NEW YORK, May 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Britain's esteemed palaces used to be reserved only for those of royal blood, but thanks to British Airways that is no longer the case.
Beginning today, the airline is offering customers a free Royal Pass when booking a round-trip ticket to London from any British Airways USA gateway.
London bound travelers may take advantage of low roundtrip fares starting at $438 round-trip from JFK and Newark airports. And when booking online from today through May 18, customers will receive a complementary Royal Pass granting free access to the Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court Palace valid between May 16 and December 23, 2006.
Many families choose their vacation destination based on the history and culture of the area. In fact, according to a British Airways survey on family travel conducted by Harris Interactive in 2004 (see Note), 61% of parents feel that it is important to expose their children to more of this while taking a holiday, and what better place to start than London? 70% of those parents polled by British Airways would choose a family vacation in London because of its outstanding and historical landmarks -- like the royal palaces.
Great fares and the complementary Royal Pass are available for sale through midnight, Thursday, May 18, 2006, and must be booked in conjunction with round-trip transatlantic British Airways flights for travel from May 16, 2006 through December 23, 2006.
After booking online, customers will receive an email link, where their Royal Pass voucher may be retrieved. The voucher must then be redeemed at the Tower of London's Group Ticket Office. The Royal Pass is valid for two years from the date of redemption and cannot be exchanged/refunded for cash or redeemed against other British Airways Holidays products.
Sample round trip sale fares are valid for travel August 31 through October 25, 2006 and December 20 - 24, 2006:
JFK New York, Newark $438 Philadelphia $458 Boston, Washington D.C., Baltimore $498 Atlanta $578 Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston $588 Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Chicago $598 Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco $618 Phoenix, Seattle $638 Denver $658
The Three Royal Palaces
The Royal Pass grants free access to three of London's most revered castles, for a saving of $64!
Tower of London -- One of London's most prominent landmarks, the Tower of London was the place to get executed -- many members of the royal family lost their heads here. But this intricate palace was more than just a prison, it was and still is the home of the Crown Jewels and was a formidable fortress for its long list of inhabitants. The Tower is rich with over 900 years of stories to tell.
Kensington Palace -- The former home of Diana, Princess of Wales is an extraordinary and beautiful castle. Guided tours take visitors through rooms of the families who graced the halls of this palace. And open to the public for the first time is Princess Margaret's apartment, originally built over 300 years ago.
Hampton Court Palace -- Home to some of Britain's most famous kings and queens including Henry VIII, it is one of the most beautiful palaces on the Thames just outside Central London. It also boasts a 'Real Tennis' court used by Henry VIII and a famous maze.
Hotel Deals Too!
British Airways offers a variety of London hotel bargains starting as low as $59 per person, per night based on double occupancy (subject to availability) at the Jurys Inn Chelsea or the Royal National Hotel. Hotel programs are available between May 16 and December 23, 2006.
But it doesn't stop there . . .
Logging on to ba.com also provides the opportunity to take an additional $20 off the airfare when booking this offer. There is also the Wimbledon Sweepstakes to enter for a chance to win a variety of fantastic prizes, including a trip to the 2006 Wimbledon Tennis Finals.
Additional flight information, as well as travel tips and other summer vacation ideas, are available from local travel agents or by visiting British Airways' website, ba.com. Travel agents also may access information at www.batraveltrade.com.
Note: Harris Interactive(r) online survey conducted on behalf of British Airways between April 2-6, 2004 among 749 U.S. parents/guardians (aged 18+) of children under the age of 23. Sampling error for the parent/guardian sample is +/-6 percentage points.
The British Airways logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1862