airport

Sheraton Opens New Hotel at Milan Malpensa Airport

Part of a global expansion plan to add over 50 new locations to its global portfolio over the next three years, Starwood Hotels has opened a new location at Milan's Malpensa Airport.

Adjacent to Terminal 1, 30 minutes away from downtown Milan and with views of the Italian alps, the Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel and Conference Centre offers 433 guest rooms, 19 suites, 58 "club rooms" and a 200 square-meter members' lounge. It also has 2,000 square meters of meeting rooms, including a 1,000-person multi-function hall and 22 individual board rooms, as well as a 1,000 square-meter fitness center and spa (including an indoor swimming pool), plus the Monte Rosa Bar and Il Canneto for dining options.

The hotel is owned by Degennaro Group and was designed by King Roselli Architects and Saporiti Hotel Design.

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Tags: airport, airport hotel, degennaro, hotel, italian hotels, malpensa, milan, sheraton, starwood, starwood hotels

Carry-On Baggage Costs Taxpayers $260 Million

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

Carry-On Baggage Costs Taxpayers $260 Million

Frequent flyers often prefer to fit everything they need into a carry-on bag instead of checking luggage. With the hassles of air travel constantly on the rise, this simple step means eliminating the wait at the baggage carousel upon arrival, and can often mean cutting to the head of the line when checking in. After all, it doesn't cost anything (except forgoing your checked baggage allowance). Well, not to the passenger, anyway. And not to the airline, either. But it does cost the taxpayers.

According to Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, carry-on luggage is costing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) some $260 million every year. The figure reportedly came up when testifying before Congress last week on a debate over whether to raise the $5 TSA surcharge tacked on to every airline ticket. The question is whether Congress will opt to either raise that surcharge or place further restrictions on hand luggage to decrease its operating costs and make air travel that much more difficult.

[Source: TREND-News.com]

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Tags: air travel, airport, carry-on, janet napolitano, security, transportation security administration, tsa

Tory Burch Travel Socks - No More Barefooting Through TSA

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels

It's disgusting, really. Despite paying outrageous prices for airfare, your luxury trip always includes padding in stockings or -- ew -- bare feet through TSA. Tory Burch, after gauging demand on Twitter, has invented a solution: Tory Burch Travel Socks. And they're pretty cute. Let's have a look and see if these are practical or just a gimmick.

It's certainly fun to open the bag. Like a care package on an international flight, the Tory Burch Travel Socks come in a neat little pouch, about 5" by 5", with a small, weighty goldtone clip, toggle and signature dangle. Would it be a pain to bring this pouch along on a flight? No. It squashes pretty flat, and if your carry-on is truly stuffed to the gills, you can just clip it to the strap.

Gallery: Tory Burch Travel Socks

Tags: airlines, airport, airport security, airports, product review, socks, Tory Burch, ToryBurch, travel, travel socks, TSA

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Heritage Aviation Unveils its 79,000-Square-Foot Eco FBO

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

If we asked you to place a word in front of the phrase "International Airport," your first choice probably wouldn't be "Burlington," as in Vermont. Nevertheless the Burlington International Airport has been growing steadily the past few years, and one of its tenants, Heritage Aviation, has been growing with it. The company has just unveiled its 79,000-square-foot Fixed Base Operation (FBO), for 24/7 facilities and services aimed at the general aviation crowd.

The opening gala will be held on May 20 to showcase the FBO and hangar. Vermont companies and artists aided in the design and decoration of the buildings, which include a gym, game room, media room, flight planning and nap rooms, LEKTRO tugs, and FAA-certified and award-winning avionics, maintenance, detailing and aircraft management services. Sadly, it appears the pancake conveyor belt and a maple syrup fountain has been left out of this initial build. If you're in the area, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra will be providing entertainment, and samples of Vermont microbrews will make you feel even better about being there. It's BYO on 'cakes and syrup...

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Tags: airport, burlington, fbo, fixed base operation, heritage aviation, vermont

Delta and KLM Offer A New Reason To Hang At Heathrow

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

London's Heathrow Airport seems to be the spot if you want to wile away a layover in a luxury airport lounge. The latest comes from an alliance between Delta Air Lines and the Air France KLM group. The two-level minimalist styled lounge features a spa, restaurant, wine bar, oxygen bar and entertainment hub. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also reports that the lounge has an indoor "living wall" made up of over 60 types of plants which is located near various seating areas. Weary travelers can sit in full-body massage chairs, use personal computers, take a shower or grab a nap in a daybed.

