Starting Feb. 1, U.S. residents who travel frequently by land or sea between the USA and Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean can apply for a cheaper, wallet-sized alternative to a traditional passport, which is already required for all air travel outside the USA.

The new passport card, to be issued sometime this spring, will be valid for 10 years for adults and cost $45 for adults, $35 for children vs. the regular passport cost of $97 for adults and $82 for children.

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines are inching closer to a combination that would create the nation's largest carrier, and if a deal is reached it could be announced next week, a person briefed on the discussions said.

Delta's board of directors is expected to meet over the next several days, the person said without elaborating on the topic of the meeting.

The person, who was not authorized to talk as the negotiations entered a sensitive stage and asked not to be named, said one point of contention has been what Northwest Chief Executive Officer Douglas M. Steenland's role would be at the combined company.

Delta has a growing presence across the Atlantic and a strong hub in Atlanta, home to the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Northwest has strong routes across the Pacific and its main hub is in Minneapolis.

It wasn't clear if other issues such as the combined company's name, headquarters location and labor issues had been fully resolved, but management structure with few exceptions had, the person said.

Delta Air Lines Inc. has said repeatedly that if it were to combine with another carrier it would want to be in control, which could mean its CEO, Richard H. Anderson, remaining in his post and Delta's chairman, Daniel Carp, remaining in his. Anderson, who was CEO of Northwest Airlines Corp. when it began a drive to cut labor costs before he left in the fall of 2004, was replaced by Steenland. But Steenland carried out the cuts, leading to a mechanics strike in 2005 and deep concessions forced on the other unions, which took effect last year.

The person briefed on the discussions cautioned that things could change since Delta also has been talking to Chicago-based UAL Corp.'s United Airlines about a combination, and there have been reports that other carriers have been talking among themselves about possible deals.

A Delta spokeswoman said she could not comment beyond the airline's past statements that it is reviewing its strategic options, including a possible combination. Spokeswomen for Northwest and United declined to comment.

One of the biggest factors driving renewed talk of consolidation has been the sharp increase in fuel prices, among the industry's biggest costs. Jet fuel costs have surged along with the price of oil.

The clock is ticking to get any deals accomplished quickly, some observers say. That's because industry observers believe a combination has a better chance of surmounting the considerable political and regulatory hurdles under the current administration than under President Bush's successor.

United CEO Glenn F. Tilton told analysts at the company's annual investors day that he wouldn't predict the timing of any consolidation but "it's important that it happens for the industry to be successful."

United and Houston-based Continental Airlines are widely viewed as possible partners if consolidation goes ahead. Tilton is believed to have made overtures about a combination. Their routes are seen as complementary, with United strong in the Pacific and internationally but lacking the presence in the Atlantic and Central America of Continental.

UAL May Revive Merger Talks With Continental
Source: Financial Times.com

United Airlines was considering a new round of talks to merge with Continental Airlines if its negotiations with another rival, Delta Air Lines, ended without an agreement, people familiar with the company's plans said.

Glenn Tilton, United chief executive and an outspoken proponent of industrywide consolidation, signaled last month that the Chicago-based airline could still strike a deal even if Delta merged with Northwest Airlines. Delta opened negotiations with both United and Northwest in early January.

Record fuel prices, vocal shareholders and the slowing US economy have pressed airlines to pursue deals that help cut costs, reduce unprofitable routes, and extend global reach. Delta may have an easier time winning the approvals of anti-trust regulators and labor leaders in a deal with Northwest, the smaller of the two potential partners. And Richard Anderson, Delta's chief executive, once ran Northwest.

Nevertheless, United and Continental will probably need to wait for their peers to reach a deal before they sign one of their own; Northwest has the right to block a Continental merger under most conditions.

Continental in turn can buy out that so-called golden share for $100 once Northwest reaches a definitive agreement of its own.

New Interline E-ticketing Agreements
Iran Air (IR), Luxair (LG), JALways (JO), Japan Transocean Air (NU), Nationwide (CE), Middle East Airlines (ME), Kuwait Airways (KU), Cape Air (9K), and Rossiya Airlines (FV) have joined the list of airlines that participate in interline e-ticketing with Northwest.
To date, 126 airlines participate in interline e-ticketing with Northwest.

