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New Keys Collection Unlocks Personal Style and the Heritage of a Legendary Jeweller
Tiffany & Co., the distinguished and legendary American design house and style icon, presents announces a new jewellery collection that holds the key to personal style and reveals the premier jeweller’s renowned legacy.
The new Tiffany Keys Collection is inspired by keys from the Tiffany & Co. archives. The work of skilled gold and silversmiths – these exquisitely crafted vintage keys unlock jewellery and keepsake boxes, diaries and steamer trunks. Other keys were designed as gem-encrusted brooches and charms. Even though Tiffany’s quality needs no seal of approval, the company guarantees impeccable quality and timeless style, one of the basic tenets of the jewellery house.
Commenting on the collection, Pegah Goldooz, General Manager Tiffany & Co., UAE said, “Tiffany’s new collection is amazing and perfect for the gifting season. Gifts are truly one of the highest forms of gratitude and good taste. And giving one at the right time makes it all the more special. These magical talismans are reworked in the Tiffany Keys Collection of pendants and charms in 18 karat yellow or rose gold, platinum with diamonds or sterling silver. Oozing ethereal beauty, these accessories are flashpoints of glamour for the season and years to come.”
The collection includes an array of fanciful designs: medallion-shaped keys that promise access to wondrous places; romantic heart-shaped keys that might keep love letters private; poetic flower-topped keys that are graceful and feminine; and luxurious keys set with sparkling diamonds. Worn alone or layered, Tiffany Keys are innately chic, keepers of a mysterious message for the keyholder to know and the curious to imagine.
Giving away a Tiffany pendant to your near and dear ones can create sparkle in their eyes. It is one of the best ways to celebrate love and friendship. Just pick one of them from your nearest store to create that incandescent gift-giving moment ever. Discover the new Tiffany Keys collection now available at Tiffany & Co. boutiques in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. What is more, each gift comes wrapped in Tiffany’s famous blue box, symbol of life’s finest moments. 2009 Al Bawaba (http://www.albawaba.com/)
The psychological upheaval of Sept. 11’s terrorist attacks at first hurt online jewelry merchant Blue Nile Inc. Sales fell off in the aftershock.
But along with the post-attack patriotic fervor came a huge wave of emotional reactions that will help the Seattle-based e-tailer record its first profitable quarter.
More men, seeking stronger emotional attachments, bought engagement rings, engraved lockets or diamond crosses for the women in their lives. It also helped that Blue Nile offered a sterling silver bracelet with a flag charm. The patriotic item proved so popular that the company had to restock it three times.
Blue Nile will close its first profitable quarter this month, earning an estimated $1.3 million to $1.5 million for the three months ending Dec. 31 – and that’s net, not pro forma. Privately held Blue Nile still expects to lose money in 2001 on estimated revenues of $50 million.
Blue Nile first had already started making money in August, but saw its potential third-quarter profit slip away in September immediately following the attacks. Then in October, engagement ring sales jumped 20 percent over a year ago.
Chief executive Mark Vadon expects the company’s profitability to carry over in to the first quarter of 2002 – and beyond.
Outlasting other onlines
Venture-backed Blue Nile, founded in 1999, is a dot-com survivor. It has managed to outlast other online competitors such as well-heeled Miadora.com, which targeted women with designer jewelry.
Vadon says that’s because Blue Nile has held the line on advertising costs, honed its target marketing, controlled inventory and stayed lean.
“We run our business with 80 employees who each generate about three-quarters of a million in sales. That’s off the charts for most retailers,” Vadon said. “We carry one set of inventory and we turn it faster than anybody in the industry.”
Blue Nile, which has about 1 percent of the engagement ring market, sells its jewelry and watches at steep discounts, between 20 percent to 40 percent below its brick-and-mortar competitors.
While most jewelers maintain a 50 percent profit margin, Blue Nile’s lower operating costs enable the e-tailer to squeeze a profit out of its leaner 20 percent to 30 percent markup.
Another advantage is that there is no “800 pound gorilla” dominating jewelry sales. Wal-Mart with a 3.5 percent share, is the industry’s largest player. Wal-Mart and Blue Nile’s other main brick-and-mortar competitors, Zales Jewelry and Tiffany & Co., also target a different group of customers.
