Travel-On Travel Industry News
Friday, June 08, 2012
Events We're Watching

Los Angeles - Construction Affects Airport Roadways

Beginning Tuesday, June 5, the first of several temporary lane closures will take effect within the Central Terminal Area roadways at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) -- marking the start of vehicular traffic impacts expected over the next two years from various construction projects that are part of the current $4.1-billion LAneXt™ airport modernization program. Passengers, motorists, airport workers and vendors should plan accordingly and allow more time to get to/from LAX. Up-to-date construction traffic alerts related to LAneXt™ can be found at la-next.com and at LAX’s social media sites LAX on Twitter and LA International Airport on Facebook.

India - Air India Cancels Select International Routes

Air India has temporarily canceled flights to several international destinations due to an ongoing strike, which has kept approximately 400 pilots off the job since May 7. Flights have been halted indefinitely to Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul, and Toronto. The disruptions will likely remain in effect until the walkout ends or Air India hires new workers to replacing the striking pilots. Prices on international fares have apparently shot up by 30-100 percent, while domestic flights to major cities are facing a roughly 50 percent increase.

India - Monsoon Season Begins

The four-month monsoon season on the Indian subcontinent has offiicially begun. The threat of flooding will last for weeksand is a perennial problem in Mumbai and other large cities, especially those in coastal areas of southern and western states. Flooding may occur quickly and unexpectedly, creating serious transport and humanitarian problems. Power and telecommunications outages are also common.

Nigeria - Dana Air Suspended

On June 5, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority suspended the operational license of Dana Air until further notice. pending investigation into a recent crash.

Philippines - Possible Anti-US Protests

Police have tightened security around the US Embassy in Manila in anticipation of possible leftist protests against a government decision to allow the US military to use former bases in Pampanga and Zambales provinces. Authorities have deployed officers from the civil disturbance management unit to the area around the embassy. The protests would be a response to a recent statement by Defense Undersecretary for Defense Affairs Honorio Azcueta, who said that as part of Washington's plan to shift the US security focus to the Asia-Pacific region, US soldiers, ships, and aircraft could use the former Clark Air Base and naval facilities at Subic Bay with permission from the Philippine government.

China - Closes Tibet to Foreigners

Several Beijing-based tour operators have claimed that the Chinese National Tourist Office (CNTO) has told them to stop taking foreign visitors to Tibet indefinitely. The ban comes ahead of the peak season for travel – the month-long Saga Dawa festival began on Monday – and is likely to be seen as a response to growing unrest at Chinese rule. "The rules and regulations surrounding Tibetan permits have changed frequently over recent weeks, with the authorities denying access to smaller groups at various stages," said Carl Burrows, sales director at Explore. "This week our agents alerted us that this may be extended to a blanket ban on tourist permits for the rest of this month, regardless of the number in the group."

Russian Federation - Opposition Groups Plan March and Rally in Moscow

Opposition groups plan to march June 12 along Tverskaya Street from Belarussky Rail Terminal to Borovitskaya Square in central Moscow at 1400 to protest the results of the recent parliamentary and presidential elections. Expect a heightened security presence. The June 12 protest is not sanctioned, and police have consistently demonstrated their willingness to use force to disperse both sanctioned and unsanctioned protests when ordered. Police or crowds could block the street or access to the Belarussky rail/metro station, impeding travel to the airport. Strictly avoid all demonstrations, as bystanders near protests could become targets for police action, and do not photograph any protest.
Q and A

Does Travel-On have an upgrade program with AirTran?

Yes, Travel-On has a corporate program with AirTran providing our travelers with an array of benefits including:

  • No change fees for select coach fare passengers, as long as the reservation is changed one hour prior to departure
  • A fully refundable fare (on select coach fares) as long as the reservation is cancelled one hour prior to departure
  • Free Business Class upgrades for full coach passengers (Y or B Class)
  • First choice of available seat assignments for all classes of service. So you'll usually be able to reserve an aisle or window seat
  • Half-credit A+ Rewards bonus for complimentary upgrades (full coach passengers in Y or B class only)
  • Name changes and same-day, same city pair standby allowed on all fare classes with no additional charge
  • First bag fee waived
  • Priority boarding

  • There are more languages spoken in London on an average day than anywhere else in the world
  • If London was a country it would the the 8th largest in Europe
  • Opened on average once a day, Tower Bridge takes 61 seconds to open and 3-5 minutes for a full open-close cycle
  • The London Eye can carry 800 passengers at once, the equivalent of 11 double-decker buses
  • London's ring road, the M25, is the largest orbital in the world
  • The Culex pipiens f. molestus, or London Underground Mosquito, is actually found in many subways around the world and is known for its voracious biting

Important Reminder for United Mileage Plus Members

If you have not already updated your online profile with your new 8-character United Mileage Plus number, please do so now. The grace period during which United Airlines continues to accept the old numbers is winding down. To ensure that you receive the correct mileage credit for your travel it is important to update your profile. If you don't know what your new number is, here is a simple short-cut to find out: Go to www.united.com and enter your old Mileage Plus number in the MileagePlus Sign In area. Leave the PIN/Password blank and click the Sign In button. The system will tell you the sign-in attempt failed - but it will display your new Mileage Plus number! Since no PIN/Password is needed, admins and travel arrangers can use this trick on behalf of their travelers.