Off the Wing - News (last edition - travelkey)

From Donna's Desk

Clients evacuated from Lebanon by International SOS – SOS is the Emergency organisation that DBT (Travelscene-Amex Insurance) partners for our clients - World leading provider of security services, International SOS has successfully evacuated 110 clients from Lebanon over the past month using a combination of both land transfers and chartered air services.

Airlines' are at slow security - AIRLINES have warned the British Government that the country's air travel is grinding to a halt because of tough new anti-terror security requirements. British Airways and Ryanair cancelled scores of flights from Britain to Europe and the US recently and blamed airport operator BAA for not investing enough in security systems and baggage screening in the aftermath of new terrorism threats. Ryanair appealed to the Government to use police and army reservists to speed up searches at overloaded airport security checkpoints. Heathrow, the major hub for British Airways, cancelled one-third of flights, blaming strict new security regulations. Passengers were delayed so long that many missed their flights.

STOP PRESS:

QF doubles surcharge -QANTAS announced on Fri it's increasing its international fuel surcharges for tickets issued on or after 31 Aug. Executive gm John Borghetti said the surcharges are part of a new system based on distance travelled rather than the previous per sector basis, which means flights to the UK will incur a $185 one way surcharge, almost double the original $98 applied for direct flights. Flights to mainland USA, Canada, Sth America, Sth Africa and India will also now attract a $145 levy, up from $98, and Asia Pacific and Honolulu a $115 surcharge, up from $98, while taxes to NZ will only rise by $9, up from $56 to $65.  The move has led to sharp criticism in the industry suggesting these fuel hikes are “outdated and inappropriate”. Rather than applying additional surcharges airlines should just incorporate them into upfront ticket prices.

Meanwhile, Virgin Blue today reports $84m net profit.

Virgin Blue has reported a net profit after tax of $84m, up 12%, according to financial results released today.

The results cover the nine month period ending 30 Jun 06 as the carrier was required to synchronize its financial year end with Toll Holdings of Patrick Corporation following the acquisition.

Virgin ceo Brett Godfrey said the increase in profit was a "credit" to his team.

Deals Corner

Hawaiian Airlines offer Sydney-Honolulu-Vancouver deals - Hawaiian Airlines has announced the signing of an agreement with Canada's Harmony Airways, and is offering some great deals for flights between Australia and Canada. Early Bird fares from Sydney to Vancouver, via Honolulu, start at $2,062 per person - $1,700 plus taxes of approximately $362.00 for travel between 1 November and 9 December, and from 1 February until 31 March, 2007. Passengers can also fly between 17-31 January and from 1-30 April 2007 for $2,262 per person - $1,900 plus taxes of approximately $362.00. These offers are available for sale only until 31 August.

Airline News

QANTAS - Check-in the fast and easy way with check-in kiosks.

Qantas, Air NZ on hold over Tasman - THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is expected to deliver a draft determination within two weeks on the Qantas-Air New Zealand plan to co-ordinate services across the Tasman. Its ruling will be keenly watched in New Zealand where the Government, rather than the watchdog, must give the green light to a deal involving a company in which it is the major shareholder. Qantas and Air New Zealand applied in April to cut the number of seats they fly on the Tasman by more than 10 per cent in a proposal aimed at stemming a tide of red ink on the route. They sought approval from the ACCC and the New Zealand Transport Minister for a code-share agreement that would give them a joint market share of 75 per cent. They argue that customers will benefit from sustainable low fares, a better spread of departure times, new destinations and ability to earn and redeem points on more flights. More than 6000 seats now go empty each day - the equivalent of 11 empty A320s making two return trips - as eight airlines compete on the route. But the proposal has drawn flak from both sides of the Tasman and become involved in a political fracas and legal debate in New Zealand. Travel agents, some airports and Virgin Blue have expressed fears the move would be anti-competitive and to the detriment of travellers.

