This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@juno.com. Continental Makes European Rail Link February 4, 2003 By JOE SHARKEY In the United States, Continental Airlines has been a pioneer in supporting so-called intermodal transportation links with rail transit - most prominently with the AirTrain system that provides direct rail connections from its terminals in Newark to Amtrak's Northeast corridor and regional commuter train stations in New York and New Jersey. Now Continental is showing an interest in rail connections overseas as well. The airline recently said it had agreed with the French rail company SNCF to begin an air-rail code-share partnership to allow travelers to transfer easily between Charles de Gaulle Airport, which serves Paris, and high-speed rail stations with service to and from 13 French cities. Under the agreement, which went into effect Jan. 26, travelers can make a single reservation for both air and rail transportation. Continental OnePass members also earn frequent-flier miles for travel on the French trains in conjunction with Continental flights. First-Class Service Is Under Pressure Increasingly, the high-end revenue on international flights is coming from the business-class seats that many big airlines have redesigned as sleeper beds. With fancy business-class cabins, it's harder that ever to differentiate, let alone sell, the first-class cabin, several airline executives said. In a sign of that, Lufthansa recently ended first-class service on several routes between the Eastern United States and Frankfurt. Quantas also said it would drop first-class service between New Zealand and the United States in favor of upgraded business class. America West Offers Limited Club Plan It costs $400 a year for full membership in the America West Club, which provides entree to 5 America West Airlines airport lounges and 22 others operated by Northwest Airlines. For those balking at the fee (which is comparable to other airlines' club memberships), America West has a new plan called Hub Club that offers access only to its five clubs - three in Phoenix, and one each in Las Vegas and Columbus, Ohio - for $300 a year. Hungry Fliers Are Willing to Pay Domestic travelers evidently are hungry enough to pay for meals on planes, according to a passenger survey by LSG Sky Chefs, a company that provides in-flight meals for 260 airlines in 45 countries. Nearly 80 percent of passengers surveyed said they did not believe that airlines that have eliminated meals would bring them back. About 75 percent said they wanted an option to buy a meal if a free one was not provided. JOE SHARKEY http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/04/business/04MEMO.html?ex=1045368204&ei=1&en=eecdae328649a1dd HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@nytimes.com. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company