Monday, October 31, 2016

Unusual Failure in American Airlines’ Jet Engine Prompts Investigation


A 19-year-old disc violently broke apart inside the engine of an American Airlines Group Inc. jetliner taking off from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Friday, sparking a fire and touching off a wide-ranging probe into certain General Electric Co. engines, according to investigators and others familiar with the matter.

The accident, which hurled one fragment of the disc onto the roof of a United Parcel Service Inc. facility more than half a mile away, started a fire in a pool of fuel under the Boeing Co. 767’s right wing, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Lorenda Ward said at a briefing over the weekend.

Of the 170 people on board, 21 received medical treatment for injuries sustained in using emergency slides to leave the plane, but all were released from hospitals by Saturday.

The accident was unusual because modern jet turbines are designed to prevent such high-energy parts from being spewed outside the engines. According to one person familiar with the details, the engine-turbine disc had no history of performance problems, failures or mandatory safety fixes.

However, at least four other planes powered by the same GE family of engines have experienced serious engine malfunctions since 2000, including a pair of single-engine failures while airborne.

The twin-aisle jetliner, American Flight 383, was bound for Miami when the pilots aborted takeoff before the plane lifted off the runway. It came to a stop about 6,000 feet down the strip and the Chicago Fire Department responded, as plumes of black smoke erupted and the right wing sagged down to the tarmac. There was no fire in the cabin, only smoke.

The safety board said a “stage 2 disc in a high-pressure turbine” inside a variant of the General Electric CF6 engine failed. The NTSB will investigate further, likely delving into both manufacturing issues and maintenance practices with the cooperation of the engine maker. Most of the disc had been recovered by Sunday, according to the person familiar with the details.

The plane was built in 2003 and is one of 45 American had in its fleet at the end of 2015. According to the FlightGlobal database, the aircraft had flown 49,000 hours and made more than 8,000 flights as of August.

Over the weekend, General Electric said its workhorse CF6 family of engines, with more than 4,000 currently in service, has powered seven wide-body commercial jet models and accumulated more than 400 million flight hours.

Portions of the CF6-80 engine family have been subject to voluntary service bulletins, stepped-up maintenance and various federal safety mandates over the years, which isn’t unusual for widely used engines types due to the scrutiny incidents, accidents and operating histories receive from regulators, airlines, government investigators and engine experts.

But violent disintegration of some internal parts leading to explosive failures have dogged certain older CF6-80 model engines since 2000. One engine of a US Airways Boeing 767 experienced what is called “an uncontained failure” during ground tests that year, with no passengers aboard.

In June 2006, the safety board looked into a similar ground-test accident at Los Angeles International Airport in which a disintegrating CF6-80 engine damaged an American Airlines 767. As mechanics repeatedly revved up the jet’s engines to maximum power, one of them failed and shot out chunks of metal that penetrated the fuselage and went inside the other engine, according to an NTSB report at the time.

MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Virgin Australia shakes up international airport lounge access


Virgin Australia's business class travellers and Velocity Gold and Platinum frequent flyers are about to be faced with a confusing array of lounges at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane international airports.

In changes which take effect from November 1 2016, the international airport lounges available to passengers will depend on their destination.

For example, take a Virgin Australia flight from Sydney to Los Angeles and you’ll enjoy access to the Etihad Airways Business and First Class Lounge – complete with a la carte dining and waiter service.

But fly with Virgin Australia from Melbourne to Fiji and you’ll be sent to the Virgin Australia domestic lounge before your flight.

Other Virgin passengers will also be directed to lounges operated by Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, SkyTeam and even Plaza Premium.

However, Virgin Australia has confirmed that its business class travellers and Velocity Gold and Platinum members will still be able to use the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX.

A Virgin Australia spokesperson advised Australian Business Traveller that the shake-up follows an internal review of international lounge operations conducted by the airline, adding that “we are excited about the new arrangements and believe our guests will enjoy the new spaces prior to their flights.”

Here’s a breakdown of the new lounge arrangements.
Virgin Australia international lounge access in Sydney

The lounge you’ll have access to at Sydney Airport now varies based on your destination and the airline operating your flight, with lounge access as follows for business class guests, Velocity Platinum and Velocity Gold members:

Los Angeles (Virgin Australia): Moves from Air NZ to the Etihad Airways Business and First Class Lounge (pictured).

Los Angeles (Delta): Switches to the SkyTeam Exclusive Lounge in place of the Air New Zealand lounge.

Apia (Samoa with Virgin Samoa): Another changing from the Air New Zealand lounge to SkyTeam.

Denpasar (Bali), Nadi (Fiji) and Nuku’alofa (Tonga): Virgin Australia guests will now have access to the Singapore Airlines SilverKris business class lounge in place of the Air NZ facility next door.

Honolulu (Hawaiian Airlines): Also moves from Air NZ to the SkyTeam Exclusive Lounge:

Other destinations: There’s no change when flying to Abu Dhabi with Virgin Australia or Etihad (Etihad lounge); for trans-Tasman travellers on Virgin or Air NZ (continue using the Air NZ lounge); or with Singapore Airlines to Jakarta and Singapore (SilverKris business class lounge).
Virgin Australia international lounge access in Melbourne

Nadi (Fiji): Access to the Air NZ lounge is withdrawn for Virgin Australia guests, who will now be directed to the Virgin Australia domestic lounge (pictured, prior to passport control).

Unlike most airports, Melbourne Airport connects its domestic and international terminals all under the same roof, with Virgin Australia’s domestic lounge found prior to domestic security screening and roughly a five-minute walk to the international departures area.

Los Angeles: It’s not yet known which lounge will be used for Virgin Australia’s Melbourne-Los Angeles flights which resume in April 2017, although Australian Business Traveller understands that Virgin is examining lounges in the international terminal – a shortlist which includes the slick new Etihad Airways lounge – to save that domestic trek.

Other destinations: As with Sydney, trans-Tasman flyers of Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand continue to have access to the Air NZ lounge; Singapore Airlines flyers continue to enjoy SQ SilverKris business class lounge access and Etihad passengers continue using the new Etihad lounge.
Virgin Australia international lounge access in Brisbane

Los Angeles: Unwind in the new Singapore Airlines Brisbane SilverKris lounge (below) before your Virgin Australia flight to LAX in place of the Air New Zealand lounge at present.

New Zealand: As in Sydney and Melbourne, travellers continue to have access to the Air New Zealand lounge whenever travelling to New Zealand with Virgin Australia or Air NZ.

All other Virgin Australia destinations: Passengers flying to Apia (Samoa), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Honiara (Solomon Islands), Nadi (Fiji), Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) and Port Vila (Vanuatu) all move from the Air NZ lounge to the new Plaza Premium Lounge at Brisbane Airport.

Virgin Australia partner airlines: The Singapore Airlines lounge continues to welcome passengers on Singapore Airlines flights to Singapore, while Etihad Airways travellers bound for Abu Dhabi continue to use the Air New Zealand lounge in Brisbane, as Etihad doesn’t have its own Queensland lounge.

However, Velocity Gold and Platinum members travelling to Honolulu with Virgin Australia partner Hawaiian Airlines will not receive lounge access in Brisbane under these changes, as is already the case.
Virgin Australia international lounges: what’s not changing

Despite the exodus of passengers from Air New Zealand’s Australian lounges, a Virgin Australia spokesperson assured us that business class travellers and Velocity Gold members can continue to access the Air NZ-operated Star Alliance Lounge at LAX (below) prior to Virgin Australia flights.

Also retained: access to the separate first class zone of the Star Alliance LAX lounge for Velocity Platinum members booked to fly on Virgin Australia.

There’s also no change to benefits or lounge access for Velocity Gold and Platinum cardholders when travelling with Air New Zealand from any city – so if you’re jetting from Auckland to the USA with Air New Zealand in economy or premium economy, for example, you’re still clear to visit the Air NZ lounge.

Paid-up Virgin Australia lounge members aren’t affected at all by these revisions and can continue visiting Air New Zealand lounges in Australia and New Zealand prior to Virgin Australia trans-Tasman flights.

MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Sunday, October 30, 2016

The 5 Best Airport Bars in the US


This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.

Just-canceled flights can be such a drag — especially when it means you’re suddenly facing several Netflix-free hours to fill gate-side. To make the best of this unwanted pause in your travels, nothing quite soothes the spirit like a stiff drink savored amid a lively atmosphere. While such appealing joints are certainly scarce at airports, luckily for travelers, there are several around the country that stand out from the rest. Maximize untimely connections by hunkering down at one of these five booze-fueled oases and watch your flight-delay woes immediately dissipate.

