Tag: baggage (Page 2 of 3)

What to Expect From Air New Zealand at Alert Level One

June 8, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Air New Zealand has shared what customers can expect while travelling with the airline when the country moves to Alert Level 1. These changes will be progressively rolled out over the coming days.

Air New Zealand General Manager Customer Experience Nikki Goodman says Alert Level 1 will mark a return to normal with regards to domestic flying.

“Social distancing is no longer a requirement, unaccompanied minors will once again be able to travel domestically, and customers will be able to travel around New Zealand again with pets as checked baggage.

“Customers are still encouraged to check-in for their flight via the Air New Zealand mobile app to save time at the airport. We recommend allowing plenty of time to process through the airport as we expect to see more people travelling at this level. As we’ve adapted our processes to support customers through Alert Level 2, we’ve gained some great insight into changes that we will adopt going forward, and customers can expect to see some of these as they travel.

“Our domestic lounges are open except for Auckland Domestic, which is undergoing refurbishment, and Wellington and Christchurch regional lounges which remain closed at this stage. Hot food will be available again and served to our customers, while other food will be pre-portioned and available at the buffet. Inflight, customers would have noticed our food and beverage service resumed under Alert Level 2 with the exception of Koru Hour. We are working closely with our partners and suppliers to bring this back over the coming weeks.

“As always, our top priority is ensuring we keep our customers and people safe, so high touch surfaces on board and in our lounges and airport spaces will continue to be cleaned regularly. Our jet aircraft are fitted with hospital-grade air systems that filter out viruses, and hand sanitiser will continue to be available across the airport, kiosks, service desks and all our aircraft for customers and staff to use as they wish.

“As we get back into more frequent flying, please be patient with us, as our contact centre and customer care teams continue to receive a high volume of enquiries. If your travel isn’t urgent, we’d appreciate if you would wait to contact us so that those with imminent travel can be prioritised. We’re thrilled to welcome more people on board, but please remember to be kind to our frontline employees – and if you are unwell or have Covid-19 symptoms please do not travel.”

Further details on the customer journey for Alert Level 1 can be found on the COVID-19 hub on the Air New Zealand website.

The airline plans to operate around 55 percent of its usual domestic capacity (compared to pre-COVID-19 levels) from July and August. On Monday the airline began operating to all 20 of the domestic ports it previously flew to.

Emirates to Operate Limited Passenger Flights in May

May 4, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Emirates is set to operate limited passenger services to Frankfurt (02, 04, 06, 09, 11, 13 May), London Heathrow (03, 05, 07, 10, 12, 14 May), Manila (3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 16 May), Sao Paulo (3 May), and Shanghai (2 May). The one-way special flights will facilitate travel for residents and visitors wishing to return home.

Those who wish to travel to Shanghai must contact the embassy or consulate of the People’s Republic of China in the UAE. For all other flights, passengers can book directly on emirates.com or via their travel agent.

Only citizens of the destination countries, and those who meet the entry requirements of the destination will be allowed to board. Customers will be required to follow all health and safety measures required by the UAE authorities and the country of destination.

Similar to other repatriation flights that Emirates has operated thus far, for health and safety reasons, the airline will offer a modified inflight service that reduces contact, and the risk of infection. Magazines and print reading material will not be available. Meals on-board will be served in hygienic prepacked meal boxes, offering customers sandwiches, beverages, snacks, and desserts. A selection of hot snacks will also be served on long-haul flights.

Emirates’ Lounge and Chauffeur Drive services will be temporarily unavailable during this period and in-flight Wi-Fi service is available for purchase only. On board Emirates’ flights, seats are pre-allocated where possible with vacant seats placed between individual passengers or family groups in observance of physical distancing protocols. More information is available on emirates.com.

Cabin baggage will not be accepted on these flights. Carry-on items allowed in the cabin will be limited to laptop, handbag, briefcase or baby items. All other items have to be checked in, and Emirates will add the cabin baggage allowance to customers’ check-in baggage allowance.

Passengers are required to apply social distancing guidelines during their journey and wear their own masks when at the airport and on board the aircraft. Travellers should arrive at Dubai International airport Terminal 3 for check-in, three hours before departure. Emirates’ check-in counters will only process passengers holding confirmed bookings to the above destinations.

All Emirates aircraft will go through enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes in Dubai, after each journey.

Amtrak Announces Updated Fares for Increased Savings

February 24, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

On March 1, 2020, Amtrak is launching a series of updates to provide customers more options for savings. Amtrak is offering deeply discounted tickets and reduced fares. Keep an eye out for a variety of new, ultra-low Saver Fares in cities including Orlando, Tampa and South Florida —making travel a breeze in the Sunshine State. Discounted Coach fares start at just $9 – a savings of up to 50% off the base fare. Look for more of these offers on March 2!

