Merry Christmas from
the MTS TRAVEL family
Welcome to MTS TRAVEL's electronic newsletter
targeted to the needs of the church, mission and non-
profit traveler. We hope you will find the information
and articles useful. Please feel free to email this
newsletter on to others who may also benefit from the
information .
| MTS TRAVEL welcomes 2 new companies and 3 new offices |
 |
MTS TRAVEL recently welcomed 2 new companies and
3 new offices to the MTS TRAVEL family. The additions
of Mainstream Travel of Greenville, Mississippi,
and
Mission Travel of Raleigh, North Carolina and
Miami,
Florida increase MTS TRAVEL's total number of offices
to 11, and extend its U.S. leadership position in the
church, mission, and not-for-profit travel market.
Mission Travel was acquired from STS Travel
Enterprises, Inc. Founded in 1990, Mission Travel
specializes in group travel - catering primarily to short-
term mission and humanitarian relief clientele.
"We're very excited about the talent and
expertise that the Mission Travel team brings to the
table," states Kermit Yoder, President and CEO of
MTS TRAVEL. "They have a solid foundation in
the not-for-profit niche, and their expertise in group
travel dovetails perfectly with our plans to continually
expand our group focus."
"We see this as a win-win-win
situation," explains Stuart Schantz, president of
STS
Travel. "With the collective buying
power and resources of the $80M+ MTS TRAVEL
organization, Mission Travel customers will have
access to even better pricing. They will still enjoy the
high level of service that is the foundation of Mission
Travel."
As a new office of MTS TRAVEL, Mainstream Travel
is
Greenville's only full-service travel company. Saundra
Lane has assumed the position of Manager of
Mainstream Travel, and the current staff remains to
serve customers.
More »
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| Explore the Life of Martin Luther or Lead Your Own Religious Heritage Tour |
|
Rev. Jim Aderman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is leading a
group to explore the life and times of the man who
started the Protestant Reformation with his "Lutheran
Heritage Reformation Tour." Join in on this fascinating
journey through Germany from June 9-19, 2003.
Rev. Aderman has worked with MTS TRAVEL for a
number of years. This relationship serves as an
excellent example of how our company works with
church leaders to enhance their congregation's
knowledge of scripture and church history. Aderman
joined MTS TRAVEL on a Preview Tour of the Holy Land
and then returned with his own group. (To learn how
Preview Tours work with MTS TRAVEL, please refer to
our last issue of this newsletter by visiting our website
or clicking directly on this link http://www.mtstravel.com/newsletter/newsle
tterv1n1.html).
Rev. Aderman then joined MTS TRAVEL for a Preview
Tour of the Footsteps of Paul in Greece and Turkey.
Again he took his group back to enjoy and learn. In his
third adventure with MTS TRAVEL, Rev. Aderman looks
to a later period of church history, while simultaneously
enjoying some wonderful European sightseeing. For
information on joining one of our Preview Tours, email
cindib@mtstravel.com or call (800)418-2929
extension 383.
This latest trip to Germany boasts a fabulous itinerary
through all the key locations of Luther's life including:
· Wittenberg - Visit Castle Church where
Luther
nailed his 95 Theses, and site of his burial
· Eisleben - Town of Luther's birth and
death..
More »
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|
Untangling the Rules of
Non-Refundable Airfares |
 |
Use It - or Lose It:
Untangling the rules of non-refundable airfares.
In late August, the
major U. S. airlines amended the rules for
changing non-refundable tickets. For most airlines, if
you don't change your ticket before midnight of
departure day, you lose its entire value. Most carriers
will charge a $100 change fee plus any
difference
in fare on the new reservation.
Effective January 1,
2003, many airlines will introduce a $100 fee for same-
day standby travel. American,
United, America West and Northwest at press time say
they will not levy a fee for same-day standby travel.
Two have the fee into effect
already. US Airways' fee went into effect on
October 10, 2002; and Delta Shuttle $100 effective
September 5, 2002.
America West will
allow unused tickets to be reissued within one year of
original issue date without a
$100 change fee. Standby on the same day as
originally ticketed is permitted at no charge. Southwest
allows the purchase price to be applied toward the
purchase of future travel within one year without
penalty. Standby is not allowed.
Fluidity is the name of the game with these rules, as
announcements are being made every day with
variations and restrictions. This information serves as a
basic outline - not as a finished product.
For up-to-the-minute details, contact your MTS
TRAVEL Consultant.
| Carrier |
What happens to the
value of your non-refundable ticket if you miss a flight?
|
American,
Continential
Delta,
United, US Airways |
› Changes are allowed
up until midnight of the missed flight's departure
day.
› You may apply the ticket value to future travel
with $100 change fee
› If this does not
happen the ticket is worthless. |
Northwest |
› Changes are allowed
on or before the departure date as long as you call the
airlines at least 1 hour before departure
› You may apply the ticket value to future travel
with $100 change fee.
› If this does not
happen the ticket is worthless. |
Southwest
Airlines,
America West |
› You may rebook
without penalty
› Your ticket value is good
for one year from date of issue |
| Carrier |
Standby
Policy: |
American, America West, Continental,
Northwest, United
Delta, US
Airways
Southwest
|
› NO
FEE
› $100 Fee ( may be non-
refundable)
› NO
STANDBY |
Subject to change at any time
Use It - and Pay
Is a paper ticket
worth the cost?
At one
time, the traveler decided between electronic and
paper
tickets without factoring in a paper-ticket cost.
However, airlines are making it more attractive to
dispense with a hard copy and rely on e-tickets..
More
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