Runway Views & Skyline Bars: Inside The Massive New Star Alliance Lounges Coming To JFK

If you’ve flown a Star Alliance carrier out of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) recently, you know the premium ground experience has been a bit of a mixed bag. Navigating the outdated spaces in Terminal 1 or Terminal 7 hasn't exactly felt like the cutting edge of luxury.

But a massive $4.2 billion airport transformation is underway, and Star Alliance flyers are about to get a major upgrade.

Thanks to the redevelopment of JFK Terminal 6 and the upcoming New Terminal One, two Star Alliance heavyweights—Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines—are building stunning, massive new flagship lounges that will redefine pre-flight luxury at JFK.

Here is everything you need to know about the mega-lounges coming to New York’s premier gateway.

The Mega-Hub at Terminal 6: Lufthansa’s 36,000 Sq. Ft. Oasis

The biggest news comes out of the brand-new Terminal 6. The Lufthansa Group (including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, and Brussels Airlines) is moving its operations here, and they are bringing Star Alliance siblings ANA and Air Canada along with them from Terminal 7.

To accommodate this massive influx of premium passengers, Lufthansa is building a sprawling, multi-tiered lounge precinct.

The Footprint: A staggering 36,000 square feet, making it one of the largest lounge spaces at JFK. Travelers will take an escalator directly from the departures level straight into the premium complex.

The Design: The lounges will ditch the sterile, older German aesthetic for Lufthansa's fresh, warm design language—similar to the acclaimed lounges that debuted at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Think warmer woods, softer lighting, and design cues inspired by their flagship Allegris cabins.

The Highlight: The Skyline Bar: The centerpiece of the lounge will be the Skyline Bar, a sleek concept serving everything from barista-crafted coffee by day to premium cocktails, fine wines, and local New York craft beers by night.

First Class & HON Circle Perks: While it's still being decided if there will be a standalone First Class Lounge, elite passengers can expect a private, walled-off dining sanctuary featuring high-end à la carte menus, top-tier Champagne, and ultra-personalized service.

Direct Boarding: In the ultimate convenience flex, the lounge will feature direct boarding to three of Terminal 6’s ten departure gates. No need to leave the lounge early to stand in a gate line—you go straight from your glass of wine onto the jet bridge.

Double the Size: The New Turkish Airlines Lounge

Not to be outdone, Turkish Airlines—renowned globally for its spectacular food and legendary hospitality—is getting a massive upgrade of its own.

As part of the shift into the New Terminal One, Turkish Airlines is abandoning its cramped, 5,000-square-foot footprint in the old Terminal 1.

The Footprint: The new space will measure 11,000 square feet, more than doubling its current size.

The Vibe: Known for bringing the flavors of Istanbul to the airport, expect an incredible spread of live cooking stations, fresh mezze, and traditional Turkish tea and coffee.

The Views: The new space will boast expansive, floor-to-ceiling views of the JFK airfield, making it a paradise for aviation geeks and relaxed travelers alike.

Who Gets Access?

While airline lounges can sometimes feel like a puzzle to unlock, access rules for these new Star Alliance spaces will follow the alliance's reliable standard structure:

Passenger Class / Status - Access Level

International First Class - Access to First Class/Senator sections + 1 guest

International Business Class - Access to Business Class lounges (No guests)

Star Alliance Gold Elites - Access to Senator/Business lounges + 1 guest (must be on the same flight)

Note for United flyers: If you hold Star Alliance Gold status through United MileagePlus, remember that standard rules apply—you generally need to be on an eligible international itinerary to access these partner lounges within the U.S.

The Bottom Line

For years, Oneworld passengers have bragged about the excellent joint American Airlines and British Airways lounges in Terminal 8, while SkyTeam flyers have enjoyed Delta’s massive Sky Clubs. Now, Star Alliance is finally swinging back with some serious heavy artillery.

