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. Qantas & Woolworths – it’s back on
Woolworths Rewards and Qantas Frequent Flyer are back in business together less than two months after announcing their split and causing a massive stir amongst members.
Today, the pair have announced a new agreement which will allow members to convert Woolworths Dollars into Qantas Points – which can be used to purchase free flights or upgrades: ?.
Customers will receive 870 Qantas Points for every 10 Woolworths Dollars (these dollars are earned through buying orange ticket products).
2. Agency’s big fake Greek wedding
Travel agents have been warned to be extra wary of ‘overpayment’ fraud after a real estate agency lost some $50,000 to an elaborate accommodation scam earlier this year.
The Perth-based agency, which deals with short-term and long-term holiday rentals, says they received a call last month from a man claiming to be from England, who requested to book one week’s accommodation for a Greek wedding party of eight people.
The man used the name ‘Colonel Michael Warner’ to book seven days rental, which according to the Consumer Protection, was paid for using several stolen American credit cards.
3. 2016 is the year of United in Australia
While extra competition may keep some airline heads up at night, United’s local boss isn’t concerned over new rivalry on the trans-Pacific route because “2016 is the year of United in Australia”.
Earlier this year, the carrier’s biggest competitor, American Airlines, revealed it would commence Los Angeles-Sydney services as Australia’s biggest airline, Qantas diverts its aircraft to the growing Sydney-San Francisco path – both routes frequented by United.
Speaking KarryOn, United Director of Japan and the Pacific, Alison Espley, admitted that while flights between Australia and the US are becoming highly competitive, she believes her airline is in a good position to continue succeeding Down Under.
4. Timmer steps down from Insight Vacations
Insight Vacations is losing its Managing Director after Joost Timmer announced his departure from the Australian company.
Confirmed this morning, Timmer will official step down from the MD role on 15 January 2016 to pursue opportunities outside The Travel Corporation (TTC).
Having lead the company for over four years, Timmer oversaw the increasingly popularity of Insight Vacations’ ‘signature events’ – a unique collection of events designed to give customers more authentic experiences in various destinations.
5. Club Med teams up with Facebook
Club Med has announced a partnership with Facebook to offer its staff ‘Facebook at Work’ – a version of the social media site intended for businesses.
The service will connect the company’s 13,000 employees in 40 countries on the one site where they will be able to share and enhance the guest experience.
‘Facebook at Work’ offers the same ‘like’, ‘chat’ and ‘survey’ applications as the regular site but also increases the possibilities for pooling ideas and innovation by employees.
“With ‘Facebook at work’, we will be all connected in a more fluid way, favouring the cooperation on projects, ideas propositions that each and every one will enrich: a new proximity for the company, that also offers visibility to each collaborator.”
Anne Browaeys-Level, Club Med Chief Digital Marketing Officer
6. Air Canada scraps fuel surcharge
Air Canada has announced it will absorb its YQ fuel surcharge into its base published airfares for services from Australia to Canada and the US.
The move will apply to all published point-of-sale Australia airfares ticketed on or after 12 January 2016.
According to the carrier’s General Manager Australia & New Zealnd, Paul McLean, scrapping the YQ surcharge will simplify the booking process for agents and ensure the airline is meeting the demand of a competitive marketplace.
“As we move towards the launch of our first ever Brisbane services, and the introduction of an exciting new on-board product on our daily Sydney-Vancouver route, we will continue to look for ways to forge ever closer ties with our travel industry partners.”
Paul McLean, Air Canada GM Australia & NZ
The announcement comes less than a week after the carrier said it will increase its base commission for agents from three percent to five percent on Business and Economy published airfares ticketed in Australia. Click here for more information.
7. Trafalgar showcases the best of America’s South
Trafalgar has shown 39 of its top achieving agents the very best of America’s Deep South with the global guided holiday operator wrapping up its 2015 Acclaim trip last week.
Hosted by Trafalgar’s Managing Director, Matthew Cameron-Smith; Head of Sales, Adrian Piotto and Sales Manager, Suzy McPhail, agents experienced true southern hospitality as they travelled from Nashville to New Orleans, including a special Be My Guest experience taking them inside two period homes to share an evening with pianist, Joe Stone, and enjoy the culinary delights of celebrated chef, Esther Carpenter.
