National Attention for TMI!

Both TMI’s office design and layout received national attention in the January 21, 1999 issue of Travel Weekly.

 Airline Bump Update

If you are given an involuntary bump that is going to get you to your destination between 1 and 2 hours late, the minimum compensation you should receive is the face value of the current segment on your ticket (not the fare to your final destination) or $200, whichever is less. If the delay is more than 2 hours, but less than 4, the compensation must double the cost of the one-way fare or $400, whichever is greater.

Some airlines offer free airline tickets instead that do not include the cost of taxes, plus have blackout dates and other limitations. Ask for cash.

Airport Onsite Car Rental Fees

Car rental agencies including National Car Rental have instituted 10% "concession recoup" fees. These fees are added to rentals where the car rental agencies are trying to cover the additional cost of maintaining an onsite airport location. If you see it on your rental, ask that it be removed. National admitted they were wrong, but they continue to charge it.

"Seduced by a Mile", is a booked recently published by Greg Moore, Dupont’s former Corporate Travel Manager. The book outlines the additional costs incurred in corporate travel through the advent of airline mileage clubs. The book is available by calling 800 596-7727.

Travel Tidbits & Area Briefs

Denver’s DIA finally has a full service hotel adjacent to the airport with the opening of the Denver Airport Marriott.

The FAA recently announced that passengers could now carry self-defense pepper spray in their checked luggage. There are stiff penalties for taking it in your carry-ons.

The lost luggage store put up a web site at www.unclaimedbaggage,com. You can also email them if you are looking to purchase strange items like scuba gear, strollers or golf clubs.

Goodbye Companion Awards. Effective in April American and United will eliminate their twofer and companion mileage awards.

Camera film that is undeveloped should now always be in your carry-on. The new X-ray scanners that are used on checked luggage will cloud your photographs.

By summer all of Delta Airlines international service will be two cabin, economy class and Business Elite. When Delta eliminates its first class cabin, they will include numerous enhancements to its Business Elite product.

Virgin Atlantic plans private bedrooms on at least one transatlantic jet. The bedrooms will be completely private and bookable for the entire duration of the flight.

Budget Rent-a-Car is handing out free portable cellular phone rentals to members of its Fastbreak program until March 31, 1999. The calls will cost $1.95 per minute including all roaming, long-distance and service charges. For more information call 800 933-3836.

Both Hertz and Avis charge renters a 7.5% tax to cover the cost of the frequent flyer miles they have to purchase to pass on to the mileage members.

British Airways New Economy Class Now Offers:

The "raid the larder" program, where economy class passengers can help themselves to the galley snacks, candy bars and sodas.

New contoured seats with foot rests and adjustable head wings.

A 12 channel seatback video screen with a choice of 6 films and the Disney Channel.

A choice of toy for children along with special children's meals.

One World, Star Alliance , Code Sharing, Marketing Partnerships or shall it just be called Confusing?

It began with a Northwest Airlines code share agreement with Alaska Airlines. Alaska Airlines owns Horizon and is considered the same company. It continued with KLM, KLM recently combined forces with Alitalia, Alaska then also agreed to its alliance with American, while Northwest has been coupled with Continental – who already had a marketing agreement with Alitalia, SAS and others. In late 1998, American and US Airways began merging their mileage programs. Soon after American bought Reno Air, and then Alaska most recently announced its code share arrangement with Canadian Airlines. Canadian Airlines already had code share arrangements with American Airlines, Air France and British Air, South African and Iberia, etc. American Airlines is the carrier who brought the One World arrangement together. This program links American Airlines, British Airlines (already an Alaska Airlines mileage partner), Canadian, Cathay Pacific and Qantas. Today a code share announcement was made between JAL and American and Continental and China Air. Whew.

 Did you know….

If you travel internationally and have red ink on your business card, it may draw peculiar attention because of the following:

- Some Mexicans find a name in red offensive.

- Buddhists write one’s name in red when they are dead.

- Red is the color of mourning in parts of Africa.

 Tip

Travelling with a cellular phone is a valuable travel companion – it enables you to rebook flights instantly when unexpected delays create huge pay phone and airline desk lines.

Consumer Reports recently announced the top 5 most expensive cities to fly into and the top 5 least expensive. They include:

Most Expensive: Least Expensive:

Richmond, VA        Las Vegas, NV

Greensboro, NC     Providence, RI

Charlotte, NC        Reno, NV

Cincinnati, OH       Seattle, WA

Rochester, NY       Orlando, FL

Packing Tip

Pack your socks inside your shoes so they do not get crushed.

Millennium Penalties

The air carriers have instituted rules where all flights booked from December 16, 1999 through January 10, 1999 will be completely nonrefundable and purchased at the time the reservation is made. They are trying to eliminate numerous "speculative" bookings. This includes all fares including First and Business Class.

The Old Standby Tickets – with a 90’s Twist!

A technology company recently applied for a patent on a new airline ticket called the "Flexi-ticket". Basically, it would bring back the cost savings of the old stand-by tickets. Once the passenger purchased a ticket, the airline would decide which flight on which day they will have the passenger fly.