Whether you’re heading to Frankfurt on Lufthansa Business Class or catching a late-night flight to Tokyo on ANA, JFK is about to become a whole lot more welcoming. Stay tuned for official opening dates as construction on Terminal 6 and the New Terminal One wraps up!

Turkish Airlines To Launch Flights To Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, And Santiago

Turkish Airlines is set to expand its presence in the Americas through the planned acquisition of Air Europa, expected to be completed within 12 months. Currently, Turkish Airlines serves 26 destinations across the Atlantic from Istanbul, while Air Europa flies from Madrid to 22 airports, mainly in Latin America.

Pexels image by Necati Ömer Karpuzoğlu

Nine of Air Europa’s destinations overlap with Turkish Airlines, including New York, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Bogotá, Panama, Cancún, Miami, Havana, and Caracas. The remaining 13 destinations—such as Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Medellín, Lima, and Montevideo—present opportunities for Turkish Airlines to strengthen its footprint in the region.

To facilitate the deal, Turkish reportedly proposed adding up to 12 Airbus A330neo aircraft to support Air Europa’s operations at Madrid-Barajas Airport, with six planes supplied by Turkish Airlines and six by Air Europa, according to El Economista.

https://dominicantoday.com/

8 Tips And Tricks For Making The Most Of Your Meal On The Plane

By: Amber Gibson

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After logging nearly 200,000 flight miles last year, TPG Contributor Amber Gibson, who also writes about food for Saveur, Plate, Departures, Hemispheres and American Way, shares some of her tips for navigating the treacherous world of airline food. Follow her adventures on Instagram. (All photos by the author).
1. BYO Tea Bag
If you are a tea drinker, always have a couple of tea sachets from your favorite brand on hand and just ask for hot water. The tea they serve on airlines is atrocious and there never seems to be a good selection, but at least they can usually get the hot water part right. Tea bags weigh next to nothing (a mere two grams!) and won’t get confiscated when you go through security. They don’t go bad either —the flavor just decreases over time — so even if you forget that it’s in your carry-on for months, you’ll get a pleasant surprise when you do rediscover your favorite tea. Mine is Rishi by the way.
2. Order the Hindu Vegetarian Meal in United Airlines Economy 

A Hindu vegetarian dinner on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to London in June 2015.

On international flights that are long enough, United Airlines serves all passengers a hot meal, but the selections can be unappetizing at best. If you view your reservation online, you can request one of nine special meals up to 24 hours before departure. In the last couple of years, I’ve requested everything from gluten-free and vegan meals to Muslim and Kosher meals in the search for a lesser evil. For my taste, Hindu vegetarian meals are the best choice, mostly because chana masala, aloo gobi and mattar paneer have an inherently mushy consistency that stands up to reheating. The airline versions aren’t as tasty as your favorite Indian takeout place, but they tone down the spice, too, so the meal isn’t so pungent that you’re sweating spices from your pores and your neighbors give you dirty looks — at least I haven’t received any yet.
3. Order a Special Meal to be Served First
Even if Indian food isn’t your thing, if you request any kind of special meal, you’ll be served before anyone else in the economy cabin since flight attendants prepare and deliver all the special meals before continuing with regular meal service. It’s a good choice if you fear you’ll be starving and sitting at the very back of the plane. You know they won’t run out of the option you’re after by the time they get to you, plus these meals are made in smaller quantities and tend to be fresher.
4. The “Champagne” Might be a Sham
One of the nicest perks of flying in a premium cabin is the unlimited free bubbly starting from before you even take off. On many domestic carriers, flight attendants offer Champagne, water or orange juice already poured in small glasses as you’re settling in. While plenty of airlines do serve great Champagne, especially on international flights, I’ve caught both American Airlines and United Airlines passing off cheap Prosecco instead. Not that there’s anything wrong with Prosecco, but Champagne must be made in the Champagne region of France. Don’t be afraid to ask to see the bottle or politely inquire if it’s Champagne, Prosecco or a domestic sparkling wine if you’re suspicious.
5. On Cathay Pacific, Stay Awake for Coffee Service

A slice of Sachertorte chocolate cake with a trio of chocolate bonbons — hazelnut, sesame and raspberry — in Cathay Pacific business class.

