United’s New Unlimited Upgrades
When you travel United airlines, your upgrade experience is about to get easier: beginning March 19, 2010, for elite members, an upgrade request will automatically be placed on your behalf when you purchase domestic revenue fares for travel on United or United Express.
For elite members, an upgrade request is automatically placed on your behalf at the time your qualifying flight is purchased. Unlimited Domestic Upgrades are processed according to your Mileage Plus status and will show up in My Itineraries as “Upgrade pending” until your upgrade request is processed. If upgrade seats are unavailable, you will be automatically waitlisted for an upgrade. Upgrade seats are capacity-controlled and may not always be available.
Please review your current status below to see when your upgrade will be processed.
Global Services 120 hours prior to departure
1K 100 hours prior to departure
Premier Executive 72 hours prior to departure
Premier 48 hours prior to departure
For more information, please visit the mileage plus page on United.com.
JFK Airport Runway Project…worse before it get’s better…
The Port Authority of NY & NJ is tackling delays with the reconstruction of the Bay Runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Once completed, this project will reduce delays overall by an estimated 10,500 hours per year.
What is the Bay Runway Project?
Beginning March 1, 2010 one of the four runways at JFK will be closed for construction for 120 days; however this project should not impact travel significantly.
Why is the Bay Runway Project necessary?
The project will upgrade JFK’s airside infrastructure, widen and replaces nearly three miles of runway. A central component of the Bay Runway reconstruction is the widening of the runway from 150 to 200 feet to make way for new delay-reduction taxiways. The new taxiways will improve aircraft queuing and enable swifter departures; and easier access from taxiways to terminal gates, saving time on the ground for every passenger at JFK.
How many runways are at JFK?
There are four runways at JFK. During normal operations, two or three of the four runways are in use due to airspace limitations. During the 120-day closure of the Bay Runway, all three remaining runways will be utilized when possible.
How will flights be affected when the Bay Runway is closed?
Airlines are operating on a normal winter schedule to mitigate delays. Delays may occur from time to time, but this is a short-term inconvenience to provide a long-term fix.
What are some of the benefits of the Bay Runway Project?
• SAVING TIME: The new taxiways will enable swifter departures and easier access from taxiways to terminal gates. This will save time on the ground for every passenger at JFK.
• DELAY REDUCTION: Once the project is complete the new Bay Runway will reduce future delays by an estimated 10,500 hours.
Shall I drive my own car… or rent one?
Owners, financial guru’s and sourcing managers, mileage reimbursement is a huge expense when employees drive their own cars for work purposes. Did you know that based on a reimbursement rate of $0.50 cents anything over 120 miles driven by using a personal car is more expensive than renting one? Companies both large and small that require their employees drive their own cars are reevaluating the reimbursement process and switching to renting cars instead. Enterprise and Hertz (their off airport locations called Hertz Local Edition) both have programs that will bring your rental car to you. The car will be delivered to your home in the morning and then you drop it off at the rental office and they will take you home. It’s very slick and easy. Here are a couple of other reasons why renting a car makes more sense then driving your own. 1- Less chance of breaking down on the road. A rental car will usually have less miles and the necessary maintenance will have just been done. Plus if it does break down you don’t have to foot the bill for the repairs. Yes!!! 2- Less wear and tear on your own car. Consistant long distance driving will wear your car out much faster than normal. Save those miles on your own car and put them on a rental. 3- Renting a vehicle will give you the opportunity to try out a car you might want to own some day. With National Car Rentals “choose your own car” program you get to decide from several makes and models which car to drive. Perhaps a PT Cruiser… or a hot Dodge Charger has been on your list to try out.
Here is a mileage calculator link by Enterprise Car Rental that will help you determine if driving a personal car versus a rental car would be the greatest value. Plug in the numbers and it will automatically calculate it for you. Rental rates are based on current Enterprise daily rates and are also changable. http://www.christophersontravel.com/files/mileage-calculator-50.xls
To reserve your rental car contact any one of our professional travel consultants at 801-327-7700. You’ll drive away happy!
Passenger Safety or Airline Revenue?
Is it passenger safety or airline revenue that is prompting airlines to more closely scrutinize the size of carry-on luggage that is being used by travelers? On some of my more recent flights I had noticed that many travelers were toting larger carry-on luggage with some of it ending up on the plane, but some of it checked at the gate for no additional fee. I questioned how these travelers made it as far as they did, with obviously oversized carry-on bags, and wondered if it would be just a matter of time before the airlines started charging for bags checked at the gates.
Though I appreciate the efforts of the airlines charging other passengers for luggage that technically should have been checked, I also tend to question their reasons why. Spokespersons for the airlines are indicating that it is passenger safety that they are concerned about, but could it be just another source of revenue?
FAA regulations allow carry-on luggage as large as 22×14x9 inches and passengers will have to get use to using the bag bins airlines provide at the gates to check the size of the carry-ons. Airline employees and even TSA inspectors are keeping a closer eye on the size of bags that travelers are trying to take through security lines and are informing passengers that they need to be checked prior to gate arrival.
The airlines may struggle in the beginning to make this process fair to all passengers, but regardless of the motive, whether passenger safety or airline revenue, it’s going to be harder and harder to avoid the fees charged for bags.
For additional information regarding the ancillary fees being charged by airlines and the revenue generated from these fees, there was an interesting article in USA Today written by David Grossman The paradox of baggage fees: Higher charges, lower profits. or you can contact Christopherson Business Travel (866.327.7650).
New FEES – United US/Canada Checked Baggage
Below is the checked baggage policy for United Economy® travel wholly within the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
This policy has been revised, effective for tickets purchased on or after January 14, 2010 for travel on or after January 21, 2010. Fees for first and second checked bags have changed. There is still a discount for checked bag fees paid through EasyCheck-in Online® at united.com.