By operating online, Blue Nile avoids the leasing and staffing costs associated with competing brick-and-mortar stores. Without rows of display cases to fill, the company can manage its inventory through one 4,000-square-foot warehouse in Seattle.
Shipping is free with a 30-day money back guarantee on a jewelry sold through the Web site. The Web site also provides an online primer on diamond purchasing and certifies the quality of each diamond it sells.
While men shopping for gifts still account for the bulk of Blue Nile’s revenue with an average purchase of about $1,000, half of its sales are to women purchasing less expensive accessories for themselves.
Blue Nile targets Net-savvy men between 25 and 49 years of age with household income above $60,000 who are uncomfortable shopping for diamonds and looking for a good value. Wal-Mart and Zales sell lessexpensive jewelry to more budget-conscious consumers, while Tiffany’s customers are older, more affluent shoppers who are less sensitive to price than prestige.
Zales does only about $10 million in sales online because its lowerincome customers are not as likely to go online to shop, Vadon said. Meanwhile Tiffany’s customers prefer the experience of shopping in a luxury store to shopping online.
“Psychodemographically, they are very different,” Vadon said. “They feel really good about shopping at Tiffany’s. … Our customers feel out of place there. They are intimidated by the experience.”
Concentrated marketing
As Blue Nile has matured, the company has shifted away from its early scattershot approach to marketing to concentrate on more efficient direct mail and online advertising.
“In our early days, we tried everything – we did TV, did print, did some radio, some online and direct marketing,” Vadon said, “We learned early on that TV, while it helped grow brand awareness, did not drive sales in the short term.”
Online advertising costs have dropped dramatically as a result of the dot-com debacle. Blue Nile, which used to pay portal sites such as Yahoo on a per impression basis for each page view, now pays for performance only, with portals taking a commission on sales generated through their sites.
Blue Nile has marketing relationships with AOL, Yahoo and MSN, several smaller portals and a number of Internet search engines. The company also has an exclusive relationship with the Wedding Channel, the online gift registry for a number of traditional retailers.
Blue Nile was recently named the best jewelry site on the Web for the third year in a row by Fortune magazine.
With profitability at hand, Blue Nile plans to spend the next year building revenue, Vadon said.
That could be a challenge as the recession continues to bite into sales of luxury goods in general. While the e-tailer sold a $60,000 fourcarat diamond ring in November and a $40,000 item earlier this month, such sales are less common these days. Sales of Blue Nile’s 9carat “Eternity” diamond necklace have dropped off sharply since the dot-com crash.
Publicly traded rival Web site Ashford.com Inc. in Houston, which sells a variety of luxury goods online, is losing money and recently was acquired by Global Sports in King of Prussia, Pa. Additionally, said analyst Dan Geiman at McAdams Wright Ragen in Seattle, “That sociological trend toward coupling we may be seeing may be a fairly short-lived spike.”
Blue Nile has had two rounds of layoffs, cutting a total of 30 jobs in 2000 and early 2001 as improved technology enabled the company to automate a portion of its customer service, But Blue Nile still has a cache of venture capital to fall back on should the economy make continued profitability elusive.
Backers include Paul Allen’s Vulcan Ventures Inc., Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Bessemer Venture Partners, Trinity Ventures, Integral Capital Partners, Comdisco Ventures and lightSpeed Venture Partners.
“We are generating positive cash flow, we have significant capital in the bank and there is no pressure to do anything to get liquidity,” Vadon said.
The Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show will be held June 3-6, opening one day earlier than JCK Las Vegas-at the Rio Suite Hotel & Casino.
Hundreds of exhibitors in estate jewelry, colored gemstones, one-ofa-kind jewelry creations, designer wristwatches and pocket watches will showcase antique pieces, including vintage items from Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Rolex, Patek Philippe, David Webb and Van Cleef & Arpels.
According to Andrea Canady, show manager, “The infinite variety of items attracts the most prestigious dealers from around the country and every corner of the world to exhibit at this show. There are so many beautiful and exotic items that can be found at the biggest antique jewelry and watch show in the country.”
The event is only open to the trade. There is no pre-registration, but entry requires a photo ID and business card. Show hours are Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 and is good for all four days of the show. Tickets are available at the Rio Convention Center box office.
Buyers can take advantage of a special discount room rate of $105 per night and $145 on Friday and Saturday. When reserving your room, specify that you are attending the antique show and the reservation code GJEWL6.
