Qantas will open a temporary lounge to cater for eligible customers travelling between Sydney and London via Darwin from next month.
It follows the recent announcement that Qantas’ flagship Australia to United Kingdom route would operate via Darwin once Australia’s international borders open on 1 November until at least April 2022 due to WA border closures.
Qantas will lease Darwin International Airport’s Catalina lounge, which will have space for approximately 100 guests utilising existing furniture and fittings. The offering will feature:
Service delivered by local Qantas lounge team members, including a signature welcome mocktail (Top End Lemonade) and refreshing cold towels.
Generous lounge and dining areas with a serviced buffet
Tailored menus for time of day, drawing on local culinary influences such as a Darwin markets inspired Asian style soup.
Premium Australian wines, beers and non-alcoholic drinks offered by a dedicated bar attendant
Power points through the space to recharge on the fly
Bathroom facilities
Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer, Stephanie Tully, said the national carrier is delighted to work with Darwin International Airport to ensure a comfortable transit experience for its top tier frequent flyers and customers travelling in Business Class.
Customers eligible to visit the Qantas Darwin International Transit Lounge include:
Platinum One, Platinum, Gold Qantas Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members
Customers travelling in Business Class
Eligible oneworld partner members
Qantas will also reopen its Sydney International First Lounge from 1 November and its London and Los Angeles lounges in December. In the interim few weeks of operation, eligible Qantas customers will be able to visit the British Airways T3 Lounge at London Heathrow and the Star Alliance Lounge at Tom Bradley International Terminal in LA. Other international lounges will reopen to align with the return of further international routes.
Mexico City, February 19, 2021- Aeromexico has signed agreements with four medical laboratories, in addition to the two it already formalized to offer discounts and other benefits on Covid-19 tests for customers with a valid reservation with the airline or partner Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL).
Operating in Monterrey and metropolitan area:
Laboratorios Dr. Moreira with 28 Covid-19 branches.
Swisslab Laboratorio de Analisis Clínicos with 19 Covid-19 branches. Operating in Mexico City and metropolitan area:
Olive Diagnosticos Medicos with 22 Covid-19 branches.
Biomedica with 13 Covid-19 locations.
In addition to special discounts for PCR and Rapid tests for Antigen Detection, customers will have access to other benefits: an exclusive helpline for Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines clients, bilingual advisors, delivery of results in Spanish or English, and at-home service. Club Premier members will also have an exclusive phone line and at-home service at no additional cost.
The results will be delivered 24 hours for PCR tests and 30 minutes for Rapid tests for Antigen Detection.
Laboratorio Medico del Chopo and LAPI Laboratorio Medico continue to offer their services with specific benefits for Aeromexico and Delta passengers.
Aeromexico recommends customers with an international flight to check the destinations’ requirements at the following link: Country Requirements
To consult the details of laboratories’ agreements, click on Laboratory Alliances
USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards announced their list of best airlines, airline amenities and airports of 2021 – naming Delta (NYSE: DAL) the best airline for American travelers, the Delta Sky Club at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York as the best airport lounge and Delta flight attendants as the best cabin crew.
Nominees in all categories are chosen editorially by a panel of experts. Once the nominees were selected, readers could vote once per category, per day for four weeks. The winners indicate which airlines, airline amenities and airports make getting to your destination a pleasure rather than a pain.
The Delta Sky Club at New York-JFK features a Sky Deck overlooking Terminal 4, free WiFi, fresh food, premium drinks and more. During the ongoing pandemic, guests can expect to see a new standard of Club cleanliness that includes the same Delta CareStandard practices found throughout the airport and onboard aircraft. This includes but is not limited to: individually packaged fresh food options; plexiglass partitions at check-in, at the bar and between seating areas; limited capacity and blocked seats to promote more space; and enhanced cleaning measures. Learn more on delta.com
In September 2020, the airline opened its newest and largest Delta Sky Club as a part of Salt Lake City International Airport’s newly opened terminal. Delta’s support of the new Salt Lake City Airport build is part of the airline’s ongoing strategy to modernize our hub infrastructure and customer experience by investing more than $12B in airport projects.
