AMERICAN TO BEGIN COLLECTING SECURE FLIGHT DATA American Airlines tomorrow will begin collecting Secure Flight data from passengers at the point of sale, making it the first major domestic airline to announce that it is collecting new passenger data to meet requirements of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's new passenger prescreening program. Passengers booking American Airlines tickets through all points of sale, including travel agencies, will be asked to provide their full name as it appears on government identification, date of birth and gender. American said it "strongly encouraged" AAdvantage members to update their frequent flyer accounts with those new data elements. TSA directed domestic airlines, and the travel agencies that support them, to begin collecting the data from passengers. Other airlines are expected to follow American in collecting the data this fall. The next phase of the program in March 2010 will shift domestic airlines' watchlist-matching responsibilities to the government. To facilitate the collection of the Secure Flight Passenger Data, The Lawyers' Travel Service has created a secure, encrypted web form which travelers can use to input this information. When the information is submitted, your traveler profile will be updated. Please click on the URL directly below to complete the collection process. https://secureflight.ovationtravel.com For additional Secure Flight information go to: http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm HOW TO GET THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY FASTER Airport security is a traveler's rite of passage: the long lines, the ID check, the shuffling of personal items. Get through security faster with these easy strategies. You probably don't want a security official inspecting your carry-on bag by hand. Avoid this hassle by packing in a way that keeps your curling iron, hair dryer, and other hard-plastic or dense items separate in your bag, instead of allowing them to get tangled in a pile -- and look suspicious on an X-ray scan. Layer your electronics and toiletries in between your clothes. Put heavy clothes on top to act as a weight and secure loose items. If you plan to go carry-on only, any liquid should be kept in a 3.4-ounce bottle or smaller. You're only allowed as many bottles as can fit in one quart-size, clear ziplock bag. Find bottles in your local drugstore's travel or $1 section, or online. Slip-on shoes, minimal jewelry and no belt is the standard uniform for moving through security fast. If you insist on wearing jewelry and a watch on the plane, take them off and slip them into a pocket in your carry-on before you enter the security cordon. Keep your travel bag stocked with "flight ready" items that don't break the TSA's liquid rules, such as solid perfume, and lip balm instead of lip gloss. The TSA allows laptops to go through the X-ray in checkpoint-friendly laptop bags, like a simple $20 Skooba Skin. The most common and cheapest is a laptop sleeve. Laptops are also among the most-forgotten items at security, so label yours with a business card or ID tag. 18 airports and five airlines are currently participating in the Paperless Boarding Pass pilot program. If the program covers your flight, you can go straight to the security checkpoint and use your cell phone as a boarding pass. Once you've presented your ID and boarding pass, get moving. Find the shortest line -- look especially for lines toward your left because studies show that Americans are more likely to turn right than left when entering a building, so lines on the left will tend to be shorter. After successfully passing through the metal detector (because we know you will), grab your shoes and slip them on, then snag your other belongings and slip them back in your bag. Look around quickly for anything that may have come loose, and then exit the security area to keep the line moving. HOW TO EARN MORE FREQUENT-FLIER MILES Most airlines now demand more miles before you qualify, and they expire quicker than ever -- in 18 months, typically. Today you must pile up points by every means available, and do so in a hurry. That means taking advantage of the airlines' partner programs and being smart about how to use them. CHOOSE PLASTIC There's a good chance you already have an airline-affiliated credit card. Get another one: It's hands down the quickest way to earn a free trip. Most of these cards deliver enough bonus points for a domestic round trip after you make your first purchase. The fees can be high, so after you've gotten your free flight, reevaluate whether you want to keep the account. EAT OUT Register your credit or debit card with an airline's dining program and you'll earn up to five miles for every $1 spent at partner restaurants. Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, Southwest, and United have very similar programs -- and nearly identical Web sites. The restaurant options are better than you might imagine: around 600 in New York City alone, for example -- most of them independently owned. To get the full five miles per $1, you have to use your card for a meal at least 12 times a year, and let the restaurants send you promotional e-mails. If you block the e-mails, you could get only one mile per $1 spent -- or worse, maybe even nothing. SELL YOUR HOUSE Picking a mortgage lender, real-estate agent or moving service that works with a frequent-flier program is a quick way to pile up tens of thousands of miles. GO SHOPPING Every airline has a bunch of retailers it partners with, and they'll thank you for your business with 1 to 25 miles for every $1 you spend. Signing up is easy; enter the shopping section of your miles program's website to browse stuff from Omaha Steaks, Staples, Target, iTunes, Mrs. Fields, Macy's, REI, and more. PAY YOUR BILLS Everyday expenses, from buying your weekly groceries to paying monthly utility bills, can earn you some serious miles. BANK ON IT It's not like you're going to open a bank account or hire a financial planner because you'll get a couple thousand miles, but many of these financial services are worthwhile in their own right, with competitive rates and online trading fees. The miles are but a bonus. SPEND TIME, NOT MONEY Earning miles usually involves buying something, but not in these cases. Answering surveys through e-miles.com and other online polling outfits, for example, can earn you 10 to 1,000 miles apiece with either AirTran, Continental, Delta, or Frontier Airlines. TRAVEL Some of the oldest airline partners are other travel companies, including cruise, hotel and car-rental players. TSA: LIQUID RESTRICTIONS REMAIN AND NEW CHECKS COMING The Transportation Security Administration has been testing technology that will allow X-ray machines to detect whether a liquid is a threat or not, and once deployed, restrictions on liquids in carry-on baggage could be dropped. Last October, Kip Hawley, the TSA administrator in the previous administration, had said he thought that would happen in 2009. But now TSA says you'll likely have to keep putting 3.4 ounce bottles in quart-sized bags at least for another year. "Aggressive testing continues with industry and at the national labs in working towards a solution," TSA spokeswoman Sterling Payne says. One issue: TSA says it anticipates having contracts in place by the end of fiscal year 2010 to purchase enough upgraded machines to cover every federalized airport in the U.S. That means Sept. 30, 2010. One new technology that is being rolled out is a test for powders to determine if a particular powder could be used in an explosive. TSA X-ray machines can now, apparently, flag powders for secondary screening while distinguishing common powders, which are all permitted. "Officers will use X-ray technology to determine which substances may require additional screening'' with a powder test kit, Ms. Payne says. For security reasons, she declined to say how that happens. TSA says the vast majority of commonly carried powders, like most medication, infant formula and makeup are unlikely to need further screening. "Typical security checkpoint procedures will remain the same," Ms. Payne says.
