Travel News
New Airline Routes and Route Changes
American Airlines Group - the new company that combines American Airlines and US Airways - will give up the rights to 52 daily round-trip flights at Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport (DCA). Fifteen U.S. cities, as well as Nassau, Bahamas and Montreal, Canada, will lose non-stop American Airlines Service from Reagan National. The airline has not yet announced when these changes will occur.
Airline Alliance News
Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand have entered into a codesharing agreement, allowing easier air connections between the two nations and ultimately boosting air travel capacity between the two nations by 30%.
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| The Sky Deck at the Delta Sky Club - Atlanta |
Other Airline News
Delta Air Lines raised the prices for Sky Club airport lounge memberships. The airline's new base membership, which gives access only to the member, costs US$450. Members can bring a guest with them for US$29 per visit. The airline's previous base membership, now called Executive Membership, costs US$695 per year (up from US$450) for non-elite frequent fliers. The Executive Membership includes lounge access for the member and two guests.
Southwest Airlines has extended its promotion offering
free Dish Network TV channels and on-demand programming to customers who bring their own Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The promotion, originally set to expire at the end of last year, will run through the end of this year.
Gogo activated its Canadian in-air Wi-Fi network, which can be used on airlines including Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Virgin America.
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United Air Lines
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Airline Loyalty Programs
United Air Lines has implemented minimum spending requirements, in addition to mileage/segment accrual, for fliers to earn elite status in its MileagePlus program. Its new requirements range from US$2,500 in spending plus 25,000 miles (or 30 segments) for Premier Silver status to US$10,000 in spending plus 100,000 miles or 120 segments for Premier 1K status.
Delta Air Lines has also implemented minimum spending requirements to earn elite status in its SkyMiles program. The requirements for elite qualification range from US$2,500 in spending plus 25,000 miles (or 30 segments) for Silver status to US$12,500 in spending plus 125,000 miles (or 140 segments) for Diamond status.
Southwest Airlines is offering a 50,000-point signup bonus for customers who sign up for new Rapid Rewards credit cards and meet certain spending thresholds within three months.
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LaGuardia Airport
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Airport News
New York's state government plans a US$3.6-billion construction project at New York City's LaGuardia Airport. The project calls for an entirely new central terminal, new parking garages, free Wi-Fi and other amenities.
Hotel News
Hilton Worldwide is launching Getplanning, a cloud-based communication system for meeting planners to use to set up and coordinate events in its largest hotels. Organizers can set up floor plans, create and edit menus and communicate with third-party vendors through the system, which is available only for events at hotels with more than 450 guestrooms and more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space. In November, the company launched Meetings Simplified, for groups of 25 people or less, in U.S. hotels.
Marriott International launched Meetings Imagined, which helps meeting planners market events by offering curated images, information on marketing trends, social media strategies and other tools. The service, currently available at five U.S. hotels, should expand to other properties in the coming months.
The 150-room Royal Decameron Los Cabos opened on the Sea of Cortes. The all-inclusive resort includes a restaurant, spa, pool and golf privileges.
The Marriott Stanton South Beach in Miami Beach (Florida, U.S.) recently finished a US$10 million renovation of its rooms, lobby and lounge. The hotel was formerly the South Beach Marriott.
The St. Regis New York, in Manhattan, finished refurbishing all of its 171 rooms and 67 suites.
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| Loews Regency Hotel Lobby in Midtown Manhattan |
The Loews Regency Hotel in Midtown Manhattan re-opened after a yearlong, US$100 million redesign. The 379-room hotel includes four private meeting spaces, a restaurant and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi.
The Hilton Garden Inn Central Park will open in New York City on January 27.
Hotel Loyalty Program News
Starwood is offering Preferred Guest program members 2,500 bonus points for every five nights they stay at participating properties through April 30. Those who stay for 25 eligible nights earn an extra 5,000 Starpoints. Members must register for the promotion before February 28.
A new Marriott MegaBonus promotion, set to run from February 1 through April 30, allows Marriott Rewards members to earn one free night stay after two qualifying stays. The company may offer other rewards promotions, based on individual customers' histories, although it generally allows customers who request it to switch from a targeted reward to the generic one. The promotion requires registration before March 31.
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