To make these lowered fares feasible, Amtrak is implementing a few more restrictions on tickets. In an effort to better fit each customer’s need, Amtrak is revising the following:

Saver Fares: Our most discounted fares offered with the most restrictions – including no changes, upgrades or cancelations 24 hours after purchase.
Value Fares: Our standard fare offered with some restrictions – a fee may apply for cancelations or changes made within 14 days of departure.*
Flexible Fares: Our fare with the most flexibility built-in – including the ability to make no-fee changes and receive a full refund up to the moment of departure.

All fares include an array of amenities that come with Amtrak – including downtown-to-downtown service, no middle seat, ample legroom, the ability to earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points and one of the most generous baggage policies in travel. The change fee will not be applied to multiride, Rail Pass, pass riders, group reservations, sleeping accommodations, Acela First Class/non-Acela Business class, Flexible Fares, Unreserved Coach, corporate, Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Executive members, government fare plans and the first change to a reservation made prior to March 1, 2020.

*The change fee will not apply to Value fares if the customer is adding to an existing reservation (booked prior to March 1) or upgrading on the same train and day as the original reservation.

Brazil’s Gol Shares Jump on American Codeshare Agreement

February 4, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

SAO PAULO, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Shares in Brazil’s Gol rose as much as 5.5% on Tuesday after the budget airline said it had signed a codeshare agreement with American Airlines.

“When this is approved by Brazilian and U.S. authorities, Gol’s new codeshare will allow its customers to connect to more than 30 destinations in the USA,” Gol said in a statement, adding that American will now offer more U.S.-South American flights than anyone else.

The flights will operate from Gol’s hubs in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Fortaleza, and will be added to current regular flights to Miami and Orlando.

Investors cheered the news, pushing Gol’s shares up as much as 5.5% to 36.25 reais, making it one of the biggest gainers on the Ibovespa. At midday in Sao Paulo trading, Gol shares were up 4.6% and the benchmark index was up 1.5%.

“The partnership will increase the quantity and quality of its flights, offering the more daily flights between South America and the United States than any other partner,” analysts at Guide Investimento said in a client note on Tuesday.

The agreement will make it easier for customers to purchase flights for both airlines using a single reservation. It will also integrate check-in, boarding and baggage checking throughout the trip, and include the air miles program.

(Reporting by Paula Laier Writing by Jamie McGeever Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Emirates to Expand Reach in Mexico Via Enhanced Agreement with Interjet Airlines

December 5, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline and Interjet Airlines, one of the fastest growing airlines in North America, have announced an enhanced interline agreement, which is set to open new routes and destinations for passengers travelling between Mexico, the Gulf and Middle East and beyond.

With a single ticket, Emirates’ passengers can now seamlessly connect via Mexico City onto Interjet flights to Leon/Guanajuato, Culiacan, Cancun, Chihuahua, Guadalajara, Merida, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, Tampico, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Tijuana and Villahermosa. Similarly, Interjet’s customers will be able to travel with great ease to Emirates’ destinations within the Middle East, Spain, South East Asia, the Far East and North Africa.

“We’re pleased to establish a partnership with Interjet Airlines, allowing Emirates passengers to benefit from increased choice, flexibility and ease of connection to different cities within Mexico and to regional international points beyond. This partnership further demonstrates our commitment to Mexico for the long run, as we continue to look at ways to build our operations in the market to best serve our customers,” said Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer.

“While the interline agreement is only the start of our collaboration, we’re looking forward to explore more mutual opportunities and a wider scope of partnership in the near future,” he added.

Emirates’ partnership with Interjet started in April 2019 with a one-way Interline agreement, allowing passengers from Emirates’ 12 US gateways to travel to Mexico City on Interjet flights. With the expanded partnership agreement, Emirates’ passengers can now tap into Interjet’s strong domestic presence in Mexico and access 12 destinations beyond Mexico City. The enhanced agreement with Interjet Airlines also provides Emirates’ customers choice of over 15 regional international destinations beyond Mexico City.

“Since our initial interline agreement in April 2019, Interjet’s relationship with Emirates has truly been a success,” said Julio Gamero, Interjet’s Chief Commercial Officer. “This enhanced agreement, provides travelers from both airlines access to a broader network not only with more flight choices, but for Emirates customers, access to more of Mexico with our many domestic connections from Mexico City. When you combine this with seamless reservations, one-stop check-in with baggage checked to the final destination, more legroom between seats and Interjet’s outstanding on-board service, it’s easy to see why this agreement is a win-win for both airlines,” he added.

