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Volume 3, Issue 6, February 11, 2010 |
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InterContinental Hotels Group’s Priority Club Rewards has launched a global competition that targets members who are also members of Hilton’s HHonors rewards programme. IHG says its "Luckiest Loser" competition is in response to the recent increases in Hilton HHonors' hotel rewards rates, which IHG claims “effectively devalued HHonors members' points by about 20 percent.”
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After much speculation, on Feb. 9 Japan Airlines announced its decision to stay with the oneworld alliance and to strengthen its partnership with fellow member, AMR Corp's American Airlines. JAL and AA are keen to enter a joint business venture to enhance their scope of cooperation on trans-Pacific routes and will jointly apply to the United States Department of Transportation and the Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan for antitrust immunity.
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In an interview with Bloomberg at last week's Singapore Air Show, Air China Senior Vice President He Li said it would "absolutely support" Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, which aims to challenge Boeing and Airbus in the Chinese market. Comac is the maker of China's first narrow-body passenger aircraft, the168-seat C919, which uses an engine produced by CFM, a General Electric Co./Safran SA joint venture.
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Air New Zealand is promising to "redefine the long-haul travel experience" with lie-flat seats in economy, fitted into its new Boeing 777-300 ER, the first of which will be delivered later this year. In economy, the first 11 window rows will be fitted with 22 sets of Skycouch seats, a specially designed row of three seats engineered to create a lie-flat, flexible space.
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All Nippon Airways has postponed the debut of its new seating on its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and its Inspiration of Japan brand for two months, due to a delay in the development of its new premium-economy seats. In an apology published on its website, ANA said the Inspiration of Japan brand featuring new services will be launched on the Tokyo (NRT)–New York (JFK) route on April 19.
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Codesharing flights from Jakarta (CGK) to Seoul (ICN) are increasing from seven to 10 a week as Korean Air and Garuda expand their cooperation. Korean Air will continue its daily flights between Incheon, Seoul, and the Indonesian capital.
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All Shangri-La and Traders Hotels in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong are offering a package of incentives over Lunar New Year, with extra benefits for Golden Circle members. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts' Spring Festival Package is available for stays Feb. 10–28.
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Aman Resorts has opened its second luxury resort in mainland China just outside Hangzhou, some 120 miles from Shanghai. The Amanfayun, Hangzhou is Aman's 24th property; its first property in China is Summer Palace in Beijing.
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Discovery Airpass users can now fly to Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Malaysia, thanks to the inclusion of Berjaya Airways in the Bangkok Airways-founded alliance with Lao Airlines. The scheme, started in 2002, allows travellers to buy books of between three and six flight coupons valid open-jaw on certain domestic routes within Thailand, Laos and Cambodia and international routes between those countries and to the Maldives.
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Book early as the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo prepares to celebrate its fifth birthday and the cherry blossom season on April 4. The day will be marked by a display of traditional Japanese music and culture that will feature some of the city's best-known geisha and a master musician!
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United Airlines is offering more online deals on flights to Las Vegas (LAS) from Hong Kong (HKG) in February. A round-trip economy-class ticket costs HKD 7,152 and includes fuel surcharge, U.S. excise tax and HK security service charges.
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