United Airlines adds Wi-Fi for overseas flights

By Hugo Martin


United Airlines has been one of the last major airlines to jump into the business of offering on-board wireless Internet. But it's trying to make up for its tardiness.

The Chicago-based carrier offers Wi-Fi in about 3% of its fleet of about 700 planes, one of the lowest rates of any major carrier in the nation, according to a recent study.

But United recently became the first U.S.-based international carrier to offer satellite-based Wi-Fi Internet for passengers traveling on long-haul overseas flights.

The carrier has installed satellite-based Wi-Fi on nearly a dozen planes, with plans to expand the service to more than 300, or about 43% of the fleet, by the end of the year.

“With this new service, we continue to build the airline that customers want to fly,” said Jim Compton, vice chairman and chief revenue officer at United.

Satellite-based Wi-Fi is typically as fast as ground-based Wi-Fi, experts say, plus it can give passengers Internet access when flying over areas where cellular towers don’t exist -- such as the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Of course, there is a price to pay for the service.

United is charging between $3.99 and $14.99 for standard speed, depending on the duration of the flight, and between $5.99 and $19.99 for faster speeds.

United is not the only airline to offer satellite-based Wi-Fi. Southwest Airlines, the nation’s largest domestic carrier, offers satellite-based Internet through Westlake Village company Row 44.

The Virgin Atlantic Story

The story of Virgin Atlantic is a remarkable one that started in the summer of 1984 with a maiden voyage to New York.

The story of Virgin Atlantic is a remarkable one that started in the summer of 1984 with a maiden voyage to New York. In the 28 years that followed, more and more long-haul routes were added and the airline is now proud to fly to over 35 of the world’s most popular destinations for business and leisure, annually flying more than six million passengers.

You can fly in style from London Heathrow to 11 cities across the US and Canada, including six daily flights to New York and twice daily flights to Los Angeles.

There are also regular flights to Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami and a brand-new destination for 2012 – Vancouver, which commences again in May 2013.

If you have business to take care of in Africa or the Middle East, Virgin Atlantic offers flights to Dubai, Johannesburg, Accra and Lagos and seasonal flights to Cape Town.

Emirates Airlines Announces New Skywards Tier: Platinum

By  David Parker Brown


Today, Emirates Airlines will announce a new elite tier in their Skywards program: Platinum. Just before the announcement, I was able to sit down with Brian LaBelle, Senior Vice President of Emirates Rewards in Dubai to ask some questions and learn more about the airline’s program.

Previously, Emirates had three rewards tiers: Blue: just register, Silver: earned at 25,000 miles and Gold: earned at 50,000 miles. Starting April 1st, 2013, passengers will be able to attain Platinum status flying over 150,000 miles. That is quite the upgrade from 50,000 miles of Gold status, so what will the premium get you? Here are the main benefits:

• Access for the cardholder and one guest to the Emirates First Class lounge in Dubai and Emirates Lounges across the network
• Complimentary Emirates Skywards Gold card for each member’s partner, giving them the benefits of Gold status, even when flying on their own.
• ‘Last Seat’ Flex reward, enabling Skywards Miles to be utilised on any flight, as long as there is an open seat.
• Additional 20kg luggage allowance.
• ‘Guaranteed Business Class‘ revenue seat, meaning you will not be bumped if you use cash or rewards for a business class seat.
• 75% bonus Skywards Miles

LaBelle explained that Emirates wants to reward their top fliers and make sure they keep flying on Emirates. He wasn’t able to confirm how many current Gold level members will automatically earn Platinum status on April 1st, but he was able to say that out of the 8.6 million who have signed up for Skywards, about 110,000 are currently Gold members.

Although status will not transfer between most other airlines that Emirates has partnerships with (Alaska Airlines, jetBlue and easyJet), the new status will be shared with Qantas Airlines Frequent Flyer Program. This makes sense since both airlines will be entering a larger alliance starting also on April 1st.

