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AIR
CANADA
Air Canada has introduced a range of one- year
multi-trip passes that give consumers unprecedented freedom
to travel everywhere Air Canada, Jazz and their regional partners
fly throughout Canada and the United States.Consumers can choose
from among eight passes, each providing complete access within
a specified geographic zone in Canada and the continental United
States. Each one-year pass is valid for 10 or 20 one-way trips,
including connecting flights, based on the carrier's Latitude
fare benefits that offer superior flexibility such as complimentary
changes and cancellations, advance seat selection and eligibility
for confirmed online upgrades 24 hours in advance.
DRAGONAIR
Dragonair is to launch direct services to Shenyang,
the capital of Liaoning province in northeast China, on March
30. The thrice-weekly service, departing on Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays, will operate via Dalian.
LUFTHANSA'S
MILES & MORE
From 1st April this year, Lufthansa's Miles & More
will become the new frequent flyer programme of SWISS International
Airlines. Within the context of the integration, several changes
will be made to the Miles & More programme:
Members
who live abroad require 35,000 status miles for the attainment
of the Frequent Traveller status and 100,000 status miles for
Senator status. A qualification through the number of flights
will no longer exist in future.
Children
aged between two and eleven years will fly particularly inexpensively
as of April. For a bonus ticket of a child only 75% of the required
miles will be charged.
As
of 1st April, miles can also be redeemed for oneway flight bonuses
- namely for 75% of the regular flight bonus.
As
of April the exclusive HON Circle miles can be collected on
flights of Lufthansa, LOT, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Adria Airways,
Croatia Airlines, Air One and Lufthansa Regional. Miles which
are flown with United Airlines up to 31st March, will still
be credited to the customer’s account as HON Circle miles.
In
future, Frequent Travellers will no longer be able to take any
accompanying persons into the lounge. In this way the airline
hopes to ensure that the frequent flying passengers can enjoy
an exclusive stay in the lounge.
SCANDINAVIAN
AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL
Scandinavian Airlines International has improved its business
class offering. The new airline seat is the latest and most
sensational feature of the new offer. The new seat provides
more comfort and private space than traditional seats. Besides
making comfortable sleep possible, there is a whole set of exclusive
features - a massage function is built into the seat as well
as a clever storage suitable for a laptop or water bottle. The
screen, attached to the seat in front, is 10,4" and includes
an entertainment system completely operated by the passenger.
With the new audio-and-video-on-demand system passengers can
themselves decide when they want to watch. Moreover, the passenger
can decide if s/he wants to take a break or fast forward or
rewind. Scandinavian
Airlines International also offers wireless Internet onboard
all its long-haul flights.
SINGAPORE
AIRLINES
While most will be gawking at the Airbus A380 aircraft
at this year’s Asian Aerospace exhibition, several lucky
visitors will get to bring it home. Singapore Airlines is giving
away one commemorative metre by metre “First to Fly”
model aircraft and several smaller scaled models at a lucky
draw at the Asian Aerospace. The exclusive collector A380 aircraft
model is in the colours of launch customer Singapore Airlines.
To qualify,
participants simply need to answer one simple question about
Singapore Airlines and the A380. The lucky draw coupons can
be obtained at the main visitors’ registration counters.
Asian Aerospace 2006 will be held at the Singapore Changi Exhibition
Centre from 21 to 26 February.
TIGER
AIRWAYS
Tiger Airways has said that it is so confident of the efficiency
and simplicity of the new Budget Terminal design at Changi Airport
that it intends to allow passengers to check in up to 30 minutes
before departure time, rather than the current 45 minutes.
Check-in
counters open 2 hours prior to scheduled departure time and
will close promptly at 30 minutes prior to departure time. Latecomers
will not be accommodated when the counter closes.
HOTEL
QUICK UPDATES
THE
SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, DUBAI
The Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai has launched “Interactions”
a new dinner-time experience aimed specifically at individual
business travellers looking for conversation and company over
dinner.
The Interactions
dinners are available to in-house guests only, both male and
female. Sharon Garrett, director of communications for Shangri-La
Hotel, Dubai is quick to highlight “…this is not
a dating service. It is merely putting individual travellers
in touch with other people in the same situation, for some light
hearted conversation. Some people would see it as a more relaxed
form of networking accompanied by a local expatriate resident
to add some insights into the culture and vibe of dazzling Dubai.”
A maximum
of 10 guests can participate and a minimum of just one, who
are joined by a local expatriate member of the hotel’s
management.
Interactions,
offers flexibility for guests to join for the entire meal or
part thereof, selecting from a set menu and drinks list including
wine by the glass. Each guest receives their own bill at the
end of the night or simply signs the charges to their room account.
MANDARIN
ORIENTAL
Is to manage an exclusive resort currently under development
on China’s second largest island and most southern province,
Hainan Island. The 292-room resort is scheduled to open in the
second half of 2006.
THE
JW MARRIOTT BANGKOK
The JW Marriott Bangkok has launched its 2006 meeting packages.
Full
Day Meeting Package: from US$32++ per person/day (Minimum
10 persons), Complimentary use of one meeting room from 8.00am
– 5.00pm, 2 coffee breaks and 1 lunch, Complimentary use
of standard audio visual, i.e. 1 set of overhead, slide projector
with screen, TV and video, Complimentary use of whiteboard and
flipchart with markers, Drinking water, writing pads, pencils
and mints for all participants, Backdrop wording.
Half
Day Meeting Packages from US$29++ per person/half day
(Minimum 10 persons). Rates are valid to 31 December 2006 and
subject to combined service charge and Government taxes.
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