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Summaries and links for all the posts which appeared on Traveling For Miles this week. Includes a number of bonus offers, news that American Airlines is delaying the introduction of Basic Economy fares, some great Business Class fares with Qatar Airways, a review of a new Arrivals Lounge at Heathrow, news of route additions, cancellations and changes from British Airways and quite a bit more.
Click on the headlines to read more
Monday
Qantas Re-starts its Sydney – Beijing Route….But With Old-Style Cabins
Qantas has announced that following a near 8-year hiatus it will be resuming flights between Sydney and Beijing from early next year. The airline last flew to Beijing back in 2009 when it decided that the economics of the route no longer worked (not too surprising considering the state of the world economy back then) but it’s not exactly re-starting the route in style.
Starwood Adds 10 More Design Hotels To SPG & Some Look Fantastic!
In the past week Starwood has added 10 more Design Hotels to its Starwood Preferred Guest rewards network. 8 of the properties are found in Asia, one in Europe and one in the Middle East.
MileagePlus Offering Bonuses Of Up to 50% On Points Transfers From Hotel Programs
An often unmentioned aspect of the United MileagePlus program is that you can convert points from various hotel rewards programs into United MileagePlus miles…but there’s a reason it’s often unmentioned – it’s almost always a terrible deal. Still, right now United is offering bonuses of up to 50% to anyone wishing to convert hotel loyalty points to United Miles so I thought I’d take a look at the promotion.
American Airlines Offering 20% Bonus On Transfers From Marriott
American Airlines has launched a promotion that gives travelers a 20% bonus on all points transfers from Marriott Rewards to the American Airlines AAdvantage program. In itself that’s not a bad promotion but what makes it even better it that it includes points transfers via Marriott’s “Flight & Hotel” packages.
Tuesday
W Dubai – Al Habtoor City Opens Its Doors
Starwood (or should I now call it Marriott?) has announced the opening of the first W Hotel in the UAE with the official launch of the W Dubai – Al Habtoor City. The property is located around 20 minutes drive from Dubai International Airport and 35 minute away from the Dubai Marina. The Burj Khalifa is only around 2 miles away as the crow flies but, thanks to the convoluted road system in the area, it’s still around 15 minutes drive away.
Review: American Airlines Arrivals Lounge Heathrow T3
Back in August American Airlines reopened its arrivals lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 after a 5 month refurbishment project and the promotional photos of the new space looked really good. The old arrivals lounge was small and not really a very relaxing place to be if you needed to kill some time before heading in to London so I was very keen to see what the new space was like.
Earn Double Points/Miles Through Amex Small Business Promotion (USA)
American Express is running a “shop small business” offer in which US cardholders can earn double points or miles when using most American Express credit and charge cards at small business between now and the end of the year.
Wednesday
Two Accor Promotions: Up To 40% Off…..But Most Will Only Get A 30% Discount
As part of the hotel group’s “Super Sale” Accor is offering up to 40% off rates at over 3,500 hotels in 92 countries but, when you read the small print, you’ll discover that the headline discount is only applicable to members of Accor’s premium loyalty program – Accor Plus. The rest of us mere mortals have to make do with a discount of 30%.
British Airways Cancels A Route & Brings Forward A380 Service To Vancouver
British Airways has finally succumbed to what most people in the know thought was inevitable even before the route was launched – it has cancelled its route to/from Chengdu.
Etihad Reduces Flights To The West Coast
Following last week’s announcement that Etihad will be increasing service to Dallas/Ft Worth the airline has now announced that it will be decreasing service to San Francisco from early next year.
Should You Use Your SPG Amex At Marriott Properties? Possibly Not.
Marriott & Starwood have announced that, with immediate effect, SPG Amex cardholders will earn bonus Starpoints at Marriott properties and Chase Marriott Visa card holders will earn bonus points at Starwood properties worldwide. But I’m not sure using the SPG Amex at Marriott properties is necessarily a good idea.
Thursday
Etihad Adds More Flights To Madrid & Dublin
Etihad has announced a significant increase in service between Abu Dhabi and two of its European destinations from 2017. Dublin will see services from Abu Dhabi increase from Spring 2017 while Madrid will get added flights from summer.
Qatar Airways: Up To 10% Discount On Mobile Bookings, New Flights & New Amenity Kits
Qatar Airways has been busy this week. The airline has launched a promotion offering a 10% discount on all bookings made through its mobile app, announced the introduction of new amenity kits for First Class passengers and confirmed that it will commence a daily service between Doha and the Seychelles later this year.
Iberia To Introduce Premium Economy Seating In 2017
From the first half of next year Iberia will begin to fit Premium Economy cabins to a number of its wide-body aircraft….but not on all of them.
A round-up of some of the airline news I’ve noticed over the past few days including American Airlines cancelling three of its routes out of Philadelphia, British Airways changing the aircraft it uses on its London – Washington DC route and United Airlines scheduling a brief flurry of 777 service between San Francisco and Las Vegas in January 2017.
Friday
British Airways Launches Route To New Orleans – Award Seats Available
Hot on the heels of cancelling its route to Chengdu British Airways has announced that, from spring 2017, it will be offering a non-stop service between London Heathrow and New Orleans.
Excellent Oneworld Business Class Fares From Spain & Serbia
Qatar Airway has, unsurprisingly, once again published some very good Business Class fares for departures from Spain and Serbia. Business Class fares to the Middle East start at under €1,000, there’s an excellent fare available for travel to Cape Town and there’s a lot more too.
A Look Inside The New Qantas Business Class Lounge In Brisbane
Details of the new Qantas International Lounge in Brisbane which opened its doors on 20 October 2016 and which can be accessed by Qantas Business Class travelers, eligible Qantas frequent flier sand oneworld Emerald and Sapphire status holders.
American Airlines Delays The Introduction Of Basic Economy Fares
American Airlines used its earnings call to Wall St yesterday to confirm that it will not be introducing Basic Economy fares in 2016 after all. The new fares will now make an appearance in January 2017.
Did Amex Just Kill A Chase Credit Card?
From 6 October the Amex Platinum personal card offers 5 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent directly with airlines or for air travel booked through Amex. Although this move was clearly aimed at helping Amex compete with the CSR it may have had the effect of making another of Chase’s credit cards irrelevant for a lot of people.
