Off the Wing - News

Archived news

From Donna's Desk

Welcome to our November issue of OTW!  WoW what an amazing month we have had with the peak of 97c in July to the lull of 63c last week.  We have seen the oil barrel prices tumble to US$60 a barrel – and yet we are to still see the airlines seriously reduce their Fuel Surcharges.

Times have been very interesting for our team here at DBT!  In the October fall, we experienced some Corporate’ quickly put a hold on International Travel – yet thankfully (for DBT), we’re now seeing a turn in this behaviour.  I guess if you need to travel to transact Business, then moving forward takes priority.

The year seems like its disappeared right before our eyes!  Certainly it’s been a year of “record moments”.  DBT celebrates this month our 21st Birthday!  I am so proud of our team and their 2008 achievements in our industry with many Finalist nominations for Best Travel Consultant Nationally and we brought in winners too!  We already have a number of nominations for the 2009 awards.

For myself I am extremely excited to share with you my own latest news!  Today I sit as one in six finalists to take out the prestigious Telstra Business Women’s Awards, 2008.  I take this special moment to thank all our loyal customers and suppliers for your sensational support of DBT over the 21 years.  YOU are the very reason we love doing what-we-do!  For those interested…A couple o the many media releases can be found here and here.  Winner will be announced on 14th November 2008 at The Hilton Sydney.  We will keep you posted!  And, even if I don’t win on the day, I feel proud to have made it into this prestigious circle.

Please enjoy this issue of Off the Wing.  It’s jam-packed with some really interesting news including an eye-opening US$ sliding graph in Money talks – and it certain does Talk!  Be sure to read up on the Travel-Tips, and the newly released Virgin Baggage Policy.  If you need a holiday, there are plenty of great getaway ideas.  Looking for a conference venue –we have ideas on that too?  And take 5 to brush up on the changes in the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme!

Christmas is just around the corner… in the meantime, Take care and remember – At DBT our team’s TOP priority is YOU and making it Happen!

Breaking News

Mobile phones now usable when flying MAS - Malaysia Airlines has become the first Asian carrier to offer its passengers voice and data services through their personal mobiles whilst in-flight.

Air Niugini introduces new Asia-Pacific services - Air Niugini has just announced that it will launch services to Kuala Lumpur, as well as introduce a new direct service to Hong Kong.

VIRGIN BLUE NEW BAGGAGE POLICY - Due to the rising cost of aviation fuel, and in order to keep DJ’s airfares as low as possible, Virgin Blue will be introducing standard baggage charges across our network. Below outlines the new charges that will apply, so you can keep your customers in the loop.
Checked baggage for Guests on Blue Saver and GO! Fares will now attract a small charge, however prepaying online for checked baggage will result in significant savings.
• If pre-paid online, baggage up to 23kg will cost a fl at fee of $8.
• If paid for at Check-In, baggage up to 23kg will cost a fl at fee of $20.
• The charge for excess baggage over the 23kg limit will be $8 per kg.
Guests on Flexible Fares, plus Velocity Silver Members, will still have a free baggage limit of 23kg.
The charge for excess baggage over the 23kg limit will remain at $8 per kg.
Guests on Premium Economy, Corporate Plus fares, plus Velocity Gold Members, will still have a free baggage limit of 32kg. The charge for excess baggage over the 32kg limit will be $8 per kg.
Carry-on baggage will continue to be carried free of charge, however it must weigh no more than 7kg, with a size not exceeding 48cm deep x 34cm high x 48cm long. Additional personal items (such as handbags, laptops and coats) are still allowed.
We hope this clears up any questions you may have and assists with planning for any DJ future bookings with us. Thanks for your support.

Airline News

Jetstar to fly from Auckland - Jetstar has just announced a major expansion of its trans-Tasman operations with the introduction of daily direct Sydney-Auckland and Gold Coast-Auckland flights from 28 Apr 2009.   The carrier said it would establish an A320 base in Auckland to

support the new operation which would offer everyday one-way fares from $229.  Qantas will continue to fly four times daily between Auckland and Sydney, along with its other international services ex AKL, and JQ ceo Bruce Buchanan said the new flights would add almost 5000 additional weekly seats for the Qantas Group on the trans Tasman route.

Cathay puts five planes up for sale - In an attempt to inject some liquidity into the airline, Cathay Pacific will be selling five of its Boeing 777-200 aircraft to shore up its cash reserves.

QANTAS - Withdrawal Perth – Cairns Non-Stop services effective 6 February 2009

Qantas A380 has arrived  - Sydney- The first Airbus 380 of Qantas Airways landed here late September on its delivery flight from Toulouse, France.  The delivery, which is the first in an order of 20 A380s is a “big moment--the start of an exciting new era for Qantas and for Australian aviation”, said Qantas Executive general manager John Borghetti.  The new Qantas A380 is offering low fares on selected flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Los Angeles from late October 2008. Promotional fares are also available on selected flights from Sydney to Singapore and London for travel from mid January 2009.    The Qantas A380 is configured with 450 seats in four cabins - 14 in First Class, 72 in Business Class, 32 in Premium Economy and 332 in Economy Class.  Qantas will offer daily A380 services from Melbourne to Los Angeles by the end of 2009, when it takes delivery of its eighth A380.

KLM launches Amsterdam - Liverpool service - On commencement of its 2009 summer schedule, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines plans to launch a new service between Amsterdam and Liverpool. KLM’s extensive network will seamlessly connect Liverpool with over a hundred destinations worldwide.

Singapore cuts fuel surcharge - Singapore Airlines has announced it will reduce its fuel surcharge for all short and medium-haul flights from 9th September, in response to the fall in the price of jet fuel. From mid-september, between Australia and Singapore, from US$110 to US$100 p/sector.  SQ has also dropped the fuel surcharge level on services from SIN and cities in the ASEAN countries, from US$40 to US$36.

Virgin ponders Bali expansion - Speculation is again mounting that Virgin Blue will commence flights between Australia and Bali later this year under its Pacific Blue operation.  INDONESIAN media is reported that Virgin Blue plans to commence 11 weekly flights to Bali from a number of Australian ports later this year.  The carrier currently doesn’t have any capacity allocated between Australia and Indonesia.

25% bonus Velocity Points with Commonwealth Awards - To celebrate Commonwealth Awards joining us as a Program Partner, we're offering you 25% bonus Points for a limited time only. So be quick - transfer at least 3,600 Commonwealth Awards points to your Velocity Account before 30 November 2008 and grab an extra 25% bonus Points! Terms & Conditions apply. Find out more.

New LAN class - LAN Airlines has announced a new Premium Economy class for its flights within South America.  Effective 15 Sep LAN’s new A320 aircraft will offer the new class which offers more space, lounge access and priority boarding and baggage. It will be available on a number of routes connecting with LAN’s daily A340-300 Sydney-Santiago via Auckland flights, including to Buenos Aires, Quito, Lima, Sao Paolo, Montevideo and Guayaquil.

Skywest increase - SKYWEST has announced that the WG screening tax will increase to $9.80 ex Broome, effective for all tickets issued on or after 10 Sep.

EY’s busiest summer - ETIHAD Airways capped off its busiest northern summer period from Jun-Aug this year when 20,271 pax flew on the Abu Dhabi-based airline on 01 Aug alone, the carrier’s busiest day in four years of operation.  The airlines ce James Hogan said “The summer has been a great success with more than 1.6million passengers flying with Etihad Airways...[which] underlines the considerable impact Etihad is having on the aviation industry.

