Win a Trip to the 2012 London Olympics from United Airlines
Because I’m a member of United’s Mileage Plus program, I received the following information about an exciting offer to win a trip to the London Olympics from United Airlines.
We all know how tricky it can be to attend the Olympics—between getting there, finding reasonably priced accommodations, and buying tickets to the events—attending the Games is generally just a dream for most of us. But three lucky winners will receive just that. Here’s how:
*No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited. The United Airlines Team USA Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. who are 18 or older. Starts 12:00AM ET 5/14/12 & ends 11:59PM ET 5/30/12. For Official Rules, visit united.com/flymetolondon or facebook.com/unitedairlines. Sponsored by United Airlines, Inc.
Travel Security Tips
The most common crime that affects travelers is theft, but investing in a few simple security accessories will give you the peace of mind to travel with confidence rather than fear. Here are a few ideas:
Padlocks (see here)
A padlock is a lock that is opened with a key. This is an inexpensive security option to keep others from gaining access to the contents of your bags – just don’t lose your keys!
Combination Locks (see here)
If you are worried about losing the key to a padlock, a combination lock is a perfect solution.
TSA Locks (see here)
If you are traveling out of the country you may want to invest in a TSA Lock. This lock allows customs to access your luggage easily, while still keeping your belongings safe.
Travel Money Belt (see here)
A money belt will keep your money close to your body and safe from prying eyes. You can also use it to conceal other important items such as your passport or credit cards.
Mesh Security Products (see here)
Many bags, wallets, money belts, etc., have a mesh fabric woven throughout, which helps prevent your bag from being cut or slashed.
The United/Continental Merger: A Personal Epiphany
I was recently sitting in a client review meeting with our United Airlines sales representative. I, like most, have been extremely frustrated with the immediate results of the United/Continental merger and how it has wreaked havoc in our travel community. But I was pleasantly surprised with how our United representative took ownership of the situation and the difficulties that have surrounded this transition. She actually shared many points about this process and what has been occurring over the last two months.
One comment in particular stood out above all others. She said, “This was the single largest technology conversion in aviation history and we are working through the technical issues that inevitably accompany a project of this magnitude.” From that one statement, it all began to make sense to me.
Perhaps you could call it a personal epiphany, but I decided I wasn’t going to be frustrated anymore. I couldn’t. Anything of this magnitude can’t be easy!
It was then I took a deep breath and decided to just have patience.
Congress and Airline Mergers
As the U.S. airline industry grapples with high fuel prices, carriers will continue to merge and provoke customer angst about ticket prices and service – but don’t look for Congress to step in.
Congress has ultimately taken a pass on preventing mergers between Delta and Northwest, and between United and Continental. There is every reason to think that if the third domino falls–a possible merger between US Airways and American Airlines–that lawmakers will again bench themselves, preferring to let the DOJ sort it out instead.
To read the full story on Politico.com, click here.
Travel Agents Rock. It’s True.
Following the recent trend of explaining why using a travel advisor is such an excellent idea, the New York Times published an article Friday, April 20, 2012 titled “Are Travel Agents Back?” The answer seems to be a resounding yes!
Excerpt from the article is below:
The complimentary wine and fruit platter was sent up to Jessica Griffin and her family moments after they strolled into their roomy suite. They were accompanied by a bellhop who placed their bags near a tidy crib made up with luxurious, high thread-count sheets for Ms. Griffin’s 1-year-old daughter.
The V.I.P. treatment at the Cheeca Lodge and Spa in the Florida Keys last month hadn’t come with an extra cost. In fact, Ms. Griffin said, she paid about $100 a night less than the standard rate for her room. And the deal wasn’t the result of hours of tedious online research either. She had finagled her savings the old-fashioned way: through a travel agent. Read the rest of this post »
Q1 Was a Mixed Bag for the Airlines
The major U.S. domestic airlines had widely varied results for the first quarter of 2012.
