In this edition of the Travel News Brief: Procurement strategies you can apply to travel, BTN launches corporate travel index calculator, baggage fees on the rise, airlines add service, updates from the TSA, credit card breach with British Airways and Air Canada, tips for driving on the opposite side of the road, and more!
Every year, GBTA Convention is a great place to learn, network and find new ways to gain more clarity in your travel program. Now that the largest annual gathering of business travel professionals in the world has come to a close, we want to share with you our notes...Read More
Business Travel News —BTN's free online tool now customizes their Corporate Travel Index data for your travel program... available via desktop or laptop. Read More
Entrepreneur — Most employees know not to book business travel at a 5-star resort, but it takes much more than that to keep costs down. Read More
Frequent Business Traveler —American Airlines, which has been investing heavily in updating its lounges, announced Wednesday it is shuttering three of them. Read More
Travel Market Report —Will the other major American carriers — Delta, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Alaskan Airlines — follow suit? Read More
USA Today —Upstart travel provider OneJet has run into difficulty, suspending all flights amid what it billed as a “transition.” The company, which aimed to make money by offering business travelers nonstop service between midsize markets that lacked direct links, said it hopes to begin selling flights again by Oct. 1. Read More
Bloomberg —US airlines, bruised by higher fuel prices, are stepping up efforts to raise fares and increase fees to avoid a third straight year of declining profits. Read More
USA Today —United adds three high-profile international routes – including two new destinations – as it pushes ahead with an aggressive international expansion. Read More
USA Today —United Airlines will in Sept. add flights on 17 routes to airports near hot college football destinations and also deploy larger aircraft on eight more. Read More
Travel Market Report —The new service will kick off on May 25, 2019 and will fly every day in the summer and four to five times a week during the rest of the year. Read More
USA Today —The Canadian airlines aren't alone. JetBlue Airways just announced that it will now charge $30 for one checked bag and $40 for a second checked bag. Read More
San Francisco Chronicle —United Airlines will in March launch nonstop flights between Denver International Airport and the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. The daily flight will take about three hours. Read More
USA Today —Airline is the first major airline to charge $30 for a first checked bag. Most competitors charge $25 for the first checked bag. Read More
Travel Pulse —The bill would also create new lanes for low-risk passengers to expedite...Read More
TechCrunch —Transportation Security Administration chief David Pekoske told lawmakers that the agency plans to roll out 200 3D checkpoint scanners by 2019. Read More
Business Travel News —Hackers gained access to nearly 400,000 passengers' credit card information during a two-week breach of British Airways' website and mobile app. Read More
Business Travel News —Air Canada has reported that some of its mobile app users' personal data might have been compromised in a breach this month. Read More
Travel Daily News —The unit, which provides 3-D imaging that enhances explosives detection capabilities, is being tested in one lane at the checkpoint. Read More
Travel Market Report —Canadian authorities are considering whether citizens should have the ability to renew their passports via a mobile app, according to a report from Global News. Read More
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More
Sun Sentinel —Uber passengers will be able to share their ride information and route with up to five friends or contacts. Read More
USA Today —The biggest difference is arguably not on the roads, but inside the car – it's like Opposite World in there. Read More
Travel Pulse —Hertz International Limited has launched a referral partnership with established car rental company, Chailease Auto Rental Co., an industry leader operating in Taiwan since 1977. Read More
Forbes —InterContinental has patented its Crowne Plaza brand's high-tech WorkLife Room concept. "Guests can expect to love the modern, purposeful design that puts them in full control of their stay," said Meredith Latham, a Crowne Plaza regional vice president. Read More
Forbes —For many hotel guests, a balcony (or lack thereof) is considered a major deal-breaker in whether or not they book a room…Read More
Travel Daily Media —There’s no doubt they are useful, but security steps need to be taken. One option is to create a private MiFi hotspot of your own. Read More
Bloomberg —Canceled flights don’t have to mean sitting at the terminal bar watching football. Read More
Miami Herald —Travel to Cuba can be confusing, especially in light of U.S. travel restrictions and advisories that often make people think twice about visiting the island. But a new U.S. travel advisory should at least help alleviate some concerns about safety. Read More
LifeHacker —Delta recently joined forces with Equinox to create a workout to help combat the issue…Read More
Fox News —There's nothing like traveling that will stress your gadgets (and maybe your patience). Read More
The New York Times —Travelers enjoy healthy eating options at airports…Read More
USA Today —When your smartphone goes missing on the road, you can secure and replace it quickly. Here's how. Read More