09-23-2011

Events We're Watching

Union: More Qantas Strikes Next Month

Business travellers can expect more delays and cancellations to Qantas flights next month, with the warring engineers union promising "wider and longer stoppages" starting October 10. Read more

I am waiting for an airline refund to come through - do I have to pay my credit card bill in the meantime?

From the time you cancel the ticket it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks for the credit to appear on your card statement. We process the refund and provide you with a “credit memo” right away, but that’s only the start. The Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) through which all purchases and credits flow, accepts reports every Tuesday for the previous calendar week. Then ARC processes the reports and transmits the sales and refunds to the airlines to settle up. The airlines need time of their own to process the refund, then it goes to your bank where it makes its way to your credit card. The good news, particularly for travelers with a large refund pending, is that credit cards will accept a “short-pay”. Mail your payment, minus the amount of the pending refund, and enclose a copy of the credit memo we provide.

US Customs and Border Protection – Global Entry Program

Did you know that the US Customs and Border Protection Agency has a program that expedites your customs declarations and re-entry to US and allows you to skip the passport control lines?

While the program is geared towards frequent international travelers there are no minimum trips per year to be qualified for the Global Entry program. Along with US citizens, qualified Green Card holders are also eligible for participation.

The passport control lines at major airports can be dauntingly long. Global Entry program allows its participants to proceed to the automated kiosks instead of these long lines. At these kiosks travelers need to present their machine readable passports or Green Cards, provide fingerprints for verification and electronically enter their customs declarations. Kiosks provide a receipt at the end of the process and you are done!

The Global Entry kiosks are available at all major international airports including New York/JFK, Washington/Dulles, Los Angeles/LAX, San Francisco/SFO, Houston/IAH, Chicago/ORD, Miami/MIA, and Boston/BOS.

In order to apply for the program travelers need to complete an online application, and submit a $100 non-refundable application fee. Then, each applicant will be scheduled for an interview and go through a background check. If you are a current member of the CBP's NEXUS (Expedited travel between US-Canada borders) or SENTRI (Expedited travel between US-Mexico borders) you may activate your membership at no additional cost. In addition to the list of all kiosks and the enrollment center location, you may find more on the application process at the Global Entry Program website.

Bonus! Did you know that you can save 25% on your visa and passport needs?

OTHER NEWS

Four Secret Rights That Savvy Air Travelers Know

Having some insight on the lesser-known rights and benefits most air travelers don't understand can really give you an advantage when dealing with airlines. Read more

Rearden Survey Identifies Travel Managers’ Concerns & Challenges

Corporate travel managers are under pressure to cut costs, improve compliance and better leverage mobile technology, according to a new survey conducted by Rearden Commerce. Read more

Blueprint: How To Budget And Report T&E Expenses In A Mobile Age

The speed of business over the last few years accelerated even further with sometimes huge and fast impact on corporate travel. The abbreviated reaction time disallows long-term planning and increases costs. Read more

Empowering The Modern Traveler

In one-on-one interviews with travelers in Washington D.C., Memphis and Los Angeles, a research team of USA Today employees and our Design and Innovation Group in summer 2010 found vast similarities between diverse demographics. Read more

Airlines Target Travelers, Not Buyers

There is a huge conspiracy between airlines and their passengers which leaves the travel buyer in the middle, Jamie Hindhaugh told the GBTA conference today. Read more

iSOS Launches Medical and Travel Security Mobile App to Help Protect International Business Travelers

The mobile app quickly connects business travelers to the extensive global response capabilities of International SOS, including a one-click dial for help from the nearest International SOS Alarm Center, instant access to the latest location-specific travel alerts, and real-time health and security advice. Read more

Airline Fees Reach $450 Mark, USA TODAY Survey Finds

For an overweight checked bag weighing 71-100 pounds, Continental Airlines is charging $400 on most international flights, and American Airlines is charging $450 on its Asian flights. Read more

A Few Strategies to Avoid Baggage Fees

While my personal strategy for avoiding them is to cram everything into a carry-on no matter how far or how long I'm traveling, that's not the only way to outsmart the airlines. Read more

Airline Groups Oppose Fees in Obama’s Deficit Plan

The airlines say security is a national-defense function and they pay an unfair share. The administration argues that those who use the air-travel system — airlines and passengers — should pay for it. Read more

Delta, Virgin Australia Trans-Pacific Codeshare to Launch in November

Delta Air Lines and Virgin Australia Airlines announced two major milestones of their recently approved joint venture: an expanded codesharing agreement on flights between the United States and Australia, and an enhanced customer experience in Los Angeles. Read more

10 Ways to Survive a Long-Haul Flight

Here are 10 tips for preventing boredom, dehydration, deep-vein thrombosis, sleep deprivation, and more so you can confidently say "I got this" the next time you are imprisoned in a metal tube for an entire waking day of your life. Read more