Keeping in the spirit of the South’s enthusiasm for food and music, agents rolled up their sleeves for a private creole cooking lesson at the New Orleans School of Cooking located in the heart of the French Quarter; and enjoyed exclusive use of the Rock and Soul museum with a private tour of the incredible collection of memorabilia used by the likes of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, BB King and back to the originals blues artists such as Jimmy Rogers and Robert Johnson.
Click here for more images from the famil.
Meanwhile, agents have two days left to offer their clients up to 10 percent off 2016 Europe and Britain programmes with Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Contiki.
Early Payment Discounts are available until 17 December, 2015. Seats are filling up fast on 2016 travel hotspots such as Italy, Ireland, Greece, Croatia and Iceland.
8. InterContinental Danang is tops for luxury
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort was accredited at the Grand Final Ceremony of the World Travel Awards Worldwide Categories by being named World’s Leading Luxury Resort award for the second time.
Awarded by the World Travel Awards 2014 as the World’s Leading Luxury Resort, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort emerged once again as the winner this year, surpassing ten other nominees for the worldwide category top award ‘World’s Leading Luxury Resort 2015’.
Designed by the star architect Bill Bensley with two hundred luxurious rooms, suites and villas and embedded in the hills of the famous Son Tra Penninsula, the Resort has also won four awards in the Asia & Australasia category earlier this year.
The property’s Resort Manager, Juan Losada, said he’s proud to have retained the title for a second year and attributed success to dedication from the entire team.
“The award, at the same time, is a commitment and we need to stay focused on delivering the world class service for the months and years to come.”
Juan Losada, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort Manager
9. King Julien joins agents on Voyager
CruiseCo agents received a special visit from Madagascar’s King Julien during a recent ship tour of Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas.
The tour, hosted by Mark Rheinbay and Tony Soden, saw staff receive a demonstration of the widely popular FlowRider as well as a taste of the ship’s Dreamworks experience for kids.
Last year, Voyager underwent a $80 million refit which included the addition of addition of the surfing activity plus new dining venues.
10. Agents treated to Switzerland’s winter wonders
A group of 15 lucky agents have just returned from a week of Swiss indulgence thanks to Switzerland Tourism, Rail Europe and the Swiss Travel System.
Top performers from this year’s Swiss Travel Pass Superstar training program travelled around the country using the Swiss Travel Pass, which gave them access to all public transportation throughout Switzerland plus museum entries.
The trip started in the artful city of Basel where they visited the famous Tinguely Museum and Basel’s Christmas market. Over the next couple of days, Mount Titlis wow-ed them with jaw dropping views of the Alps from 3041m and along Europe’s highest suspension bridge walk while their visit to Mt Rigi via a cogwheel train showed them the romance of the country.
A major highlight of the famil was the Swiss Travel Pass Superstar Gala Night, which took place at the Stadtkeller in Luzern, where all 100 agents from around the world were recognised for their efforts in promoting and selling Swiss Travel System products.
From a night of celebration, the agents then enjoyed yet another spectacular peak that kept them mesmerized. That peak was none other than the iconic Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, home to Europe’s highest mountain railway.
Agents are advised that the Swiss Travel Pass Superstar program will run again in 2016, so they should keep their eyes out for their chance to be involved next year as it will be bigger and better.
P.S. ‘Part of the wing has fallen off’
Uhhhh, that’s not what you want to hear mid-flight.
But it is what some passengers say they saw during a recent Southwest service from Austin to Harlingen in Texas.
Flight 987 was forced to make an emergency landing after what one passenger described as a piece of the wing ‘falling off’.
Lorenzo Hernadez Jnr shared the story on Facebook, saying that ‘fasteners came or broke off the wing’.
“I heard a few people to the side of me scream to the aircrew, a piece broke and flew off and a panel was hanging.”
Lorenzo Hernadez Jnr
However, a Southwest spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the captain of the flight made the decision to divert the plane to San Antonio due to a flap track canoe fairing, which appeared to be at an irregular angle.
The plane landed safely with all 109 passengers and five crew safely onboard. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection.