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17 July 2013 |
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ATLAS NEWSLETTER
Dear Atlas Subscriber,
Welcome to the July edition of Atlas.
In this month's edition of Atlas we bring some exciting news from Qantas along with more information about the new Chauffeur drive service offered by British Airways - as promised in last month's edition.
Fiona Thorrington, is a leisure consultant at our new Central Coast office, has provided a very informative 'Three of the Best' this month.
If you're dreaming of some warmer weather and need something to look forward to, please check out our specials. Whether it's an all-inclusive holiday with the family, a five star resort in paradise or an amazing package on the new Royal Princess cruise liner, we have something to offer everyone.
As always I appreciate any feedback you may have.
Sincerely,
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QANTAS SLASHES EUROPE ECONOMY CLASS FUEL SURCHARGES
Qantas announced significant changes to fuel surcharges applying to its joint network with Emirates, with the move mainly impacting on frequent flyer redemptions.
Qantas states that the move follows alignments on fares, baggage allowance and lounge access on the partnership across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America.
Qantas customers who book a frequent flyer redemption in economy class to Europe will see the surcharges reduce by 39%. Smaller Qantas surcharge reductions apply to premium economy, with fuel surcharges in Business and First class unchanged on most routes. These changes are effective immediately.
QANTAS CONFIRMS NEW BRINDABELLA CODESHARE PACT ON FIVE ROUTES
Qantas will codeshare on five Brindabella Airlines regional services. Sales of codeshare flights is immediately available with the Qantas code being placed on Brindabella flights between Sydney and Moree, Sydney and Newcastle, Brisbane and Tamworth and Brisbane and Coffs Harbour, for travel from 01 August 2013.
Sydney - Orange services will also be added to the network for travel effective 01 September 2013.
Brindabella Airlines will deploy its 30 seat Jetstream 4100 aircraft on all Qantas codeshare routes, with a full service product including complimentary inflight snacks and refreshments, plus afternoon bar service.
Qantas frequent flyers can also earn and redeem points on Brindabella Airlines Maxi Saver and Fully Flexible fares on all routes. |
BRITISH AIRWAYS TO LAUNCH AIRBUS A380 AND BOEING 787 DREAMLINER
 British Airways welcomed the two newest additions to its fleet on 04 July 2013 with the launch of the carrier's first Airbus A380 superjumbo and Boeing 787 Dreamliner at London's Heathrow Airport.
The planes represent twin milestones for BA and are part of an upgrade to the airline's long-distance fleet, which will include retiring the older and less fuel-efficient Boeing 747-400 jumbos.
British Airway's fleet modernisation program also includes six new Boeing 777-300ERs along with orders for a further 18 Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350 jets.
British Airways will fly its Boeing 787 to Toronto beginning 1 September 2013 with London - Newark following on 1 October 2013.
British Airway's Airbus A380 is slated for flights from London to Los Angeles from 15 October 2013 and Hong Kong from 15 November 2013.
BRITISH AIRWAYS INTRODUCES FIRST CHAUFFEUR DRIVE
British Airways offers a free chauffeur service for its First Class customers flying from Sydney. Passengers travelling on BA15 and BA16 will have a Jaguar shuttle them in style to and from Sydney International Airport, provided their reservation has been sold and ticketed in Australia.
The free service covers a 50km radius from Sydney International Airport, with an additional $5 p/km charge for travel beyond that boundary.
Customers will need to reserve the chauffeur service at least 48 hours prior to departure. |
EVA AIRWAYS JOINS STAR ALLIANCE
 Taiwan's EVA Air formally enters the Star Alliance network, joining the likes of Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines and Air New Zealand in the world's largest airline alliance.
Travellers on EVA flights will enjoy reciprocal access to the airport lounges of its new Star siblings, along with other perks such as priority check-in, preferred seating and extra luggage allowance, plus point-sharing through EVA's frequent flyer scheme, which has undergone a change of name from Evergreen Club to Infinity Mileage Lands.
EVA is Taiwan's second-largest carrier behind China Airlines. The airline counts Brisbane as its sole Australian port, with twice -weekly flights between Brisbane and Taipei. |
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THREE OF THE BEST
This month Fiona Thorrington, Senior Consultant at our Central Coast office presents her three of the best.
