Industry Updates

At Orbit World Travel, we strive to stay up to date with the latest news from airlines and airports around the world. View a small section of the latest updates below.

Air New Zealand Airpoints Update

Air New Zealand has launched the first phase of its upgraded Airpoints program, unveiling a refreshed website with a modern look and expanded benefits. Key updates include the ability for members to share Airpoints Dollars with up to 10 people within New Zealand, and streamlined tier review dates. Members who maintain their tier status will start the new membership year with immediate access to benefits. These updates mark the beginning of a series of planned enhancements, including the introduction of a new, higher loyalty tier and additional member perks. Nikhil Ravishankar, Air New Zealand’s Chief Digital Officer, shared that over the next 12 months, Airpoints members can expect greater earning opportunities with more partners, additional rewards, and the new tier-further elevating the value of the loyalty program. “We’re not slowing down; we’re dedicated to creating an even more rewarding travel experience for our members, so stay tuned,” he added. For more details, visit: https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints

Emirates Inflight Meal Pre-Ordering

After the successful launch of the Emirates inflight meal pre-ordering initiative and the positive feedback received from passengers, the service has now been extended to included Dubai – Auckland (EK448) & Auckland – Dubai (EK449)

The service allows passengers in Business Class to preselect their main course between 14 days and 24 hours in advance of their flight departure, ensuring they get their preferred choice every time as well as helping to reduce food wastage.

Inviting Emirates passengers to enjoy a fine dining experience in the sky, passengers will be able to browse the onboard menu on Emirates.com or on the Emirates app to choose from a selection of regionally inspired dishes with locally sourced ingredients, up to a fortnight before a flight. Business Class meals include a choice of chef crafted dishes such as chocolate hazelnut pancakes with apricot compote and ricotta sour cream for breakfast, beef tenderloin with thyme jus, roasted potato wedges and steamed vegetables for lunch, and pan-fried salmon trout with saffron cream, blanched green beans, braised beetroot and polenta with spring onions for dinner.

Economy Stretch now available on multiple Air New Zealand flights

Effective 23 August 2024, Economy Stretch will be available on B777-300 services between Auckland and Vancouver. This means that your travellers will have the option to book Economy Stretch on Air New Zealand services to Los Angeles, San Francisco and select services to Houston, Singapore and Vancouver.

For full information on Economy Stretch, click on the link below

Economy Stretch – The long haul experience – Onboard your flight – Experience | Air New Zealand

Take note if you want to take your cordless hair straighteners on holiday

Due to changes in Aviation Security guidelines, passengers departing from New Zealand Airports can no longer pack the GHD cordless hair straighteners in either their carry on or checked in luggage.

However all is not lost…. Dyson cordless hair straighteners are still safe to pack in a carry on bag as those do have a ‘flight mode’ (note that any option of cordless hair straighteners are not permitted for travel to or from Japan).

Benefits for Air New Zealand Elite and Gold members when flying Virgin Atlantic

Effective immediately, Elite and Gold Airpoints members, when travelling on an Air New Zealand flight number operated by Virgin Atlantic between Los Angeles or San Francisco and London Heathrow, will enjoy the following benefits:

Priority check-in and baggage (including an extra additional checked in bag).
Lounge access when departing San Francisco, Los Angeles or London (Heathrow).
For full information, please click on the link below.

Virgin Atlantic – Co-operation Partners | Air New Zealand

Strikes at London’s Heathrow Airport

Disruption is expected at London’s Heathrow Airport 31st August – 03rd September, as Border Force threaten to strike. The Public and Commercial Services Union says hundreds of staff who work in passport control at LHR’s terminals two, three, four and five have been in dispute with their employer after a new roster was imposes in April. These members workers went on strike in April, May and June and are planning another work-to-rule and overtime ban until 22nd September.

Express Bag Drop

The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has launched a Smartphone Express bag drop service. Passengers aged 11 or above travelling on a visa-free journey with electronic passports can now complete on-line check-in and scan their travel documents with their smartphones before heading to the airport. There travellers proceed directly to the Express Bag Drop counters, to drop off their bags with their smartphones in under one minute, compared to an average of three minutes at the airline counters or smart check-in kiosks. Cathay Pacific now offers the service to passengers for all destinations, except the US and AAHK expects to be able to provide the service to more airlines in the future.