Our buddies at Open Skies Airways are offering a RED HOT Summer Sale for flights to Paris from New York or Washington DC

We did a quick comparative pricing for flights to Paris from New York in August.  Open Skies came in at $1886 rt including all taxes and fees, while BA, DL & AA priced flights between $4,500 and $6000 for business class.  In fact pricing for coach on the ‘big boys’ was in the $1,200 range – so for just a few hundred dollars more, you enjoy a luxury business class airline.  Open Skies is less than 1/3 of the price of American and half the price of British Airways in business class – astounding!

Here’s our trip report of a recent journey on Open Skies from Washington DC to Paris in June.  We think you’ll love flying Open Skies!  If you can’t squeak out a vacation this summer, you’ll might be interested in their Early Fall Sale with prices staring at $700 each way.  The Fall sale must be booked by July 26th.  I can’t think of a better reason to jet off to Paris for a few days!

We arrived at Washington Dulles and were able to check in at the British Airways lounge.  Graciously greeted and welcomed (what a novel idea of thanking the customer), we relaxed while waiting to board our flight to Paris. You are welcome to participate in pre-boarding dinning, cocktails, or simply to snack and use the business center. The lounge service was A+, and since they notify you when it’s time to board your flight. you to can relax in comfy seats and enjoy the view. Our evening flight to Paris was a short 6 hours, and didn’t quite live up to our expectations.  Our dinner and breakfast were fine (but not extraordinary), and we actually felt a bit neglected at times as the flight crew were busy trying to troubleshoot several personal entertainment devices that were not working properly. The plane was older than we anticipated which resulted in some difficulties with the seat recline mechanisms.   But hold on, Open Skies still deserved a 5 Star rating, read on…..

It Pays Not to Judge Too Soon

Fully prepared to experience the very same on our return, we were pleasantly surprised. Our Flight Attendant Michael on the return flight was extraordinary. Since the fight back was nearly 9 hours, the crew had a lot more time to expand the service and provide us with a  truly first class experience, which included complimentary wine and champagne, a three-course meal, and a snack prior to arrival.  The good news is… they serve a nice selection of food, although like most airline food it suffers a bit in translation. All the equipment was operational on this flight and the 9 hours flew by (no pun intended). It was one of the best flights we’ve had in a very long time, and we would definitely go out of our way to fly Open Skies again.  The fact that their pricing is considerably below British Air, Air France, Delta etc. for business seats is a considerable bonus.  (At writing, the round trip business seat fare is approx $1,500 in high season!)  Here are a few additional tips to insure a great flight:

• Order a special meal, they have many options and they seemed to be more carefully prepared than the normal “chicken or fish” options.
• The travel kit is quite sparse (socks, mini toothpaste and brush), so bring along your own mouthwash, eye covering, chap stick and face moisturizer.
• The crew is very accommodating, don’t hesitate to ask for anything you need.
• Make sure you get up and move those legs to prevent DVT
• Bring along your own in-seat entertainment (book, magazine, iPod) just in case the entertainment devises are finicky
• Be sure to fill out all the pre-boarding information online to expedite your airport check in
• It’s possible to book a Business Bed seat for the overnight flight to Europe and a Business Seat for the daytime return.

One of the major benefits of flying Open Skies is that you land at Orly Airport instead of Charles de Gaulle (think LaGuardia rather than JFK).  We walked off the plane, through customs, and were in a taxi within 5 minutes of landing!  The taxi ride into the city wandered through suburban Paris neighborhoods and cost approx. 35 € ($45).

In our opinion Open Skies is well worth the splurge. The price of their round trip business class flight may be only a few hundred dollars more than flying coach on another airline.  The seats are wide and comfortable, the meals are actually edible, and the service is friendly, efficient and engaging.  They actually look happy to see you – pinch me, have I returned to the 60′s?  If you are considering a trip to Europe, definitely give Open Skies a try.   You may just fall in love with flying again – and you DO deserve a little pampering on your next vacation!

