Travel Update-Weekly Edition
December 27th, 2007
Airline
News
British Airways - Effective immediately, passengers who check in online
will no longer need to see a British Airways representative for a passport check
upon arrival at the airport. This new development simplifies the airport
process for many travelers departing the United States, as any passenger
traveling with hand baggage only, who has printed a boarding pass, may
now proceed directly to security. Travelers with baggage to check
should continue to use the Fast Bag Drop
facility.* Checking in online and printing a
boarding pass before leaving for the airport is the easiest way to check in,
allowing passengers to optimize their time. Online
check-in is available at www.ba.com/mmbez from 24
to 2 hours prior to scheduled departure, and the application allows travelers to
select their own seat and print a boarding pass from the comfort of their home,
the office, or anywhere with an internet connection. Passengers who are
unable to print a boarding pass can still check in online and pick up a boarding
pass upon arrival at the airport. *Please note that customers will need a printed
boarding pass to use the Fast Bag Drop
facility.
Continental Airlines -
Continental Airlines has become one of the first big U.S. carriers to
say it would accommodate fliers affected by the shutdown of all-business-class
carrier MAXjet. Continental will accept tickets for standby travel from
passengers who were originally scheduled to fly on MAXjet. Those
passengers will be accepted for travel on a standby basis on Continental flights
between Los Angeles/Las Vegas/Newark and London Gatwick Airport from December 24
through January 6. Fliers will be charged a $50 per flight segment
ticketing fee, plus any applicable taxes and security fees. Continental
says it will waive the current fuel service charge normally required for Newark
to London passengers, but adds that proof of confirmed ticketing on MAXjet
flights will be required to qualify for the special rate on
Continental.
MAXjet -
MAXjet has filed for bankruptcy and suspended all flights. In a
message posted on the airline's Web site, president and chief executive William
Stockbridge said the carrier has been driven to the "drastic measure" by factors
including rising fuel prices and the global credit crunch.
Any travelers
affected by this action booked by Travel and Transport have been contacted for
rebooking. Also, see Continental Airlines article directly above.
Virgin Blue -
Australian airline Virgin Blue has said it will increase its fuel surcharge
for domestic flights by 26 percent due to higher jet fuel prices. Virgin Blue
said the increase was the first in nearly three years and would take effect
after midnight on February 1. Passengers on domestic flights would pay a AUD$24
(USD$21) surcharge, up from AUD$19, while the surcharge on international flights
operated by Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue would rise to AUD$45 from
AUD$35.
Airport/Destination News
Newark Liberty
International Airport - Travelers at Newark Liberty
Airport can pay cab fares with a credit card. TaxiPass is a pilot program
at Terminal A that lets customers pay for taxi rides with a credit card from 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. To use, insert a credit card to purchase a TaxiPass voucher from
a kiosk located by the Terminal A taxi stand that the driver will
redeem.
Rental Car
News
Avis - Now Avis renters traveling
to Las Vegas, Chicago O'Hare or Chicago Midway Airport can take advantage of the
convenience of Avis Connect™ – our portable mobile Wi-Fi
hotspot. Avis Connect works virtually anywhere, enabling travelers to enjoy
broadband wireless Internet connectivity at all times and places during their
travel, from airports to meetings to hotels, and everywhere in between. Any Avis
Connect customer who has a Wi-Fi enabled laptop, PDA or other device can simply
log on and surf, providing a convenient portable way to obtain all of the
information and services available through the Internet. Users can look up
weather conditions, local news, entertainment options, downloadable music and
movies, and even traffic updates. Avis Connect is available for $10.95 per day
at airport locations in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas,
Miami, Newark, New York LaGuardia, San Francisco, and West Palm Beach.
Miscellaneous
State Dept
Travel Warnings and Public announcements - For the full announcements or
further detail on Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, please see http://travel.state.gov/travel
Niger - On December 21 the U.S. Embassy in Niamey issued the
following Warden Message: "This Warden Message is being issued to alert U.S.
citizens in Niger to a change in Embassy travel restrictions. The U.S. Embassy
in Niamey has lifted the travel restriction for U.S. government employees for
the city of Tahoua; however, the earlier restriction for official travel north
of Abalak remains in place. This includes travel to the towns of Agadez,
Arlit, and Iferoune. "In addition, Peace Corps has temporarily restricted its
volunteers and personnel from travelling to the town of Tanout (north of
Zinder) after a recent security incident reportedly involving a landmine.
American citizens planning travel to this area are urged to exercise
caution."
Peru - On December 21 the U.S. Embassy in Lima issued the
following Warden Message: "This message is to remind U.S. citizens travelers
and residents of the incidence of crime in Peru, as reported in the State
Department's Consular Information Sheet for Peru. The U.S. Embassy recently
released to its staff this advice about staying safe during the holidays. We
share it with you for your information, and in the hope it will be of
assistance: "The Christmas holiday season is upon us and with it comes the
historical increase in crime that affects everyone in Peru, including U.S.
Embassy employees and dependents. Thefts, assaults, and residential burglaries
can and do occur during all hours of the day and particularly during a holiday
season. Crime in Lima is also a concern at Jorge Chavez International Airport.
Several members of the Embassy's staff have recently reported that they and
their family members have had items stolen from their checked baggage. In
addition, an American Citizen was recently the victim of an express kidnapping
in a store parking lot in La Molina. In light of these facts, the Embassy
strongly encourages everyone to review the below recommendations and take
appropriate precautions as necessary."
December 20, 2007
December 13, 2007
December 5, 2007
November 29, 2007
November 21, 2007
November 15, 2007
November 8, 2007
November 1, 2007
October 25, 2007
October 18, 2007
October 11, 2007
October 4, 2007
September 27, 2007
September 20, 2007
September 13, 2007
September 6, 2007
August 30, 2007
August 23, 2007
August 16, 2007
August 9, 2007
August 2, 2007
July 26, 2007
July 20, 2007
July 12, 2007