> Rio Suite Hotel & Casino: (877) 784-5737, (702) 777-7777. Andrea Canady, show manager: (239) 732-6642, andreacanady@us.dmgworldmedia.com
Valentine’s Day generally brings to mind celebrations of love and companionship with chocolates, cards, flowers and gifts. This holiday for lovers can be especially hard on those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Depression and grief can be overwhelming for those in mourning, and handling the common tiffany jewelry Valentine’s Day signs are especially difficult if you are alone, knowing your special someone has passed.
To help cope with your feelings and honor the memories of the ones you have lost, online memorial site, SympathyTree.com offers resources and the following tips to help manage your grief on Valentine’s Day.
– Honor your loved one’s traditions – Get involved with your loved one’s favorite charity or invite friends and family to share in a special meal or event, and spend time together. This can be a very cathartic and reflective time and helps with the healing process.
– Visit their grave – Tell them how much you love and miss them. You may be carrying burdens of guilt, which unless released, may keep you from moving forward.
– Create an online memorial – Create an affectionate tribute to your loved one on this special day. Share this online tribute of stories, photographs and videos with friends and family. This tribute that grows with time can help you deal with your grief in a comforting way.
– Pledge to join a support group – Don’t deal with your loss alone. Join a support group to help you cope and interact with people who also are grieving.
Valentine’s Day can feel painful and unpleasant as you try to move on with your life, knowing that those cheap bracelets days with that special person are in the past. This is the time to bring family and friends together to remember that letting go does not mean forgetting those memories and experiences. SympathyTree.com is one way to show your love for the one that has passed on, while continuing on with your journey of healing.
“The best gift you can give yourself from the one you have lost is looking forward,” said Louise Zweben, CEO of SympathyTree.com. “We recognize that the healing process starts with your decision to look ahead and rebalance your life. This does not mean forgetting your loved one but rather finding a way to keep your fond memories alive forever. SympathyTree.com allows people to form rich stories about their loss in words, photos and video that can bring a smile, tear or embrace – helping people get through this hard time on Valentine’s Day together.”
Celebrate your loved one’s life and start the healing process by visiting www.sympathytree.com.
About SympathyTree
SympathyTree allows a user to create a strikingly elegant and rich online memorial in minutes through words, cheap cufflinks pictures and videos to pay tribute to the person loved and lost. It then enables a community to emerge around the memorial of people commenting on stories and contributing new ones. The site allows the community to come together and pay tribute, share memories and comfort one another and in the process, not only start a grieving and healing process, but also keep the legacy alive. For more information please visit www.sympathytree.com.
We may be in for a protracted recession, but Cupid’s arrows are no less plentiful.
For that reason, local business owners who specialize in gifts for tiffany jewellery Valentine’s Day are predicting the holiday Saturday will make for very good business in the Cedar Valley.
That’s not to say they’re sticking their heads in the sand.
“Business has been slower, I’m not gonna lie about it,” said Marty Hansen, the owner of chocolate and wine boutique Indulgence in Cedar Falls. “The recession is definitely being felt here.”
But Hansen, who is also a marketing and management instructor at the University of Northern Iowa, said he’s already seeing more business in preparation for Valentine’s Day than usual. He thinks that’s because people can’t afford big-ticket items for their sweethearts, and so they turn to smaller tokens of affection.
“Here (at Indulgence) you can get a really nice bottle of wine and a really nice box of chocolates, and be under $50,” he said.
Flower shop Flowerama on Kimball in Waterloo is seeing a relatively normal amount of customers for the biggest flower day of the year.
“It’s a little bit different because (Valentine’s Day) falls on a Saturday, and we’re not silver bracelets quite as busy when it falls on a Saturday,” said Katie Clausen, assistant manager at Flowerama. “So far, we are on track.”
Spending money on a romantic dinner for two is another popular way to spend Valentine’s Day, and Barmuda spokesperson Lori McConville thinks that won’t change this year.
“We don’t expect a downturn at all,” said McConville, noting the sweetheart specials at places like The Stuffed Olive, Bourbon Street and Ferrari’s. “As a matter of fact, we’re expecting a big turnout.”
That’s not a naive view to take, said professor Fred Abraham, who heads the department of economics at UNI. He said there was every reason to believe people would still go out and spend money for Valentine’s Day.
