April 2010
In this issue...

• MacNair Travel Helps Volcano-Affected Travelers
• MacNair Travel Recommends Travelers Avoid Spirit Airlines and Its Controversial New Carry-on Baggage Fee
• April Webinar: Best Practices in Federal Government Contractor Travel Management
• MacNair Launches ContractorTravel.com
• Sources Say United in Merger Talks with US Airways and Continental
• Knowledge Helps Travel Agents "Outwit a Search Engine"
• Delta, US Airways, Slot Swap with AirTran, Spirit, WestJet and JetBlue Progresses
• Continental Charges More for Legroom and to Charge Coach Passengers for Meals
• Ryanair Works on Plan to Charge Passengers to Use Lavatory
• Canada Relaxes Luggage Rules for U.S.-Bound Flights
• Airlines Raise Fares 13% for Summer Season
• Delta to Beef up Its New York-Chicago Flight Route
• International Premium Travel Sees First Uptick in Nearly Two Years
• Vacation Hotspots by Diana Greer, Personal Travel Division Consultant
  

MACNAIR TRAVEL HELPS VOLCANO-AFFECTED TRAVELERS

A volcanic eruption in Iceland has forced the largest disruption to the world's aviation system since the 9/11 terrorist attacks as thousands of transatlantic flights have been cancelled. While the immediate impact has been great, it is likely that disruptions will continue for some time in the future as the volcano continues to erupt. MacNair proactively contacted its customers to advise them of their options or recommend solutions if their flights were cancelled. Most long-haul flights to and from Europe have resumed, but the possibility of more disruptions remains. Travelers are advised to sign up for Flight Notification from VirtuallyThere, as well as similar services from the airline(s) they are traveling with, and check to make sure their flight is on-time before heading to the airport. In addition, be sure that your traveler's profiles include a cell phone number so we can reach them when they are on the road. As always, if you have any questions, please call your MacNair Travel consultant for the latest details. When natural disasters or other events ground air transportation, do you want to be on your own trying to find a flight home or a hotel to stay in? MacNair Travel can take advantage of our special relationships with airlines and hotels to assist you when you would otherwise be stranded.

MACNAIR TRAVEL RECOMMNEDS TRAVELERS AVOID SPIRIT AIRLINES AND ITS CONTROVERSIAL NEW CARRY-ON BAGGAGE FEE

Controversy has erupted over Spirit Airline's plan to begin charging its customers up to $45 per flight to utilize the overhead storage bins available on its aircraft. Passengers on Spirit Airlines will be charged $45 for carry-on bags at the boarding gate, $30 if the fee is paid in advance, the carrier said. The move makes Spirit the first U.S. airline to charge for carry-on luggage. Spirit, a leader in coming up with fees to chart its customers, claims that the carry-on fee will lead to faster boarding and increased safety as less customers will use the overhead bins. MacNair continues to recommend that its customers avoid flying Spirit due to their poor customer service record, high "hassle factor", and lack of agreements with other airlines. American, United, US Airways, Delta, and JetBlue have pledged that they will not impose carry-on baggage fees.

APRIL WEBINAR: BEST PRACTICES IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

Back by popular demand! Our 2010 webinars are based on topics requested by our valued customers. If you are interested in a one on one webinar, please let us know. Mark your calendar and tell your friends! Sign up now!

Join Mike MacNair, President and CEO of MacNair Travel and guest speaker Bruce McIndoe, Risk Management Specialist and President of iJET Intelligent Risk Systems for our next webinar "Best Practices in Federal Government Contractor Travel Management" on April 29, 2010, 12:00pm-1:00pm Eastern.
Best Practices shared will include:

• Cost. Travel approaches based on contract types, policy development, and fare search expectations.
• Compliance. FTR/JTR, per diems and Fly America compliance tools.
• Competitiveness. Data, deals, systems and speed to execution.
• Risk. Personnel, operations, data/equipment, financial, and reputation mitigation.