If you haven’t considered The Bahamas before, I encourage you to take a fresh look.  Gone are the days of emphasis on gambling and glitz.  Today you’ll find The Bahamas sensitive to protecting their 700 pristine islands, and proud to offer friendly, attentive service.  In recent years air service to the Out Islands has increased making them easy to reach.  The Out Islands are simply spectacular with long ribbons of gorgeous beaches and quaint intimate resorts.  If you ever had a Robinson Crusoe daydream, this is the destination to fulfill your fantasy!  And for all of you who lament the overbuilding of Turks and Caicos…. the Bahamas will return you to the days of beach side bars, local resorts and friendly residents.

To take advantage of the two for one airfare promotion, get all the finer details by visiting Bahamas.com or calling 1-800-Bahamas.  Vacations must be booked by March 3, 2010, with travel completed by December 22, 2010 and some blackout dates apply.

Getting There: A steady stream of airline sales have kept the cost of flights to Hawaii comparable to flying to a resort in Mexico or the Caribbean.   Two sites worth watching are HawaiianAir.com where you can sign up for unadvertised airfare specials by email, and the Twitter and Facebook Page of PleasantHolidays.com.  Pleasant Holidays is one of the largest tour companies packaging trips to Hawaii and by following Twitter.com/PleasantHoliday you’ll be among the first to know about their many discounts on vacation package deals.

And thanks to low cost airways  GO by Hawaii Airlines, flying inter-island is a real bargain with most flights pricing at just $58.  This makes island hopping easy and cheap!

Where To Stay:  Two words… Aqua Resorts.  This collection of 18 freshly redesigned mid-range properties have an astonishing 12 hotels priced  well under $99 per night during the winter of 2010.   CJay stayed at the Aqua Surf and Spa which has a terrific location just 2 blocks from center stage Waikiki beach.  He could walk out the door and be sipping a cold one at Duke’s in a matter of minutes.  The hotel gets high marks for their complementary continental breakfast, which was a full buffet of fruit, cereals, bagels, danish, muffins – you name it – a perfect way to fuel up for the day and saves $15-25 on breakfast prices elsewhere!  Aqua Resorts are running a winter special with 60% off standard rates in Waikiki and 50% off in Maui, Kauai and Molokai – a penny pincher’s dream come true.

If you’ll be staying on one island for a week or more, savings can be huge by staying in a condo or vacation home.  The downturn in home and condo sales means lots of owners have posted their properties for rent.   Sites like VRBO, HomeAway and Rentalo all list terrific rentals starting at only $100 a night in prime locations.

And for those who want a luxury resort experience on a budget, have a look at the offerings of Starwood Hotels’ Values In Paradise, including promotional rates at the incomparable Westin Moana Surfrider which has just completed a multi-million dollar refurbishment and is grander than ever before.

Eating and Drinking On The Cheap:  Can you say Happy Hour?!  Luckily the practice of holding happy hours is alive and well throughout Hawaii and in particular in Honolulu.   Here is THE source for finding happy hour promotions and tasty pub grub PubClub.com in Waikiki and Maui.  Even though they don’t have an official happy hour, Duke’s Barefoot Bar is the center of fun on Waikiki Beach.  The food may not wow you, but it’s hard not to have a good time – especially on weekends when live bands rock the beach.  You’ll find a Duke’s Bar on all the main Hawaiian islands.

The ABC Stores are your friend for pacing the gap between breakfast and happy hour – you’ll find one a block or two away in every direction.  Bop in to pick up a fist full of power bars, a $3 sandwich, a banana, and drink, and head off to the beach!  Or if you need something more substantial, The International Marketplace in Waikiki has a great food court with lots of local offerings.  You can also do the Food Court shuffle at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza with the largest food court  in the islands – a good place to hide out if you get a rainy spell.

