turbulence t ravel ne ws th at wi l l e xc it e y o u
march 2 0 1 4
Welcome to Turbulence Well March has arrived and with it, the heat of summer, or so it seems in the southern states! Funny how summer gets later and later each year, and Autumn seems a long way off! But school holidays will be upon us before we know it, so start planning now and check out some of the great deals we have on offer. And do check out the special deals available in the Sean Simmons Travel online store. The new JUNO range from Antler is THE BIZNESS when it comes to travelling in style! (Check out Virgin Australia’s VOYEUR Magazine!). So get shopping!! And finally, we are incredibly proud to announce our two nominations, for the second year running, in the AFTA sponsored National Travel Industry Awards. These prestigious awards are strong validation of our ongoing determination to offer ALL of our valued customers, real value, real service and a real friendly attitude. We will keep you posted!
WE WANT YOU! To enjoy this fantastic Virgin sale to the USA Los Angeles Business class $5,102.72 Premium Economy $3,542.72 Economy $1,212.72
Or fly to these other great US destinations with some awesome economy fares: San Francisco $1,429.32 New York $1,579.32 Atlanta $1,829.32 Chicago $1,729.32 Boston $1,429.32 Terms and conditions:Fares are shown inclusive of all taxes. All tickets must be issued on or before 20 March 2014 except LAX business class which must be issued on or before 27 May 2014. Travel period for all fares 6 March – 30 November 2014. No minimum stay and a maximum stay of 12 months. Some blackout dates apply. Prices correct as at 6 March 2014. Prices are subject to availability and can change without notice. Prices may be subject to credit card and booking fees. Fares correct as at March 8th 2014.
NEED TO GET AWAY? Escape with Cathay Pacific in economy from Melbourne to Hong Kong ����������������������������������� $1,041.32 Shanghai �����������������������������������������$919.62 Beijing ����������������������������������������������$950.62 Manila ����������������������������������������������$903.22 Tokyo �������������������������������������������� $1175.72 Terms and conditions:Fare is inclusive of all taxes. Ticket must be issued on or before the 31 March 2014. For travel between 6 March-2014 – 25 March 2014 / 1 April 2014 – 10 April 2014 / 28 April 2014 – 26 June 2014 / 14 July 2014 – 18 September 2014. No minimum stay and a maximum stay of 6 months. Prices correct as at 6 March 2014. Prices are subject to availability and can change without notice. Prices may be subject to credit card and booking fees.
ONLINE STORE MEGA-SALE For the rest of March, Sean Simmons Travel is knocking a further 10% off our already reduced prices in an exclusive deal for Turbulence subscribers – across our entire range of luggage and travel accessories. Enter coupon code SSTTURBMAR14 at check out to take advantage of this fantastic offer. Click here to go directly to the member login page of our website and get shopping!
Charity contribution Last month, we announced our support of two great causes – Sunrise Children’s Villages in Cambodia and the Menzies School of Health Research. Make any purchase from the online store and we will donate 10% of the order value to one of these fantastic charities. Click on the charities name above for more information about these wonderful causes. If you wish to nominate which charity your purchase will assist, please indicate this in the Order Notes section when processing your purchase.
CONTACT The Sean Simmons Travel TRAVEL TEAM ON: Phone: +61 3 9429 3294 (local) Fax: +61 3 9429 3293 Suite 6, 53 Coppin Street, Richmond VIC 3121 ABN 48153795129
Toll Free: 1300 391 590 (interstate) Email: enquiries@seanstravel.com.au seansimmons travel.com.au
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FEATURED HOTEL
QT SYDNEY The 200-room QT Sydney is the flagship of the QT brand, located on the corner of George and Market Streets in Sydney. With an eye for modern design whilst reflective of past, the rooms that make up the QT Sydney Hotel have been carefully crafted within the historic Gowings and the State Theatre buildings. This boutique Sydney accommodation retains many of the building’s most distinctive features, such as the blend of Gothic, Art Deco and Italianate-influenced architecture that form the dazzling exterior of the building. With a contemporary and, at times, quirky design, all guestrooms feature creature comforts such as luxurious bedding, high-speed internet, walk in showers and most guest suites also offer an indulgent oversized soaking tub. The lower levels of this truly designer Sydney hotel will retain a historical allure but also be the home of Sydney’s hottest new bar, Gilt Lounge, and Robert Marchetti’s newest creation Gowings Bar & Grill. Sean Simmons Travel and QT Sydney have joined forces to bring Turbulence subscribers an exclusive offer. Book with Sean Simmons Travel to stay at the QT Sydney any time during the month of April and receive a free room category upgrade!
