Off the Wing - News

Archived news

From Donna's Desk

I am absolutely delighted to announce officially DBT's Jim Thompson Won the 2008 prestigious Best Travel Consultant, Asia category in the highly respected Australian Travel Awards.

Sarah Hackett awarded Highly Commended European Consultant, with Finalists Presentation to 3 more DBT Staff - Krystle Trueman - Finalist Best Domestic Consultant, Marc Randall - Finalist Best Consultant USA, & Kevin Toye - Finalist Best Consultant Pacific. A proud team featured in the photo above.

Hundreds and hundreds of travel agents from all over Australia entered the industry's top awards programme in late November last year when a preliminary judging process began. A panel of industry experts that was made up of Australia's biggest travel wholesalers, airlines and recruitment companies, as well as members of the national travel media and retail experts then judged the top nominations for each category.

In all there were 11 award categories, with each one having a ‘Highly Commended' (runner up) award and a ‘Winner' award. They were: Best Travel Consultant, Africa, Best Travel Consultant, Asia, Best Travel Consultant, Cruise, Best Travel Consultant, Domestic, Best Travel Consultant, Europe and the UK; Best Travel Consultant, North America; Best Travel Consultant, Pacific Islands, Best Travel Agency Manager, Best Regional Travel Consultant; Best Up and Coming Travel Consultant and the evening's top accolade, Travel Agent of the Year.

DBT TRAINING NOTIFICATION THURSDAY 01 st MAY & FRIDAY 2 nd MAY - As I mentioned in our last OTW, top priority at DBT is to consistently aim to provide our business partners and clients with the very best. We wish to advise that next Thursday 01 st May from 1pm, we are taking half our team into training for 3.5 Days, returning to DBT Monday Morning 05 th May. The team will return, equipped with loads of additional travel tips to share with our clients and Business partners. The consultants who will be absent on Thursday pm and all day Friday are: Sarah; Jim; Krystle; Marc; Kevin; Stefan and myself. Remaining in the office will be Anette; Eva; Krissy; Jo; Sam (on Thursday) and Mary.

Please be aware that the office will be on skeleton over this period, so we thank you in advance for assisting us by endeavoring to make any travel bookings with your usual DBT Travel Consultant prior to Thursday 01 st May. We will still have 6 consultants in the office to assist you on these days; I just wanted to forewarn you and thank you for your patience. At DBT we believe Training is an essential ingredient in keeping our consultants abreast of the industry in turn to serve you best!

Breaking News

QF responds to fuel price rise - Qantas has just announced an increase in domestic and international airfares sold in Australia. Effective 09 May domestic fares will increase by about 3.5%, while international fares will rise by approximately 3%. CEO Geoff Dixon said the move came in response to the continuing rise of jet fuel prices. He said Jetstar was also reviewing its fare levels, and increases to Qantas fares sold outside Australia are also under consideration. Dixon said QF was working hard to cut costs by extending its Sustainable Future Program, as well as a hiring freeze and cutbacks to non-essential expenditure. "However, an increase in base fares is now necessary to partially bridge the widening gap between the actual increase in the cost of fuel and the amount we offset through surcharges or no-fuel cost improvements," he said.

U.S. Airlines Posted Nearly $1 Billion Q1 Loss - According to The Washington Post, major U.S. airlines have announced nearly $1 billion in losses for the first quarter of this year, a financial toll that is forcing carriers to reduce flights, cut jobs, add passenger fees and seek potential merger partners.

Compensation for being BUMPED! “For business travelers, time is money -- getting involuntarily bumped can be an expensive proposition.” NBTA (National Business Travel Association – DBT is a member) called for an increase in the compensation due to passengers denied boarding for overbooked flights, and we are pleased that DOT will soon implement such an increase.” Under the new DOT rule that goes into effect next month, airlines will compensate passengers who are involuntary bumped due to overbooking as follows:

The new rule will also expand the compensation rule to cover flights operated with aircraft seating 30 people or more; the current rule covers flights with more than 60 seats. Compensation payments are in addition to the value of the passenger's ticket, which the flyer can apply toward alternate transportation or have refunded.

DOT also announced the opening of additional airspace for pilots to fly around bad weather on westbound flights out of New York, an area that accounts for much of the nation's air travel delays.

While these efforts will certainly improve some of the challenges faced by today's airline passengers, there is much more work to be done. The U.S. now needs to focus on implementing a Next Generation air transportation system for the twenty-first century that will open more currently unused airspace, improve our ability to fly in bad weather and enable planes to move in and out of airports faster.”

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is the world's premier business travel organization. U.S.-based NBTA and its regional subsidiaries – NBTA Asia Pacific, NBTA Canada and NBTA Mexico – serve more than 3,200 members in 30 nations around the globe. NBTA has 41 U.S. Chapters with more than 5,000 members. NBTA members are corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than US$170 billion of global business travel expenditures annually. The association provides industry-leading networking, education & professional development, research, news & information, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.nbta.org

Airline News

Aloha Airlines Close - Bankruptcy! Aloha Airlines is to close its passenger airline operations after more than six decades of business. It comes a week after the carrier filed for bankruptcy. Hawaiian Airlines said it was “deeply saddened” to learn of its rivals demise, saying it was the victim of “the ever increasing costs and demands of today's airline industry”. It was taking steps to help Aloha passengers and would expand its daily flights schedule by more than 6000 seats.

V Australia will fly from Sydney to Los Angeles from December 15 as Sir Richard Branson insisted the trans-Pacific route was in “dire need” of fresh competition. Daily services will start on December 15 with flight VA001 departing Sydney at 9.45pm and arriving in the US at 4.30pm the same day. Return flights depart LA at 11.30pm local time, arriving 9.20am two days later. It will operate a three-class service, International Economy, business and premium economy. Two more V Australia destinations will be unveiled in the “coming weeks”. Sir Richard Branson said: “The trans-Pacific route is in dire need of competition and a good shake up and that's a challenge we are always keen to take on.” Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said the carrier had spent two years researching the project. “The announcements are the first of many and we have every intention of bringing revolutionary change not just to the trans-Pacific route but across the region,” he said. V Australia's every day return fares of $1899 are 16 per cent cheaper than the lowest available published fare for the same travel period, he added.

North West to offer onward flights V Australia will partner with - North West Airlines to offer onward flights to the US and Canada when its Los Angeles flights get off the ground later this year. The announcement came as the Virgin Blue offshoot said it would ramp up frequencies when it takes delivery of more new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. “V Australia is also looking at other potential international destinations and will announce its next two markets in the coming weeks,” the carrier said. The launch of Los Angeles flights could spark a trans-Pacific price war as Qantas and United look to protect their market share. V Australia is offering introductory economy fares of $999 while every day fares will start at $1899, which it claimed were 16 per cent cheaper than comparable fares offered by rivals. On board features will include complimentary meals and drinks and in-flight technology allowing passengers to send and receive texts and email. Other in-flight features and discount fates will follow, it said. The three class configuration will offer flat beds in business class with the airline promising its 40 premium economy seats will be “among the largest seats ever offered” in that class.

European Open Skies Agreement - The much-publicised Open Skies Agreement between the US and the European Union starts this week, lifting bilateral restrictions on flights between the two areas. What will be the impact? The agreement allows US airlines to expand nonstop service from their hubs to coveted destinations, particularly those favored by higher-paying business travellers. “With Open Skies, the barriers and restrictions to transatlantic travel are removed, and the consumer will be the real winner, with a greater choice of gateways to European destinations.

Other implications?

Although logic dictates lower prices as a result of increased competition, high fuel prices and added airport surcharges, at Heathrow, for example, are tempering any immediate fare decreases, according to media reports.

Frequent Flyer Update

China Visa Update: ALL PASSPORT HOLDERS. Immediate effect until further notice. A round trip air ticket and hotel confirmations are required for all application. This condition is subject to change without prior notice. Effective Immediately the Chinese Consulate Melbourne has advised that until further notice, they will ONLY issue SINGLE ENTRY TOURIST & BUSINESS VISAS. Visa applications will be denied for Double or Multi Entry Visas, as the Consulate will under NO circumstances issue Double or Multi Entry Visas. The same applies to NSW Residents lodging at the Chinese Consulate in Sydney. If you are residing in any other state, please contact your DBT consultant prior to sending China Visa applications.

Qantas frequent flyers to cash in - Qantas revamps frequent flyer program - Loyalty points can be used like cash - Frequent flyers able to book any seat - QANTAS frequent flyers will be able to use their points in the same way as cash to get any seat on any flight from July 1 as part of a revamp of the airline's loyalty program. The airline will also make it easier for its five million frequent flyers to earn points from an expanding range of frequent flyer partners and to burn them on new items such as merchandise and retail vouchers. The most drastic change will be the addition of a second tier to the loyalty program, to be known as Anyseat, which opens up all seats on Qantas and Jetstar flights. The new tier aims to remove a bottleneck preventing many frequent flyers booking tickets when they want to fly. But they will pay more for the option and they will not know how much more until they try to book. Redemptions under the new system will start at about the same points level they are now and rise according to the availability of seats, demand and the time they are flying. This means travellers will burn more points if they book closer to a flight and fewer if they buy their tickets ahead of time or during quiet periods. A website similar to the Qantas booking engine used by people buying tickets will display how many points a particular seat will cost and give other options on and around that date. Those wanting to remain with the existing system will do so on a separate "Classic" website. Qantas Loyalty executive general manager Simon Hickey said yesterday: "Everything that's there today - all of the value that's there today, all of those seats, all of that capacity, everything that's in that program today - none of that changes. "What we're doing is adding a lot more choice. So if you want to fly at 7am, Monday morning, Melbourne to Sydney, you can get it now." The revamp comes as Qantas separates its frequent flyer operations into a new segment before a partial float expected this year. The airline is believed to be considering an initial public offering this year that would put 40per cent of the program on the market. Other changes will include the ability to pay for taxes and charges using frequent flyer points as well as more easily use a mix of cash and points to pay for flights. The airline estimates a return flight from Sydney to London costing 128,000 points in the Classic system will cost about 200,000 points when roughly $700 in taxes and charges are factored in. The airline plans to make it easier for members to earn points by expanding the number of businesses it counts as frequent flyer partners. It will introduce new ways of redeeming them for rewards such as holiday packages and retail vouchers for businesses such as supermarkets and department stores. Mr Hickey was optimistic frequent flyers would welcome the changes but admitted that frequent flyer points were an emotive issue. "I'm adding choice. I'm adding utility value and the ability to use your points in a much greater way," he said.

Money Talks

Travel Tips

HOTEL KEY CARDS - Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?

Answer:

a. Customer's name

B. Customer's partial home address

c. Hotel room number

d. Check-in date and out dates

e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!

When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense. Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process. But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT! The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader. For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip! If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card. *Information courtesy of: Queensland Police Service.

Health & DFAT Warnings

U.S. Increases Fingerprints IDs at Airports - International visitors flying into New York now face being identified by all ten fingerprints, part of a heightened security system aimed at identifying potential terror suspects and visa fraud, officials said.

Hotels Update

Mantra Creates Australia's Largest 4 – 4.5 Star Brand - The Stella Hospitality Group will transform Australia's leisure and corporate accommodation market, growing its Mantra portfolio into the country's largest 4 – 4.5 star brand catering for both business and pleasure.

Romours & Gossip

Say Goodbye to Queues at Kiwi Customs - The Dominion Post says that Kiwis flying across the Tasman could soon be getting through airports more quickly with the help of automatic passport-reading machines as New Zealand and Australian travellers with electronic passports will be able to put themselves through passport control without having to queue.

Conference & Venue News

Resorts World at Sentosa, Singapore – OPENS 2010! - Come early 2010, Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) will be having our very own Universal Studio and the world largest oceanarium, Marine Life Park in Singapore. Slated to be a leading global destination, the S$6 billion integrated resort will offer an unparalleled experience for all business & leisure visitors, offering world class attractions, spa, live entertainment, meeting and incentive venues, 6 hotels with 1800 rooms, and celebrity chef restaurants and shopping. Located 20 minutes drive away from Changi International Airport, this mega resort can host more than 12,000 delegates in 3 formal meeting locations at any one time. On its premises are supporting amenities such as comfortable business and media centre's, as well as a VIP lounge. More than 20 indoor & outdoor incentive venues are available for launching your latest products, or simply hosting the town's hottest party. Whether your group is 10,000 or 10, RWS's premises can be configured & customized to suit any event.

Call our DBT Conference & Incentive Specialist Samantha Devlin at DBT on 02 98885555 to enquire about Conference or Incentive deals.

Cruisenews

For more great Cruise deals visit www.cruisescene.com.au or call our DBT Leisure & Cruise Specialists Krystle Trueman or Eva Budzynska Phone 1800 678555 or 02 98885555

Need a Holiday ?

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

Thought for the day:

"The one sure way to success is to know everything you can about what you do." Donald Trump (1946 - ) American real estate developer

Thought for Everyday:

"Luck? I've never banked on it... Luck to me is something else: hard work and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't ." Lucille Ball (1911-1989) American comedienne and actress