Business Travel

LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways signaled business is stabilizing, eclipsing news of a worse than expected first half loss and a prediction that revenue would slump by 1 billion pounds ($1.7 billion) this year. Full Story »

Does your credit card give you something back every time the cash register rings? More than half of cards issued have a rewards component -- typically worth $0.01 to $0.03 per dollar spent -- and the goodies range from free Frappuccinos to contributions to Junior's college fund. Full Story »

FRANKFURT - German airline operator Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Thursday net income in the third quarter rose 23 percent because of the addition of new group airlines. Full Story »

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The travel industry is working to redefine itself as a key player in the American economy: a means by which companies can improve profits, a source of tax revenue and a provider of jobs. Full Story »

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - London's Heathrow Airport has been voted the worst airport in the world for the second year running in a poll of 14,500 frequent fliers while Singapore's Changi was again ranked as the best. Full Story »

United Airlines said on Tuesday that it's seeing early signs of a recovery in business travel as it reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss. Full Story »

Southwest Airlines Co. is the only big U.S. airline that doesn't charge baggage fees, but that's not going to stop it from looking for other add-ons to sell to travelers, its CEO said on Thursday. Full Story »

MINNEAPOLIS - Global airline losses are headed for a worse-than-expected $11 billion this year and it's not clear when lucrative business travel will rebound to pre-recession levels, a trade group said on Tuesday. Full Story »

FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp., said Wednesday it is offering promotions to its frequent flyers geared toward helping make them eligible for elite status and extra rewards. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration used economic stimulus money to pay for 50 airport projects that didn't meet the grant criteria and approved projects at four airports with a history of mismanaging federal grants, a government watchdog said Monday. Full Story »

SHERMAN, Conn. - Corporate travel is expected to decline 15 percent this year, according to a new report from PhoCusWright, the travel industry research company. Full Story »

ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines Inc. is taking a page from the cell phone industry and will be allowing elite frequent fliers to roll over miles earned above their qualification status in a given year so they have an easier time maintaining that status or improving to a higher one the next year. Full Story »

NEW YORK - Airfare wars and room-rate promotions are usually aimed at vacationers, but airlines and hotels are resorting to similar tactics to regain their traditional cash cow — the business traveler. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - The CEO of Internet travel site Travelocity said Wednesday that misguided criticism of business travel has led to a lot of confusion about what's acceptable. Full Story »

ATLANTA - Casino pit bosses will tell you the best way to make your table action pay dividends is to sign up for a players card that is used to record points based on how much money you put down and how long you play. You often can get freebies on food, hotel rooms and merchandise. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that nearly 9 percent fewer passengers will board major U.S. airlines for domestic flights this year, and that traffic on international flights will also decline as the bleak economy curbs business travel and vacation plans. Full Story »

GENEVA - Aviation groups in Europe announced a plan Tuesday to change the way commercial planes land in order to reduce their global-warming emissions of carbon dioxide. Full Story »

MINNEAPOLIS - Continental Airlines Inc. said declining business travel is hurting a key measure of revenue, and that the drop-off has gotten worse since January. Full Story »