Travel-On Travel Industry News
10-14-2011
Events We're Watching

U.S. Issues Worldwide Travel Alert

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the potential for anti-U.S. actions following the disruption of a plot, linked to Iran, to commit a significant terrorist act in the United States. This Travel Alert expires on January 11, 2012. Read more

Watch for updates on our Breaking News page or your company’s travel website

Amtrak requires a paper ticket - how do I get it?

Travel-On makes it easy for you to receive your paper Amtrak ticket by utilizing the QuikTrak system. When you purchase an Amtrak ticket through us we send the record of the purchase to Amtrak’s QuikTrak kiosk system. When you arrive at the station proceed to the kiosk, swipe any credit card (for identification purposes only) and enter your reservation number. The machine will print your ticket.

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U.S. travelers abroad, here's a heads-up:

Many countries outside of the U.S. have adopted chip-and-pin technology for credit card purchases. You may find that your U.S.-issued credit card is not accepted in kiosks, ATMs, and other automated payment locations. Be prepared to stand in line to swipe your card and sign for your purchase, and watch for unmanned situations such as toll booths where this option does not exist. Wells Fargo and Chase, are leading the way in offering cards with both the chip for international usage and the magnetic strip still needed in the U.S. Heavy international travelers are targeted as the first recipients, albeit on a limited basis. Read more

OTHER NEWS

US Eases Travel Alert Around Japan Nuclear Plant

The United States has eased its advice for travelers to the environs of the nuclear plant devastated by the March quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan. Read more

What To Do When an Airline Goes Bankrupt

It's worth talking about what to do when an airline goes bankrupt, because airlines around the world shut down every year. It's always good to know what you can do. Read more

Mobile Phones Not Wanted on Planes

Less than 5% of passengers want in-flight mobile and internet access according to a survey by search engine, Fly.com. Read more

Low Cost Carriers That Cost More

Low-cost carriers were never really about fares; they were more about the airline's own operating costs. Airlines started after deregulation were inevitably called "low-cost" or "discount" because their expenses were lower than those of the legacy airlines that existed before deregulation. Read more

The Most Overpriced Airfare in America?

At this point it’s not a surprise to anyone who travels frequently in the United States that airfares have much less to do with distance than they do with competition on a given route. This means, in most cases, that travelers between two cities with small airports and limited flights wind up saying ridiculously high airfares. But, that’s not always the case. Read more

Delta on Top in Annual Business Travel News Survey

Delta Air Lines this year for the first time took top honors in the Business Travel News Annual Airline Survey, earning the highest ratings from corporate travel buyers in five of 10 service-delivery categories. Read more

Virgin America Wins Conde Nast “Best Airline” Award Four Years In A Row

Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic travel, took top honors as "Best U.S. Airline" in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler's 2011 Readers' Choice Awards. Read more

Weirdest Things You'll Find at an Airport

From airport gardens that supply restaurants, to secret underground bunkers and psychedelic tunnels, airports have some whacky stuff. Read more

American Dials Back Late Fall and Winter Flights

American Airlines said Monday that it is dialing back the number of flights it will operate in late fall and winter, and plans to retire up to 11 Boeing 757 aircraft next year, citing uncertainty over the economy and high fuel costs. Read more

Virgin Unveils Fuel Breakthrough

The fuel will use waste gases from industrial steel production which will be captured, fermented and chemically converted using Swedish Biofuels technology for use as a jet fuel. Read more

Most Dangerous U.S. Airports

Rankings were based on both the overall number of runway safety occurrences and their severity, especially “A” and “B” incidents in which an aircraft collision was narrowly avoided or there was significant potential for a collision. Read more

Ryanair’s Lastest Plan: Replace Toilets With Seats

Although Ryanair has dropped plans to install pay toilets on planes, O'Leary now wants to lose two of the three lavatories and replace them with seats. Read more

Business Tool: New Bing Airport Maps

You can now browse detailed and accurate maps of the concourses of 42 different airports. Read more

511 Free Traveler Info Service Available in Maryland

New Tool Helps Marylanders Navigate Daily Commutes, Road Trips, Special Events. Whether for your daily commute or before heading out to major events, calling 511 from any mobile or land line or logging onto www.MD511.org provides free one-stop shopping for travel information on State maintained roadways, including travel times, incident or work zone lane closures, weather reports and connections to transit, airport and tourism information. Personalize your traffic information and travel times with My Maryland 511, a feature of the www.MD511.org web site, where you can create a profile and set up designated "trips," (i.e. from home to work or from home to beach). Similar services are available for Virginians. Read more

What Does 'iPad Revolution' Mean For Hotel Guests?

In just the last 15 months, data usage in an average online hotel session at some hotels has skyrocketed 150% - growth linked directly to the growth in iPad sales, So what does the "iPad revolution" mean for Wi-Fi loving hotel guests? Read more

When To Call On the Concierge

Advanced technology is bringing more savvy travelers to the concierge desk. "Guests are seeking the guidance of concierges now, more than ever, to help them filter the barrage of information and to seek personal insight." Read more

More Hotels Opening In Airports

The days of snoozing upright in an airport terminal chair during that long layover may soon be over. At some of the world’s busiest airports, travelers can book a hotel room to catch a nap or take a warm shower — all just minutes from the runway. Read more

GBTA Announces New Global Meetings Task Force

“Our goal is to have a global impact on everyone involved in meetings management, from planning and executing to managing the overall meetings strategy within an organization,” says Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO, GBTA. “The task force will focus on providing the best tools, resources, and education to make each gathering strategic and successful.” Read more

5 Ways to Boost Meetings Engagement Using Mobile Technology That Everyone Already Has

The key opportunity for the meetings industry is to capitalize on mobile adoption. Gone are the days where we ask people to turn off their phones. Now we want them to keep those phones on, connect, and participate. Let’s use those smartphones smartly! Read more