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Greetings!
Welcome to this edition of MTS TRAVEL'S
electronic
newsletter targeted to the needs of the church,
mission, relief and
development traveler. We hope you will find the
information and articles useful. To view back
issues
of
this newsletter,
visit our website at www.mtstravel.com/newsletter
| My Bag Went Where?! |
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Even the calmest traveler has that moment of panic as
the baggage claim carousel starts to move, asking
themselves, "Will my bag be here?" Here are a few
tips to assure the safe arrival of your luggage.
- Ensure that each luggage piece has a sturdy,
clear address tag on the outside. Consider using your
business address, so you are not advertising that you
are away from home.
- Put the same information
inside each bag, with the addition of a flight itinerary,
so your bag will meet you at your destination, not be
returned to the address on your luggage tag.
- Opt
for non-stop flights, if possible
If the worst does happen, file a lost baggage claim
with your airline immediately. Be sure to get the name
of the airline employee assisting you with the claim,
the local phone number of the baggage claim office,
and the 800 number for the airline's lost baggage line.
Call often! If the airline cannot assure you that your
luggage is coming within a few hours, ask for an
amenity kit and an allowance for basic necessities.
The good news is that most all lost bags are returned
to the owners within 24 hours.
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| Kiddy Candids |
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Summer is the time for family travel; kids are out of
school, and the clench of activities loosens a little.
Traveling with children is both wonderful and
challenging. A few simple preparations can ease the
process.
With the airline elimination of most meal service, a
few snacks from home can help the pocketbook, and
provide familiar and healthy foods for your little ones.
Bring some favorite small toys, drawing paper,
coloring book and pencils. Storybooks also pass the
time.
Many airports have begun to recognize that happy kids
make for happy parents, and have established play
areas. Some are quite elaborate; for instance,
Chicago O'Hare has a two-story control tower, an
airplane cockpit, luggage slide, and ticket counter for
young aspiring airline employees.
For the older children, universal headsets or handheld
games could be a good investment. Wave bye-bye!
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| Speed Bump |
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Airline overbooking can be a traveler's boon or bane.
The prospect of a free ticket can make a few hours
delay almost attractive, but be sure you understand
your rights as a bumped passenger. If you agree to
give up your confirmed seat, otherwise known as
voluntary bumping, you are free to negotiate with the
airline regarding your compensation. Airlines give
employees guidelines for bargaining, and they may
select those volunteers who will to take the least
compensation. If you are forced to give up your seat-
involuntary bumping-the compensation is regulated by
the DOT.
To avoid involuntary bumping, take the following
precautions..
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| Passport to Paradise..or Europe, Africa, Asia.. |
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The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland
Security announced June 8, 2007 that U.S. citizens
traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and
Bermuda who have applied for, but not yet received,
passports may temporarily enter and depart from the
United States by air with a government issued photo
identification and Department of State official proof of
application for a passport through September 30,
2007. The federal government is making this
accommodation for air travel due to longer than
expected processing times for passport applications
in the face of record-breaking demand.
Adults who have applied for, but not yet received, a
passport should present government-issued photo
identification and an official proof of application from
the U.S. Department of State. Children under the age
of 16 traveling with their parents or legal guardian will
be permitted to travel with the child's proof of
application. U.S. citizens with pending passport
applications can obtain proof of application at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/
status/status_2567.html.
The suspension of the new rule only relaxes the U.S.
requirements, but does not affect entry requirements
to other countries. Americans traveling to a country
that requires passports must still present those
documents; in the case of Mexico and the Caribbean a
certified copy of your birth certificate is still needed to
enter these countries. Currently, passport processing
is taking 10 - 12 weeks or longer. Don't delay in
applying and you won't be delayed in departing.
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| Don't Forget Your Vacation! |
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Call the MTS TRAVEL Vacation
Team today!
1-866-280-2363
To plan your vacation
and
meet the MTS
TRAVEL
Vacation Team!
Jeannie, Kim, Ruth, Saundra, Debi, Julia, Kathy, Liz,
Shirley, and Linda
The newest addition to MTS TRAVEL Vacation Team is
our Honeymoon Registry. Plan your honeymoon with any
MTS TRAVEL Team Member and register your
honeymoon online at www.mtstravel.com/vacations.
Let us help plan your getaway including Hotel
Packages, Tours, Cruises and much more. We are a
Virtuoso Agency "Specializing in the Art of
Travel".
We look forward to planning with you!
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Lazy Daze |
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The summer travel season is upon us! That long
awaited summer vacation is finally a real date on the
calendar. Just the prospect of some time off and away
can change your outlook.
However, predictions indicate that summer travel may
be a bigger hassle than this past "winter of delays." Air
travel has rebounded, in a big way, but airline
infrastructure has not. Airlines have scheduled more
flights for the summer, but have fewer employees to
serve their customers. More air traffic makes the
impact of a storm more widespread and the recovery
more difficult. Flights are full leaving fewer empty
seats for re-accommodating stranded passengers in
case of cancellation.
But don't let these gloomy predictions ruin your trip-
there is good news for summer travel. With the
increase in flights, the air traffic control agency will
increase their use of technology to spread out the flow
of airplanes during storms, allowing more rerouting
and less sitting on the tarmac. Additional departure
routes will be in use at our nation's busiest airports.
Other good news is that summer thunderstorms don't
last as long as winter snow storms, so not as many
flights are disrupted.
There are steps you can take to make summer travel
easier. Create a "travel cushion," give yourself ample
connection time, and do not schedule arrivals shortly
before an important event, meeting, or sailing. Keep a
close eye on the weather-airlines will often relax
penalties on flight changes in advance of a predicted
storm, allowing you to travel a day or two earlier.
Especially during summer try to fly early in the day;
thunderstorms build with afternoon heat.
And last, but not least, work with a travel agent..
specifically, your MTS TRAVEL agent. The benefits go
far beyond saving time and money. No lengthy,
exasperating phone calls with the airline, or trying to
make sense of the confusing airline lingo. With your
agent's instant access to airline schedules and years
of experience, turmoil gives way to take-off.
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