While JetBlue finally began service out of LAX at the start of the summer, it still pays to fly out of Long Beach. Travelzoo alerted us to a one-day only JetBlue "sample sale" from Long Beach to Vegas for $24 outbound and $29 for the return. The sale is good for Tuesday and Wednesday flights from October 6 to December 16 but you must book by tonight at 11:59pm MDT. Also included in the sale? One way tickets out of Vegas to New York or Boston for $99 a piece.

Speaking of Las Vegas and JetBlue, recently ousted star of "Jersey Boys" at The Palazzo, Erich Bergen, was Twittering from the JFK JetBlue terminal this morning. Now that's he's out of a job, he just may move into the terminal because it has Borders, Jamba Juice, Lacoste and free WiFi. And so much more. But sorry, no stage yet.

Related Stories:
· Sample Sale [JetBlue]
· JetBlue coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: VegasMichael/VegasChatter]]]> juliana 2009-09-28T16:36:47-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/14/225458/683

Despite all the US Airways flights which, from our perch in the upper deck at Citi Field during this weekend's Mets games, we saw landing at LaGuardia, the carrier has had a rough time of it during this economic slow-down. As a result, US Airways announced yesterday that they will be closing their Las Vegas-McCarran airport Club as well as the city ticket office in Tempe, AZ, where the airline is based.

These changes, among others like moving to contractors for ramp service at nine of their airports, mean that approximately 600 US Airways ground employees will loose their jobs. This is in addition to US' scheme of asking 400 flight attendants to opt for voluntary furloughs.

While we understand their decision to close their only street-side ticket office in Tempe because, well, who has one of those anymore (ok a few international airlines), we feel pretty rotten for those who will gladly pay extra for access to the lounge's free WiFi, work stations and refreshments, especially since Las Vegas is a mecca for business conventions and their need-to-stay-connected attendees. Back to the corral gate seating with you, and be nice to the person sitting next to you; they could be laid-off US Airways employee who now has to pay full-price to fly.

Related Stories:
· US Airways To Close Club and Cut Jobs [NYT]
· US Airways To Lay Off 600 Airport Workers [Today In The Sky]
· US Airways Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Eric Harmatz]]]> JetSetCD 2009-07-15T08:59:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/17/222730/773

Las Vegas may have a fake Venice, New York and Egypt, but perhaps they should start thinking about installing a replica Trafalgar Square now that British Airways has announced plans for a new non-stop route from London.

Due to go direct from the land of fish and chips to the city of all-you-can-eat buffets starting this fall, the once-daily roundtrips from London-Gatwick to McCarran will join Virgin Atlantic in shipping over the Brits and their pounds sterling to drop in casinos. According to info obtained by the Las Vegas Sun, England is already "the No. 3 provider of foreign tourists to Las Vegas behind Canada and Mexico."

This whole business with the added flights is also about to give "Triple 777s" a new meaning, as BA's arrival on VA's route means that their planes will be going head-to-head for a jackpot win on Vegas supremacy. As if the BA thorn in Richard Branson's side wasn't in deep enough already. And just like everyone else on their way to the "Sin City," all British Airways wants to do is score.

Related Stories:
· British Airways to Start Daily Service to Las Vegas [LV Sun]
· Las Vegas Travel [VegasChatter]
· British Airways Coverage [Jaunted]

[BA photo: griffs0000; Triple 7s via AskGamblers]]]> JetSetCD 2009-05-18T08:46:56-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/11/11115/7738

With so much travel news raining down on us, we don't always have time to give every story its own forecast. Here's more of the day's news, in brief.

· Gate Change!: For frequent visitors in and out of Sin City on Virgin America, your travels will be much easier.

From Facebook:

Virgin America will begin flying into and out of our new gate, B20, in Concourse B at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS). This move means you will no longer have to ride the tram to get to your gate. Winner!

