Travel-On Travel Industry News

10-21-2011

Qantas Strikes Called Off For Three Weeks

THE union Qantas engineers has called off all protected industrial action for three weeks. Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association Secretary Steve Purvinas framed the move, effective immediately, as a challenge to Qantas to return to a full flight schedule. While the engineers were pulling back, the union representing baggage handlers and caterers announced a fresh round of short strikes next Wednesday, with one-hour stoppages at Canberra and Cairns and a three-hour strike at Sydney Airport. Read more

Air France Flight Attendants Threaten Strike Oct 29-Nov 2

Flights leaving Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Marseille airports may be affected by the labor action to protest working conditions, according to the report.

Greek Workers Aim for Nationwide Shut-Down

The general strike called by unions representing around half the Greek workforce is one of the largest protests since the start of the crisis two years ago and brought more than 100,000 people to the streets on Wednesday. Read more

Portugal Faces General Strike Against Austerity

Portugal's main union leaders called Monday for a general strike after the centre-right government announced a tough new austerity budget. Read more

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

Why Do I Sometimes Find Lower Hotel Rates on Public Websites Than I Do on Travel-On’s Online Booking Site?

The majority of the lowest hotel rates found on hotel websites and public booking sites are for rates that require pre-payment and/or are non-refundable. While these represent a good deal for many leisure travelers that are often unsuitable for business travelers whose plans are apt to change. For this reason, our online booking site filters out these rates so our travelers don’t have to worry about booking something by mistake that they can’t get out of.

Did you know that it isn’t necessary to have a frequent flyer number on each airline in order to get mileage credit?

Most airlines are part of a partnership or alliance that allows travelers to fly on one airline and accrue miles on another. For example, you can fly on Air France and get the points on Delta or fly on United and get the points on Lufthansa. Some airlines will recognize your status on the partner airline and afford you some of the same benefits, such as priority boarding, on their airline.

OTHER NEWS

2012 Travel Projections

Several weeks ago we highlighted the first 2012 travel cost projections to be released. Today, we highlight the projections released by Carlson-Wagonlit’s research department. Ranges represent averages for all classes of service, hotel tiers, and car sizes for all countries within the region.

	Air	Hotel	Car
North America	3.4-4.1%	2.4-3.1%	1% to 2.5%
EMEA	2.1-3.7%	0.2-0.9%	1.9-2.9%
APAC	3.1-3.8%	1.9% to 2.1%	1.7% to 3.9%
Latin America	5.8% (up to 11% in Colombia)	9-12% (up to 34% in Brazil)	2.2% to 5.6%

Do Low-Cost Carriers Work In A Corporate Travel Program?

Not all low-cost carriers are interested in pursuing the corporate market. While many low-cost carriers focus on the leisure market, some are making inroads on the corporate side. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) are a different landscape in different countries. There are so many carriers with different models that may or may not fit your corporate needs. Read more

Court Clarifies When Fliers In Europe Are Due Compensation

The European Union's highest court ruled Thursday that airline passengers on flights that fail to arrive at their destination may be eligible for compensation under both European Union regulations and international law. Read more

Chat-Downs On Top of Pat-Downs?

Chat-downs, a play on the word "pat-down," are part of the U.S. government's effort to adopt a broader strategy of sifting out people who might pose a greater security risk among the roughly 1.2 million people who fly each day. Read more

Another Tax on Travel

The Obama administration’s deficit-reduction plan includes a new mandatory $100 surcharge per flight for air traffic control services, which airlines would pay directly to the Federal Aviation Administration. The fee, however, would almost certainly be passed along to customers. The plan also raises the passenger security tax from $2.50 to $5 per non-stop flight, and eventually to $7.50. Read more

Airlines Focus Rewards On those Who Pay More

Airlines have been making changes in their frequent flier programs, increasingly giving their best rewards not just to passengers who fly the most but who also pay the highest fares. Read more

Qantas Locks in Biz Class Upgrades Sooner with SMS Messaging

Qantas will streamline the upgrade process for its frequent flyers from December with up to 48 hours' advance notice of international upgrades, last-minute upgrades due to 'no show' bookings, and SMS alerts to notify of a successful upgrade on both domestic and international flights. Read more

Check Your Travel ‘Tude

Business travel can be tough enough without bringing your personal crises, stressors, and concerns into the picture. Want to have a smooth road-warrior experience? Try these six tips to keep your attitude in check while working away from home, sweet home. Read more

Airline Try to Hike Fares - Will They Stick?

