Newsletter

TRAVEL UPDATE - JULY 2011

Fly Dubai has introduced daily Bus Service between Abu Dhabi / Al Ain and terminal 2 at Dubai  International Airport. Pick-up & Drop off Point is Fly Dubai office, Al Nasr Street in Abu Dhabi & Sanaiya Road in Al Ain.

Cost AED 40 per person per way.

Lufthansa has introduced new worldwide free checked baggage rules.

For tickets issued on or after June 1, 2011, new free baggage allowances will apply on Lufthansa operated flights. These rules have been standardized and will apply worldwide. The permitted amount depends on the service class that has been booked and Miles & More status:

Economy Class        : one piece of baggage weighing 23 kg

Business Class        : two pieces of baggage weighing 32 kg each

First Class               : three pieces of baggage weighing 32 kg each

According to the new rules, within the free baggage allowance, passengers will also be permitted to check one piece as a sports baggage in the "small" category.

Furthermore, passengers are allowed to check in one ski bag in addition to the free baggage allowance (this does not apply on North Atlantic routes).

Please note that special conditions apply for travel to/from certain destinations:

For travel to/from Japan, western, eastern and central Africa, Economy Class passengers can check two free pieces of baggage weighing 23 kg each.

For round-trip travel originating in Brazil, Economy Class passengers can check two pieces of  baggage weighing 32 kg each

Miles & More status members also enjoy the benefit of additional free baggage:

Frequent Travellers can check two pieces of baggage in Economy Class

Senators and HON Circles Members in all service classes can check in an additional bag as well as a golf bag (the latter does not apply on North Atlantic routes).

Important: The new free baggage regulation applies for all tickets issued on or after June 1, 2011. The old regulations apply for tickets issued prior to June 1, 2011.

The individual free baggage allowance is shown on the ticket and on the passenger receipt.

Delta Airlines has introduced “Economy Comfort” seats on their Dubai / Atlanta / Dubai flights effective 01^st June. The new seats will feature 4 additional inches of Legroom and 50% more recline than Delta’s standard international economy class seats. Passengers who have purchased an international economy ticket on Delta will be able to choose Economy Comfort seats for an additional $80 - $160 one-way depending on the destination.

Customers purchasing full-fare Economy tickets (Y, B and M fares) will also be able to select Economy Comfort seats for free.

Air India has revised their Free Baggage Allowance to 30kgs on Economy class applicable on tickets issued from 15 May 2011 for passengers traveling between “01 July and 31st July 2011”. However Business Class will continue to remain at 50kgs.

The free baggage allowance rules for flights ex Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are repeated below:

For Economy class travel on Air India flights a free baggage of 30kgs and hand baggage of 7 kgs (including the duty free purchases)

For Business class travel on Air India flights a free baggage of 50kgs and hand baggage of 7 kgs (including the duty free purchases)

For all Air India Express flights a free baggage of 30kgs and hand baggage of 7 kgs (including the duty free purchases)

The maximum weight of any single piece of checked in baggage should not exceed 32kgs.

The maximum permitted dimension of hand baggage should be 55 X 40 X 20cms.

Etihad Airways has extended their MULTIFYER offer for sale till 30th Nov 2011 and travel till 31st Dec 2011. With the Etihad MULTIFLYER, passengers who book multiple trips at once to the Middle East, North Africa and Indian Subcontinent, can make fantastic savings as well as take advantage of some excellent service benefits.

MULTIFLYER highlights :

  40% off on regular fares

  Complimentary upgrades for all guests

  Gold or Silver Etihad Guest status for 12-segment MULTIFLYER

  Accrual of regular miles on all flights

  Full flexibility on date changes without penalties

  Flexibility to change all destinations except on the first segment

Etihad Airways has advised that due to expected summer peak travel congestion at Abu Dhabi International Airport, all guests must report minimum 2 hrs prior to departure to avoid inconvenience or delay at Check-In Counter for below destinations :

Amman, Damascus, Cairo, Alexandria, Casablanca, Baghdad

Etihad Airways is offering 100% discount on Child and Infant Tickets for Seoul and Tokyo in Coral Economy, Pearl Business and Diamond First class. Not valid on Tactical or Promotional Fares.

Effective immediately, passengers travelling on flights operated by Etihad and V Australia to Australia are not permitted to purchase Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGS) or duty free items over 100ml at the originating station or onboard the Etihad flight to Abu Dhabi. LAGS over the 100ml limit will be confiscated during the gate screening process in Abu Dhabi when boarding.

Etihad Airways update of Excess Baggage Allowance applicable for below destinations for coral economy class tickets issued in UAE:

Origin  : Abu Dhabi

Gulf Air is offering Additional Baggage Allowance with immediate effect until 31st Dec, 2011 to passengers travelling from UAE to the following destinations.

05 KGS AMMAN, BEIRUT, DAMMAM

10 KGS CAIRO, KHARTOUM, MUMBAI, DELHI, CHENNAI, COCHIN, COLOMBO, DHAKA,

KATMANDU, MANILA

Above is valid for outbound journey ex – UAE only and is not applicable for child and infant tickets.

Turkish Airlines now offers Limo transfers for their business class passengers to/from Abu Dhabi Airport. 

Air India

Sharjah to Delhi 3 times a week (Mon, Wed & Fri) effective 27 June 2011

Emirates Airlines

Dubai to Geneva daily direct flights effective 01 June 2011

Dubai to Copenhagen daily direct flights effective 01 August 2011

Etihad Airways

Abu Dhabi to Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) 4 times a week using an Airbus A320 aircraft configured with Pearl Business and Coral Economy class effective 01 Nov 2011

Etihad will begin flying twice a day to Manchester from 01 August 2011

Gulf Air

Abu Dhabi to Kabul 4 times a week effective 15 June 2011