Call us to book now! ** Note – upgrade subject to availability at time of reservation and will be confirmed at check in. Valid for April 2014 only, and for subscribers of Turbulence.
Points-based upgrades have previously been available only on the most expensive economy Flexi fares.
Industry news VIRGIN AUSTRALIA UPATES Domestic Business Airline of the Year Virgin Australia is delighted to announce it has recently been named Domestic Business Airline of the Year in the annual Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards, held 20 February 2014. Recognised as the Best Domestic Business Airline for customer satisfaction, the awards are based on the world’s largest ongoing single source survey, which includes the opinions of 50,000 Australian consumers and 22,000 business decision-makers annually. An outstanding achievement, Virgin Australia offers a world-class product which is complemented by the outstanding service our people provide, and supported by our trade partners. In addition to this recent achievement, Virgin Australia would like to congratulate alliance partner Singapore Airlines for being recognised for Best International Airline of the Year.
The number of Velocity points needed for a business class bump-up on a Saver ticket varies according to the distance of your flight. ONE WAY MILES FLOWN
Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to enhancing the travel experience for leisure and corporate guests to the destination, the architecturally designed lounge has doubled in size, and now offers over 600 comfortable seats for guests to sit back and enjoy all the facilities needed to relax and unwind, or take care of business. With uninterrupted views of the tarmac, the newly refined lounge echoes Virgin Australia’s sophisticated yet contemporary look and feel where guests can indulge in a beverage from the stylish new espresso and wine bars, enjoy food from the ever changing buffet menu, whilst taking advantage of the complimentary Wi-Fi and entertainment options including magazines, newspapers and TV, ASX information and the business zone. In addition to the newly designed space, guests can now proceed straight from the comfort of the lounge, through to the nearest security screening point and on to departure gates with the new secondary exit point located at the end of the servery.
Newly Refurbished Melbourne Lounge
Velocity Upgrades from Saver Fares and an Upgrade Cancellation & Amendment Policy
Virgin Australia is pleased to announce, its Virgin Australia Lounge at Melbourne Domestic Airport has undergone a significant transformation.
Virgin Australia now allows domestic travellers on its low-cost Saver fares to upgrade to business class using their Velocity Frequent Flyer points.
CONTACT The Sean Simmons Travel TRAVEL TEAM ON: Phone: +61 3 9429 3294 (local) Fax: +61 3 9429 3293 Suite 6, 53 Coppin Street, Richmond VIC 3121 ABN 48153795129
Toll Free: 1300 391 590 (interstate) Email: enquiries@seanstravel.com.au seansimmons travel.com.au
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POINTS REQUIRED
0 – 600
10,000
601 – 1200
17,500
1201 – 2400
30,000
2401 – 3600
35,000
Sydney – Melbourne, Sydney – Brisbane and Melbourne – Adelaide flights all fall under the 600 mile mark, so a seat at the pointy end can be yours for just 10,000 points (about twice as many points as you’d need to upgrade from a Flexi fare). That’s not bad value when you consider the typically low cost of your original Saver fare on those routes plus getting lounge access into the bargain, if you’re not already a lounge-worthy Velocity Gold or Platinum member. It’s also in the same ballpark as the number of Qantas points needed for a similar upgrade on the Red Roo. A business class upgrade on mid-range flights including Melbourne – Brisbane and Brisbane – Adelaide can be yours for 17,500 points from a Saver fare, more than double a Flexi upgrade of 7,400 points. Those two brackets of 10,000 and 17,500 point upgrades will probably prove appealing to corporate travellers flying on work-sponsored Saver fares. Doing a transcontinental trek to or from Perth on Virgin’s Airbus A330 Coast to Coast service? We don’t blame you for wanting to get an upgrade to those comfortable international-grade seats, but it’ll cost you 30,000 points each way. That’s a staggering three times the 9,900 asking price for upgrading from a Flexi ticket.
