In this edition of the Travel News Brief: Direct Travel launched a one-stop shop marketplace for clients to select products and services for their travel programs, UA waiver during SFO runway closure, new flights for DL UA AS, security biometrics & 3D screening, Real ID deadline approaches, MGM hotel’s latest acquisition, traveling during hurricane season, uncovering what makes business travelers tick and more!
Uncovering What Makes Business Travelers Tick
Organizations are constantly trying to provide a travel experience that makes a business trip as successful and productive as possible. As much as businesses work at it, the exact formula has not been discovered yet. Read More
Direct Travel Launches Third-Party Marketplace
Direct Travel — Following a spate of partnerships with third-party travel service providers, travel management company Direct Travel has launched a marketplace to serve as a one-stop shop from which clients can select products and services for their travel programs. Dubbed TravelStack, the marketplace features four categories of providers: program management, savings, risk management and traveler experience. Read More
Direct Travel's Leisure Division Earns Highest Annual Growth Award at Virtuoso Travel Week 2019
GlobeNewswire — For the second year in a row, Virtuoso® , the world’s leading luxury travel network, awarded Direct Travel as the member with the largest year over year growth (revenue) at its annual Virtuoso Travel Week conference in Las Vegas last week. This impressive award comes shortly after Direct Travel was listed as #8 on the 2019 Travel Weekly Power List, further proving that its momentum as an ever-growing travel management company continues to build. Read More
Nearly All British Airways Flights Canceled Due to Strike
CNN — British Airways says it was forced to cancel nearly all of their flights for Monday and Tuesday after the British pilots union went ahead with a strike. Read More
United Waiver During SFO Airport Construction and Runway Closure
United — United Airlines has announced it will waive change fees while a runway is shut down at SFO. Read More
Delta Air Lines Announces Expanded Service to Caribbean This Winter
Travel Pulse — Delta Air Lines announced it has expanded its flight schedule to top Caribbean destinations for the winter, including additional service to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Nassau, Bahamas; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Read More
United Airlines Suspending Chicago-Hong Kong Flights
Travel Mole — But it will still launch second San Francisco service…Read More
Alaska Airlines Announces New Service between Paine Field and Spokane
Travel Market Report — Alaska Airlines announced today that it will be launching daily nonstop flight service between Spokane International Airport and Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport in Everett starting on Nov. 4, just in time for winter holiday travel. Read More
Delta Air Lines to Expand Transatlantic Flight Service
Travel Market Report — In partnership with Virgin Atlantic, Delta will introduce daylight transatlantic flights, and for first time, join forces to serve travelers at London’s Gatwick Airport. Read More
United Airlines to Offer Nonstop Service Between Cape Town and New York
Travel Market Report — The carrier will be the only airline to fly direct between the U.S. and Cape Town, South Africa, when the service starts on Dec. 15. Read More
United to Offer Year-round London - Denver Service
Travel Mole — Extension is subject to government approval…Read More
American Airlines Will Make First Class Classier on Some Jets
Skift — American Airlines will tweak first class to add more leg space, extra in-seat power, and other amenities after passengers complained about the product on some retrofitted short-haul aircraft, but the carrier will keep economy as it is, the airline’s chief financial officer Derek Kerr said Tuesday in an interview. Read More
Qantas Tests 20-Hour Non-Stop Flights to See If Passengers Can Bear It
Bloomberg — Qantas Airways Ltd. will run marathon ghost flights from New York and London to Sydney carrying just a few staff to see how the human body holds up before commercial services start. Read More
American Airlines Launches Biometric Boarding Process for DFW Passengers
Travel Pulse — American Airlines has begun implementing a new biometric boarding program for certain passengers departing Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the airline’s largest hub. Read More
British Airports Testing 3D Screening Equipment to Check Carry-on Bags
USA Today — Putting small containers of liquids in plastic bags could soon be a thing of the past for airline passengers in Britain after the government announced plans Sunday to introduce 3D screening equipment for carry-on luggage at all major airports. Read More
FAA Bans Outdated MacBook Models from Aircraft
Travel Market Report — The FAA issued a safety alert informing airlines and travelers that devices using recalled lithium-based batteries, including the MacBook Pro, are not allowed on planes. Read More
TSA Urges Consumers to Change Identification as Real ID Deadline Draws Near
CBS News — The Transportation Security Administration has launched a campaign to remind travelers they'll need Real ID-compliant identification in order to fly on commercial airlines, starting Oct. 1, 2020. "We want the public to make sure they're aware," said Tomas Cuellar, TSA transportation safety manager. Read More
Government Travel Warnings & Alerts
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More
Enterprise Execs Discuss Connectivity & Global Growth Plans
Business Travel News — After Enterprise Holdings closed the books on its 2019 fiscal year in July month, president and COO Christine Taylor and SVP of business rental sales and international tour Don Moore updated BTN on the company's initiatives, the overall health of the car rental industry and Enterprise's ongoing transformation into what Taylor calls "the total mobility package." Read More
National Car Rental Launches 'One Two Free' Promotion to Reward Frequent Travelers
Travel Pulse — The promotion offers registered Emerald Club members one free rental day for every two qualifying rentals. Read More
Marriott Says It's Done With Tiny, Plastic Toiletry Bottles
The Washington Post — The world's largest hotel chain plans to eliminate the familiar single-use bottles by the end of 2020...Read More
MGM Acquires Stake in Group Operating NoMad Hotels
Travel Market Report — The deal moves MGM into the boutique hotel business and creates crossover opportunities for the brand. Read More
Hilton Opens New Dual-Brand Property in Denver
Hotel News Resource — Located near Denver International Airport, Tru by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton together welcome guests visiting Colorado. Read More
Eight Ways to Plan for Travel During Hurricane Season
Travel Market Report — Awareness, planning, and preparation, and a really good app, can make all the difference when traveling during a time that storms are likely. Read More
Pay Those Pesky Bag Fees Early: United Airlines Offers New Prepayment Option
USA Today — United Airlines has added the option to pay for checked bags before you check in online or get to the airport. Read More
United Frequent Flyer Miles No Longer Expire
USA Today — United Airlines is removing the expiration date on travelers' frequent flyer miles. Read More
The One Thing You Need to Add into Your Phone Before Traveling Abroad
Smarter Travel — Looking up your destination’s emergency phone number isn’t a standard vacation-planning step. But the old adage of “it’s better to be safe than sorry” rings true —no one who finds themselves in an emergency situation abroad expects it to happen to them. Read More
Taking a Vacation is Good for Your Health, Study Says
Travel Market Report — According to new research, a person can reduce their metabolic symptoms – and therefore their risk of cardiovascular disease – by going on vacation. Read More
San Francisco International Airport Prohibits Sale of Water in Plastic Bottles
Recommend Magazine — Plastic water bottles are now banned in SFO in a quest to become the world's first zero-waste airport. Read More
9 Weird Things That Happen to Your Body When You Fly—and What You Can Do About Them
Real Simple — It's more than just jetlag and popping ears. When your flight touches down in another city, state, or country, it may feel like the journey is just beginning, but for your body, the adventure started when you boarded your flight. Read More
British Airways Launches VR Headsets to Watch Movies
Lonely Planet — For the rest of 2019, customers traveling on certain flights in first class from London Heathrow to New York JFK can watch a collection of award-winning films, documentaries and other travel programs in 2-D, 3-D or 360-degree formats via an AlloSky headset…Read More
Americans Remain Confused About Travel to Cuba
Travel Weekly — Two months after the Trump administration made sweeping changes to Cuba travel policy, tour operators say Americans are still baffled about how to visit the island legally. Read More