For Beer Lovers

While beautifully curated, the public art exhibitions on display at San Diego International Airport (SAN) can only hold the interest of restless passengers for so long. Instead, find reprieve at local craft-beer favorite Stone Brewing. The upbeat, rustic space has a dozen taps — although ordering a Moscow Mule wouldn’t induce a raised eyebrow either — so pass the grueling time by sampling, say, the smoked porter followed by the mocha IPA. BBQ duck tacos and chimichurri steak sandwiches promise fortification as well. stonebrewing.com, Terminal 2, near Gate 36.


For Wine Enthusiasts

Navigating the perennially congested Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is exhausting. One fine way to rejuvenate is by roosting at SeaLegs Wine Bar beside a hefty, burrata-topped meatball. At this outpost of the breezy Huntington Beach original, patrons pore over a menu that’s naturally heavy on California selections — from Conundrum to Justin. Big spenders who forgot their Ambien can ensure much-needed slumber arrives on that red-eye by springing for a bottle of Far Niente off the Captain’s List. sealegswinebar.com, Terminal 2, near gate 24.


For Cocktail Aficionados

One Flew South’s glorious pimento cheese-meatloaf sandwiches and dragon rolls served at the pine-and-marble sushi bar put fluorescent-lit food court fare to shame. But this upscale retreat in chaotic Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is most beloved for its roster of masterful libations — designed, as the list reads, for light, classic, innovative and determined travelers alike. With just a few sips of the Cab Calloway — made with Oloroso sherry, apricot, Angostura and dry vermouth — or a Jumping Jack Flight — featuring applejack, sorghum and cayenne cider — being stuck at the airport feels like a serendipitous luxury. oneflewsouthatl.com; Terminal E, center core.


For Eco-Minded Foodies

Denver residents love dining at Root Down, a sustainable-minded restaurant situated in a vintage gas station downtown. Thankfully, visitors who don’t have a chance to pop in have yet another opportunity to feast on harissa-spiked Colorado lamb sliders at the spin-off post in Denver International Airport (DEN). With a glam, mid-century aesthetic, it’s a calming place to unwind with a Coconut Gin Fizz or one of 24 locally-made brews like Left Hand’s Milk Stout Nitro. Bonus: morning flights lead to pulled pork and olive oil cornbread Benedicts. rootdowndia.com, Concourse C, center core.


For Country Music Lovers

Two-stepping at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, the one-time haunt of greats like Waylon Jennings and Patsy Cline, is one rousing way to spend an evening in Nashville. The offshoot of this legendary honky-tonk at Nashville International Airport (BNA) also provides salvation to frustrated folks with missed flights. Settle into this purple-hued dive bar with alluring kitsch on the walls and knock back Woodford Reserve while taking in an intimate live music performance. Nips of bourbon alongside a half slab of ribs make the waiting game far less painful. tootsies.net; Concourse C, near gate C7.

MGCLS - LAX Car Service

A day in the life of LAX


Photographer travels around the world for two years to take stunning portraits of planes flying out of international airports

Every child is captivated by their first trip to the airport, where they can peer out the big glass windows and watch as planes take off from the tarmac and into the sky.

That joy for watching jets cut through the clouds never left Mike Kelley, who just spent two years photographing planes at more than a dozen different airports around the world.

But what makes Kelley's shots even more incredible is the final product: A sky littered with aircraft, each frozen in different moments of takeoff or landing, all in one photograph.

It all began with an experiment that instantly became viral, and suddenly landed Kelley's name in museums and bookstores across the globe.

Kelley's original image of an entire day's worth of planes taking off at LAX, a photo he dubbed Wake Sensation, captured the nation's attention and earned the title of one of the best images of 2014.

But the photographer, who was working by day taking pictures of houses, hotels and resorts in Los Angeles, had just meant for the picture to be a proof-of-concept to see if the idea had any merit to it, he told Daily Mail Online.

'One day I was just out there with a friend of mine and after an hour of taking pictures I looked at the back of the camera and I'd scroll through and see all the pictures flashing up and thought, this could be a really good idea.'

'I got horribly sunburned, didn't go to the bathroom - a stroke of inspiration hit me out there.' 

After a few months passed, Kelley came up with his master plan. He would go around the world, photographing planes at 15 airports, and make an entire series of 'airportraits', as he called them. 

It was the perfect change in routine for the photographer, who had been taking pictures of architecture in Los Angeles for five years straight.

'Honestly, I needed a break,' he told Daily Mail Online. 'I needed something that would give me a break from architecture but also take me out of my comfort zone and help my career.'

Kelley wrote down 15 airports he wanted to visit on the back of a napkin and booked his first ticket 'without really thinking'.

The Ipswich, Massachusetts native hit most of his spots in the summer of 2015, visiting Sao Paulo in Brazil, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Tokyo, Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand in the same successive trip.

Some were picked on the basis that Kelley knew they had big airports, while others were selected for more personal reasons.

Kelley had studied abroad in Auckland and wanted to go back, and had never been to Australia.

It was his girlfriend who made sure Kelley went to Heathrow International Airport, and he visited Dubai on a separate trip.

There were other airports he visited where Kelley just wasn't able to get the image he wanted, including Boston's Logan Airport - where the wind always blew in the wrong direction and the weather was never right.

And Kelley's first trip to Tokyo was a complete bust due to the fact he arrived at a time when the summer heat was so intense and the smog so thick one couldn't even seen their own hand in front of them.

Kelley had dreamed of photographing Mt Fuji in the background of Haneda airport, but after a week he still hadn't captured the right picture.

But the photographer was determined, and when Kelley saw that he had the perfect weather window in Japan one day in March 2016 he bought a $700 round-trip ticket 24 hours in advance to give the shot a second chance.

Kelley got into Tokyo at 11pm and was on a boat charter he had arranged through Google translate just four hours later.

There, rocking in the middle of the Tokyo Bay in nearly freezing temperatures at 6.30am, Kelley got his picture.

Kelley also needed to make a repeat trip to London after it nearly rained for 17 days straight during his first attempt in the spring of 2016.

The photographer returned to Heathrow in September 2016, where he happened to capture a perfect week of weather as he took pictures of the morning rush of international arrivals, the planes all bathed in golden sunlight.

As Tokyo and London proved, there were many factors that went into capturing the perfect shot, more than Kelley ever imagined when spent that first 'deceptively easy' day at LAX. 

Unlike California, most of the countries' weather was constantly changing throughout the day. This would change the 'exposure and shadow' on the planes, making it harder to paste them all together in one cohesive image.

Wind could also ruin nearly a day's worth of work. If it changed directions in the middle of the day, the planes would have to change runways.

This was all in addition to the fact that not every airport was as accessible as LAX.

There were some cities where Kelley had to spend days scouting for the perfect unobstructed spot to take his shots, and others where he needed to get help from employees - especially in Dubai, where planespotting is illegal.

Then came what Kelley is quick to admit was the worst part of the project, the post-production.

Kelley had loved sitting outside for hours to watch and photograph the planes, not to mention traveling the world, meeting all kinds of people and finding himself in crazy situations.

Now he had to narrow down 15,000 pictures of planes for each shot and create something beautiful. But the sheer mass of photos he had at his fingertips also allowed Kelley to be inventive. 

Unlike California, most of the countries' weather was constantly changing throughout the day. This would change the 'exposure and shadow' on the planes, making it harder to paste them all together in one cohesive image.

Wind could also ruin nearly a day's worth of work. If it changed directions in the middle of the day, the planes would have to change runways.

This was all in addition to the fact that not every airport was as accessible as LAX.

There were some cities where Kelley had to spend days scouting for the perfect unobstructed spot to take his shots, and others where he needed to get help from employees - especially in Dubai, where planespotting is illegal.

Then came what Kelley is quick to admit was the worst part of the project, the post-production.

Kelley had loved sitting outside for hours to watch and photograph the planes, not to mention traveling the world, meeting all kinds of people and finding himself in crazy situations.

Now he had to narrow down 15,000 pictures of planes for each shot and create something beautiful. But the sheer mass of photos he had at his fingertips also allowed Kelley to be inventive. 


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Delta loyalty reward points can get you on a private jet







Collect enough loyalty reward points on Delta Air Lines and you can book a flight in your own private jet.

Under a change in Delta’s SkyMiles loyalty reward program, members can accumulate miles toward a flight on Delta Private Jets, a subsidiary of the Atlanta-based airline that operates more than 70 Wi-Fi equipped jets. The change took effect Oct. 25.