Jetstar to break union hold - FLIGHT attendants on Qantas international budget carrier Jetstar will be required to sign Australian Workplace Agreements under which commissions from the sale of food and pillows will count towards their pay. In a blow to the union movement's hold on the airline, Qantas will today announce it is introducing the AWAs as part of its strategy to cut costs and promote Jetstar as a major brand within the Qantas Group. The Flight Attendants Association of Australia fears the new employees will be forced to work longer for thousands of dollars less than their Qantas colleagues.

Virgin launch new Corporate Fare - VIRGIN Blue has launched a new “corporate plus” fare which includes access to its new lounge facilities at Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. The fare type also includes priority check-in, a 32kg baggage allowance and is fully flexible, and comes as part of a new $4.5m national advertising campaign dubbed “Don't follow suit”.

British luggage limit set - APOLOGY

While doing our best to keep you as updated as we can with luggage limits in and out of Britain, it seems we received old or conflicting information about the sizes (mass) of carry-on items and accordingly misinformed our clients here in our newsletter.

We apologise for this and would like to amend our notice to the same that appears in our security information at BAA's link on the DBT website; ie. the correct maximum dimentions of carry-on luggage/bag is 45cm X 35cm - 16cm deep, not 56cm as previously advised.

We hope we haven't caused our customers any inconvenience by inappropriately uploading the wrong information.

Austrian Airlines halting flights to Australia - Austrian Airlines has confirmed that the European carrier will be going offline in Australia from March 2007, and instead will be servicing the region through code-share partnerships but reassures agents that it will be business as usual. Austrian has also just launched their new lie-flat sleeper seat which is being fitted to their Austrian's Boeing long-haul aircraft (B777 and B767), and will be introduced on flights to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Delhi to name a few.

Jetstar launches Asia services - LOW-cost carrier Jetstar would offer one-way airfares to Asia from as low as $169 from November, the company said today. The Qantas-owned carrier will fly to Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City, Osaka, Bali and Honolulu from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The first international flight takes off on November 23 from Melbourne direct to Bangkok, followed by a Sydney-Phuket service the day after. "Our everyday low fares will similarly take Jetstar into a price leadership position in international leisure markets, with clear benefits for both Australian travellers and the Australian tourism industry," Jetstar chief executive Alan Joyce said. Jetstar would offer two classes of services, including StarClass, which would be marketed to travellers wanting extra comfort. "Jetstar will over the next four years develop a significant international network to a large number of Australian and overseas destinations," Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said.

Cathay increases FUEL Surcharges - Effective 01 August 2006, Cathay Pacific Airways increased by: - AUD $6.00 per Cathay Pacific Airways International flight sector. The surcharge applies to each flight/sector shown on itinerary/ticket.

UA Star upgrades - UNITED Airlines is the ninth Star Alliance member to join the Alliance Mileage Upgrade scheme, which allows Star customers to redeem frequent flyer points for one-class upgrades across participating carriers.

New AC flight pass - AIR Canada has launched a new multi-trip Flight Pass, which is available to companies in the USA. The ‘US Small Business Pass' contains 30 flight credits that can be used by up to eight different employees over a six month period, on AC and its regional offshoot Jazz, for flights between the US and Canada and within Canada.

AA lifts fuel surcharge - AMERICAN Airlines has today unveiled its ‘Next Generation Business Class' at the National Business Travel Assn convention in Chicago, USA. The new 767-300 Business Class offers lie-flat seats and audio + video on demand in-flight entertainment, and the carrier said it would also roll the product out on its 777 fleet beginning in 2007. MEANWHILE, the carrier has also belatedly announced that for tickets issued on or after 11 Jul it's increased the fuel surcharge to US$90 one way and US$180 return.

EK orders ten 747-8s - EMIRATES has today signed a deal with Boeing for the purchase of ten of new 747-8F freighter aircraft. The new planes have a range of

up to 4,475 nautical miles giving the ability to operate ex Dubai with full loads throughout Africa, Europe the Middle East and most of Asia.

