Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news to help you be your best today and tomorrow.
1. Flight Centre’s new way of selling holidays
G Adventures took us to India with it, Contiki flew us to the Amalfi Coast on it, Hamilton Island is hoping it gets a few more travellers to its shores and scientists are even using it to replicate air crashes.
Now, Flight Centre has jumped on the virtual reality bandwagon by introducing the headsets in one of its New Zealand stores.
Flight Centre Queen Street in Auckland became the first Kiwi store to offer curious holidaymakers the immersive transportation device, which is already available inside select Singaporean stores.
2. Emirates adds more flights to Melbourne
Travellers flying between Melbourne and Dubai will have more choice, now that Emirates has announced a second nonstop service from the Australian city.
From 30 October 2016, the airline will replace the Melbourne to Dubai via Kuala Lumpur service to the direct flights EK408 and EK409, which will save passengers two and a half ours in travel time each way.
Flights will be operated by the Boeing 777-300ER and given Melburnians access to four daily services, including two daily nonstop flights to Dubai and one flight on a Qantas aircraft as well as one daily Emirates flight to Dubai via Singapore.
3. Want an upgrade? Bid for it.
It may not be the same as a free upgrade, but it could be the next best thing.
Hawaiian Airlines has today launched ‘Bid Up’, a new auction upgrade service that allows guests to elevate their in-flight experience by bidding on available First Class seats when travelling between Hawaii and North America.
Eligible guests will receive a Bid Up email approximately 10 days prior to departure inviting them to bid for available First Class seats. Successful bidders will be notified 48 hours prior to departure.
Guests taking advantage of Bid Up will enjoy the many benefits of Hawaiian’s First Class cabin, including: two complimentary checked bags with Priority Baggage handling; expedited check-in lines; access to Hawaiian Airlines Premier Clubs; priority pre-boarding; award-winning regional cuisine from acclaimed Chef Chai Chaowasaree; unlimited in-flight beverage service; free access to the latest movies, hours of TV and music programming; and much more.
4. Singapore Airlines launches non-stop flights to San Fran
A day after Fiji Airways kicked off services to San Fran, Singapore Airlines has announced its own non-stop services to the American city.
Flights will operate daily from 23 October using the Airbus A350-900 aircraft, giving Australians an alternative route to getting to the popular city.
The carrier will also add a second daily service to Los Angeles, with the carrier flying Singapore-Seoul-Los Angeles service, also from 23 October 2016.
5. INCENTIVE: Additional commission with Aurora Expeditions
Polar expedition specialists Aurora Expeditions is offering travel agents an additional 10 percent commission when they book clients on selected 2016 Antarctica expeditions by 31 August 2016.
Valid on the Photographer’s First Light (ASG66) and New Year in Antarctica (ANP113) departures, this special ‘Increased Commission Offer’ gives travel agents flexibility when it comes to securing their bookings: agents have the choice to use their extra commission towards a discount for their clients, or simply keep it for themselves.
Both voyages include accommodation on board ice-strengthened Polar Pioneer, meals and snacks, lectures and talks by Aurora’s team of naturalists, historians and polar specialists, daily shore landings and Zodiac excursions.
For more information call 1800 637 688 (Aus. only) or +61 2 9252 1033 or email info@auroraexpeditions.com.au.
6. Meet Fiji Airways’ sexy new Global Ambassador
Chris Hemsworth, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston and Megan Gale – the tourism industry really does have a knack for picking some super sexy ambassadors to represent their brands and destinations.
But Fiji Airways may have just knocked Thor’s mighty ‘hammers’ out of the game, with a Global Ambassador that’s on par, if not slightly sexier (it’s all perspective) than the Hemsworth.
Who could it possibly be?
7. EgyptAir black box located in the Mediterranean Sea
Egyptian officials say the cockpit voice recorder from Flight MS804 has been found in the Mediterranean Sea.
The damaged black box was located yesterday and was pulled out in stages to keep the memory unit intact.
The recorder has been transferred to Alexandria where it will be studied to determine the cause of the crash. Early reports suggest smoke from one of the lavatories may have travelled through the plane’s electrical system.
8. Excite’s sales team enjoy the colours of Dubai
My, my, doesn’t this sales team look colourful!
Excite Holidays recently held its sales conference in Dubai, giving its team the chance to strengthen relationships, learn and increase awareness while also indulging in the local culture and sites.
The mid-year Global Sales Conference was held at the Oberoi Hotel in Dubai on 30 May to 5 June 2016, with additional famil elements to educate the team.
Click here for more pictures.
9. WIN a $250 voucher with roomsXML
Book accommodation for your next holiday, treat a friend of even spoil a client with a freebie.
You can make the above happy by taking our short KarryOn survey.
To be in the running to WIN the $250 voucher with roomsXML, click here and give us your feedback.
10. WIN back the cost of a flight
Etihad is giving agents and their customers the chance to win back the cost of their flights.
The incentive was launched last week in celebration of the carrier’s new A380 operations from Melbourne and 787 services to Perth.
Over the next few weeks, any Travel Agents who book their clients an Etihad flight will have the chance to win the cost of the flights back for both themselves and their customer.