Tours and Entertainment:  Right after you’ve collected your bags at the airport, help yourself to the dozens of free brochures and coupon books you’ll pass on the way out of the terminal, they are a great resource for finding interesting tours.  But you really don’t need to pay to enjoy touring in Hawaii.  It really takes no more than a pair of sneakers and a curious disposition.  There are miles of great beaches to explore – just take a stroll down the boardwalks, stopping in a hotel cafe or two along the way when you need a break from the sun.  Rent a boogie board or long board right on the beach and tackle the waves.  Take a hike up the Diamond Head trail for a view you’ll always remember.  Be dazzled by fireworks every Friday night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  And don’t miss a sail out on the gorgeous aqua waters.  Catamaran cruises (booze, whale watching, snorkeling or sunset) are all very reasonable and you can hop on board right from the beachfront.

Here are a few phenomenal lists of wonderful FREE (or very cheap) things you can do in Hawaii:
101 Free Things To Do on Oahu – About.com
Free or Cheap in Honolulu – PubClub.com
Honolulu On The Cheap
20 Places To Eat Under $20 on Maui - LA Times
Maui Cheap Fun - Maui Vacation Network

ALOHA!

1) Steps You Can Take In Advance of Your Travel
The sad truth is that there are very few legal obligations on the airline’s part to provide for your well-being when a flight is delayed or canceled, so it becomes increasingly important to plan in advance in order to avoid as many disruptions as possible.

• Whenever possible take the first flight of the day.  These flights are most likely to take off on time because the plane arrives the night before and if it is delayed or canceled you will have the most rerouting options.
• If you cannot fly nonstop, consider the connecting city carefully.  In winter choose a city to the south Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas etc, rather than a northern route connecting in Chicago, New York etc.  Allow 45 minutes or more in layover time just in case your first flight is delayed. 
• Be certain to check in by computer 24 hours in advance of your flight.  If you do not receive a seat assignment and boarding pass for any reason, that means the flight is overbooked and you are in danger of being bumped.  Be sure to arrive at the airport early for check in.
• If a major snow storm is expected on the day of your flight call the airlines the evening before to see if flights are being canceled or if the airline has approved rebooking passengers to other flights.  I’ve found the later in the evening I call, the more likely it is I’ll be allowed to rebook the flight in advance of it officially being canceled.
• Be certain you’ve listed your cell phone number in the airline record so they can contact you with flight changes.  Also be sure to sign up for flight tracking and notification services offered by many online booking sites – Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak etc.

2) What If Your Flight is Canceled? (Rule 240 Fact or Myth?)

• When you encounter a canceled flight, much of how it is handled will depend on whether it is an isolated incident, or a broad-based weather related condition effecting all airlines and flights.  The ticket agents have discretionary power to put you on another flight with available seats and/or offer meal and hotel vouchers, so bring out your smile and patience.
• First and most importantly, if your flight is canceled you are entitled to a full refund if you wish to cancel your trip and begin again on another date (even if you’ve purchased a non-refundable ticket).
• If you are at the airport when the flight is canceled, pick up your cell phone immediately and call the airline’s 800 number while you get into line at the ticket counter.  Chances are you’ll make contact by phone faster than waiting in line.  If the line is busy and you can’t get through to an agent on the phone, try this sneaky trick…. at the auto prompts choose the international ticket option, those lines are usually much less busy AND are staffed with senior representatives.  “Whoops, I must have pressed the wrong option, but can you help me anyway?” – works like a charm.
• The airline is obligated to book you on the next available flight with open seats.  If you’re traveling during the holiday season however, those open seats may be few and far between.  In some circumstances the airline will agree to book you on a competing airline, but only if you ask – so be sure to speak up and inquire about alternate airlines.
• If you purchased your ticket through a travel agent or an online travel site, give their customer service number a call and enlist their assistance as well.  As long as you’re in line, you might as well call in all the assistance you can get.
• If your flight is canceled due to inclement weather and you are departing from your home airport, chances are very little will be done in way of compensation.  If however, you are at a connecting airport, or on your return trip, the airline will most likely provide a food voucher if you’re delayed for several hours, and a hotel voucher if you cannot travel until the following day.
• We’ve all heard about the famous Rule 240 and how it forces airlines to compensate you in specific ways.  Sorry to tell you, it is almost an urban myth! Rule 240 is actually the airline’s “Contract of Carriage” and each airline draws theirs up differently.  The rule governing canceled and delayed flights might be section 240, 360, or 999, it will vary by airline.  You’ll find a link to all the major airline’s Contract of Carriage on the DOT website.  You may want to print it out in advance of your flight.

