When I first wrote some 20 years ago, about the problems that face women travelers, it was a story of harassment, loneliness, humiliation, discomfort and danger. It has always been more a matter of attitudes than facilities: women don’t ask for special treatment, just to receive the same services and respect as men.
Many women would say that little has changed; they can still be made to feel uncomfortable in hotel bars or restaurants, harassed or ignored, and that men are treated better, especially by female staff. And that the travel trade pays scant respect for women’s special concerns about safety and security and needs, such as help with heavy baggage and room amenities.
Smart airlines, hotels, and car rental firms, now scramble to compete for the hearts and minds of the growing number of women, who account for more than 40 percent of all business travelers.
According to the 2006 National Business Travel Monitor (by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell/Yankelovich, Inc. in Orlando (www.ypbr.com), women’s preferences for certain attributes of lodgings, and air travel, differ from those of their male counterparts in a number of interesting ways.
Women business travelers are ’significantly’ more likely than men to rate the ‘basic’ features of hotels ‘very/extremely’ important, such as: Clean, well-maintained rooms (99 percent versus 96 percent); Extra security measures to ensure personal safety (88 percent versus 71 percent).
Women also place a premium on convenience, such as: Express check-in/check out (87 percent versus 76 percent); Free local calls (83 percent versus 71 percent); complimentary shuttle service (71 percent versus 58 percent).
Predictably women are significantly more interested than men in certain hotel ‘creature comforts:’ Diversity of dining options (73 percent); Casually elegant atmosphere and decor ( 68 percent); Specially equipped rooms for females (64 percent); and 24-hour room service (56 percent). They also have a greater interest in information on local events, dining and entertainment, particularly through an interactive system through the television in the room (53 percent versus 38 percent).
When it comes to the airline experience, women are more likely than men to find the following desirable: friendly and efficient service; excellent safety record; extra leg room in coach; discounts for advance booking; blankets and pillows on board; selection of several movies; and delivery of baggage to the hotel for an extra fee.
American Airlines this month launched AA.com/women, claiming to be ‘the first airline to introduce a convenient online resource specifically designed for women customers.’ Content includes information on safety and security; tips for saving time and money; traveling with friends, family or partners; ideas for romantic destinations or girlfriend getaways; tips for solo travel and a forum for sharing ideas and experiences.
Other useful sites include: Women-traveling.com (group travel for single women); Womenstravelclub.com (security tips and advice: ‘Airplane, airport and car savvy;’ ‘choosing a hotel and room;’ and ’street smarts;’ and Journeywoman.com (tips on what to wear, where to go, jetlag, shopping, eating, how to stay healthy…)
Air Canada and Continental Airlines have announced new trans-Pacific ultra-long-haul services using Boeing 777-200LR’s that should slash present journey times by several hours.
Air Canada says it start nonstop services from Vancouver to Sydney in December. Flight times of 15 hours southbound and 14 hours northbound will shave more than three hours off the current one-stop service via Honolulu. Air New Zealand is code-share partner.
Continental will begin non-stop services from New York Newark to Mumbai in October. Flying times will be 14 hours, 50 minutes eastbound and 16 hours, 15 minutes westbound.
The Airbus A380 super jumbo finally came to the United States on March 19, nearly 40 years after the first flight of the Boeing 747. The giant aircraft, with 500 guests on board landed at Los Angeles International Airport on board as part of a commercial route proving program. On the flight deck was a team of Airbus and Lufthansa test pilots; the idea being to ‘fine-tune interior systems’ under realistic ‘operational conditions’ in preparation for the plane’s entry into regular service later this year. In flight service was provided by Lufthansa cabin crew.
The troubled and much-delayed A380 is finally scheduled to be to launch customer Singapore Airlines in October, 2007. It received joint European Safety Agency and Federal Aviation Administration certification in December 2006. There are firm orders and commitments for 166 aircraft from 15 airlines.
SNCF (French Railways) broke the world rail speed record on April 3, 2007, with a specially modified TGV high-speed train traveling at 357 mph (575kph) on a special section of track between Paris and Strasbourg - faster than some light airplanes.
(This is the record is for ‘wheel-on-steel’ trains: Japan’s ‘maglev’ (magnetic levitation) set a world record for ‘non-contact’ trains in 2003 at 361mph.)
The record-setting double-decker train, dubbed V150 (for traveling at 150 meters per second) is an enhanced version of the train that will run on the new TGV Est Europeen service (a 5 billion Euro enterprise), scheduled to start on June 10, linking Paris with 20 destinations in France, such as Reims, Strasbourg, Nancy, Metz; and 10 destinations in Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg, such as Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Mannheim and Zurich.
Trains will initially travel at 199mph (320kph), compared with present speeds of up to 186mph 300kph, reportedly cutting journey times by one third to one half.
Journey times (from June 10) will be: Paris-Reims, 45min (current time, 1hr. 35min.); Paris-Nancy, 1hr. 30min. (current time, 2hr. 40min); Paris-Luxembourg, 2hr. 5min. (current time, 3hr. 35min.); Paris-Zurich, 4hr. 32min. (current time, 5hr. 50 min.); Paris-Frankfurt, 3hr. 50min. (current time, 6hr. 15min).
This fall, Eurostar services from London will switch from London Waterloo International to St. Pancras International Station, cutting journey times from London to Paris and Brussels by 20 minutes - to 2 hours 15 minutes, and one hour 51 minutes respectively. London and Lille, in Northern France, will be just one hour 10 minutes apart.
The train is often a faster way to travel (certainly the most pleasant) between city-centers than the plane, for journeys of up to 350 miles (560 kilometers) in Europe.
High-speed train stations at major airports, such as Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Brussels and Lyon, enable travelers to connect between long-haul flights and trains, which are assuming the role of regional airlines.
The new TGV Est trains will have more spacious reclining seats, adjustable lighting, and special ‘family’ areas in 2nd class; first class passengers have the use of ‘meeting spaces’ for two to three people, Wi Fi and individual electrical outlets will make it easier to work along the way.
To book rail tickets and railpasses for travel on high-speed trains such as the TGV and Eurostar throughout Europe, log on to www.raileurope.com (U.S.) and www.raileurope.ca (Canada). Or call Rail Europe at 1-888-382-7245 (U.S.) or 1-800-361-7245 (Canada).