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Industry news (Continued) OTHER UPATES ETIHAD AIRWAYS TO OPERATE FLAGSHIP A380 TO MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY Etihad Airways will begin flying its new Airbus A380s to Sydney and Melbourne next year as the Gulf carrier fills out its fleet of 10 superjumbos. Etihad’s first A380 is due for delivery by December, with the double-decker jets also slated for routes from its Abu Dhabi hub to New York and London. Each of the A380s will carry a standard three-class layout of first, business and economy. Etihad will also open a new lounge at Sydney Airport towards the end of May, with a Melbourne lounge to follow in early 2015. A spokesman for Etihad states that the new two-level lounge will open “in late May” and include restaurantstyle dining and an international buffet plus a ‘VIP room’, although the lounge itself will be shared between business and first class passengers. Etihad will commence daily flights between Perth and Abu Dhabi from July 15 this year and has its eye on additional flights for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. “I would expect over time for us to move to three flights a day out of Sydney, two flights a day out of Melbourne and two flights a day out of Brisbane,” Etihad Airways President and CEO James Hogan said, “but that is over time.”
QANTAS & SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS END CODESHARE AFTER 14 YEARS South African Airways and Qantas will end their long term codeshare arrangement on flights between Australia and Johannesburg from May 31. The codeshare has been in place since October 2000, when SAA stopped flying between Johannesburg and Sydney with its own metal after 27 years of operation. In September, the airlines were granted approval to continue their codeshare in September 2012, but only to the end of this year, with regulators on both sides making it clear that they were unlikely to consider extending it further. Although Qantas’ decision to withdraw from the arrangement means SAA will only have a presence on the Perth-Jo’burg route, the South African carrier stressed that it remains committed to the Australian market. Earlier this month, it struck a new codeshare agreement with Virgin Australia with the two airlines to coordinate on travel between Australia and Africa. “Australia and New Zealand remain important markets for SAA and its customers and although we no longer operate flights ourselves to Sydney, we will maintain our presence in the country through our own operations to Perth and all of our established partnerships,” acting general manager commercial Kendy Phohleli said. The airline will continue to serve Sydney-based passengers through its Perth gateway with a daily service to Johannesburg. Sales of the codeshare flights ceased on Friday. Airline offices and travel partners with affected passengers will be notified of the appropriate procedure to “minimise disruption” to travellers.
The early end to the arrangement will enable the development of new options to connect Perth and Johannesburg for its passengers, according to Qantas. The airline currently codeshares on Emirates’ three times weekly service from Perth to Dubai and it’s onwards connections to Johannesburg.
DELTA MAKES RADICAL CHANGE TO FREQUENT FLIER PROGRAM Delta Air Lines is making a radical change to its frequent flier program, one that’s already causing turbulence among customers and current SkyMiles loyalty members. Beginning Jan. 1, 2015, Delta’s frequent flier program will be revamped to reward members not by how many miles they fly, as in the past, but on how much they spend on airfare. The move is seen as Delta’s way of rewarding its premium customers and to entice more business travelers, who not only fly more frequently, but often pay higher fares because of last-minute bookings. Some see it as similar to ‘pay to play.’ Instead of being accustomed to earning miles to then cash in for free tickets, the leisure flier is seen as being penalized. Others see it as something far worse – a mile-high caste system where passengers who previously sat in coach and paid less than a passenger in business class yet still earned the same amount of miles, no longer will. Delta released the news on Tuesday 26 February at midnight. According to the press release, “Today’s method of earning redeemable miles based on the distance a customer flies will change to a model of earning redeemable miles based on the price of the ticket purchased. Delta is providing 10 months advance notice of the upcoming program changes so that customers have ample time to make travel plans. Customers will be able to earn between five and 11 miles per dollar spent based on their SkyMiles status, and continue to earn up to an additional two miles per dollar when using their Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, for a total of up to 13 miles per dollar. The updated program will better reward the customers who spend more with Delta and give them improved mileage-earning opportunities.” On its Facebook page, Delta had both its detractors and supporters of the plan. David Troup wrote, “Diamond + multi-million miler here checking in - I hate to say it, but I’m glad you announced this early in the year so I can build status on other airlines. Delta - you just jumped the shark and I’m jumping ship. ;-(“ But Ron Allen posted “Let me get this straight. The guy who spends $500 on a one-way JFK-DCA (213 flight miles) will earn more miles, and is more valuable to DL than the guy who spends $300 one-way JFK-LAX (2475 flight miles). To me, that makes perfect sense. Too bad so many people who suck up available seat-miles at the lowest prices think they are somehow more loyal or valuable to DL than someone else who spends more $$$ with DL, no matter how many miles they fly. It’s just plain old common sense people.”
