Security and Safety Updates

The British government is warning of a recent increase in robberies at restaurants in Panama City's more popular areas, including Obarrio, San Francisco and El Cangrejo (Via Argentina).

 

Travel in Panama's Chiriquí region (District of Bugaba) has been restricted due to heavy flooding, which also led to the government declaring a state of emergency for the area.

 

Entrance Requirements

Travelers to or from Chile who have dual citizenship in Chile and another nation now use their Chilean passport to enter and exit the country. 

 

New Airline Routes and Route Changes

South America

LanPeru plans to begin fights between Lima and Ayacucho, Peru on October 1, with three weekly flights.

 

Beginning October 14, LAN Airlines will once again fly the Boeing 787-7 Dreamliner on its daily Santiago de Chile-Lima-Los Angeles, California (U.S.) route.

LAN 787-7 Dreamliner

 

SWISS will increase flights between Zurich, Switzerland and São Paulo as of October 27 - bringing its total weekly flights to 11 (from seven). As of January 11, 2015, it will decrease to 10 weekly flights.

 

International Connections

Scandinavian Airlines has added nonstop service between Houston, Texas and Stavanger, Norway.

 

Airline Alliance News

Aeromexico expanded its codeshare service with Avianca Group, placing AM codes on TACA and TACA Peru routes from Lima, Peru; San Jose, Costa Rica; and San Salvador, El Salvador.

 

Other Airline News

Seaborne Airlines is offering a "Fly Anywhere you Like ..." promotion, allowing travelers to book as many trips as they wish to the Caribbean between September 3 and November 17 for $699.

 

United Airlines is now offering new lunch, dinner and beverage choices for domestic first-class customers, including premium salads and sandwiches and the addition of Prosecco sparkling wine. The airline will also begin serving premium-cabin meals on shorter flights in 2015.

 

Customers can now lock in most fares and itineraries booked British Airways' website for 72 hours, with a deposit of US$10. Several cities are not included in the lock-in yet.

 

Qantas Airways passengers can now use personal electronic devices in flight mode for the duration of each flight - from gate to gate.

 

Airport News

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake in the Bay Area of northern California (U.S.) on Sunday did no damage to Oakland International Airport; although it did damage the smaller Napa County Airport, that airport is still operating. Many structures were damaged in the earthquake, particularly in the wine country of Napa. The U.S. Geological Survey says there is a 25% chance of a strong and potentially damaging aftershock through the weekend.

 

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) began operating light rail service from Dallas/Fort Worth

Holiday Inn Coatzacoalcos

International to downtown Dallas. The trip takes 50 to 60 minutes and costs between US$1.75 and US$2.50.

 

Delta Sky Club upgraded its free "bits and bites" offerings, adding soups, mini-cheesecakes, locally-sourced bagels, Greek yogurt and oatmeal to the club's offerings.

 

Hotel News

InterContinental Hotels Group opened the 120-room Holiday Inn Coatzacoalcos in the State of Veracruz, Mexico. Rooms include ergonomic workstations, data ports and complimentary local newspapers and the property has a swimming pool, fitness center and four meeting rooms with capacity for 800 people.

 

Luxury hotel Tierra Chiloé will open September 1 in South Chilean Patagonia. Designed to operate entirely off the grid, the hilltop all-inclusive hotel offers 12 rooms, each with a sea view, fireplace, terrace, living and dining room and Wi-Fi.

 

The 347-room Hilton Panama has opened in Panama City. Part of a 70-story mixed-use space with offices, shopping and entertainment within walking distance of the city's financial district, the hotel offers six restaurants and more than 23,000 square feet of flexible meeting space in 17 rooms, including an 800-guest ballroom.

Hilton Panama

The Park Hyatt New York opened in Midtown Manhattan, becoming the city's first new five-star property to open since 2003. It offers iPad minis and power/gadget strips at each desk, as well as formal and casual restaurants and a 65-foot-long indoor pool.

 

Hotel Pipeline

Construction is slated to begin next year on The Singulari, a mega-resort development by China's Yida International in Antigua. Built on 1,600 acres, the property will include the Caribbean's largest casino as well as residences, a school, a hospital, marinas, golf courses, an entertainment district and a horse track.

 

Ground Transportation Services

United Airlines now offers travelers access to Uber transportation services via its mobile app. Customers who sign up for Uber via the United app and complete their first transaction will receive 1,000 MileagePlus points for a limited time.

 

Hertz is currently testing a program that will allow customers to pick up cars at 12,000 neighborhood locations in the U.S., including Walgreens drugstores. The program is on track to launch throughout the U.S. next year.

 

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