August 2009
In this issue...

• **What You Need to Know If You Book Your Airline Ticket After August 15th!**
• Contact MacNair Now to Book as Airfares Continue to Tumble
• MacNair Travel Management Celebrates 20th Anniversary
• MacNair Travel Takes the Frustration Out of Booking Travel
• MacNair Travel Closed on Labor Day
• Report Estimates Business Travel Spending Hit $929 Billion
• Airline Capacity Cutbacks Start to Stabilize
• US Airways and Delta Sign Deal to Swap Assets in New York and Washington
• Delta Announces Details of New SkyMiles Program
• Hotel Rates Expected to Decline Throughout the Year
• New Technologies, Procedures Speed Airport-CheckPoint Process
• MacNair Travel Supports the Red Cross
• Mariners Club Special Offers
• Visit Curacao
  

**WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU BOOK YOUR AIRLINE TICKET AFTER AUGUST 15TH!**

The Secure Flight Program begins on August 15th. Secure Flight is a program developed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to enhance the security of domestic and international commercial travel. Under the Secure Flight Final Rule, MacNair Travel and other travel management companies will collect, and airlines will send to the TSA, the following additional information from passengers when making a reservation to fly within, into or out of the United States.

• Full Name (required), as it appears on government-issued I.D., approved for use when traveling
• Date of Birth (required)
• Gender (required)
• Redress Number (optional)

If you are a traveler, please click on either link below and complete the federally mandated information. A few minutes of your time now can save you time and aggravation later. Without this information, you will not be able to print an electronic boarding pass, and may encounter additional security checks.

MacNairport users should log onto MacNairport here, and then update your profile in the "Pro Shop."
Non-MacNairport users should complete this form and return it to us via fax.

The TSA requirements only apply to flights booked on or after August 15, 2009. For previously booked travel, including travel after August 15, TSA does not require collection of Secure Flight data.

Note: Secure Flight uses the results of the Redress process in its watch list matching process, thus preventing future misidentifications for passengers who may have a name that is similar to an individual on the watch list. Those who believe they have been mistakenly matched to a name on the watch list are invited to apply for Redress through DHS TRIP. For more information on the Redress process, please visit www.dhs.gov/trip.

CONTACT MACNAIR NOW TO BOOK AS AIRFARES CONTINUE TO TUMBLE

The Department of Transportation reports that average domestic fares dropped 9.1 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. The $315 average first-quarter fares were down 5.9 percent from the first quarter of 2008 and down 12.5 percent from the record high average fares of $360 in the third quarter of 2008. Since 2005, average fares have risen less than the inflation rate. A separate measure of fares, the BTS Air Travel price Index (ATPI) dropped 8.5 percent in the first quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009. (Source DOT)

MACNAIR TRAVEL MANAGEMENT CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

MacNair Travel Management celebrated its 20th Anniversary on July 30th at Alexandria's Lorien Hotel. Accompanied by their staff of 50, Mike and Ellen MacNair recapped 20 years of successes and recognized key contributors. MacNair Travel has grown to serve over 300 organizations like the US Chamber of Commerce, seven Presidential Campaigns, Federal Government Contractors, Universities, Student Groups, Law Firms and passionate vacation travelers across the Washington, DC area. With sales of over $50 million, MacNair has become a major local travel brand for organizations and individuals who want global clout, efficient technology tools, and local service. Mike and Ellen started the company with help from Alexandria residents and travel industry veterans Ed and Karen Didion. In 1999, it became a privately owned and operated office of American Express. Last year alone, MacNair saved customers an average of $89 per ticket compared to the national domestic average ticket cost and over $1500 average per ticket internationally on thousands of transactions. MacNair has won a Small Business of the Year award from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, has been recognized by the trade association representing its industry, and by technology companies within the industry. The company has been recognized and utilized as an industry expert by local media (TV, radio, newspapers), as well as national media outlets including CNN, Travel & Leisure, Fortune Small Business, and more.

MACNAIR TRAVEL TAKES THE FRUSTRATION OUT OF BOOKING TRAVEL

Forrester Research is set to release a new report that shows many consumers are frustrated and fed up with trying to book travel online. "What we've seen is growing frustrations," said Henry H. Harteveldt, a travel analyst at Forrester. " Consumers see other Web sites becoming easier to use -- retail Web sites, banking Web sites, media Web sites. But travel is treading water as a category. There are very few travel companies that are really looking to improve the planning and booking process." (Source: The New York Times -8/3)

MacNair Travel can take the frustration out of travel for you. Our experienced Travel Consultants will monitor your reservations from booking through to the end of your travel and will be available to help when problems strike. Contact MacNair Travel now to see how we can help you or your organization reduce the frustration of both booking your travel and the experience of traveling itself.

MACNAIR TRAVEL CLOSED ON LABOR DAY

MacNair Travel will be closed on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen at 8:30am on Tuesday, September 8th.

REPORT ESTIMATES BUSINESS TRAVEL SPENDING HIT $929 BILLION

Contrary to popular belief, businesses are still traveling. The National Business Travel Association has released a report that estimates that worldwide, businesses spent a total of $929 billion on travel, including airfare, accommodations, auto rentals and food. The research delved into more than 70 countries and 48 industry sectors. Spending in Western Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region combined for 90% of the global volume in 2008, according to the report.