· Diaper Fetish Senator Pulls a "Cathay Pacific Lady": Remember that lady who went crazy over missing her flight in Hong Kong only to have it broadcast on YouTube with "helpful" subtitles? Can someone please do that to Senator David Vitter? Also of note: pointing at your senatorial pin does not hold an entire plan for you. [Gawker]

· American Airlines Makes Emergency JFK Landing: Another close one near JFK. An engine failed on an AA plane "sending shards of metal into housing below" in Queens. The plan was able to safely land at JFK. [AFP]

· More Depressing Airline News: As seemingly every airline will be deep in the red in 2009, airlines are moving to make major capacity cuts. However, it's not quite clear if fares will drop. Airlines would rather ground a few birds and stop routes rather than drop ticket prices. [Peter Greenberg]]]> juliana 2009-03-11T17:19:53-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/18/83119/771

After New Orleans got dusted with snow, another place we always associate with sweating our faces off has been hit by winter weather. Las Vegas saw more than three inches of snow Wednesday, the most in nearly three decades, grounding flights at McCarran International--the world's sixth busiest airport--because LAS doesn't have snow removal or deicing gear on hand.

While the airport isn't closed per se, here's the latest from its official website:

Snowfall and poor visibility have greatly reduced the airlines’ ability to conduct normal flight operations. All passengers or those planning to pick up travelers at McCarran should contact their airline for updates.

As passengers rebooked flights Wednesday night, many decided to cab back to the Strip to spend another night in Vegas, the Review-Journal reports. Given how horrific cab queues normally are at LAS, we're glad we didn't have to be a part of the mess--even if McCarran officials insist things are running as smoothly as possible.

Related Stories:
· Record Snowfall Halts Flights at McCarran [Review-Journal]
· Snow Day in New Orleans [Jaunted]

[Photo: bryangeek]]]> pbb 2008-12-18T08:32:40-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/4/64138/6553

Chicago O'Hare, Washington Dulles and Seattle-Tacoma are all paving new runways. The airport in Detroit just opened a new terminal, as did JetBlue, of course, with its long-awaited T5 at JFK (pictured). Since airlines seem to perpetually do the exact opposite of what’s good for them, we have to wonder whether pouring money into cushier digs on the ground really improves the process of flying for those who matter: Us.

Since congestion seems to be easing on its own, what with the increasing popularity of the delusional "staycation," it seems a bit frivolous for struggling airlines to continually unveil glistening, futuristic new terminals every few months. Passengers end up paying for these sweeping structures filled with interlocking corrugated iron and panoramic views of the tarmac. Whereas landing fees were less than $5 per ticket a few years ago, now they’re up to about $8. At the airport in St. Louis, with one of the most underused terminals anywhere, passengers end up paying an extra $13.

Executives at Southwest Airlines, which slowed its terminal expansions in the late 1990s, are particularly critical of the trend. Bob Montgomery, Southwest's VP of Properties, argued that the third terminal planned for McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas will basically screw over struggling consumers with unnecessary fees. The projects are "spending other people's money," added the company’s CEO, Gary Kelly. You tell ‘em, Gary.

Related Stories:
· US Airports Grow Apace, but the Timing Seems Off [IHT]
· New Terminals Travel: A Sneak Peak at T2 at RDU [Jaunted]
· New Detroit Terminal React-O-Matic [Jaunted]

[Photo: interpolactic]]]> ced138 2008-11-04T12:35:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/11/93036/3967

Just a few days after Virgin America told regulators that it wants a bigger piece of the domestic market, the airline announced it'll start flights between JFK and McCarran International on September 4. Previously, you had to connect in either LA or San Francisco to fly from New York to Vegas on VA.

It's not a new city, but any expansion to Virgin's route network is much-needed. That said, the carrier will only have one flight a day between the cities. (It leaves JFK at 9:05 am and LAS at 2:15 pm.) It's not the frequency we'd like to see, but the price is right: Fares start at $159 one-way before taxes.

Related Stories:
· Big Airlines: Virgin America Wants Your Slots [Jaunted]
· Virgin America coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-06-11T09:34:26-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/