Europe – Terrorism Threats
European authorities know of up to 20 sleeper terrorist cells consisting of between 120 and 180 people that are planning attacks in France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. European Union and Middle East intelligence agencies identified an imminent threat to Belgium and possibly also to the Netherlands.
Berlin – S-Bahn Disruptions
Maintenance work on the north-south line of the Berlin S-bahn will prompt service cancellations along the S1, S2, and S25 lines Jan. 16-May 4, 2015. No trains will run on the route between Gesundbrunnen and Yorckstrasse station. A replacement bus service will run. German rail authorities advise that these bus services are likely to operate much more slowly than the S-bahn trains they will replace.
China – Taxi Strikes
Taxi drivers in multiple cities are likely to continue staging strikes across China to protest high franchise fees and competition from private cars using taxi apps. Most of these actions will likely not be announced in advance, or will occur with very short notice. Recent work stoppages have generally lasted 24-48 hours, and have caused increased congestion on public transportation.
Philippines – Tropical Storm Mekkhala
Storm path projections for Tropical Storm Mekkhala vary significantly. It is currently expected to make landfall on the island of Luzon early Jan. 18. As it loses energy, Mekkhala’s progression will slow, likely dumping heavy rainfall across much of Luzon. Depending on the path it takes, flight delays and cancellations are possible at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Asia and Middle East – Potential Protests
There is potential for protests in muslim-majority countries of Asia and the Middle East against a fresh depiction of the Muslim prophet Muhammad in the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Travelers are advised to use caution and avoid gatherings.
China – New Year
Expect significant travel congestion during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday period from February 4th – 24th. Travelers should allow more time to move around.
Nepal – Nationwide Strikes
Nationwide strikes that were planned for 17 and 19 January are now expected to take place on 20 January 2015. Unless averted, it is expected that vehicle transport will be severely restricted and many shops and businesses will be closed. These dates may change again at short notice.
UK – Police Support Strike
Up to 30,000 civilian police staff in England and Wales are set to strike on 23 January, including 999 call takers.
How long do I have to re-use an unused ticket credit?
The answer is almost always “within one year from something”. What that “something” is depends on the airline, and in some cases, the specific fare rules. Most domestic airlines require that the new ticket be bought and paid for within one year from the date the original ticket was purchased, though the new travel date can occur after the one-year mark. Other airlines require that the new travel dates occur before the one year anniversary of the original ticket purchase. Some use the dates of original travel instead of date of original purchase when calculating the one year mark. And there are a few other variations as well. If the unused ticket was itself an exchange of an earlier ticket some airlines will use the date of the exchange to calculate validity and some will return to the date the original ticket was purchased. For the details of your specific ticket, please check with your Travel-On/Travel Place agent.
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- Nauru is the only state in the world that has no official capital
- Seoul taxis are color coded! If you hail a gray and white taxi, then you will get the basic comfort, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience be sure to hail a black taxi, as these are better fitted out and have more experienced drivers
- German shepherd police dogs were first trained in Ghent, Belgium, about a century ago
- The famed “99 Steps” of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, actually number 103
- The Trans-Siberian railroad crosses exactly 3,901 bridges
- Madagascar is also known as the Red Island due to the red color of its soil
- Collectively, the Smithsonian’s museums and zoo host 30 million visitors annually
Throughout Travel-On, our employees are M.A.D ( Making A Difference) for our clients. Many of you have noticed and shared your thoughts. Recently, the following note was received from a client.
Debbie Montgomery from our Meeting Travel Team
“Debbie always does a bang up job for me. There are countless occasions when I request a reservation on the wrong date and Debbie catches it for me and averts disaster. She also always goes the extra mile for me to get me into my preferred hotel when they are full. She keeps checking right up to the last minute to see if there is a vacancy. That is the kind of exemplary service that you just don’t find everywhere anymore. I’m so glad Debbie is there for me.”
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