Notable Airline, Hotel and Travel News: August 27, 2013

A brief sampling of industry news that caught my attention today:

American Airlines today launched five new nonstop routes from Los Angeles to Columbus, Hartford, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Bentonville. American plans to add West Palm Beach and Sao Paulo service later this year.
Southwest Airlines will begin flying Denver-Fort Myers in March. The new service is a “seasonal nonstop” and will last through at least April 6, according to the article. So only March until April?
The eighth Radisson in Brazil is set to open in January. The 292-room Radisson Hotel Rio de Janeiro is located on the seven-mile Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio.
PointsHound is offering double miles for new reservations booked by August 31. Participating airlines include American, Delta, Hawaiian, US Airways and Virgin America here in the U.S.
There are already several websites out there that predict airport security wait times, but a new one just launched that also projects wait times at museums, national parks and departments of motor vehicles. Take a number, please.
Airports are never boring to me personally, but I understand how they can be mundane to others. Several airports feature artwork, sculptures and exhibits to capture the imaginations of non-avgeek travelers.
And if you missed it earlier today, check out my Confessions of an Elite Status Junkie post. It’s part two of series exploring my addiction to airline and hotel loyalty.
My frequent flier card collection

â€“ Follow Darren Booth on Twitter, @FrequentlyFlyin, for more airline, hotel and travel industry news, reviews and opinions.