Travel-On Travel Industry News
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Travel-On is proud to sponsor the Giving Quilt, through Operation Homefront. We're collecting gift cards, in any denomination, to local grocery stores, Walmart or Target, gas stations, Visa/American Express, or chain/fast food restaurants. The gift cards are then used to help military families during the holidays and throughout the new year. If you'd like to make a gift-card contribution, please contact Colleen Dunn, pictured here getting us started with her donation, at colleend@tvlon.com or stop by any of our Travel Place vacation offices.

Friday, December 01, 2012
Events We're Watching

Dominican Republic - Power Plants Offline
Rolling power outages are likely across the Dominican Republic after power companies started to take some of their plants offline late Nov. 19. The companies are protesting government proposals to alter energy payment contracts, and are using the brownouts to pressure leaders to reform the agreements. Outages are likely to continue through December, as some companies have said they will keep certain plants offline until Jan. 1. This time frame may change depending on the government's reaction to the move.

Bangladesh - Night Flights at Dhaka Airport Suspended December-May
Authorities will shut down nighttime operations at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport starting Dec. 1 to allow for runway repairs. Flights will be halted from 2300-0800 through at least May 30, when the repairs are slated to be completed. Authorities notified airlines about the nighttime flight closures in advance, so disruptions should not be overly severe. However, delays or diversions may occur on days when normal operations are hampered by severe weather, security concerns, or other issues.

Micronesia and Palau - Tropical Storm Bopha
Tropical Storm Bopha continues to strengthen as it slowly tracks westward in the Pacific Ocean. Meteorologists predict Bopha will reach typhoon strength before it passes between Yap, Micronesia, and Palau Dec. 2-3. The storm could cause flight cancellations at Chuuk International, Yap International, and Ulithi airports. Heavy rains and strong winds are possible in Yap, Micronesia, and Palau starting late Dec. 1. Transport disruptions and power outages may occur. However, the storm path could change considerably in the coming days. Some models also project that Bopha will turn north and move toward the Philippines, potentially making landfall in the Mindanao or Visayas regions during the first week of December.

Iberia Airlines - Potential Strike
Union officials at Spanish flag-carrier Iberia have warned they may call workers out on strike over Christmas in protest against job cuts at the airline. Members of the UGT union, the second biggest in the country, are considering strike action between December 14th and 21st. “All of the unions are in intense talks to fix dates for action against the plan to dismantle Iberia,” a spokesman for the group said. As part of an overhaul designed to return the airline to profitability, IAG said last month it would cut about a quarter of the Spanish airline’s workforce.

Moscow - Ice Storm
A massive ice storm is forecast to hit Moscow and its suburbs Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The storm is expected to produce a thick ice glaze as well as fog, almost certainly causing severe flight and traffic disruptions. Expect delays and cancellations at Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Sheremetyevo airports, with inbound flights likely to be diverted to other regions. Airports may close or be forced to strictly limit operations. Disruptions are likely even after the storm ends as the backlog in flights is cleared. Rail travel will probably be less affected, but at least some reduction in service is likely. Expect heavy congestion on the metro, trolleybuses, buses, and trams, as many commuters will be unable to drive to destinations. The ice and falling branches will probably bring down power lines, causing significant outages.

Do I need an international driver's license to rent a car in Europe?

An international driver's license is basically just a translation of the information on your U.S. driver's license into 10 foreign languages, along with a photo. A few European countries require it, but most do not. However, even when not required, having one can be helpful in the event you get pulled over by the police or involved in an accident. Currently Austria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, Hungary, Slovenia, and Herzegovina require international driver's licenses, but it's always best to check again before your trip in case regulations change in your destination country. International driver's licenses are available for $15 from AAA.

  • Imperial Airways (now British Airways) launched passenger service in April 1924 with a flight to Paris advising passengers that "practically all British life insurance offices have removed restrictions regarding flying on an airplane"
  • On the first regularly scheduled transcontinental service between New York and San Francisco in 1927 passengers paid $404 to don flying overalls, parachutes, and goggles, and sit crammed in the enclosed mail pit for the 32-hour journey with 15 stops
  • New York/Los Angeles air/rail service by Transcontinental Air Transport in 1929 included meals served on lavender linens with gold flatware, male stewards, lavatories, kitchens, wicker seats, reading lights, and velvet curtains, plus a free $5K life insurance policy and a gold fountain pen from Tiffany's
  • When Imperial Airways (now British Airways) inaugurated flights between London and Delhi in 1929 the trip took 7 days and included a rail segment between Basel, Switzerland, and Genoa, Italy or in winter between Skopje, Macedonia, and Thessaloniki, Greece
  • In 1934 American Airlines president C.R. Smith placed a call to Donald Douglas, Jr., to convince the aircraft maker to design and build a new plane that would not require more than 3 refueling stops on a transcontinental flight and would hold 21 people during the day or sleep 14 people on a night flight. It took lots of persuasion in a call that cost $335.50 before Douglas agreed to try something he thought was impossible. The result was the DC3.
  • London-Sydney air service in 1938 involved 35 stops, including 9 over-night hotel stays
  • In 1958 Pan Am's Stratocruiser took 18 and a half hours to fly from London to New York, with a stop in Iceland

Inaugural Travel

The Presidential Inaugural will be held on Monday, January 21st. Hotels in D.C., suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia are expecting higher than normal occupancy rates during the period of January 18-23. If you anticipate needing hotel rooms for business travel within the region between these dates, it is recommended that you block space now. Talk to your Travel-On account manager now to discuss your needs.

Book Now for Holiday Travel

Consider these tips:

  • To get the best fares book early, be flexible, and consider alternate airports
  • Remember that busy travel days mean full parking lots and longer security lines - arrive early to allow the extra time
  • Allow plenty of time for connections and take typical weather patterns into account when selecting your flights and connection city
  • It's a busy, often stressful time for everyone - a smile and kind word for the ticket and gate agents are much appreciated
  • Save the wrapping for when you arrive and carry all gifts unwrapped in case they need to be inspected

Contact your Travel-On/Travel Place agent today for assistance with your holiday travel plans.