Frequent Flyer Update

Important changes to card points transfer options - From 1 April 2009, some credit and charge card reward programs will no longer offer Qantas Frequent Flyer points as a reward option.   Not all card reward programs are affected, but for those that are, there will be new ways to earn Frequent Flyer points with a credit or charge card from your card partner.  What you need to do next

If your card reward program is impacted and you wish to:

To find out if the card you have is affected, select your card or card program from the table, or contact your card provider.  For important information about the changes and what you need to do next visit www.qantas.com/cards

New Qantas mag - A NEW magazine, dubbed Air, is being launched for Qantas frequent flyers.  ACP Magazines, which also publishes Qantas’ monthly in flight mag, The Australian Way, plans to mail the new publication four times a year to members or Qantas’ chairman’s lounge and platinum frequent flyers.  The move comes as some airlines consider scrapping in flight magazines altogether to save on weight.

Virgin Blue opens a new Lounge in Sydney! - The Lounge in Sydney has become so popular that Virgin Blue has created an even bigger and better space (in fact, it's more than 3 times the size of the original!). The ever-so-suave Sydney Lounge boasts a larger Business Zone with more meeting rooms, and new relaxation and entertainment areas for the ultimate in comfort. If you're not already a member of The Lounge you can redeem your Velocity Points for annual Lounge membership or a Single Entry pass.

Money Talks

Money Talks - Australian Dollar Exchange Rates

Australian Dollar to U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate

Travel Tips

Spend your points, life is short. For those who don’t have a doctorate in frequent flier miles, it can be challenging to quantify the value of frequent flier points. Here’s a tip: spend them, they keep being devalued. To upgrade from an economy flight from Sydney to London (one way) will cost 60,000 Qantas frequent flier points (the same as buying four domestic flights between Sydney and Melbourne). The Qantas website has a useful flight upgrade table. As with all frequent flier offerings, seats are limited so book as early as possible.

Pay full-price economy fares. For Qantas travellers, the three cheapest economy fares exclude travellers from upgrading with their points (N, O and Q class). In terms of status, N, O and Q is no-man’s land and these travellers will be the last to be considered for an upgrade. Other economy fares are better in terms of upgrade chances. Full-price economy fares also allow the passenger to use less frequent flier points to upgrade than they would if on other discounted economy fares.

A genuine gripe helps. Severe flight delays or an error by the airline, if delicately handled, can make an upgrade a distinct possibility. The trick is to negotiate for the upgrade rather than kick up a stink, keep smiling and give them an easy way to say they are sorry.

Don’t order a special meal. It is all too complicated to upgrade someone who has ordered a special meal in economy. What is more important, that “special” meal, or the upgrade?

Health & DFAT Warnings

US passenger info push STARTED 10th September travel agents will have to provide comprehensive passenger address information via GDS for travellers to and from the USA.  New guidelines for Advanced Passenger Information have defined extra fields to allow supplementary information to be entered, including ‘residence and/or destination address’, ‘passport/travel document information’, and ‘visa and other pertinent document information’.  Airlines and cruise operators must electronically transmit passport, visa and address information to the US Customs and Border Protection Agency before departure.

Hotels Update

Ramada Worldwide Opens 998-room Hotel in Mecca - Ramada Worldwide has announced the grand-opening of a 998-room hotel in the Islamic holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hilton confirms management of Shenzhen development - Hilton Hotels Corporation and Great China International Group (Shenzhen) Co Ltd have signed an agreement operate the Hilton Futian Shenzhen scheduled to open late 2009.

W Hotels makes landmark entry into China with the opening of W Hong Kong - Owned by Sun Hung Kai Properties, W Hong Kong Unveils Asia’s First Bliss Spa, Two Signature Restaurants, a Destination Bar, More than 8,000 Square Feet of Ultra Modern Function Space, a 73rd Floor

State-of-the-Art Fitness Facility and Hong Kong’s Most Highly Elevated Rooftop Swimming Pool.

Rumours & Gossip

Less orders for 2009, Airbus predicts - Airbus is predicting that it will see fewer orders from airlines next year as the credit crunch hits home, at the same time airlines are expected to lease more planes.

