The Oneworld alliance has unveiled a new, one-stop, easy-to-use service to meet the travel needs for conventions, conferences, exhibitions and special events – offering attractive discounts on flights across a network spanning 850 destinations globally served by its member airlines. 
Launching the product, Oneworld Director Sales José María Alvarado said: “Uniquely among global airline alliances, Oneworld counts all four of the top country markets for big global gatherings as homes to member airlines – USA, Germany, Spain and UK. But virtually wherever you are holding an event or exhibition, Oneworld member airlines will be able to get you there. This makes Oneworld an obvious choice as a travel partner for most of the world’s big conventions and events. Our new Oneworld Events programme is both simple and speedy to use, with very attractive discounts on published fares.”
Oneworld Events is aimed at conferences, conventions, exhibitions and special events targeting a minimum of 500 international attendees travelling from at least two regions. Requests are accepted as early as five years in advance and up to three months prior to the event date.
Industry data indicates that 3.5 million delegates attend these kinds of conferences and events around the world every year, spending around US$1.5 billion on air travel.
Oneworld members comprise airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, antas, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines. The alliance also has around 30 affiliate” members, including Austria’s NIKI, China’s Dragonair, US regional American Eagle, South Africa’s Comair, Denmark’s Sun-Air, transatlantic carrier OpenSkies, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador, LAN Peru and, soon, LAN Colombia.
For event and convention organisers, Oneworld Events provides:
- An efficient and user-friendly centralised process, with one set of terms and conditions covering travel on all Oneworld member airlines that can be ready for acceptance just days after submitting the online request form
- Discounted flights for attendees plus the chance for organisers to earn and redeem credits for travel on participating Oneworld member airlines
- Simple online access to real-time management reports 24/7 to help meet attendees’ travel needs
- A ready-to-use Oneworld promotional toolkit to build attendee awareness.
For attendees, Oneworld Events offers:
- Attractive discounts on flights for attendees and one travel companion each, on Oneworld member airlines, which together serve 850 destinations in more than 150 countries around the globe
- A user-friendly booking tool that will display the most convenient flights and multiple fare options from hundreds of departure points all over the world to the event or convention location
- Travel on a collection of some of the world’s leading airlines
- Round-the-clock support, with the Oneworld Events helpdesk ready to help via email or phone
- All usual privileges and benefits to members of any Oneworld member airline frequent flyer programme – including the ability to earn miles/points and, for top tier cardholders and one companion each, to use any of the 550 airport lounges provided by the alliance’s airlines the world over. Attendees who are not yet members can sign-up before they depart and then receive their benefits and privileges on their way to or from their convention of event.
