Corporate Agencies Verses the Web
Topaz International released results of a 7-month study that tracked the performance of Internet travel sites verses the abilities of agents.

One of their core findings was that the Internet does indeed offer lower fares, but that they seldom fit the schedules of the traveler, or came at the expense of an employee's time and productivity.  Read the entire article.

Don't be Caught Driving Overseas with a Cell Phone
More than 20 countries have banned or restricted cell-phone use in cars. The following penalties or fines apply in these countries:

Passport Reminder
Most countries will not allow you to enter if your passport is due to expire within 6 months.

Need a Taxi?
You can now call 800 TAXI CAB from anywhere in the country and be connected immediately to the closest local taxi company to where you are standing.

First Class Upgrade Opportunities
Alaska Airlines allows First Class Upgrades to anyone at the airport. The fee is $40 to $80 per direction, not segment or flight.

TWA allows upgrades within 2 hours of departure (including internationally) for $50 to $250 per direction. Just ask!

Rule 240
Your Rights When a Flight is Cancelled
In the event your flight is cancelled, and not due to force majeure or an "act of God", Rule 240 takes effect. Most carriers will not readily offer the following, but they are within your rights if you ask. Southwest Airlines is not a participant in accepting other carrier's tickets.

• Book you on the next available flight, regardless of the fare, or class of service if only First or Business is available.
• Book you on any airline, again no matter what the fare, if it can get you to your destination earlier.
• Provide you with a full refund if you are not satisfied.

New Jetlag Remedy
ENADAlert is a new remedy for jetlag. If taken an hour before landing, it will boost your energy for more than 5 hours. They are available at GNC.

Air Cost Study
A recent study entitled "Closing the Gap: Skyjet Airfare Study", showed the effect of Southwest Airlines. Nearly all routes serviced by Southwest had a cost decrease in airfare of 5 percent or more. Those cities not serviced by Southwest had price increases that grew by an additional 3-percent.

Departure airports with the highest increase included Charlotte at 38%, Portland, OR at 37% and Pittsburgh at 29%.

"Banked Mileage Seldom Improves with Age."

Travel Tid-bits

• Per a major US based airline, 33% of their business creates 50% of their revenues. The same carrier points out that it is the leisure traveler who provides carriers with the ability to offer more flight frequency.
  
  
• United and Air Canada have a great fare from various cities to Vancouver, BC. It is $94 with a change penalty of $100.
  
  
• Most major airlines are going to match American's fee charging an extra $10.00 for each non-electronic ticket that they issue.
  
  
• London's Heathrow airport recently opened the "Island". For $36 per day, travelers can utilize this new lounge. It offers Internet access, a clothes valet, shower suites and various amenities normally only available in business and first class lounges.
  
  
• National Rent-a-car , Alamo, Avis and Hertz all charge a fee for every frequent flyer mile earned from a car rental. It is just added to the car rental agreement. It is 7.5% of the rental cost.
  
  
• United Airlines Premier travelers now receive gold boarding passes instead of the standard blue at checkin.
  
  
• Business airfares keep going up. There were 6 business airfare increases in the year 2000. These so called business airfares are those available without an advance purchase or minimum stay. Analysts say there was a 21 to 26% increase. Travel is still considered the second-highest controllable cost for US companies.
  
  
• Western hotel chains have implemented an electricity surcharge on hotel stays to off-set their increased costs.
  
  
• Most major airlines raised their change and cancel fees to $100 per person, per ticket.
  
  
• The IRS hiked the standard mileage deduction from 32.5 cents to 34.5 cents for the year 2001.
  
  
• Southwest Airlines has terminated all flights into San Francisco.
  
  
• When needing to rent a car, make sure you know if you are supposed to accept or decline the car rentals insurance program. Corporations travel policies vary greatly.
  
  
• Remember that if you get stuck or have extra time in-between flights, you can use the executive lounge of an airline for a one-time use fee, usually around $25 to $75.
  
  
• Denied boarding compensation may not apply if you are bumped from an aircraft of less than 60 seats.

VAT Tax Rebate's Often Missed
If you spend $500US in London on Clothing and other items, just by getting a customs stamp you can recover around $50US. This holds true of many more countries. Call Global Refund at 800 566 9828 for more information.

New Jetlag Remedy
ENADAlert is a new remedy for jetlag. If taken an hour before landing, it will boost your energy for more than 5 hours. They are available at GNC.

Air Cost Study
A recent study entitled "Closing the Gap: Skyjet Airfare Study", showed the effect of Southwest Airlines. Nearly all routes serviced by Southwest had a cost decrease in airfare of 5 percent or more. Those cities not serviced by Southwest had price increases that grew by an additional 3-percent.

Departure airports with the highest increase included Charlotte at 38%, Portland, OR at 37% and Pittsburgh at 29%.

Travelers to Canada
Canadian Immigration authorities advise us of two common problems experienced by US citizens entering Canada, whether by car or aircraft:

• A DUI conviction causes automatic barring from Entrance into Canada. Entry is possible by pre- applying for a pass.
  
  
• ID is required for all persons entering Canada, including children. In addition to birth certificates or passports, children traveling with one parent only will need proof of permission from the other parent.

Cybercafe Guides
On vacation in the San Juan Islands or Bali or just having dinner in Chicago without your laptop and want to check email, where can you do it? Check out www.netcafeguide.com

www.MyTravelrights.com
The Association of Retail Travel Agents has developed the Consumer Travel Rights Center. You can file complaints against hotels, car rentals and air carriers by logging on.

New Web Site for the Terminally Trendy:  www.room12.com

Internet Work Stations are Finally in Airport Club Lounges
Alaska Airlines, US Airways, TWA and Northwest Minneapolis Lounges provide the first 10 minutes of free use. Club members can utilize the fully capable PC's, or connect their laptops, palmtops or other handheld devices through either wired or wireless connections.

"The word TIP may have originated from the phrase "to insure promptitude".

Congratulations to Anita Hewitt. Previously one of TMI's
Corporate Department Project Manager's was named CRS Technology Manager.

New Offices for TMI!
TMI will move to temporary offices in Harbor Center adjacent to our current location the 1st of May. Watch for us in our new building facing I-90 in Post Falls this fall!