SA PASSPORT COSTS MORE THAN DOUBLE
Passport applicants in South Africa will get a shock as the fee for a new passport is hiked from R190 to R400 from April 1st 2011. The tariff, says the Department of Home Affairs, is renewed on an annual basis by the National Treasury. Further hikes include a 176% increase for a child passport (From R145 to R400), while the cost of a temporary passport and emergency travel certificate has doubled to R180 and R140 respectively. DOH spokesperson, Ronnie Mamoepa, says that previously South African passports did not have any security features. "The passport we are now producing has a lot of security features, which is costing us a lot more to produce. We feel that the amount of R400 is reasonable and the passport is now more valuable and secure."
XL PARTNERS GLOBALLY WITH EGENCIA
The XL Travel Group has been appointed sole global alliance partner in Africa for Egencia, the corporate travel management travel arm of the online travel company, Expedia. "This global strategic partnership with Egencia exposes the XL Group to an array of business travel clients and opportunities as well as access to advanced online travel management technology and the Expedia hotel and product inventory," says coo of XL Travel, Rod Rutter. Egencia, after extensive evaluation, has selected the XL Group to spear head its dive into Africa and the Southern Africa region, he says. In addition, this alliance has opened new opportunities for the XL Group in the online space. "We see online travel expanding and corporate clients looking for a service provider that offers consistent quality account management with a strong global bias," Rotter adds. Meanwhile, the procurement benefits that XL has with its suppliers will be dovetailed into the Egencia model and this will empower local business travellers with tools and information in a single source solution that will drive costs down, he says.
SAA DEVALUES VOYAGER POINTS
Voyager members will have until April 15 to redeem miles at the current threshold, after which the airline will implement a series of significant programme revisions, increasing the number of Voyager miles needed to acquire tickets and upgrades. SAA Head Group Corporate Affairs, Fani Zulu, said the adjustments would help the carrier to absorb the "escalating cost of running the loyalty programme" but that benefits would be kept in line with, if not exceed, those of competitor reward schemes. "This is our first adjustment in five years. Despite the changes that will be introduced next month, we remain competitive. It is just a case of reviewing the Voyager business model," he explained. "The rewards compared with the number of miles required to earn them have clearly been mismatched."
The increase in redemption requirements include:
- MileageKeeper Awards will increase by six percent;
- AnyDay Awards for domestic and regional flights will increase by an average of 14 percent;
- AnyDay Awards for International flights will increase by between 11 and 28 percent;
- Upgrade Awards will increase by approximately 14 percent, 12 percent and 35 percent for domestic, regional and international services respectively;
- Accra and Dakar will be added to the region "Travel between South Africa and Africa 2"
For passengers looking to upgrade from Economy to Business Class on a roundtrip flight from Johannesburg to Hong Kong, for example, the change will require customers to cash-in 58,000 miles as opposed to the 50,000 currently required.
Domestic Economy fares, the highest-used category for mile usage, will rise from 18,000 points to 19,000.
Although members will need to spend more miles for flights, Voyager will introduce a new category - the SuperPlus Awards - which will fall between the MileageKeeper and AnyDay Awards categories, making more seats available to those who still want to save miles.
OIL PRICE, POOR DEMAND SLOWING AIRLINE RECOVERY - IATA
The international Air Transport Association says poor demand for air travel could undermine airlines' ability to absorb the rising cost of jet fuel - now around US$134 per barrel. The body's latest Airlines Financial Monitor report for February and March said that rising fuel costs "Squeezed margins" and that, despite raising fares, the most recent surge in fuel prices has not been recouped because load factors were lower. The report pointed out that capacity, expanding at a higher rate than demand, was also limiting airlines' scope for recovery. "Passenger yields have risen since September, but by only around one-tenth of the 70 percent rise in fuel prices," the association explained.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS INCREASE FUEL SURCHARGE
South African Airways will increase their fuel surcharge on all domestic, regional and international fares, effective for tickets issued on/after 01 April 2011.
BA/COMAIR ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS
DURBAN - JOHANNESBURG
18:30 - 19:35 Every day
JOHANNESBURG - DURBAN
06:20 - 07:25 Previously first flight was at 07:00
12:25 - 13:30 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
16:45 - 17:50 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
*NEW ROUTE*
DURBAN - PORT ELIZABETH
08:00 - 09:20 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
PORT ELIZABETH - DURBAN
13:15 - 14:30 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
BRITISH AIRWAYS
British Airways faces yet another strike, The airline says that should another strike take place it would be able to operate a normal schedule at London Gatwick and London City Airports and would aim to operate 100% of long-haul flights and the majority of short-haul flights to and from Heathrow.
LE FRANSCHHOEK ACCOMMODATION & CONFERENCE SPECIAL
Package includes:
- Accommodation
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Conference facilities
- Tea/Coffee Breaks
- Team Building
- Half a bottle of wine per person during dinner
Terms and Conditions:
- Offer is subject to availability at time of booking
- Rate offered is on a standard room basis
- Valid for Midweek bookings from March to September 2011
- Standard Terms and Conditions apply
Kindly contact Graham Moore at XL Turners Travel on 031 368 8000 for bookings or enquiries.
THOMPSONS TOURS
Package includes:
- Return flights to Koh Samui on Thai Airways.
- Return Airport to Hotel transfers
- 7 night accommodation at The 3* Banana Fan Sea Resort
- Breakfast daily
- Free Travel Bag
- All approximate taxes, taxes, fees and levies
Terms and Conditions:
- Per person sharing
- Subject to change due to airfare increases, currency fluctuations and availability
- Valid for dates specified
- Standard Terms and Conditions apply
- E & O.E.
- Please note airport taxes, fuel levies and surcharges are approximate and are subject to change - the exact amount will be confirmed at time of booking
- Valid for South African residents only
Kindly contact Graham Moore at XL Turners Travel on 031 368 8000 for bookings or enquiries.
APRIL 2011 LUCKY DRAW COMPETITION
This month, one lucky reader stands the chance to win the following wonderful prize:-
A DINNER FOR 2 AT THE ROYAL GRILL
AT THE ROYAL HOTEL
The newly revamped Royal Grill Restaurant provides diners with unequalled haute cuisine served in a refreshed, elegant and sophisticated milieu of timeless grandeur. This attractive, classic venue retains the essence of grand days and age-old charm with original high ceilings, dark wood balustrades and stained glass effects mixed with new crisp white linen, silver and crystal chandeliers. All redone with a modern take to create a magically light atmosphere. The Royal Grill offers a superior Wine List that compliments every dish on the menu and concludes the extraordinary dining experience with freshly brewed coffee, delicious creamy chocolate and petit-fours served in the comfort of the lounge.
Visit www.threecities.co.za.
Call Kim on 031-3336000 for further information.
To enter our lucky draw competition, all you need to do is make any travel booking during April 2011 and visit our website: www.turnerstravel.co.za - click on the competition link to enter the lucky draw.
Or, simply fill in your details below and click enter competition.
