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At the close of another year, we gratefully pause to wish you a world of peace, happiness, and prosperity this holiday season, and to express our gratitude for making 2012 such a wonderful year. We look forward to furthering our mutual success in 2013!

In observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, Travel-On / Travel Place offices will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, December 24 and 25, and on Tuesday, January 1. Please contact your designated Emergency Travel Helpline for assistance with your travel or call 1-877-858-3254. Non-emergency travel may be requested via email or travel request form.

Friday, December 28, 2012
Events We're Watching

London - Tube Drivers to Strike Dec 26
London Underground drivers are to go on strike on Dec. 26th in a row over Bank Holiday pay. Drivers will are to hold three 24-hour walk-outs - on December 26, and again on January 18 and 25. It will be the third successive Boxing Day walkout by Tube drivers in a dispute over Bank Holiday pay which dates back to an agreement in 1992. The stoppage will disrupt Tube services on a busy day in the capital, causing big problems for shoppers, sports fans, and visitors, including those who count on taking the Tube to Heathrow Airport. Talks have been held at the conciliation service Acas but the dispute remains deadlocked.

Northeast - Winter Storm Draco
The low-pressure system associated with Winter Storm Draco will head for the Northeast on Friday. For the I-95 corridor and southern New England, this strong frontal system will produce primarily rain and strong, gusty winds. A wet, windy Friday is likely for Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. After the rain departs these areas through late morning and early afternoon, gusty winds will continue across the Northeast. The strong winds could cause scattered power outages and some tree damage. In addition, the combination of low clouds, rain, and strong winds could trigger significant air delays in the major Northeast hubs. With Draco's low still spinning near the region as we head into the weekend, airport delays due to strong winds may continue on Saturday from New York City to D.C.

Is there a limit on the number of exchanges included in these new American fares?

American Airlines has recently come out with a series of new fares which allow passengers to check a bag and change the ticket without the usual fee. These fares are currently available within the 48 states only.

  • Choice Essential - This fare type costs an extra $68 round trip and allows passengers to make changes to their ticket without the customary $150 change fee (fare differences still apply). It also waives the $25 fee each way for the first checked bag (or a 3rd checked bag for elite frequent flier members) and includes Group 1 boarding.
  • Choice Plus - This fare type costs an additional $88 round trip. In addition to the perks mentioned above, it includes 50% AAdvantage mileage bonus, free same-day flight changes, same-day standby options, and 1 premium beverage.

Unlike fees for premium seating, checked bags, etc., that are separate from the cost of the ticket and can be purchased at any time, these are actual fare types, with the additional cost included in the fare for the ticket. This is an important distinction because the additional cost cannot be split out and paid for separately.

So back to your question, while there is no limit on the number of times one of these fares can be exchanged, a Choice Essential ticket can only be used to purchase another Choice Essential ticket (and the same for Choice Plus). So if the first ticket on a Choice Essential fare is cancelled and used to buy a second ticket, the new fare must be a Choice Essential fare as well, which means it will include another $68. If this second ticket also goes unused and is exchanged again the third ticket will include yet another $68. So, in effect, each $68 covers one change. While that may rankle some travelers, it's still more than a 50% discount off the usual $150 change fee.

  • There are more mobile phones in Ireland than there are people
  • There are 8 times more Polish speakers than Gaelic speakers in Ireland
  • The harp, Ireland's national emblem, is the only musical instrument used as a national emblem in the world
  • Originally settled by Irish Catholics, the island of Monserrat is known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean
  • A "full Irish breakfast" consists of eggs, bacon, sausage, baked tomatoes, mushrooms, white pudding, black pudding, fruit, and bread with butter and marmalade
  • If you see someone in Ireland wearing an "An Fainne" lapel pin it's an invitation to speak to the person in Irish
  • Ireland has fewer plant and animal species than most countries because it became an island soon after the last ice age, thus isolating itself
  • The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is Ireland's most popular attraction with more than one million visitors a year

Santa Has Been Cleared for His Round-the-World Flight

Santa One, the reindeer-powered sleigh Santa Claus uses to deliver presents to good children around the world, will be faster, quieter, and more efficient this year with the help of NextGen technology rolled out by the FAA. Read more

Don't get caught without a valid passport

Should budget negotiations fail and the government move towards sequestration, it is unclear how the US Passport Office will be impacted. To avoid unnecessary stress and potential disruption to travel plans, CIBT recommends that you inspect your passport and take action before the year's end on any renewal, additional pages, first time applications, or name change requests.

As a reminder, most countries require a minimum of 6 months of validity on the passport and a minimum of two blank "visa" pages. The "Amendments and Endorsement" pages do not apply. Passports must be in good condition; torn, frayed, or separating covers and pages are not acceptable.

Hertz Triple Points Promotion Extended to Jan 31

Earn free days 3X faster. You must be a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards member and a resident of the U.S. or Canada to earn triple bonus points. Offer valid on paid rentals picked up by January 31, 2013. All Hertz Gold Plus Rewards rules apply. *Only rentals made after the date of registration will qualify for the promotion. Only your base rental points and President’s Circle® 25% bonus or Five Star® 10% bonus will be tripled. Go to HertzTriplePoints.com for the full offer Terms and Conditions.