“Whether or not people are holding back a little bit — and, by the way, I think that they might be — there won’t be a decline in spending,” Abraham said. “The savings rate in the United States is starting to creep up, but simply because we save a little doesn’t mean we don’t spend.”
Local businesses also benefit from allegiances people feel to their friends and neighborhood stores, said Wartburg College business administration and economics department chair Kim Folkers. People spending money, and spending it close to home, will better benefit the local economy.
“I think there will still be flowers that will be delivered, dinners that will be had. And that’s not to silver cufflinks say people aren’t struggling,” she said. “People have not just locked themselves inside and not come out. I think people are attempting to come out, and I suspect Valentine’s Day will be one of those holidays.”
Contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1464 or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.
In a powerful episode on addiction thataired on Friday, December 15, 2006, Dr. Phil McGraw and his wife, Robin –both children of alcoholics — featured the story of a hard core, high-riskalcoholic whose life has been transformed through the use of a remarkablehigh-tech ankle tiffany jewelry bracelet called SCRAM(R).
Manufactured and marketed by Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. (AMS), SCRAM(R) (for Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor) includes an ankle bracelet that high-risk offenders wear 24/7 during their court-ordered sentences to detect alcohol consumption. Using non-invasive transdermal analysis, the system automatically samples the individual’s sweat for alcohol every hour around the clock. Currently used in 41 states, the system is the only Continuous Alcohol Monitoring solution on the market today.
The December 15th episode centered on James, a former small town mayor who eventually lost seven jobs, depleted his family’s retirement and savings, lost their health insurance, and had passed out drunk at least 300 times over the last two years. His wife, Jill, related how James was a horrible influence on their 15-year-old son, Robert, and how the former town hero had become the town drunk.
In the summer of 2006, James was arrested for drunkenness and domestic violence — with a blood alcohol level of over .40 BAC — and ordered to wear a SCRAM ankle bracelet for three months. According to son Robert, it began to change their lives. At the time of the show, James had completely stopped drinking for six weeks — which was the first time his son could ever remember seeing him sober. “I just want a happy, sober father,” said Robert. “Having him on the bracelet, it’s been great. I’ve talked to a couple of his friends who bangles want it on him for a couple of years!” Robert also says that, because of SCRAM, he’s had the opportunity to finally find out who his dad really is.
Dr. Phil’s wife, Robin, related her own pain and challenges as the child of an alcoholic. “If I would have had one of these (SCRAM), I would’ve strapped it on my father in a heartbeat,” she said. “I’m thrilled for you to have that little piece of mind, knowing he won’t drink,” Robin told Robert.
A chronic alcoholic and repeat criminal offender, James admitted to drinking more than a pint of vodka every day until he was arrested. Dr. Phil cautions James that becoming sober with the assistance of SCRAM is a good first step, but that he’s not completely out of the woods. “You’re what I call a white knuckler,” said Dr. Phil. “Trust me when I say this: Your brain is not right yet. You were .4 on a number of occasions. That’s alcohol toxicity level. That will kill you. It will be a long time before you are detoxified, before those tissues clear themselves rings of alcohol.”
Mike Iiams, chairman and CEO of AMS, agrees. “Studies show that, cognitively, the brain doesn’t begin to function clearly until someone is four months or more into a period of sobriety,” says Iiams. “And unless you can test them every two to three hours, you’re going to miss 98% of drinking events. That’s why many courts are incorporating Continuous Alcohol Monitoring into their intensive supervision programs.”
When asked by Dr. Phil whether he’d continue drinking when the bracelet is removed, James said he wasn’t entirely sure. “That doesn’t surprise anyone who works with hardcore alcoholics,” says Iiams. “The biggest mistake is treating alcoholism as if it’s an acute illness. It’s chronic. And someone like James needs longer than a few bracelets weeks or months of sobriety to get his life back on track.” Dr. Phil concluded the show by emphasizing that SCRAM, coupled with an intensive treatment program, is James’ best bet for rehabilitation and long-term recovery.
About Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc.
Established in 1997, Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. manufactures SCRAM(R), the world’s only continuous alcohol testing system that uses transdermal analysis to monitor alcohol consumption. SCRAM is currently in use by approximately 800 courts and agencies in 41 states. AMS employs 47 people across the U.S., and is a privately-held company headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
Name of Product: Children’s “Groovy Grabber” tiffany Bracelets
Units: About 4 million
Manufacturer: A&A Global Industries, of Cockeysville, Md.
