Leisure travel with Caribbean Airlines has become much more attractive to seasoned travel professionals who were promised superior reservations service, state-of-the-art aircraft and an updated frequent flyer miles program — as CAL repositions itself to compete with larger carriers plying the Caribbean route.
Caribbean Airlines will end its London route as of January 2016, to cut cost and to focus on its lucrative Jamaica, Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana direct destinations from John F. Kennedy International airport.
Sales Executive Carl Stuart unveiled a new jingle at New York’s Wyndham Hotel, during the airline’s first JFK Sales Presentation on Oct. 21. The catchy slogan will air on 1010 Winds, WBLS and CBS to capture the travel market.
Stuart also took travelers on a virtual journey to the warm and friendly Caribbean during a power point presentation, and noted that the airline wanted to accommodate the market needs, and as such, looked at its history and came up with changes to revolutionize the carrier.
The carrier will offer free in-flight entertainment from individual monitors as part of the extreme makeover set to start in the second quarter of 2016. Stuart said this will give passengers a more relaxing travel experience.
In addition to placing emphasis on safety, CAL would allow passengers one complimentary baggage plus a second at US$25.00, and one carry on. A pre-24-four-meal choice in both business and economy class, and complimentary meals on flights more than four hours, are offered.
Group discounts for families and friends, as well as baggage concessions for CUNY and UWI students positioning to and from semester, are all part of the airline’s marketing to attract passengers.
Children and senior citizens, 60 years and older will also benefit from the program.
According to Stuart, Bonus Miles will be earned for full-fare business class passengers who will also have access to enhanced Business Flying Lounge in 12 locations. This service, he noted, is in high demand and is available through inquires at the airports.
Express small package service to accommodate the delivery of documents, medicines and Internet purchases are available from airport-to-airport, door-to-door and airport-to-door.
“Caribbean Airlines is dedicated to helping build the economy of the Caribbean region by movement of goods, both coming in and going out,” said Stuart.
Reiterating major proposed developments in the company, Valerie Rahaman Murphy, senior manager of Reservation and Sales, said CAL would modernize the seating in its 767 aircraft.
“An aviation study showed London flights were filling planes, but the maintenance was too costly to upkeep, this is the reason we will end the route, however, we will look at ways to resume that destination sometime in the future,” said Murphy.
The airline, she said will be building connectivity to the Caribbean from New York and noted that Caribbean Airlines recorded cost reductions in 2015, with above average on-time performance.
Murphy said the remodeling has been a long time in the making and promised to join Caribbean Miles and the Seventh Heaven program from Air Jamaica, as part of the airlines’ merger.
“We are looking forward to working on the new Amadeus reservation system for faster service, while enhancing our miles program that would allow family members to combine their miles,” she said.
During the presentation guests were invited to sit at a table that showcased CAL’s travel destinations. To this end lucky vacationers won complimentary tickets to that particular destination.
