
You may not be able to go snorkeling in the Seine, but this summer, Paris has again transformed the banks of its river into a Caribbean-like beach paradise. In 2002, Bertrand Delanoe, the mayor of Paris, inaugurated the idea of Paris Plages. Open through Aug. 21, the beaches offer an unusual perspective on the city and a great opportunity to slow down between museum and monument visits.
“What makes them so special is Paris,” said Stephane Chave, event coordinator for the city of Paris, “Have you ever seen a sunset in front of Île de la Cité or Île St.-Louis? It is the most beautiful view in the world.”
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Any commoner with deep pockets can now get the sort of arrival and departure service at Heathrow Airport near London usually reserved for royalty and popes.

The new Heathrow by Invitation service offers travelers access to 20 newly remodeled private lounges formerly exclusively used for visiting dignitaries.
Unlike other airport concierge services that specialize in gate-to-curb escorts and tout expedited security and immigration lines, Heathrow by Invitation will send a car to pick you up when you land, speeding you to a private suite without your ever setting foot in the terminal. Employees collect and deliver your bags to the suite, where customs and immigrations officials will process your arrival, rather than forcing you to queue with the masses.
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(CNN) -- JetBlue Airways is courting business travelers with three new flight passes announced Thursday.
The BluePass offers unlimited travel on flights between August 22 and November 22 from two airports, Boston's Logan International and Long Beach Airport near Los Angeles.

Washington (CNN) -- Airlines benefiting from a unplanned federal tax holiday should save the money for the government or pass it along to the passengers, but should not pocket the money themselves, key congressional leaders said Tuesday.
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By DAVID KOENIG/ The Associated Press
Fort Worth, Texas • American Airlines is buying at least 460 new planes over the next five years from Airbus and Boeing in a record order that breaks Boeing’s exclusive grip on American’s fleet.
American said Wednesday it will buy 260 planes from Airbus, 200 from rival Boeing Co., and take options to buy hundreds more. It expects the new jets to provide much-needed savings in fuel costs. American’s current fleet is among the least fuel-efficient in the industry.

New York (CNN) -- Sioux City, Iowa, had a recent concert with Elton John and Cee Lo Green.
Acting Mayor Tom Padgett says it's not clear how that would happen in the future without airline service.The city is one of 24 around the country that Delta Airlines has announced it can no longer afford to service.
"Loss of all air service would be devastating, though it is my belief that one way or another we will get an airline," Padgett said.
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(CNN) -- When Tom Stuker telephones United Airlines to reserve a flight, all he has to say is "Hi."
Is there a catch? Of course, but the fine print is relatively uncomplicated for such a good deal.
ARCHIVES: Cathay Pacific makes Chicago first new U.S. city since 1998
First, the fare is only good from Chicago O'Hare. That's not a huge surprise given that the sale is meant to hype Cathay Pacific's new Chicago service. And, the $100 trans-Pacific fare is so low that even buying a domestic ticket to Chicago makes the deal a bargain for most U.S. travelers. (Alas, the deal is open only to U.S. residents).
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EVEN when it was free, airline food was never that good. Now that all the major airlines are charging for meals on domestic flights (the last holdout, Continental, did away with free hot meals in coach last year) carriers say they can afford to serve better food.
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The U.S. Transportation Security Administration intends to test a new trusted traveler program this fall that would expedite airport screening for frequent travelers, administrator John Pistole this week told a congressional committee.
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