In other airline, hotel and travel industry news this week… The Transportation Security Administration has officially started a “trusted traveler” program this week. According to the TSA, “This pilot program will help assess measures designed to enhance security by placing more focus on pre-screening individuals who volunteer information about themselves prior to flying in order…
Qantas
Category Archives for Qantas.
United aircraft & headquarters, free tickets for delays, all-inclusive pricing, Qantas woes & Wi-Fi, Virgin & Delta and GDS news
In other airline, hotel & travel industry news this week… Analysts expect United Airlines to place a major aircraft order early next year for as many as 200 narrowbody aircraft, possibly splitting it up between Airbus and Boeing. In a much better financial position for such a large order than American, I would anticipate these…
Google Flights, FAA funded, Heathrow’s pods, hotel unSafes, more Qantas strikes and a GDS fined
In other airline, hotel and travel industry news this week… Google launched a much-criticized Flight Search feature this week. Limited to airfare searches for travel within the United States, this is definitely just a teaser as confirmed by Google’s Inside Search blog where the company states, “This is just an early look, not the final…
Delta layoffs, Qantas strikes, 747-8 livery, Hawaiian Disney, GDS lawsuit, TSA news and 757 replacement
In other airline, hotel and travel industry news this week… Delta Air Lines will be laying off 200 employees, the majority of which from their headquarters in Atlanta. This combined with another 2,000 employees taking voluntary buyouts, the airline claims soft demand, fuel prices and reduced capacity make the workforce reductions necessary. Engineers at Qantas…
Australia updates from British Airways, Qantas and Virgin Australia
It was another media release frenzy in Australia this week with several announcements by British Airways, Qantas and Virgin Australia. Here’s a summary by carrier: Travelers from London currently have two options to fly British Airways to Sydney, namely via Singapore or Bangkok with continuing service to Australia. Beginning next March the carrier will discontinue…
Qantas reveals new airlines, route structure & top-tier frequent flyer status
Qantas released a dizzying amount of teasers yesterday with regard to restructuring their ailing international operation, as well as planned improvements to their Boeing 747 fleet, frequent flyer program and lounge offerings. The carrier held an official “A New Spirit†briefing where the below items were announced, many of which were more fully analyzed and…
Delta hits and misses; American rewards; death by airfare; LAX grows; Tiger flies; cheap hotels and terrible IFE
In other airline, hotel & travel industry news this week… I’ve flown Delta Air Lines and have had pleasant experiences, but as most know the SkyMiles program for redemption opportunities remains the most ridiculous of the majors in the U.S. The good right now: Delta is giving a 100% bonus on purchased and transferred miles…
American, Qantas, Southwest make cuts, hotel fierceness and promos, Chicago’s on top, and jet passes plus Visa cards
In other airline, hotel and travel industry news this week… A survey of the 50 most popular U.S. destinations conducted by the Global Business Travel Association found Chicago to be the city charging the highest total taxes for travelers. Not to worry, New York was number two so don’t get your hopes up for an…
Australia’s ash, Qantas overhaul & strike and Virgin Australia & Qantas upgrade offers
There has been some interesting airline news the last week or so from Australia, and here’s a recap: The pesky ash cloud from the Chilean volcano made at least two passes over Australia & New Zealand in the past 10 days causing widespread flight cancellations and reroutings. From shutting down the major airports at Sydney…
The evolution of elite level qualification in airline frequent flyer programs
Qualifying for elite status with an airline requires meeting a certain threshold the carrier has published, whether it be point, mile or segment based. Those thresholds have been periodically raised, lowered and adjusted even to the point of birthing new tiers. Delta’s fairly recent addition of the Diamond level at 125,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles is…