Delta Completes Integration of Northwest Airport and Reservations Systems; Northwest Flight Numbers and nwa.com Retired

/PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) this weekend completed the integration of the Northwest Airlines reservation system, including the transition of all Northwest flights into the Delta schedule, migration of Northwest passenger reservations into the Delta system, and retirement of nwa.com.

Customers who booked Northwest for travel are now booked on identical Delta flights. Passengers can use the original confirmation numbers provided by Northwest to manage itineraries at delta.com and check in online or at the airport on the day of travel.

"Throughout the integration of Delta and Northwest, we've taken a phased, deliberate approach to make the transition simple and seamless for our customers," said Theresa Wise, Delta's senior vice president and Chief Information Officer. "In this spirit, customers previously booked on Northwest are able to check in using their original reservation information, even if they arrive at the airport with no prior knowledge of the switch. We continue to work around the clock to minimize any potential impact to our operations and to customers."

Delta has increased customer service agent staffing in airports and reservation call centers this week to ensure a smooth experience for customers.

The final regularly scheduled Northwest flight, NW2470, departed Los Angeles International Airport for Las Vegas Jan. 30 at 8:45 p.m. PT. On Jan. 31 at 3 a.m., nwa.com began redirecting customers to delta.com.

Integrating the Northwest reservation system into Delta's marks the completion of one of the final merger milestones. Delta began rebranding airports worldwide in December 2008. By March, customers at more than 100 airports served by Northwest - including the airline's U.S. hubs in Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis - were checking in at Delta-branded counters and kiosks and departing from Delta-branded gates. The final airport, Philadelphia International Airport, was rebranded Jan. 18, 2010.

In March 2009, all customer-facing employees began wearing Delta's designer uniforms, and all airport lounges were renamed Delta Sky Clubs. Consistent onboard products also were introduced on all U.S. flights, including expanded food offerings in First and Economy class and new in-flight entertainment on many long-haul flights. The Delta and Northwest loyalty programs were merged in October 2009 into the world's largest frequent flyer program, Delta SkyMiles.

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AirTran Airways Customers Affected by Winter Storms May Change Travel Plans Without Penalty

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., (NYSE:AAI) , advises passengers that due to severe winter weather in the northeast and midwestern parts of the country, some flight operations may be affected through Saturday, December 20, 2008.

Passengers holding reservations for travel scheduled December 18 through 11:30 pm EST December 19, 2008, on AirTran Airways to, from or through Bloomington/Normal, Moline/Quad Cities and Chicago, Ill., Detroit and Flint, Mich., Indianapolis, Ind., and Milwaukee, Wis., may make a change without penalty as long as changes are made one day prior to or up to five days following the date of the original scheduled departure date, based on space availability without change fees or fare adjustments.

In addition, passengers holding reservations for travel scheduled December 19 through 10:00 am EST December 20, 2008, on AirTran Airways to, from or through Philadelphia, Pa., Newark, N.J., and New York (LaGuardia) and White Plains (Westchester), N.Y. may also make a change without penalty as long as changes are made one day prior to or up to five days following the original scheduled departure date, based on space availability without change fees or fare adjustments.

Passengers holding reservations for travel to/from these destinations should check http://www.airtran.com/ under "Flight Status" for updates or call 1-800-AIRTRAN (247-8726).

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State of Georgia Selects Advanced Reservation Systems, Inc. (ARES) for Tourism Website Enhancements

PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Reservation Systems, Inc. (ARES) recently launched its reservation technology on http://www.exploregeorgia.org/. The website is the official travel and tourism portal for the State of Georgia, one of the country's top 10 destinations with more than 61 million domestic visitors annually. The technology enhancements will give the State of Georgia the ability to make and confirm reservations for hotels, attractions and services throughout the state.

"Adding reservation technology to the State of Georgia's travel website is a significant complement to the host of assistive services already available on this intelligent, informative site," said Alec House, President of ARES. The site currently contains interactive media and trip planning services that include an online travel guide, personalized messaging and membership rewards via the Georgia Dream Pass. "We are pleased to partner with ARES to add online reservations functionality to exploregeorgia.org," said Fred Huff, Director of Marketing, Georgia Department of Economic Development. "The state's official tourism website offers visitors an opportunity to discover Georgia's great destinations and get trip ideas, but now travelers will be able to book their travel needs at the same time." Georgia is ARES' second major distribution channel in the Southeast since the company launched its partnership with Washington, D.C. and represents a significant addition to a growing network of travel related sites in the region.

With one of the industry's most aggressive revenue share programs, ARES plans to return significant travel dollars back to the Georgia Department of Economic Development which can be used to reinvest in the state's economic development plans and further fund marketing initiatives that support the destination.

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