'Sky spas' for Delta employees
Starting next month, Delta Air Lines will open three airport "sky spas" where employees can get discounted massages, manicures, pedicures, hairstyling, makeup treatments and uniform alterations. The airline justifies the new luxury by saying happy employees mean happy customers. Los Angeles Times
United ex-CEO gets new seats
Days after United Airlines Chief Executive Jeff Smisek resigned amid a federal corruption investigation, the carrier announced plans to install new, extra-spacious seats for first-class passengers. The timing is interesting given that Smisek left the airline with free first-class flights for life on top of nearly $5 million in separation pay and 60,000 shares of stock. Los Angeles Times
Travel trend
Bed bug reviews cost hotels
Bed bugs are the bane of the hotel industry, and social media has only increased their destructive power. Research from the University of Kentucky found that online reviews mentioning a bed-bug infestation can lower the value of a hotel room by $38 a night for business travelers and $28 a night for leisure travelers. With the prevalence of hotel review sites such as TripAdvisor and Yelp, word of an infestation can quickly spread. But the study found that more than two-thirds of travelers were unable to tell the difference between a bed bug and other household insects. That is a big problem for hotel operators, said Lynn Mohrfeld of the California Hotel and Lodging Association. Often, he said, hotel guests will confuse a mosquito or spider bite for a bed-bug bite and post a negative review. Mohrfeld advises hotel managers to respond to bed-bug complaints by hiring professionals to inspect the room of a complaining guest. "Hotels don't take this lightly at all," Mohrfeld said. Los Angeles Times
Deal of the week
Cancun, up to $200 off
Sun Country Airlines is offering up to $200 off flight and hotel packages to Cancun, including the resort areas of Playa Mujeres, Isla Mujeres and Puerto Morelos. The full $200 discount applies to vacations costing $5,000 or more; you can also get $100 off vacations of $2,500 to $4,999, or $50 off vacations of $1,499 to $2,499. Use promo code SCV526 to book by Oct. 31 for travel before April 30, 2016. The deal can be combined with Sun Country's Early Booking Sale — up to 35 percent off airfare and up to 65 percent off hotels for travel Dec. 1 to April 30 (suncountry.com).
Staff Report
Web Buzz
Make money delivering stuff on your road trip
Some budget travelers might be thrilled by the opportunity to get paid for a onetime delivery while on the road. The Roadie app connects road trippers/drivers with people who want to send stuff. Roadie calls it "carpooling for cargo." There are both crosstown drop-offs and cross-country delivery gigs. Roadie says most local deliveries will pay drivers $8 to $20; oversize items may get you $200. If you're sending, your cargo is insured up to $500. If you want to be a sender, you'll need a PayPal account; if you want to be a driver, you must upload your driver's license, insurance card and banking information. (For Android and iPhone.) Los angeles Times