 Airline Product: EMIRATES
Emirates were recently awarded the coveted 'World's Best Airline' for 2013 by Skytrax and they have certainly got my vote. I flew with them through to see my family in Zurich in December last year and they certainly deliver a superior flying experience. I admit, I wasn't relishing the thought of a 23 hour flight in Economy Class, however from their modern A380 Aircraft with spacious designed seats, excellent cabin service, tasty meals and state of the art entertainment system (1500 channels), it made it that much easier. Emirates do offer three cabins across their fleet, First, Business & Economy. On Emirates many A380 Aircraft, there are your own Private First Class Suites and also their Signature Shower Spa, so you can arrive completely refreshed. In Business Class, your seat converts to a fully flat bed at a touch of a button, has in seat power supply and extra-large table that can be utilized workspace if needed. On many of their aircraft, First & Business class also have the unique feature of an on-board lounge where you can stretch out or mingle while snacking on a selection of hors d'oeurves and beverages. They also offer their First & Business class passengers a complimentary chauffer drive product, which takes you to and from your Emirates flights. I can also vouch for their unaccompanied/ young traveller programme as the year previously we nervously waived off our 15 year old daughter to Zurich to spend time with her cousins. We needn't have worried, as they looked after her the whole way and they even have their own young traveller transit lounge in Dubai filled with computers, games and snacks. Their ever expanding network throughout the world and the their hub of magical Dubai - perfect for a stopover, truly makes Emirates Airlines quite impossible to beat!
 Destination: THE RIVIERA MAYA
"The Riviera Maya" or Mexico's Caribbean coast on the Yucatan Peninsula is a favourite of mine for many reasons. The white powdery sand & warm turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea , world class resorts , the mouth-watering food , the rich history of the ancient Mayan culture , it is a destination that has something for EVERYONE. The most popular tourist destinations along the coasts are Cancun and Playa Del Carman and my husband and I split our 8 days between the two with 4 nights in Cancun and 4 nights in Playa. You arrive via the international airport of Cancun which is an easy 20 min taxi ride to one of the hundreds of resorts it has on offer. With its electric nightlife, great shopping, numerous water sports and Mexican hospitality, you can't help but get right into the spirit of fun. Playa is an hour by road south of Cancun and has all that Cancun has to offer, however a little less populated and definitely slower paced, more laid back if you like. It was great to have the balance of both. While visiting the Riviera Maya, a trip to Chichen Itza, a large city built by the Mayan Civilisation dominated by the Kulkulkan Pyramid and now one of the Seven Wonders of the World it is not to be missed. Also a must, is a visit to the stunning town of "Tulum", a Mayan walled city where the ruins are situated on top of 40ft tall cliffs, overlooking the picturesque coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and Caribbean Sea. The Yucatan Peninsula has a unique feature in that it has over 7000 "Cenotes" which are a natural deep sinkholes in limestone caves with a pool at the bottom which some are open to visitors for swimming in - a great experience but not for the faint hearted as climbing down those caves can be quite a challenge. The Riviera Maya is a touch of paradise found, a complete holiday destination on its own but with its close proximity also a great addition to any USA vacation.