American Airlines is recognizing the loyalty of AAdvantage® members by extending their elite status amid reduced travel related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Changes include:
Extending elite status for AAdvantage members until Jan. 31, 2022.
Reducing elite status qualifications for 2020.
Extending Admirals Club® memberships purchased from American for 6 months.*
Introducing up to $400 special credits for future travel on American Airlines Vacations packages for elite members.**
Every dollar spent on an eligible AAdvantage co-branded credit card through the end of 2020 will count for one mile toward Million Miler℠ status.
Award reinstatement fees waived for travel through September 2020.
“We are grateful to our AAdvantage members and want to show them that loyalty is a two-way street,” said Bridget Blaise-Shamai, Vice President of Customer Loyalty & Insights and President of the AAdvantage program. “When people are ready to fly again, we will be there to help them reconnect with loved ones, friends and colleagues.”
Extended AAdvantage elite status
AAdvantage members will automatically receive an extension of their current elite status through Jan. 31, 2022. These updates will be reflected in member accounts in a few weeks.
Admirals Club membership extension
Admirals Club memberships and One-Day Passes purchased from the airline will be automatically extended for 6 months beyond their expiration date as part of American’s effort to care for customers.*
American Airlines Vacations credit
Elite members will also receive a special credit up to $400 to use toward an American Airlines Vacations package, giving customers something to look forward to when travel resumes. Customers can receive the credit when they call American Airlines Vacations to book a trip. Members can learn more by visiting aa.com.**
Making it easier to earn elite status
Lowered elite qualification requirements
The airline has lowered AAdvantage elite qualification requirements for all of 2020. AAdvantage members will achieve status more easily during the current elite qualifying year through lower Elite Qualifying Dollar (EQD), Elite Qualifying Mile (EQM) and Elite Qualifying Segment (EQS) requirements.
Reduced qualifications for Executive Platinum rewards
Members who qualify for Executive Platinum status previously received a choice of one reward upon reaching 150,000, 200,000 and 250,000 EQMs. Lowered EQM requirements in 2020 will now make these rewards more attainable.
The above changes will take effect by May 15, 2020.
$1 spent on eligible AAdvantage credit cards equals 1 mile toward Million Miler status
For all Citi®/AAdvantage and AAdvantage Aviator® products, as well as select AAdvantage credit cards outside of the United States, every dollar spent on net purchases that post to your AAdvantage account between May and December 2020 will count as one mile toward Million Miler status.
Making travel more flexible
Waived award reinstatement fees for travel
The airline is also giving members more flexibility with waived reinstatement and change charges for awards booked by May 31, 2020 for travel through September 30, 2020.
Award travel ticketed on or after June 1, 2020 will include free changes if made at least 60 days in advance. A new variable fee structure based on elite status and days before departure will apply to any changes made fewer than 60 days in advance:
More information about these updates is available on aa.com. Customers and AAdvantage members with questions about other actions regarding COVID-19 should visit www.aa.com/coronavirus.
*The membership extension applies to all active members as of March 1, 2020. New annual Admirals Club memberships purchased between March 1 and May 31, 2020 will also be extended for 6 months beyond the normal 12 months. For Admirals Club One-Day Passes, the extension applies to any unused passes with an expiration date between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021.
**Terms and conditions apply. Note only U.S. point of origin bookings.
Medallion Members will be able to enjoy their current Status through 2021
Other program and card benefits will be extended between six months and one year
Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members will enjoy the same loyalty benefits throughout 2021 as they have in 2020. The 12-month Status extension is part of Delta’s work to offer greater flexibility as coronavirus impacts travel plans, so customers can rest assured their Status will be there when they’re ready to fly.