Starting 9 December 2019, Emirates will launch its new daily service from Dubai (DXB) to Mexico City International Airport (MEX), via the Spanish city of Barcelona (BCN). Effective XXX 2019, Interjet customers can start booking their trips through Emirates’ website, Online Travel Agencies (OTA’s) or travel agents, benefiting from the convenience of holding a single ticket with a single baggage policy.

Collins Aerospace SelfPass Biometric Solution to Streamline Boarding Process at Las Vegas International Gates

September 28, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland – Passengers traveling through Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport can look forward to a new streamlined journey with Collins Aerospace Systems’ SelfPass™ biometric solution. The solution, which is set to be installed at all of McCarran’s international gates, and will be available for demonstration at the Annual Airports Council International-North America conference this week in Tampa, Florida. Collins Aerospace is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

With SelfPass, there is no pre-registration required. Passengers simply step up to the camera for a facial scan to validate their identity against the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Traveler Verification Service, which retrieves their boarding details, and they then proceed to board the aircraft through the auto boarding gate.

“We have a 20-year history of successfully collaborating with McCarran Airport and we’re ready to help them streamline the passenger journey even further with expanded use of our SelfPass biometric solution,” said Christopher Forrest, vice president of Global Airport Systems for Collins Aerospace. “SelfPass takes less than one second to capture and process a passenger’s facial image and eliminates the need to repeatedly present travel documents, making the process more efficient for both passengers, airlines and airports.”

SelfPass is already live with one airline following a trial throughout the summer. Wider deployment of SelfPass is set to commence in November with the addition of a second airline. In all, 19 airlines will be operational when the installation is complete.

In additional to SelfPass, Collins Aerospace has been a long term provider of other key solutions that improve efficiencies at McCarran Airport. The ARINC MUSE Common-use passenger processing solution enables multiple airlines to share check-in desks and departure gates, the ARINC BagLink™ supports efficient and accurate baggage sorting and loading, and ARINC supplies self-service kiosks throughout the facility.

Spirit Airlines Adds Two New California Routes to Las Vegas

June 20, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Partners with Airport to Debut First Self Bag Drop System

MIRAMAR, Fla., June 20, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Spirit Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Las Vegas, continues its investment in the Entertainment Capital of the World with the addition of two new cities to the Spirit network: Burbank and Sacramento. On June 20, Spirit launched nonstop flights between McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF), each running three times daily. Spirit will now have 55 daily departures from Las Vegas to 29 different destinations.

In partnership with McCarran International Airport, Spirit Airlines also debuted the airport’s first automated self-service bag drop system. Located in the ticketing concourse of Terminal 1, it allows Guests to expedite their check-in experience by paying for and tagging their own bags on the airport’s kiosks. Travelers then proceed directly to newly installed automated bag belts to present their identification and drop their bags. Automated self-service bag drop systems, widely adopted in Europe, highlight the airport and airline’s shared vision of allowing more Guests to customize and control their travel experience.

“We are pleased to partner with Spirit Airlines as we pilot this new automated self-service bag drop system at McCarran International Airport,” said Director of Aviation Rosemary Vassiliadis. “As a 100 percent common-use airport, we have a long history of introducing new, customer-focused technologies geared toward enhancing the passenger experience. We look forward to this rollout with Spirit and to expanding this service to more areas of our operation in the near future.”

“Our growth and investment in Las Vegas has been an ongoing mission for Spirit Airlines,” said Mike Byrom, Spirit Airlines’ Vice President of Airport Services. “Our partnership with McCarran International Airport to install the first automated self-service bag drop system in Las Vegas is a clear message that we are thinking about every facet of our Guest experience with innovative and forward-thinking solutions to elevate our service.”

In addition to Sacramento and Burbank, Spirit will soon be adding Nashville to its network, which will include nonstop service to and from Las Vegas. As of July 2019, Spirit will have grown nearly 50 percent in Las Vegas compared to its capacity only two years earlier. The airline now employs more than 1,000 people in Las Vegas, and Spirit’s rapid expansion has created nearly 300 additional jobs in the last two years.

“We’re delighted by the growth of direct service to Las Vegas by our partners at Spirit Airlines,” said Chris Meyer, Vice President of Global Sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “In the past year, Spirit has added direct service from five new markets, conveniently and affordably connecting both business and leisure travelers to our destination. Whether you’re visiting for work or play, Vegas changes everything by taking every experience to a new level, and we’re thrilled about the opportunity to continually reach more travelers across the country.”

VIDEO B-ROLL: https://youtu.be/eLchQp1X5wg

About Spirit Airlines:

Spirit Airlines (SAV E) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows every Guest to pay only for the options they choose — like bags, seat assignments and refreshments — something we call À La Smarte. We make it possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than ever before. Our Fit Fleet® is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the U.S. We operate more than 600 daily flights to 76 destinations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, and are dedicated to giving back and improving the communities we serve. Come save with us at spirit.com. At Spirit Airlines, we go. We go for you.

