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News and notes from around the interweb:
- A pretty desperate way to redeem miles for Swiss first class
- SAS Plus and Star Alliance Gold passengers will no longer get lounge access at many airports when flying Scandinavian
- Premium Citibank ThankYou Rewards cards — like the Citi Prestige Card and Citi ThankYou Premier — let you transfer their points to airline miles and hotel programs. With the Alaska Airlines acquisition of Virgin America, they lose Virgin America as a transfer partner January 22. That leaves:
- Star Alliance: Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
- Skyteam: Air France-KLM, Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- oneworld: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Non-alliance: Etihad Airways Guest, JetBlue True Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Hotel: Hilton HHonors
- Star Alliance: Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
- Rumor: Emirates recruiting fewer cabin crew, signaling reduced growth expectations (HT: wowzimmer)
- Register to earn double points with Choice Privileges through February 9 on your first $3000 of spend. (HT: Loyalty Traveler)
I just came back from DXB on EK during that trip I talked with a FA that had been on another flight of mine. They told me the same thing that recruitment was down to a dribble and that some pilots are leaving, mentioning American pilots going back to the US to fly US metal. They did not particularly like that. Business is down according to them. Oil is big reason.
It’s still a great carrier to fly and much better than any US metal especially DL
One thing I will be happy to see is their adding premium coach product. Hoping for a good price point down the road when my professional travels diminish and points used up.