This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@xxxxxxxxx Big surprise here. USAir caved on their strict nonrefundable ticket policy. psa188@xxxxxxxx /-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ Explore more of Starbucks at Starbucks.com. http://www.starbucks.com/default.asp?ci=1015 \----------------------------------------------------------/ More on Nonrefundable Tickets September 16, 2003 By JOE SHARKEY US Airways has finally relented and changed its policy on nonrefundable tickets to bring it in line with the other big network carriers. Under the revision, passengers who cancel a ticket before departure have a year to use the value of that ticket for another trip. Last month, the other big airlines retreated from much-hated policies, imposed last year, that required a passenger who canceled a flight to rebook a specific flight before the original departure date. The policies had been put in effect to discourage business travelers from using cheaper nonrefundable fares, but industry sources said the effect was to drive more business travelers to low-fare carriers. Readers of Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report travel newsletter voted for their favorite hotels in the September issue. The survey includes responses from 2,500 readers, more than 87 percent of whom are corporate chief executives or presidents, Mr. Harper said. Their 10 favorite domestic city hotels: Four Seasons (Chicago), Peninsula (Beverly Hills, Calif.), St. Regis (New York), Ritz Carlton (San Francisco), Bel-Air (Los Angeles), Four Seasons (New York), Peninsula (Chicago), Ritz-Carlton (Chicago), Peninsula (New York) and Mandarin Oriental (San Francisco). As to list their 10 favorite foreign city hotels over all, the executives selected: Four Seasons George V (Paris), Stafford (London), Peninsula (Hong Kong), Lanesborough (London), Oriental (Bangkok), Claridge's (London), Park Hyatt (Sydney, Australia), Hotel Le Bristol (Paris), Four Seasons (Milan) and Hassler Villa Medici (Rome). Hotels owned by North American-based chains are increasingly dominating international markets. The survey also asked the executives to chose their favorite hotels in specific cities. Park Hyatt hotels, operated by Chicago-based Hyatt International, were chosen as the top hotels in Tokyo, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. Four Seasons hotels, operated by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Toronto, came in on top in Berlin, Istanbul, Mexico City, Milan and Paris. The Beijing St. Regis, named in the Hideaway survey as the top hotel in that city, is operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, based in White Plains. In Singapore, the Ritz Carlton Millenia is a property of Marriott International, based in Washington. In a test, guests at Hilton Hotels in New York and Chicago will have the option of using self-service lobby kiosks to check in using a credit card, and automatically get a room key. JOE SHARKEY http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/16/business/16memo.html?ex=1064717843&ei=1&en=657e3e1f4e1658b7 --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/ads/nytcirc/index.html 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@xxxxxxxxxxx or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@xxxxxxxxxxxx Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company