Rex boosts fleet - REGIONAL Express yesterday announced the addition of another Saab 340B aircraft to its fleet, as well as extending existing leases for another four planes. The carrier now has more than 30 of the Saab A340s and is phasing out its 19-seat Metro 23s which it said would help it achieve further cost savings by operating a single aircraft type. Chairman Lim Kim Hai said the A340 was the ideal turboprop aircraft for the regional airline environment, particularly with high fuel efficiency enabling profitable operation despite soaring oil prices.

Singapore Airlines makes it to the top again - Singapore Airlines has been awarded the ‘World's Best International Airlines' for the 11th consecutive year, by the leading travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

Continental Airlines offers the best in customer satisfaction - Continental was ranked the highest in Customer Satisfaction, amongst Traditional Network Carriers in North America, in the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Airline Satisfaction Index Study(SM) on the 29, June 2006.

More fliers are getting bumped - With flights flying fuller than ever this summer, more passengers are being turned away because of oversold flights. In fact, U.S. fliers "are getting bumped off flights more frequently than at any time in the last six years,” USA TODAY writes -– citing the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The paper adds that “some 16,300 passengers were bumped against their wishes in the April-June quarter, a rate of 1.12 passengers per 10,000. That rate is one-third higher than a year earlier” and is the highest since the second quarter of 2000. The increase in bumping comes as airlines are flying near capacity these days, meaning flights are often sold out or overbooked. Predictably, that increases the likelihood that an airline will be forced to bump a passenger from a full flight.

Continental Airlines launches flights between New York and Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles - Continental Airlines has announced it will launch new flights between its New York hub at International Airport and Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, starting Dec. 16, 2006, pending government approval.

Frequent Flyer Update

AMEX QANTAS CREDIT CARDS - MORE FLYER POINTS - 2.5 pt 1 for every dollar spent with Qantas - FREE Annual & Qantas Domestic Flight. Here is our ‘abc' simple overview identifying the difference between each programme <attached - PDF >

CAUTION - Be careful in your selection of Frequent Flyer cards! Common tricks from the banks include annual points limits and hidden fees in their own compulsory rewards programs. In their programs, one "reward point" usually does not equal one frequent flyer point. The cards offered by Amex directly (i.e. not through a bank) are the most generous available and yes, one point means a real frequent Flyer point.

Rumours & Gossip

NEW BANGKOK AIRPORT FROM 28 th September - onwards, all international & domestic flights arriving/departing to/from Bangkok will use the new Suvarnabhumi Airport. The existing Bangkok Don Muang International Airport will be closed from 28 September 2006.

DFAT on Indonesia - THE Dept of Foreign Affairs has reissued its travel advice for Indonesia, advising visitors to only use official taxi companies there. The bulletin says foreigners using disreputable taxi firms have been robbed and assaulted, advising that official operators have counters inside the airport and can be booked by phone or from stands at hotels.

PARIS BARE buttocks and breasts - have been banned on the artificial beaches created on the banks of Paris' Seine River this summer. Officials say they've issued the decree to encourage people to “behave according to good standards to maintain tranquility, security and public order.” Police will now issue fines of up to €38 (A$63) to offenders brazen enough to flout the new rules which ban nude sunbathing, g-strings and topless ness. The council said inappropriate dress could lead to “temptations and dangerous behaviour on the banks of the river.”

More restrictions on Tourism Australia's 'bloody hell' ad - The controversy over the word 'bloody' in Tourism Australia's television ads continues as several complaints have forced the UK advertising watchdog to ban the spots before 9pm. Originally, the BACC ruled not to allow the term "bloody" to be used in the television ads, because it was too rude. In March, the regulator lifted the ban and said Tourism Australia could broadcast the full tagline for the ads because the word "bloody" was no longer regarded as being too bad a word. However, 36 viewers objected to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about the swearing in the ads, which they found offensive. Of these, 16 were also concerned that children might see the ads and eight believed they should not be shown before 9pm. The ASA considered that parents are entitled to expect that TV advertising should not appear to endorse or encourage swearing.

Johannesburg International Airport gets upgrade - JOHANNESBURG International Airport has started work on upgrading its central terminal building as part of projects leading to the 2010 World Cup.

