Airlines pledge support for typhoon victims
United Airlines has pledged up to $50,000 to the relief effort for victims of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and Japan Airlines has donated 10 million yen (£63K).
United said it will match donations made by its customers and staff to AmeriCares, American Red Cross and Operation USA, up to a total of $50,000.
The airline will also award bonus miles to Mileage Plus members who donate. It will contribute up to five million miles to the initiative.
MileagePlus members who give $50-99 will receive 250 bonus miles, those who contribute more than $250 will receive 1,000 miles.
For more information and to make a donation, customers and employees should go to www.crowdrise.com/unitedrelief.
JAL is also providing free relief flights to the Philippines and it is calling on JAL Mileage Bank members to donate miles to raise funds. Donations will be accepted in units of 3,000 miles, which can be made on its website or over the phone.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation is urging all travel companies and tourists to contribute to the UN relief effort. Secretary-general Taleb Rifai said: "We call upon all tourism companies, associations and tourists from all around the world to contribute to the UN efforts being deployed to support the Philippines and show the solidarity of the sector with the people of the Philippines in this difficult moment."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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