Travel companies also aiding Haiti

The thought of travel companies helping gragic Haiti in the wake of the strongest earthquake in two centuries may not immediately come to mind but there are many such efforts, including these:
 

American Airlines: In conjunction with American Eagle, American Airlines is sending several flights to Haiti filled with 30,000 pounds of relief supplies, food and water.
 

Continental Airlines: The airline has a program for OnePass members to donate to relief groups, and is waiving change fees for passengers with prior tickets to the Dominican Republic.
 

JetBlue: While JetBlue doesn’t fly directly to Haiti, the airline is bringing relief workers from agencies to the Dominican Republic, and is working with the American Red Cross and non-profit organizations like the Give Them a Hand Foundation.
 

Spirit Airlines: Working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Spirit Airlines will five 5,000 free miles to the first 200,000 registered members who donate at least $5 to UNICEF, the Red Cross, or Yele Haiti.
 

Southwest Airlines: Southwest has partnered with the Red Cross and has encouraged its employees and customers to donate on an individual basis.
 

United Airlines: The airline has become involved with delivering 50 tons of supplies to victims. Some of its return flights will be even more crucial – they will be filled with Haitian orphans who are now, according to the US government, allowed to enter the United States while the country is in repair. The airline also pledges to match up to $50,000 in contributions made by its employees to the American Red Cross, and flight attendants en route to Haiti will donate their time and work for free. Visit united.com to contribute to the US Agency of International Development, the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders.
 

Virgin: The Virgin Group, including Virgin America Virgin Atlantic, is contributing by flying medical personnel, agencies, rescue teams and 55 tons of supplies to nearby locations like Miami, Orlando and Jamaica, which will then be transferred by agencies to Haiti.
 

Hotels and other travel sites have also made an impact.
 

Marriott has made a $500,000 donation, and is allowing guests to donate their Marriott Rewards Points to relief groups.
 

Starwood, Best Western, and Hilton are all helping transfer points to donate to the American Red Cross and other international funds, and Choice Hotels offers the option of donating points to either the “Building Together group, or the Armed Forces Relief Fund.
 

Sage Hospitalities is donating $10 per room each night to the Red Cross until the end of the month. It will also hold a “Sage Helps Haiti Day” and some of its properties will donate a percentage of food and beverage profits for relief agencies.
 

Expedia, Hotels.com and Orbitz are encouraging customers to make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund via their home pages, and every dollar of commission earned through HotelSpy.com until Feb. 28, of this year will be donated to relief groups and non-profit organizations to aid in Haiti’s recovery.
 

By David Wilkening