Airline Updates

Delta Air was selected by Travel Weekly as the Best Domestic Airline in its 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards. Steve Sear, Delta’s Vice president – Global Sales issued a statement of thanks:

“On behalf of Delta, thank you…Throughout 2011, we have been responding to what travel professionals have said that they value the most from a travel partner. For example, we offer an unparalleled route network and one point of contact along with one agreement, where applicable, for all four joint venture partners. (Delta is with KLM, Air France and Alitalia) We are also working to enhance our Sky Partner reporting for eligible accounts to show the value we offer for the travel investment.

As part of our continued $2 billion investment, we are working to improve the customer experience – on the ground, in the air and in how we do business….expanded domestic First Class seating, flat-bed seat rollout in Business Elite on transoceanic flights, the expansion of Economic Comfort to domestic and short-haul international flights, as well as facility improvements at airports like Atlanta and New York’s JFK and La Guardia.”

For 2012, The Sky Team of Delta, KLM, Air France and Alitalia announced the introduction of Sky Priority. This is a distinctively fast series of airport services offered to Elite Plus, First and Business Class passengers. Per official announcement: “Sky Priority has been developed to ensure a common and consistent service standard for priority airport services across the alliance…(to) start in March 2012 at selected hubs. Sky Priority will gradually be implemented at over 800 stations in the course of the next few months, reaching over 1,000 airports by early 2013.” It was Delta what started this concept to its customers in 2010, with great success. Hence, the alliance is now adopting it to an international scope.

Meanwhile, closer to home is Cathay Pacific, announcing exciting new possibilities with its Asia Miles. Director & General Manager Asia Miles Stephen Wong is focusing on 2012: “On the membership side, if you look at our passenger profile, you can see a number of Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air passengers who are entitled to earn miles but aren’t doing so. We need to turn those flyers into members…make recruitment easier at different touch points (with) tools to help in better recruitment.”

Aside from expansion in membership, Asia Miles is also focusing on non-air rewards, increasing the options for members. “Early on,” shared GM Wong, “when we first developed the program, the focus was on air rewards but, over the past few years, we have put a considerable effort into the non-air items and the response has been very positive.” Wong disclosed that in key markets, non-air redemption has grown to about 30%, even reaching 80%, especially trending among long-haul travelers. On non-air partnerships, Wong clarified: “It needs to work in terms of partnership development and you need the resources to talk to potential partners and be strategic in whom to talk to. Ideally, you want a partner that has global presence and have one deal that covers six or seven different countries.”

There you have it! Go to the Delta Office at QC Pavilion for your Sky Miles membership, and to Cathay Pacific. Their office building is opposite the Terraces in Ayala. Start chalking those miles the next time you fly. Travel safely!