British Airways Is Spending $9 Billion To Help Make It The World's Favorite Airline Once Again After Years Of Slumping Popularity

British Airways unveiled a host of new initiatives at a media event in London on Monday, as part of a $9 billion "transformation."

The UK flag carrier was named the world's best airline by Skytrax in 2006, but its reputation has since faltered. It ranked third-last out of 17 airlines for customer satisfaction on long-haul flights in a survey last month from British consumer advocacy group Which?.

"We're on a journey to a better BA for our people and for our customers, underpinned by a transformation program that will see us invest £7 billion [$9 billion] over the next two years to revolutionize our business," said CEO Sean Doyle.

With a new seat design, new routes, and upgrades to the Airbus A380, here's how BA is changing.

New short-haul seats

Monday's showcase took place in an iconic skyscraper nicknamed "The Cheesegrater" in London's financial district, so the mockup cabin had great views of Tower Bridge.

British Airways is rolling out the new seat design to its Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets, used on its short-haul flights. They're set to be delivered from May onwards.

The navy color with red accents is supposed to evoke the British flag — although it also looks similar to Delta Air Lines' seats. Nonetheless, it's an upgrade from the current gray.

Headrests can be folded at the sides, and next to the tray table, there are two convenient ports — one USB-A and one USB-C.

Like most European airlines, business class on short-haul flights uses the same hard product, except the middle seat is sectioned off. There's also a couple of inches of extra legroom: 31 inches instead of the 29 in economy.

First class on the Airbus A380

British Airways' new first-class has been retrofitted on its Boeing 777 jets. The same design is now coming to the superjumbo A380, expected to debut at the end of 2025.

Some airlines have been retiring the enormous A380 since the pandemic, but that's not the case for BA.

"The A380 is an important part of our fleet and rightfully, incredibly popular with our customers," Neil Chernoff, chief planning and strategy officer, told Business Insider.

BA is the only European airline that offers first-class seats between the UK and US. This winter season, the A380 has been flying to Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco — as well as to Dubai and Johannesburg in South Africa, Chernoff said.

He added that for the summer season, there would be added routes to Boston, Washington Dulles, and Singapore — but Dubai would be dropped.

New app, new perks, and returning routes

British Airways also announced two routes are set to return. It will fly daily from London Heathrow to Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur starting on November 10. Economy tickets start at $786, and first will cost at least $5,000.

For frequent fliers, there are also a couple of new perks. BA is opening a new lounge in Dubai Airport as it's relocating to a larger space later this year.

From April 3, Executive Club members will be able to send messages for free using the onboard WiFi in any class. Although, this doesn't cost more than $6.50 for non-members.

A new mobile app and website were also announced. Beta testing is ongoing, and it's set to debut by the end of the year. By switching to new technology, BA says the app will be more personalized, plus it'll be easier to change your journey online rather than calling customer service.

https://www.businessinsider.com/author/pete-syme From October 28, it will also fly three times a week from London Gatwick to Bangkok with prices starting at $886.

Delta To Hike Bag Fees Ahead Of Travel Season, Joining United And American

In case you needed yet another incentive to cram all your travel items into a carry-on, Delta Airlines just boosted the cost of your first checked bag by 17%.

The increase adds $5 to the previous, and not-exactly-insignificant, $30 fee for domestic flights.

Delta is the third major US carrier to hike bag fees in the past several weeks.

Its move follows similar increases that American Airlines and United Airlines announced in February, three days apart; those high fees themselves followed fee hikes by smaller carriers Alaska Airlines and JetBlue Airways.

Major US carriers often copy one another’s pricing changes, a move that behavior analysts sometimes refer to as herd instinct.

Delta said Tuesday that the first bag checked on a domestic flight will now incur a $35 fee.

The charge for a second bag rose from $40 to $45.

Delta last raised bag fees for domestic flights in 2018.

The airline said the increase will help it keep up with unspecified rising industry costs

AP

Travelore News: Germany's Busiest Airport Will Be Closed For Departures On Thursday, May 7 Due To Strike

Frankfurt airport, Germany's busiest, will be closed to passengers with planned departures on Thursday due to a security staff strike organised by Germany's Verdi union, the airport's operator said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Fraport is asking all passengers starting their journey in Frankfurt not to come to the airport on March 7 and to contact their airline," the statement said.

Germany is facing strike action on three fronts on Thursday, with walkouts also planned by the nation's train drivers and by ground staff at Lufthansa.

