Great News!

NOW IS A PERFECT TIME TO TRAVEL...BUSINESS OR VACATION!
Lower Rates and Fewer Travelers

Projected rate increases for 2009 did NOT take place. In fact, airfares, car rental rates and hotel room nights have been lowered, in some cases by as much as 60%.

If you can get by with a roll-aboard suitcase and bring your own pillow, blanket, and snacks, the total cost can be quite reasonable, if not downright surprising.  From the DC area to Los Angeles or San Francisco begins at $198 roundtrip (plus tax), or fly from DC to Denver starting at $138 roundtrip (plus tax). Many European destinations are only $300-$500 roundtrip (plus tax). Need a mini-vacation? Just extend your business trip through the weekend. Friday to Sunday car rentals begin at about $13 a day. Restrictions vary by airline and destination, and the additional fees for optional services do apply.

The best news for you is that many of the reduced fare rules are lenient enough for business travelers to use them.

To find the best price for your business destination, contact your Travel-On agents or go to your company's online booking site provided by Travel-On. Find out how easily your business trip will fit into your budget.

TSA Wants Your Date of Birth and Gender

The new Secure Flight rule will require that airlines (and therefore travel agencies) provide to the TSA prior to the flight, the full legal name, gender and birth date of each traveler. The DHS Transportation Security Administration will use the information to screen passengers against a watch list of potential terrorists, a function the airlines have been performing. TSA will retain passenger information for seven years, including travel itinerary, for anyone tentatively matched to a name on the watch list.

We do not have an effective date for when we need to begin providing this info with each reservation, but the TSA rule and press release indicate that it will begin requiring this information on domestic flights in early 2009. We have begun adding these fields to the traveler profiles, but will not be providing it to the airline until required.

To avoid the possibility of missing points, travelers with frequent flyer numbers should act now to ensure that the name on their frequent flyer accounts exactly matches the name on their driver's license or passport, which must be used on all airline tickets. Travelers with frequent flyer accounts in other variations of their name may find themselves "unrecognized" by the airline's computer systems and may not receive their point automatically. Name changes can be made visiting the frequent flyer program's website or calling the frequent flyer membership program number.

This is the info that we have at this time. Please watch our ETB (Electronic Travel Bulletin) for more updates.

An Added Value to You » Travel-On agents are able to assist you if you have any questions about additional fees charged by the airlines.

Middle Seat: The Next Airline Fee — Buying Tickets?
There are fees for checked luggage, reservation changes and even pillows and blankets. And now, one airline is poised to start levying a fee when you simply buy a ticket.

U.S. Travel Association Debuts "Meetings Mean Business"
The U.S. Travel Association has launched the “Meetings Mean Business” campaign, a major initiative intended to push back against what it is calling the political demonization of business meetings and events.

Hidden Cuts in Business Travel: What to Look For
While the down economy has provided vacationers with a host of new bargains, business travelers, already pressed by employers to tighten their belts, are discovering that the travel universe is becoming increasingly creative when it comes to cutting costs.

Travel buyers to consolidate supply base
As companies look for ways to trim travel costs, without eliminating travel altogether, many are turning to procurement to apply some tried and true purchasing discipline to the spend.

Group posts guidelines for legitimate business travel
The U.S. Travel Association has responded with a series of news releases, reminding Congress that jobs are at stake and decrying the current “witch-hunt mentality.” The association also has issued its suggestions for deciding when a meeting, event or incentive program is a junket and when it’s a legitimate travel expense.

Hoteliers Remind Congress About Value Of Business Travel
he U.S. Travel Association today announced that ten of the nation's largest hotel companies are urging members of Congress to consider the value of business travel for meetings, events and performance incentive programs before enacting legislation and regulations that may unintentionally hinder economic recovery and cost American jobs.

Enterprise to buy Advantage assets out of bankruptcy
Enterprise Rent-A-Car said Tuesday it plans to buy certain assets of Advantage Rent-A-Car out of bankruptcy for $19 million.