3)  What If Your Flight is Delayed?

• If your flight is delayed because of “force majeure” (circumstances not in the airline’s control – weather, strike, air traffic control, etc) the airline is under no legal obligation to provide support services.  Most airlines will however provide a meal voucher for flights delayed longer than 4 hours.
• Your best bet for getting to your destination is to be friendly to the ticket agent.  If you are facing a long delay, be an active participant – “Can you find me a connecting flight instead?, Does another airline have a flight departing that I might be able to get on?, Would another flight have an upper class seat available that I could upgrade to?, I’ve been traveling for several hours without a meal, would you have a meal voucher available so I could find something to eat during our delay?” etc…  Ranting about Rule 240 and making ‘I’m going to blow my stack’ faces at the agent will get you little satisfaction.

4) What If Your Flight is Oversold and You May Get Bumped?

• Here you are in luck, there are very specific regulations on how compensation must be handled.  If you have checked in for your flight within the designated time frame, and you are in fact “Denied Boarding”, the airline is required to provide a written notice of your rights.  Basically they require that if the airline can get you to your destination within one hour of your original arrival time, they are not obligated to provide a monetary compensation.  For arrivals over 1 hour, up to 2 hours delayed, compensation will be a maximum of $400.  Arrivals delayed over 2 hours the compensation maximum of $800.  If however, the plane you are scheduled to fly is 30 passengers or less, all bets are off.  If you are traveling internationally from the USA, the compensation maximums double.  Flights returning from Europe will follow EU compensation guidelines.
• Airlines will ask for volunteers to give up their seats in lieu of compensation before intentionally bumping any passenger. Often the enticements are quite tempting.  Here are some questions to consider before giving up your seat:
  • Have you checked luggage?  If so, how will you be assured that your bags will be looked after at your destination before you arrive?
  • What seat can be confirmed for you on a later flight?
  • Are they offering a voucher for future travel or cash?  If it’s a voucher, what are the restrictions, black out dates, advance booking requirements, deadline for use, can it be redeemed online or only at an airport? – Go for cash whenever possible.
  • Sweeten the pot by asking for an additional meal coupon, phone call vouchers, hotel room or a pass to the VIP lounge – can’t hurt to negotiate (quietly)!

And after all this, if you have simply been treated badly by the airline you were attempting to patronize, following the excellent recommendations for filing formal complaints that are spelled out on the DOT website .

JetBlue

Why You Should Go: For centuries the French and British battled for possession of this beautiful tropical setting and today the island retains the best of both worlds.  But the true lure is found in the stunning iconic beauty of the island’s soaring pitons, tumbling waterfalls, lush rainforests and unspoiled offshore reefs.  Few tropical settings enjoy the dramatic beauty of St. Lucia where the mountain rainforests tumble down to meet the sea.  In addition to lovely half-moon bays and idyllic beaches, you’ll be tempted to venture off exploring the drive-in volcano, jungle zip lines and biking trails, or perhaps join a Friday night “Jump Up” street party.  St. Lucia is a destination that definitely belongs on your must-see list!

For more information on St. Lucia, visit the Tourism Bureau’s site: St.Lucia.org