Malaysian wins ‘World's Best Economy Class' - Operating since the 1950's, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has been recognised internationally for their excellence in service and industry standards. The airline sets itself apart by winning awards such as, ‘World's Best Economy Class' at the World Airlines Awards in 2006. The recent update in the designs of the first and business class products offer the latest in style, comfort and innovation. Business and first class features pod like shaped flat beds and first class features individual private seating with options for twin dining. The meals onboard are tasty and fresh, with meals offered on all domestic flights.

Woman removed from flight following handbag drama - Armed police were forced onto a Cathay Pacific flight after a woman refused to stow her Gucci handbag under the seat in front of her and in the overhead cabin. The woman was escorted off the plane by authorities and caused a one-hour delay for the busy flight bound for Tokyo. Reported it in Hong Kong's newspaper Apple Daily that passengers clapped when the woman and her bag left the airplane, accompanied by Police. A Cathay Pacific spokeswoman confirmed the incident stating: “We had to seek help from authorities.” The woman and her four friends were put on a later flight to Tokyo, where no further incidents were reported.

Travel Tips

Taking and sending PBS medicines overseas - Travelling overseas with PBS medicine - If you are planning a trip overseas, organising your medicine is one of the most important things you can do. If you require prescription medicine regularly, it is important that you have this medicine with you so that you remain in good health while you are away. Taking or sending PBS subsidised medicine overseas from Australia that is not for your personal use or the personal use of someone travelling with you is illegal. Taking or Sending PBS medicine out of the country may be illegal. Please visit the Medicare Australia website at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au Contact Details: Overseas Drug Diversion enquiry line: 1800 500 147 & Translating and Interpreting Service: 13 14 50

Hotels Update

Marriott to make all North American hotels non-smoking - All of Marriott's North American hotels and corporate apartments will be smoke-free in September, the company announced Wednesday. The move, which affects more than 2,300 lodgings and nearly 400,000 guest rooms, is the hotel industry's biggest push toward a smoke-free environment. It follows Westin Hotels & Resorts move in January to ban smoking throughout its 77 U.S., Canadian and Caribbean lodgings, and Disneyland Resort's decision in March to prohibit smoking in all 2,224 rooms in Anaheim, Calif. More hotel chains will follow, predicts Jeff Higley, editor-in-chief of the trade publication Hotel & Motel Management magazine. "Marriott is, by far, the biggest chain to do this," Higley says. "It's a trend, and the lodging industry has a follow-the-leader mentality."

Starwood Ireland Addition - STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts has announced the addition of Killeen Castle in Ireland to its luxury portfolio. The property is the firm's third in Ireland and is set to open in 2009.

Chiva-Som wins major Spa Award - Chiva-Som International Health Resort in Thailand has just been named the ‘World's Best Destination Spa' by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.

Hilton to open Doubletree Golf Resort & Spa near Pattaya - BANGKOK – Hilton Hotels will be managing a newly built 358-room resort & spa near Sriracha, Thailand. This new Doubletree Golf Resort & Spa will be managed under the Doubletree brand and is due to open in early 2008.

Midweek Summer Special at Hotel Albufera, Valencia, Spain *Valid till 7 th September 2006. A Member of Luxe Hotels. Located in the heart of Parque Albufera Shopping Center next to one of the city's main roads, Hotel Albufera is just 15 minutes away from some of the city's main business and leisure attractions such as the Valencia Trade Fair, Congress Center, Manises Airport, Sea Port, Oceanographic and Museum of Arts & Sciences. Special rate per room p/nt: 71 Euro + 7% VAT - Double or double for single use room includes Free breakfast buffet, Free 24 hour parking, Free use of gym and sauna, Free use of pool and solarium

Le Lagon upgrade - WARWICK International has advised that work has commenced on a $7.5m refurbishment of its Le Lagon Resort in Vanuatu. The works include an expanded swimming pool and remodeling of the lobby and restaurant, and are expected to be finished by Nov. Also in train is an upgrade of the resort's 140 rooms as well as a new gymnasium and waterfront spa, scheduled for completion early 2007. Vice president Jamal Serhan said the upgrades mirror strong growth in the Vanuatu tourism industry, which last year saw a record of more than 62,000 visitors.