“On behalf of all of us at Delta, I want to thank our customers for your continued loyalty during these unprecedented times. While our focus is on keeping customers and employees safe and healthy today and always, you are a part of the Delta family and we know how important these benefits are to you,” said Sandeep Dube, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Customer Engagement and Loyalty, and CEO of Delta Vacations. “That’s why as coronavirus continues to dramatically impact travel across the globe, you don’t have to worry about your benefits – they’ll be extended so you can enjoy them when you are ready to travel again.”
The following updates will happen automatically over the coming weeks, with no action needed from customers.
Medallion Members:
All Medallion Status for 2020 will be automatically extended for the 2021 Medallion Year.
All Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) from 2020 are being rolled over to 2021 to qualify for 2022 Medallion Status.
Delta Sky Club Individual and Executive memberships with an expiration of March 1, 2020, or later will receive six additional months of Delta Sky Club access beyond their expiration date.
Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members:
If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, we are extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits:
Delta SkyMiles Gold Card Members with a $100 Delta flight credit will get a six-month extension beyond their current expiration date.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members with Companion Certificates with an original expiration date between March 1 and June 30, 2020, can use them when they book and fly by Dec. 31, 2020, and those that expire between July 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021, will receive an additional six months beyond the current expiration date.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members with Companion Certificates with an original expiration date between March 1 and June 30, 2020, can use them when they book and fly by Dec. 31, 2020, and those that expire between July 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021, will receive an additional six months beyond the current expiration date.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members will also get a six-month extension to use their Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes beyond their current expiration date.
SkyMiles Members:
If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, we are extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits:
Upgrade Certificates or $200 Travel Vouchers with an original expiration date between March 1 and June 30, 2020, are extended – now, they can be booked and flown by Dec. 31, 2020. And, SkyMiles Members with Upgrade Certificates or $200 Travel Vouchers that expire after June 30, 2020, will receive an additional six months beyond the current expiration date.
SkyMiles Select members will receive a six-month extension to the Priority Boarding benefit and any unused drink vouchers.
“We are continuously monitoring how coronavirus impacts travel and will make additional adjustments to support our customers’ needs as the pandemic evolves,” said Dube.
SkyMiles Members enrolled in a challenge or promotion to earn Medallion Status, such as the Status Match Challenge, Reclaim My Status or a promotion offered through their employer, can restart that promotion when they are ready to travel again. Those Members will receive next steps from Delta in the coming weeks.
United Airlines, Chase Card Services and Visa today announced a multi-year extension of the United MileagePlus credit card program. The extension continues the more than 30-year relationship between the number one card issuer in the U.S., the U.S. airline with service to the most U.S. cities and most countries around the world and the world’s leader in digital payments.
The agreement, which extends into 2029, builds on one of the industry’s strongest co-brand card portfolios with seven consecutive quarters of double-digit year-over-year growth and a long history of providing cardmembers with extra benefits that reward people traveling United’s expansive global route network.
“United Airlines, Chase and Visa have a longstanding partnership that delivers top benefits to customers to help them get the most out of their travel, while returning robust value to our respective businesses,” said Luc Bondar, United’s vice president of Loyalty. “This extension strengthens ties with our partners at Chase and Visa and is expected to drive growth across our industry-leading credit card portfolio, enhance our cardholders travel experience and provide more opportunities to easily earn and redeem miles to travel United’s industry leading route network.”
“We’re pleased to extend our decades-long relationship with United and Visa in order to deliver even more value to our joint cardmembers,” said Ed Olebe, president of Chase Co-Brand Cards. “The program has deep cardmember loyalty and fantastic momentum, with exciting new offerings and experiences for our customers to look forward to in 2020 and beyond.”
The extended agreement will build on one of the world’s strongest co-brand card portfolios, with premium customers in premium markets. The portfolio of cards includes the new United Business Card, United Explorer Card, United Club Card, United Club Business Card and United TravelBank Card. Customers traveling with eligible MileagePlus credit cards have access to benefits that make traveling United’s leading route network better than ever including perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding and increased mileage earn on every day spending.
