Intelligence – April, 26 2005

Intelligence – April, 26 2005

Star Alliance recently inducted its sixteenth member, TAP Air Portugal. By adding Lisbon to its European hubs, “the airline network for Earth” now offers ten connecting airports across the continent. TAP brings some unique destinations and routes into the network, such as Madeira and the Azores on its domestic Portuguese network, the Cape Verde Islands, Guinea Bissau, Luanda, Maputo and Sao Tome and Principe in Africa as well as non-stop flights between Lisbon and the cities of Fortaleza, Natal, Recife and Salvador thus cutting traveling time from Europe to northeastern Brazil by several hours…

Reminder: stays at participating AmeriSuites hotels now earn credit in the Hyatt Gold Passport program, and until July 31, members will earn a 1,000-point bonus for their first AmeriSuites stay…

Members of American AAdvantage and Delta SkyMiles can now earn one mile per $1 spent at Viator.com on a wide range of travel and entertainment products, including theater tickets, sporting events, whale watching, walking tours, wine tasting, theme parks, museum tours and even mundane (but must-have) items like airport parking and shuttle transfers to and from airports and hotels…

CSA Czech OK Plus has joined forces with Movenpick Hotels & Resorts. Members of the program will earn a minimum of 500 miles per stay. During May, however, members can look forward to triple miles, or 1,500 miles, per stay…

SRS-Worldhotels, the Americas, has signed an agreement with Northwest Airlines to become a hotel company partner in the WorldPerks program…

Cendant TripRewards members can now can exchange points and miles between disparate loyalty programs, thanks to an agreement with Points.com. In the near future, TripRewards members will be able to transfer points to friends and family members, and organizations will be able to purchase TripRewards points for distribution as incentives…

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles members can now earn up to 25,000 miles when they open and use a home equity loan or line of credit with Chase. SkyMiles members can earn 3,500 miles for each $10,000 borrowed, with a maximum of 25,000 miles, when opening a home equity loan or line of credit at any Chase or Bank One branch…

Korean Air has signed a codeshare agreement with Aeroflot. The carriers now share the same code on flights between Incheon and Moscow…

Delta has named Atlanta-based Shepherd Center as its second SkyWish Charity of the Quarter for 2005. SkyMiles members may now donate miles to assist families of hospitalized Shepherd Center patients with their travel needs. Donations may be made via e-mail at [email protected], by calling 1-800-325-3999 or via fax at 404-773-1945. There is a 5,000-mile minimum donation, and Delta will boost each donation by 20 percent for every 5,000 miles contributed…

Now through May 31, Continental OnePass members may convert a minimum of 5,000 American Express Membership Rewards points into 5,000 OnePass miles at continental.com, and earn 1,000 bonus miles.