If you are traveling on an Economy ticket or an Economy award ticket, please see the information below regarding checked baggage fees that may apply.
Please note that there are some fee exceptions. All fees shown below are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified.
For customers who are not exempt, first and second bag fees (each way) when paid at the airport are as follows:
If you purchased your ticket(s)… for travel… then the following fees will apply for bags checked at the airport
First bag Second bag
before
January 14, 2010
anytime $20* $30*
on or after
January 14, 2010 before
January 21, 2010 $20* $30*
on or after
January 14, 2010
on or after
January 21, 2010 $25* $35*
*Baggage fees are per person and for a single direction of travel. United offers a discount if you check your bags via EasyCheck-in Online® at united.com within 24 hours of your flight. The amount of the discount percentage is subject to change without notice.
Tripit Pro
Tripit Pro is a robust, mobile application that works with your Android, Blackberry or iPhone based smartphone. Christopherson Andavo is an authorized Tripit Pro reseller. This means we can get you a huge discount on your Tripit Pro annual rate (huge = almost half off). The basic Tripit application is free, but if you choose to upgrade to Tripit Pro, you get:
- Itinerary monitoring and travel alerts
- Alternate flight option information
- Point tracking systems for frequent flyer and hotel reward programs
- Inner circles that allows travelers to automatically share every trip with key associates
Also, Tripit now supports Airtinerary, our proprietary approach to itinerary delivery. To import your Christopherson Andavo itinerary to Tripit, just forward your Airtinerary to plans@tripit.com. It’s that easy.
To get your discount, contact your Christopherson Andavo account manager or agent to get a promotional code to use when signing up for Tripit Pro.
You can always find out more about Tripit by visiting their website at www.tripit.com.
Christopherson Andavo announced as 2010 Ritz Carlton STARS member.
February 2010 saw the addition of Christopherson Andavo Travel to the exclusive ranks of the Ritz Carlton STARS program. The hotelier renowned for combining luxury and hospitality invited Christopherson Andavo to this elite group making it one of ONLY TWO travel companies in the United States with this distinction.
As a member of the STARS program, Christopherson Andavo clients will now enjoy unparalleled recognition and amenities at Ritz Carlton properties worldwide.
Whether you are planning a corporate retreat, a business stay, a vacation or even a wedding, contact one of our travel advisors to find out just how much value this new partnership can bring to you.
The not so friendly skies (warning! science content)
From one of my favorite sites comes some very interesting information to consider on your next long flight. Here is a teaser quote from Science@NASA:
Instruments scanning outer space for cataclysmic explosions called gamma-ray bursts are detecting intense flashes of gamma-ray energy right here in the friendly skies of Earth. These terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) surge through thunderstorms at about the same altitude where commercial airliners fly. Do these blasts of gamma-radiation pose a hazard to air travelers?
Read the full article (full of delicious science content) here:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/10feb_friendlyskies.htm?list851274
P.S. – don’t let this stop you from booking your next international flight. The speculation is that we’re safe as the bursts are propagated upward, not horizontally toward all of us unsuspecting travelers. Phew!
Sweet Vacation “DEALS”
As winter is wrapping up it’s season with snow and rain scattered with a little sunshine here and there, put away your snow shovels, boots, coats and gloves. It is time to break out the swim suits and suntan lotion and pack your bags for some rest and relaxation. There is no better time then now to take advantage of these vacation “Deals”. Here are just a few of those sweet “Deals” available to you!
- Save up to $200.00 to Maui and Lana’i
- Save up to $225.00 at the Ka’anapali Beach hotel in Maui
- Save up to $250.00 to Aruba
- Save up to $200.00 to Aston Hotels Resorts in Hawaii
- Free airfare to the Bahamas
- Save up to $150.00 at RIU Hotels Resorts
- Save up to $250.00 to London
Of course there are some restrictions to these “Deals”. If you are flexible with your travel dates and looking for a great vacation don’t wait to cash in on these great savings. Call your Christopherson Travel Vacation team today. 801-327-7600
For all those business travelers caught in the recent snow storms–listen up!
If you were that business traveler, had booked your travel through Christopherson, and were stranded in any of the recent east coast snow storms; you were in good hands. Why—because the last time you were stranded we took exceptional care of you then. This situation happens every year and every year our agents amaze me in how they service our clients. Here are just a few ways they assisted stranded passengers over the past few weeks.
- Made the calls to the airlines and were on hold for hours—one agent 5 hours changing an international flight.
- Provided clients with waivers from the airlines to obtain refunds when they were either unable to make the trip (meeting cancelled) or half way through their trip their return flight was cancelled. If you booked through the airlines websites or online agencies, you had to make the call to the airline and stay on hold for hours. One agent tried for an entire day to change a clients booking through the airline while his client went about his usual work schedule.
- When passengers leaving to catch a flight, checked the airline websites, and found flights were showing confirmed (not cancelled); contacted us just to make sure. In numerous instances our computer system indicated the flights were cancelled. We then rebooked, reissued, and the traveler showed up at the airport with no surprises. That trip to Florida was made after all to close the business deal.
- If you were lucky enough to have the airline call and explain just how they had re-accommodated you on another flight to return home only to find out it was two days later than originally ticketed, our agents were able to get you back much sooner.
- Our after-hour emergency number was available on the weekend allowing for the same type changes, processing of refunds, and rescheduling.
Our many resources provide a “peace of mind” to business travelers whether they are our special numbers to make changes quicker; or, the ability to process airline waivers when changes are necessary so you don’t have to stand in line at the airport. We can provide options, for instances, rebooking your desired flight on another airline and processing the refund for your unused ticket. Time is money. For the price of our low service fee—we’ve got you covered!