Aer Lingus has launched business class airfare deals from New York, Chicago, and Boston to a range of European destinations including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, and more. Enjoy the luxury of business class for as low as $849+ each-way.

The offer from Aer Lingus lasts until November 30, 2009 and is good for travel between January 1 and April 30, 2010. Seats are limited, so the deals could disappear quickly.

Visit Aer Lingus for more details, and use our Deal Finder-Europe tool for economy airfare deals to Europe from your hometown.

Emirates has a one-day buy one, get one “free” deal on first class airfare. Purchase a first class airline ticket from Los Angeles or San Francisco to any of Emirates’ 100 destinations, and receive a second first class airline ticket for free.

Book this special today (November 3, 2009) with promo code USCOMP9. Visit Emirates for more details and for info on taxes and fees.

Virgin America is celebrating it’s impending launch of flights from California to Fort Lauderdale with a special promotion for current eleVAte members (and potential frequent flyers).

The Stay Golden Contest involves photos, facebook, and an appeal for votes. It’s kind of like American Idol without all the singing and cranky judges. Visit Virgin America’s Stay Golden Contest for all the details, and check out cheap flights on Virgin America for the latest Virgin America deals from your hometown.

Hawaiian Airlines has launched first class airfare deals to Honolulu from a range of cities on the Mainland. First class airfare starts as low as $459+ each-way on some routes. Find deals from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, and more.

Visit Hawaiian Airlines for more details, and if first class deals still aren’t as low as what you’re looking for, use our Deal Finder-Hawaii tool for cheap coach flights to Hawaii from your hometown.

On the surface, United Airlines’ “free, unlimited upgrades” program sounds like a great change, especially for the business traveler. However, as Mark Ashley over at Upgrade: Travel Better is quick to point out, the changes to the upgrade program might actually be a “downgrade” when all is said and done:

“What United is doing is eliminating the 500-mile electronic certificates and the regional-upgrades. (International systemwide upgrade certificates for 1K travelers are unchanged. Upgrades booked with miles, which will soon carry a cash copayment, are otherwise unaffected by these changes.) Instead, all travelers with any elite status will be automatically eligible for an upgrade.”

Mark goes on to break down United Airlines’ new upgrade plan to show how Premier members will be affected. Take a look at “United downgrades its upgrades” for an in depth look at the changes to the program, and what those changes mean for frequent flyers.

Hawaiian Airlines is making it a little easier for you to leave the Mainland behind and head to the Islands.

The carrier’s latest Hawaii vacation packages offer “roundtrip airfare on Hawaiian Airlines and a 3 night hotel stay at one of three luxurious Marriott Resorts in Hawaii.” Resorts include the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa, and Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

You have to book your vacation package by November 3, 2009, for travel through May 31, 2010. Visit Hawaiian Airlines for more details, and check out the latest airfare deals on Hawaiian Airlines from your hometown.

OpenSkies has kicked off a winter airfare sale for flights from New York to Paris. Enjoy the luxury of OpenSkies’ business class (BIZ) for as low as $590+ one-way for travel between January 6, 2010 and March 31, 2010.

Purchase your business class airline ticket by Oct. 25, 2009 to take advantage of these deals. Visit OpenSkies for more details, and check out their BIZ Seat while you’re there.

If business class deals are still too steep, search FareCompare.com for cheap flights to Europe.

The Cranky Flier got a chance to explore the glory days of First Class on Pan Am. He’s quick to point out that Pan Am isn’t back and that he’s not talking about first class on a freight train:

“Anthony Toth has recreated the front cabin of a Pan Am 747 in his garage, and I had the chance to go visit.”

Cranky’s photos show an incredibly detailed recreation of the old first class cabin, and they give a hint as to the luxury that travelers used to experience. The project is worth taking a look at for all plane enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a bit of nostalgia now and then. Check out “Your Chance to Fly Pan Am’s First Class” on The Cranky Flier.

The most recent flight delay data doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Perhaps it’s no surprise to Road Warriors, but several cities ranking at the bottom in on-time percentage are some of the country’s largest business centers.

Any experience dealing with extended delays in these cities?