“Visa is proud to extend our partnership with United and Chase to bring best-in-class card benefits and travel experiences to cardholders,” said Kirk Stuart, senior vice president, head of North America Merchant at Visa. “We look forward to building on the program’s success to deliver more value, enhance cardholder engagement and create rewarding payment experiences.”
Earlier this year, United and Chase launched a new Business card and celebrated with the highest ever bonuses for all United co-brand cards for the first time ever. In 2018, United and Chase launched the award-winning United Explorer card, with even more best-in-class benefits including an up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check statement credit and 2X earn on hotel stays and restaurant purchases.
United also continues to invest in making MileagePlus the top loyalty program for its members. Last year the airline announced that MileagePlus miles never expire and announced a partnership with CLEAR to offer free and discounted memberships to MileagePlus members. United also introduced PlusPoints, a new industry-leading upgrade benefit for Premier members.
United Airlines Her Art Here California Livery – Side View
Delta has begun construction this week on its new Delta Sky Club at the former TIAT Lounge Annex on the fifth floor of the International Terminal at Haneda International Airport.
The nearly 9,000 square foot Club is located close to gates where Delta flights will depart to seven of its U.S. gateways including Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Portland, Seattle, and Honolulu, starting March 29 — making Delta the largest U.S. carrier serving Tokyo’s closest and most convenient airport. Delta will also be the only U.S. airline with a proprietary lounge at Haneda.
The newest Delta Sky Club will open early July, just in time for the Tokyo games.
The Haneda Delta Sky Club will feature:
International and Japanese seasonal food offerings that are rotated regularly, including a noodle bar
A full-service bar along with seasonal cocktails and wine selected by Delta’s Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson
Unique design elements and artwork throughout the Club reflecting local culture and history
High-speed Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and power outlets at nearly every seat
Airline also adds service for special events next year
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is giving customers a treat this holiday season with the announcement of two new routes from the vibrant and eclectic city of Austin, Texas (AUS), to the capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose, California (SJC), and to the historical city of Boston (BOS). These new routes will operate twice daily beginning in April.
The airline is also introducing unique service in support of special events like golf tournaments in Augusta, Georgia (AGS), music festivals in Palm Springs, California (PSP), and the annual visit to one of the nation’s biggest shareholder meetings with increased service to Omaha, Nebraska (OMA). Austin flights will be available for purchase starting Dec. 16 and special events flights will be available for purchase starting Dec. 22.
New Austin flights takeoff in April
American’s newest service is in response to strong demand from customers who need to travel between one of the nation’s largest tech cities, Austin, to the tech centers in San Jose and Boston.
“Our customers have expressed the desire for more routes between major tech cities, and we’re pleased to respond to their needs by helping them reach these important destinations with ease,” said Alison Taylor, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Distribution. “These new routes reflect our commitment to partnering with customers to seamlessly support their travel needs.”
Flights will operate twice daily, Monday through Friday, on a Boeing 737-800, year-round. The aircraft features high-speed Wi-Fi, access to power at every seat and 16 first class seats, providing additional comfort while commuting. With convenient flight times, customers flying the new service can get to meetings early and get back home in time for dinner. The airline has also recently renovated the Admirals Club to relax before flights, and, by the end of the year, American will have five contiguous gates at AUS.
“We added these routes with our customers top of mind to bring them closer to the places they value the most when conducting business,” said Vasu Raja, Senior Vice President of Network Strategy. “While it’s not our traditional hub and spoke routing, we understand the importance of travel for the tech community and look forward to offering these new flights to our loyal customers.”
And, for a quick weekend beach escape from the capital of Texas, American will also introduce the only service from AUS to Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD) on Saturday and Sunday, starting May 9.
