Most domestic and many international airline tickets are nonrefundable. The one simple rule is, unless the passenger has passed away, these tickets cannot be refunded for money.

An exception is: If your flight is canceled or delayed due to weather or mechanical problems, airlines generally will permit MTS TRAVEL to request a refund for you if we have issued the ticket. Tickets bought from third-party ticket discounters may not have all the elements of this policy open to them.

If you must cancel your trip, you must contact the airline prior to the original departure date. For some fares, this means one day prior to flight date; for others, it's the day of departure. If you have a question regarding this, please contact your MTS TRAVEL Consultant for the airline's rules.

Most airlines allow you to apply the value of your unused ticket toward the purchase of a new one within one year. There are exceptions to this rule, however, for Northwest Airlines tickets purchased April 2005 through July 2006. For these tickets, you must exchange them a maximum of 90 days after the first missed flight.

Airline fees for exchange begin at $25 and go upwards. Most commonly, the fee is $100. However, some international airline ticket exchanges cost more. Some airlines allow this penalty to be deducted from the value of your unused tickets; others do not.

If you do not use the entire value of your unused ticket ..

Even the wide range of modern electronic communications cannot entirely replace the pleasure and comfort of a personal meeting. To maintain visible contact with our valuable clients, and to meet new ones, MTS TRAVEL participates annually in over twenty regional and national conferences. These venues include Christian Management Association, many national denominational conventions, mission conferences and youth meetings.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet and talk with you at our MTS TRAVEL booth. Going to be attending a conference or convention and want to know if we'll be there? Contact our National Sales Director, Wenda Zimmerman-Nelson, she will be able to tell you where we are going to be and when. Wenda can be reached at wendan@mtstravel.com.

See you soon!

As of January 23, 2007, all U.S. citizens, including children, must hold a valid passport for air travel to/from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. This requirement will extend to land border crossings and sea travel, for adults, by January 1, 2008. However for land and sea entries, children under age 15, traveling with parental consent, and those 16-18 years traveling with adult supervised school, religious, cultural or athletic groups, may use a certified birth certificate.

Current costs for an adult, new issue passport is $97.00. If you hold a passport that has expired within the last fifteen years, you can renew for $67.00. Additional fees do apply for expedited service.

February to April is the busiest time of year for the Passport Services. If you are planning a spring break or summer trip, now is the time to apply. With the assistance and advice of your MTS TRAVEL consultant, you can beat the rush. New to MTS TRAVEL? Call 1-877 908-8899.

It's not too early to plan for the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play!

The Oberammergau Passion Play was first presented in 1634 by the villagers of Oberammergau, located in southern Germany, in gratitude to God for sparing most of them from the Black Plague. Grateful villagers vowed to present the Passion of Christ each decade. The story line of the play comes directly from the biblical accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It depicts Jesus from the time he enters Jerusalem until the resurrection. More than 1,000 villagers are involved on stage or behind the scenes. Performances are given 5 days a week from late May through September.

The impressive drama combines beautifully presented pageantry, music, and acting. The open-air stage is big enough to hold 700 actors plus a fifty- voice choir. A shell covers the 5,000 seat auditorium. Because of the length of the Passion Play, it is presented in two parts, with a break for dinner. Our tours include two nights in the village of Oberammergau, tickets to the Passion Play, and meals.

MTS TRAVEL has offered Oberammergau Passion Play tours since 1960 and is committed to providing you with first-class travel arrangements and excellent customer service. Maybe you'll consider organizing a group from your church or join one of our many professionally escorted tours. Even though the performances are a few years away, now is the time to begin thinking about it. This is due to the fact that tickets are in great demand.

Check out our webpage for Oberammergau 2010 at www.mtstravel.com/oberammergau2010 or www.mtstravel.com/passionplay. This is an initial version which will be updated as new information becomes available. Please click on the link and fill out the login which will enable us to know your interest. Feel free to email questions to us at oberammergau2010@mtstravel.com.