For example, Delta SkyMiles members who earn 2.5 million miles can get $25,000 on a cash card to book a flight on Delta Private Jets, which is based in Kentucky but flies throughout the country on an on-demand basis.

Delta is not the only airline to partner with a charter jet company.

New York-based JetBlue Airways said last week that it made a minority equity investment in the private charter company JetSuiteX, based in Irvine.

Under its partnership, fliers on JetSuiteX earn points on JetBlue’s loyalty reward program, TrueBlue, to fly on JetBlue flights.

The investment comes a few months after JetBlue lost a bidding war with Alaska Airlines to acquire Virgin America.

By losing the bidding war, JetBlue lost access to several lucrative routes along the West Coast. But under the deal with JetSuiteX, JetBlue has added a partner that flies out of a handful of popular West Coast cities, including Burbank, Las Vegas, San Jose and Concord, Calif.


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

GM's car-sharing service arrives in Los Angeles






Maven, General Motors' car-sharing service, is finally coming to the City of Angels.

Though Maven has been around in other cities for awhile now -- Ann, Arbor, Mich., Boston, New York City and San Francisco to name a few -- its move to Los Angeles is a pretty interesting one due to the city's car-centric culture. Essentially GM's answer to services like CityCarShare and ZipCar, Maven makes it possible for residents of Los Angeles to live a car-free life, but still have the convenience of a car if they want it.

To start, you'll need to register and then use the app to reserve a vehicle of your choice. At first, Maven will only have 60 vehicles available at more than 24 locations in the city, but there's always a chance it'll roll out more if the service gets popular enough. Those locations include downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, South Park and areas near the University of Southern California.

You can rent cars for $8 an hour -- that cost includes both fuel and insurance. As you might expect from a GM service, all of the available cars are part of the GM family. They include the Chevrolet Cruze, Malibu, Tahoe and Volt, the GMC Acadia and Yukon, plus Cadillacs like the ATS, CTS, CT6, XT5 and Escalade. And, of course, they'll all come with the OnStar service built right in.
MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Thursday, October 27, 2016

American Airlines’ Premium Economy Seating Is Coming Soon







Passengers on American Airlines will soon be able to book Premium Economy seats as a separate class service.

Don Casey, senior vice president of revenue management for the airline, told USA Today that the airline will begin selling Premium Economy as a fourth cabin category, starting with flights in April of next year.

The new adjustable leather seats are currently available aboard the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on routes between Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles, though the full cabin experience—including free amenity kits, complimentary drinks, and an enhanced meal experience—will arrive aboard international flights starting next month.

The full Premium Economy cabin experience will be available on routes from Dallas to São Paolo starting November 3, to Madrid starting November 4, to Paris starting January 9, and to Seoul starting February 16.

At the moment, they will continue to sell as part of the “Main Cabin Extra” seats, and elite customers can reserve the seats without an additional fee. The airline could not provide further information on what the price will look like for customers who want to make the upgrade at this time.

They also have not confirmed an official date in April for the service, however The Points Guy suggests April 2 after searching seat maps on ExpertFlyer and noticing that is the first date the premium economy seats are blocked out.

“The Premium Economy rows are being blocked prior to its first departure as its own class of service; therefore when the class of service goes on sale, the seats will be unblocked and sold as Premium Economy,” a spokesperson from the airline told The Points Guy.

The airline did not confirm this will be the starting date, but customers can expect sales for the service to start early next year.


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

The Expanding Wine Lists At Los Angeles LAX Airport







In the winter of 1942 a group of Americans landed via seaplane at Foynes airfield in western Ireland. Miserably cold when they entered the terminal (which was a local hotel) they were served a special concoction that chef Joe Sheridan thought might warm them up. It included coffee, sugar, whipped cream and whiskey. When asked the name of this drink he invented for them, Sheridan replied, “Irish Coffee.” The association of airports with alcohol has only expanded since then.

Five years later and ten miles away, the first ever duty-free store in an airport opened in Ireland’s Shannon Airport. The small kiosk sold souvenirs. The concept caught on. In the 1960′s two Americans founded duty free stores in Hong Kong and then in the U.S. With time, airports transformed from transit hubs to shopping malls. As the ‘airport experience’ transformed from inconvenience to one of consumer opportunity, the range of restaurants, as well as bars and bar types, also grew.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the seventh busiest airport in the world and third busiest in the U.S. The nine terminals serving 75 million passengers a year include 95 food outlets—enough for the Los Angeles Eater publication to issue its annual ‘Where to Eat at LAX‘ report.

Inside LAX, the recently expanded, $1.7 billion Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) includes 27 eateries (seven are located before security). The 150,000 square-foot, (14,000 square-meter) Great Hall as well as Northern and Southern concourses include restaurants associated with signature chefs, including Michael Voltaggio and Suzanne Goin.

Across from the Gucci, Burberry and Hermès stores, past massive windows facing KLM wide-bodies, and under the sound of final boarding calls for Madrid or Munich, you can choose from several locations for an excellent glass of wine. For a pre-flight buzz try wheeling your travel bag to Vino Volo—a concept bar replicated at 27 other U.S. locations. The LAX Vino Volo is listed as one of ‘best airport bars in the world‘ (while neighboring ink.sack restaurant is on the list of ‘best airport restaurants in the world.’)

Vino Volo is decorated with wine barrels and hefty images of food plates and wine glasses. The music directed downward from above helps offset the sound of airport banter. Those working here take their business seriously. The tasty pizzeta Caprino with goat cheese, Parmigiano, olives and arugula I ordered was delivered rapidly on a cutting board. From the wine list I ordered a ‘California Kings’ flight of three red wines—including a delicious Zinfandel from Sean Minor Wines, a Merlot from Bernal Estates and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Aurelian. All three well balanced reds were focused on the aroma and taste of fruit more than tannin. Drinking here is also an education. All of the eight wine flights available are served on cards with tasting notes, as well as graphs that indicate the wine’s weight and texture (‘rich, bright, light or brooding’).

At the bar, Alfred Rosanes served a Tempranillo to a seated couple and mentioned its pungent aromas of rosemary and thyme before explaining how the popularity of wines in the terminal varies by season. “During summer we serve a lot of white and bubbles. That’s changing now.”

The prospect of working within an airport daunted Alfred until he found out how serious the proprietors were. “I studied culinary arts in Pasadena and wrote my thesis on Suzanne Goin. I fell in love with wine there,” he said, before sizing up clientele within the terminal. “Three general types of customers come here. The first are wine aficionados, who can be very insistent. They want to have an Opus One 2007 and are disappointed if we only have a 2011. Then they try something new to their palate and find it’s different, maybe better than they thought. Second, people come here to kill time. They chug their rosé fast and order a sandwich. Third are customers who want leading, who didn’t even know a red Zinfandel wine existed and want to learn more.”

Night Manager Heidi Reusch explained how staff are constantly encouraged to improve their knowledge. They attend frequent training and testing sessions to improve their understanding about wines, as well as an annual retreat at a location such as Napa or Santa Barbara in California or Walla Walla in Washington.

Further down the terminal, at the far end of the South Concourse, the atmosphere at Starbucks Evenings was jovial and lively. Although a board listed 11 wines, from a Mionetto Prosecco to a Benziger Chardonnay to a Terrazas de los Andes Malbec, the attendant regretted they were completely out of wine at that moment, and pointed to four types of available beers.

Instead I wandered back to the Great Hall and sat at Petrossian Caviar and Champagne Bar (separated from Vino Volo by a Victoria’s Secret outlet and an iStore). Petrossian also has bars in the cities of New York and Las Vegas, at several cities in France as well as in Brussels and Dubai. The list included 19 vodkas and 14 sparkling wines and champagnes (from $60 to $1,120 a bottle). I enjoyed a crisp glass of Roederer Estate Brut from California’s Anderson Valley, followed by a far tamer Crèmant d’Alsace from France—a Domaine Allimant Laugner Rosè. The menu explains caviar characteristics, including types known as Transmontanus, Siberian, and Ossetran, described in terms similar to those used for wines: ‘smooth and robust’ or ‘distinctively nutty.’ The dishes that are most popular are smoked salmon and Champagne. How popular? Recently, the woman serving wine told me, a customer spent $1,800 while waiting for his flight.

Serving alcohol in airports, apparently, remains good business.


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

The Concourse Hotel at Los Angeles Airport undergoes $75 million transformation to become the only Hyatt Regency Hotel in L.A.

Currently open and accepting guests, Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport is under the expert direction of Managing Director Jeff Rostek with the support of Prism Hotels & Resorts.