Hazard: The paint on the metallic band beneath the decorative cover contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recalled bracelets are made of flexible metal bands wrapped in tiffany accessories decorative plastic covers. The bracelets come in various colors and designs, including smiley faces, Chinese symbols, dogs, cats, aliens, checker boards, and flames.
Sold in: Vending machines located in malls, discount, department and grocery stores nationwide from November 2005 through March 2007 for 25 cents.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled bracelets away from children and discard them.
Customer Contact: For additional information, contact A&A Global Industries at (800) tffany keys 638-6000 ext. 314 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.aaglobalind.com
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products — such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals — contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline silver bangles at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC’s Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 638-6000
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Credit: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
The rowdy Phillies fan who got tossed from a playoff game in October, stopped on his way tiffany and co out to fill out a job application, and then allegedly stole an envelope containing three World Series rings, failed to appear for his court hearing today.
For that, Matthew Mervine, 22, of Berlin Borough, Camden County, got slapped with a bench warrant.
But he somehow figured out he was supposed to be in Municipal Court at 11th and Wharton in South Philadelphia and went to his local police station to let them know he didn’t mean to blow off his criminal case, said Capt. Laurence Nodiff, commander of South Detectives.
Philadelphia police were contacted and they told Mervine to show up at the Criminal Justice Center in bangles the next few days and schedule a new court date, Nodiff said.
What, if any, penalty he might face is uncertain. Often, bench warrants are lifted and the case proceeds if the person shows up with a reasonable excuse.
Nodiff said he didn’t know what excuse Mervine had for failing to appear.
Mervine could not be reached for comment.
On Oct. 8, Mervine and some friends were ejected from Game 2 of the playoff series against the Colorado Rockies for being obnoxious.
On his way out, police said, Mervine decided to go to the Phillies offices to apply for a job. After filling out an application — with his name and address — Mervine noticed a manila envelope with the name of a former Phillies player on a counter, police said. He then swiped it, police said. The envelope contained three 2008 World Series rings worth $1,100 each. The rings are different from the $11,000 rings given to players, coaches and other employees.
The case was easy to solve: the application contained Mervine’s name and address, and the entire episode was caught on video. Within a few hours, police arrested Mervine at his home on Coleman Road, and charged him with theft and receiving stolen property.
Contact staff writer Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 bracelets or bmoran@phillynews.com.
If you haven’t flown in a while and plan to take to the skies this holiday season, brace yourself.
You’ll find fewer flights, more crowded planes and enough fees — for everything from blankets to bags christmas gift — to give you sticker shock. That’s on top of the perennial holiday hassles of ferrying gifts and worrying about winter weather delays at a time Americans continue to feel the pressures of the economic downturn.
“It will be worse than last year — fewer seats, higher (passenger loads) and higher fares and fees,” says Bob Harrell, of airline and travel consulting firm Harrell Associates.
Airlines drastically cut holiday fares after the economy buckled late last year. Since then, carriers steadily have reduced flights and switched to smaller planes to make sure they don’t wind up flying with rows of empty seats.
The number of seats available on domestic flights in November and December has dropped 3.3% from last year, according to an analysis by OAG-Official Airline Guide. Last year, the number of seats available in that period was down 9.7% from 2007.
The reductions mean that if a traveler could gaze into the sky the day before Thanksgiving and see all the tiffany rings planes flying, “It would be the same amount as there were in 1999,” says Rick Seaney CEO of FareCompare.com. “We’ve lost a decade of (growth in) domestic aviation.”
Fewer flights mean more crowded planes. It could make it harder for some travelers to get the flights they want. And with fewer seats available, if travelers miss their connections, it may be awhile before they can get another, especially if the entire family is flying.
“You may not get a seat for days,” says George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, “and we’re talking about holiday travel, so it’s crucial that you be there … to carve the turkey and open the presents.”
Decisions by many airlines to cut service and stop flying some routes have hit smaller communities especially hard. As a result, local residents and family and friends who want to visit them have fewer options this season. More than in years past, travelers living in or visiting people in smaller communities will have to drive an hour or more to a bigger airport to get a non-stop flight to their destination or a lower fare.