Special flights for special events
In addition to the yearly increase in service for special events, American is also adding more unique flights that will make it easier than ever to attend must-see special events such as sports tournaments, concerts and meetings. American is adding direct service from Los Angeles (LAX) to PSP in April, for a faster way to get to one of the biggest music festivals of the year. The airline is also adding new service to AGS from BOS on an Embraer E175, and upgauging existing service from Chicago (ORD) to Augusta on a 737-800 to help customers who want a front row seat to golf’s biggest championship tournament. And in May, American will have the most seats to Louisville, Kentucky (SDF), for one of the most unique sporting events under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs, from BOS, CLT, DCA, DFW, LAX, LGA, MIA, ORD and PHL. American also has customers covered who care more about investing with the only service from BOS to OMA, as well as new flights from New York City (LGA) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to OMA on an E175 on May 1.
“It’s important to spend time and resources on memorable experiences, and we want to make sure our customers have options when it comes to the most important events around the country throughout the year,” Raja said. “We’re adding more seats, introducing new routes and making sure that our customers are taken care of throughout their travel journey.”
Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana, first for Spain;
El Metropol Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton, first for Madrid;
Atocha Hotel Madrid, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, first for Spain and first outside Americas
MADRID and MCLEAN, Va. – Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of three hotel franchise agreements with strategic investor partners, bringing three new brands to Madrid, of which two mark brand entries to the country. The addition of Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana; El Metropol Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton; and Atocha Hotel Madrid, Tapestry Collection by Hilton represents a significant milestone for the global hospitality company, illustrating Hilton’s continued investment in Madrid as a premier tourist destination and its ambitions to further expand across Spain.
Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton, said: “Spain has seen a surge in popularity, and Madrid is a particularly strong tourist market that has so much to offer. In 2018 the city welcomed a record-breaking 10 million visitors, making Madrid one of Europe’s most dynamic destinations for both business and leisure travellers. Responding to the increasing demand for great hotels combined with opportunities from world-class infrastructure investment and regeneration programmes, Hilton has expanded its portfolio to bring some of our most popular brands to Spain. Our new Madrid hotels will offer fantastic guest experiences and enrich communities.”
Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana
In partnership with Hotel Investment Partners (HIP), Hilton introduces its upper-upscale lifestyle brand, Canopy by Hilton, to Spain. HIP, Blackstone’s hotel investment platform, own the property and intend to invest €34 million in the hotel’s transformation, which will offer 311 guest rooms and multiple dining outlets, including a terrace restaurant overlooking Carlos Trias Bertran Square and a signature lobby café, Canopy Central. Expected to open in 2021, Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana is a perfect venue for guests looking to explore the capital. Situated close to the Paseo de la Castellana, one of the longest and widest avenues of Madrid, the hotel is near vibrant neighbourhood bars and restaurants, commercial buildings and international company headquarters, as well as Madrid’s world-famous Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid Football Club.
El Metropol Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton
Joining a global portfolio of more than 70 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts and located at the corner of Calle de la Montera and Gran Via, El Metropol Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton is in the heart of Madrid’s historical town centre and close to the lively Puerta del Sol neighbourhood. With many rooms facing Gran Via, one of the city’s bustling streets with theatres, cinemas, shopping, restaurants and bars, guests can enjoy a stunning view of Madrid city life. Guests at the 93-room upper-upscale hotel will enjoy a range of facilities and amenities, including a rooftop bar with unbeatable city views. Its central location means many tourist attractions are within walking distance with easy access to Madrid’s metro network and connections to its business district. In partnership with owning company Montera 47, El Metropol Madrid is slated to make its debut in January 2021, joining existing Curio Collection hotels in Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga and Ibiza.
Atocha Hotel Madrid, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Atocha Hotel Madrid, Tapestry Collection by Hilton joins a portfolio of hotels that offer guests unique style and an authentic connection to their destination. Brought to market by hotel operator Panoram Hotel Management, the 46-room hotel on Calle Atocha is just metres from Madrid Atocha railway station, the busiest in Spain, and is within walking distance of popular tourist attractions, including the Museo Reina Sofia, Prado Museum and the El Reitro Park. The first Tapestry Collection hotel to open in Spain and the brand’s first outside the Americas, Atocha Hotel Madrid will introduce the Tapestry Collection experience to Madrid locals and visitors alike. Amongst the amenities available, guests can select to stay in one of four Five Feet to Fitness rooms, a revolutionary in-room wellness concept created by Hilton allowing guests to work out in their guest room, with more than 11 pieces of fitness equipment and accessory options to choose from. The hotel is anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2020.
Hilton opened its first hotel in Madrid in 1953 and has since continued its commitment to investing in the city and supporting its growth as a leading tourist destination. Other Madrid properties include Hilton Madrid Airport (284 rooms), DoubleTree by Hilton Madrid Prado (61 rooms) and the 138-room Hampton by Hilton Madrid Alcobendas, located on Avenida de Fernando Alonso, which is set to open in January 2020.
Expansion on the Iberian Peninsula is a strategic focus for Hilton, and the company is growing faster in the region than ever before. It has signed a new Franchise or Management Agreement for a hotel in Spain every two months for the past two years, which represents more than 1,800 new keys. Hilton’s current Spanish portfolio of 12 hotels and resorts offers more than 2,000 hotel guest rooms and suites.
Greg Foran, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., smiles after speaking about the company’s Black Friday plans at a Walmart store in Secaucus, New Jersey
(Reuters) – Air New Zealand Ltd <ANZLY> named Walmart U.S. boss Greg Foran as its new chief executive on Friday, bringing him back home at a time the airline is trying to control costs in a lower-growth environment.
New Zealand-born Foran is credited with turning around Walmart Inc’s <WMT.N> U.S. business as its president and CEO since 2014, with the unit reporting 20 quarters of comparable sales growth under his leadership.
Air New Zealand Chairman Therese Walsh said the carrier was “thrilled to have attracted a world class Kiwi back home.”
“Greg has an impeccable track record in delivering strong commercial performance, outstanding customer focus and in building teams that can take a business to the next level,” Walsh said in a statement.
Grant Williamson, investment adviser at Hamilton Hindin Greene in Christchurch, said snagging Foran was a coup for the carrier.
“In the short term, it’s not going to have a major impact on earnings, there’s bigger things moving in the background like oil prices and global growth,” Williamson said. Air New Zealand shares were marginally higher at NZ$2.85 on Friday.
“But in terms of someone to have a steady hand on the wheel for Air New Zealand going forward, I don’t think they could do much better,” Williamson added.
Foran, who boosted Walmart’s sales by focusing on improving existing stores to keep costs and prices low, said he looked forward to building on Air New Zealand’s competitive advantage in customer focus and care.
The airline is known overseas for its quirky safety videos and consistently ranks highly in global airline customer surveys.
Foran will join Air New Zealand in the first quarter of next year, replacing Christopher Luxon who departed last month after seven years in the role. Luxon, a former Unilever executive, had also joined the airline after a career in fast-moving consumer goods.
During Luxon’s tenure, the carrier was recognised globally as an industry leader for its focus on innovation, environmental sustainability and diversity in hiring.
However, it has more recently faced challenges from a higher fuel bill and weak travel demand, leading the national carrier to report a 31% fall in annual profit in August.
Air New Zealand Chief Revenue Officer Cam Wallace, who had been an internal contender for the top job, according to sources with knowledge of the matter, welcomed the appointment on Twitter.
Foran will remain at Walmart until Jan. 31, when he will be replaced by the head of its Sam’s Club warehouse chain, John Furner.
“While we’ve been highly impressed with Mr. Furner’s work at Sam’s Club… he does admittedly have big shoes to fill,” said a note from Jefferies Group LLC <JEF.N>. “We can’t help but expect the market to react negatively to today’s news.”
(Reporting by Jamie Freed in Singapore and Devika Syamnath in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler and Jane Wardell)
