At Los Angeles International Airport, the nation's biggest airlines have added several new ways for celebrities and well-heeled tycoons to catch a flight while avoiding noisy crowds, nosy paparazzi and frustrating lines. Both Delta and American Airlines offer VIP services that let big-shot travellers slide into LAX terminals through private entrances at the curb. United Airlines is also trying to cater to the most affluent passengers by announcing last week a partnership with the Private Suite, the private terminal on the outskirts of the airport where VIPs can check in for a flight, relax in luxury, clear security and get whisked to the plane in a shiny new BMW sedan without having to set foot in an LAX terminal. To get access, fliers must pay a US$7,500 annual membership plus $2,700 for each domestic flight or $3,000 for each international flight. <br/>
star
Most of the foreign airlines that agreed to tweak references to Taiwan to reflect the island as part of the mainland China have been given more time to comply as Beijing extends a crackdown on companies over its stance on disputed territories. Air France-KLM and Lufthansa are among airlines that have made changes to their websites, while those that have received or applied for an extension include United Continental and ANA Holdings. The Civil Aviation Administration of China said Friday that all 44 carriers that were asked to modify their Taiwan references will do so. Eighteen made the required changes before a May 25 deadline, and the rest asked for extensions and were given until as late as July 25 to comply, the regulator said. <br/>