“Our hotel is not only helping to transform Century Boulevard, but it is elevating the hotel experience for travelers who want the convenience of staying close to the airport,” says Rostek. “We offer a level of upscale quality and a fine attention to detail with the hotel’s design and service. Our reimagined public spaces, guest room design and anticipatory service will remind guests why it’s good not to be home.”

Located less than one block from the Los Angeles International Airport, the closest hotel to the airport, Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport pushes boundaries of innovation and design with vibrant mid-century modern furnishings in each guestroom, including the Hyatt Grand Bed, the market-leading wall-mounted 55-inch television with HDMI streaming capabilities, free high-speed Wi-Fi internet, and tranquility sliding door on a well-lit modern bathroom with rain shower head. All spaces in the guestroom have been thoughtfully designed for ease of working, relaxing and staying connected to who, and what, is most important to guests at any time.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the hotel’s Guest Experience Agents, offering an energizing welcome beverage and a sweet treat. Guests will marvel at the amazing views of busy LAX runways, the airport’s iconic Light Towers, and the sparkling City of Angels, from the comfort of their guestrooms, which features quadruple-pane windows to eliminate air traffic and airport noise.

The hotel offers more than 50,000 square feet of meeting space, including one of the largest ballrooms in the LAX market at 14,000 square feet, as well as the only outdoor event lawns in the area, accommodating up to 750 guests. Additionally, a newly built state-of-the-art conference center features more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, where people can meet, connect and get inspired.

Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport will launch two new exciting culinary experiences, led by seasoned Executive Chef Charles Fusco, in the hotel’s redesigned lobby on January 1, 2017. Open Market will feature stations designed around convenience and community, with grab-and-go salads and sandwiches, an Illy Café for coffee and pastries, soup and noodles, and made-to-order crafted items. Unity LA, will be available for all-day dining. Menus for Open Market and Unity LA focus on Asian and Latin American cuisines that bring the best of L.A.’s ethnic neighborhoods to hotel guests, including Boyle Heights, Monterey Park, Koreatown, Thai Town, Chinatown, Little Tokyo/Arts District, Echo Park, and Downtown L.A.

Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport is the only airport hotel with direct shuttle service, which is provided complimentary to registered hotel guests and runs every 10 minutes between the hotel and airport.

For more information about Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport, please call (424) 702-1234 or visit www.losangelesairport.regency.hyatt.com. Follow the hotel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Hyatt Regency?

The Hyatt Regency brand prides itself on connecting travelers to who and what matters most to them. More than 168 conveniently located Hyatt Regency urban and resort locations in over 30 countries around the world serve as the go-to gathering space for every occasion – from efficient business meetings to memorable family vacations. The brand offers a one-stop experience that puts everything guests need right at their fingertips. Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts offer a full range of services and amenities, including notable culinary experiences; technology-enabled ways to collaborate; the space to work, engage or relax; and expert planners who can take care of every detail.

About Prism Hotels & Resorts

As an award winning full service hotel management, investment, and advisory services company, Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts has developed a reputation for operational excellence by increasing hotel performance and delivering measurable results. With 30 years of experience, Prism leverages top industry talent to produce a best-in-class experience that extends from the front desk to the bottom line. Prism currently manages more than 25 hotels for multiple institutional and private owners including urban, suburban and resort destinations. The company has expertise managing all major brands as well as independent destination hotels. For more information, please visit www.prismhotels.com.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 12 premier brands and 667 properties in 54 countries, as of June 30, 2016. The Company’s purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and growth strategy and is intended to create value for shareholders, build relationships with guests and attract the best colleagues in the industry. The Company’s subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences and vacation ownership properties, including under the Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Andaz®, Hyatt Centric™, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt™, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™ and Hyatt Residence Club® brand names and have locations on six continents. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements about our plans, strategies, occupancy and ADR trends, market share, the number of properties we expect to open in the future, our expected adjusted SG&A expense, our estimated comparable systemwide RevPAR growth, maintenance and enhancement to existing properties capital expenditures, investments in new properties capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization expense and interest expense estimates, financial performance, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “likely,” “will,” “would” and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; the rate and the pace of economic recovery following economic downturns; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; limited visibility with respect to future bookings; loss of key personnel; hostilities, or fear of hostilities, including future terrorist attacks, that affect travel; travel-related accidents; natural or man-made disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, oil spills, nuclear incidents and global outbreaks of pandemics or contagious diseases or fear of such outbreaks; our ability to successfully achieve certain levels of operating profits at hotels that have performance guarantees in favor of our third party owners; the impact of hotel renovations; our ability to successfully execute our common stock repurchase program; the seasonal and cyclical nature of the real estate and hospitality businesses; changes in distribution arrangements, such as through Internet travel intermediaries; changes in the tastes and preferences of our customers, including the entry of new competitors in the lodging business; relationships with colleagues and labor unions and changes in labor laws; financial condition of, and our relationships with, third-party property owners, franchisees and hospitality venture partners; the possible inability of third-party owners, franchisees or development partners to access capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; risks associated with potential acquisitions and dispositions and the introduction of new brand concepts; the timing of acquisitions and dispositions; failure to successfully complete proposed transactions (including the failure to satisfy closing conditions or obtain required approvals); unforeseen terminations of our management or franchise agreements; changes in federal, state, local or foreign tax law; increases in interest rates and operating costs; foreign exchange rate fluctuations or currency restructurings; lack of acceptance of new brands or innovation; general volatility of the capital markets and our ability to access such markets; changes in the competitive environment in our industry, including as a result of industry consolidation, and the markets where we operate; cyber incidents and information technology failures; outcomes of legal or administrative proceedings; violations of regulations or laws related to our franchising business; and other risks discussed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Airlines Doing Business with John Wayne Airport Must Not Discriminate






Following the complaint of a Coto de Caza woman regarding being moved to accommodate another passenger's religious beliefs, all airlines doing business at John Wayne Airport were asked to comply with federal non-discrimination standards.

This, in the wake of an Orange County resident who said her seat was switched when a fellow passenger cited religious beliefs in saying he could not sit next to a woman.

The announcement that all airlines doing business with John Wayne Airport would comply with the non-discrimination standards was made Tuesday at the Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting as the panel was poised to approve passenger-load limits for the airlines in 2017.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer credited the "leverage" of the passenger-load limits for getting a quick turnaround on new contracts with the airlines that force them to comply with federal standards prohibiting discrimination.

"I was adamant that we use the leverage of allocations to get these contracts amended," Spitzer said.

Spitzer noted that officials with United Airlines, which sparked the controversy by changing a seat assignment for Mary Campos of Coto de Caza, initially declined to meet with county leaders.

"They had refused to come here under the auspices of potential litigation," Spitzer said.

Spitzer hailed Campos as "the Rosa Parks of Orange County," referring to the black woman who sparked the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycotts, a watershed moment in the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and '60s.

"She said, `I'm going to drink out of the same water fountain -- you won't discriminate against me,"' Spitzer said. "Orange County put itself on the map by doing this."

The county had been going with month-to-month contracts with the airlines since the agreements expired at the end of last year.

"I don't think (United) willingly did this," Spitzer said. "We told them if you want 300,000 more seats, then you're not going to get that until you agree not to discriminate against women."

Spitzer mockingly referred to the airline's "Friendly Skies" slogan, adding, "Their motto was inconsistent with their practices."

Orange County board Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett said she had been in touch with Campos this week.

"She's very pleased with the outcome," Bartlett said. "This is a good move for all concerned."

United Airlines officials told Bartlett that they have changed the company's policy when a passenger cites religious beliefs for not wishing to sit next to a woman.
"They have changed their general policy, not just for John Wayne Airport, but all airports," Bartlett said.

"What will happen now is if a passenger comes up to the desk and says they can't sit next to a woman, then they will attempt to move the passenger requesting special privileges, and if they cannot accommodate them then they will transfer them to another flight or suggest alternative transportation ...," she said. "This is major step in the right direction and it was certainly the right thing to do."


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Travel Guru Ranks Los Angeles As Nation's Hottest Destination






Lonely Planet Tuesday ranked Los Angeles third in its "Top 10 Cities" list of the world's hottest destinations for the year ahead.

"With more museums and theaters than any other U.S. city, L.A. has been gaining steam as a cultural destination," said Lonely Planet Editorial Director Tom Hall.

"While it's far from a surprising travel destination, the 2016 Metro expansion has made it easier to get around than ever before, and there are dozens of new hotels in the works -- great reasons for travelers to pay a visit in 2017."