Please RSVP to Rian Watson at 703-650-5256 or rwatson@macnairtravel.com to register.
Dial-in Information will be emailed out to registered participants prior to the webinar.

MACNAIR LAUNCHES CONTRACTORTRAVEL.COM

Government contractors have unique travel requirements, according to Mike MacNair, President and CEO of MacNair Travel Management. To help address this audience, MacNair Travel is launching Contractortravel.com. "Developing a more successful travel procurement system can enhance a contractor's ability to win more contracts, make more money on them, retain contracts, and comply with the rules of contracts," MacNair explains. "Using an expert in these areas can be an asset and we have specific examples that will benefit our customers."

Travel managers having this knowledge can avoid pitfalls in the areas of inefficiencies, cost, and risk. "Implementing and managing a successful travel procurement system is one way for contractors to avoid inefficiencies," MacNair says. MacNair Travel's new site, Contractortravel.com, helps contractors navigate compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and its Parts and Sub-parts related to travel which is complex and includes operational, contractual, and financial factors. After 20 years of serving the government contractor market, MacNair says the company is packaging the unique products and services required by businesses which fall into this category to leverage this expertise for improved customer results.
Travel managers have access to a wide range of web based and customized reporting tools designed to speed reimbursements, track and monitor travelers and expenditures, distribute costs to projects and document compliance with the FAR.

"Additionally, we know different policies may apply for direct and indirect travel, overhead and staff travel, group travel and sub-contractor travel," MacNair says. "We have the tools, experience and options to address and leverage all of these types of travel to ensure value, support, control and productivity - delivering what we call 'Travel Leadership'." Whether it is compliance with the Fly America Act, conformity with the Federal and Joint Travel Regulations (per diem structures), prime and sub-contractor obligations, or unique accounting requirements and documentation, MacNair has the experience to help contractors develop the policies and practices to stand up to the most rigorous DCAA review. These efforts take the expertise and tools that MacNair is known for in supporting the complexity inherent in government contractor travel. MacNair is well equipped to provide this support and is consistently saving these organizations 10 to 20 percent over the national averages.

SOURCES SAY UNITED IN MERGER TALKS WITH US AIRWAYS AND CONTINENTAL

US Airways and United Airlines have been negotiating a possible tie-up that would alter the industry, sources said. Combining the carriers would result in the second-largest U.S. airline and put pressure on rivals, particularly American Airlines and Continental Airlines. "United and US Air are already in the Star Alliance, so that's a hurdle that's already been cleared," said Hunter Keay, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus. "Both of their top executives are the biggest proponents of consolidation in the industry. And they tried twice before to merge." (Source: Bloomberg, The New York Times)

KNOWLEDGE HELPS TRAVEL AGENTS "OUTWIT A SEARCH ENGINE"

Robert L. Mitchell, National Correspondent for Computerworld, explains how he and his wife each spent a good deal of time trying to find the best price on airfare for an upcoming trip only to eventually turn over the search to a travel agent. Not only did the agent save Mitchell some cash, she also was able to do it much faster. "Usually a human can outwit a search engine," Mitchell's travel agent said. To view the full story click here.
(Source: Computerworld)

DELTA, US AIRWAYS, SLOT SWAP WITH AIRTRAN, SPIRIT, WESTJET AND JETBLUE PROGRESSES

The U.S. Justice Department has tentatively approved a Delta Air Lines and US Airways slot swap out of New York's LaGuardia and Reagan Washington National airports. It's part of an effort to remedy what the DOJ calls the "small presence" of low-cost carriers at both airports. Under the proposal, Delta and US Airways would relinquish 12 percent of their landing and take-off slots at the airports. Under the latest version of the plan, Delta would give up five slots each to AirTran, Spirit and WestJet. US Airways would hand over five at National to JetBlue. The proposal still has hurdles to overcome as Delta and US Airways are challenging some restrictions the Department of Transportation is proposing on the deal. (Source: US Airways, Delta press release).

