Frequent Business Traveler

01/02/2020

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01/02/2020

Review: Vienna Philharmonic’s 2020 New Year’s Day Concert Confronts Link to National Socialist Era | Frequent Business Traveler

It turns out is that the arrangement of the final encore, the Radetzky March, that the Vienna Philharmonic has used for decades was arranged by Leopold Weninger, a former member of the National Socialist party who was also responsible for arranging the most popular version of the party’s anthem, the “Horst-Wessel-Lied.” Meanwhile, having been alerted to the arrangement’s National Socialist roots, the Vienna Philharmonic commissioned a new arrangement to be created by its archivist and performed going forward.

While the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Day concert is replete with tradition, “the same tradition as last year” as Miss Sophie would be wont to say, those who were paying close attention may have noticed something slightly different.

01/01/2020

Great Moments in Travel History – January 2020 | Frequent Business Traveler

From the founding of the National Geographic Society in 1888 to the founding of American Airlines in 1930 to the first flight to depart London Heathrow in 1946 to the first commercial 747 flight in 1970, January is full of interesting and historic moments in travel. Here's what happened in Januarys past

Although many believe that January is named after Janus, the god of beginnings and time, scholars believe that January is named after janua, the Latin word for door, given that January is the start of the year and hence an opening to new things.

01/01/2020

New Laws That Come Into Effect in the U.S. in 2020 | Frequent Business Traveler

While the year 2020 will bring with it multiple resolutions as well as somewhat premature attempts to name the decade the Roaring Twenties, it is also bringing with it numerous new laws, some which will be of interest to and will possibly impact travelers.

While the year 2020 will bring with it multiple resolutions as well as somewhat premature attempts to name the decade the Roaring Twenties, it is also bringing with it numerous new laws, some which will be of interest to and will possibly impact travelers.

12/31/2019

Trump Signs Law to Reduce Robocalls, But They Won’t End | Frequent Business Traveler

“This bill implements a forfeiture penalty for violations (with or without intent) of the prohibition on certain robocalls,” Congress said on its website. “The bill also removes an annual reporting requirement for enforcement relating to unsolicited facsimile advertisements.”

While the law will have an impact on the scourge, it will not complete eradicate robocalls because many such calls are placed from off-shore locations.

12/31/2019

LOT Polish Airlines to Offer Non-Stop Service to Washington, D.C. | Frequent Business Traveler

LOT, which was the first European airline to deploy the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, will use that aircraft type for the new service. All LOT Dreamliners have fully lie-flat seats in the business-class cabin in a 2-2-2 configuration.

LOT Polish Airlines announced plans to offer non-stop thrice-weekly seasonal service linking Warsaw with Washington, D.C.

12/31/2019

Winter Storm Leaves 100,000 Homes and Businesses Without Power, Causes Extensive Flight Delays | Frequent Business Traveler

In the town of Otis, Massachusetts, officials declared a state of emergency after winds reaching 60 mph (96 km/h) downed dozens of trees, causing extensive power outages. “It’s just not safe. Trees are falling at such a random rate, you just don’t know where they’re going to fall next,” Otis Police Chief Daniel Hamill told Western Mass News.

Snow, sleet, and ice. These were words uttered by dozens of local television and radio weather forecasters in the Midwest and Northeast Monday as a winter storm moved through those regions.

12/31/2019

Here Are 2019’s Top Plays and Musicals On and Off Broadway | Frequent Business Traveler

This was an especially difficult year to select the best plays and musicals of the year, simply because there were so many good ones.

Here are our theater co-critics’ picks for the six best musicals and plays on the Great White Way, in alphabetical order, with excerpts from their reviews. The list includes "Beetlejuice," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Hadestown," "Little Shop of Horrors," "Moulin Rouge," and "To Kill a Mockingbird."

This was an especially difficult year to select the best plays and musicals of the year, simply because there were so many good ones.

12/30/2019

The Decade’s Biggest Travel News Stories | Frequent Business Traveler

Frequent Business Traveler and The Travelist reporters produced over 20,000 news stories and features in the 2010s, fulfilling our mission to be the most trusted source in travel journalism. Here are the stories of the American Airlines-US Airways, United-Continental, and Starwood-Marriott mergers, the launch and grounding of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as well as of the Boeing 737 Max, the story of MH370, and more.

Frequent Business Traveler and The Travelist reporters produced over 20,000 news stories and features in the 2010s, fulfilling our mission to be the most trusted source in travel journalism.

12/30/2019

Hilton to Debut New Brand Aimed at Young Professionals in January | Frequent Business Traveler

The new brand will be aimed at a young-professionals demographic, which has become an increasingly competitive segment of the market.

Hilton announced plans to introduce a new brand come January. The new brand will be aimed at a young-professionals demographic, which has become an increasingly competitive segment of the market.