eight, Platinum earns nine and Diamond Medallion Members earn 11 miles per dollar spent. How does it impact travellers? Well, as Fortune pointed out, “For that customer who flies twice a year from New York to Los Angeles on a $650 fare, reserved months in advance, it’s a downer. Today, he or she would book 5,000 miles. Under the new program, the credit is just 3,250 miles, or the $650 fare multiplied by five.”
QANTAS: $252 MILLION LOSS, 5000 JOBS AXED, FLEET SLASHED Qantas has revealed a loss of $252 million across July-December 2013, its biggest since the airline was privatised almost two decades ago. 5,000 jobs will be axed from Qantas’ 33,000-strong workforce by mid-2017. Qantas will also shrink its fleet by over 50 aircraft. Older less fuel-efficient planes such as the Boeing 767 and Boeing 747 will be retired ahead of schedule. Forward orders for new aircraft – including eight Airbus A380s bound for Qantas and three of the Boeing 787’s headed for low-cost offshoot Jetstar – are being deferred to an unspecified date. Qantas has also put the brakes on expansion plans for Jetstar in Asia. “We need to take the right decisions in accord with current market circumstances and our balance sheet” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce. “In Singapore, growth has been suspended by the Jetstar Asia Board until such time as conditions improve.” Qantas also says that Jetstar’s Airbus A320 order book has been “restructured”. On the international front, Qantas will close its final international route from Perth-Singapore in May this year, leaving the WA capital without a single overseas flight on the Flying Kangaroo. Qantas’ lowcost offshoots Jetstar and Jetstar Asia will continue to operate Perth-Singapore flights, currently offering three services each day between the two brands. The airline says that “Qantas services between Melbourne and London will be re-timed in November 2014 to reduce A380 ground time in Heathrow” in the second quarter of 2015. This will in turn free up an A380 for additional flying, Qantas says, although it’s quick to assure travellers that there will be “no changes to overall capacity on London flights”. One bright spot in today’s results is the Qantas Loyalty Division which includes the airline’s frequent flyer scheme, which contributed a record $137 million (before interest and tax) to Qantas’ coffers.
Jeff Robertson, Delta’s VP of SkyMiles, said “The introduction of a new model for earning miles will increase rewards for those who spend more as well as differentiate the SkyMiles frequent flyer program for our premium travellers.” The new plan has tiered levels within SkyMiles that offer varying degrees of rewards. A General Member earns five miles per dollar spent; Silver Medallion members earn seven miles, Gold earns
E & OE “Fares and costs subject to change at any time subject to notifications from suppliers. Whilst all endeavours are made to ensure all details are correct, Sean Simmons travel Pty ltd cannot be held liable for any omissions or errors that may be contained within this newsletter. Should you have any reason for comment or complaint, please contact complaints@seanstravel.com.au at anytime
CONTACT The Sean Simmons Travel TRAVEL TEAM ON: Phone: +61 3 9429 3294 (local) Fax: +61 3 9429 3293 Suite 6, 53 Coppin Street, Richmond VIC 3121 ABN 48153795129
Toll Free: 1300 391 590 (interstate) Email: enquiries@seanstravel.com.au seansimmons travel.com.au
TCF 10343 TRAVEL AGENT LICENSE VIC 33025 IATA 02-3 6275 4
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as a member to get access to exclusive travel deals and discounts on branded luggage