American Airlines Snips San Francisco - St. Louis Route

As part of a larger cutback in service at St. Louis Airport (STL), American Airlines will eliminate flights to San Francisco and 19 other airports around the country. The airline attributes a softening demand for business travel to St. Louis. The final SFO-STL flight will be Monday, April 5th.

inFLIGHTout Travel Tip: Register Your Trip

In light of the unfortunate events in Mumbai and Bangkok fairly recently, it is a good idea to let the State Department know your international travel plans. U.S Embassies located throughout the world can aid you in the event of civil unrest, terrorism or natural disaster. Additionally, U.S Embassies and Consulates can assist if you are a victim of a crime, become ill, or are involved in a car accident.

Registering your trip is voluntary and free.

Click here to read additional information from the U.S State Department and to register.

Mid-Market Hotels As A Solution for Travelers

Came across this great blog piece at Forbes.com describing how mid-tier hotel chains such as Holiday Inn Expresses, Residence Inns and Hyatt Places are a smarter, more economically-sound choice compared to luxury properties such as the Ritz's and J.W Marriott's. The author, Rich Karlgaard, editor of Forbes magazine, considers the varying amenities and services provided at each class hotel, and concludes mid-range hotels offer a surprisingly good deal for many travelers needs. Take a read: The Holiday Inn Express Solution

inFLIGHTout Tip - Your Printed Itinerary

Before you set sail for your next flight be sure you have a copy of your flight itinerary with you. This valuable document often contains your confirmation and ticket numbers, and most importantly your return trip details. Often the excitement of voyage ends up blocking any thoughts of the return flight. So when it comes time to fly back home, recalling the exact time of departure isn't so clear without a printed itinerary. 

Also, a complete itinerary in-hand is also helpful during tight connections. If your initial flight arrives late at your connection city, show the flight attendant your document so they can make arrangements for you to deplane first. 

Finally, a copy of the itinerary is great because they remind you what time you will be landing. Most boarding passes do not provide this detail. 

Foreclosure Looms Over Bay Area Hotels

According to InsideBayArea.com, two East Bay hotels have slipped into foreclosure status, resulting from a decrease in corporate travel. Default notices have been filed on the 170-room Sheraton Pleasanton and 293-room Coliseum Suites in Oakland. According to the article, hotel occupancy rates in Pleasanton are down a whopping 28% as Tri-Valley businesses such as E-Loan, Safeway, JPMorgan Chase and WaMu layoff workers and cut corporate travel budgets.

The Sheraton Pleasanton continues to operate business as usual and owners are reportedly in daily negotiations with lenders. Meanwhile, lenders on the Oakland hotel are attempting to seize the closed, fenced-off property.

Advantage Rent A Car Files For Bankruptcy

On Monday, San Antonio-based Advantage Rent A Car announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Citing the sluggish economy and a drop in leisure travel, among other reasons, the company says it will explore strategic alternatives, including a reorganization, sale, or merger to maintain operations.

The company said it will layoff 440 employees and close 21 rental locations nationwide, including a few in Southern California, keeping only its most profitable stores.

In most cases, customers with upcoming Advantage reservations at affected locations will have their reservation transferred to Hertz Car Rental. If you have questions relating to the closed locations call: 1-888-846-0808.

Modern Manners Guy Podcast: Hotel Manners

In his weekly Podcast, Modern Manners Guy (MMG) serves up quick and friendly tips to help listeners live a more pleasant life, particularly in awkward or unfamiliar situations.  Advice on wide-variety of topics such as arriving fashionably late to a party to politely informing someone their zipper is down, are covered by Mr. Manners. 

Although many of these tips apply both at home and during travels, MMG dedicated a recent Podcast specifically to manners during Hotel stays. He reminds us hotels are mini communities, and its residents should adhere to norms that make for a pleasant stay for everyone. 

So how do you handle loud neighboring guests? What acts of kindness can you carry-out at the hotel to brighten someones day, while still enjoying yours?  Visit the Modern Manners Guy for answers to these questions and many others. 

Hotel Manners Podcast and Transcript can be found here. 

Hyatt Place Offers Business Travelers Etiquette Tips

Hyatt Place Hotels has partnered with etiquette expert Anna Post to offer business travelers a series of short etiquette-focused topics meant to help professionals succeed. As she explains on her website, knowing proper etiquette in different situations is helpful, but sometimes the most appropriate response isn't always the most obvious.

Some areas she touches on are using technology appropriately; Be self-reliant - be self prepared; Master the art of small talk; Appearance matters. In using technology appropriately for example, Post offers solutions on how to accept phone calls during meetings, without necessarily upsetting other meeting attendees.

Click here to visit The Etiquette Effect.

Hyatt Place Hotels partnered with Etiquette effect as they continue to roll out their new hotel brand throughout the U.S. The brand, primarily targeted toward the business traveler, includes 24-hour made-to-order fresh food, complimentary continental breakfast, 42" plasma TV's, office desks, complimentary wireless internet, and an over sized sofa-sleeper that is separated from the main sleeping area.

Locally, there are two Hyatt Place locations in the East Bay, and one near Sacramento.

Click here to visit Hyatt Place Hotels.

TSA to allow laptops to stay in approved bags

A constant annoyance for travelers passing through airport security is the requirement to remove their laptop computer and place it in a separate bin for screening. It sounds like a simple task, but in particular for business travelers often traveling each week, the repetitive nature of the required task becomes a constant nuisance.

Even those traveling without laptops are affected, as the special laptop screening results in longer security security lines.

Changes are in the works.

After receiving responses from over 60 manufacturers of laptop computer bags, TSA has decided on particular "checkpoint friendly" laptop bags, which provide a clear, unobstructed view of the laptop computer as it passes through the X-ray machine.

"Checkpoint friendly" bags must have a dedicated laptop-only section (see illustration above)which unfolds to lie flat on the X-ray machine belt, contains no metal snaps, zippers, buckles or pockets.

The new rules go into effect on August 16th are expected to streamline the security checkpoint process.