Los Angeles follows Bordeaux, France, and Cape Town, South Africa, and is the highest-ranked city in the Americas on the list -- ahead of Merida, Mexico (No. 4) and Portland, Oregon (No. 10).

The other cities in the top 10 are Ohrid, Macedonia (No. 5); Pistoia, Italy (No. 6); Seoul, South Korea (No. 7); Lisbon, Portugal (No. 8); and Moscow, Russia (No. 9).

In its description of Los Angeles, Lonely Planet says: "Despite its reputation as a land of celebrities, health fanatics and all-around superficiality, L.A. has been gaining steam as a cultural destination while becoming more accessible than ever. The 2016 Metro expansion has made getting from Downtown to Santa Monica and everywhere in between much easier; city initiative Car Free LA helps tourists navigate without wheels; and almost 50 new hotels are in the works.

This isn't just a beach town, either; it's a commerce capital, where movie producers and finance types mingle over sashimi and kale salads. East Coasters are moving here in droves for the sunshine and a more sustainable lifestyle."

The "best cities" list is part of the guidebook publisher's annual "Best in Travel" collection of destinations, trends and experiences for travelers in the year ahead.

Don Skeoch, chief marketing officer for Discover Los Angeles, which is part of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, said 2015 "was our fifth consecutive year of record-breaking tourism, as we welcomed 45.6 million visitors from around the globe, and 2016 is pacing to be yet another banner year."

MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Chevrolet Silverado HD Carhartt Revealed Before SEMA


Chevy’s collaboration with 127-year-old workwear outfitter Carhartt on this concept may have longer legs than some of its SEMA-show brethren, as we hear the brand also plans to show it at the mainstream auto shows in L.A. and Detroit.

Indeed the association between the work-clothier and a work truck seems so natural we wonder why it hasn’t happened before. And there’s certainly nothing terribly production-unfeasible about the essence of this concept, which is based on a 2017 Silverado HD with the revised Duramax turbodiesel V-8 (now producing 445 hp and 910 lb-ft) and Allison transmission, and a Z71 off-road suspension that gets a 1-inch lift.

The rest of the package revolves around appearance and functionality upgrades that key off of the classic Carhartt gold (officially “duck brown”) fabric, which forms the three-quarter tonneau cover behind the built-in tool box and swing-out tool chest, and accents the interior with inserts in the leather seats and on the door panels and console—all of which are triple-stitched, just like a Carhartt jacket.

Logos are laser-etched into the headrests and embossed onto the floor liners inside, and on the doors  you’ll find Carhartt C logos with special Silverado badges rendered in the Carhartt font. A Carhartt-gold pinstripe runs around the upper body character line, with matte satin graphite paint above this line and gloss metallic black below. Most brightwork is blacked out or painted over, including the 4-inch assist steps.

Special 20-inch wheels get antique nickel accents, which are echoed on the grille, mirror caps, tow rings, and interior door, console, and instrument panel trim. Those wheels wear knobby 35×12.50R20LT Firestone Destination M/T tires with Chevrolet accessory IBP wheel flares to contain the mud they sling.

Functional work-oriented upgrades include beefy front and rear tow hooks and a lower-grille-mounted LED light bar, the aforementioned semi-custom tool box, a spray-in bedliner, electric outlets in the bed, a wireless external trailering camera system, and numerous GearOn cargo system accessories. Watch this space for further announcements about potential production or aftermarket availability of the key components in this concept.

MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Did Xiaomi just preempt the iPhone 8?


Xiaomi, the former darling of the Chinese smartphone market, has hit a rocky patch as of late, though its rejuvenation efforts have today been stoked with the introduction of a spectacular new smartphone called the Mi Mix. This 6.4-inch mobile behemoth is notable for its practically bezel-free screen with curved display corners, which sits in front of an absolutely maxed-out spec sheet and a ceramic back that comes with optional 18-karat gold accents.

But as I look at what makes the Mix truly exceptional, the only differences from current devices are the engineering required to remove the top bezel’s sensors and earpiece — pretty much everything else is already available technology, albeit rarely combined into a single device. And that gets me wondering, are we seeing a rough preview of what Apple has brewing up for the iPhone 8?

It has been common knowledge for months now, ever since it became clear that the iPhone 7 would be only a gentle reworking of the iPhone 6S, that Apple was saving its next big redesign for the 10th anniversary iPhone. 2017 will mark a full decade of iPhone history, and Apple is evidently keen to mark the occasion with something suitably sensational. That all starts with the design, however there isn’t much room left for smartphone design to take massive leaps forward: they’re already all metal and glass, all touchscreens and high-definition cameras.

So what are Apple’s options? Making the iPhone any thinner isn’t going to cut it as a marquee change. Apple could curve the iPhone — as Samsung did with the Galaxy Round or LG did with the G Flex — but that approach has so far proven to be high engineering done for its own sake. And in any case, Apple’s way has usually been to tie alterations in form to functional advantages, at least in the way it markets them. The only things that can really be upgraded or optimized in the existing iPhone’s exterior design are the materials and the screen bezels.

Along with HTC and Nokia, Apple popularized and pioneered the use of aluminum as the main construction material for a smartphone’s enclosure. That’s served the Cupertino company well for many years, but there’s always room for improvement, and now that everyone else is also rocking aluminum unibodies, it might be time for Apple to change course again.

Ceramic is the most commonly used aluminum replacement by companies seeking to "premium up" their devices — as OnePlus did with its limited run of ceramic OnePlus X phones. Apple itself has just hitched a ride on the ceramic bandwagon with its new top-of-the-line Apple Watch encased in a crisp white ceramic shell. And I’m sure by now we’ve all read the well reasoned theory on Quora for why Apple might move to ceramics with its next iPhone. A neat bit of synergy for Apple: it can do a limited anniversary edition of its iPhone clad in ceramic, which would help it sidestep the massive challenge of mass-producing ceramic cases on a huge scale.

But is the advantage of ceramic over aluminum actually tangible? From my brief experience with the two variants of the OnePlus X, I’d say no. Then again, Apple’s jet black iPhone reminds me that the company likes glossy and shiny surfaces, and the actual advantages of ceramic, such as much greater scratch resistance, are not things you can feel by touch alone. One thing’s for sure: a ceramic iPhone would look like a work of gleaming art, much less utilitarian than simple old aluminum and better suited for the title of 10th anniversary iPhone.

Finally, let’s turn to the iPhone’s bezels, arguably the most outdated part of the company’s flagship smartphone. They’re enormous. Murdering them would be Apple’s biggest alteration to the front of the device since its inception, and it’s arguable the company took a step toward that by eliminating the mechanical home button on the iPhone 7. The technology now exists to integrate fingerprint identification into the display, and together with things like the ultrasound proximity sensor of the Mi Mix, it’s clear that Apple can go almost bezelless for its next smartphone.

MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Fiji Airways & American Airlines Strengthen Codeshare Agreement


Fiji Airways, Fiji's National Carrier, and American Airlines are strengthening their codeshare agreement to include more cities in the United States, as well as a significant international connection, London's Heathrow Airport (LHR). The extended agreement allows for convenient connections when flying between Fiji, across the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

"This extended codeshare agreement is a truly remarkable achievement for Fiji Airways. Just as important, it allows for more of America's customers to visit our home, Fiji, and seamlessly access our network in the South Pacific," said Fiji Airways Managing Director & CEO, Andre Viljoen.

Fiji Airways will add eight (8) new codeshare departure cities to and from Los Angeles and seven (7) connecting to and from San Francisco (SFO). This gives customers traveling on Fiji Airways' non-stop flights from LAX and SFO better access to Fiji from major U.S. cities such as: Atlanta, Nashville, Portland, Philadelphia, Seattle, Dallas, New York, Miami, Phoenix, and more. In total, the codeshare agreement now provides the customers of Fiji Airways with accessibility from 38 cities across the U.S and, for the first time, the United Kingdom, via American Airlines.

American Airlines customers also gain new codeshare service on Fiji Airways between SFO and Nadi, Fiji (NAN).  Members of the AAdvantage program can now earn and redeem miles on all Fiji Airways flights.*

Guests can book travel today on these codeshare flights directly through Fiji Airways and American Airlines. The two airlines began their codeshare partnership in 2011 and with this expansion the codeshare now includes 49 destinations in the South Pacific, United States and Europe.

MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Monday, October 24, 2016

A look at the L.A.-themed makeover at LAX's Terminal 6







Los Angeles International Airport officials and their design partners have put the L.A. back into LAX with the unveiling Oct. 19 of the massive renovation of Terminal 6.

