Intelligence – March, 12 2013

Intelligence – March, 12 2013

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Etihad Guest are now partners. Etihad Guest members earn 500 miles per stay in a room, or 800 miles in a club room or suite, at Mandarin Oriental participating hotels worldwide. In addition, Etihad Guest Gold and Gold Elite members enjoy special benefits including upgrades, early check-in and late checkout. All members can enjoy double miles booking Luxury Breaks at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group properties and staying in a room, and triple miles for suite bookings, through April 15, 2013. …

Southwest Rapid Rewards members can now earn 600 Rapid Rewards points for every eligible stay at more than 1,000 participating Carlson Rezidor Hotels worldwide, including Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and members can earn points for eligible stays at participating locations in the U.S. through March 31, 2013. …

Air New Zealand Airpoints and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles are now earning partners and a redemption component will be coming soon. …

The partnership between US Airways and Virgin Atlantic will end on June 11, 2013. After that date, US Airways members will no longer be able to accrue or redeem miles on Virgin Atlantic. …

Delta Air Lines reports that 90 percent of their customers utilize online flight check-in. …

Accor hotels will open 5,000 new rooms in 30 hotels in Africa by 2016. …

Finnair is adding flights from Helsinki to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, starting June 5, 2013 and to Antalya, Turkey and Tel Aviv, Israel on June 7. …

Air China plans to add Houston to its flight network from Beijing starting July 11, 2013. This will be the first nonstop flight from Houston to China. …

Virgin America Elevate members can now get 30 Elevate points for every dollar of cash-back you receive through their new dining partner, MOGL. …

There’s a new lounge at Buenos Aires International Airport for the exclusive use of customers traveling on Star Alliance member flights. First and business class passengers as well as Star Alliance Gold members have access to the new 4,800 square feet facility that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. …

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles members can now earn 500 miles per stay at Eresin Crown Hotel, Best Western Eresin Taxim Hotel and Eresin Taxim Premier. …

Choice Hotels is adding nine properties in England this year in partnership with Akkeron Hotels Group Ltd. including hotels in Bristol, Bury St. Edmunds, Colchester, Darlington, Kings Lynn Peterborough, Ringwood, Stevenage and Winchester. …

airBaltic BalticMiles has added several new partnerships recently, including Happy Pushkin Hotel, The Latvian National Theatre, Pointshound.com and many more. …

As of last month, Malaysia Airlines is an official member of the oneworld alliance, bringing the airline member total to 12. Malaysia Airlines serves more than 60 destinations in almost 30 countries across Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, Europe and North America, including oneworld hubs Hong Kong, London Heathrow, Los Angeles, Sydney and Tokyo Narita. …

Beginning April 8, 2013, Delta will offer new nonstop service between Los Angeles and Seattle. Also starting April 8, Delta will provide daily, nonstop service between Los Angeles and Nashville.