Futuristic Pods Whisk Travelers at Heathrow Airport

Laser-guided travel pods that work without drivers or timetables were officially unveiled at London's Heathrow airport on Friday. The system, which was featured in an exhibition on the future of transport at London's Science Museum in 2009, has become a reality, reducing the time it takes business passengers to move from terminal to car park by 60 percent. Read more

United Unveils Post-Merger Details For MileagePlus

Among the most-notable changes for 2012: Four tiers of elite status, new upgrade opportunities and a new lifetime benefits program for customers who've flown a million miles or more. Read more

Best Frequent Flier Programs For Availability

For the average traveler, a key determinant of a mileage program's value is the availability of saver award seats. And yet, there's no definitive data comparing the airlines' performance in this critical area. Read more

World’s Largest Airport Under Construction in China

Once finished, the world's largest airport will be approximately equivalent to the island of Bermuda in size and boast no less than nine runways, allowing it to serve 370,000 passengers every single day. Read more

DATABASICS Adds Cost-of-time Element To Expense Reporting Tool

The time-tracking technology of DATABASICS Time has been integrated into DATABASICS Expense Reporting, offering users the opportunity to quantify the time their employees spend making their own travel arrangements. Read more

TSA's Bid To Speed You Through Airport Security

The pilot program, which is open exclusively to U.S. citizens, will operate only at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Miami International and Dallas-Fort Worth International airports. Read more

Common Scams to Watch For in Europe

Europe is safe when it comes to violent crime. But it's a surprisingly creative place when it comes to travel scams. Pickpockets and con artists target Americans — not because these crooks are mean, but because they're smart. Read more

Internet Fee Irritates Hotel Guests

Most travelers these days -- business or otherwise -- view Internet access in their room as essential to their stay as a comfortable bed to sleep in and a hot shower in the morning. Read more

Hotels Could See $1.8 Billion A Year From Fees, Study Finds

Telephone and mini-bar charges have long been standard, but the hotel industry is expected to pocket a record $1.8 billion this year with an assortment of new fees for housekeeping, room-service trays, bell hops and early cancellations — services once thought to be part of room rates. Read more

Hyatt House Aims to ‘Lead the Target’

Hyatt Hotels Corp. is converting all 38 of its extended stay Summerfield Suites hotels, as well as 16 Hotel Sierra properties recently acquired from LodgeWorks, into a single new brand, Hyatt House. Read more