Westfield, the same company that has been remaking upscale shopping malls around the world, engineered the look with 21 new dining and shopping outlets and unified them in an L.A.-centric theme: Sunset Boulevard.

Though the new restaurants and shops weren’t specifically culled from those along the famous boulevard, 14 of them are local brands, including Earthbar, the Golden Road Brewery’s Point the Way Café, the Habit Hamburger Grill, Osteria by Fabio Viviani and the Wolfgang Puck Marketplace, which includes a pizzeria, wine bar and the Kitchen, a fast-casual restaurant.

To mimic a trip from downtown L.A. to the beach, the terminal’s design details shift from industrial grays to blue-sky brights. After passengers clear the T6 TSA airport security checkpoint, they’ll see concrete walls, a column covered in a mosaic of graffiti-painted tiles and industrial metal finishes. This DTLA has a Starbucks, a See’s Candies and a newsstand branded under the banner of San Francisco-based Sunset magazine.

Guided by a winding ribbon of LED lights overhead and terrazzo floor beneath, travelers enter “West Hollywood,” where they can buy lip gloss at a mini MAC Cosmetics store, monogrammed luggage at Tumi, vitamin elixirs at Earthbar, or tank tops at M.Frederic.

American’s gates 66 to 69 are the “beach.” How do you know? There’s a round, blue-hued bar, Blu2o, and blue-sky halo in the ceiling.

Before the $70.5-million renovation, the terminal consisted of three sections: The original 1961 satellite that is now West Hollywood; the connector built for the 1984 Olympics (DTLA); and the 1990s south-end connector (the beach). The terminal fields flights from five carriers:  American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Mokulele Airlines and Great Lakes Airlines.

As part of the ongoing, $8.5-billion modernization program, Terminal 6 joins the new Tom Bradley International Terminal and a remodeled Terminal 2, which opened in February.

The new design is meant to look and feel like an upscale shopping mall, said Keith Kaplan, vice president of development at Westfield. “The airport is the first thing, and the last thing, travelers see about L.A. Now, hopefully, when they see it, they’ll say, ‘This airport rocks.’ ”

Here’s some of what you can find at the new terminal:

— Free water. A new hydration station includes tall spigots to easily refill water bottles. If you want to spend $5 on bottled water, you still can in plenty of places.

— Plentiful USB and electrical plugs at workstations.

— Optimal people watching. Strategically arranged seating in the dining areas improves sight lines to multiple gates, and the parade of humanity going in and out of them.

— A pet patio. Though outdoor spaces for pets is now an LAX requirement, this patio features drinking fountains, waste bags, artificial turf and, of course, a fire hydrant. And a hose.

— A nursing station. It’s a private bathroom with a changing table, chair and three electrical outlets.

— Real plants in the Garden Terrace (between the “beach” and “West Hollywood”) and natural daylight throughout the terminal.

— A $20 Wolfgang Puck logo tote back at the Wolfgang Puck Marketplace.

— An $11.70 Flax Master premium smoothie at Earthbar.

— $60 noise-cancelling headphones at Belkin.

What you won’t find:

— Related improvements adjacent to T6, such as seating at the gates and parking structures. Los Angeles World Airports, which oversees four Southern California sites, gave Westfield and its partners the OK to rebuild concessions, not everything else.

— An entrance to the P6 parking structure from the upper level. If you want to enter P6 directly, follow the signs for arrivals on the lower level road.

— A dressing room at M.Frederic.

— Clocks. You have to look at the digital readouts on the many screens listing departures and arrivals.


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

2017 Honda Odyssey release date



These days start to circulate some information that new and redesigned version of 2017 Honda Odyssey is ready preparing to be launch. This very popular minivan will come with a lot of new features and changes and also with better performance. New fifth generation of Odyssey will be based on the new platform and it will have a lot of resemblance with 2016 Acura MDX model. As always, if we talk about this model, Japanese manufacturer pay a lot of attention about its interior design. It is now more spacious and with new addition which will definitely provide you comfortable and safe drive.

Discussing the look, the new 2017 Honda Odyssey will certainly include small changes, yet recognizable with the style. It is sustained with different body shape offering a streamlined look including modern body lines. The brand-new modifications are done maintaining its light-weight. The redesign principle is a lot more affordable. Certainly, the redesign will boost the exterior and also interior. It has the normal exhaust piper, four wheels as well as rear reduced control arms stamped Honda. Actually, the L-shape-fat much lower control arm makes adequate room to match components underbody such.t will be re-designed is well-known and also fundamental adjustments could improve the total performance. This brand-new car could feature four-wheel steering as well as may have a list of motorist support features.

For a number of periods, Honda Odyssey has been one of one of the most popular minivan based upon the huge log cabin as well as the impressive quality of the interior design. The most vital quality of the 2017 Honda Odyssey is that this has capability to tons in lots of items. The base interior style is still very same with the previous design. The seats will certainly be made with the very best natural leather characteristic, as a result it will make the vehicle driver comfy and also relax, even in the long trip. In the family case, you need the bigger baggage, Honda has been introduced the folded seat in the center row of the seat. This is preferred in the minivan style just recently.

Unlike the majority of the specifics of the 2017 Honda Odyssey that are still unknown, we are virtually without a doubt when it has to do with engine. New version will be powered with 3.5 liter V6 Earth Dreams engine, same that is utilized for brand-new Accord. Paired with 6-speed automated transmission, it will certainly have a result of around 290 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of max twist, so great performance are ensured. It is additionally expected that 2017 Odyssey will have wonderful energy economy and that is 21 mpg city as well as 34 mpg on the freeway. There are likewise rumors that new minivan will be offered with brand-new push button-actuated, ZF-sourced nine-speed automatic transmission, that was presented with 2016 Acura TLX.


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Can Dodgers rebound from NLCS loss, retain 2016 positives?


Andrew Friedman was deep in the bowels of Wrigley Field late Saturday night, contemplative as he assessed a long season, when a peer approached carrying emotions on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Champagne-soaked, with a spring in his step, Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer offered his hand to recognize a well-fought National League Championship Series and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ playoff season. The Dodgers' president of baseball operations offered his congratulations.

As Hoyer continued on to visit other Dodgers acquaintances, Friedman revealed a rough outline of the organization’s plan that ultimately could let him enjoy the sticky, sweet smell of success that comes with a National League championship, like the one the Cubs earned Saturday.

“Obviously next year’s team will look a little bit different than this year, but I thought we were an incredibly talented team,” Friedman said about an hour after the 2016 season was a wrap following a 5-0 loss to the Cubs in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. “It was a really good mix of veteran players and young players and our veteran guys did a tremendous job of providing a great environment for our young players to thrive. I think it was great for our young guys to experience.”

A flood of injuries made 2016 a scramble for the Dodgers, but there were positives amid the chaos. Youngsters like Julio Urias, Andrew Toles, Grant Dayton and Jose De Leon found out they could have success at the game's highest level. None of them was expected to arrive as quickly as they did, much less deliver at the levels each showed.

In Urias, the Dodgers saw a pitcher who let them know the future is bright. But in the immediacy of Saturday night’s loss, Urias oozed anything but optimism.

As players and staff packed up the clubhouse for the long journey home, Urias was alone on the steps outside, head down, leaning heavily on the railing. He nodded to a passerby who was offering a word of encouragement, but did not speak.

Urias is only 20 and pitched just 3 ? innings in the NLCS, but he was taking the end of the season hard, not taking for granted this postseason experience, even though his high upside suggests he just might get to experience it often.

A fourth consecutive division title failed to yield a World Series berth, yet again, but in some ways the Dodgers are ahead of schedule when it comes to the future.

“Yeah, I think it was just in the number of contributions that we got from a number of different guys,” Friedman said. “And a lot of our young guys, getting this experience, I think is great and bodes well for the future, but that silver-lining type stuff right now ... we’re all going to try to focus on the good form this year and learn what we can. I think the embraces after the game among everybody kind of showed the close-knit group we developed and are continuing to foster within our organization.”

Regardless of his Game 6 struggle, the Dodgers’ motor is powered by Clayton Kershaw first and foremost. He dominated before his back injury and was determined to make it back before the season ended. And when the Dodgers did reach the postseason, four of the five games they won came when Kershaw threw a pitch.

Kershaw projects as the Opening Day starter once again, with the rotation also expected to include Kenta Maeda and Urias. Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy are also under contract for 2017. Injuries hit the starting staff hard this past season, and Kershaw was asked if it was amazing the team had as much success as it did.