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
Located on Boston's historic Waterfront - surrounded by Boston Harbor and the new Rose Kennedy Greenway - InterContinental Boston is steps away from exciting Boston attractions, including Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, North End, Chinatown, Beacon Hill and a plethora of historical attractions such as the Boston Tea Party Museum and Freedom Trail. Exceptionally convenient, InterContinental Boston sits at the base of the Financial District and is 10 minutes from Boston Logan International Airport. Relax in 424 ultra contemporary guestrooms and elegant suites with stunning Boston Harbor and downtown skyline views. Their luxurious, next generation accommodations offer distinctive style, sophistication, innovation and convenience. Enhanced by original artwork, plush furnishings, stylish architectural touches and rich fabric, each beautiful room is graciously designed to help one rejuvenate with details that complement a demanding global lifestyle. The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at the InterContinental Boston is $315 (compared to a corporate rate of $410).*
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
Sofitel Chicago Water Tower welcomes you with world-class downtown Chicago hotel accommodations - steps from the Magnificent Mile and trendy designer boutiques. Designed by the French architect Jean-Paul Viguier, the downtown Chicago, Illinois hotel is a 32-floor prism of glass, boasting 415 rooms, including 33 luxurious suites with 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Embrace modern design and rich architectural legacy at this luxurious hotel. The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower is $174 (compared to a corporate rate of $195).*
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM In Texas, they do things in a big way, and The Fairmont Dallas is no exception. In this modern city of soaring skyscrapers, The Fairmont hotel in Dallas has, for nearly forty years, taken its place as the standard of elegance and grand style. Making its home in the Dallas Arts District, this Dallas hotel is just minutes from the Central Business District, Victory Park (home of the American Airlines Center), the Financial District, outstanding culture and entertainment activities of The Arts District, the West End Historic District known for its shopping and lively restaurants as well as the exciting upscale shops, restaurants and entertainment of the nearby West Village. Combining hospitality, luxury and that special Texas flair, The Fairmont Hotel Dallas can accommodate grand events in lavish style as well as smaller, more intimate meetings. With this Dallas hotel's four-star dining and newly redesigned guestrooms, nothing compares to The Fairmont Dallas – where they specialize in Turning Moments into Memories for Guests. The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Fairmont Dallas is $319 (compared to a corporate rate of $424).*
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
Alden-Houston welcomes travelers to experience the modern luxury and exceptional service. This sophisticated and stylish hotel in downtown Houston combines classic architecture with cutting-edge, contemporary design. Alden-Houston is Houston's intimate oasis for leisure and business travelers alike and boasts a perfect hotel location in the center of Houston's legal, business, and theatre districts - just minutes away from landmark Houston destinations: George R. Brown Convention Center the Houston courthouse and many prominent law firms and major corporations. Alden-Houston is an impressive luxury boutique hotel in downtown Houston, featuring luxurious accommodations, world-class service, and exquisite dining. This five-star Houston hotel is home to the award-winning restaurant, *17, offering an enticing variety of new American cuisine paired with an extensive international wine list. Their bar & grille, a+, provides the perfect end to any day with creative signature cocktails and downtown flare. Each of Alden-Houston's 97 guestrooms pampers guests with lavish residential luxury, while providing modern-day conveniences the savvy traveler has come to expect: 24-hour concierge services, 24-hour room service, 24-hour complimentary fitness facility complimentary, wireless internet access, and business services. Alden-Houston invites guests to experience the unparalleled service, substance, and style of Alden-Houston. The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at the Alden-Houston is $139 (compared to a corporate rate of $160).*
THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
Situated in the stylish West End district of the nation's capital, The Westin Grand, Washington DC enjoys an unbeatable location. Whether one is visiting for business or leisure, the hotel is moments away from Embassy Row, the White House, and Georgetown. The staff at The Westin Grand is ready to cater to a multilingual clientele, and the hotel has been decorated with an international flair. The European-style courtyard is a relaxing place to sit and meet with friends or business partners. The hotel also offers a seasonal outdoor pool so that guests can jump in and refresh. Feel free to spread out and work from an oversized desk in one of their spacious guest rooms. The hotel has everything a traveler needs, with High Speed Internet Access and two telephone lines. Each bathroom has a separate soaking tub and Heavenly Shower®. Enjoy a peaceful night's sleep in their signature Heavenly Bed®. The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The Westin Grand is $279 (compared to a corporate rate of $499).* *All rates are subject to availability.
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