March 12, 2015 
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News Spotlight: Mobile App Speeds U.S. Entry at Miami International Airport

New digital customs declaration option for U.S. and some Canadian citizens

 

By Rochelle Broder-Singer

 

Travelers entering the U.S. through Miami International Airport (MIA) can now submit their passports and customs declaration through the Mobile Passport Control app. The app, from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, runs on mobile devices and allows U.S. citizens and Canadian citizens with a valid Canadian passport and B1 or B2 visa status to digitally submit customs and immigration information, instead of filling out a paper form. That will speed up their entry into the U.S., via dedicated Mobile Passport user lanes at customs.

 

The free app is available for Apple and Android mobile phones and tablets (visit mobilepassport.us). Users set up profiles within the app using their passports, and can include additional profiles for family members as well. Then, when arriving in the United States, they set up a "New Trip" and answer standard customs declarations within the app. Upon landing, travelers submit their customs declarations through the app, which transmits the data to Customs and Border Protection. They receive an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code, which acts as a receipt, and show the QR code and passport to a Customs and Border Protection officer in the special Mobile Passport line.

 

MIA, the United States' second-busiest port of entry, is the second U.S. airport to implement the technology; Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was the first. For passengers who cannot use Mobile Passport Control, MIA also has 36 automated passport kiosks, which also help move people through customs more quickly. MIA plans to add another 44 automated kiosks this year. 

 

Mobile Passport Control, courtesy of Miami International Airport

 

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Travel News

Brazilian Real

Currency Updates

Brazil's real fell to an 11-year low earlier this week, hitting R$3.12 per U.S. dollar, its weakest level since June 2004. The currency's value has fallen more than 14% so far this year.

 

Entry Requirements Changes

U.S. visitors to Venezuela will now require a visa to enter the country. The U.S. has also declared Venezuela a national security threat, the first step in beginning a U.S. sanctions program.

 

New Airline Routes and Route Changes

South America

Aerolineas Argentinas will add six weekly flights between Buenos Aires Jorge Newberry and Corrientes, Argentina's Corrientes International Airport (also known as Doctor Fernando Piragine Niveyro International Airport) on May 2.

 

Lan Airlines will begin Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on its Santiago de Chile to Sydney, Australia route on April 18.

 

Mexico

Volaris has launched bi-weekly service between Tijuana, Mexico and Oakland, California (San Francisco Bay Area).

 

Central America

Southwest Airlines has begun nonstop daily service between San Jose, Costa Rica and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.).

 

Caribbean

On March 13, Miami-based Mambi International Group will launch service between Key West International Airport and two Cuban airports: Havana's Jos� Mart� International Airport and Santa Clara's Abel Santamar�a Airport.

 

Southwest Airlines will fly between Houston Texas' William P. Hobby Airport and Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport on Saturdays through August 8.

 

International Connections

Etihad Airways will begin daily service between Dallas/Fort Worth (Texas, U.S.) and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on April 16.

 

Airline Alliance News

JetBlue Airways and Morocco's Royal Air Maroc have entered into a codeshare partnership that will put RAM's AT code on 22 domestic flights out of New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Passengers will also be able to transfer to 16 Moroccan and 24 West African destinations via Casablanca, Morocco's Mohammed V International Airport.

 

AirEuropa and Seaborne Airlines will partner to cover a daily Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - San Juan, Puerto Rico route originating out of Madrid's Adolfo Suarez Airport.

 

AEROFLOT and Garuda Indonesia have begun a codeshare partnership covering service between Moscow and Hong Kong as well as Bangkok, Indonesia, Seoul and Tokyo.

 

Flybe Finland

Other Airline News

United Airlines will upgrade its United Club airport lounge experience via an overhauled, complimentary food menu (including hot oatmeal station and Greek yogurt bar, afternoon soups, hummus, salami, cheese and a salad), extensive club renovations and a new, comprehensive customer service program. The changes will rollout through the end of this year.

 

All Flybe Finland flights will begin carrying the Finnair code as of May 1.

 

Loyalty Program News

Delta introduced a number of changes to SkyMiles, including lower one-way awards, improved tools for booking award travel, and the ability to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars on partner airlines.

 

United MileagePlus members in the U.S. can now redeem miles (or miles plus cash) for cruises with more than two dozen cruise lines via a partnership with cruise agency World Travel Holdings.

 

IHG Rewards members can book award nights for 5,000 points at 146 participating hotels, including 97 in the U.S., 21 in the Americas, 16 in Europe and 11 in Asia.

 

Hilton will offer complimentary Wi-Fi to HHonors members when they book directly via Hilton or a corporate travel partner. The program will roll out throughout this year. HHonors members can also earn either double points or double miles for stays at participating Hilton family hotels through May 31.

 

As of March 10, 94 properties in the Starwood U.S. family increased the number of SPG rewards points needed for a free night.

 

Marriott Rewards announced that members who have not had qualifying activity during the prior 24 months will forfeit accumulated points as of January 31, 2016.

 

RIU Hotels & Resorts App

Hotel News 

RIU Hotels & Resorts launched a new mobile app that allows visitors to register and manage bookings, view offers and promotions and book airport and hotel transfers. The app is available in seven languages.

 

The 100-room Staybridge Suites Chihuahua opened in Chihuahua, Mexico near the airport, shopping and entertainment venues. Rooms at the all-suite property include kitchenette, electric grill, dishwasher, refrigerator, living room and work area, as well as free Wi-Fi in all areas. The property also has complimentary hot breakfast, drinks and snacks in the evening, a 24-hour convenience store, a business center, fitness center and meeting room that can hold up to 40 people.

 

Mexico City boutique hotel Las Alcobas joined the Starwood Luxury Collection. Located in Mexico City's Polanco district, on Presidente Masaryk Avenue, The 35-room hotel has two restaurants, a spa, a 24-hour fitness center and a meeting room that can hold up to 10 people. It also offers "Mi Segunda Casa" (my second home) signature service, which allows returning guests to store items at the hotel in a personal wardrobe, and includes cleaning, pressing, laundering, garment repair and toiletries replenishment.

 

Hotel Pipeline

A 128-room Holiday Inn Express will open in Belem, Brazil in mid-2016. The hotel will offer a 24-hour fitness center, complimentary high-speed Internet and 1,500 square feet of meeting space with complimentary parking.

 

Hard Rock will open two new properties in Mexico during the next three years: a 600-room Los Cabos location in 2016 and an 1,800-room Cancun property in 2017.

 

Travel Services

New travel blog FlyandDine.com has launched, covering airline and airport food.

 
Brazilian Real by theglobalpanorama; Flybe Finland by Arz via Wikimedia Commons

 

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