Paul Toth, CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in Ohio, expects most Toledo-area residents will drive the roughly 50 miles to Detroit. There, they can choose among several large and low-cost carriers and have a chance at more competitively priced tickets.
“During the holiday … we’ll continue to lose more than 90% of our travelers who will drive to Detroit to use the services at Detroit Metro,” Toth says.
The airline industry’s struggles, leading to cutbacks in less lucrative markets, have taken their toll on Toledo. During the last five years, Toth says airlines have slashed the available seats for flights in and out of Toledo Express Airport by 70%. And in the last 12 months, American Eagle alone has cut capacity by 25%.
“Toledo has kind of taken it on the chin as far as capacity cuts go,” he says.
Fewer flights, but …
During the Thanksgiving holiday period, large U.S. airlines expect 4% fewer fliers than last year, according to the Air Transport Association, which represents most of the big carriers.
That doesn’t mean fares will drop. Slashing the number of seats to meet reduced demand gives airlines the leeway to push fares higher, travel analysts say.
“With the capacity cuts, the airlines kind of got in front of this issue … so they can charge more,” says Genevieve Shaw Brown, senior editor with Travelocity. “Last year, there was an anomaly, when fares, as you got closer to Thanksgiving, suddenly started to drop. This year is following a much more typical pattern of, the closer we get to the holidays, the higher the fares.”
As of early November, holiday fares were still lower than those offered at the same time last year. But ticket prices have been creeping up. Many airlines also imposed $20 surcharges each way for flights on peak travel days, such as the Sunday after Thanksgiving or the day after New Year’s. Some travel watchers expect holiday fares to ultimately be the same as, or a bit more than, last year’s as airlines try to boost their bottom lines.
Travel specialists say travelers should book now. “Every day you wait adds $5 to your trip, so if that $5 means something to you, go ahead and buy,” Seaney says. “In general, procrastinators end up getting stung.”
Tom Parsons, CEO of BestFares.com, who’s tracked fares for 28 years, cites an example of a trip between San Francisco and Tampa, flying Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
It would have cost a flier $278 round trip if it was booked on June 30. By the week of Oct. 19, the fare was up to $418. And on Nov. 16, the cheapest trip was $618. “In the last 30 days, it’s jumped another $200,” Parsons says. For airlines, he says, this “is their last hurrah until probably spring break, when they can actually demand more money than they’ve been getting.”
With Americans still reeling from the recession, the cost of travel is a key concern. An AOL Travel/MapQuest survey of 1,000 respondents this month found that 30% of those flying this holiday season said cost was the most stressful part of air travel.
“They’re clearly impacted by the economy,” says Beth Caulfield, AOL Travel editor in chief. “They’re spending tiffany bracelets less, but they’re being very selective about what they choose to spend, and not spend on, so they can maintain their holiday traditions.”
Travelers may be able to find a few sales between now and Christmas, and some analysts say alternate metro airports — Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami, Oakland instead of San Francisco, — could offer better deals. But a sure way to save money is to be flexible with travel dates.
“You can save 25% to 30% by traveling either on the holiday itself or by traveling a day or two away from the peak travel date,” says Barbara Messing, vice president of Travel-Ticker.com.
Round trips departing on Thanksgiving Day, a non-peak time, and returning Dec. 1 cost, on average, nearly $200 less than those starting the day before Thanksgiving and returning the Sunday after, Brown says.
“That’s significant, particularly when talking about a family trip,” she says. “If you can save close to $800 for a family of four by adjusting your dates, a lot of people in this economy would be willing to do that. The other upside of travel on Thanksgiving itself: You find fewer crowds at airports, shorter lines at security, less crowded flights. So if you can make that work, it’s a money saver, and I think a stress saver.”
Get online early
With fuller flights, it’s a good idea to check in online to save time at the airport and get the most comfortable seats. “If you’re on a flight (that’s) 100% full,” Brown says, “you want to be the person who checked in online 24 hours before and selected the aisle seat, not the one who shows up at the airport and gets stuck in the middle.”
But on a few airlines, reserving a seat far in advance can cost you. AirTran charges passengers $6 for reserving a seat — $20 for one in the exit row — more than 24 hours before the flight. In October, British Airways also began charging some passengers for reserving a seat more than 24 hours in advance.
