Taking off Travel blog

When I wrote last week about travel trends that tick me off, I left out one major part of travel that takes the shine off the trip - airport security. Until eight years ago - and we all know why it changed - you would show your passport at the check-in desk, show it again at immigration and you and your stuff would get scanned quickly on the way out. On the way in, checks took only a short time (except in places like Miami Airport, which is always a time consuming stop).

Airport Security Checks

However, security checks now take an inordinate amount of time. On my recent trip to Bahrain, my bags were scanned several times, the first time even before I got to the check-in desk. Then they were scanned again at security, and then the hand luggage was searched on the way out of the country. Read more »

Breaking news: Indy Park Ride Fly is to offer complementary recharging of hybrid vehicles as part of its comprehensive off airport parking service. The service will also be available at Midway Park Ride and Fly and Albany Park Ride and Fly as well as selected parking facilities affiliated with Park Ride Fly USA.

Indy Park Ride Fly Map

WiFi In The Air

It’s time for another round-up of travel news. Today, I’m looking at news of interest to business travelers. First off, there’s good news if you have ever been frustrated by the lack of internet access when flying. Many domestic airlines now offer WiFi access through the GoGo network. Delta, American and Virgin are already signed up, while United Airlines is currently in trials. Other connectivity options are available on other carriers. Find out more in the original story. Read more »

It’s time for another roundup of what’s happening in travel.

Empire State Now On NYC Explorer Pass

If you’re planning a trip to New York, then you will be happy to hear that Smart Destinations has added the Empire State Building Observatory to the NYC Explorer Pass. The pass allows you to visit between three and seven attractions at an affordable pre-paid price. You can use it any of 40 attractions during a 30 day period and can get restaurant discounts as well.

‘With millions of visitors from around the world, the Empire State Building is the ‘must-see’ attraction in New York City,’ said Jean-Yves Ghazi, Director of the Observatory at the Empire State Building. ‘We have recently renovated our 86th and 102nd floor observatories with aesthetic and modernization improvements. By joining with the NYC Explorer Pass, we encourage people to get the most out of their visit to the world’s most famous office building.’ Read more »

This could be a good year for hotel deals.

If you’re traveling for business this year, then your hotel probably won’t cost much more than it did last year. Although hotel buyers haven’t seen major falls in domestic rates for 2009, there haven’t been any increases either. In part, this is because those negotiating corporate room rates have shown their willingness to go elsewhere if the price quoted doesn’t suit their budget. Domestic hotel demand is expected to drop and room rates to drop with it, so be on the lookout for some good deals as the year progressed. (Full story here.)

Key Influencers In Business Travel

Business Travel News has named its top business travel executives for 2008. These were nominated by industry executives. Airline decision makers dominate the list, with some influencers from government departments. Read more »

Travelers from 35 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries now have to get approval through the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before traveling to the US. The web-based ESTA system was launched in August 2008 to determine the eligibility of those from VWP countries to enter the US. More than 1.2 million ESTA applications have been received so far, with more than 99 per cent of these approved. In most cases approval takes seconds and the permit lasts for up to two years or until the passport expires.

“We have been collecting information from visa waiver travelers for decades, and establishing a program to get that same information in advance is one enhancement that allowed us to extend the valuable benefit of visa-free travel to eight new countries in 2008,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “In addition to building business and cultural ties with our partners overseas, this is a commonsense step into the 21^st century that will improve our efficiency in screening and welcoming international travelers at our ports of entry.”

DHS says it will take a ‘reasonable approach to travelers who have not obtained an approved travel authorization via ESTA, though such travelers may be denied boarding or admission to the US or may experience delayed processing. Find more information in ESTA here. Read more »