I knew this would happen.  My usual travel break that happens right around this same time every year is already getting on my nerves.  I love being home, but I could deal with a little more time out of the office.  And no, that’s not meant to be a slam on the people I work with.  Just a fact of life.  I’d rather work outside the office than in it.  Oh well.

Things to blog about….let’s see.  We’ve just ended one of the sorriest airline earnings periods ever.  A boatload of net losses, large portions of which were due to airlines getting caught on the wrong side of fuel hedging.  Too bad they didn’t get on the bandwagon earlier than they did.  But then again, it wasn’t that long ago that all the “analysts” were saying oil was going to go higher forever, so I suppose hedging at $110 a barrel and up didn’t seem like such a bad deal at the time.  What a difference six months makes.

Delta Air Lines fliers can now transfer their miles to/from Northwest Airlines accounts.  Click here to register your accounts.  Too bad that I don’t have any Northwest miles!

US Airways has applied for authority to fly between Charlotte and Rio de Janeiro.  I’ll watch that one with interest if they get the route.  Charlotte is one of my favorite cities, but I am not convinced that there’s a large market there for South American travel.  Yes, Charlotte is US Airways’ biggest hub, and yes, they can flow a lot of connect traffic onto the flight…but still.

I like Delta Air Lines.  Their planes are usually clean, their people tend to be polite and their customer-facing technology is pretty good too.  But I really don’t like SkyMiles at all.  You may have heard this week that Delta intends to eliminate fee-free award changes and mileage redeposits for Platinum flyers*.  I’m not a Platinum Medallion with Delta so this really doesn’t impact me, but I can see why so many Delta travelers are seriously hacked off about this.  The worst part of this decision was Delta’s reasoning behind the change.  According to Delta, many award seats are departing empty because those pesky Platinums are booking them and not traveling because they can do so without penalty.

Have you ever tried to book an award seat on Delta?  It is usually an exercise in futility which leads to profanity laced tirades.  If you’re really lucky, you’ll get some odd-ball double connection routing even though plenty of seats are available on the nonstop or one-stop flights you want.  Then miraculously, Delta’s revenue management folks open up award seats 2 or 3 weeks before your flight, but you’re stuck with your odd itinerary…..unless you are Platinum.  I don’t blame them one bit for making extensive use of this benefit, and I can assure you I would too if I were lucky enough to be Platinum Medallion.

I appreciate certain aspects of the SkyMiles program, most notably, the complimentary space-available upgrades for Medallions.  But overall, the program pales in comparison to American’s AAdvantage for award availability and overall usability.  Unfortunately, I haven’t flown Delta enough this past year to maintain Medallion status, and the difficulty in getting real benefits beyond the upgrades has me seriously thinking about crediting my future flights to Alaska’s Mileage Plan.  I’m going to miss being a Delta Medallion come March 1, but I surely won’t miss the frustrating searches for an award seat.  I’ll be watching the SkyMiles program with interest as Delta moves forward with the Northwest merger.

* This decision has reportedly been modified to allow for two fee-free changes per year and $50 dollars per change thereafter.

The subject line says it all.  I really don’t get United.  On paper, United should be the biggest, baddest, bestest (yes, I realize “bestest” may not be in the dictionary) airline on the planet.  In reality, United looks like a (shrinking and sinking) ship with no rudder.  Their latest adventure with Aer Lingus to operate a flight between United’s primary international hub at Dulles and Madrid is a prime example.  I suppose United management really doesn’t care if their already poor relationship with their employees gets worse.  If the Aer Lingus venture happens as planned, the ultimate result will be a brand new airline flying on behalf of United without United employees, and apparently without Aer Lingus employees.

I suppose one should expect this kind of thing from an airline that proudly boasts about the fact that it has no new aircraft on order.  Granted, United’s Airbus and widebody Boeing fleets aren’t that old yet.  However, one could reasonably expect that an airline which intends to remain in business might want some new aircraft in the pipeline to replace its existing fleet as it ages.  But like I said, I just don’t get United Airlines.

Hat tip to View from the Wing.

I thought this was too good not to pass along.  Delta and US Airways have match a Spirit Airlines sale, and are offering a $359.00 roundtrip fare to Fort Lauderdale from Reagan National (DCA).  I checked several dates as far out as May, and the fare was available as of five minutes ago.

Not a bad way to get to a cruise, or just fly south and warm up for the weekend.

MJ on Travel will be staying home this week.  Frankly, I may not even make it into the office.  It’s inauguration week here in the District, and this place is a zoo.  Not that I’m complaining about millions of my fellow citizens experiencing what our fair city has to offer, but it is crowded!  Any readers joining us for the inauguration?  If so, let us know!

My travel usually slows down in the February and March time period.  A new Congress (and this year, a new President) usually requires me to spend more time in the office than on the road.  Currently, I only have one trip planned in February, and none in March.  That will likely evolve somewhat, but in the meantime, I think I’ll enjoy the time at home.

