Tag: Skyteam

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What's Up with SkyTeam in 2013

March 22, 2013 at 11:37 AM | by | Comments (0)

Last week we highlighted what the world of travel can expect from all of the major airline changes occurring around the globe and how that affects the big airline alliances of Oneworld and Star Alliance. Now, it's SkyTeam's turn as we have a look what's in store for the Delta-led airline partnership that has had some big growth in the past few years.

The Indonesian flag carrier, Garuda, is gearing up to be a strong South East Asian presence for the alliance. Although not technically joining until 2014, travelers will see the beginnings of the buddy-up to ease the long-haul travel woes. If this means it's easier to head to the beaches of Bali while accruing frequent flyer miles, then we're all for it.

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KLM is Gonna Get You Laid All the Way to Amsterdam

March 20, 2013 at 9:28 AM | by | Comments (0)

We’ve been squished, squeezed, and smooshed into all kinds of economy seats during our long haul travels, so when a new business class product comes along we get pretty darn excited. It’s not just because it makes flying for long periods of time that much better, but it gives us something to dream about when we’re crammed into the coach cabin.

This week it’s KLM revealing some big news, as they’re planning a revamp of their World Business Class seating options. These days it seems like everybody and their moms want lie-flat seats, so KLM has decided to get in on the fun as well.

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How KLM is Turning Used Cooking Oil Into Flights Between Amsterdam and New York

March 11, 2013 at 9:15 AM | by | Comments (0)

"It really isn't smelly!"

That's the assertion given by KLM to press and passengers on Friday, as the first-ever series of biofuel-powered intercontinental flights was inaugurated.

All is normal inside the aircraft, and indeed passengers may have no idea they are flying on a history-making jet, unless they see the proud "we fly on biofuels" statement painted on the side. Outside, two fueling trucks pump the plane's tanks full of a mix of regular kerosene and biofuel manufactured from used cooking oil. According to the AP, the process to make this magic fuel goes a little something like this: "the waste oil from frying up crawfish, cracklins and other Cajun specialties is refined at a Louisiana plant, then trucked to JFK." Sounds simple, huh?

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Big Changes for Delta SkyMiles: How the Medallions are Handling It

January 22, 2013 at 2:28 PM | by | Comments (0)

2013, man. This was to be the year we get elite status on Delta and we were just about to sign up for a Delta AMEX credit card when the airline dropped the news which has us thinking twice. Their SkyMiles loyalty program would change, transitioning from the classic distance-based mileage earning to a combination of distance and revenue.

In plainer terms, in order to get any status on Delta, a flyer would have to not only fly a certain amount of miles in a Delta seat, but also spend a certain amount on all those tickets, from $2,500 on up. The idea essentially to ensure the truly "elite" get their perks while those who gain Medallion status using super discounted fares or other incentives will drop down or out of the elite levels.

A nice grid of requirements is below...

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Cheapy Cheap Air France Flights Now Possible with 'MiNi' Fares

Where: France
January 7, 2013 at 4:03 PM | by | Comments (0)

Everyone is always asking, "how can I get cheaper airfare?" Well today's your lucky day as Air France announces a bare-bones ticket that's nothing but cheaper airfare, and they're calling it the "MiNi."

One-way "MiNi" fares would start at €49 (including tax), which is around €20 less than a normal economy ticket, though MiNi means no itinerary changes, no seat selection at booking, and no mileage earning. Still, if you can keep it to carry-on only (checked baggage is €15 per piece in advance, €30 at the airport), it's a heck of a lot cheaper than taking the Eurostar from London to Paris and the TGV on to Nice.

There are 58 starter destinations, all short- and medium-haul, for example from London City to Brest, Nantes, Pau, Avignon, Toulon and Paris-Orly. If you're like, "what the heck in Toulon," then know that it's an airport much nearer to St. Tropez, Cannes and Monte Carlo than Marseille, so that's our first choice right there. Other MiNi fare hubs are Paris-Orly, Marseille, Toulouse and Nice.