At least two U.S. airlines are raising prices for the first time since late summer and others may follow. Read more

Airline Ancillary Fees Expected to Soar

As in $32.5 billion, which, according to a just-released analysis, is the estimated amount the global airline industry will make in ancillary revenues this year. According to the Amadeus Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue for 2011, that’s a 43.8 percent increase over the year before. Read more

New Tool Calculates Your Checked Bag Fees and Allowances

Check out iflybags.com, a new interactive, online baggage calculator that takes the guesswork, frustration, and mystery out of airline checked baggage allowance and fee information for travelers. To ensure travelers have access to the most up-to-date baggage allowance and fee information, iflybags is updated every hour. iflybags uses industry-standard data from the Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO), to calculate baggage allowances and fees. Read more

How to Avoid Flights That May Get Cancelled

Only one out of every 100 flights gets canceled, on average. Yet if you're in that 1 percent, you're out of luck, because most flights are fully booked these days: It can take a long time for an airline to find an open seat for you on another flight and rebook you. Read more

Air Carriers Employ “Squeeze” Strategy

The industry is doggedly managing what is known in the business as passenger-carrying seat capacity. With oil at $120 a barrel in the spring and the economy sluggish, carriers trimmed unprofitable flights and routes starting this fall. The result: Fewer seats means more crowded planes and higher ticket prices - a boon for airlines...Pricing is very strong; airfares are very high. It is entirely facilitated by capacity discipline." Read more

No GPS? No Map? 6 Ways to Never Get Lost in A City Again

Natural navigation may be just what you need. This involves working out which way to go without using maps, compasses or any other instruments. It relies on awareness and deduction, so does depend on retaining some awareness of direction throughout each journey. Read more

Airports Focus on Technology to Improve Traveler Experience

IT investment by airports is rising as airports seek to meet the increasing expectations of passengers for self-service and a hassle-free experience, according to a new global survey. Read more

Branson Opens Virgin’s Spaceport America Terminal

Spaceport America is set to soon host the first ever commercial space flights, operated by Virgin Galactic, and among the other guests were around one third of the 450 people that, so far, have signed up for these flights. Read more

No Boys Allowed - More Hotels Offering Women-Only Floors

Women-only floors at hotels — an amenity discarded by the hotel industry at the dawn of the feminist movement — may be experiencing a comeback. Read more

Marriott sees growth opportunities in Middle East for extended stay hotels

Marriott International, Inc. will be opening a Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in Bahrain in early 2012, the company’s first in the region. The new Residence Inn Bahrain will mark the beginning of expansion plans for the brand throughout the region, with two others planned, in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and Algiers in 2014. Read more

Hotels Upgrading Exclusive Lounges to Lure Business Travelers

Move over, room upgrades. There's a new hotel perk in town, and it might be worth more to business travelers than a bigger bed. Club, concierge or executive lounges, which typically require upgraded room bookings or frequent guest program membership, can be a lifesaver for busy business travelers. Perks include being able to take a shower before the room is ready, meeting privately with a client or enjoying free meals, concierge services and cocktails in a private setting. Read more

How Old Is Too Old To Rent A Car?

Be aware that many countries have a minimum and maximum age for renters. Drivers under the age of 25 or over the age of 70 may face surcharges or not be permitted to rent at all. Read more

5 Ways to Keep Roaming Charges Low Abroad

With a bit of planning, though, there are many ways travelers can avoid exorbitant roaming charges abroad. Read more