BUSINESS TRAVEL
prnewswire | April 11, 2023
Spirit Airlines is offering frequent travelers a fast-track to the best benefits of the Free Spirit program, including free carry-on and checked bags, seat selection, onboard snacks and drinks and other valuable perks. The airline today announced a new partnership with StatusMatch.com, which allows elite members of more than 30 loyalty programs to apply to receive Free Spirit Gold® or Free Spirit Silver® Status for one year.
Free Spirit Status rewards the airline's most loyal Guests with valuable, enhanced benefits and flexibility.
Guests who hold frequent traveler status with 16 airline and 16 hotel loyalty programs throughout the Americas are eligible to match their status to Spirit. To view the full list of qualified programs and apply for this limited-time offer, visit Spirit.StatusMatch.com.
"Spirit offers convenient, nonstop routes for Guests who are regularly crisscrossing the country, and we're excited to offer road warriors the opportunity to continue enjoying the benefits they're accustomed to while flying Spirit," said Rana Ghosh, Vice President of Omnichannel Sales at Spirit Airlines. "We're incredibly proud of our Free Spirit program, which offers Gold and Silver members a long list of perks on every flight."
Guests who invest $49 to match to Free Spirit Silver Status receive valuable benefits including Shortcut Security & Boarding, free seat selection at check-in and fee waivers for award redemptions and overweight bags.
Perks of Free Spirit Gold Status, for a promotional rate of $99, include the benefits of Silver Status plus a free carry-on and checked bag, Flight Flex, free seat selection at booking and a complimentary drink and snack on board.
"With many airlines and hotels downgrading elite members, this is a great opportunity for members of the eligible airline and hotel programs to switch to Spirit Airlines," said Mark Ross-Smith, CEO of StatusMatch.com. "This is an amazing value for frequent travelers. We encourage eligible travelers to compare the affordable investment of the status match with the great benefits associated with Free Spirit Status."
The Free Spirit program makes it easy for elite members to requalify for Status and continue enjoying their valuable benefits. Participating Guests earn Status Qualifying Points (SQPs) on fares and À La Smarte® options and can earn additional SQPs by using an eligible Free Spirit credit card.
Invest in the Guest
The expanded program is Spirit's latest commitment to Invest in the Guest, which entails a number of initiatives aimed at delivering the best value in the sky:
Upgraded, wider seats with added cushion and headrests will debut on 26 new planes projected for delivery in 2023.
The Big Front Seat® offers more space, extra legroom and no middle seat. It's the best deal in the sky.
Spirit's Fit Fleet is one of the most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry.
Fast onboard Wi-Fi that allows Guests to watch content from streaming services.
About Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows our Guests to pay only for the options they choose like bags, seat assignments, refreshments and Wi-Fi something we call À La Smarte®. Our Fit Fleet® is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the United States. We serve destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, making it possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than ever before. We are committed to inspiring positive change in the communities where we live and work through the Spirit Charitable Foundation. Come save with us at spirit.com.
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INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
prnewswire | May 23, 2023
United today became the first U.S. airline to support Live Activities for iPhone, giving customers real-time access to their boarding pass, gate and seat number, and countdown clock to departure time on their Lock Screen or while unlocked in the Dynamic Island, all without opening the United app.
United customers check their mobile boarding pass and flight status nearly 800,000 times each day, and this new feature makes it even easier and faster for United flyers to receive timely updates and find important flight details.
"We're seeing soaring demand for travel this summer, and Live Activities puts all the flight information you need right at your fingertips, whether your iPhone is locked or you're doing something else like checking email, listening to music or texting friends," said Linda Jojo, Chief Customer Officer for United. "This new feature is another way United is leveraging technology to improve our customers' travel journey. It's going to save passengers a lot of time, and we think they're going to love it, especially during a busy travel season."
Live Activities helps United customers with iPhones stay informed in real time, so they can see live flight updates, flight details and alerts right on the Lock Screen or in the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
With a quick glance at the iPhone screen, customers can:
Get details like the flight number, on-time status, inbound aircraft status, estimated departure and arrival times, and more in the Live Activity on the Lock Screen or the Dynamic Island when expanded
Open their boarding pass directly from the Live Activity to easily scan during security check-in or while boarding their flight
See departure and arrival gates, pre- and in-flight countdowns, and baggage carousel information right in the Dynamic Island
Support for Live Activities has started to roll out to United travelers and will be widely available by the end of May. To experience the new features, customers should verify that their iPhone is running iOS 16.1 or later and their United app is up to date.
With up to three million users interacting with the app daily, United' mobile app is recognized for its accessibility options for the visually impaired, personalization options and improved navigation. The air carrier has consistently rolled out industry-leading app features in recent years, including:
Agent on Demand: Only United has a virtual, on demand customer service tool that lets customers scan a QR code and video chat, text or call a customer service representative instead of waiting in line at the airport. Last year, 1.3 million customers used Agent on Demand, and in 2023, we've already seen 192,000 customers use the platform.
United Map Search: Customers can easily compare and shop for flights based on departure city, budget and location type, with an interactive map feature. Available on the United app and website, this digital tool displays fares in a map view, allowing customers to simultaneously compare travel to a variety of destinations in a single search.
Travel Ready Center: This one-stop digital assistant on united.com and the United app outlines any necessary travel requirements with clear guidance, helping customers prepare for their travel and breeze through the airport without stopping for manual document checks.
Terminal Guide: Customers receive personalized day-of instructions to navigate point-to-point throughout the airport – from directing them to the most ideal airport entrance to finding their departure gate.
About United
At United, Good Leads The WaySM. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers, and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".
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AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
businesswire | March 28, 2023
Norse Atlantic Airways marks a new era in affordable transatlantic travel between the US and France with the celebration of its inaugural flight from Paris, Charles de Gaulle to New York JFK and from JFK to Charles de Gaulle. The daily direct service commenced on March 26th, 2023, providing customers with a quality service onboard modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The launch of this route marks Norse Atlantic’s entry into yet another major international market as the airline continues to provide comfortable and budget-friendly travel options for long-haul flights.
“We are delighted to offer cost-effective travel and increased choices for our passengers between the vibrant cities of Paris and New York. This new route connecting the beautiful cities will further boost transatlantic travel benefiting local tourism and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. With the addition of our latest route to Paris, our airline now offers a total of five European destinations from New York, JFK this summer, including Rome, Berlin, Oslo and London,” said Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways.
With daily, direct flights from New York, JFK to Paris starting at just $289 one-way, including all applicable taxes, travelers can now access a high-quality airline and travel experience for a fraction of the cost of traditional transatlantic carriers, making travel more accessible to a vast range of leisure and businesspeople, including families, students, and budget-conscious travelers.
Daily departures from New York to Paris are at 12:30 a.m. EDT, with arrival in Paris at 2:05 p.m. local time. The return flights depart Paris at 8:00 pm local time, and land in NY at 10:15 p.m. EDT.
Current economy fares below:
JFK – CDG: $235 (one-way)
CDG – JFK: $289 (one-way)
Round Trip: $524
About Norse Atlantic Airways
Norse Atlantic Airways is a new airline that offers affordable fares on long-haul flights, primarily between Europe and the United States. The company was founded by CEO and major shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen in March 2021. Norse has a fleet of 15 modern, fuel-efficient and more environmentally friendly Boeing 787 Dreamliners that will serve destinations including New York, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Oslo, London, Berlin and Paris.
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