Discounted International Airfares!

Now where is our beach along broadway , Mr Bloomberg?

The Beaches of Paris Return to the Banks of the Seine

By VALERIE GLADSTONE

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.”

This is actually not such a bad value ...

ROYAL TREATMENT AT HEATHROW By ELAINE GLUSAC

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.

JetBlue introduces new flight passes

By Marnie Hunter, CNN/July 28, 2011 11:29 a.m. EDT

JetBlue's new flight passes target business travelers in Boston and Southern California.

(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.

American Airlines, Polygamus?

American’s record plane order boosts Airbus

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.

Small towns could be hit hard by Delta cutbacks

By Adam Reiss, CNN      July 20, 2011 8:50 a.m. EDT

Delta says it is looking at other airlines to pick up the slack in some of the markets.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• 24 cities across U.S. scheduled to lose Delta service
• "Loss of all air service would be devastating," one mayor says
• 2nd mayor says city spent millions on its airport
• Airline says it's been talking with the cities for a year to prepare them

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.