November 6, 2014 
Delta Air Lines: Atlanta - Our Center for Connections Without Complications
In This Week's Issue:

Frequent Flier Programs: The Real Performance Measure 

You've been earning miles - but will you be able to redeem them for free flights when you want to?

 

By Rochelle Broder-Singer

 

The ability of airline loyalty program members to redeem miles or points for free flights varies widely among airlines. On value-oriented carriers, reward tickets are available as much as 90% of the time. But on legacy carriers, reward tickets are available far less often, according to the results of this year's IdeaWorksCompany's Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey.


 

IdeaWorks annually surveys reward seat availability at saver-style levels (the lowest rewards-redemption level) at the world's 25 largest airlines. Overall, the company found, reward seat availability at those carriers increased by 1.3 percentage points during 2014, reaching an average of 72.4%. Although nine airlines have made it more difficult for loyalty program members to obtain free tickets at the lowest level of redemption, 14 airlines increased or maintained rewards seat availability.


 

 

The table below highlights the results of the survey, showing five highest-ranked carriers by seat availability, as well as the rankings and data for major U.S. and Latin American carriers. 

 

Overall Airline Reward Seat Availability

Rank
Reward Ticket Availability
Airline
1100.0%airberlin
1 (tie)100.0%Southwest
299.3%Virgin Australia
392.9%JetBlue
492.1%AirAsia
590.7%GOL
1471.4%United Airlines
1655.0%American Airlines
16 (tie)55.0%Delta Air Lines
1754.3%LAN
2035.0%US Airways
2122.1%AviancaTaca
Source: IdeaWorksCompany Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey,
June-October, 2014

 

                                                                                              
Holiday Inn Express: Earn up to 5,000 extra points on your next stay with IHG Rewards Club
News from our Partners
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Delta

Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launch new London-Heathrow services: Delta begins its first nonstop London-Heathrow to Los Angeles flights, taking over one daily Virgin Atlantic flight; Virgin Atlantic begins its first London-Heathrow to Atlanta flights, taking over one daily Delta flight

 

In Brazil, Innovation Gate Cultural Contest Celebrates Delta's TEDGlobal Partnership: Delta's mobile recording Studio is gathering video submissions from students and entrepreneurs across São Paulo for the TEDGlobal's Innovation Gate Competition.


Explore Holiday Inn Express Hotels and Destinations: Discover the best in travel and comfort, including many newly renovated hotels.

 

 Save on Fall Fun with Holiday Inn Express:: Free hot breakfast and high-speed Internet in the U.S. and Canada, choice of pillow and savings of between 10% and 30%

  

Academic Medicine in a Top-Rated Concierge Environment: One patient explains how New York orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow helped his shoulder injury heal

 

New Techniques Speed Healing: Board certified orthopedic surgeon Jonathan L. Glashow, MD and his associates specialize in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine

 

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High Performance Living Symposium with Jonathan Glashow, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

Travel News

Passport, Visa and Other Entry Controls

The European Commission has approved visa-free movement for Colombian and Peruvian citizens within Europe's Schengen area, including France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Sweden and Spain.

 

New Airline Routes and Route Changes

South America
TAME Ecuador will begin three weekly flights between Guayaquil, Ecuador and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (Miami area, Florida) on November 20.
Mexico City

Mexico and Central America
Southwest Airlines has officially taken over AirTran Airways routes from U.S. cities to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and Mexico City.

International Connections
Frontier Airlines will launch Thursday and Sunday service between Washington (D.C.) Dulles International Airport and Miami International Airport on December 21.

Dynamic Airways has resumed service between New York-JFK and Georgetown, Guyana.

Other Airline News
Southwest Airlines partnered with Beats Music to offer passengers free streaming music playlists during flights.

The Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency now allows use of electronic devices throughout Brazilian flights, including takeoff, landing and on runways. Airlines must apply for permission to allow such usage.

This month, Delta Air Lines will expand its Porsche transfer service for SkyMiles Diamond Medallion customers to New York's LaGuardia Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Airport News
Denver International Airport (Colorado, U.S.), Lynden Pindling International Airport in The Bahamas and Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba have added automated passport control kiosks to offer expedited border control processing for international travelers.

Loyalty Program News
Delta SkyMiles members can earn double miles, as well as 250 Medallion-qualifying miles, for stays of two or more nights at any hotel in the Hilton family of brands through December 20.

American Airlines AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles loyalty programs will consolidate to become a single program in the second quarter of 2015. Planned changes to the program include an increase in class-of-service bonuses for business class flights from 25% to 50% percent, and the continuation of the AAdvantage three-tier elite structure.

American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn quadruple miles through January 16, 2015 for second, third and fourth stays at all Wyndham hotels.

Hotel News
Hoteles City Express opened the 108-room, limited-service, City Express Ciudad Victoria in the capital of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Ramada Tikal Isla de Flores


Hoteles City Express also opened the 89-room City Express D.F. Satélite in metropolitan Mexico City (la zona metropolitana), facing the Plaza Satélite shopping mall in the municipality of Naucalpan.

The 165-room Hyatt Place Panama City/Downtown opened in Panama City's financial zone. The property includes free Wi-Fi, complimentary hot breakfast, five meeting rooms, coffee and cocktail bar, self-service laundry facility and 24-hour gym.

The Ramada Tikal Isla de Flores opened in Guatemala near Lake Petén Itzá. The hotel offers two pools, fitness center, snack canteen and tobacco shop, private parking, a conference center for up to 180 people and medical, laundry and babysitting services.

22-room boutique hotel El Blok has opened in Vieques, Puerto Rico. The environmentally-conscious hotel features passive solar design, a restaurant and bar by famed local chef Jose Enrique, and guest rooms with terrace and free Wi-Fi.

The Holiday Inn Manhattan-Financial District (the tallest Holiday Inn hotel under the brand) has opened with 50 floors and 492 guest rooms. The hotel boasts views of both the Hudson River and One World Trade Center.

Hilton Worldwide will begin allowing guests to use their mobile devices as room keys in late spring of 2015 to Hilton HHonors members staying at U.S. properties of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Canopy by Hilton.

Starwood Preferred Guest members will have access to SPG Keyless entry via their smartphones at Aloft, Element and W Hotels properties around the world as the program rolls out now through the end of 2015.

On January 15, 2015, Marriott International will begin offering free Wi-Fi service for Marriott Rewards members who book their stay via Marriott channels.

Travel Services
Travelers can now connect their carry-on to their iPhone with Bluesmart carry-on luggage. The bag (and app) allows travelers to weigh luggage instantly, locate misplaced bags, remotely lock and unlock their suitcase and charge devices while on the road.

 

Mexico City by Alejandro Islas Photograph AC; Ramada Tikal Isla de Flores, courtesy of Ramada Tikal Isla de Flores

 
Latin Business Traveler

 Resources from Latin Trade Group 

 

Latin Trade Magazine Distribution Grows

Latin Trade magazine is now available for travelers in American Airlines Admirals Club lounges in seven additional airports around the Americas: New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Miami International Airport, Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport, Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport, Rio de Janeiro's Galeão-Tom Jobim International Airport and the International Airport of São Paulo/Guarulhos.

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Editorial Assistant/Production Manager: Leslie Gutiérrez

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