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A Sneaky Peek at Delta's Massive New Home at JFK's Terminal 4

October 22, 2012 at 10:05 AM | by | Comments (0)

There are some 60 airlines flying into and out of New York-JFK Airport. Competition is fierce, but New York's always game for a little of that. Passengers are looking for the cheapest tickets (of course), shiniest planes, most routes and newest facilities. Come next spring, Delta will claim at least that last one as it opens a 9-gate extension of Terminal 4, complete with the largest SkyClub lounge in the world.

The entire project cost is in the billions, so it's no fresh paint fixer-upper or anything; every month construction workers build $26 million worth of new stuff into Terminal 4 (that's over $1 million every workday!). Why should you care? Because Delta wants you in it, loving it and flying out of it...and soon. They are on schedule and under budget (whoa) for an opening in May 2013. Arrive early for your late spring Delta flight, because this place will warrant some checking out.

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Pan Am's Iconic JFK Terminal Will Definitely Head to the Big Airport in the Sky

October 18, 2012 at 4:37 PM | by | Comments (2)


The length of Terminal 3 as viewed from its replacement: the extension of Terminal 4

Before moving forward, we look back a moment at the iconic Worldport (Terminal 3), former JFK Airport home of Pan Am and current roof over much of Delta's JFK operation.

Since early 2010 we've known the end was nigh. Delta plans to demolish the building after moving into their massive expansion of the neighboring Terminal 4, which will all go down in May 2013 and which we'll tell you all about tomorrow.

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Meet Flynt, a Lesson in Airline Social Media Gone Wrong

October 4, 2012 at 2:26 PM | by | Comments (0)


Meet Flynt.

Flynt is a puppet. But not just any puppet. He’s a “Very Interactive Puppet” who’s the new face of social media for an airline. Which is a shame, because it’s hideous and patronizing, and all rolled into one ginger puppet.

Which airline could come up with such a hideosity? Spirit? Ryanair? Carpatair? Sadly no. The culprit is KLM—yes, KLM, who we lauded just a few weeks ago as killing it on Facebook.

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Airline Alliances: Who's Hookin' Up and Who's Breakin' Up

September 7, 2012 at 10:46 AM | by | Comments (0)

The ins and outs of the major airline alliances can read like a script of your favorite (or not-so favorite) soap opera. Regardless, whichever alliance to which you pledge allegiance, each has its own bit of news in 2012.

With some departures and new additions, the world just becomes a smaller place. Here's the 411 around the world for Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam:

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KLM Consistently Kills It on Facebook

August 9, 2012 at 10:52 AM | by | Comments (0)

The London 2012 Olympics may almost be over, but before we look on to Sochi 2014, we must award the gold medal of Facebook airline/Olympics tie-in content to KLM.

Not only does KLM consistently kill it across their social media, but they've inched ahead of other airline Olympics ads through the magical combination of creativity and airplane porn in these two images, comparing the peak performance positions of actual Olympic athletes to their own aircraft. The hidden message? That KLM, like Olympians, is at the top of their game.

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More Long-Haul WiFi Action Coming Next Year Onboard KLM and Air France

June 12, 2012 at 12:20 PM | by | Comments (0)

"Eventually" is definitely better than "never," which goes double when it comes to airlines and in-flight WiFi. The latest announcement for onboard connectivity comes from both Air France and KLM, SkyTeam Alliance partners who plan to bring WiFi to their long-haul fleet as early as February 2013.

Naturally that date, which is little more than 7 months away, will mark the start of trials of Panasonic's technology onboard two Boeing 777-300s. Taking the tech fleet-wide is still a ways off, but at least you'll be able to be one of the first to try it, assuming you pay attention to the plane you're flying to Paris or Amsterdam. Look for one of these atop your airplane.

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Five Videos from SkyTeam's Biggest Hubs, from Some Famous Names

May 17, 2012 at 4:11 PM | by | Comments (0)

The modern airport is for so much more than simply leaving a flight. These days, they features everything from excellent eateries to spas, and even a library in Amsterdam's case. Well, the SkyTeam alliance is fully aware that their member airlines fly to some of the coolest airports in the world, and they wanted to show off a bit with a video series of famous names showing around their favorite hubs.

Granted, we've already featured the Pam Ann-takes-LHR video, but up until today's web searching, we didn't know there were more to the series. Enjoy!

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