Intelligence – September, 26 2012

Intelligence – September, 26 2012

SriLankan Airlines is set to join the oneworld alliance in late 2013. …

Kuwait Airways Oasis Club members can earn 500 miles for stays at Millennium & Copthorne properties across Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa. …

United Airlines plans to cut flying out of Houston by 10 percent because Southwest has won the right to fly internationally out of Hobby airport starting in 2015. …

Alaska Airlines is introducing nonstop service between Seattle and San Antonio starting Sept. 17, 2012. Register at http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?6731 to earn double miles on this new route between Sept. 17 and Oct. 29, 2012. …

Swift Exchange is nearing the launch date of its electronic system for converting miles and points into money to spend. Instead of paying cash, the customer would present a scannable code on their smartphone–using money that has been converted from loyalty currency. …

Joie de Vivre Hotels has taken over management of the Coconut Waikiki in Hawaii, the company’s first hotel in Hawaii. After the hotel undergoes renovation, Joie de Vivre will take over the operation by the end of the year. Joie de Vivre has 30 hotels on the U.S. West Coast. …

More than 700 United aircraft offer Economy Plus seating and the airline plans to expand Economy Plus to an additional 100 aircraft this year, including United’s Boeing 777 aircraft. …

Jet Airways is launching a new credit card and recently asked Jet Privilege members to vote on the issuing bank they preferred for the card. Those who picked the correct bank get a waiver of the first year’s fee. …

Choice Privileges recently welcomed its 15 millionth member and the lucky member received 115,000 bonus points. …

Hawaiian Airlines is planning to become the only North American carrier to offer nonstop flights to Brisbane, Australia on Nov. 27, 2012. The route, from Honolulu will be a three times weekly service, complementing the existing daily link from Honolulu to Sydney. …

American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum cardmembers now have priority lane security access as well as Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access and priority check-in at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. …

Brazilian airline TAM is leaving Star Alliance but the airline has not yet announced if it will join merger partner LAN’s alliance, oneworld. …

Avianca, TACA Airlines and Copa Airlines have officially joined the Star Alliance and flight awards are now available for booking on the ANA, Aeroplan and United Airlines websites. …

Choice Hotels announced that the 400th domestic Rodeway Inn has opened in St. Charles, Mo. Rodeway Inn now offers more than 22,000 guest rooms in the U.S. …

Best Western Rewards’ partnership with TopGuest has expired and members can no longer earn points when checking in with TopGuest. …

Virgin America Elevate members can now earn points when staying at One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico, and through Dec. 18, 2012, members can earn double points (two points per dollar spent) with eligible stays. …

American Airlines and WestJet now offer reciprocal frequent flyer earning benefits with redemption benefits to come in the future. …

JetBlue and Emirates are now reciprocal earning partners and reciprocal redemption is expected to be added in February 2013. …

Etihad Guest and airberlin topbonus are now reciprocal earn and burn partners.