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Should You Travel In the Wake of Swine Flu? Yes, With Caution

This morning I took on-air questions sent to the syndicated radio show called The Takeaway from men and women fearful of traveling to Mexico, New York and other destinations due to the outbreak of swine flu in some of those locations--especially Mexico.

While there is no question among medical professionals that swine influenza is a serious matter, cautions from medical experts are still classified as "a precautionary measure," not an emergency.  As of this writing, about 20 people in the US have contracted the unusual flu, though, unlike Mexico, no patients have died or apparently been in serious danger of dying.

Mexico City has been particularly hard hit, but let's keep in mind that Mexico City is home to more than 18 million people. The odds of a visitor coming into contact with someone carrying the virus and taking ill are about on par with the odds of my winning the Minnesota state lottery jackpot.  Would I cancel a trip to Mexico City?  I would not. 

What I would do is abide by the common-sense advice offered by the California Department of Public Health:

--Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose if you sneeze or cough and discard that tissue immediately.
--Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you sneeze (or, I might add, after shaking hands with folks who might be ill).  Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
--And an obvious one: Avoid close contact with sick people.
--If you contract the flu, contact a doctor, avoid contact with others, and avoid touching your mouth or eyes or nose, which is how msot germs get spread.

That European Union official who made the news just recently warning against travel to Mexico and the US was, as it turns out, speaking for himself, not offering educated advice on behalf of the European Union. 

As far as I can tell, American travel providers aren't instituting any special precautions at the moment, though countries including Indonesia and Japan have erected devices at airports that measure travelers' temperatures as they pass through them.  If you have an unusually high temperature, you may be detained and questioned by a health official. 

Remember, headlines are made by dire predictions; I recall a scientist predicting during Asia's SARs virus several years ago that the pandemic could easily end with five million to 150 million deaths.  That made big news, though the prediction was so far off base as to be ridiculous. 

Again, I'm not minimizing the danger of swine flu.  But keep the numbers and relative risk in perspective for the moment.  One listener wrote The Takeaway asking if she should cancel a trip to Los Angeles because several cases have been identified there.  I depart for Los Angeles this Friday, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is: Go.  Relax.  Keep an eye on the news, but don't cancel travel to a city of four million because a handful of local residents have the flu.   

Southwest Airlines Lets You Jump To Front Of the Line

Normally, members of Southwest Airline's frequent flyer program must fly 16 round-trip flights in 12 months to qualify as an "A-List" member.   A-Listers are automatically checked in for flights, usually receive priority boarding (no small thing since Southwest doesn't assign seats), and, where available, my use priority security lanes. 

But a special promotion announced moments ago allows anyone to become an elite member of Southwest's program if they fly five round trips before June 15, 2009.

Is it worth it? 

That depends.  If you fly Southwest frequently,  this is a great opportunity to join the A List, so to speak.  But you must first register for this promotion to take part in it.

Footnote: It was only a couple of weeks ago, when Southwest began its first service in Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Chicago's Midway, that I predicted Southwest would grow its service from MSP.  But the announcement yesterday that Southwest will begin flying to Denver as of May 26th from MSP surprised even me.  Can Vegas, BWI, LAX, SFO and maybe even Philadelphia be far behind?  One likely city pair: MSP and Kansas City, a route with few non-stop flights and ridiculously high fares, exactly the kind of market Southwest likes to take over. 

Sofitel Summer Sale If You Book By April 7th; NYC For $214!

The luxury collection of Sofitel hotels joins other hotel companies that are experiencing a downtown in business in discounting rooms with two sales.

The first, a six-day sale, offers very attractive rates through Sept. 7, 2009, if you're willing to book by April 7.

The 30% to 40% savings work out this way:

Sofitel Chicago Water Tower: rates begin at $179 a night before taxes
Philadelphia: $133
Los Angeles: $192
Washington, DC: $168
Montreal: $133 Canadian
Chicago O'Hare: $72
NYC: $214
Minneapolis: $72
Miami: $98
San Francisco (at Redwood City): $78

I find Sofitel's web site very confusing when trying to locate the above offer, so you might want to call Sofitel directly and request the six-day sale prices. (I received a press release on the subject, but there was no clear link to this offer in the press release, just as there wasn't on the company's web site.  Or at least I couldn't find one.)  The main reservation number that, irritatingly, can't be found on the hotel's web site, either, is 800-763-4835.

The second offer, called "Seasonal Diversion," offers a four-night stay for the cost of three nights.  Per-night rates are a bit higher than the sale above (The rate at the Chicago Water Tower hotel, for example, is $191 in this deal.)  This offer is good for stays through May 25th, and a late-check out (until 4 p.m.) is guaranteed.

Whichever deal you choose, you're getting a good price.