Travelling to the USA?

Travellers who wish to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program are now subject to enhanced security requirements. All eligible travellers must now apply for authorisation prior to departing New Zealand.  In the past you were able to complete a green Visa Waiver form onboard to the USA, however this is no longer an option and prior approval must be attained. 

We recommend you apply for your Electronic Travel Authorisation as soon as possible, as authorisation can take up to 72 hours.   Once this authorisation code is given it remains valid for 2 years.  Should authorisation be declined a visa application must be submitted via the US embassy, which can take a number of weeks.   For further information or to apply now click here. 

Please advise your Executive Travel consultant of your authorisation number and expiry date upon receipt.

The winner is...

A huge thank you to all those who completed our online customer survey.  We really appreciate your input and will report back the relevant findings in our next newsletter.

Congratulations Marcel Vroege, who is the lucky winner of our prize draw.  Marcel will be enjoying a weekend away at an InterContinental Hotels Group property of his choice along with an Avis rental car.  Enjoy your weekend Marcel!

The Executive Travel 2009 challenge

The Executive Travel team challenge you to participate in the Auckland 2009 Cathay Pacific Half Marathon or 11km run/walk.  A number of our team will be trying to shed post Christmas kilos so we'd like to offer you the opportunity to join an "Executive Travel Team" in completing one of these events on 22 February 09.  In order to entice you we would like to offer a subsidised entry fee - standard entry fee is $45; join our team and pay just $25.  We will also be hosting a post run/walk celebration.   To join us please print this entry form and either email or fax it back to Nicole by 23 January 09.  Your event pack and Executive Travel goodie bag will be delivered to you by one of our sales team on Friday 20th February.  For more event information click here.

Qantas A380 is here

One of our Executive Travel team was incredibly lucky to be invited along to have a scenic flight around Auckland on the new Qantas A380.  Click here  to see her photos and thoughts on the aircraft.

Xmas specials with Heritage Hotels

Wherever you are heading over the Xmas/New Year period Heritage Hotels will have a great rate to suit you.  Why not take the children too?  Children stay and eat for free at any Heritage or CityLife hotel.  Check out these great deals which include lots of nice little extras for a Xmas treat.

Asia Miles

There are now more rewards available when redeeming your Asia Miles.  Along with upgrades and redemption tickets, you can now redeem your miles for Lifestyle rewards, such as a Flight Simulator Experience or a hotel stay at the Langham Hotel Auckland.

There are also new options for seat redemption. If you need to travel at short notice or during a peak period, it is now possible to increase the number of miles redeemed to guarantee a seat.

Finally – if you travel with extra luggage, it is possible to use your miles for excess baggage. E.g. Auckland to Hong Kong, 10kg excess baggage would be 18,000 miles.

Asia Miles is free to join.  All details are available on www.asiamiles.com
 

Emirates double decker to London

Emirates has brought its own brand of double-decker to London with the arrival at Heathrow this week of its Airbus A380 superjumbo.  Flight EK001, which departs Dubai daily at 7.45am and arrives in London Heathrow at 11.35am (local time), is now served by the giant airliner.  All four Emirates daily services from New Zealand will connect with the A380 service at Dubai and, from February 2009, Emirates customers will become the only New Zealand travellers able to fly all the way from Auckland to London on the A380, with the beginning of A380 flights from New Zealand.  The A380 deployed on the Dubai -Heathrow route is the third of 58 that Emirates ordered.