 Hotel / Resort: THE CONRAD TOKYO
The Conrad Tokyo was my home for a couple of nights last year while on my trip to Japan and it can only be described as superb. It's a 5 star contemporary & luxurious hotel located on the 28 - 37 Floor of the Tokyo Shiodome in the Minato District of bustling Tokyo. The location of the hotel is fabulous. For the tourist, the hotel is steps from away from Ginza, a vibrant shopping , dining and entertainment district of Tokyo and a short stroll from the world famous Tsukiji Fish Markets, for the Corporate traveller , shidome is home to many of Japan's major companies and a thriving business district. The Conrad's 290 Guest Suites are incredibly spacious and technically sophisticated. I stayed in one of their lead in categories "King Bayview Room". The décor is luxe and a huge 48sq metered in size. From the comfort of the bed with the finest linens, to marble bathroom with huge free standing bath, I think my favourite part of the room was the lounge that was the whole length of the picture windows so you can sit and watch the activity of the bay during the day and the spectacular light show of Tokyo in the evening. Breakfast in the mornings was served ala carte and an experience in itself and not to be missed. The hotel also boasts two restaurants, Michelin star restaurant "China Blue" & also "Kazahana" with Japanese Cuisine. I loved the sophisticated sky scrapper bar "Twenty Eight "which had a great selection of wines, cocktails with live music and again with jaw dropping views over Tokyo. The hotel has an Executive Club and a renowned indulgent Day Spa. The attention to detail and the service in all facets of the hotel was second to none. The Conrad brand is part of the Hilton chain and the brand describes itself as "A world of style, service and connection for today's sophisticated traveller " and The Conrad Tokyo certainly lives up to that and more! |
HERTZ ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE ARRANGEMENTS WITH BMW
 Hertz is thrilled to become the exclusive car rental supplier of BMWs in Australia as part of their ongoing commitment to provide customers with a premier rental experience.
Hertz offers four of the German car manufacturer's most popular premium lifestyle models, as part of the Hertz Prestige Collection.
Models on fleet with Hertz include:
- BMW 1 Series 5-door hatch
- BMW 3 Series sedan
- BMW X3 SUV
- BMW X5 SUV
All four models feature innovative technologies from BMW's 'Efficient Dynamics' stable, which reduce fuel consumption and boost performance.
Hertz now also offers Mobile Wi-Fi online. By booking Hertz Mobile Wi-Fi with their car rentals, customers can avoid paying exorbitant roaming fees. With Hertz Mobile Wi-Fi, they can enjoy the freedom of accessing the internet in their car, hotel or café... or wherever they fancy! The units support up to five different users and allow for 150MB a day.
For those of you looking to hit the slopes in New Zealand this winter, Hertz will offer a complimentary days car hire if you book for 5 days or more until 30 September 2013. Hertz has a range of ski-appropriate vehicles available for hire, as well as ski accessories including racks and chains. |
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM FOR PETS
 Velocity Frequent Flyer, the award-winning loyalty program of Virgin Australia launched Australia's first frequent flyer program for pets.
Velocity members can now earn 300 points each time their dog or cat flies on Virgin Australia's domestic network. Silver, Gold and Platinum members will also receive a special Points bonus.
Building on the program's unique family benefits, the frequent flyer program for pets makes Velocity the only program in Australia to recognise and reward four legged members of the family.
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA UPGRADES AT THE DOMESTIC LOUNGES
Effective immediately, Velocity Frequent Flyer members who are eligible to access the Virgin Australia Lounge are able to request for flight upgrades using their Velocity points at Virgin Australia Lounges in Australia on the day of their flight departure. Conditions apply. |
| NEWS FROM THE EVENTS AUTHORITY |
EXCLUSIVE CONFERENCE PACKAGE AT PEPPERS MANOR HOUSE
Book a residential conference with a minimum of 40 guest rooms and receive exclusive use of the enitre property for the duration of your event!
 From only $1500.00 per day
Highlights:
Enjoy morning and afternoon teas.
Play Peppers giant Chess & Checkers set.
Enjoy Croquet and High Tea within the grounds.
Kick back around the campfire sipping on port, hot chocolate & toasting marshmallows.
*Conditions apply: Subject to availability. Valid for new bookings only for conference booked and held before 30/06/14. Accommodation, day delegates and catering packages apply. |
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QANTAS GLOBAL ECONOMY CLASS DEAL
INCLUDING TAXES AND FEES
 SYDNEY - NADI (FIJI)
From $332.00* per person/ one way
(Amex Points 33,200** per person)
SYDNEY - CHRISTCHURCH
From $288.00* per person/ one way
(Amex Points 28,800** per person)
SYDNEY - TOKYO
From $1355.00*per person
(Amex Points 135,500** per person)
Please contact us for more information.