Heathrow Airport also has a lavish British Airways airport lounge and Virgin's Heathrow clubhouse is more like a resort with a Cowshed spa that includes tanning booths, a Bumble and bumble hair salon, a pool, cinema, cocktail bar and a business center. The airport boasts a variety of restaurants including one by Gordon Ramsay and shopping that includes Burberry, Versace, Hermes and Cartier.

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Tags: airport, airport lounge, AirportLounge, heathrow, london

Stockholm's Plans For An Airport City

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

While the economy has had a big impact on the global economic picture, that hasn't put an end to all ambitious airport projects. Stockholm Airport City which is currently being built in the Stockholm region is Sweden's big investment in the future of air travel. The airport project includes a 650-room hotel, meeting center, and offices. Currently the Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is Sweden's largest international airport, serving 18 million passengers every year. The airport city is hoped to increase conferences and events in Sweden and Scandinavia and over the course of the next ten years, 1.46 billion euros will be invested in the project. In 10-15 years once it is completed, Stockholm Airport City will employ 50,000 people. A new hotel from First hotels will hopen in 2011 and will feature permanent portraits of the Swedish Royals, including Crown Princess Victoria, shown at right, on its façade.

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Tags: airport, crown princess victoria, CrownPrincessVictoria, stockholm

Travel Like A Celebrity (i.e. Better than First Class)

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wings

For millions of travelers every year who fly coach it's hard to walk past the spacious first class seats and through the little curtain to the cramped rows in the rear, but what do those first class passengers look up to? Those traveling better than first class, of course.

Many airlines offer "extra special" treatment to celebrities and other big names, and although the services vary from airline to airline some things are consistent across the board: little to no waiting in airport lines, extreme efforts to protect privacy, and extra security. Plus, of course, VIP lounges and premium food/drink. Not a celebrity? You can buy the services yourself and feel like one for only about $100.

Most of the airlines who offer special upgrades don't advertise their services, and many don't even post them on websites and flyers. Airport Assistance Worldwide, though, is one that isn't so secretive. On their website you can check out services and even make a reservation. Happy travels!

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Tags: air, air travel, airline, airline travel, airlines, AirlineTravel, airport, airport assistance worldwide, AirportAssistanceWorldwide, airports, AirTravel, travel, traveling, VIP

The Nemorelaxer Coming Soon To An Aiport Near You

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wings

We've seen a couple of relaxation pod designs before but Nemorelax is a new company that is focusing on the airport business. The Nemorelaxers are modules that have recliner chairs, sound-isolating materials and a cocoon for privacy. The Nemorelaxer also has a touchscreen monitor for watching movies and a fold-away worktable with internet connection. The company plans to have Nemorelaxer suites in airports around the world and plans to sell time in the pods in 30 minute blocks. The suites will be staffed by personnel that will greet customers, watch your luggage and provide personal wake-up services.

[via The Moodie Report]

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Tags: airport, energy pod, nemorelax, relaxation

Wine Exec Surrenders Pricey Vintages to Airport Rules

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

If you've traveled over the past year you have probably seen someone having to surrender a bottle of shampoo or some other liquid due to the rules about carrying liquids on planes. But pity poor Neil Grant, southern region general manager with Foster's Australia, who recently had to surrender bottles of a 1980 and an '82 Penfold's Grange, treasures worth a couple of thousand dollars. Grant was going to conferences in Scotland and Ireland and pulled the precious vintages from his personal cellar. At the final security check he ran into a woman who informed him the bottles would be destroyed because he could not take them on board. He argued that people from Emirates airlines were willing to find his checked baggage and put the wine in there but she refused. He also offered to open them and share them with everyone around. Finally, rather than just throw them whole into the trash, he smashed them. The best part of the article for me is that Grant was man enough to admit he was close to tears. To quote an old song, you would cry too, if it happened to you.

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Tags: airport, australia, penfolds grange, PenfoldsGrange, security, wine

Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class Wing

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

Many airlines have first class lounges but Virgin Atlantic has raised the bar at London's Heathrow airport with an entire Upper Class wing. The wing includes a dedicated security channel just for Virgin Atlantic customers helping to deliver what Virgin Atlantic promises will be the fastest check-in around. Their new ad campaign promises "limo to lounge" in just 10 minutes. The wing, designed by architects Foster + Partners has a hotel-like lobby to help deliver a more relaxed experience. The wing opens November 2.

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Tags: airport, flight, heathrow, london, lounge, virgin atlantic

Best Business Class Lounges in the World

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Those who travel frequently often find themselves in between destinations, killing time in an airport. Whether it is a flight delay or a long layover, that downtime can be anything but pleasant. Huge crowds, long lines, and the general chaos that reigns in an airport is not conducive to working or relaxing. That's where the business-class lounges come in. A respite from the madness, these havens range from the very basic to the very luxurious - and knowing which is where can come in handy when planning your itinerary.

