Swiss Air Bans Transatlantic Smoking
Because of complaints from a growing number of nonsmoking customers, Swissair will no longer allow smoking on its transatlantic routes beginning March 30. This is in line with a smoking ban to be imposed on transatlantic routes by Swissair's three partners: Delta Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and Sabena.
Chances for a ban within Europe, however, are not so good. According to a survey of 1,000 business passengers, conducted by the International Air Transport Association, Europeans are the most "pro-smoking" among the world's business travelers, with nearly 25 percent opposing any further curbs.
Iceland Air Twofer
Iceland Air is offering two-for-one economy class fares to Europe this winter. Destinations include Luxembourg ($485 or $242.50 per person), Amsterdam ($585 or $292.50 p.p.), Copenhagen ($637 or $318.50 p.p.), Oslo ($637 or $318.50 p.p.), Stockholm ($637 or $318.50 p.p.) and Hamburg ($595 or $297.50 p.p.). All fares quoted are midweek from New York and Boston; weekend fares and fares from Baltimore-Washington International, Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale are slightly higher. Stopovers in Iceland up to three nights also available at no additional charge. Contact: 800-223-5500, ext. 4.
LTU Has Low Fares
LTU International Airways has "early booking" fares for travel to Germany this year. April and May fares are $398 from New York; $548 from Florida, San Francisco and Phoenix and $598 from Los Angeles. June and mid-September fares are $598 from New York, $698 from Florida, San Francisco and Phoenix, and $798 from Los Angeles. Mid-September through the end of October, the price is $398 from New York; $448 from Florida, San Francisco and Phoenix, and $478 from Los Angeles. Taxes are not included and tickets are nonrefundable.
LTU flies to Düsseldorf and Frankfurt from nine U.S. cities, with connections to Hamburg and Munich. Contact: 800-888-0200.
New Lufthansa Web Site
Lufthansa now has a page on the World Wide Web especially for the U.S. market. It offers timetables, booking capabilities for international flights and special fare info. Another section has data on Lufthansa's fleet and under the heading "travel planning information" travelers can view airport maps as well as aircraft seating charts. Site visitors can also sign up to have the latest fare promotions automatically e-mailed to them. Through March 31, site visitors can enter an on-line contest for a pair of round-trip tickets to Europe.
USAir Adds Germany Stops
Via a code sharing arrangement with Deutsche BA, USAir adds Hamburg and Cologne as new destinations on March 5. The connections will be made through Munich, where passengers from the Philadelphia to Munich USAir flights will transfer to Deutsche BA planes.
UAL Adds DC Flight
United Airlines will add a second daily nonstop flight between Dulles International and Frankfurt. The new service begins June 5.
New Swiss Museum Pass
The new Swiss Museum Pass provides entry to museums in towns large and small all over Switzerland for a fraction of the regular cost. The Passport is good at 75 museums, including Lausanne's Olympic Museum, Basel's Kunstmuseum (one of the ' oldest art galleries), Geneva's International Red Cross Museum and Zürich's Swiss National Museum. The Passport is sold at all participating museums and Swiss tourist offices. A one-month passport costs $20 or, for a family of up to five, $30. A one-year passport is $75 for adults and $62 for seniors, students and children. Contact Switzerland Tourism at 310-335-5987 in Los Angeles, 212-757-5944 in New York or 312-630-5840 in Chicago
Swiss Skiing Cheaper?
Is it possible that Switzerland is a less expensive ski destination for an American than Colorado? For some, probably.
Ski Europe (tel. 800-333-5533) currently offers a seven-day tour package to Interlaken that includes round-trip airfare from New York, airport transfers, accommodations in the Hotel Chalet Oberland, breakfast and taxes for $1,016 (supplements apply from other US gateways). There are no restrictions apart from holidays. Swisspak (tel. 800-688-7947) also has a seven-day Interlaken package, with side-trips, ranging from $1,036 (three-star hotel) to $1,876 (five-star). Alphorn Ski Tours (tel. 800-ALPHORN) offers a seven-night package in Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn, for $1,495. Adventures On Skis (tel. 800-628-9655) offers seven days in Crans-Montana starting at $975.
February 1997