“I don’t know if amazing is the right word, but the team went through a lot this year,” Kershaw said. “A lot of guys went down, a lot of guys were grinding their way through it. A lot of guys that played the whole year that were banged up. There were a lot of things that showed the team atmosphere we have. Nobody wanted to get hurt or miss a day. Everybody wanted to be in there every single day. Our position players, there weren’t that many injuries and those guys played a lot.”

Rookie Corey Seager had an injury scare in spring training when he sprained a knee, but he ended up playing 157 games while batting .308 in the process. But late in the season and on into the playoffs he did look uncomfortable at times and seemed to be wincing in pain on occasion.

LAX Car Service - MGCLS

Sunday, October 23, 2016

LAX Working to Better Train Employees on Customer Service






On Thursday, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners announced the approval of contracts for customer-service training, performance management and employee-appreciation programs at Los Angeles International Airport.

With more than 50,000 employees, Los Angeles International Airport is instituting a comprehensive guest-experience program designed to engage the entire airport community and ensure service excellence.

As part of the new program, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has awarded one-year contracts (with two one-year renewal options) to the company Customer Service Experts for airport-wide training worth up to $1.6 million. The Board also awarded a contract worth $435,250 to Nothing Films for video production for the training component.

The Board approved another deal for Customer Service Experts for performance management and rewards and recognition services for an amount not to exceed $961,378. The deals struck Thursday will be managed by the Los Angeles World Airports’ Guest Experience Team with the goal of increasing guest satisfaction and creating experiences that are efficient, hospitable and memorable.

Los Angeles International Airport is far from the only facility working on a similar project, as Customer Service Experts is working with 112 airports in more than 40 states and four Canadian provinces.

“The millions of people who travel through our airport are not just passengers or customers; they are guests who are valued and appreciated and deserve to be treated as such,” Los Angeles World Airports CEO Deborah Flint said in a statement. “Our vision is to work with our LAX partners to foster an LAX experience that showcases the excitement of Los Angeles in ways that are modern, efficient, innovative, exciting, yet caring.”

LAX Car Service - MGCLS

BMW i8 Spyder to Launch by 2018


BMW has confirmed that a roadster version of the i8 plug-in hybrid will launch within two years, according to Automotive News.

A concept version of the i8 Spyder was first seen back in 2012 at the Beijing Auto Show and production was scheduled to begin much earlier, but it has been delayed a number of times. Now, BMW CEO Harald Krueger confirmed that the i8 roadster will be joining the BMW lineup in 2018.

Alongside the new roadster, a revised version of the i8 coupe is also expected to launch in the next two years. Both cars are expected to have a longer-range battery pack and a more powerful electric motor. Currently, the i8 uses a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged 231-hp gas engine as well as a 131-hp electric motor for a combined total output of 362 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

Rumour has it that the new i8 will make somewhere around 420 horsepower.

Inspiration for the car will also come from the i Vision Future Interaction Concept, which was revealed at CES packing all sorts of technology and some new design ideas.

Also, BMW’s future interiors will be a Sci-Fi dream. BMW rolled out two different i8 concepts along with an i3 and more to show off its latest technology at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show.

The star of these concepts is the BMW i Vision Future Interaction concept, which is an i8 with an interior packed full of futuristic technology. High-resolution vehicle displays including a 21-inch screen are found throughout the interior, which are controlled using gestures, touch-sensitive surfaces and voice controls. BMW says that the content on each screen will match the situation the vehicle is in, while other key info is shown on a head-up display.

This i8 concept has three drive modes that have a range of autonomy, from the highly autonomous auto mode to pure drive, in which the driver is in full control.

There is also the BMW i8 Mirrorless concept which, as the name implies, ditches its mirrors for cameras which feed their footage to a display which replaces the interior rear-view mirror. Besides showing you live footage, the screen will feature superimposed trajectory lines along with yellow warning icons to show imminent hazards.

BMW also revealed its new Open Mobility Cloud, which allows the brand’s cars, in this case an i3, hook up to a smart home and with personal devices. This will allow all of your devices to share information with your vehicle, including your calendar, mobility options, energy status of the home and charge status of the i3.

This i3 is also fit with gesture control parking, which means the car will recognize certain gestures and can drive into and out of a parking space fully autonomously. For security, bumper detect will know if the car is being tampered with and can send a live video feed to your device.

For those interested in BMW’s on two wheels, the brand showed off new laser light in the K1600 GTL that have a range of 600 meters. The brand also showed a motorcycle helmet with a built-in head-up display.

LAX Car Service - MGCLS

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Discriminatory? Hawaiian Airlines wins right to weigh passengers, Samoans outraged






Hawaiian Airlines to weigh passengers: Is one US based airliner new policy discriminatory? Samoan passengers argue they’re being specifically targeted.

Hawaiian Airlines has won the right to begin weighing passengers in a bid to save fuel after discovering its average passenger and carry on luggage was heavier than expected.

According to a report via the independent, the American based airline will move forward in forcing passengers to step up scales if they want to fly the 2600 mile route between Honolulu and American Samoa. To boot, passengers will not be able to pre book seats.

Instead, passengers will be assigned seats upon checking in with Hawaiin Airlines as the airline makes sure that weight is evenly distributed across the plane.

The go ahead has left some passengers stymied, arguing that the policy is discriminatory as it only targets those passengers flying on one route, from Honolulu to Pago Pago, with most passengers being of Samoan descent.

Vexing, is the fact that Samoans have among the highest rate of obesity in the world.

According to a report via the Economist, six complaints have been filed with the US Department of Transportation since September 29.

The department ruled in favor of the new policy, with airline officials claiming an even distribution of weight could prevent a crash landing. The airline will try to keep at least one seat open per row or place children in those seats.

Defending its position, Hawaiian Airlines told of having conducted a voluntary, six-month passenger weight surveys on other flight routes, but had scrapped seat pre-selection only on the American Samoa route because the others showed no evidence of excess weight, as reported by the Associated Press.

The airliner also told of ruling out other possible causes of fuel-loss, such as strong winds, adding that the policy was similar to that already applied with checked and carry-on luggage.

Hawaiians Airlines is not the first passenger carrier to make the move. It follows Samoa Air starting to weigh passengers in 2013.


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Long Beach Residents Critical of Plan to Add International flights at Airport






Demand for international flights is on the rise in Southern California but neighbors of the Long Beach Airport are fighting a plan to bring flights from Mexico and Latin America to the regional airfield. 

For nearly two hours, critics of the plan told an airport advisory panel Thursday night that they feared the addition of international flights would lead to more traffic, air pollution, a drop in property values and pressure to lift the city’s restrictive noise limits.

“There is no guarantee that this won’t expand unbelievably,” said Mike Rodsater, a 30-year resident of Long Beach, at a meeting attended by about 70 residents.

The opponents spoke at the first public hearing held on a feasibility study to build a facility to screen international travelers and their luggage.

The demand for international flights in Southern California has grown by 30% from 2010 to 2015, according to the feasibility study by Pasadena-based Jacobs Engineering.

The demand is strong enough to convert up to eight domestic flights from Long Beach Airport to international flights within five years, the study said.

If the city of Long Beach agrees to add international flights, it will join Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport, John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana and San Diego International Airport in offering flights abroad.

Seth Kaplan, managing partner for the trade publication Airline Weekly, said Long Beach Airport can even try to market itself as a hassle-free alternative to Los Angeles International Airport for international flights.

“There is plenty of demand from the L.A. Basin down to Mexico, and Long Beach has a great facility,” he said.

Long Beach Airport currently flies only to domestic destinations. It operates under a noise ordinance that allows about 50 commercial flights per day, and takeoffs and landings can happen only from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Violators of the limits face stiff fines from the city.

The airport’s biggest carrier, JetBlue Airways, requested the study on the feasibility of adding international flights. The New York-based carrier is interested in flying to vacation spots in Mexico and other Latin America destinations.

The $347,000 feasibility study found that the noise ordinance does not impose restrictions on the origin or destination of flights to the airport and that serving international destinations would create 1,400 new jobs and generate $186 million in spending in the city each year.

The Jacobs study said the screening facility, projected to cost $17 million to $21 million, could be paid for by JetBlue and other airlines that use it, along with passenger fees collected from international travelers.

But neighbors of the airport blasted the report, saying it didn’t address the additional traffic generated by the foreign tourists. They also worried that the new facility would prompt airlines to file a lawsuit to challenge the city’s noise ordinance so they could add more flights.