If you’re flying in business class or first class on Cathay Pacific, don’t lay your chair flat and go to sleep immediately after dinner. Even if you don’t drink coffee, it’s worth waiting for coffee service if you like chocolate. Along with coffee and tea, Cathay Pacific offers premium cabin passengers a selection of custom-made chocolate bonbons produced by a local company in Hong Kong that are wicked good. On a recent flight from Hong Kong to Chicago, I had a choice of hazelnut, sesame praline, raspberry and salted caramel — you guessed it, I tried one of each.
6. BYO Nut Butter
If peanut butter is a comfort food, bring a single-serve packet of nut butter with you for a long flight when you think the meal served will be questionable. If the options (chicken or pasta?) don’t sound too appetizing but you’re hungry and don’t want to pay for food, you can at least take whatever warm bread they have — they’ll almost always offer seconds, too — and add nut butter. There are so many kinds available today, from cashew, almond, pecan and walnut to regular peanut butter — Justin’s squeeze packs are my favorite. The ratio of protein and healthy fats is good for keeping you sated without feeling bloated. Even in a worst-case scenario with inedible bread, you can always eat the nut butter straight from the packet. Guilty as charged.
7. Don’t Order Seafood 

Prawns, salmon tartare and eggplant dolma on Turkish Airlines, one of the only airlines where I’ll consume seafood.

Unless you are flying first class on a top-notch airline known for good food, I would stay away from seafood as it tends to be dodgy at best. Based on my experience and from speaking with many friends and colleagues about the matter, we all agree that this is your best bet for getting sick. And a tiny airplane bathroom on a long-haul international flight is definitely not the place to go through that.
8. Bring a Gift for the Flight Attendant 
Pick up a cool souvenir from your travels, or maybe a box of chocolates from the duty-free store to give to your flight attendant. If you can befriend a crew member, there’s a small chance that you may be able to get food from business or first class even if you’re stuck sitting in economy. There’s almost always extra food on board and while it’s not technically allowed, there have been a few times where this has worked for me. There are no guarantees, but it never hurts to try.
Bottom Line
With a little preparation and imagination, you too can have a decent meal on the plane, whether you’re flying in first, business or economy. If all else fails, stick to these guidelines and hope for the best!
What’s your best trick for enhancing plane food when you travel? Share your tips with us, below.

Read more: http://thepointsguy.com/2016/05/8-tips-for-surviving-airline-food/#ixzz4854dIDAh

The Germanwings Brand Is Dead, Long Live The Eurowings!

COLOGNE, Germany - It had been planned before the tragic loss of Airbus A320 D-AIPX on 24 March 2015. The Lufthansa brand Germanwings will cease to exist from this autumn. The budget division of the LH Group, short haul and long haul, will take on the established Eurowings name.

Thomas Winkelmann, CEO of Germanwings, will transfer to another subsidiary Austrian Airlines. Here he replaces current CEO Jaan Albrecht who is moving on to the Lufthansa/Turkish airlines joint venture SunExpress, long established as a charter/low cost operator of leisure services to and from Turkey.

Similarly, American low-cost carrier ValuJet suffered two fatal accidents, in these cases due to lax aircraft diligence. In what was in effect a reverse takeover in July 1997 ValuJet acquired Air Tran, and subsequently traded under that title, ValuJet being quickly forgotten. Air Tran disappeared as an airline in November 2014 following a buyout by Air South West.

For the past few weeks and months, Lufthansa has been busy changing flight codes so that by November the 4U code used by Germanwings will switch to Eurowings' EW code. In the case of flights between the UK and Germany, this has already happened but at Heathrow travelers still need to follow the Germanwings signs at T2.

