Welcome to Amsterdam Week here on Jaunted! Each day, we're coming at ya with a Double Dutch of features: two stories on a city (and its airport) that stuns with its beauty and nearly overwhelms with everything there is to do. Got any Amsterdam tips of your own? Share with us in the comments!

Today at Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, we're visiting the KLM Crown Lounge for international (non-Schengen) departures

Now we've reached the end of our week-long series on Schiphol Airport, but we're leaving you in KLM's international departures lounge for flyers with KLM or SkyTeam status. It's a perfect place to leave off, since this is where many travelers really begin their journeys and it's through these glass doors and beyond this KLM-blue desk that you really want to be.]]> JetSetCD 2011-08-12T17:27:34-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/4/5/95238/61991

Ah, London-Heathrow Airport. It calls to mind images of duty-free shops stocked with Harrod's tins of tea and runways with lines of British Airways jets waiting to take off into the blue yonder over the Isles. But what if you aren't flying BA? What if you're ticket says Delta or Air France or another of the SkyTeam member airlines? If that ticket also says Business Class, then you're heading for the SkyTeam Lounge in Terminal 4.

We recently dropped by the two-story airline lounge, and can say that it impressed. To be frank, it was cooler than we ever expected it to be, both design- and amenity-wise. We're only disappointed that we didn't have enough time to linger in the wine lounge. That's right—wine lounge... ]]> JetSetCD 2011-04-05T10:20:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/8/10/153053/966

This was kind of predictable. Having been taken over by SkyTeam carrier China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines will leave Star Alliance later this year and take up residence under that alliance's umbrella. So if you want to use your Star Alliance points to book a Shanghai Airlines flight, you've got until Halloween. Probably a little before that, if you want to be on the safe side.

Shanghai's departure won't really hurt Star Alliance as much as it will help SkyTeam. Star will still be be the largest of the three alliances, with 27 carriers that outright blanket the entire globe (minus, in fairness, Australia). It will still have the world's largest airline in United/Continental. In North America it will still have US Airways and in Europe it will still have Lufthansa. In Asia it will still have China Air, the continent's fifth largest airline and one that continues to grow aggressively. So Shanghai's defection isn't exactly going to be a devastating blow.]]> Omri 2010-08-10T16:40:05-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/7/21/84759/2473

We love a good airfare sale, but when around the world travel is involved, we love it all the more. Until September 30, you can score SkyTeam's around-the-world ticket for up to 30% off.

The offer is to celebrate the airline alliance's 10th anniversary after it began in 2000 with just four members—Delta, Korean Air, Air France and Aeromexico. Now that they're up to 13 member airlines, including newest joiners Vietnam Airlines and Romanian carrier TAROM, you can really push that around-the-world ticket into some exotic locations. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-07-21T10:31:11-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/26/8240/68194

We’re sure Guam is awesome, but honestly it hasn’t really been tops on our to-do list. For some reason there’s just other tropical paradises that come to mind first, and maybe it’s just that Tahiti is a little more aggressive with their marketing. However, there’s a new feature that might just put Guam on our radar. Their airport has just swung open the doors on its new Sagan Bisita lounge. The name of the lounge means "stop and stay with us," and we want to do exactly that.

The new lounge is located with the airport’s west concourse across from gates 7 and 8, and its focus is making the fanciest of passengers feel extra comfortable. Delta is paying the bills on this place, but it’s not really one of their ordinary SkyClubs like the ones they have around the US. This place is above and beyond, and it’s only accessible to the most elite frequent fliers or those flying on a pricey ticket in the front of the plane. ]]> kjb 2010-03-26T09:15:11-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/22/8286/47791

If the usual travel destinations have gotten a little boring, it might be time to consider something a little more adventurous. Traveling around the world is slightly intimidating, but doing it by airplane isn’t too tricky. There are plenty of options for flying around the globe, and there’s three main ways to get you to and from your home with time for pit stops on most continents. The best part is things are somewhat flexible, so feel free to skip over countries you’ve seen before or ones you’d rather avoid. Here’s a rundown of where to go to get things done.

· Star Alliance
Star Alliance is ready, willing, and able to take you to your dream destinations, and they can do it with help from lots of airlines including United Airlines, ANA, and Singapore Airlines. Tickets are priced depending on total mileage planned for your trip, and you can choose from 29,000, 34,000, or 39,000 miles. For those that enjoy the pain and suffering of a seat in the back of the plane, there’s a special economy option available with a 26,000 mileage allowance—in case you only have a week to finish exploring. ]]> kjb 2010-02-22T09:35:21-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/8/7/114152/7947

So there's no definite window between ending SkyTeam perks and starting Star Alliance sharing, and no absolute date on when code sharing will end. Oh, also Continental has no firm idea for how lounge reciprocity and loyalty points will work. Thankfully The Transnational investigates:

'With our final flight on 24 October, we will leave SkyTeam,' said outgoing Continental CEO Larry Kellner. 'We will be in Star just as fast as we can be after that. We just can't do anything until we get out of SkyTeam to jointly market with Star partners. It won't be seamless; it will be a couple days in transition.'

It also requires ending codeshare flights and joint corporate programs. On the former, some code shares with Delta and Northwest already have been discontinued, Kellner said, and 'all drop off [by] the end of July.' 'We have to be careful not to get ahead of ourselves,' he said. 'We aren't ready yet to project when we will be up and running.'

On the plus side, Continental recently installed in-flight TV, so at least they've got that going for them. ]]> Omri 2009-08-07T12:01:26-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/