indicator light on an instrument panel lit up.

Martelle says it's not yet known whether there was an actual problem.

American Eagle booked hotel rooms for the passengers and sent two buses Tuesday morning to take them to Washington.

Hotwire Reveals January 2012 Travel Savings Indicator

California Cities See Biggest Airfare Drops While the Northeast Boasts Car Rentals Savings Over 50 Percent

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotwire.com®, a leading discount travel site, today released the January 2012 Hotwire® Travel Savings Indicator, which features the top five cities in North America where hotel, air and car rental rates have dropped the most compared with the same time last year. Using extensive pricing research to cover the three most popular travel products, the report helps guide travelers to the best destinations to maximize their travel dollars each month.

"Travelers are in luck, because 2012 is starting out with price drops in some of the most popular cities in North America," saidClem Bason, president of the Hotwire Group. "A recovering travel industry hasn't prevented pockets of discounted inventory from popping up. Now all the people who made 'travel more' a resolution for 2012 can make good on their promise without needing a big travel budget. Using tools like the Travel Savings Indicator and discount sites like Hotwire.com can also help any eager traveler find those low prices."

Hotel Price Drops

Many new markets are emerging as deal destinations in the early days of 2012, with most of the cities on this month's list of top hotel price drops making their Travel Savings Indicator debut.

Cincinnati, Ohio comes in at number one this month with a nine percent decrease. 2012 is shaping up to be a slower convention year for this big Midwestern destination.  With fewer citywide events, hotels in the area are reacting by offering great rates to attract more leisure guests instead. Cincinnati is likely to see lower rates throughout the rest of the year.

Due to a relatively mild winter compared to 2011, both Philadelphia and Minneapolis haven't seen the same number of distressed airline passengers staying at hotels in the area. Last year's storms drove up prices and 2012 is simply showing more normalization in seasonal rates.

Montreal, Quebec rounds out the list with a four percent decrease. Several new hotel openings in the area are making pricing more competitive. In addition, a lack of city-wide events is also causing prices to fall in this beautiful city. Montreal is just one of many Canadian destinations that will become a good value for travelers in 2012. With an expected 3,000 new rooms to be added per year for the next three years throughout Canada, travelers should keep an eye north of the border to score some really strong deals.

When compared to the same time last year, the top five hotel price reductions for January 2012 include:

Rank	Hotel Market	Price Drops	Example of a Current Hotwire Deal, US$/Night
1	Cincinnati, OH	- 9%	4-star	$78
2	Philadelphia, PA	- 7%	3.5-star	$85
3	Minneapolis, MN	- 6%	4-star	$67
4	Milwaukee, WI	- 5%	4-star	$72
5	Montreal, QC	- 4%	4-star	$107

Air Price Drops

California is definitely a hot market for airfare this month, with Palm Springs, Oakland and San Jose all appearing on the list for top air price drops. Making its Travel Savings Indicator debut in first place with an eight percent drop, Palm Springs is a great destination for a relaxing long-weekend getaway. Not to be outdone, South Carolina also continues to offer low fares as one of America's favorite cities, Charleston, comes in at second place this month with a seven percent drop. Oakland remains a great budget option for travelers to the Bay Area with a four percent decrease, and San Jose also stakes a claim while showing a three percent drop. Rounding out the top 5 is Hawaii, which has made several appearances on past months' lists. This month, the Garden Isle, Kauai, has a two percent airfare price drop as compared to last year.

When compared to the same time last year, the top five airfare price reductions for January 2012 include:

Rank	Air Market	Price Drops	Average Hotwire Airfare
1	Palm Springs, CA	- 8%	$309
2	Charleston, SC	- 7%	$303
3	Oakland, CA	- 4%	$271
4	San Jose, CA	- 3%	$301
5	Lihue, Kauai, HI	- 2%	$659

Car Price Drops

The northeast is seeing particularly low rates for car rentals this month, as excess car rentals from 2011 continue to drive prices down. This year, several of the discount car rental providers have become more aggressive about gaining market share. They have plenty of cars to rent and more flexibility with pricing, and their low rates are driving down regional prices across the board. However, Arlington, Las Vegas, Washington D.C. and Atlanta, which have all shown up as top deals markets recently, continue to see significant price drops of over 50 percent.  