Turkish Airlines Launches Istanbul-San Francisco Nonstop

Turkish Airlines added its 2nd destination in California and 11th in the Americas by inaugurating flights to San Francisco.

With existing services to Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Toronto, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Boston and Montreal, Turkish Airlines adds flights to San Francisco as its 11th destination in the Americas.

Beginning on April, 13, 2015, San Francisco flights will be operated 5 times per week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays in both directions.

And The World's Best Airline Is...

Cathay Pacific was named the world's best airline at an awards ceremony at the Farnborough International AirshowTuesday.

The Hong Kong-based firm claimed the World Airline Awards title from last year's winner Emirates. It was Cathay Pacific's first victory in the most prestigious category since 2009.

The award is decided by the votes of millions of travelers.

A Cathay Pacific delegation received the prize from CNN's Jim Boulden.

Of all the sellers, Cathay were the best performers across all types of travel
Edward Plaisted, CEO Skytrax

"Of all the sellers, Cathay were the best performers across all types of travel. Some airliners were very good in economy, others in luxury, but they were top or near the top in all categories", Edward Plaisted, CEO ofSkytrax, told CNN.

Speaking ahead of the show, Cathay Pacific chairman John Slosar expressed his confidence, stating: "I believe that the Cathay Pacific team is the best and it is fantastic to see that our passengers see it the same way.

"I would certainly like to congratulate our cabin crew and everyone else in the Cathay Pacific team who make our award-winning service happen each and every day."

Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines placed second and third respectively in the global category.

Emirates slipped to fourth.

Elsewhere, there was victory for Thomson Airways in the Best Leisure Airline category, while Air Canada won the regional category for North America.

World Airline Awards - Airline of the Year 2014

1. Cathay Pacific

2. Qatar Airways

3. Singapore Airlines

4. Emirates

5. Turkish Airlines

6. ANA All Nippon Airways

7. Garuda Indonesia

8. Asiana Airlines

9. Etihad Airways

10. Lufthansa

Contributed by Kieron Monks, for CNN

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Travelore News: First Look At Heathrow's New Terminal 2

The new purpose-built home for Star Alliance at Heathrow Airport officially swung open its doors yesterday welcoming more than 4,000 passengers within the first 8 hours of operation – and it was all smooth sailing.

All 23 Star Alliance airlines servicing the UK hub will be operating from the terminal, marking a new travel experience for more than 12 million Star passengers who pass through Heathrow each year.

United Airlines is the first to move into the facility, formally known as Terminal 2 | the Queen’s Terminal for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which will welcome all other member-airlines over the course of 6 months.

“After many years of planning and construction, tests and optimisation, we at Star Alliance are proud to welcome the first passengers into the new terminal,” said Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab.

“It is particularly fitting that one of our five founder members, United, should operate the first flights from this terminal, which sets new standards for Alliance customer service and seamless travel at this important hub airport.”

Designed by Luis Vidal, Terminal 2 aims to establish a seamless hub at the busy international airport optimised to meet growing demands from today’s air traveller. Once all airlines are in residence, connections for transfer passengers will be smoother than ever before allowing a standardised minimum connection time of just 60 minutes.

Air Canada, Air China and ANA will be the next new occupants, transferring their operations to T2 from June 18th. In July, Aegean, EVA Air, THAI, and Turkish Airlines will move in, together with Avianca – which will launch a service between London and Bogota on July 4.

Moves will then resume in September with EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines and Singapore Airlines and from October Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, South African Airways, SWISS and TAP Portugal.

Together the airlines operate over 121 flights each day to 45 destinations in 25 countries and each of these flights acts as a gateway to the full Alliance network of more than 18,000 daily flights to 1,269 airports in 193 countries.

Four airline lounges will be available for premium passengers, including those with Star Alliance Gold status.

Contributed by Daisy Melwani 

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