British Airways’ Apprentices Prepare for Lift-off

A team of nine British Airways’ apprentices, based at Heathrow, has been selected as a finalist of the Brathay Apprentice Challenge 2014.

This prestigious nationwide award recognises, among other attributes, achievement in team building and communication, both essential skills for those starting out in their careers.

After three months of competition between more than 100 teams of apprentices from around the country, eight teams were selected as finalists for impressing the judges with their energy, enthusiasm and commitment.

The British Airways team was commended for its voluntary work at Orione Care, a home for older people in Kingston, and organising a community project at the Willow Tree Centre in Harefield which involved clearing land and planting trees following a storm. The team also attended several careers fairs and spoke at schools in order to promote the value of apprenticeships and the benefits of the British Airways scheme to school leavers.

Francesca Catling, 19, from Hillingdon, a member of the apprentice team, said: “I am thrilled that we’ve been chosen to compete in the final of the Brathay Challenge. Joining the British Airways’ apprenticeship scheme has been a very valuable experience for me and reaching the final of the competition is the icing on the cake. I would encourage other school leavers to investigate the opportunities offered by apprenticeships – it’s really allowed my career to take-off!”

In a final push to show-case their organisational skills and raise money for Comic Relief, the British Airways team has organised a comedy event at the Concorde Club in Cranford on May 23. Eastenders’ Shane Ritchie will be hosting the event that features, among others, the talents of Tim Vine.

The competition culminates in a series of team building, logistical and physical challenges at Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters where the apprentice team of the year will be announced on June 11.

In 2014 British Airways will employ 185 apprentices across the business, with areas ranging from engineering and operations, to IT, finance and project management.

Keith Williams, British Airways’ CEO said: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way or providing young people with a combination of on-the-job training and theoretical education. They are a great foundation for a whole range of skilled careers at British Airways and we are proud to offer them, and proud of our team for reaching this year’s Brathay Apprenticeship final.”

Since 2010, more than 500 students have begun an apprenticeship, with many graduating to permanent roles with the airline. The airline is always keen to encourage more young people to apply for apprenticeships: more information can be found at www.ba.com/careers.

British Airways Launches Most Advanced App Yet

British Airways has seen an increase in the number of people booking via mobile devices by 290 per cent in just two years, and today it launches its most advanced smart phone app yet.

The intuitive app delivers personalised, relevant and time sensitive travel information at the touch of a button.

The free app, available from ba.com/apps has been created following extensive research in the UK, Europe, the US and Asia, is compatible with both iPhone and Android smartphones and will streamline the travel process for customers.

The home screen anticipates a customer’s likely need, placing the most relevant information at the top of the timeline. The tailored screen will also show customers a background image based on their next flight and flight information adjusted to reflect their journey stage; ranging from the ability to select their seat in advance, to day-of-travel essentials such as what gate they are departing from and the weather at their destination.

The new app also makes it even easier for British Airways customers to manage every aspect of their booking, whether on the road, in the air or in the comfort of their homes. They can select seats, change their booking, manage their Executive Club accounts and check in online. British Airways’ Mobile Boarding Pass usage has grown by more than 650 per cent in the last three years and the new app makes it even easier for customers to use their mobile phone as their boarding pass.

Kevin McQuillan, head of ba.com, said: “At British Airways, we have a long history of innovating and introducing the latest technology to help our customers. This latest app is another way we are making travel easier by delivering the latest and most relevant information to our customers at the tap of a finger.”

The launch of the new ba.com app is only part of British Airways’ wider commitment to invest more than £5bn in new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges, and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

Key features of the app include:

  •  Personalised homescreen, which will automatically update for the customers’ next flight including flight status, local time and weather at their destination, gate information, check-in options and seat information
  •  New side navigation bar, making it faster and easier to find your way around
  • Customers can easily view and manage all of their bookings
  • Easy access to all of their flight searches from any device
  • Add flights to calendar functionality
  • Lounge Wifi passwords for all of British Airways’ 60 dedicated lounges across the world
  • Access to up to the minute flight statuses
  • Showcase of the best fares to top destinations

The app is available to download for free from the iTunes App store and Android Market now, direct links can be found on ba.com/apps.

More Reasons to Travel with Citi PremierMiles this Summer

Summer is in the air and it’s the perfect time to pack and fly with more flights and more sights from the Citi PremierMiles Card.

Not sure where to go? Choose from a multitude of destinations now that Citi has teamed up with new airline partners: Etihad Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Eva Air, and Malaysia Airlines. You can now fly using your Citi PremierMiles rewards with over 60 airlines including Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways.

Need somewhere to stay? Citi PremierMiles also teamed up with Hilton HHonors Worldwide and Intercontinental Hotel Group, offering you the chance to redeem free stays with your PremierMiles. You can use your miles in Hilton Hhonors Worldwide at a rate of 1 PremierMile to 1.5 Hhonors points, and in Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) Rewards Club at a rate of 1 PremierMile to 1 IHG point.

According to Consumer Business Manager Bea Tan for Citi Philippines, travel continues to be a strong aspiration for many Filipinos. “This is why Citi PremierMiles continues to attract clients as we strengthen our wide suite of travel-focused rewards. Indeed, this is one card you want to take with you wherever you go – either to earn the miles or to redeem them, plus of course experience exclusive privileges.”

Keep using your Citi PremierMiles to book your flights and accumulate more air miles for free flights. Every P30 spend for PremierMiles Platinum or P40 for PremierMiles earns you 1 PremierMile. Simply convert your PremierMiles to air miles of your preferred frequent flyer program, including Asia Miles, Executive Club, KrisFlyer, Mabuhay Miles, Royal Orchid Plus, SkyMiles, Etihad Guest, Evergreen/ Infinity Mileagelands, Garuda Frequent Flyer, and Enrich. One PremierMile equals one air mile.