6 Foreign Car Rental Fees to Watch For

Premium Station, border crossing, winter tires, road tax, and more


09-23-2011 Events We're Watching Union: More Qantas Strikes Next Month Business travellers can expect more delays and cancellations to Qantas flights next month, with the warring engineers union promising "wider and longer stoppages" starting October 10. Read more I am waiting for an airline refund to come through - do I have to pay my credit card bill in the meantime? From the time you cancel the ticket it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks for the credit to appear on your card statement. We process the refund and provide you with a “credit memo” right away, but that’s only the start. The Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) through which all purchases and credits flow, accepts reports every Tuesday for the previous calendar week. Then ARC processes the reports and transmits the sales and refunds to the airlines to settle up. The airlines need time of their own to process the refund, then it goes to your bank where it makes its way to your credit card. The good news, particularly for travelers with a large refund pending, is that credit cards will accept a “short-pay”. Mail your payment, minus the amount of the pending refund, and enclose a copy of the credit memo we provide. US Customs and Border Protection – Global Entry Program Did you know that the US Customs and Border Protection Agency has a program that expedites your customs declarations and re-entry to US and allows you to skip the passport control lines? While the program is geared towards frequent international travelers there are no minimum trips per year to be qualified for the Global Entry program. Along with US citizens, qualified Green Card holders are also eligible for participation. The passport control lines at major airports can be dauntingly long. Global Entry program allows its participants to proceed to the automated kiosks instead of these long lines. At these kiosks travelers need to present their machine readable passports or Green Cards, provide fingerprints for verification and electronically enter their customs declarations. Kiosks provide a receipt at the end of the process and you are done! The Global Entry kiosks are available at all major international airports including New York/JFK, Washington/Dulles, Los Angeles/LAX, San Francisco/SFO, Houston/IAH, Chicago/ORD, Miami/MIA, and Boston/BOS. In order to apply for the program travelers need to complete an online application, and submit a $100 non-refundable application fee. Then, each applicant will be scheduled for an interview and go through a background check. If you are a current member of the CBP's NEXUS (Expedited travel between US-Canada borders) or SENTRI (Expedited travel between US-Mexico borders) you may activate your membership at no additional cost. In addition to the list of all kiosks and the enrollment center location, you may find more on the application process at the Global Entry Program website. Bonus! Did you know that you can save 25% on your visa and passport needs? OTHER NEWS Four Secret Rights That Savvy Air Travelers Know Having some insight on the lesser-known rights and benefits most air travelers don't understand can really give you an advantage when dealing with airlines. Read more Rearden Survey Identifies Travel Managers’ Concerns & Challenges Corporate travel managers are under pressure to cut costs, improve compliance and better leverage mobile technology, according to a new survey conducted by Rearden Commerce. Read more Blueprint: How To Budget And Report T&E Expenses In A Mobile Age The speed of business over the last few years accelerated even further with sometimes huge and fast impact on corporate travel. The abbreviated reaction time disallows long-term planning and increases costs. Read more Empowering The Modern Traveler In one-on-one interviews with travelers in Washington D.C., Memphis and Los Angeles, a research team of USA Today employees and our Design and Innovation Group in summer 2010 found vast similarities between diverse demographics. Read more Airlines Target Travelers, Not Buyers There is a huge conspiracy between airlines and their passengers which leaves the travel buyer in the middle, Jamie Hindhaugh told the GBTA conference today. Read more iSOS Launches Medical and Travel Security Mobile App to Help Protect International Business Travelers The mobile app quickly connects business travelers to the extensive global response capabilities of International SOS, including a one-click dial for help from the nearest International SOS Alarm Center, instant access to the latest location-specific travel alerts, and real-time health and security advice. Read more Airline Fees Reach $450 Mark, USA TODAY Survey Finds For an overweight checked bag weighing 71-100 pounds, Continental Airlines is charging $400 on most international flights, and American Airlines is charging $450 on its Asian flights. Read more A Few Strategies to Avoid Baggage Fees While my personal strategy for avoiding them is to cram everything into a carry-on no matter how far or how long I'm traveling, that's not the only way to outsmart the airlines. Read more Airline Groups Oppose Fees in Obama’s Deficit Plan The airlines say security is a national-defense function and they pay an unfair share. The administration argues that those who use the air-travel system — airlines and passengers — should pay for it. Read more Delta, Virgin Australia Trans-Pacific Codeshare to Launch in November Delta Air Lines and Virgin Australia Airlines announced two major milestones of their recently approved joint venture: an expanded codesharing agreement on flights between the United States and Australia, and an enhanced customer experience in Los Angeles. Read more 10 Ways to Survive a Long-Haul Flight Here are 10 tips for preventing boredom, dehydration, deep-vein thrombosis, sleep deprivation, and more so you can confidently say "I got this" the next time you are imprisoned in a metal tube for an entire waking day of your life. Read more Futuristic Pods Whisk Travelers at Heathrow Airport Laser-guided travel pods that work without drivers or timetables were officially unveiled at London's Heathrow airport on Friday. The system, which was featured in an exhibition on the future of transport at London's Science Museum in 2009, has become a reality, reducing the time it takes business passengers to move from terminal to car park by 60 percent. Read more United Unveils Post-Merger Details For MileagePlus Among the most-notable changes for 2012: Four tiers of elite status, new upgrade opportunities and a new lifetime benefits program for customers who've flown a million miles or more. Read more Best Frequent Flier Programs For Availability For the average traveler, a key determinant of a mileage program's value is the availability of saver award seats. And yet, there's no definitive data comparing the airlines' performance in this critical area. Read more World’s Largest Airport Under Construction in China Once finished, the world's largest airport will be approximately equivalent to the island of Bermuda in size and boast no less than nine runways, allowing it to serve 370,000 passengers every single day. Read more DATABASICS Adds Cost-of-time Element To Expense Reporting Tool The time-tracking technology of DATABASICS Time has been integrated into DATABASICS Expense Reporting, offering users the opportunity to quantify the time their employees spend making their own travel arrangements. Read more TSA's Bid To Speed You Through Airport Security The pilot program, which is open exclusively to U.S. citizens, will operate only at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Miami International and Dallas-Fort Worth International airports. Read more Common Scams to Watch For in Europe Europe is safe when it comes to violent crime. But it's a surprisingly creative place when it comes to travel scams. Pickpockets and con artists target Americans — not because these crooks are mean, but because they're smart. Read more Internet Fee Irritates Hotel Guests Most travelers these days -- business or otherwise -- view Internet access in their room as essential to their stay as a comfortable bed to sleep in and a hot shower in the morning. Read more Hotels Could See $1.8 Billion A Year From Fees, Study Finds Telephone and mini-bar charges have long been standard, but the hotel industry is expected to pocket a record $1.8 billion this year with an assortment of new fees for housekeeping, room-service trays, bell hops and early cancellations — services once thought to be part of room rates. Read more Hyatt House Aims to ‘Lead the Target’ Hyatt Hotels Corp. is converting all 38 of its extended stay Summerfield Suites hotels, as well as 16 Hotel Sierra properties recently acquired from LodgeWorks, into a single new brand, Hyatt House. Read more 6 Foreign Car Rental Fees to Watch For Premium Station, border crossing, winter tires, road tax, and more	Throughout Travel-On, our employees are M.A.D ( Making A Difference) to our clients. Many of you have noticed and have told us just how M.A.D they are. Recently, Sarah Shaffer from Travel-On Corporate Travel Team received this note from a client. "Thank you so much for working this on a Saturday we truly appreciate your help! 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