Each year, Skytrax ranks the 10 best business-class lounges in the world based on data that includes customer surveys and business research group interviews. The results are in and in the number one spot is Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouse at Heathrow Airport. In addition to a complete office, library, and video projection system, those looking for first class relaxation will find everything they desire. Take a cat nap on a daybed in a hideaway mezzanine, enjoy a meal in one of several dining options or have a drink at the bar. Or use the time to visit the Cowshed Spa, where you can get a facial, massage or even a tan. If all that pampering musses your hair, you can stop by the Bumble and Bumble Hair Salon.

A few North American carriers are beginning to upgrade their lounge offerings, but for now you won't find any of them of Skytrax's top ten list.

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Tags: airplane, airport, business, business class lounge, BusinessClassLounge, cowshed spa, CowshedSpa, flight, heathrow airport, HeathrowAirport, lounge, lounges, luxe, luxury, skytrax, spa, top ten lounges, TopTenLounges, travel, virgin atlantic, VirginAtlantic

Vino Volo, Airport Wine Bars Take Flight

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Wings

The tradition of getting a drink at the airport is long established but the rise of upscale winebars at airports is a relatively new phenomenon. The Wine Enthusiast rounds up a couple of the wine bar options at airports around the U.S. Leading the pack is the winningly named Vino Volo (from Italian for wine flight). Vino Volo has a chain of wine shops located beyond the security point so that flyers can purchase bottles to take on the plane. The company has wine bars in JFK airport in New York, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, and Washington, DC's Dulles International Airport and plans as many as 50 stores over the next five years.

Vino Volo serves wines by the glass or in tasting flights and poured are also available for purchase by the bottle to take with them or have shipped to their home (depending on sate law). Vino Volo also offers a wine club. The wine bars also serve light food which can also be packed up for flight.

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Tags: airport, vino volo, wine, wine bar

MyJets Fractional Seat Ownership

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

I'm not someone who does a lot of travel for work, but for those who do the costs of flying back and forth can really add up, both in money and in time. To appeal to part of that large market of people, MyJets is now offering a program called FSO, or Fractional Seat Ownership.

For a one time fee of only $40,000 per seat (ouch) and then a cost of $150 per hour of flight time (plus a small monthly fee), you too can have the convenience of a private jet -- only without the private part. Albeit you will save time not driving to and from a big commercial airport and not waiting through long security lines and all that, but the price still seems a bit steep, doesn't it? I guess for some in very specific situations it might be economical and/or convenient, but I'd be really curious just what the conditions are like on board the plane. The photos don't look all that convincing...or maybe it's just me?

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Tags: airline, airport, fly, fractional, fractional jet seat ownership, FractionalJetSeatOwnership, FSO, jet, myjets, plane, travel

Gucci Lands In Its First U.S. Airport, Plans Monster Store In New York

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Wings

If your holiday travels bring you through the San Francisco International Airport you have one last luxury shopping opportunity. A new Gucci store, the first one in a U.S. airport, has opened at the International Terminal at SFO. According to an article on Inside the Bay Area, this airport was chosen as a Gucci location because of its sleek design. The international terminal at SFO is not a bad place to be waylaid if snow in other areas delays your flight, there is also a salon, spa and plenty of decent dining options and your Gucci purchases will be duty free.

In other Gucci news, it was also recently announced that Gucci in New York will move their flagship store to Trump Tower and take over a four-floor, 46,000-square-foot site that once belonged to Brit jeweler Asprey. The new location will be the world's largest Gucci store when it opens in 2008.

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Tags: airport, gucci, new york, NewYork, san francisco, shopping, trump tower, TrumpTower

From the Airport to the Hotel...

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

In today's Wall Street Journal, there is an interesting blurb on prices around the world, comparing the rate for the same service in different locations. In this case, the service is a one-way private transfer from an airport to a luxury hotel, as booked through that hotel or their concierge. All the prices have been converted to US dollars and the difference in various markets is quite surprising, especially since the distance being considered was that of a very central location. As a starting point, the cost in New York was $167 per person. In Manila, the transfer was a mere $42, while it was $74 in Sydney and $100 in Hong Kong. The three locations more expensive than New York were London, at $171, Paris at $170 and Tokyo, at an almost shocking $382. It's enough to make you think twice about arranging your own transportation. After all, it certainly couldn't be much more expensive and by calling around, you might even be able to arrange nicer transportation.

Tags: airport, global, globe, hotel, international, international travel, limo, prices, shuttle, towncar, transportation