From USA Today:

Percentage of flights arriving on time in the USA’s 100 largest metro areas. Annualized, June 2009

Bottom 10

1. New York City - 66.3%
2. Palm Bay/Melbourne/Titusville, Fla. - 69.2%
3. Portland/South Portland/Biddeford, Maine - 73.3%
4. Philadelphia - 73.4%
5. Columbia, S.C. - 73.6%
6. Atlanta - 73.6%
7. Rochester, N.Y. - 73.9%
8. Augusta/Richmond County, Ga. - 74.0%
9. Greensboro/High Point, N.C. - 74.3%
10. Syracuse, N.Y. - 74.6%

United Airlines has added a wrinkle to the traditional bag fee. The carrier’s Premier Baggage fee gives you the chance to shell out $249/yr in order to check two bags for free every time you fly during the course of the year.

Now, this doesn’t seem like much of a deal for the ordinary traveler, but it could benefit business travelers (and large families), especially when you consider that the Premier Baggage plan covers up to 8 people traveling on the same confirmation number.

So, will United Ailrines’ move inspire other carriers to do the same? Can we expect a shift from the a la carte model to the long-term subscription model when it comes to airline fees? My guess is, we can expect more of both.

We’d love to hear from frequent flyers regarding United’s Premier Baggage Plan. Is this something that you’ll take advantage of? For more details (and some handy math calculations), check out Airline Fee: Pay United $249, Free Checked-Bags for a Year.

The idea behind the new Abercrombie & Kent website, it would seem is - give a little, get a lot.

This high-end tour organizer for the adventurous and well-heeled traveler is working with non-profits around the world, so generous travelers can donate to a variety of causes - and in some cases, see what the money’s gone for (and A & K says 100% of the money goes to the local charity).

As the New York Times reports, an “11-day conservation-themed trip to the Galapagos Islands scheduled for late Oct., for example, starts at $6,850, with a required additional donation of $1,000.”

Like to do something, but on a lesser scale? Find cheap tickets on FareCompare’s deal finder - for your home airport to anywhere in the world - and perhaps a charity dear to your own heart can share in the savings.

This ongoing promotion by British Airways applies to those flying first class, business class or the carrier’s premium economy class.

Just buy a BA ticket on a flight from the U.S. to anywhere British Airways flies - on any of the above-mentioned classes - and pay for it with your British Airways Visa card, and you get a free ticket for a companion.

See all the details here.

Take your time - the “must purchase by” deadline isn’t until March of 2010.

Get your American Express Platinum out - Midwest has got some new meals - some that cost as much as $11.

Jason Cochran over at WalletPop, was a little steamed when he learned that they were charging “T.G.I.Friday’s prices for a noodle salad” - but he conceded that that salad, described as an “Asian chicken salad on a bed of noodles” was - well, not great, but really, not too bad!

Among the other $11 offering on the Midwest menu - Pot Roast, and Chicken Caesar Salad.

At these prices - you’ll at least feel like you’re flying first class.

This isn’t the cheapest deal in Vegas, nor is it meant to be, but it is a good value.

Click on the “Romantic Retreat Package” on the Wynn’s website, and here’s what you get:

A pre-fixe dinner for two with wine at the Encore

Two tickets to the “Le Reve” show

And of course, a nice room - all for one price, starting at $289 per night.

If for some reason your private jet is on the fritz, head to FareCompare’s handy deal finder, and save some bucks for the tables.

You know in this economy that private jets have become a bit of a “no-no” - or else they’re just too expensive - so what about sharing?

Blue Star Jets has started the Share-a-Jet Program. They call it the “upscale-travel alternative of the future” and they may have something there.

It’s sort of an online connection service where fairly-well-to-do folks can see if anyone’s going their way, and if so - they can share a jet and share the costs.

Who says you can’t scrimp and still enjoy the good life?

A hat tip to Just Luxe.

Korean Airlines is doing their best to provide a new level of comfort to their business class and first class travelers.

The new Kosmo Suites and Prestige Sleeper seats are designed to provide more room, more privacy, and little extra luxury to your long-haul flights.

Check out photos of their latest First Class and Prestige Class offerings at Korean Air.

The Vegas deals keep coming. It’s been a year of hotel discounts and cheap vacation packages, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up.

JetBlue has Las Vegas vacation packages that feature airfare and a 2-night stay starting as low as $199+ per person. You can choose from a range of hotels on the Strip (price varies), so you’re close to all of the action.

Current deals on JetBlue Las Vegas vacation packages are good for booking through September 18, 2009, so you have to act pretty fast. Visit JetBlue Getaways for more details, and search FareCompare for cheap flights to Las Vegas from your hometown.

Austria Airlines has launched their “Awesome Austria” vacation package, which gives you the opportunity to visit Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna.

