AIRPORT REPORT
Follow the Bouncing Airlines:
- The SkyTeam Alliance is moving to new facilities in two major international airports. At London/Heathrow, for example, SkyTeam is essentially taking over Terminal 4, British Airways’ former digs. (BA is now in the new Terminal 5.) Three SkyTeam carriers — Delta Air Lines, KLM and Kenya — are already sharing a new 1,600-square-meter check-in facility. Several more SkyTeam carriers (Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Czech and Korean) move in during the rest of this month. And a second level of a shared SkyTeam lounge is scheduled to open next week.
- The first level opened in the spring. Meanwhile, the SkyTeam carriers have completed their move into new facilities in Terminal 1 in Barcelona.
- Hong Kong travelers take note: Check-in counters for 15 airlines using Terminal 1 have been relocated to new digs elsewhere in the building.
- Oneworld Alliance fliers using Helsinki take note: Finnair and several other Oneworld carriers (British Airways, Iberia and Malev) have moved to Terminal 5. Qantas opened a new lounge on Level 5 of Hong Kong International. It is also available to qualifying Oneworld members.
- Continental Presidents Club members can access United Red Carpet and US Airways Club lounges without a same-day ticketing requirement. Red Carpet and US Airways Club members have similar (but not exact) privileges at the Presidents Clubs. It’s all part of Continental’s move to the Star Alliance.
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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.