It is the latest wave of industrial action to hit Europe's largest economy, where high inflation and worker shortages have put a strain on wage negotiations, leading to repeated strikes in the travel sector.

By Rachel More, Reuters

London’s Beloved And Futuristic BT Tower Sold For $347 Million To Be Turned Into A HHotel

The BT Tower, a futuristic landmark on the London skyline for 60 years, is to become a hotel, owner BT Group PLC said Wednesday.

The company, formerly known as British Telecom, said it has agreed to sell the tower to U.S. company MCR Hotels for 275 million pounds (about $347 million).

The 581-foot (177-meter) structure, originally called the Post Office Tower, was completed in 1964 and was London’s tallest building until 1980. A further section of aerial rigging brought the total height to 620 feet (189 meters).

The tower was covered in microwave aerials that carried communications across the U.K. and also housed a rotating restaurant with panoramic views across London. The restaurant was closed after a 1971 bombing, claimed both by anarchists and the Irish Republican Army. It never fully reopened to the public, apart from special events and occasional tours.

Technological changes have gradually rendered the tower’s original role in Britain’s telecommunications network obsolete. Its microwave aerials were removed more than a decade ago.

“It’s played a vital role in carrying the nation’s calls, messages and TV signals, but increasingly we’re delivering content and communication via other means,” said Brent Mathews, property director at BT Group. “This deal with MCR will enable BT Tower to take on a new purpose, preserving this iconic building for decades to come.”

MCR Hotels owns about 150 hotels, including the New Yorker Hotel and the modernist TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK airport. The company said it would work with British architect Thomas Heatherwick on the hotel’s design.

However, travelers shouldn’t plan on making reservations just yet. The hotel firm said it will “take a number of years” for BT to move out due to the complex equipment on site.

AP

Travelore News: JetBlue, Spirit Airlines Call Off $3.8 Bln Merger On Antitrust Hurdle

Low-cost air carriers JetBlue Airways opens new tab and Spirit Airlines opens new tab canceled their $3.8-billion merger agreement on Monday, seeing no path forward after a U.S. judge blocked the deal in January on anti-competition concerns.

A successful deal would have created the fifth-largest carrier in the United States and helped Spirit ensure its survival, but the deal had been on the ropes ever since a Boston judge said it would harm consumers by reducing competition.

"With the ruling from the federal court and the Department of Justice’s continued opposition, the probability of getting the green light to move forward with the merger anytime soon is extremely low," JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty told employees in an internal note seen by Reuters.

"Even if the ruling was overturned on appeal, we simply don’t see a path to regulatory approval by the required July 24 deadline."

Spirit CEO Ted Christie said in a statement, "we concluded that current regulatory obstacles will not permit us to close this transaction in a timely fashion under the merger agreement." Under the agreement, JetBlue will pay Spirit $69 million. While the merger agreement was in effect, Spirit stockholders received approximately $425 million in total pre-payments.

Without the JetBlue deal, Spirit, the seventh-largest U.S. carrier, faces a rough road ahead. The ultra-low-cost carrier has grappled with weak demand in its key markets as it seeks to return to sustainable profitability. Some analysts have even suggested the company could face bankruptcy if it cannot shore up finances.

Spirit shares fell 14% in premarket trading, while JetBlue, the sixth-largest U.S carrier, shares rose 5.5%.

The decision is a victory for the Biden Administration, which has taken a hard line against tie-ups in the aviation sector and argued the deal would boost ticket prices for consumers.

The administration has used antitrust action and other enforcement efforts to try to bring down prices for U.S. residents across several industries.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge William Young found the proposed deal was likely to hurt competition in the U.S. aviation market and could hike ticket prices.

That prompted JetBlue to raise doubts over the future of its deal, saying it might be unable to meet certain conditions required as part of the agreement.

The Justice Department and Transportation Department did not immediately comment.

JetBlue opted not to appeal a separate ruling that had declared its Northeast partnership with American Airlines anticompetitive.

JetBlue, which last month hiked baggage fees, said is working on numerous near-term efforts to boost revenue by more than $300 million and said it is on track to deliver $175-200 million in cost savings from its structural cost program and $75 million in maintenance savings from its fleet modernization.

A judge in May sided with the Justice Department and six states in a lawsuit challenging the joint venture that American and JetBlue entered into in 2020, called the "Northeast Alliance," joining forces for flights in and out of New York City and Boston, coordinating schedules and pooling revenue.

