South African to Chicago, a new route in May

Here’s a route that makes a tremendous amount of sense. South African Airways, a new member of the Star Alliance, intends to begin Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – Dakar (DKR) – Johannesburg (JNB) service in May 2007.

A long-range A340 will make the trip. The rapier-like craft will be fitted with two classes of service: Premium Business, and Economy. The former comes with 180-degree lie-flat beds.

You don’t have to fly up front to get treated well on this airline. South African serves up amenity kits, free wines and spirits, and on-demand entertainment at every seat in the house.

Getaway this weekend on American: quick-hit deals

Got the urge to travel this weekend and think you can’t afford it? Think again. American Airlines is offering some decidedly decent deals on weekend travel in a number of markets, with round-trip rates starting as low as $79.

To grab one of these discount airfares, book and buy before 11:59pm (Central Time) on Friday, December 1. Fly out the same day (Friday, December 1) after 7pm, or anytime on Saturday, December 2. You can return Monday, December 4, or Tuesday, December 5. There is no return on these discount airfares on Sunday. That’s a peak travel day.

All the discount airfares we’re about to quote are round-trip, and are neither refundable nor transferable. Seats are limited. Taxes and fees are extra.

Watch it – here comes wicked weather

Potentially wicked winter weather is on the way, and could affect flights at at least three major Midwest airports: Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Chicago Midway (MDW), and Lambert-St. Louis International (STL).

O’Hare is major hub for United Airlines and American Airlines. Midway is a prime connecting point for discount airline Southwest, and St. Louis is a significant domestic hub for American, and a focus city for Southwest.

A check with FlightStats finds the immediate forecast for Chicago bleak, at best. Snow and blustery winds are predicted for this afternoon (Thursday, November 30). Heavy snow is forecast tonight, with accumulations of up to five inches. Tomorrow (Friday, December 1), the white stuff should fall in the morning, then taper off in the afternoon.

XM Canada and Air Canada join forces

© Air Canada

Satellite radio broadcaster XM Canada will provide exclusive audio content to Air Canada travelers as of March 1 next year.

XM's broadcasts will be accessible via a new touch-screen entertainment system on the back of each seat, due to be installed in all of the Canadian carrier's planes.

Content in both English and French will replace the current enRouteFM broadcasts.

Get into the spirit of the season with United’s discount deals

This one is going to take a bit of planning. You’ll have to check the calendar closely on United Airlines' Web site to see which days work, but if you’re willing to be flexible some sensational seasonal savings can be had on the nation’s second-largest airline. Discount airfares start at $39.

First, go to www.united.com and click on "Deals" at the top of the page. Then, go to Get into the spirit of going sale. There’s United Airlines' sale calendar.

To land one of these discount airfares, book and buy no later than December 21. Then, travel on select dates through January 5, 2007, for U.S. and Canadian continental destinations, and February 13 for Hawaii.

Low-cost carrier announces Myrtle Beach links

A low-cost airline will begin three new nonstop routes from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in March next year.

Services from the popular holiday spot will connect the Grand Parade with Cincinnati in Ohio, Charleston in West Virginia and Allentown, Pennsylvania, and will be run by Aviation Advantage, formerly known as Jet Express.

Flights will be operated under the banner of Southern Skyways and all three routes will begin March 2.

Continental expands Spanish service

Fliers can now book flights, select seats and check-in online in Spanish with Continental Airlines.

The latest initiative by the Houston-based carrier is designed to cater for its growing Hispanic customer base, which has been established thanks to flights to 77 Latin American and Caribbean destinations.

Frequent-flier enrolment, feedback forms, gift certificates, timetabling and gate information, as well as other details, are now available in Spanish on the airline's Web site as part of a "Latinization" drive.

Delta to recall 200 pilots to man new routes

Delta Air Lines has announced plans to recall around 200 extra pilots next year to handle expanded international services.

The Georgia-based airline has unveiled several new routes and increased frequencies in recent weeks – doubling the number of flights between New York City and Chicago next year (see Delta, Delta Connection double New York to Chicago) and inaugurating nonstop services from New York JFK to both London and Mumbai.

In the past 16 months, the carrier has recalled more than 250 pilots to meet the demands of its growing flight network and, since the start of the year, has welcomed the return of 1,200 furloughed flight attendants and 900 maintenance workers.

United waives fees as winter storms arrive

© United Airlines

United Airlines will not charge a fee for flight alterations or refunds to passengers inconvenienced by bad weather in the Midwest today (Thursday, November 30) and tomorrow (Friday, December 1).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a winter-storm warning as freezing rain, severe thunderstorms and flash floods are due to hit parts of Oklahoma, Texas, and surrounding states.

Return travelers booked on United flights to and from destinations in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas will be able to delay their journey without penalty.

Northwest flight attendants want right to strike

The legal war between Northwest Airlines and members of the Association of Flight Attendants won’t go away.

Cabin crewmembers want a Federal Appeals court to overturn a lower court decision that bars them from walking out while contract mediation talks go on.

Northwest, which is currently fighting to emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, contends a strike would hurt travelers. The carrier says prohibiting a strike gives both sides time to bargain “in a cooler atmosphere”.