New Offering From Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand is pleased to launch new services and a new product offering on their flights to New Zealand and Pacific Islands for sale from 29 April 2010, starting with the Sydney to Christchurch route and then progressively introduced on other New Zealand and Pacific Island markets.
They have developed four new products to choose from. They are as follows:
1. Seat only
Seat, 1 carry-on bag (7kg), Entertainment: TV, music, games, Tea, coffee and water
2. Seat + Bag
Seat, 1 carry-on bag (7kg), 1 checked bag (23kg), Entertainment: TV, music, games, Tea, coffee and water
3. The Works (plus a "Kids Works" option)
Seat, 1 carry-on bag (7kg), 1 checked bag (23kg), Seat Request, Entertainment: TV, music, games and music, Tea, coffee and water
4. Works Deluxe
Seat, 1 carry-on bag (7kg), 2 priority bags (23kg each), Premium Check-in, Seat Request, Entertainment: TV, music, games and music, Tea, coffee and water, A meal and drinks
|
|
Qantas Updates
Changes to Ticketing Time Limits
Qantas have had some changes! With effect from 30TH March 2010, the majority of bookings in international Premium Economy and Flexible Economy class will have the following Ticketing Time Limits:
*If the booking is made 8 days, or more than 8 days, before departure, payment and ticketing will need to be completed no later than 5 days before departure.
*If the booking is made within 8 days of departure, payment and ticketing will need to be completed within 3 days of the booking being made, or before departure, whichever occurs earlier.
Mobile Phone Check-in
Qantas is pleased to announce that they will introduce a Domestic Mobile Check-in product allowing customers to check-in for their domestic flight using their web-enabled mobile device. Mobile Check-in will be available for eligible bookings on selected Qantas operated domestic and QantasLink flights. Plan your next trip while you're on the go, no matter where you are around the world. qantas.com mobile provides you with the latest up to the minute flight information direct to your mobile. To access the service type qantas.com into your mobile phone, PDA, BlackBerry or iPhone.
Mobile Check-in will be available soon for eligible Qantas and QantasLink domestic flights between 24 hours and 45 minutes before your flight departure. Your boarding pass is sent to you as a 2D barcode via SMS that you can scan at the boarding gate for your flight.
Australian and New Zealand Qantas Frequent Flyers can also register for SMS Flight Update to be notified by text message (SMS) of extended delays and cancellations for most Qantas and QantasLink flights.
|
|
Thai Airways International Celebrates 50th Anniversary
In May 2010, Thai Airways International celebrates the 50th anniversary of its foundation as the national airline of the Kingdom of Thailand.
The history of THAI over the past half century has been a story of rapid growth and success.
1971 saw THAI’s first intercontinental route established to Sydney, and Perth was introduced with THAI aircraft on 5th October 1985. In 1997, THAI was one of the five founding members of Star Alliance, which has since become the world’s largest and strongest global airline network, with its 26 members serving over 1,000 destinations in 171 countries.
|
|
Sydney to London... in three hours!
Flying from Australia to London, England, in under three hours? Impossible you think… but air travel developments could make ‘commuting’ to Europe a reality!
Hypersonic speed air travel has previously been the fodder of science fiction novels but Australian and US defence experts have launched an aircraft that is capable of hitting speeds of up to 4840km/h - six times quicker than your average flight. The impressive speeds make the Sydney to London route possible in just 2.9hours. Of course the technology is still a long way off being ready for business travellers but the launch flight is a significant step forward to breaking down geographical barriers and opening up the whole world to your company.
|
|
WA Hotel Short Fall
Perth's tourism industry faces chronic accommodation shortages if more hotel rooms are not brought onto the market, according to tourism bodies.
Tourism WA and international hotel booking company Hotels.com have issued a grave warning to WA's tourism sector, both saying the State will be priced out of the tourism market if Perth's lack of hotel rooms is not addressed.
Hotels.com Asia Pacific managing director Johan Svanstrom said unless at least 2000 more rooms were added to the Perth market in the next five years, the State faced a massive shortage, which would drive prices up and act as a deterrent to visitors.
"As a region it is undermining the tourism opportunities as there is not enough choice and if you don't have enough choice the prices will remain higher than a lot of consumers are willing to pay and they will choose other destinations," he said.
International visitors to WA rose 4 per cent last year, compared with a national fall of 0.5 per cent, which is an indication of demand for CBD hotel rooms.
Hotel occupancy is climbing back towards its boom-time peak of 88 per cent about 18 months ago. It is now 81 per cent.
Mr Svanstrom said there was a big interest in Australia as a holiday destination across Asia and India, but if prices failed to meet tourists' expectations, Perth would be overlooked as a destination. "It is a bit of a shame given what Perth has to offer," he said.
According to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index released this month, Perth's hotel prices climbed one percentage point last year despite a global fall of 14 per cent.
The average rate for a Perth hotel room last year rose to $154 a night, earning it the title of Australia's most expensive city for hotel accommodation. Sydney and Melbourne recorded a 16 per cent fall in room rates over the year to an average rate of $145 and $148 per room respectively. Perth's rising hotel prices have been put down to its smaller supply base, which is causing concern for the State Government. Tourism WA's executive director for industry development, Jennifer Duffecy, said it had been known for some time that Perth was facing a chronic room shortage. "There have been times when there have been no hotels rooms in Perth available," she said. "To keep up with our current demand we need 300 new hotel rooms every year.
|
|
AUDI Festival of German Films
Travel Vicariously at the Audi Festival of German Films, from April 22 -26 at CINEMA PARADISO!
Missed out on the Bollywood festival this year? That's a shame, as Travelcorp and Thai Airways International donate a trip for two to India as major sponsors of the festival. However, for those who love to travel via film, the 9th annual AUDI FESTIVAL OF GERMAN FILMS is due to start very shortly and will once again will again bring the most outstanding German film productions to Australia. It introduces 17 new feature films to Perth audiences, who are also participate in the Golden Gnome Audience Award where you can vote for your favourite film and win a trip to Germany!
The 2010 Festival will be divided into several sections highlighting the depth and diversity of German cinema. Within the culinary comedy section will be screening movies such as TANDOORI LOVE and KEBAB CONNECTION, whilst the Berlin component will feature a slate of Berlin-based films, from THE WOLVES OF BERLIN (3 part series), BERLIN SHORTS and BERLIN '36. In tandem with these, the festival also showcases the latest German titles.
The Festival will open in Perth on Thursday April 22 with a gala preview of WHISKY WITH VODKA, followed by an after party with refreshments and entertainment at PICA. More details at www.lunapalace.com.au.
For your chance to win a double pass to the Audi Festival of German Film Screening at Cinema Paradiso from April 22-26 (excluding opening night and special events), send your name to Vanessa.weigall@travelcorp.com.au by 21st April.
|
|
Airnorth New Services
Darwin-based regional airline operator Airnorth has announced it will launch two new services to Port Hedland and Karratha via Broome with the first flight scheduled for June 1.
Airnorth said the new services will provide an important link between Darwin and the Pilbara for business and leisure with a flight time of a little over three hours.
The route will be operated by Airnorth's new generation E170 jet, the latest of which is scheduled to arrive in May 2010
|
|
|
Best Fare of the Day
innovation and information