That said, I’m certain that by the end of my second week in the office, I’ll be clamoring for a trip to the airport.  I’ve got a new Clear (R) card that’s burning a hole in my pocket since it didn’t arrive in time for my trip this week!

I apologize for the dearth in recent posts.  I’ve got a lot to blog about, and now I have some time to do it.  Thanks for reading, and I’ll post again later this week.

A successful week on the road is now complete.  American Airlines transported me to and from in fine fashion and on time no less.  My AAdvantage upgrade cleared on the way out, and for the return trip I parted with some miles to ensure my upgrade was confirmed in advance.  And thank goodness I did.  What a packed flight full of folks flying in for the inauguration.

The atmosphere on board was almost festive.  The service was the best I’ve had on any recent domestic flight.  The number one flight attendant was terrific.  Always checking on us, filling wine glasses and being genuinely pleasant.

It was a nice flight all around.  And even though I’m not attending any inaugural festivities this week, I couldn’t help but feel good about the week ahead and the inauguration of a new President.

At least that’s what this article in today’s New York Times implies….  see for yourself.  I agree that the beginning of the new year is the ideal time to take stock of your mileage and points programs and evaluate your plans for the earning more miles and points in the year ahead.

Yours truly will spend most of his time with American Airlines and Hilton Hotels this year followed closely by Delta and Starwood.  What about you?

Another week, another trip.  After this week, I’ll have my usual spring business travel hiatus.  I could use a few days at home, but it feels kind of odd to not have any travel booked until April!  That said, I fully expect something will come up before then, I just don’t have it booked yet.

In any event, this will be a short week.  I fly down to Dallas (DFW) on Wednesday and come back Friday afternoon.  American Airlines is my provider of transportation this week, and I’ll be staying at the Embassy Suites DFW South (again).  I’ve already reviewed the ES DFW, so I won’t post a full review unless something special happens.  Fingers crossed that my upgrade clears on the way down.  But I won’t be doing the gate dance for the return on Friday.  Anticipating very full inaugural-bound flights on the return, I parted with a few AAdvantage miles and confirmed my upgrade for Friday night.  That’s a borderline waste of miles, but at least it’s a dinner flight, and after the few days I expect to have in Dallas, I suspect I’ll need a drink (or drinks) on the way home!  Thanks for reading.

My recent trip to Atlanta required that I be in the office a bit earlier than usual, so I elected to stay within walking distance rather than bunk at my usual haunt, the W Atlanta – Midtown.  The Embassy Suites Atlanta – Centennial Olympic Park was a perfect choice for my business needs.  As you probably guessed, the hotel overlooks Centennial Olympic Park and is steps away from CNN Center, World of Coca Cola, Phillips Arena, and other downtown attractions.

Check-in

I checked in around 5:00PM and found the desk staffed by two attendants.  Both were occupied, but I was the only person waiting.  I was called forward in short order, and was assisted by a friendly member of the hotel staff who had me on my way to the room in minutes.  My HHonors VIP Gold status was not verbally recognized at check-in.  I was presented with a blue card which is required to be shown at the evening manager’s reception and morning breakfast.

The Stay

I spent the week in a pretty nice two-room suite on the 7th floor.  A letter from the hotel manager thanking me for my patronage and noting my choice of HHonors VIP benefits was waiting on the coffee table.  The room was well-equipped and offered the standard set of amenities one expects from Embassy Suites including a refrigerator and microwave.  Televisions in both the living room and bedroom were flat screen and offered a pretty broad choice of channels.  The hotel advertises only wired internet access in the guest rooms, but I had no problem at all picking up the wireless signal that is offered in the public areas of the hotel.  Internet access is $9.95 per day, but I received it free of charge as I have chosen internet access as my Gold VIP benefit at Embassy Suites.  The bedroom was equipped with a king size bed and offered a view of Centennial Olympic Park and the downtown skyline.

The hotel has a large outdoor pool area and hot tub.  Believe it or not, it was almost warm enough for a swim on my first night in Atlanta!  The fitness center is part of the pool area and is equipped with all the basics one needs for staying in shape.  However, the cardio equipment appeared to be “well-worn” to put it mildly.  Nonetheless, it worked!

The manager’s reception was pretty standard Embassy Suites fare, and the complimentary breakfast is served in the Ruth’s Chris restaurant adjacent to the main atrium/lobby area.  Free booze always tastes great, but I did not partake in the breakfast this trip so I can’t speak to the quality.

Dining Options

You don’t have to walk far for dinner.  The atrium/lobby happens to be home to one of the three Ruth’s Chris Steakhouses in the Atlanta area.  I don’t often get the opportunity to eat steaks like those served at Ruth’s Chris so I decided to dine there one night.  My ribeye was cooked to perfection, though I’m admittedly not a huge fan of the heavy emphasis on butter favored by Ruth’s Chris.  I prefer a little more natural flavor in a steak.  But believe me when I tell you I didn’t send any back!

