Delta Bug Fixed, Etihad's Concierge Service, AA's Flights to Cuba & More
Quick summary
Here's a roundup of the week's points, miles and travel industry news you may have missed:
Delta Fixes Korean Air Award Booking Bug
Delta's done a bit of work on its website to fix a bug that previously blocked access to Korean Air awards when the airline had blackout dates in any region. Blackout dates are now location-specific, just as they are when booking through Korean, and you can now see the different dates depending on which region you're searching. For example, if you're departing from North America, the blackout dates for next year are from May 13-June 30, 2016 and December 9-25, 2016.
Save on US Fall Travel with Delta
Delta's domestic fall travel sale is running through September 3, 2015 for travel from September 10 to November 1, 2015. Fares range from $99 to $240 each way (based on a round-trip ticket purchase), with flights from MIA to LGA starting at $119 in basic economy and Savannah (SAV) to JFK starting at $109 for Main Cabin seats.
Save 35% on AAdvantage Miles
Through September 3, 2015, you can save up to 35% when you buy or gift American Airlines AAdvantage miles. The bonus is tiered as follows:
- Buy 6,000-14,000 miles, receive a 15% discount.
- Buy 15,000-39,000 miles, receive a 20% discount.
- Buy 40,000-64,000 miles, receive a 25% discount.
- Buy 65,000-89,000 miles, receive a 30% discount.
- Buy 90,000-100,000 miles, receive a 35% discount.
Even if you max out the promotion, you'd be paying about 2.1 cents per mile, which is above my latest valuation. However, if you need to buy miles anyway to top up your account, or if you have a specific redemption in mind that you know offers better value, then this promotion can save you some money.
American Airlines Launches Nonstop Flights from LA to Cuba
American Airlines will launch charter flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Havana (HAV) starting December 12, 2015 — its first flight to the Cuban capital from the West Coast. The airline already offers nonstop flights from Miami (MIA) and Tampa (TPA) to Havana, with a total of 23 weekly flights.
Etihad Adds Concierge Service to A380 Flights
Passengers traveling in The Residence by Etihad onboard its A380 aircraft now have more than just London Savoy-trained butlers to take care of their needs while in the sky. Etihad Airways has joined forces with Ten Group to offer a Lifestyle Concierge team who can handle everything from dining and entertainment reservations to lifestyle services. The team offers to assist passengers "immediately, 24 hours a day, at 35,000 feet."
American Airlines to Discontinue Nonstop Service Between Philadelphia and Tel Aviv
After six years of poor performance, including a loss of over $20 million in the past year alone, nonstop service between Philadelphia and Tel Aviv will no longer be offered by American Airlines. The route will be discontinued as of January 4, 2016, with no plans to resume service in the near future. Passengers who are ticketed for service along the route beyond that date will be contacted by American to make alternative travel arrangements or receive a full refund.
Win Gold When Buying Duty Free in Abu Dhabi
If you happen to be flying through Abu Dhabi (AUH) from now through September 30, 2015 and spend either Dh150 ($40) on food or Dh500 ($136) on perfume and cosmetics in Duty Free, you'll have the chance to play the airport's new "Scratch & Win" promotion, with the chance to win 3.5 kg of gold.