Airlines provide change fee relief because of Hurricane Earl

by Tom Johansmeyer on

As Hurricane Earl works its way up the east coast, airlines are letting passengers take one item off their lists of concerns. Delta has announced that passengers affected by the storm can make one-time changes to their plans without incurring any fees. This applies to flights scheduled for today and tomorrow and covers more than 20 airports in the eastern United States, including the New York area, Washington, Boston and Baltimore.

AirTran Airways has gotten in on this concept, as well, with passengers hitting a number of airports, including San Juan, Puerto Rico, being able to change their plans without paying extra. It only works for flights taking off by Saturday.

[Photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr]

Unruly passenger causes JetBlue flight diversion

by Tom Johansmeyer on

At 1:13 PM yesterday, a JetBlue flight from Boston to the Dominican Republic was forced to land at Washington-Dulles International Airport. An unruly passenger was the cause, according to both the airline and federal officials. Fortunately, flight attendant Steven Slater was otherwise occupied and thus couldn’t be on hand to make a bad situation worse.

The passenger was taken into custody at the Washington, DC-area airport, though a JetBlue spokesman said he couldn’t provide more details about what prompted the landing and subsequent interaction with the feds. Nobody was hurt, according to JetBlue. A security official familiar with the situation, reports the Associated Press, says that the “passenger may have had an anxiety attack,” but a doctor hasn’t weighed in with an official diagnosis.

[photo by Mark Coggins via Flickr]

Shaq’s shacking up at posh Boston digs

by Melanie Nayer on

Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal bounced his way into Boston today to meet with his new team, the Celtics. While he’s on the court, his reps are hitting the streets looking for a place tall enough to accommodate the 7′ 1″ athlete when he’s here.

The Celtics signed Shaquille O’Neal to help win another NBA title, but The Boston Herald is reporting one luxury address could also score big with Shaq’s arrival to the Bay State. Reports say Shaq’s reps are looking at the W Boston Hotel & Residences, which have suffered a bit of a lag in sales since opening.

The W could actually be a great fit for Shaq. It’s a new building with high-end security, valet service and a 24-hour concierge. The downside – it’s not very close to the TD Garden, where the Celts play during the season. Other hotel residences in the running include the Residences at the Mandarin Oriental, the Four Seasons and the Residences at the InterContinental.

This wouldn’t be the first time contracted sports stars have shacked up in posh Boston hotels. Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez called the Ritz-Carlton home during his time with the team. The four-bedroom condo is currently available for rent at $25,000 a month (in case you’re interested).

Club Epoque offers loyalty programs for boutique hotels

by Melanie Nayer on

You want your loyalty points AND a stay a chic and trendy boutique hotel? What in the world are you thinking?! You’re thinking ahead, my friend, and thanks to a new program by Club Epoque, you can have your loyalty points and your boutique bedroom.

The newest hotel loyalty program from the Epoque collection allows each club member to earn 6 percent of the pre-tax room price toward your account (called “the bank” for members). Once you accrue $50 in bank, you can start applying your earned dollars toward a new reservation.

First thing is first, you must sign up to be a member. Then, every time you make a reservation on www.epoquehotels.com, your reservation will end up on your personal profile page where you can track your dollars earned. You can also buy more “money” whenever you want, you can gift your bank to others and you can buy a gift certificate for yourself or someone else.

Like many loyalty programs, there are additional benefits of being a member. You’ll get free WiFi in all hotels, and priority status for early check-in and late check-outs. Epoque reps more than 300 boutique properties in its roster. Among our favorites: The Lenox in Boston; The EPIC in Miami; Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans; and the Dream Hotel in New York.

Boston gets first luxury hotel for dogs

by Melanie Nayer on

The Boston hotel industry is going to the dogs. News from the Bay State is that Urban Hound Daycare will open later this month marking the city’s first luxury hotel for dogs.

The 8,500 square foot space will be located in a two-story building in Boston’s South End. Plans for the canine campground include a hospital grade air filtration system, high-tech drainage and flushing system, K-9 grass, an Urban Hound training classroom and luxury sleep suites.

The Urban Hound, founded in 2003, serves local Boston neighborhoods including Beacon Hill, the Back Bay, the South End and South Boston.

Now pet owners have no excuse for not traveling. The only question is whether or not your dog’s digs are better than yours.