One block from the hotel, you’ll find a great sports bar, Stats.  This was my second visit to Stats, the previous one being for a private party, and I looked forward to returning.  The menu is not overdone, and the beer is cold.  Most importantly, the bar is equipped with about 40 bazillion televisions so you won’t have any trouble locating the game you want.  Interestingly, Stats is part of the same restaurant group as another favorite of mine, TAP, which I’ve mentioned before.  I enjoyed the grilled chicken sandwich with fries, and washed it down with Smithwick’s Ale on tap.

Located in the lobby of Embassy Suites’ sister hotel the Hilton Garden Inn, you will find a spanking new Legal Sea Foods.  Legal is only a block away from the Embassy and is a nice option if you’re in the mood for oysters on the half shell.  Bar service was good, and the bartender happened to be from Boston, Legal’s home.  The restaurant has a very trendy decor, and so does the Hilton Garden Inn for that matter.  Looked interesting enough to entice me to stay there sometime in the future.  The oysters were fresh, and my salad was good.

During the week I enjoyed a quick after work cocktail with a colleage at Thrive.  Trendy doesn’t do this place justice.  See the pictures for yourself.  My colleague and I were the only two people in the place, but it was early.  Thrive offers several appetizers during happy hour for only $5 dollars each.  Worth a stop if you’re nearby.

The Bottom Line

The Embassy Suites Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park offers the right combination of amenities and location that make it an easy choice if you have business in downtown Atlanta.  The hotel was modern and well-maintained.  Staff I interacted with were polite and helpful.  I plan to stay again.  Better yet, this hotel is participating in the current Hilton HHonors double points promotion I posted about recently.

I am terribly sorry for the dearth in posts this week.  A minor technical difficulty prevented my posting from the road.  That’s now rectified, and it’s good to be home.  I’ll post a review of the Embassy Suites Atlanta Centennial Olympic Park over the weekend as well as a few tidbits on three new restaurants.

Meanwhile, I discovered a few opportunities to earn some extra miles in my inbox, so hear ya’ go.  Register for the VIP Exclusive Bonus with AAdvantage Dining, spend $400 dollars at participating restaurants by 2/28/2009, and get yourself 1,500 bonus miles and AAdvantage Dining VIP status for the rest of the year.

If Delta SkyMiles are more to your liking, you can earn up to 5,000 of them by renting with Avis and mentioning coupon number MUAA133 and renting for four consecutive days.  Coupone code MUAA132 will net you 2,500 SkyMiles on a rental of three consecutive days.  Other terms and conditions may apply.

The best thing that can be said about 2008 is that it is over.  That said, I wonder what 2009 will bring for all of us, especially those of us that travel and follow the airline industry closely?  One good thing that happened last year is the reduction in the price of oil.  However, the general economic weakness that gave us the rapid plunge in oil prices will have negative implications for the airline industry as well.  It’s apparent that traffic is falling fairly rapidly.  Though I suppose if I were an airline CEO, I’d rather deal with that than $150 dollar a barrel oil.

Looking ahead, I see a continued draw down in capacity by all airlines, not just the vaunted “big six.”  Low cost leader Southwest is even pulling down some capacity.  While I haven’t historically followed Southwest, I can’t remember a time that they’ve ever shrunk.  Time will tell if the reductions in capacity are enough to keep airlines profitable in 2009.  I certainly think it’s possible, but United’s recently announced New Year’s fare sale may be an indicator of where passenger loads are early in 2009.  They are offering some fairly attractive pricing which leads me to believe that they are having trouble filling seats, even with their reductions in capacity.  If you’re interested, you’d better act fast.  Travel must be booked by January 7.

Given the number of hotels that have come online in the last few years, and the number of new properties wrapping up construction, I expect to see some good deals on hotel stays.  Hotel costs have come down, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they fall further.  Over the last several years, demand has been so great that hotels have been able to extract some very favorable (to them) rates.  I don’t expect they’ll be so lucky in 2009.  For those of us that are still traveling, 2009 could be a good year.

Regarding airline and hotel frequency programs, 2009 should be a fairly static year in comparison to last year when airlines began tacking on additional fees and charges to use your miles.  Some of these fees have already gone away as fuel prices have declined, but I wouldn’t plan on any wholesale changes in our favor.  One potential positive is that with travel declining, more seats and rooms may be available for miles and points.  Of course, the catch-22 with lower fares and room rates is the question of whether or not you are better off paying for the ticket or the room and earning credit towards elite status in your airline or hotel program of choice.  I always struggle with that one!

No matter what happens, life on the road in 2009 is sure to bring many challenges and rewards.  Let’s hope it’s better than last year!  I’m looking forward to it.