With increasing technological change and increasingly complicated travel, businesses will increasingly need to turn to their travel consultant to help them manage their travel successfully. MacNair Travel can help your organization control costs, ensure travel policy adherence, and help with safety and efficiency.
(Source: BTNOnline.com, NBTA)

AIRLINE CAPACITY CUTBACKS START TO STABILIZE

One year since the world's airlines began to curb their seat capacity in the face of global economic pressures, the cutbacks are starting to stabilize with just over 315 million seats on offer this month, a drop of just one percent over July 2008 levels, said OAG, (www.oagaviation.com), the world's leading aviation data business, as it releases its monthly report on trends in the supply of airline flights and seats. OAG said that it figures, which amalgamate the plans of airlines worldwide, show an upward trend from the dramatic declines of past months. The world's airlines have scheduled a total of 2.55 million flights for July 2009, down by 3% compared with the same month last year, with a drop in capacity of 3.3 million fewer seats to offer to travelers around the globe. Last month, the year-on-year global frequency and capacity figures were down by 4% and 2% respectively.
(Source: OAG press release)

US AIRWAYS AND DELTA SIGN DEAL TO SWAP ASSETS IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON

US Airways and Delta Air Lines have signed a deal to swap 167 pairs of slots at two of the nation's most congested airports as the companies also look to expand their presence in new regions. The airlines will swap gate locations at LaGuardia to consolidate all of Delta's operations into what Delta called an expanded main terminal with 11 extra gates. US Airways will get 42 pairs of slots at Ronald Regan Washington National Airport. It will also acquire the rights to fly to Tokyo and Sao Paulo. Delta will get 125 pairs at New York's LaGuardia Airport currently used by US Airways' express operations. One slot equals one takeoff or landing, so a pair of slots equals a roundtrip flight. US Airways plans to add flights from Washington to Birmingham, Ithaca, Myrtle Beach, Cincinnati, Little Rock, Ottawa, Des Moines, Madison, Pensacola, Grand Rapids, Montreal, Savannah, Islip, Miami, and Tallahassee. (Source: Wall Street Journal)

DELTA ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF NEW SKYMILES PROGRAM

Delta Air Lines is rolling out its new SkyMiles Medallion program over the next nine months, incorporating what it says are the best benefits most important to Delta SkyMiles and former Northwest WorldPerks customers, including the popular unlimited complimentary upgrades on flights within the continental U.S. and select other regions. It also will add new features, including a fourth Medallion level, the ability to roll over qualifying miles earned above a Medallion threshold into the following year, bonus miles and other benefits.
(Source: Delta press release)

HOTEL RATES EXPECTED TO DECLINE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Smith Travel Research is projecting that by the end of this year, hotel supply will be up 3.0 percent, demand will be down 5.5 percent and occupancy will decline 8.4 percent. The result, average daily rates will drop 9.7 percent. The company revised its report due to steep discounting. Mark V. Lomanno, STR's President, said that after the last economic downturn, 2001 and 2002, hoteliers had vowed to hold pricing stable during the next one. Lomanno said that hoteliers haven't been able to hold pricing steady, perhaps due to the severity of the downturn.
(Source: STR press release)

NEW TECHNOLOGIES, PROCEDURES SPEED AIRPORT-CHECKPOINT PROCESS

Whereas travelers have often waited for more than an hour to get through security at U.S. airports, the wait is now rarely more than about 10 minutes as the process becomes more streamlined, according to the Transportation Security Administration. New procedures and technology, such as advanced X-ray machines at places such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports and millimeter wave machines to screen for explosives, have allowed for more efficient checkpoints. (Source: Sun-Sentinel)

MACNAIR TRAVEL SUPPORTS THE RED CROSS

MacNair Travel recently participated in the Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival, along with Carnival Cruise Lines and American Express Vacations. The event was a family affair and our staff enjoyed seeing many of our clients. We were pleased to feature two great family vacation options. Carnival Cruise Lines was promoting their new Carnival Pride sailings from Baltimore, where they will be sailing year round primarily to the Bahamas and to Bermuda. American Express Vacations was promoting their Destination Family program, which features exclusive benefits for American Express cardholders, such as: guaranteed connecting or adjoining rooms, kids stay or eat free, and at least one other special benefit depending on the resort.

MARINERS CLUB SPECIAL OFFERS

When you book your cruise with MacNair Travel ask about our Mariners Club. As our guest, you will enjoy special exclusive privileges and extraordinary values. Mariners Club offers: competitive fares, professional and experienced onboard Mariners Club hosts, unique and complimentary shore side excursions, and exclusive cocktail parties. If you pay for your cruise using your American Express card, you will also receive double membership rewards. Contact the Personal Travel Division at MacNair Travel to book your cruise today!

VISIT CURACAO

Are you looking for something different in an island vacation? Kim Peele, Director of our Personal Travel Division at MacNair Travel is just back from Curacao and recommends it highly. "We had a wonderful trip and even though it was just four days, it was worth the journey," says Peele. Curacao is the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles group and is just off the coast of South America. Air Jamaica has easy connections and you can be there from Baltimore in just 7 hours. Curacao offers wide beautiful beaches and many fine hotels. Contact your MacNair vacation consultant today for more information!

Please feel free to send comments or suggestions to our editor, Tony Torres, at ttorres@macnairtravel.com.