Spirit said it was taking steps to ensure the strength of its balance sheet and ongoing operations and retained Perella Weinberg & Partners and Davis Polk & Wardwell as advisors.

Reporting by Aatreyee Dasgupta in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by David Gaffen, Devika Syamnath, Arun Koyyur and Nick Zieminski

Disney Just Announced A Huge New Perk For Hotel Guests

With Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the EPCOT transformation, and several hotel renovations being completed in 2024, Disney World is going to feel refreshed and ready to rock in 2025. Packages and ticket bookings for next year are opening soon, but if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort, there’s going to be a BIG new perk.

Disney World has announced that in 2025, those staying at Disney Resorts (including DVC properties) will get a FREE park ticket to the water parks on their arrival day. You’ll be able to use this perk at either Blizzard Beach Water Park or Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and only on your check-in day.

As it currently stands, this benefit is only available for those with check-in dates from January 1st-December 31st, 2025. Usage of the benefit is subject to availability and all visitors hoping to get into the water parks with complimentary admission MUST be listed on the hotel reservation.

Disney also notes that both water parks have annual refurbishments, but they will continue to be staggered. The website says, “Guests should be able to enjoy at least one water park experience year-round.” Since the pandemic, the two water parks haven’t yet been open at the same time, with one closing as soon as the other opens.

This discount DOES apply to Disney Vacation Club hotel stays. Here is a list of the hotels that qualify for this discount:

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

Disney’s All-Star Music Resort

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Disney’s Beach Club Villas

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

Disney’s BoardWalk Villas

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Riviera Resort

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/author/lydia-storks/

Travelling For Spring Break? The Canada Border Services Agency Gives Tips For A Smoother Trip

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminds travellers of what to expect when crossing the border during March break.

Everyday, the CBSA works hard to protect Canadians, support the economy, and ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across our borders. In 2023, we welcomed 86,575,393 travellers and intercepted over 72,200 kg of prohibited drugs, cannabis, narcotics, and chemicals, representing an increase of over 29% from 2022.

The CBSA invests significant effort planning and preparing for peak periods, including long weekends and holidays. We monitor traveller volumes and work hard to minimize border wait times at ports of entry, including international airports, without compromising safety and security.

Here are some tips to help you plan for your trip:

Plan ahead, expect delays and check border wait times. Travellers crossing the border by land are encouraged to cross during non-peak hours such as early mornings.

When travelling with children, it is recommended that the accompanying adult have a consent letter authorizing them to travel with the child if they share custody or are not the parent or legal guardian. Border services officers are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.

Have your travel documents handy. Whether travelling by land, air or water, travellers can help speed up processing times by always coming prepared with their travel documents.

Save time with Advance Declaration. You can make your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada at the Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa, Billy Bishop, Calgary and Edmonton international airports. Data shows that using this tool cuts your time at a kiosk or eGate by up to 50%.

Be prepared to declare. All travellers must declare their goods upon entry into Canada. For returning residents, have your receipts readily available for goods purchased or received while outside of Canada. Travellers should be aware of everything that is inside their vehicle and are responsible for its contents. You are encouraged not to travel with firearms, but if you choose to do so, be sure to check the rules on importing firearms and other restricted and prohibited goods, which includes pepper spray and certain knives.

Know your exemption limits. Returning residents planning to make purchases or pick up online purchases across the border should be aware of their personal exemption limits, including alcohol and tobacco. You are encouraged to use the CBSA duty and taxes estimator to help you calculate monies owed on goods purchased abroad.

Cannabis: Don't bring it in. Don't take it out. Bringing cannabis across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution, despite the legalization of cannabis in Canada. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.

Bringing traditional Indigenous medicines or ceremonial goods to Canada? Medicines such as sage, cedar, sweetgrass, peyote and tobacco are recognized as sacred items and can be brought across the border by Indigenous Peoples in Canada. However, plant materials are subject to regulations and inspections.

If you are travelling with a pet or planning to import an animal into Canada, you will need the right paperwork at the border to meet Canada's import requirements.

Not sure? Ask a CBSA officer. The best thing you can do to save time is to be open and honest with the CBSA officer. Be sure to follow all instructions they provide to you. If you are not sure about what to declare, don't hesitate to ask. Our officers are here to help!

https://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/