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Corporate Travel and Supplier News

March 23, 2010

Featured Articles This Issue

	Travel News -
1.	Flight Attendants Lobbying for Standardized Carry-on Limits
2.	Hotels in Airline Style will Add More Fees
3.	24-Hour Check-in Notice
4.	NBTA Strategic Travel Symposium, New York, NY
5.	Seat Assignment Fees are Air Industry’s Most Hated
	Domestic Travel -
6.	United Airlines Launches Mobile Check-in Capabilities, Mobile Boarding Pass
	International Travel -
7.	Qantas Fare Sale
8.	British Airways Cabin Crew Strike
9.	TAP Pilots Strike
10.	Lufthansa Pilots Plan New Strike on April 13

Travel News
1. Flight Attendants Lobbying for Standardized Carry-on Limits
Transportation Security Administration screeners could find themselves enforcing size limits for carry-on bags if a flight attendants’ union is successful in its lobbying efforts. Based on a poll showing that 80% of flight attendants say they have suffered injuries while helping passengers stow their bags, the Association of Flight Attendants – CWA is urging Congress to pass a standardized size limit that would apply to all airlines. The union claims stricter carry-on limits would enhance aviation security, as well.

2. Hotels in Airline Style will Add More Fees
Expect more hotels to add charges to hold travelers’ bags after they check out, extra room service charges, and increased or stricter cancellation and early checkout fees. “Despite a forecast for a continued decline in hotel rates in 2010, hoteliers will become more aggressive in collecting fees and surcharges this year,” predicts Bjorn Hanson, an associate professor at New York University Tisch Center. He predicts an increase in total collected fees and surcharges by US hotel companies this year that already total over one billion dollars. But such fees are often not only aggravating but also confusing. “You could stay at a Marriott, Starwood or Hilton hotel one night, and stay at a different Marriott, Starwood or Hilton hotel the next night, and the fees and surcharges will be different,” he said.

3. 24-Hour Check-in Notice
Previously World Travel notified travelers by email 48 hours prior to departure reminding you to check-in online within 24 hours of your departure time. This notice to check-in online will now be sent to you 24 hours prior to your flights departure prompting you to check-in immediately for your flight. For your convenience please use the following link to the airline check-in page located on our web-site. Note: If your travel plans have changed and you need to cancel your flight or make changes to your reservation please notify World Travel immediately.

4. NBTA Strategic Travel Symposium, New York, NY
World Travel, Inc participated in and sponsored the NBTA Strategic Travel Symposium in New York on March 15 - 16. Several great speakers and analysts enlightened the audience with their insights into the global economy and the travel industry. Bernard Baumohl, Chief Global Economist for The Economic Outlook Group, LLC was one of the best speakers of the conference. He communicated three layers of possible outcomes to the current economic state and then weighted each one for it's propensity for occurring. They are: 1) Double Dip Recession (15% chance) - This scenario would see a second financial dip after a short term recovery period. Although he gave this scenario the lowest chance for coming to fruition, it is important that we remain aware of it. 2) The New Normal (30% chance) - The scenario here would show an upward movement but a slow recovery; interest rates would slowly rise and transportation costs would stabilize. 3) Strong Growth (55% chance) - The most likely to occur of the three scenarios, Strong growth would represent a burst of the pent up demand in spending, a surge in capital spending by companies who will look to upgrade their technologies to remain competitive and a banking industry who will be much more inclined to lend. World Travel will continue to partner with NBTA and communicate relevant information to you and we encourage you to take advantage of the many events offered by NBTA.

5. Seat Assignment Fees are Air Industry’s Most Hated
When it comes to the dreaded airline fees, the most hated is paying for a seat so says over 50% of the respondents in a 2,000-person poll. “There are certain airline services that really do involve added expense,” said airfarewatchdog.com president Georgia Hobica. “These include meals (for obvious reasons), transporting and checking bags (fuel and labor), and even to a certain degree changing your date of travel. Assigning a seat, which can be done online for virtually no transaction cost to the airline, is simply a way to generate revenue. I think passengers realize this and that’s why they’re so annoyed by it.” Ticket change fees were cited by about on-third in the poll, making it the second most hated fee.

Domestic Travel
6. United Airlines Launches Mobile Check-in Capabilities, Mobile Boarding Pass
United Airlines has introduced mobile check-in and mobile boarding passes, enabling customers on the go to check in using a mobile phone or web-enabled mobile device and proceed through security and boarding without needing to present a paper boarding pass. Customers flying on any United or United Express-operated flight within the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands may check-in at the new mobile.united.com beginning 24 hours before departure. Mobile check-in is especially helpful to customers in hotels or in business meetings who want to check-in before arriving at the airport.

International Travel
7. Qantas Fare Sale
Qantas Airways has announced a fare sale offering traveler’s significant savings on economy round-trip airfares on select flights between key U.S. and Australian cities. Tickets must be booked by March 31, 2010, are valid on flights departing New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) to Sydney (SYD), Brisbane (BNE) and Melbourne (MEL). Fare sale is based on round-trip travel April 19 to June 8, 2010 or July 24 to September 21, 2010. Round-trip fares from Los Angeles or San Francisco start at $678 and round-trip fares departing from New York start at $878. Taxes, surcharges, and September 11 security charges of approximately $145 are additional. Please call your World Travel reservationist for additional details.

8. British Airways Cabin Crew Strike
British Airways said the three-day flight attendants’ strike, which ended last night, cost the carrier an estimated 31.5 million and that its contingency plans proved “very successful.” The Unite union has scheduled another stoppage for March 27-30 and British Airways have announced their schedule for Unite’s second set of proposed strike dates. For additional details on the strike and their revised schedule please click here.

9. TAP Pilots Strike
TAP Portugal pilots represented by the SPAC union have called a six-day strike starting March 26, 2010. Pilots staged a two-day strike last September and have been negotiating with the carrier since.

10. Lufthansa Pilots Plan New Strike on April 13
Pilots at Lufthansa plan to go on strike again next month after failing to resolve a dispute over pay and job security that already caused a costly work stoppage in February. The pilots will strike from April 13 to April 16, the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union said.

Please Note: Articles in the content of this Corporate Travel and Supplier news release may not apply to your company’s travel policies. This publication is general information intended for all World Travel clientele.