*Conditions apply: Fares to Nadi are on sale until 31 May 2014. Travel dates for Nadi are from 04 July 2013 - 31 May 2014. Fares for Christchurch are on sale until 31 May 2014. Travel dates for Christchurch are from 04 July 2013 - 31 May 2014. Fares to Tokyo are on sale until 13 August 2013. Travel dates for Tokyo are from 11July 2013 to 18 September 2013, 07 October 2013 to 13 November 2013, 16 February 2014 to 10 April 2014, 28 April 2014 to 31 May 2014, 04 July 2014 to 10 July 2014.
**Higher Amex Membership Reward points apply to Business Ascent tier and David Jones Cards only. |
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ADINA APARTMENT HOTEL BONDI BEACH
Stay at Bondi's hottest new address. Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach is located on Hall Street, the hip-strip of Bondi that leads to Australia's most iconic beach.
Set amongst a diverse mecca of vibrant restaurants, shops and seaside cool, the commanding position of the apartment hotel allows guests to soak up all the glamour and lifestyle that Bondi offers.
The hotel is complete with all of the features Adina guests have come to know and love, including premium lifestyle facilities such as a pool, gym and yoga room. A two minute stroll will have your toes in the white sand and aqua waters of Bondi Beach!
 OPENING SPECIAL
From $159.00* per night
(Amex Points 15,900** per person)
Please contact us for further information.
*Conditions apply: Book by 31 August 2013 and stay until 31 August 2013. Price is subject to availability.
**Higher Amex Membership Reward points apply to Business Ascent tier and David Jones Cards only.
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SHANGRI-LA FIJI MIDYEAR SPECIAL
SHANGRI-LA FIJIAN RESORT FIJI
From $1199.00* per person
(Amex points 119,900** per person)
This package includes:
Economy return airfares from Sydney to Nadi
6 nights in a Superior Lagoon View room
Breakfast daily
Return airport transfers
Please contact us for further information.
*Conditions apply: Subject to availability. Sale until 15 August 2013. Travel dates 21 July 2013 till 31 March 2014. Blackout dates: 20September 2013 to 12 October 2013 and 26 December 2013 - 05January 2014.
**Higher Amex Membership Reward points apply to Business Ascent tier and David Jones Cards only. |
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2014 WORLD CUP CRUISES SOUTH AMERICA
MIAMI - RIO DE JANEIRO
From $1139.00* per person
(Amex Points 113,900** per person)
18 Day cruise on the MSC Divinia
Departing Miami 24 May 2013
Ports of call: Charlotte Amalie,
Bridgetown, Saint George, Port of Spain, Fortaleza, Salvador De Bahia, Iheus,
Rio De Janeiro
*Terms and Conditions apply.
**Higher Amex Membership Reward points apply to Business Ascent tier and David Jones Cards only. |
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CLUB MED'S PREMIUM ALL INCLUSIVE SUMMER HOLIDAYS
BINTAN ISLAND INDONESIA 
7 NIGHTS LAND PACKAGE
From $1455.00* per person
(Amex Points 145,500** per person)
This package includes:
Twin share Superior accommodation
Dining on sumptuous buffet & gourmet cuisine
Bar drinks and snacks throughout your stay
Sports & Leisure
Supervised activities & childcare for little ones.
Please contact us for further information.
*Conditions apply: Rates are seasonal. For sale until 01September 2013 and require a minimum of 7 nights. Please check with our office for full list of conditions.
**Higher Amex Membership Reward points apply to Business Ascent tier and David Jones Cards only.
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PRINCESS CRUISES NEW CRUISE SHIP - THE ROYAL PRINCESS
GRAND MEDITERRANEAN
12 DAYS FROM VENICE TO BARCELONA
From $2899.00* per person
(Amex Points 289,900** per person)
Cruise on board the Royal Princess in a Balcony State Room, including all meals on board for this amazing inclusive offer.
Please contact us for further information.
*Conditions apply: Please note that prices are listed per person and based on double occupancy. Prices are subject to change based on availability. Prices shown in AUD. Departure is 15 September 2013. Government Fees and Taxes are included.
**Higher Amex Membership Reward points apply to Business Ascent tier and David Jones Cards only. |
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CALL US TODAY ON 1300 WE KNOW (935 669) |
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