Delta Air Lines posted a first-quarter net profit of $124 million versus a $318 million loss for Q1 a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, the company’s pre-tax loss was $36 million, representing a $355 million improvement from the first quarter of 2011, despite $250 million in higher fuel expense. The airline posted a 10 percent increase in revenue, year-over-year, to $7.2 billion.
US Airways Group posted a first-quarter net profit of $48 million versus a $114 million loss for Q1 a year earlier. The net profit included a special $70 million credit associated with a slot transaction executed with Delta, at New York LaGuardia and Washington National airports. Passenger revenue increased 11.5 percent, year-over-year, to $2.9 billion.
United Continental Holdings posted a first-quarter net loss of $448 million versus a $213 million net loss for Q1 last year. The loss included $162 million in special costs, primarily related to United’s integration of Continental Airlines, according to the carrier. Corporate revenues increased 10 percent year-over-year.
American Airlines parent AMR posted a first-quarter net loss of $1.7 billion, versus a $436 million net loss for Q1 last year. Bankrupt AMR attributed the loss to $1.4 billion in reorganization items and an increase in fuel costs. Consolidated unit revenues increased 10.3 percent year-over-year.
Cost + Service = An Invaluable Managed Travel Program
Many companies, both large and small, approach business travel with eyes only on the bottom line. Their focus tends to be on cost savings, with service as a secondary, and sometimes tertiary, commodity. However, unsatisfactory service is one of the reasons a company will go looking for a new bid.
For example, as a travel management company, you could save an organization $20,000 a month on their travel, but if you were to screw up on the president’s travel even once … you could be out!
“Cost is the priority that everyone listens to, but value builds compliance over the long term,” says Cynthia Gillen, a buyer for midmarket BDO USA. “We’re putting in more effort to sell the value of the travel management program internally based on the value to the company. Over time there will be more emphasis on value as opposed to cost.”
At Christopherson Business Travel, not only do companies get the value of bottom line savings, but also exceptional customer service. Our formula for success can be compared to a three-legged stool, with the three legs being 1) Our Proprietary Technology, 2) Expert Agents, and 3) Dedicated Account Management. All three legs are essential, and when one fails the other two cannot stand on their own. The combination of those three, equally important elements represents a value to our customers that cannot be dismissed.
Christopherson Business Travel creates a road map for our clients that, when followed, is the key to travel management success. And customers can decide how much ”service” and “savings” they want by how managed their travel program is.
The three levels of managed travel programs are 1) Low Control, 2) Medium Control, and 3) High Control. An example of this, in regards to airline class of service, is as follows. Low control would provide domestic trips in coach, and international trips in business or first class for director level positions and above. Medium control would provide domestic trips in first class for those authorized or in specific circumstances (e.g. traveling with a client), and international trips in business class. High control would allow domestic trips in coach, international trips lasting less than five hours in coach, and international trips lasting more than five hours in business class, with authorization from a company vice president required for first class travel.
By creating a managed travel program that fits your company, you will be able to take advantage of all that Christopherson has to offer. Your ROI bottom line will thank you and your travelers will appreciate the guidence and processes set up for them.
For more on how to create a cost savings return managed travel program while receiving the value of great customer service please contact a Christopherson Account Manager at allam@cbtravel.com.
Denver International Airport Detour Routes
Denver International Airport will be undergoing a period of construction beginning mid-May. Below are a few key dates and information to consider if your travels take you to, or through, Denver:
- Beginning mid-May 2012, RTD buses and the Mt. Elbert/Pikes Peak shuttle will drop-off and pick-up passengers on Level 6 East.
- Beginning mid-May 2012, taxi and shuttle drop-off and pick-up will be in their designated median locations on Level 5. During construction, commercial vehicles will not drop passengers curbside on Level 5.
- Beginning in June 2012, passenger pick-up for Terminal West will be detoured through the parking garage to pick-up curbside on Level 4. Vehicles will not be required to pull a parking ticket.
