CHARM OFFENSIVE: Qantas special offer targets Australian travellers first. © Instinia Photography

Qantas is offering Australian residents affected by last week's flight grounding the choice of a free return flight within Australia or between New Zealand and Australia.

The Australian flagship says it will have a specific offer for international customers and those whose travel did not originate from Australia, but will reveal details in the near future.

Travellers were stranded without warning in 22 cities worldwide for up to two days. An independent industrial tribunal - Fair Work Australia -ordered a permanent end to the industrial dispute between the airline and three trade unions that led to the grounding.

In a message posted on its website, Qantas states: "It's our way of saying thank you for being patient with us at this difficult and stressful time. Please remember, now that the industrial action is over, no more aircraft can be grounded and no further services will be cancelled as a result of the industrial action."

Qantas said it will contact Australian resident passengers whose flights were cancelled with details of the special offer.

If you were affected by the Qantas grounding and believe you are eligible for a free flight, visit the Qantas website after Nov. 11 and look for the Free Flight Offer Request form.

Lufthansa retrofitted its fleet of Boeing 747-400s serving the route between Hong Kong (HKG) and Frankfurt (FRA) to provide a more spacious first-class cabin. The new cabin has eight seats compared to the previous 16. Window seats are converted to permanent beds with a sleeping surface of more than two metres. Remote-controlled privacy shields replace the previous partitions, giving first-class passengers controllable privacy. The German flag carrier says its new design is a response to extensive customer research. Lufthansa also upgraded the 747's economy-class seats using thinner materials to add 30 mm to passengers' legroom. Lufthansa plans to introduce new business-class seats next year.

United Continental Holdings' passengers will be the first to enjoy onboard WiFi on a U.S.-based international carrier. Beginning mid-2012, the carrier will install Panasonic's Ku-band satellite technology to provide in-flight connectivity on more than 300 aircraft. The system will also enable wireless streaming of video content. Customers will be able to use wireless devices such as laptops, Smartphones and tablets onboard aircraft to connect with Internet services via the in-flight hotspot. United Continental Holdings expects its entire mainline fleet will be equipped with WiFi by 2015.

Australia's Strategic Airlines has relaunched with a new name and a pledge to bring Australia a fresh approach to affordable air travel. On Nov.15, the carrier becomes Air Australia and will operate as a low-cost carrier. Air Australia's first green-and-gold jet entered service on Nov. 4. Initially the carrier will serve international leisure destinations - Bali (DPS), Phuket (HKT) and Honolulu (HNL) - and existing routes flown by Strategic Airlines. The company was granted rights to operate services between Australia and China and Australia and the United States.

This month, Qatar Airways launches new services to Benghazi (BEN) in Libya, Entebbe (EBB), Uganda and Chongqing (CKG), China. The carrier will increase its capacity in Iran, from the current 21 services a week to 52 services a week over the next four months. Starting Dec. 1, Qatar will extend its services from Doha (DOH) to Tehran (THR), Mashhad (MHD) and Shiraz (SYZ). On Jan. 11, 2012, Qatar will launch a new route to Isfahan (IFN) in central Iran.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened its second hotel in Vietnam. The Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa is located on Vietnam's central coast between Hoi An and Danang. The new Hyatt Regency's 200 guestrooms feature modern design with oversized balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition, there are 182 luxury residences and 27 private ocean villas each with a private pool.

Following an extensive HKD 200 million redevelopment, Stanley Plaza in Stanley, Hong Kong reopened with six floors of semi-outdoor, high-quality retail and dining outlets. Historic Murray House, with its numerous restaurants, al fresco dining and maritime museum, also forms part of the expansive seafront complex. The revamped Stanley Plaza will also includes a new 300-seat amphitheatre. To celebrate its re-opening Stanley Plaza will host a two-day World of Food and Music on Nov. 26 and 27.

Starwood is celebrating the opening of The Naka Island, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa with the Luxury Experience package. Formally operated by Six Senses Resorts & Spas, The Naka Island is an exclusive all-villa island resort off the coast of Phuket in southern Thailand. Accessible only by private speedboat, the revamped resort has 67 villas with private plunge pools and tropical gardens. The Luxury Experience offers three nights for the price of two and starts from THB 15,000 (plus taxes). Guests will also receive a resort credit of THB 2,500 per villa per night, for use at the resort. Naka Island has one of the area's largest 5-star luxury spas and exclusive access to pristine sandy beaches.

In an effort to become Asia's largest yuletide holiday destination, Resorts World Sentosa will hit the switch on a SGD 2 million light display on Nov. 12. Festive lights will sparkle throughout the 49-hectare resort. Its 500-metre shopping and dining strip - FestiveWalk - will feature lights, fairytale tableaus, roving characters and Southeast Asia's tallest Christmas tree at 38 metres with 20 carolers performing at the foot of the tree. Special year-end holiday packages for the resort will be rolled out through the Resorts World Sentosa website.

Located in the historic Rocks district, a few minutes from Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Observatory Hotel consistently ranks among the best hotels in Australia. The hotel has a Luxurious Celebrations package for couples priced from AUD 600. The rate includes one night in a guestroom or suite with Australian breakfast, access to The Day Spa, bottle of Champagne, three-course dinner for two and an Observatory Hotel souvenir. The Observatory Hotel, Sydney also offers a special evening of stargazing. Guests can enjoy a private star viewing and witness the official naming of a star at the Sydney Observatory.

Overwater Bungalows is a newly launched guide to 110 resorts with overwater bungalows and water villas. There are currently just over 4,500 overwater rooms worldwide, almost two-thirds of which are at the 60-plus private-island resorts in the Maldives. Other overwater villas and bungalows are located in the Caribbean, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The Overwater Bungalows Guide also features updates of new resorts opening in 2012.