12/30/2019

Avis Budget Appoints Interim CEO | Frequent Business Traveler

Mr. Ferraro is currently president of the Americas region at the company. The appointment is effective January 1, 2020. The previous CEO, Larry De Shon, became CEO in January 2016, after a ten-year stint at the company.

Mr. Ferraro is currently president of the Americas region at the company. The appointment is effective January 1, 2020. The previous CEO, Larry De Shon, became CEO in January 2016, after a ten-year stint at the company.

12/30/2019

‘Password’ and ‘123456’ Once Again Top Annual Most Popular Password List (So Please Change Yours) | Frequent Business Traveler

The two top passwords on the list are the same as last year’s, namely “123456” and “123456789.” Number 3 is the ever-popular “qwerty”, while number 4 (with apologies to Allen Ludden) is “password.”

Password management company SplashData released its annual list of commonly used passwords and the company’s findings reveal that computer users not only continue to ignore exhortations from security experts but also ignore the significant publicity that the annual list generates.

12/29/2019

Sixt Opens Rental Car Location at Honolulu Airport | Frequent Business Traveler

At its second location in the Hawaiian Islands, Sixt is offering a selection of convertibles and SUVs including vehicles by Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover, and Volkswagen.

One year after opening a location in Maui, Sixt Rent-a-Car announced the opening of its new location in Honolulu. The opening at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport brings the company to over 50 locations in the United States.

12/29/2019

Flight Attendants Plan Strike at Lufthansa’s Low-Cost Germanwings Subsidiary | Frequent Business Traveler

The Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation or UFO, the union that represents the majority of the airline’s flight attendants, called for the strike after rejecting management concessions as insufficient. Germanwings had offered to enter mediation and make concessions on part-time working.

Travelers in and around Germany are facing delays and cancellations at Lufthansa’s discount airline Germanwings in the coming week.

12/28/2019

Apple Completes Rollout of Enhanced Maps in U.S. | Frequent Business Traveler

The makeover that includes more accurate details such as trees and grass, exact building shapes, parking lots, sports facilities, and parking lots, and now covers all 50 U.S. states.

The makeover that includes more accurate details such as trees and grass, exact building shapes, parking lots, sports facilities, and parking lots, and now covers all 50 U.S. states.

12/28/2019

Winter Storm to Bring ‘Significant Travel Hazards’ from Arizona to Minnesota | Frequent Business Traveler

Storm warnings and advisories are in effect for 15 million people from Arizona to Minnesota, with winter storm warnings for some areas from Colorado to Minnesota. The storm could bring 8” to 16” (20 cm to 40 cm) of blown snow from Northern Nebraska to Northern Minnesota.

A “potent” winter storm is moving across the Plains and Upper Midwest this weekend, promising to upend holiday travel, the National Weather Service said Saturday.

12/27/2019

7 People Missing After Tour Helicopter in Hawaii Vanishes | Frequent Business Traveler

The Coast Guard said it began a search after the owner of the helicopter company reported the missing aircraft at 6:06 p.m., adding that weather may have been a factor.

The Coast Guard said it began a search after the owner of the helicopter company reported the missing aircraft at 6:06 p.m., adding that weather may have been a factor.

12/27/2019

Plane Crash in Kazakhstan Kills At Least 12 People | Frequent Business Traveler

Bek Air Flight 2100 was en route to Nur-Sultan when Fokker 100 lost altitude and suddenly crashed into a two-story building near the Almaty airport, officials said.

A passenger jet with 98 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff from Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan Friday morning. At least 12 people were killed, Kazakh authorities said, while 48 were hospitalized.

12/27/2019

The Strange Tradition of ‘Dinner for One’ and New Year’s Eve | Frequent Business Traveler

More than half of the entire German population will watch "Dinner for One" before proceeding to other festivities to ring in the New Year as will close to that many Austrians. The show is also viewed in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland and has become a staple in Australia and South Africa as well.

Ten years ago, we wrote a feature story about an obscure 18-minute televised skit called “Dinner for One.” Recorded in 1963 in English by the Norddeutscher Rundfunk and featuring British comedians Freddie Frinton and May Warden, it was relegated to the dustbin of obscurity until it was broadcast...

12/26/2019

Boeing’s Top Attorney to Retire | Frequent Business Traveler

Mr. Luttig was most recently responsible for managing all legal matters associated with the two Boeing 737 Max crashes.

Boeing announced the planned retirement of J. Michael Luttig, the its former general counsel and counsel and current senior advisor to the company’s board of directors.

12/26/2019

Review and Test Drive: 2019 Lexus LS and LS Hybrid | Frequent Business Traveler

Now in its fifth generation, the current LS made its debut at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and claims a heritage that goes back to 1989, when Lexus first entered the U.S. market.

Now in its fifth generation, the current LS made its debut at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and claims a heritage that goes back to 1989, when Lexus first entered the U.S. market.

12/26/2019

These Major Airlines Ceased Operations in 2019 | Frequent Business Traveler

2019 was a bad year for airlines. Multiple airline shutdowns made the headlines as hundreds of thousands of passengers were left stranded. The marquee names included Wow Air, Jet Airways, and Thomas Cook, the latter a 138-year-old concern, as well as 20 minor players. While the issues that caused these airlines to cease operations varied greatly, they can largely be put under the rubric of poor management, lower demand, and changing tastes.

2019 was a bad year for airlines. Multiple airline shutdowns made the headlines as hundreds of thousands of passengers were left stranded. The marquee names included Wow Air, Jet Airways, and Thomas Cook, the latter a 138-year-old concern, as well as 20 minor players.

12/26/2019

As Cleanup Continues, Notre Dame Cathedral Has Only 50% Chance of Being Saved | Frequent Business Traveler

Construction of the cathedral began in 1160 and it was largely completed by 1260. The cathedral was undergoing a major renovation project at the time of the fire, which destroyed its roof and collapsed its famous spire, which had been added in 1860 after the French Revolution.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris still has only a 50% chance of being saved following the April 2019 fire that left a gaping hole in the nave.

12/25/2019

Five Airports Warn of Potential Measles Exposure | Frequent Business Traveler

Health officials are warning that an unknown number of air travelers have been exposed to the measles virus after people with the highly contagious virus traveled through a minimum of five airports in recent days.

Health officials are warning that an unknown number of air travelers have been exposed to the measles virus after people with the highly contagious virus traveled through a minimum of five airports in recent days.

12/24/2019

Rail Strike in France Continues into Holidays After Workers Clash with Police | Frequent Business Traveler

On Monday, striking rail workers clashed with riot policein Paris after holding a demonstration against pension changes despite calls by French Presidnet Emmanuel Macron’s calls for a Christmas truce.

Train travel in France continues to be severely disrupted by a nationwide strike of railroad workers that will continue into the holiday.

12/24/2019

Aeroflot Plans Codeshare with Brussels Airlines | Frequent Business Traveler

The partnership will offer customers in Moscow access to the entire Brussels Airlines network, and those departing Brussels ongoing connections via Moscow to all of Aeroflot’s global destinations.

The partnership will offer customers in Moscow access to the entire Brussels Airlines network, and those departing Brussels ongoing connections via Moscow to all of Aeroflot’s global destinations.

12/24/2019

Fog Grounds Flights at Chicago O’Hare Airport as Holiday Approaches | Frequent Business Traveler

As of 8:15 a.m. CST, 250 arrivals and 110 departures were delayed at O’Hare, while 26 arrivals and 18 departures were delayed at Midway. O’Hare reported 23 cancellations while Midway said it had experienced 71.

Fog has slowed down air traffic in and out of Chicago O’Hare International Airport on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

12/24/2019

Editorial: Whither Boeing? | Frequent Business Traveler

In business-school textbooks of the future, it may be referred to as the Christmas Week Massacre: airframe manufacturer Boeing rather unceremoniously showed its chief executive, Dennis Muilenberg, the door late Sunday, firing off a news release Monday morning at 9 a.m. EST to that effect.

In business-school textbooks of the future, it may be referred to as the Christmas Week Massacre: airframe manufacturer Boeing rather unceremoniously showed its chief executive, Dennis Muilenberg, the door late Sunday, firing off a news release Monday morning at 9 a.m. EST to that effect.

12/24/2019

Flight Delays and Bad Weather Mar the Start of the Holiday Travel Season | Frequent Business Traveler

The European Continent was far from exempt, with over 3,700 delays and 142 cancellations. The majority of delays were centered around Lisbon International Airport, with over 410 arrival and departure delays, as Portugal recovers from unusually severe weather over the weekend.

Millions of people around the world are on the move to celebrate the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays. In the United States alone, a record 115 million are expected to travel via planes, trains, and automobiles.

12/23/2019

Boeing Fires CEO Dennis Muilenberg as Company Seeks to ‘Restore Confidence’ Amidst 737 Max Crisis | Frequent Business Traveler

Mr. Muilenburg is the latest executive at the company to be shown the door as Boeing remains mired in crisis following two fatal crashes of its 737 Max aircraft.

Boeing announced Monday that CEO Dennis Muilenburg has resigned and will be replaced by the chairman of the board, David Calhoun. Mr. Muilenburg is the latest executive at the company to be shown the door as Boeing remains mired in crisis following two fatal crashes of its 737 Max aircraft.

12/22/2019

American Airlines Mechanic Pleads Guilty to Sabotaging Aircraft Navigation System Before Flight | Frequent Business Traveler

The defendant admitted having glued foam inside a tube leading from outside the plane to its air data module, a component of the aircraft’s navigation system that gathers critical flight data including aircraft speed and pitch. The plane was then scheduled to take off as Flight 2834, which had 150 passengers on board, although the flight was cancelled when the sabotage resulted in an error alert.

The Miami-based American Airlines aircraft mechanic who was charged in September with sabotage after he tampered with an aircraft’s navigation system pleaded guilty in court order to avoid a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.