Boeing confirms first Dreamliner flight further delayed - Boeing has finally confirmed a widely tipped delay to the first Dreamliner trial flight due to factory strikes which have finally been resolved.

Conference & Venue News

Chifley Potts Point, Sydney - ushers in an upsurge of vivid events with its four new function rooms, and the starry, open-air “Orion Terrace” overlooking Darlinghurst & Victoria St, Sydney.  Make an impression this summer with your function or party in Sydney’s newest open-air venue and let your night evolve afterwards into a late dinner or non-stop dancing with Sydney’s best 24/7 restaurants, clubs, and bars within walking distance. For events of 12 to 350 people, enquire and book now with your DBT Travel Management consultant

Brand Index (CBI), officially released today at London’s World Travel Market.  Rising from its 6th place ranking last year, Canada is recognised second and the United States rounds out the top three.  The CBI examines how countries are branded and ranked according to key criteria, and identifies emerging global trends in the world’s fastest growing economic sector - travel and tourism, which accounts for US$5.9-trillion of economic activity worldwide this year and more than 238-million jobs.

2008 CBI Top Country Brands ...
1. Australia
2. Canada
3. United States
4. Italy
5. Switzerland
6. France
7. New Zealand
8. United Kingdom
9. Japan
10. Sweden

up to 600.  On the ground floor, a new Lobby Bar and Charlie’s Bar have created a completely new sense of arrival.  The stylish new tapas-style wine bar Sable offers a more sophisticated venue with sumptuous furnishings, several private nooks for intimate gatherings and a wide open terrace with comfortable lounges overlooking the sand and the sea.  Meanwhile all the hotels’ ocean-view rooms have been completely upgraded, with sleek, contemporary furnishings, new bathrooms and renovated balconies to take advantage of the hotel’s prime beachfront location.  Enquire and book now with your DBT Travel Management consultant

Call our DBT Conference & Incentive Specialists Samantha Devlin or Anette Kirk-Goodare at DBT on 02 98885555 to enquire about Conference or Incentive deals.

Cruisenews - deals

Norfolk and Christmas Islands on P&O agenda -  P&O Australia is celebrating the first birthday of the Pacific Dawn, and alongside the anniversary tidings comes the announcement that the news that the company is eyeing trips to Norfolk Island and Christmas Island.

Princess Cruises introduces movies under the stars down under - Premium cruise line Princess Cruises is set to make a splash with the launch of its popular outdoor cinemas onboard its two Australian-based superliners.

Fly, Sail and Save with MSC Cruises!!! - Airfares with Singapore Airlines from $1806pp and a 14 night cruise from $2680pp to the stunning East and West Mediterranean make this offer amazing but Book Now as it expires 15 Dec 08!

Russian River Cruise on the Volga for $1680 ALL INCLUSIVE! BOOK NOW & SAVE - Take a journey along the rivers, lakes and canals of Russia between St. Petersburg and Moscow and experience a unique programme of excursions through Euroscape Cruises. Why pay top dollar on a cruise when you can join a Euroscape River Cruise for $1680 pp ALL INCLUSIVE?

25 night Rhapsody of the Seas and Indian Pacific package from $6149.00 For sale until: 5 January 2009 *Destinations: 2009 Cruise Tours, Australia, Kimberley & Top End, Papua New Guinea
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean *Ship: Rhapsody of the Seas *Embarkation Port: Sydney, Australia
Duration: 25 nights *Departure Dates: 17 Oct 2009 Ref#cruagt
For more great Cruise deals visit www.cruisescene.com.au or call our DBT Leisure & Cruise Specialists Michael Sing or Kevin Toye Phone 1800 678 555 or 02 9888 5555

Need a Holiday ?

RED HOT DEALS

 Take a look at our destination holiday news and specials - here Updated every Wednesday!

Thought for the day:

Thought for Everyday:

"Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life, I find."
John F. Kennedy