Events We're Watching

Another Volcano in Iceland?  

Researchers say Iceland's second-largest volcano seems ready to erupt and might create an ash cloud bigger than one that disrupted European air travel in 2010. Read more

Albania: On February 18 Opposition protests are scheduled to occur; there are no details on times or locations. All opposition rallies carry a risk of transportation disruptions and violence.

Egypt – Naturally we are watching this situation closely. With massive protests planned, current reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of protesters are in place in central Cairo as well as other cities such as Alexandria, and that thousands of demonstrators continue to throng to protest sites.

For your safety we urge anyone traveling internationally to register in the Smart Travel program with the US State Department. It’s quick and easy. Details

For Travel Warnings and Alerts and country-specific information, click here.

We Mobile  

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• Flight delayed or cancelled? It will notify you immediately.
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Ask your Travel-On account manager for more information about the features of Mobile Personal Assistant and how it will benefit your travelers and your travel program.  If you missed our webinar, check it out now.

Options for Travelers With Plans to Travel to Egypt  

This was meant to be a banner year for Egyptian tourism. The ministry of tourism was anticipating more than 14 million visitors in 2011, a record. It was hardly unrealistic, considering that Egypt had 12.5 million visitors in 2009, and in the first nine months of 2010, despite the continuing global recession, had already seen 10.5 million visitors pass through the country. Read more

Lessons from Egypt: Double-check tours and travel insurance coverage  

Most travelers would rather spend their time seeing Egypt's pyramids or cruising the Nile than thinking about the consequences of a major tourist destination turning into a battle zone, literally overnight. Read more

Scrapped Flights Cost the Airlines About $7,000 Each

Airlines may be headed for more than $600 million in weather-related losses as U.S. winter storms trigger the most flight cancellations since the government began tracking the data in 1987. Read more

Airlines’ "Cancel Early and Cancel Often" Strategy Pays Off

Airlines' strategy to cancel flights early and often ahead of bad weather paid off in December, when not a single U.S. flight was stuck for more than three hours because of a massive post-Christmas blizzard. Read more

US Airways raises overweight bag fees

US Airways has raised the fee to check heavy luggage on its domestic flights to an extra $90 each. The old fee was $50. That's on top of the $25 to check a first bag and $35 for a second bag, which are not changing. It also raised fees on bags between 71 and 100 pounds to $175 each. Read more

American Eagle Launches Service to 2 New Cities in Mexico

American Eagle Airlines has begun daily nonstop service from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to two new destinations in Mexico, Veracruz and Queretaro. Starting immediately, service will travel between Dallas to General Heriberto Jara International Airport in Veracruz and Queretaro International Airport in Queretaro. Read more 

Austrian, BMI, Swiss to join Star transatlantic joint venture

Lufthansa subsidiaries Austrian Airlines, British Midland International (BMI) and Swiss International Air Lines are to join the immunised transatlantic joint venture established in 2009 by their parent company and three of its Star Alliance partners. Read more

Staying healthy at 35,000 feet: Tips for the frequent flyer

The National Sleep Foundation affirms that one should use earplugs and blindfolds to dampen noise and block light while sleeping. Quality sleep can be difficult to garner while flying as inevitably there will be a child screaming or a passenger talking incessantly. Read more

Sneak Peak – San Francisco’s New Terminal 2

Officials from San Francisco International Airport led a hard-hat tour today to announce that it is nearing the completion of a $383 million renovation of Terminal 2 (T2), one of the most sustainable and modern airport terminals in the United States. The new home for American Airlines and Virgin America, T2 will open to the public for a community open house on Saturday, April 9, 2011, with the first flights commencing on Thursday, April 14, 2011. Read more

Spain and France Now Connected by High Speed Rail Service

Spain now holds the enviable position of owning the most extensive high speed rail network in Europe, a network which spans about 1,240 miles. On December 19, 2010 a high speed line opened between Perpignan (France) and Figueres (Spain). Read more

Download the Perfect Carry on

The free Gogo® Inflight Internet app gives you one-step sign in on all Gogo equipped flights. Next time you're in the air, the Gogo Inflight Internet app will detect if you're on the Gogo network. After signing up, get online in flight with a push of a button. Read more

Best Western Now Offering 3 Types of Hotel

BEST WESTERN, BEST WESTERN PLUS and BEST WESTERN PREMIER, three choices that offer you amenities and services that best fit your specific travel needs. Which is best for you? Read more

Starwood Hotels Opening 70-80 Hotels in 2011

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced last week its plans to open 70-80 hotels this year. Some new builds and some conversions, 60% of these properties will be in the upscale luxury segment. This will especially excite you Meeting Planners with International scopes, as the majority of these hotels will be popping up outside of North America, mostly in Asia Pacific. In fact, 30% will crop in North America with the 70% bulk in Asia Pacific. Read more