When compared to the same time last year, the top five car rental price reductions for January 2012 include:

Rank	Car Rental Market	Price Drops	Average Hotwire Car Rental Price
1	Arlington, VA	- 63%	$18
2	Las Vegas, NV	- 57%	$20
3	Washington, DC	- 57%	$28
4	Cleveland, OH	- 53%	$26
5	Atlanta, GA	- 52%	$23

For over 10 years, Hotwire has worked with hotels, airlines and car rental companies to fill unsold inventory. As a result, Hotwire offers travelers amazing deals, every day of the year, across a variety of markets. Through Hotwire's deep understanding of the industry and unique relationships, consumers have been able to save millions of dollars on all their travel needs.

United, Houston Bush Airport Begin Redevelopment Project of Terminal B

HOUSTON, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston Airport System, in partnership with United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL), today broke ground on the first phase of a three-phase redevelopment project at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Phase one of the project, to be completed in 2013, will create a new Terminal B south concourse dedicated to regional jet operations.


The $160 million south concourse project will replace the existing south side flight stations with a new 225,000 square-foot facility to accommodate United's regional aircraft. At nearly four times the size of the existing space, the new concourse will provide a better customer experience, as it will feature modern and expanded gate lounge areas, concessions and restroom facilities.


Travelers will access the new concourse from the terminal via a 95-foot-wide bridge with 13,000 square feet of food, beverage and retail concessions – a 500-percent increase in concession space over the current facility. The concourse will feature 28-foot-high floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offering expansive tarmac views from spacious central passenger lounge areas with durable and modern interior finishes.


"As I noted in my inaugural address, creating jobs for Houstonians is my number-one job for the next two years," said Mayor Parker. "Phase one of this billion-dollar investment with United is the first delivery on that promise. We celebrate the boost to our local economy that will result from this investment. Houston will thrive as our global gateway expands to include more flights and greater access to business connections around the world."


"Houston is our largest hub and a vital international gateway in United's network," said Pete McDonald, United's executive vice president and chief operations officer. "This investment in the Houston hub will allow us to accommodate more customers and more aircraft types, provide new amenities for travelers and improve efficiencies for the new United."


Plans for future phases of the $1 billion redevelopment project include redevelopment of the central Terminal B lobby and baggage claim areas, a new international-capable north concourse for mainline and regional jets, a new Terminal B Federal Inspections Services (FIS) facility and infrastructure improvements.


The entire three-phase redevelopment project is planned over the next seven to 10 years, based on demand.


The project's design incorporates energy-efficient techniques using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria.


The Houston Airport System is partnering with United on the project and the new construction will be a significant investment in the local economy by creating many jobs.


"Bush Intercontinental is the first impression many people have of Houston," said Mario C. Diaz, director of the Houston Airport System. "We exist to connect people, businesses and economies around the world, and this project will allow for an enhanced customer experience and a stronger gateway for our air service needs."

Six American Airlines crew in hospital after extreme turbulence

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 7:31 AM on 23rd January 2012
Six crew members working on an American Airlines flight were injured following extreme turbulence.


The staff, who were working on a Brazil to Miami flight, had to be taken to hospital in Florida when they landed, according a spokesman. The severity of the injures was unknown. 


Flight 980 was en route from Recife Airport in Brazil to Miami International Airport.

Gillas Correa, who was on board the flight, told the Miami Herald there was a 'huge drop'.


He added: 'It was a lot of people screaming, there was a lot of people crying.


'There was a woman who was sitting a couple rows behind us; she got thrown up in the air and landed in the hallway.'

An American Airlines spokesman said six flight attendants were injured 'to some degree' during the flight.
The aircraft landed safely just after 6.30 pm last night. The passenger jet was carrying 136 passengers and nine crew members.


According to airnation.net, one crew member could have serious injuries.