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Virgin Atlantic And China Eastern Launch Partnership
Virgin Atlantic and China Eastern have announced a new codeshare agreement providing greater access to more destinations throughout China. The first phase of the agreement will allow customers booking through Virgin Atlantic to connect from the airline’s Heathrow to Shanghai services to other destinations in China on one ticket, including Chengdu, Changsha, Qingdao, Shenzhen and Xi’an. Flights are on sale now for these destinations.
China Eastern customers will soon have the opportunity to connect via Heathrow to Caribbean and African destinations, including Jamaica, Nassau, Lagos, Cape Town and Johannesburg. China Eastern is a fellow member of the SkyTeam alliance, which Virgin Atlantic joined last year. Since November, the two airlines have been co-located at Shanghai Pudong Terminal One. Here, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and Silver members and China Eastern Miles members can take advantage of SkyPriority services, including priority check-in, boarding and extra baggage.
The expanded codeshare also allows Flying Club members to reach their rewards faster, with opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points on every codeshare flight with China Eastern. The option to spend Virgin Points is expected to follow shortly.
Hilton Expands On‑Property Messaging
Hilton is expanding its mobile messaging platform to more than 7,000 Hilton properties worldwide by the end of 2024. The system will enable messaging via the Hilton Honors app, SMS, WhatsApp and other messaging channels. The digital messaging capability will enable a two-way, immediate exchange between guests and hotel teams to answer questions, address concerns, arrange experiences and more. I am pleased to see this as the amount of times you call a front desk and no one picks up or they take forever to answer. If a hotel uses a messaging service, I will nearly always use it to contact the hotel. I like Marriott’s messaging, which also allows you to contact the hotel for a day after you check out, which is very useful.
“At Hilton, we have had a long-term commitment to digitally transform the travel experience and create a more seamless journey for guests, from booking to billing,” said Chris Silcock, president of Global Brands and Commercial Services at Hilton. “Travelers’ preference to communicate with hotel team members via mobile devices is growing. By expanding this capability to all of our hotels worldwide, we are meeting our guests where they are and creating an elevated and reliable experience for every guest during their stay.”
Marriott Bonvoy’s New Global Promotion – earn double status nights
Marriott Bonvoy is bringing back its global promotion, offering members bonus points and Elite Night Credits each night of their stay. From 13th February to 29th April, registered members can earn 1,000 bonus points and one bonus Elite Night Credit each night during the promotional earning period. Registration begins today and continues until 15th April. If you are having trouble registering, if you contact Bonvoy, they should be able to do it for you.
This means that earning status obviously becomes much easier with silver taking just five nights instead of 10, 13 for Gold instead of 25 and 25 for Platinum if you complete the nights during the promotion period.
You can earn up to 76,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points and 76 bonus Elite Night Credits.
Registration is open here from now until 15th April 2024.
Stays completed prior to registration are not eligible to earn with this promotion, but stays you have already booked count, providing you sign up for the promotion before you stay. You must book stays directly with Marriott on Marriott.com, in the Marriott Bonvoy Mobile app or through a reservations centre.
Stays at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, and owner-occupied weeks at Marriott Vacation Club®, Grand Residences by Marriott®, Marriott Grand Residence Club®, Sheraton Vacation Club®, Westin Vacation Club®, The Ritz-Carlton Club®, St. Regis Residence Club® and Luxury Collection Residence Club, are not eligible for bonus Points or bonus Elite Night Credits for this promotion.