American Airlines Eliminates Some Oversized Bag Fees

May 21, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FORT WORTH, Texas — As the busy summer travel period quickly approaches, American Airlines has announced changes to its policies regarding oversize sports and music equipment. American is eliminating oversize bag fees for common sports and music equipment, effective for travel on or after May 21. The updated policies, which will be music to the ears of musicians who fly on American, will also ensure that customers can more easily pursue active and healthy lifestyles wherever their travels may take them, without having to pay additional oversize bag fees.

Customers can check common oversize sports and music equipment as standard baggage, up to the maximum allowed dimensions and within the weight requirements. Refer to the full policy for additional information.

What you should know

• Based on feedback from our customers and American team members, American is eliminating the charge for common oversize sports and music equipment — up to the maximum size we accept for these items. The change is effective for travel on or after May 21.
• American will accept these oversize items as a standard checked bag without an additional oversize charge.
• The checked oversize bag counts toward a customer’s normal baggage allowance. For example, customers traveling within the United States, who used to pay $150 to check one oversize item such as a surfboard, will now pay $30 — the cost of a standard first bag — if the weight is less than 50 lbs. Customers traveling with skis or a snowboard will now be able to check in an equipment bag with the skis or snowboard as one bag (up to 50 lbs./62 in.).
• Due to special handling requirements, oversize items such as antlers, hang gliders, scuba tanks and kite/windsurfing items will continue to incur a flat $150 fee.
• Additional allowances/restrictions may apply based on destination, class of service, elite status, active U.S. military members or AAdvantage® cardmembers (on domestic American-operated itineraries). For more information, visit aa.com/checkedbags.

About American Airlines Group

American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, whose members serve more than 1,000 destinations with about 14,250 daily flights to over 150 countries. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. In 2015, its stock joined the S&P 500 index.

Studio ORD Selected to Design New O’Hare Terminal

April 2, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

The expansion project at Chicago O’Hare is expected to cost $8.5 billion and is hoped to increase the ease with which passengers travel through the terminal, increasing the passenger experience.

The City of Chicago has announced the selection of an architect team to lead the design of the unprecedented $8.5 billion expansion programme for O’Hare International Airport. Studio ORD has been selected to design the new O’Hare Global Terminal and Global Concourse. Studio ORD will work with the City of Chicago and the airlines to design the new Global Terminal and Concourse.

Click the link below for the full story! https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/83778/studio-ord-design-chicago-terminal/

Azul and Copa Airlines Announce Codeshare Agreement

November 8, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

Customers can conveniently connect to Azul’s unrivaled domestic network when flying
Copa into and out of Brazil; in addition to the codeshare agreement, Azul and Copa also
announce today the launch of their frequent flyer cooperation agreement.

São Paulo, November 8, 2018 – Azul Brazilian Airlines and Copa Airlines have announced today a broad cooperation agreement that will connect the two largest route networks in Latin and South America. As part of this agreement, customers can conveniently connect to Azul’s unrivaled domestic network when flying Copa into and out of Brazil. This agreement means that Copa customers can now potentially access all of Azul’s 101
domestic destinations in Brazil, including 52 destinations not served by any other airline. In the near future, Azul will also place its code on Copa flights into and out of its Panama city hub, allowing Azul’s domestic customers to take advantage of the broadest network in Latin America. The benefits and convenience of a codeshare ticket include those of thru check-in and thru-baggage.

In addition to the codeshare agreement, Azul and Copa also announce today the launch of their frequent flyer cooperation agreement. Starting in December, members’ of TudoAzul, Azul’s loyalty program, and ConnectMiles, Copa’s loyalty program can now easily earn frequent flyer points when flying either airline.

“Copa Airlines is always looking for partnerships to offer the best travel experience and enhance our route network for our customers. This new partnership with Azul reinforces the company’s presence in Brazil as well as expands our connectivity domestically in this important country”, said Dennis Cary, Commercial and Planning Senior Vice President, Copa Airlines.

“This codeshare agreement also allows us to offer more flight options to major cities in the Brazilian southeastern and northeastern regions to which we currently do not fly and which, through our Hub of the Americas, will be connected with Panama and the rest of the American continent bringing more opportunities and economic development to these cities”, added Cary.

Operational excellence is embedded deep within the DNA of both Copa and Azul. “In addition to the broad portfolio of destinations, this codeshare brings together two of the most on-time airline in the world. Copa is the most on-time airline in Latin America while Azul is the most punctual in Brazil. This ensures the best possible experience for our connecting customers”, highlights Shah.

Once the agreement is approved by the regulatory authorities, Customers of both airlines will be able to enjoy all these benefits.

Story from voeazul.com

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