Educational Posts on Loyalty Programs

JetBlue’s new flights to Mexico City will have you saying, “Viva Mexico!”  The airline now offers daily flights from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale to Mexico City.

Starting November 5, Alaska Airlines will be offering flights from Los Angeles to Monterey, and from Boise to Reno. In addition to these daily flights, the airline will also be adding new seasonal flights from Los Angeles to Crested Butte in December, making it easier for skiers and snowboarders to hit the slopes in Colorado.

While this summer is still a recent memory for most of us, Icelandair is getting ready for next summer, with plans to give travelers in Portland, Oregon, more options when flying to its hub in Keflavik.

Members of the Hilton HHonors program can now use the HHonors app to find popular destinations in the cities they’re visiting, thanks to a new partnership with Uber. Hot spots most visited by Uber riders can now be accessed through the Hilton app, allowing users to enjoy the city like a local.

In 2016 British Airways will start flying from Mineta San José International Airport to London Heathrow, and is the first time there has been nonstop service to the UK from this airport. Along with the news of the new route, they will also be bringing on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, the newest aircraft in their fleet, and it has been outfitted with a re-designed first cabin. The route and the Dreamliner are slated to take off on May 4^th, 2016, and tickets are now on sale.

Japan Airlines is returning to Dallas, starting with four weekly flights between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) Airport. Service will resume in November, with the possibility of daily flights in the spring of 2016.

American Express is opening another branch of its popular Centurion Lounge, this time in Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Slated to open during the first half of 2016, the 8,500-square-foot traveler respite will be the seventh Centurion Lounge location.

New Yorkers looking for some fun in the sun during the cold winter can now jump on a nonstop flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport and Palm Springs International Airport courtesy of JetBlue. Tickets are on sale now, with one-way introductory fares starting at $99.

Citi ThankYou Rewards is a flexible reward program that competes with American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Diners Club Rewards. Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed in a variety of ways.

Big things are underway with the new partnership between Alaska Airlines and Icelandair. This deal is good news: It gives members of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan a way to earn miles when flying to Iceland. And to celebrate, you can earn double Mileage Plan miles on any Icelandair flight until December 15.

Middle East Airlines, or MEA, is the flag carrier of Lebanon. It flies to 39 destinations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa out of Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. MEA does not fly to the United States.

Qatar Airways will be flying from Los Angeles to its hub in Doha starting January 1, 2016. This new route is part of the expansion that the airline announced earlier this year, which also includes service from Atlanta and Boston to Doha, and more flights out of JFK airport in New York.

If you’re a frequent flyer who’s on the lookout for the best values in travel, you should watch for new service from all the airlines. Why? Award availability is usually quite good during the first few weeks a new route or flight is added to any airline’s reservation system. That’s why you should take a look at British Airways’ new flights between London and Las Vegas; London and Seattle; and London and San Jose.

Citi ThankYou Rewards members can now transfer their points to Virgin America Elevate at a rate of two-to-one. There are a number of lucrative aspects to this partnership, including the fact that until October 21, cardholders get a 25 percent bonus when they transfer points.

Sun Country Airlines is based at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. Its regularly scheduled flights go to 22 domestic locations and 11 international destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. The airline also operates a number of charter flights, including to Cuba. Charter flights cannot be booked as awards.

With the tenth anniversary celebration of the opening of International Terminal D at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport comes the announcement that more upgrades are in the works. The airport will be adding a spa, more retail shops, expanded dinning choices and a much larger duty free shopping area. Top luxury retailers, like Gucci and Dior, will be setting up shop in the terminal.

Thai Airways, the flag carrier of Thailand, is based at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The airline flies to 78 destinations in 35 countries. In the United States, it only flies to Los Angeles, but that route will be eliminated in October 2015.

Cuban rum and hand-rolled cigars may be closer than you think with new nonstop charters flying from Los Angeles International Airport to José Martí International Airport in Havana. The new route, offered by American Airlines and charter flight operator Cuba Travel Services, is slated to start on December 12, with Saturday flights to Havana.

Have you ever wished that you had an extra 100,000 miles on hand so you could get out of town? If you’re one of the five winners of American Airlines’ American Way magazine’s Road Warrior Contest, that’s exactly what you’ll get, along with a vacation in Belize and lots of other prizes.

TAM Airlines, the biggest airline in Brazil, operates out of three hubs: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. The carrier flies to 67 destinations in 18 countries, including Miami, New York and Orlando in the United States.