Intelligence – January, 30 2007

Intelligence – January, 30 2007

American Airlines and Gulf Air are now earn and burn partners throughout each other’s network. AAdvantage members in the U.S. can travel on Gulf Air to London Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt or Dublin for a connection to one of Gulf Air’s destinations throughout the Middle East, Indian subcontinent or Africa …

As of Jan. 31, Varig is no longer a member of the Star Alliance. This leaves the Star Alliance without a South American partner airline. It’s rumored that Varig might join the alliance again in the future …

Marriott Rewards members may now purchase Marriott Rewards points online through a new partnership with Points International at a cost of $10 per 1,000 points …

Despite rumors that the recent Qantas buyout will put the Frequent Flyer program in jeopardy, Frequent Flyer members have been assured by Qantas that the program will continue as before …

US Airways is leaving the Qantas Frequent Flyer program as a partner on Feb. 28, 2007. Flights from March 1, 2007 will not earn Frequent Flyer points. Award flights on US Airways can be booked and ticketed until Feb. 28, 2007, for travel on or before Feb. 28, 2008 …

Look for Wyndham hotels to become a partner in the Spirit Airlines Free Spirit program in the near future …

JetBlue Airways announced a nonstop service between Boston’s Logan International Airport and Cancun, Mexico, effective March 2. In addition, JetBlue will begin a second daily nonstop flight from New York’s JFK to Cancun beginning March 1 …

British Airways is launching service to Sarajevo and Dresden and resuming service to Calgary and Port of Spain from London, Gatwick …

American Airlines will link Austin with Seattle daily, and Chicago to Birmingham and Mobile from April 10 …

With a hub in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines will open up new destinations in Turkey, Central Asia and the Middle East to Star Alliance members when it joins the Star Alliance and completes the integration process within the next sixteen months …

Dragonair is joining oneworld this year, expanding service to China, Malaysia and Thailand, and introducing flights to Cambodia …

Frontier Airlines is offering new routes between San Francisco and Las Vegas, San Diego and Cancun, Denver and Hartford, Cabo San Lucas and Los Angeles, Kansas City and San Jose …

Kenya Airways is now an associate member of the SkyTeam alliance and on its way to becoming a member airline …

US Airways Group announced that Morgan Stanley joins Citigroup with the bid to merge US Airways and Delta …

US Airways will have new flights from Philadelphia to Athens, Brussels and Zurich starting this summer …

Ritz and Marriott hotel awards have been dropped in the Amtrak Guest Rewards program without due notice to Guest Rewards members.