Sofitel Fiji voted ‘best resort' for couples - A ‘couple' of five-star Sofitel resorts in Fiji have swept couples in Australia off their feet, winning first and second place in ‘Holidays for Couples' magazine's highly contested annual readers' choice awards. The prestigious five-star Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau Island was voted ‘Best Resort' by the magazine's discerning readership, receiving the Gold Award for the Pacific Islands/Oceania category. Sofitel Fiji's sister property, Vomo Island Resort (also managed by Sofitel) created a double delight for the deluxe brand to claim second place with readers and earn a Silver Award win.

Conference & Venue News

MCC secures no.6 - THE Melbourne Convention Centre has just secured another major conference with the Int'l Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology set to host its global meeting there in 2010. The conference expects 1600 delegates from 66 countries, with a total economic benefit to Victoria of $8.6million. There are now six major conferences booked in for Melbourne's new convention centre set to open in 2009, which will generate nearly $78m to the state.

Vienna bags three mega conventions in 2007 - The Vienna Convention Bureau said it would host three more major conferences next year, attracting thousands of delegates. The Austria Centre Vienna will see some 2,000 delegates in March attending the Annual Euro Meeting of the Drug Information Association. In May, 1,000 delegates will convene for the congress of the International Council on Combustion Engines. The last conference will be held by the European College of Neuropyschopharmacology in October.

Happy Birthday Sydney! SYDNEY Tower will next month celebrate its 25th birthday. To celebrate, visitors will receive 25% off the cost of entry during Sep and can participate in its Skywalk attraction for $79 per adult. The icon will also be hosting a Tower-Run-Up race and Walk-up event on Fri 1 Sep with athletes set to sprint up the 1504 steps of the building in less than eight minutes. Sydney Tower was one of the world's tallest buildings when it opened on 27 Sep 1981 and has since seen staggering 16-mil visitors.

Cruisenews

Introducing Mobile Phones at Sea - For better or for worse, cruise lines such as Norwegian, the first to offer cell phone service at sea, are making it possible for guests to be connected no matter where they travel. As of today, nine cruise lines have announced that they will offer this new technology--Carnival, Crystal, Norwegian, Oceania Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Silversea, MSC Cruises and Regent Seven Seas. Until recently, cruise passengers who wanted to make a call from the open sea had to bring their own satellite phones or use the ship's phones, generally paying $8 to $10 per minute. With the new technology, guests will be able to use their own cell phones and handhelds anywhere in the world. When a call is placed, it will be detected by cellular antennae onboard the ship and transferred to a satellite. The satellite redirects the call to a base station on land, and it is then routed through the cellular network, connecting the call within seconds.

For the latest in Cruise deals go to http://www.cruisescene.com.au/search_cs.htm

Need a Holiday ?

Specials Take a look at our destination holiday news and specials - here Our specials newsletter is updated fortnightly!

Rio Carnival 2007

Extravaganza Packages from $1844 Includes 5 nights accommodation, buffet breakfast daily, Sambodromo Grandstand ticket, Corcovado Mountain Tour, Sugar Loaf Tour including BBQ lunch and private return transfers. (Ref#tempo) All prices are per person, twin share.

4 night packages also available

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW! BOOK EARLY!

Thought for the day:

Question: What is the truest definition of Globalization?

Answer: Princess Diana's death

Question: How come?

Answer: An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend, crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was drunk on Scottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling) followed closely by Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles; treated by an American doctor, using Brazilian medicines.

The original email was sent by a Samoan and forwarded by a kiwi to Australians, using Bill Gates' technology, and you're probably reading this on your computer, that use Taiwanese chips, and a Korean monitor, assembled by Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported by Indian lorry-drivers, hijacked by Indonesians, unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen, and trucked to you by Mexican illegal's.....

That, my friends, is Globalization

Thought for Everyday:

"The key to success is for you to make a habit throughout your life of doing the things you fear."

Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) Dutch painter first career: art salesman