“Once this starts, who’s to say when the growth would end,” Long Beach resident Nancy Lopez told the appointed panel.

Assistant City Attorney Mike Mais told the gathering that adding the international flights and building the new screening facility does not increase or decrease the likelihood of an airline filing a lawsuit to challenge the city’s noise restrictions.

In the crowded suburbs of Los Angeles, most airport expansion or improvement projects draw strong opposition.

Even a plan to replace an existing terminal at Long Beach Airport in 2012 drew strong opposition, including a petition signed by hundreds of opponents.

At Hollywood Burbank Airport, a plan to replace its 1930s-era terminal has been the subject of strong debate for decades in the San Fernando Valley city. 

Another longtime Long Beach resident, Terri Pfost, said airport travelers have been parking on her street and getting an Uber ride to the airport.

“I don’t think our neighborhood should be remote airport parking,” she said.

The only supporters of the proposal at the meeting were two JetBlue pilots who live in Long Beach.

Pilot Raghib Tauqir said jobs created by the airport help support Long Beach businesses such as grocery stores, auto mechanics and movie theaters. He added that Long Beach residents could also take international flights from the airport to visit family abroad.

“It’s for friends and family,” he said. “It’s not just tourists.”

The proposal to add international flights will be discussed next at the city’s Economic Development Commission on Oct. 25 before it is presented to the Long Beach City Council on Nov. 15.


MGCLS - LAX Car Service

Sony Partners With ESL, Announces PlayStation Tournaments


Looking to seize on the growing emphasis on eSports in the video game industry, Sony and ESL are partnering up to deliver what the publisher is calling PlayStation Tournaments. Starting now, Tournaments are up and running and can be found in the Events tab of the PS4.

While small tournaments are already available, including competitions for NBA 2K17, Project Cars, and Mortal Kombat X, the first Major Tournament will pick up later this month. Featuring NBA 2K17, the tournament will run from Oct. 27 to Nov. 26, with sign-ups now open.

Players will need a copy of NBA 2K17, a PS Plus subscription, and an ESL account through which to register for the event. Major Cup rounds will take place every Saturday during the tournament, and the top-three winners will receive prize packs containing assorted PlayStation Gear.

“Our goal is to create an environment for competitive gaming that allows players to focus on playing the games,” ESL Technology Managing Director Marcel Menge says in a post on the company’s website.

“We hope the community enjoys what we have come up with and are looking forward to all the feedback they will provide, as this is just the first step in our partnership with Sony.”

Overall, the new feature is similar to the Xbox Live Tournaments Program Microsoft introduced earlier this year. In the Xbox program, developers themselves can set up tournaments instead of a third-party like ESL organizing the competitions.

LAX Car Service - MGCLS

Los Angeles Angels reliever Andrew Bailey saved the day in September


For the past two seasons for the Los Angeles Angels when the gate opened in the bullpen going into the ninth with a lead, Angel fans knew who would be running out to save the day. This year the Angels closer was a dangerous spot to be in.

Veteran Los Angeles Angels right-hander Huston Street would com running in and you that nine times out of 10 the game was over and the Halo would be lit.  In 2016 this was not the case.  Street again started strong going 1-0 with five saves and a sparkling 1.17 ERA. However, in a season full of injuries Street was bit by the injury bug pulling his left oblique muscle which would sideline him for a month.

Joe Smith took over the closer duties and did adequately until Street came back.  That’s where things went downhill for Street as he compiled a 10.05 ERA in 13.2 innings converting only four of seven save opportunities. Then Street tweaked his right knee and was done for the season.  Cam Bedrosian was the closer for two days before being lost for the season with a blood clot in his arm and Joe Smith was traded to the Chicago Cubs.

Next up for the role was Fernando Salas who performed admirably in August converting all four save opportunities he was given. However, Salas was traded at the end of August to the Mets.  So who was next up, no one seemed to know. Except maybe Angels general manager Billy Eppler and Mike Scioscia and his staff.

A move that Eppler made in mid-August flew quietly under the radar.  Eppler signed former closer Andrew Bailey to a minor deal after he was released by the Phillies in early August and he was sent to Salt Lake City.

On September 2nd Bailey was called up to the Angels to take over the vacant closer role. The move paid immediate dividends as Bailey earned two saves in his first three appearances.  Overall in September Bailey saved six games in as many chances compiling a 2.61 ERA with a 0.87 WHIP.  In total for the Angels Bailey made 12 appearances pitching 11.1 innings giving up three runs giving up nine hits while walking only two batters and striking out seven.

Bailey provided that stability Angels had been missing all season.  In fact in 12 appearances he only gave up runs in one outing surrendering three runs in o.1 innings on September 16th to Toronto.  Not bad for someone who many though his career was over.  Bailey finished with a 2.38 ERA and 0.87 WHIP and opponents batted .214 against him.

However  a shoulder injury sidelined Bailey for most of the 2014 season and part of the 2014 season.  Bailey struggled to get back, and bounced around from the Red Sox to the Yankees, and Philadelphia. Bailey finally found a home in Anaheim.

LAX Car Service - MGCLS

Friday, October 21, 2016

Mercedes-Benz S550e wireless charging comes into focus


The Mercedes-Benz S550e plug-in hybrid luxury sedan will likely be the first production car to offer wireless charging as a factory option.The availability of wireless charging was announced earlier this year by Mercedes as part of a significant update of the current-generation car.

We now know that the S550e will use a version of the Qualcomm Halo system, built under license by a third party.That party was not named, with a Qualcomm press release only saying that it would be a "Tier 1 power electronics supplier."Qualcomm has an existing arrangement with the Mercedes Formula One team to supply equipment for data acquisition.

Like many other current wireless-charging systems, the Qualcomm Halo is an inductive system that relies on a simple principle of electromagnetism.

Running electricity through a coil of wire creates a magnetic field, which allows current to be transferred between two coils without any physical connection.One coil is housed in a base plate that sits on the ground, while the other is housed in a receiver on the car's underside.For home users, the base plates are bolted to the garage floor, with the wire providing power usually running through a trench in the concrete.

Mercedes previously said the system would have an efficiency rate of 90 percent for transfer of electricity from a power source to a car.

The system in the S550e is rated at 3.6 kilowatts, which is somewhat low compared to charging systems for all-electric cars.That may be why Mercedes chose to introduce the feature on a plug-in hybrid.In addition to the wireless-charging option, the S550e is expected to get a boost in battery-pack size from 8.7 kilowatt-hours to 13.5 kWh.

While other carmakers have shown wireless charging on various concept cars, Mercedes seems to be the only one with concrete plans to offer the feature on a production model.A version of the Qualcomm Halo system that will be used in the S550e was also retrofitted to a BMW i8 plug-in hybrid used as a pace car in the Formula E electric-car race series.

LAX Car Service - MGCLS

American Airlines CEO on earnings and airline industry


American Airlines CEO: We've primarily invested in our team    American Airlines CEO: We've primarily invested in our team 
20 Hours Ago | 02:32
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker told CNBC's "Power Lunch" in an exclusive interview Thursday the airline industry is rebounding, which is good news for investors and consumers.

The company beat Wall Street expectations on the top and bottom line earlier in the morning. The airline reported earnings of $1.76 per share on $10.59 billion in revenue. Analysts estimated EPS of $1.69 and revenues of $10.56 billion.

Parker said that while revenues are down year over year across the airline industry, they're down less for American Airlines than for other companies. He expects revenue to be slightly better during the fourth quarter.

Shares of the airline were trading lower nearly 1 percent Thursday afternoon.

He added that the company's fourth-quarter issue is a "cost issue," because of investments the company has made in its team, he added.

"Primarily, things like profit-sharing, things like increases in pay as we've gotten union contracts done, those are behind us now, and that's great because we've done a lot for our team," he said.

When asked about rising jet fuel prices affecting airline shares and fares, Parker said there is now more of an ability to raise fares because the supply of jet fuel is slowing down, benefiting the company's stock and its investors.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently came out with new rules regarding the transparency of airfare advertisement. New regulations include the end of airlines' selective posting of airfares and things like refunds for delayed bags.

On that subject, Parker said he looks forward to the day the government "doesn't feel like they need to take care of our customers, because we're doing it."

Regarding the election, the airline's chief executive said it's "gotten to a point where it doesn't feel like it's good for business." He said those in the business sector should be more involved in being "socially progressive" because of their customers and all the people who work for them.

"I think we in the business community need to get to work on this," he said. "There's nothing out there that feels like it's going in the right direction for U.S. Congress."

LAX Car Service - MGCLS