Here are some of the highlights that this 10-day, 9-night vacation package has to offer:

• Roundtrip air transportation on Austrian Airlines, economy class, between New York (JFK) or Washington, DC (IAD) to Innsbruck (Austria), returning from Vienna (Austria).
• Three (3) consecutive nights hotel accommodation in Innsbruck.
• Three (3) consecutive nights hotel accommodation in Salzburg.
• Three (3) consecutive nights hotel accommodation in Vienna.
• Daily buffet breakfast, hotel service charges and hotel taxes.
• 1st class one-way rail transportation between Innsbruck and Salzburg, and again between Salzburg and Vienna (excluding seat reservations).

The “Awesome Austrian” vacation package runs $1699.00+ per person (based on double occupancy). Visit Austrian Airlines for more details, and check out our Deal Finder-Europe tool for cheap flights to Europe from your hometown.

You only have a few days left to take advantage of United Airlines’ business class deals between San Francisco and Mexico City.

If you purchase your airline ticket Sept. 14, you can find business class airfare for as low as $440+ each-way. A 21-day advance purchase is required and travel must be completed by Oct. 24, 2009. Visit United Airlines for more details, and if these business class deals don’t do it for you, use our Deal Finder-Mexico tool for cheap economy flights to Mexico City, Cancun, Mazatlan, and more.

The Delta/Northwest merger will soon have its effect on frequent fliers. The carriers’ loyalty programs are set to merge in October (Northwest’s WorldPerks will become a part of Delta’s SkyMiles program). Delta Air Lines has created a “What to Expect” page to make the transition easier for current members. Here’s an overview from the Delta page:

Key Points for WorldPerks Members

• WorldPerks members will be assigned a new 10-digit SkyMiles account number (which we’ll send you in early October).
• Your existing WorldPerks account information, including all balances, will be transferred into your SkyMiles account.
• You will receive an email from us as soon as your WorldPerks account information is merged into your SkyMiles account.
• After the programs merge, WorldPerks members should use their SkyMiles number for all Delta and Northwest transactions.

Check out Delta Air Lines SkyMiles for more details.

Continental Airlines isn’t the only carrier with a mileage program push going on right now, but they are the only carrier with a “Mileathon” up and running. What is a “Mileathon” you ask? Well, in this case, it’s a promotion that gives Continental’s OnePass members a chance to win up to 100,000 bonus miles “plus a dream vacation.”

The promo runs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2009. Visit Continental Airlines for all of the details.

Tired of traditional holiday gatherings and celebrations? Why not mix it up this year and head to Europe? While you’re at it, why not enjoy a bit of luxury while flying there?

Continental Airlines is offering BusinessFirst airfare deals from a range of U.S. cities to destinations across Europe including London, Amsterdam, Paris, and many more. This is a big one, and features airfare as low as $1,130+ r/t on some non-stop routes. These BusinessFirst specials are good for outbound travel between Nov. 21 - 27 and Dec. 19, 2009 - Jan. 1, 2010.

Visit Continental Airlines for more details. Use our Deal Finder-Europe tool for holiday airfare deals to Europe in economy.

Don’t want to make the drive between the City and Newark? Continental Airlines understands. That’s why they’re offering helicopter service between Newark Liberty and Manhattan for a promotional fare of $59+ one-way. Here are the details from Continental’s website:

“For purchases from Aug. 10, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2009, Continental is offering a special for US Helicopter service between Newark Liberty (EWR) and Manhattan for $59* one way in addition to your fare to/from Newark Liberty Airport on Continental. You’ll also earn 500 miles for each US Helicopter codeshare segment between Newark Liberty and Manhattan.”

Visit Continental Airlines to learn more about your helicopter options.

United Airlines launched deals on business class flights from San Francisco to Mexico City for travel through October 24, 2009. You can enjoy all of the luxury of business class for as low as $440+ each-way.

Purchase your airline ticket by September 2, 2009 (21-day advance purchase required). Visit United Airlines for more details and stipulations, and search FareCompare for economy and first class deals from San Francisco to Mexico City.

JetBlue’s TrueBlue frequent flier program will undergo a “relaunch” this fall. While your miles will “remain safe,” the carrier is making some changes. Here’s a quick overview for current members or those of you who were thinking about joining:

• No blackout dates1
• Points that don’t expire
• Bonus points the more you travel
• Oneway Award Flights starting at just 5,000 points
• Six (6) points for every dollar spent when you purchase a flight at jetblue.com4
• Up to eight (8) points for every eligible dollar spent when you purchase a flight at jetblue.com using your JetBlue Card from American Express

There is much more to the “relaunch,” including point conversion. Visit JetBlue for more details.