- Beginning in June 2012, passenger drop-off for Terminal West will be detoured off Peña Boulevard to enter Level 6 from the north. Signs will be posted directing travelers to the appropriate location.
- DIA’s South Terminal Redevelopment Program will build a Public Transit Center, 500-room Westin hotel and conference center and a public plaza connecting the new development to the existing Jeppesen Terminal. The Program is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs, including 600 – 700 construction and design jobs and 250 permanent hotel jobs, and will generate approximately $2 million in annual tax revenues for the City and County of Denver’s General Fund. Excavation and enabling work for the $500 million project began in the fall of 2011.
For more information, the public can call the information line at 303-342-6400, e-mail southterminalupdate@flydenver.com or visit FlyDenver.com.
Delta Subsidiary to Acquire Trainer Refinery Complex
We recently received the following notification from Delta regarding their new partnership with leaders in the energy industry to drive fuel savings:
(April 30, 2012) – Delta Air Lines wholly-owned subsidiary, Monroe Energy LLC, has reached agreement with Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX-WI) to acquire the Trainer refinery complex south of Philadelphia. As part of the transaction, Monroe will enter into strategic sourcing and marketing agreements with BP (NYSE: BP) and Phillips 66. The acquisition includes pipelines and transportation assets that will provide access to the delivery network for jet fuel reaching Delta’s operations throughout the Northeast, including its hubs at LaGuardia and JFK.
After receipt of $30 million in state government assistance for job creation and infrastructure improvement from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Monroe’s investment to acquire the refinery will be $150 million, and Monroe will spend $100 million to convert the existing infrastructure to maximize jet fuel production. Production at the refinery combined with multi-year agreements to exchange gasoline, diesel, and other refined products from the refinery for jet fuel will provide 80 percent of Delta’s jet fuel needs in the United States.
Monroe is partnering with leading energy companies to supply crude oil and receive jet fuel in exchange for Trainer’s non-jet fuel outputs. Under a three-year agreement, BP will supply the crude oil to be refined at the facility. Monroe Energy will exchange gasoline and other refined products from Trainer for jet fuel from Phillips 66 and BP elsewhere in the country through multi-year agreements.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Delaware County have agreed to provide assistance to ensure the refinery continues its economic contribution to the region.
Trainer will be run by a seasoned leadership team headed by 25-year refinery veteran Jeffrey Warmann. In his last position as refinery manager for Murphy Oil USA, Inc.’s Meraux, La. refinery, Warmann led Meraux’s restructuring efforts, increasing refinery output by more than 30 percent and significantly improving Meraux’s profitability.
Monroe expects to close on the acquisition in the first half of 2012. Jet fuel production is expected to begin during the third quarter, and changes to the plant infrastructure to increase jet fuel production would be complete by the end of the third quarter, resulting in expected 2012 fuel savings of more than $100 million.
For more information and to read the full press release, click here.
Competition is Good for the Consumer
Economics 101 says “Competition is good for the consumer,” or at least that’s what I was taught early on in life.
But it also means a bit more work for the competing companies. Which is perhaps the reason some are questioning Southwest Airlines’ desire to use the Hobby Airport for international flights to Latin America.
Southwest is willing to pay for an international terminal along with a customs area, but they’re running into roadblock after roadblock both from United Airlines (who is currently the only airline in the area offering flights to Latin America) and from some members of the Houston City Council.
Some believe that if Southwest is allowed to pursue this venture then the price of airline tickets will go up. But with no competition, doesn’t United have the advantage to set prices anywhere they want?
Additionally, wouldn’t a new international terminal at Hobby create more jobs and drive fares down due to the competition between the two airlines?
I guess there is always two sides to every story, but I still believe that competition is good for the consumer. And I’m a consumer.
To read more about this “Air War in Houston” visit MyFoxDFW.com