NWA/KLM Issue Waiver for New DTW-LHR Service
In the spring of 2008, Northwest/KLM will begin servicing London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) from DTW. At that time, Northwest will offer service to both LHR and LGW from DTW.
Customers holding confirmed tickets validated on/before December 12, 2007, for travel to/from DTW/LGW or for travel with connecting service through DTW to/from LGW, may choose to rebook their reservations to travel to/from LHR. Northwest/KLM will waive any fare or tax differences (including the UB tax) and any administration fees. The originally scheduled travel must be on/after May 1, 2008 and tickets must be reissued within 24 hours of rebooking or by March 1, 2008, whichever comes first.

Northwest To Open $51-Million Bag-Sorting Site
Source: freep.com
Northwest Airlines is ringing in the new year with hundreds of millions of dollars in improvements to the airline and its facilities, including plans to open a $51-million baggage-sorting facility at the McNamara Terminal.

The facility, scheduled to open in October, is expected to make baggage sorting and screening more efficient and centralized, which could result in fewer lost bags for customers, said Mark Gurney, Northwest's vice president of customer service.

The Wayne County Airport Authority approved the facility in September 2006 and construction broke ground in December of that year. The 48,000-square-foot building will be paid for with bonds backed by passenger ticket fees. Northwest, Metro Airport's largest passenger carrier, is managing the project.

The airline pushed the airport to approve the facility so that it could expedite baggage check-in and screening operations, which were heightened after 9/11.

"This is something that Northwest really wanted, and it's an excellent idea," said airport spokesman Michael Conway. "It will make the McNamara Terminal much more efficient."

The new baggage-handling area is a two-story building between the check-in and the airline terminal. It will have 14 new screening machines as well as bomb-detection equipment that will be built onto the conveyor belts.

Luggage from all carriers at McNamara will be sent to the facility to be screened and redistributed.

Why use the services of Passageways?

U.S. airlines in 2007 bumped passengers against their wills from ticketed flights at the highest rate in 11 years. The USA's 18 largest airlines denied boarding to 63,878 passengers, or 1.12 per 10,000 passengers, a U.S. Department of Transportation report released Tuesday shows.

In a practice widely loathed by consumers, most airlines sell more tickets than available seats on flights to offset a projected number of no-show passengers. Airlines say the practice helps them keep fares low by letting them fill more seats.

But fuller-than-normal planes and frequent delays in 2007 gave airlines less flexibility in finding convenient alternatives for passengers on overbooked flights, said David Castelveter of trade group Air Transport Association.

Airlines generally are able to minimize problems at the gate by offering inducements — a free trip or a credit voucher — to travelers willing to change plans. According to DOT, most people who got bumped from their ticketed flights last year agreed to the switch. In 2007, 621,717 people switched to other flights voluntarily.

Delta Air Lines (DAL) had the highest rate among the big traditional airlines in 2007, bumping 2.47 per 10,000 passengers. Betsy Talton, a Delta spokeswoman, says the rate is "higher than we'd like," and that the carrier has formed a team to find ways to reduce it.

Continental Airlines (CAL) last year had the second-highest rate among the large traditional airlines, 1.43 per 10,000 passengers. David Messing, a Continental spokesman, says the rate reflects the carrier's growing emphasis on international routes, which typically involve fewer alternatives for re-routing passengers.

The DOT is considering overhauling its rules governing involuntary bumping. Among other changes, the proposal would double the maximum compensation that airlines are required to pay.

If approved, airlines would have to give up to $400 to passengers who reach their destination within two hours of schedule on domestic flights, or four hours for international flights. Airlines would pay up to $800 for longer delays.

Shamrock Express plans to fly two flights per week on Wednesday and Saturday between Lansing and Ireland through early September. North American Airways will provide Shamrock Express with 757-200 aircraft for the international flights featuring all leather seat cabins. A roomy business-class or Emerald class section will be available at a nominal cost to 40 travelers on each flight, and the aircraft has been arranged to accommodate 196 total passengers.

The sun is warmer and so are the smiles. The colors more vibrant, the cuisine a little livelier. Mediterranean people know the secret of living life to the fullest. Best part is, they are willing to share!

10-Night Italian Lakes Verona & Venice Cruisetour. This cruise/tour is not to be missed from Italy to Greece to Croatia; this will be a trip of a lifetime.