Sheraton to open 30 hotels in 2013

Starwood Hotels & Resorts is planning to expand its Sheraton brand over the next 12 months with 30 planned openings, predominantly in the Asia Pacific region.

Half of the new properties will open in China, lengthening Starwood’s lead as the largest upper-upscale global hotel operator in Asia Pacific.

Sheraton is also picking up momentum in several other emerging markets including Latin America, the Middle East and Turkey.

“Sheraton is anticipating record-breaking growth, putting us on track to open our 500th hotel in 2015.

“The majority of our new hotel development is taking place in the world’s fast-growing economies, while in North America, Sheraton remains one of the most sought-after brands for conversion opportunities,” said Hoyt Harper, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts.

“Our portfolio is stronger than ever following our highly successful brand-wide revitalization and multi-billion dollar investment to enhance the Sheraton brand over the past several years,” Harper added.

China

Sheraton is slated to open 15 new hotels across China over the next 12 months, moving it closer to its target of 80 properties in this vast market by the end of 2015.

One of the more notable openings this year is Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort, which boasts an innovative ring-shaped structure designed by leading-edge architect Ma Yansong.

“The Sheraton growth trajectory in China has been nothing short of remarkable.

“For the fourth year in a row, Sheraton will open approximately half of its new hotels in China and demand continues to grow especially in second and third tier cities,” said Harper.

“We are also proud to add Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort to our growing portfolio of architecturally unique hotels in Asia Pacific.”

Diverse Emerging Markets

In addition to the flurry of new hotel openings in China, Sheraton is also growing its portfolio in other fast-growing markets within Asia Pacific.

New openings this year will include Sheraton New Caledonia Bourail Resort and Spa in New Caledonia and Sheraton Chandigarh Hotel in India.

“Sheraton is renowned as a global hospitality icon and the brand’s early entry into markets around the world is continuing to pave the way for future growth not only for Sheraton, but also for Starwood’s other eight sought-after brands,” said Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood.

“The quality of the Sheraton hotel portfolio and pipeline is the strongest it has ever been and we look forward to ongoing expansion in both emerging and developed markets.”

The brand’s portfolio in Africa and the Middle East will expand over the next 12 months with the addition of four new hotels including the fourth Sheraton in Saudi Arabia - Sheraton Medina Hotel, Sheraton Dubai Mall of Emirates and the first in Tajikistan - Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel.

Sheraton will also open two new hotels in Turkey, Europe’s fastest-growing market, in the cities of Adana and Bursa.

Americas

One of the most promising growth markets for Sheraton is Latin America, which boasts several of the world’s fastest growing economies.

This year’s openings will include Sheraton Tucuman Hotel - the brand’s ninth hotel in Argentina.

Sheraton is also increasing its footprint in Brazil as the country ramps up infrastructure development ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

Following the opening of Sheraton Vitória in 2012, the brand will open Sheraton da Bahia Hotel in Salvador this year and Sheraton Reserva do Paiva Hotel & Convention Center, which is located 30 minutes from Recife, in early 2014.

Sheraton continues to capture conversion opportunities in cities across North America.

Over the next 12 months, Sheraton will re-brand hotels in a number of key cities throughout the United States.

Turkish Airlines adds to Libreville, Gabon to its African network

Turkish Airlines, which flies to the most countries in the world, today added its 97th country by commencing flights to Libreville, Gabon.

Turkish Airlines will operate flights from Istanbul, via Douala, to Libreville, its 34th destination in Africa, 3 days per week in both directions.

IRS Airline to Abuja

Jerome Yaovi Codjo-Onipede
The IRS Plane that took us to Abuja almost CRASHED, the weather took over the plane and the plane started moving to the right and to the left. The Pilot started shouting "CREW sit down, CREW sit down" when nobody was standing, but everyone in plane was gripped with FEAR, we thought he would Crash it in the OUTSKIRTS, but God, and only God brought us down safely. It was no technical fault of the plane, but very bad weather at landing.

Virgin Atlantic Route Map