We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.
1. Aussies stranded in Bali
Australians with holiday plans to Bali remain in a state of uncertainty today as airlines announce further delays and cancellations due to volcanic ash from Mount Raung.
Hundreds of flights to and from the popular tourist destination have been disrupted over the last week as ash clouded over main international airports.
Some 1,000 Australians have been left stranded in Bali, while others wait patiently for airlines to deliver them to their holiday destination.
Read on
2. helloworld becomes a household name
All that advertising and marketing is paying for helloworld as new figures show the Australian public is becoming more and more familiar with the refreshed brand.
Roy Morgan Travel Agent Monitor found a 34 percent increase in helloworld brand awareness – up 26 percent from November 2014 and 10 percent than May last year.
The results, released at an industry conference last week, were based on a study conducted over a 12-month period from March 2014 to March 2015 on Australian aged over 14 years.
3. China Southern increases Aus schedule
China Southern says it has such ‘great confidence’ in the Australian market, it has decided to add flights to the local network.
Commencing 16 July, flights from Perth will receive on additional service, while four new flights per week will be added on the Melbourne to Guangzhou route.
In addition to these changes, China Southern will also increase schedules across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth during the summer peak season.
The increased services will begin from October and will see the Sydney service increase from double daily to triple daily; Melbourne will increase from 14 flights per week to 18; Brisbane will rise from five to daily; and Perth will increase from four flights per week to five.
4. The awkward new plan for plane seating
Outgoes economy class and in comes ‘sardine class’.
If flying in economy wasn’t bad enough, an industry company has created a new type of seating plane, which sees travellers facing each other during the entire duration of the flight.
Zodiac Seat France unveiled the new seat configuration late last week naming ‘Economy Class Cabin Hexagon’.
5. Brand USA extends Apple Watch incentive
Brand USA has extended its Knowledge Forum incentive for travel agents, giving them more time to be in the running to win an Apple Watch.
The incentive has been extended to 19 July for users of the new knowledge sharing facility within the USA Discovery Program.
How to enter and how do I win?
6. Go inside Virgin Atlantic’s new 787
Wi-Fi, a Wander Wall, less sound and stylish seats – everything you’d expect to see in a new Virgin Atlantic aircraft is what you get in the airline’s 787.
And now Australians have the chance to experience the Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner closer to home.
Earlier this week, the airline launched the aircraft on direct services between London Heathrow – Hong Kong.
7. It’s not too late to book Masai Mara
It’s not too late for last minute bookings to the Masai Mara, World Journeys advises.
Masai Mara is where the annual Great Migration of massive herds of plains game is about to take place centre stage.
The Great Migration is a nine-month cycle of movement of over 1.5 million wildebeest (and others) around the plains and grasslands of the Serengeti and Masai Mara in search of greener pastures.
8. IHG rewards ‘most loyal members’
IHG has unveiled the name of IHG Rewards Club’s new top membership level, Spire Elite.
The new class has been introduced to reward the group’s most loyal members with relevant benefits.
The be a Spire Elite member, hoteliers need to earn 75,000 qualifying reward points or stay at an IHG hotel for 75 qualifying nights over the course of a calendar year.
Rewards include earning 100 percent extra bonus points on qualifying stays and choosing between receiving 25,000 points or upgrading a friend or family member to Platinum.
9. Melanie off to the Maldives
Pictured: Melanie with Julia Vanhuisstede , Mark Vanhuisstede , Melanie Mills, Lisa Farrugia (Creative Holidays) and Karen Jones.
Melanie Mills from italktravel The Junction is swapping out the scarves for sarongs after winning her dream holiday with Creative Holidays.
As the winner of the Build your Own Bucket List Holiday incentive, Melanie is heading to Maldives via a stopover in Singapore to experience Universal Studios and LEGOLAND.
Agents were invited to dream up and design their dream trip to the value of $15,000 using the Creative Holidays website.
10. UK singer wore 12 layers of clothing to avoid fees
A boy band singer may have taken penny pitching too far when he layered up his clothing to avoid paying extra baggage fees and passed out.
James McElvar, 19, was travelling back from London to Glasgow after performing with his group, Rewinds, when he was told by EasyJet staff that he would have to pay $92 extra if he wanted to bring a second bag onboard.
Instead of forking out the cash, McElvar decided it was a good idea to pile on the clothing instead.
All would have worked out well except with multiple T-shirts, jumpers, jeans, jackets and hats on, his body overheated while on the aircraft causing him to vomit and pass out.
His fellow band members have taken to Twitter to assure fans the singer is okay “and being looked after in hospital”.