There are other charges that those who haven’t flown in a while may not expect. US Airways, for instance, charges for pillows and blankets on domestic flights, as does Allegiant.
Fees for items and services that were once free, such as in-flight meals or checking a bag, are not new. Many made their debut last year, when airlines looked for ways to raise revenue as fuel prices soared and the recession kept many people from flying.
But this year, many of those fees have increased. And some carriers, such as United and US Airways, charge $5 tiffany cufflinks more if the baggage fee is paid at the airport rather than online.
There are also some changes to look forward to this year, such as a chance there will be fewer delays. “With less passengers in the air and less planes in the air, on-time arrivals have (improved) in the past year, as well as baggage handling,” Seaney says.
Those who haven’t flown lately also will find that several airlines, including Delta and American, now offer in-flight wireless Internet service on some flights. Virgin America, partnering with Google, is offering free access to Wi-Fi on all its flights from Nov. 10-Jan. 15. And Delta and Continental are among airlines offering satellite TV.
Many charges have gone up, but a few have dipped. United eliminated the fee for redeeming miles through its frequent-flier program within 21 days of travel. Frontier has dropped all fees for mile redemptions.
The fee for bringing your pet along on a Delta flight dropped this summer from $150 to $100.
The travel slump also has sparked steep discounts at some hotels during the holidays, particularly Thanksgiving, industry watchers say.
“This is a fantastic time to stay in a luxury hotel,” says Messing, who says four-star hotels in Chicago are offering rates of $99 a night, roughly $200 less than what would be asked in a stronger economy.
Some longstanding travel tips are still worth following this holiday season.
Travelers should remember, for example, that although carrying wrapped gifts aboard flights or checking them as luggage is allowed, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends against it, because the gifts might have to be opened by security personnel.
And leaving plenty of time to get to the airport is especially important during the busy holiday season. Many airlines recommend arriving at least 90 minutes before a domestic flight.
Of course, if you don’t want to worry about frantic sprints through the airport, packed flights and worrying about when or where to wrap your nephew’s Elmo toy, you could wait until after the holidays to visit relatives.
Or you could drive.
“If you’re thinking of a vacation, one within driving distance makes sense,” Brown says. “If you can eliminate airfare altogether … that’s a great option.”
TEXT OF INFO BOXES BEGINS HERE
Tips for travelers
*Catch the day’s first flight. Early flights usually are cheaper.
*Check for sales after noon on Tuesday. That’s when most airlines have matched discounts announced on Monday night.
*Sign up for e-mailed fare alerts from airlines and travel websites such as FareCompare.com and Travelocity’s FareWatcher Plus.
*When booking a flight, give your name as it appears on the ID you’ll show at the airport.
*Check in online before your flight to save time and money.
*Don’t carry on or check wrapped packages. They may be opened at security checks.
* Visit www.tsa.gov to see what you may take through checkpoints.
*Be at the airport at least 1 1/2 hours before a domestic flight, two hours before an international trip.
*Carry on a change of clothes, medication, snacks and toys in case you get stuck.
By Charisse Jones
Fewer flights in some cities
Travelers have less chance to fly in and out of many cities. Percentage change in the number of seats on tiffany money clips domestic flights in November and December compared with the last two holiday seasons at some airports.
Airport ‘07-’08 ‘08-’09
Birmingham -11.6% -9.5%
Burlington, Vt. 12.5% -23.2%
Chicago (O’Hare) -12.9% -2.6%
Cincinnati -23.9% -23.8%
Cleveland -11.5% -7.5%
Detroit -7.3% -7.1%
Hartford, Conn. -12.9% -13.0%
Little Rock -12.5% 5.8%
Los Angeles -14.0% 1.0%
Louisville -16.8% -5.4%
Madison, Wis. -10.3% -13.1%
Memphis -9.5% -6.0%
New York (JFK) -8.0% -7.2%
Oakland -27.8% -8.6%
Omaha -9.2% -0.4%
Ontario, Calif. -30.7% -5.6%
Pittsburgh -12.0% -9.3%
Raleigh/Durham -12.4% -7.5%
Reno -18.0% -12.2%
San Diego -9.0% -6.5%
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service unit – Mendocino National Forest tiffany jewelry – issued the following press release:
Willows, November 12, 2009 – Beginning Monday, November 16, Christmas tree permits will be available from the Mendocino National Forest for the 2009 holiday season.
