Travel-On Travel Industry News
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Friday, July 6, 2012
Events We're Watching

India - Kingfisher Airlines Strike

A number of Kingfisher Airlines pilots are engaged in an indefinite strike to demand the payment of overdue salaries. Approximately 200 pilots launched the walkout July 1, prompting the cancellation of several domestic flights. Kingfisher has since deployed executive pilots to minimize disruptions. Kingfisher Airlines is currently operating only a small fraction of its usually scheduled flights due to financial problems.

Indonesia - Major Union Plans Protests on July 12

The Confederation of Indonesian Labor Unions (KSPI) is planning to stage mass protests if the government fails to accept its request to revise the Reasonable Cost of Living Index (KHL). The KSPI is currently planning protests in Jakarta and 14 others provinces on July 12 to push for the revision. Other labor groups could join rallies.The rallies may cause significant traffic problems in the capital, but the biggest disruptions may occur around industrial estates, particularly in Tangerang, Bekasi, Surabaya, and other major cities. Demonstrators could block roads around these facilities, which would impede deliveries and cause major production interruptions.
Q and A

As a government contractor, which hotel rates am I eligible to use?

There are two main types of "government" hotel rates - the official ones at hotels that were vetted by the government and accepted into the official program, and the unofficial ones that any hotel can say they have and make available as they wish, and that may or may not match the actual government per diem.

The unofficial ones are known as "government" or "gov" rates. Some hotels will always offer these rates to contractors, while some hotels may or may not offer these rates to contractors. Sometimes these rates will match the official government per diem rate and sometimes they will be higher or lower. Do not assume that because it is a "government" rate that it will satisfy per diem requirements or that it will be honored at check-in for government contractors.

The official government rate program is called FedRooms and includes thousands of hotels worldwide that have been vetted by the government for inclusion in the program. To get these rates the traveler must have federally-issued government ID. There is a smaller sub-set of this master group that offers rates to government contractors. These are called FedRates and can be used by government contractors without government-issued ID.

When booking through Travel-On, our agents will always book FedRates for government contractors. If the hotel does not offer a FedRate or if the FedRate is not available, the agent may offer the option of a “gov” rate with the understanding that it may not be honored at check-in.

  • Driving under the influence in Norway will get you a mandatory 30 days in jail, loss of license for one year, and a fine equal to 10% of your annual income
  • Norwegians eat more frozen pizza per capita than any other country
  • There are more mobile phones than people in Sweden
  • Sweden practiced left-hand driving until 1965
  • There have been no public pay phones in Finland since May 2006
  • Headlights must be on at all times when driving in Finland
  • Sweden has the highest number of McDonald's per capital in Europe

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.

United Mileage Plus Members - Sign up for Expedited TSA Screening

United is partnering with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to deliver TSA Pre✓, an expedited security screening program at several airports, with ChicagoO'Hare, Los Angeles International, Reagan National, and Houston Intercontinental starting this summer. The TSA Pre✓ allows travelers to move through security with greater efficiency and ease when traveling on an itinerary wholly within the United States. Participants may enjoy benefits such as no longer removing the following items at the security checkpoint: shoes, 3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on (all liquid restrictions still apply), light outerwear/jacket, shoes,and belt. MileagePlus members are invited to participate in this program by logging into their MileagePlus profile and updating their traveler information and preferences. This is a one-time sign up for United departures via United Airlines web site. More details