CONTINENTAL CHARGES MORE FOR LEGROOM AND TO CHARGE COACH PASSENGERS FOR MEALS

Continental Airlines now charges more for seats in economy that have extra legroom. Its elite frequent flyer members and anyone traveling with them are exempt. Some seats have at least seven extra inches of legroom, depending on the aircraft and row. Pricing varies according to the length of flight, market and other factors. Other airlines, including JetBlue and United Airlines, also charge for economy seats with more legroom.
(Source: Continental press release, Houston Chronicle).

RYANAIR WORKS ON PLAN TO CHARGE PASSENGERS TO USE LAVATORY

Ryanair is aiming to encourage passengers to use airport restrooms before they board the plane. The airline is working with Boeing on a coin-operated door release system that would require passengers to deposit either a euro or a British pound to use the bathroom on flights that last less than an hour. (Source: CNN)

CANADA RELAXES LUGGAGE RULES FOR U.S.-BOUND FLIGHTS

For the first time since a Christmas Day bombing attempt against a commercial jetliner, Canadian travelers will be allowed to carry two pieces of luggage aboard U.S.-bound flights. The one-bag rule was imposed after more strict screening led to chaos in canadian airports. But since that time, the government has hired additional screeners and committed nearly $11 million to installing full-body scanners in airports. The Canadian travel industry expressed support for the revised policy. (Source: National Post (Canada))

AIRLINES RAISE FARES 13% FOR SUMMER SEASON

Data from Travelocity.com show U.S. airlines, including Delta and American Airlines, are charging an average of 13% more for summer airfares than they did last summer. "There's a pent-up demand after people trimmed vacations or cut back on spending in 2009," Travelocity.com Senior Editor Genevieve Shaw Brown said. "People have more confidence about spending on their vacations this year." (Source: Bloomberg)

DELTA TO BEEF UP ITS NEW YORK-CHICAGO FLIGHT ROUTE

Delta Air Lines will shift from Chicago Midway to O'Hare when it launches shuttle service in June between New York and the Windy City. Delta will offer 11 daily round trips on Embraer 175 regional jets operated by Shuttle America, a Delta Connection carrier. The move puts Delta in more direct competition with American Airlines and United Airlines, which have hub operations at O'Hare. (Source: USA TODAY)

INTERNATIONAL PREMIUM TRAVEL SEES FIRST UPTICK IN NEARLY TWO YEARS

The International Air Transport Association reported that international premium travel was up 1.7 percent in December 2009 over a year earlier. That's the first increase since May 2008. Economy travel was up five percent over a year earlier. The recession hit airlines hard throughout the first half of 2009, but a post-recession upturn began in the second half. May marked the low point for premium travel while February marked the low point for economy travel. (Source: IATA press release)

VACATION HOTSPOTS BY DIANA GREER, PERSONAL TRAVEL DIVISION CONSULTANT

Just a few of the many travel values available this month:

• It's a great year for Europe! MacNair Travel is offering $600 off per couple on all air-inclusive European Escorted Vacations through our special relationship through Brendan Vacations. Book by May 28, 2010. Travel must be completed between June 1 and October 15, 2010.
• How about a Bahamas Getaway and some great air savings? MacNair Travel and American Express Vacations are offering Free Companion Airfare or $300 Instant Savings to the Islands of the Bahamas. Take your pick of select resorts! Book by May 10th and travel by December 22nd.
• How about "Dancing with the Crystal Stars" this winter? Join the Glenn Miller Orchestra on the Crystal Serenity, a Big Band Transatlantic Voyage featuring an intense Ballroom Boot Camp. This 10-day cruise departs Dec. 1 from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada, Grand Turk, and Miami. Two-for-One cruise fares start at $4,000, double occupancy, including free air transportation from more than 20 U.S. gateways plus receive a $500 per person shipboard credit.
• Contact the Personal Travel Division at MacNair Travel Management at dreamtrippers@macnairtravel.com or 703-836-1101 today!

Click here to view previous InFlight Newsletters.
Please feel free to send comments or suggestions to our editor, Tony Torres, at ttorres@macnairtravel.com.