This year, permits will be available for purchase from area vendors, as well as either in person or by mail from Mendocino National Forest offices. Vendors are listed below with contact information for the Forest Service.
Permits are $10 per tree and will be sold through Friday December 18. The permits are good through December 24, 2009, and trees may be cut and removed any day of the week in any authorized area of the Mendocino National Forest.
There is a limit of one permit per household and each permit using a valid name and address bangles. Up to four additional permits may be purchased for additional households using separate names and addresses. Individuals must be 18 or older to purchase a permit. The Mendocino National Forest only accepts cash or check as payment for Christmas tree permits and sales are final, with no refunds. Permittees will receive a tree tag and map of the Forest.
To purchase a permit by mail, send a printed name and mailing address, a printed name and address for each permit purchased, a daytime telephone number, and a check or money order made out to “USDA Forest Service” for $10 for each permit to either the Willows, Upper Lake or Covelo offices with “Christmas Tree Permit” written on the outside of the envelope. Mail-in requests received after December 14 will not be filled. A form can be found online at www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/passespermits/christmas/.
If you are planning on cutting a Christmas tree for someone else who isn’t present, a Third Party Authorization must be in possession of the cutter. This form is also available on the Forest Web site.
Permit holders should be aware that federal and state quarantines to prevent the spread of sudden oak death (SOD) are in effect for Lake and Mendocino Counties. Any Douglas fir Christmas tree cut in these counties can only be transported into other SOD quarantine counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.
All Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed Thursday, November 26 in observance of Thanksgiving rings. Christmas tree permits can be purchased from the following offices and vendors:
Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office Grindstone Ranger District Office 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988 (530) 934-3316 Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Stonyford Work Center 5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Road, Stonyford, CA, 95979 (530) 963-3128 Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1- 4:30 p.m.
Covelo Ranger Station 78150 Covelo Road, Covelo, CA 95428 (707) 983-6118 Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 28 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Weekends December 5, 6, 12, 13, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Upper Lake Ranger Station 10025 Elk Mountain Road, Upper Lake, CA 95485 (707) 275-2361 Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 28 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Weekends December 5, 6, 12, 13, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Black Butte Store 34985 Etsel Ridge Road, Covelo, CA 95428 (707) 983-9438 Hours: Seven days a week 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
M&M Feed and Supply 74540 Hill Road, Covelo, CA 95428 (707) 983-6273 Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Nancy’s Elkhorn Family Lodge 2745 County Road 306, Elk Creek, CA 95939 (530) 968-5312 Hours: Seven days a week 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Flournoy Country Store 16140 Paskenta Road, Flournoy, CA 96029 (530) 833-5305 Hours: Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 6 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sacramento River Discovery Center 1000 Sale Lane, Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 527-1196 Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Squaw Creek Inn & Resort 4425 Sites Ladoga Road, Stonyford, CA 95979 (530) 963-3483 Hours: Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Timberline Bar & Grill 279 Market Street, Stonyford, CA 95979 (530) 963-3074 Hours: Monday and Wednesday 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Thursday-Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Hi-way Grocery 160 E. Hwy 20, Upper Lake, CA 95485 (707) 275-2380 Hours: Seven days a week bracelets 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Woody’s Gas and Mini Mart 220 E. Hwy 20, Upper Lake, CA 95485 (707) 275-2045 Hours: Monday-Saturday 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Cutting a Christmas tree on the National Forest is a great holiday tradition for many families and also helps with hazardous fuels reduction by removing smaller trees from the Forest. Following are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable.
* Plan your trip – check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, emergency food, tire chains, shovel, a saw or axe to cut your tree, and a tarp and rope to bring it home. Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
* Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over and taking a hike to look for a tree, or turning around and finding a different area to cut your tree.
* Cut your tree early in the season before favorite cutting areas can’t be reached because of snow.
* Make sure you are cutting a tree on the Mendocino National Forest and not from other federal, state or private lands.
* Cut the tree as close as possible to the ground and leave as little of a stump as possible.
* Attach the permit on the tree where it will be easily visible with the tree packed or tied on your vehicle for transport home.
* To help keep your tree fresh, cut at least one inch off the base when you get home and stand the tree in a container of water in a cool, shaded area, checking the water level daily.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest or visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino.For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.
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