What’s more, you can even use your PremierMiles to pay off various travel expenses, like cruises and car rentals. And if you’re flying from Manila, don’t forget to use your PremierMiles card for complimentary access to the MIASCOR lounge at NAIA 1, regardless of airline or class you fly, for a relaxing wait at the airport.

Of course, your PremierMiles never expire so accumulate and keep them for as long as you want, until you decide to exchange them for free flights or upgrades or what other travel reward your heart desires.

Finally, you are assured of peace of mind when you travel as Citi PremierMiles has a range of travel inconvenience protection from Missed Flight Protection to Delayed/Cancelled Flight Protection to Delayed Luggage Protection to Lost Luggage Protection.

More Reasons to Travel with Citi PremierMiles this Summer

Summer is in the air and it’s the perfect time to pack and fly with more flights and more sights from the Citi PremierMiles Card.

Not sure where to go? Choose from a multitude of destinations now that Citi has teamed up with new airline partners: Etihad Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Eva Air, and Malaysia Airlines. You can now fly using your Citi PremierMiles rewards with over 60 airlines including Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways.

Need somewhere to stay? Citi PremierMiles also teamed up with Hilton HHonors Worldwide and Intercontinental Hotel Group, offering you the chance to redeem free stays with your PremierMiles. You can use your miles in Hilton Hhonors Worldwide at a rate of 1 PremierMile to 1.5 Hhonors points, and in Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) Rewards Club at a rate of 1 PremierMile to 1 IHG point.

According to Consumer Business Manager Bea Tan for Citi Philippines, travel continues to be a strong aspiration for many Filipinos. “This is why Citi PremierMiles continues to attract clients as we strengthen our wide suite of travel-focused rewards. Indeed, this is one card you want to take with you wherever you go – either to earn the miles or to redeem them, plus of course experience exclusive privileges.”

Keep using your Citi PremierMiles to book your flights and accumulate more air miles for free flights. Every P30 spend for PremierMiles Platinum or P40 for PremierMiles earns you 1 PremierMile. Simply convert your PremierMiles to air miles of your preferred frequent flyer program, including Asia Miles, Executive Club, KrisFlyer, Mabuhay Miles, Royal Orchid Plus, SkyMiles, Etihad Guest, Evergreen/ Infinity Mileagelands, Garuda Frequent Flyer, and Enrich. One PremierMile equals one air mile.

What’s more, you can even use your PremierMiles to pay off various travel expenses, like cruises and car rentals. And if you’re flying from Manila, don’t forget to use your PremierMiles card for complimentary access to the MIASCOR lounge at NAIA 1, regardless of airline or class you fly, for a relaxing wait at the airport.

Of course, your PremierMiles never expire so accumulate and keep them for as long as you want, until you decide to exchange them for free flights or upgrades or what other travel reward your heart desires.

Finally, you are assured of peace of mind when you travel as Citi PremierMiles has a range of travel inconvenience protection from Missed Flight Protection to Delayed/Cancelled Flight Protection to Delayed Luggage Protection to Lost Luggage Protection.

More Reasons to Travel with Citi PremierMiles this Summer

Summer is in the air and it’s the perfect time to pack and fly with more flights and more sights from the Citi PremierMiles Card.

Not sure where to go? Choose from a multitude of destinations now that Citi has teamed up with new airline partners: Etihad Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Eva Air, and Malaysia Airlines. You can now fly using your Citi PremierMiles rewards with over 60 airlines including Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways.

Need somewhere to stay? Citi PremierMiles also teamed up with Hilton HHonors Worldwide and Intercontinental Hotel Group, offering you the chance to redeem free stays with your PremierMiles. You can use your miles in Hilton Hhonors Worldwide at a rate of 1 PremierMile to 1.5 Hhonors points, and in Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) Rewards Club at a rate of 1 PremierMile to 1 IHG point.

According to Consumer Business Manager Bea Tan for Citi Philippines, travel continues to be a strong aspiration for many Filipinos. “This is why Citi PremierMiles continues to attract clients as we strengthen our wide suite of travel-focused rewards. Indeed, this is one card you want to take with you wherever you go – either to earn the miles or to redeem them, plus of course experience exclusive privileges.”

Keep using your Citi PremierMiles to book your flights and accumulate more air miles for free flights. Every P30 spend for PremierMiles Platinum or P40 for PremierMiles earns you 1 PremierMile. Simply convert your PremierMiles to air miles of your preferred frequent flyer program, including Asia Miles, Executive Club, KrisFlyer, Mabuhay Miles, Royal Orchid Plus, SkyMiles, Etihad Guest, Evergreen/ Infinity Mileagelands, Garuda Frequent Flyer, and Enrich. One PremierMile equals one air mile.

What’s more, you can even use your PremierMiles to pay off various travel expenses, like cruises and car rentals. And if you’re flying from Manila, don’t forget to use your PremierMiles card for complimentary access to the MIASCOR lounge at NAIA 1, regardless of airline or class you fly, for a relaxing wait at the airport.

Of course, your PremierMiles never expire so accumulate and keep them for as long as you want, until you decide to exchange them for free flights or upgrades or what other travel reward your heart desires.

Finally, you are assured of peace of mind when you travel as Citi PremierMiles has a range of travel inconvenience protection from Missed Flight Protection to Delayed/Cancelled Flight Protection to Delayed Luggage Protection to Lost Luggage Protection.