Germany – Train Drivers Threaten Strike
Members of Germany’s largest train driver union are threatening a strike nationwide of up to 100 hours which could occur any time. If not averted, expect widespread rail service disruptions and freight delivery delays. Officials could substitute buses for rail service on some passenger lines where possible.
Portugal – Metro Drivers to Strike
Unionized Metro workers plan to strike in Lisbon on Feb. 24. While the duration of the labor action and the extent of worker participation remain unclear, significant service disruptions are possible on subway routes across the city. Heavy congestion is likely on all other modes of mass transit.
Qantas – Crack Down on Dress Standards
Qantas warns it will get tough on people who go to airport business lounges in inappropriate attire, with calls for the same standards to be applied at plane doors. Starting April 1st, lounge managers will enforce their right to refuse entry to those poorly dressed and not meeting minimum “smart casual” dress standards.
U.S. – Winter Storms
A storm forecast to develop over Texas will spread a swath of disruptive snow, ice and rain from the Plains and Midwest to the East this weekend. A swath of snow and ice will stretch along a path topping 1,800 miles from Colorado to Maine creating a slew of travel problems ranging from icy and snow-covered roads to airline delays and probable flight cancellations. Snow and/or a wintry mix will fall on Denver; Wichita, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; St. Louis; Chicago; Indianapolis; Cleveland; Pittsburgh; Philadelphia; New York City; Boston; and Portland, Maine. While areas from Nashville to Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina, will receive mostly rain at the height of the storm, initial precipitation will occur as ice or a wintry mix.
Once in a while when I hold a flight reservation overnight on Deem and then try to confirm it the next day I get a message saying it cannot be completed online. Why is that?
There are several possible reasons, but by far the most common is that the fare has increased overnight. When you hold an airline reservation the fare is never guaranteed until you purchase the ticket, and since most fare increases take place overnight, those overnight holds can be risky. There is a potential solution for this, but it requires an agent’s help, and hence the message that the purchase cannot be completed online. When you call or email an agent for assistance he or she will contact the airline to attempt to have the original fare honored under the rule instituted last year that says airlines must honor a held fare for 24 hours. As great as that rule is, there are exeptions, so it doesn’t work 100% of the time. Among the limitations are:
- Fare rules that applied at time of reservation must still apply at time of ticketing
- There can be no changes to the reservation
- The request for the guaranteed fare or refund must come within a strict 24 hours of the time the reservation was made
- Reservations made less than 7 days before departure are exempt
- Oukaimeden, in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, is the highest ski resort in Africa; however, snowfall rarely exceeds 7.87 inches annually
- In Morocco, it is considered impolite to handle food with the left hand and to say no to meat if it is offered at a meal
- Tap water is safe to drink in most parts of Morocco
- Morocco is the largest processor and exporter of sardines in the world
- The djellaba, a one-piece, unisex, hooded, coverall garment, is the Morocco national dress
- Morocco was the first nation to sign a treaty with the United States in 1786
- In Morocco, kisses on the cheek are exchanged as a form of greeting; the better you know the person, the more kisses
- The University of Al-Karouine in Fez is the oldest continuously operational university in the world and was established in 859 AD
Frontier
Frontier will be changing out their system platform on Friday-Saturday, March 6-7th. During this time they will not be able to take new reservations, though they will be able to service existing reservations.
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.
Sarah Shaffer from our Corporate Travel Team
“I know that you have oodles of clients, but you certainly make me feel like I am the only one!”
Travel Place Presents A Perfect Romantic Getaway
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