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FRENCH STRIKE TO CAUSE FURTHER TRAVEL DISRUPTION
(source: Telegraph.co.uk)
Travelers to France can expect disruption to their journeys on Thursday October 28 as air traffic controllers and rail workers begin another 24-hour strike.
Half of flights to Paris Orly airport, and around a third of services to other French airports, face cancellation, according to the country's aviation authority.
Short-haul flights will be hit hardest, with the vast majority of long-haul flights expected to operate as normal.
British Airways, EasyJet and Air France said the strikes are certain to cause delays and some cancellations. All three airlines urged passengers to check the status of their flights before traveling to the airport. Ryanair has already published on its website a list of more than 200 cancelled flights to destinations across Europe.
Train services are also likely to be affected. During previous walkouts, around two thirds of France's high-speed TGV and regular regional services were cancelled, and Paris metro services were also affected.
A spokesman for Eurostar said its services will not be disrupted.
Another day of demonstrations is planned for November 6.
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'TAG YOUR OWN' LUGGAGE PLANS
(source: Boston Herald)
Logan International Airport will lead the nation in testing a "tag your own bag" program designed to speed passenger check-ins.
Air Canada and American Airlines are expected to launch the pilot program - tailored to satisfy U.S. Transportation Security Administration concerns - next month.
Passengers will be able to use a kiosk to print their own baggage routing tags along with their boarding passes. But, unlike in other countries, passengers still will be required to check in with a ticket-counter agent instead of simply dropping off their bags at a designated location, according to a source.
Air Canada and the TSA declined comment on how the program was altered to meet TSA security requirements, saying details are still being finalized. But a source said passengers will have to get their IDs checked by a ticket-counter agent who will "activate" the baggage tags and place their luggage on conveyor belts.
American Airlines would only confirm that the program will be launched at Logan.
The International Air Transport Association, a trade group representing 230 airlines, is leading the "bags ready-to-go" program under its Fast Travel initiative. The United States is lagging on self-tagging, IATA spokesman Steve Lott said. Thirty-two airlines around the world already offer the service, most in Europe, and some have kiosks with built-in scanners to verify passports and IDs.
Air Canada piloted self-tagging three years ago and now offers it at eight major Canadian airports and in London and Paris, allowing passengers to drop off their bags at special desks to avoid lines.
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STUDY PROJECTS BUSINESS TRAVEL SPENDING TO RISE THROUGH 2012
(source: Business Travel News)
U.S.-originating business travel spending is on pace to grow by nearly 4 percent this year over last, according to the National Business Travel Association Foundation Business Travel Quarterly Outlook. The study projects further gains in spending for 2011 and 2012, each of which should see year-over-year growth of nearly 7 percent.
"Business travel within and from the United States has seen solid recovery after two long years of diminution," NBTA executive director and COO Michael McCormick said in a statement. "However, it is clear that companies are taking their time in shifting from the current cost-containment culture, and recovery will continue to ramp up slowly. We're looking forward to the end of 2012—when the industry should see a return to peak levels."
Those peaks, the report said, were hit in 2007 when an estimated 511 million business trips were taken. In 2010, that number is expected to total 431 million. "However, through 2012, transient travel is expected to advance 31 percent as the economy continues to recover and travel restrictions are lifted," the report noted.
The study's projections are based on an econometric model developed by business consulting firm Vantage Strategy, which takes into account key economic indicators and travel industry trends.
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HIGH-SPEED RAIL IN NEW ENGLAND FACES HURDLES
(source: MSNBC.com)
To passengers looking forward to riding high-speed trains in New England, planners have a message: Not so fast.
Washington is spending $8 billion in federal stimulus money to establish high-speed rail corridors nationwide. But in populated areas of New England where city streets and railroad tracks intersect and trains must negotiate curves, hills and tunnels, travel at speeds as high as 150 mph are out of the question.
As early as this decade, passengers will instead board trains moving at between 65 mph and 80 mph. That's slower than high-speed trains and even further short of the 220-mph bullet trains planned between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Still, trains moving at one-third that speed should accomplish their main goal: drawing motorists from gas-guzzling, carbon-emitting cars in stop-and-go highway traffic, planners say.
In Vermont, increasing train speeds by just 20 mph, to 79 mph, could shave 90 minutes from the nine-hour trip between Burlington and New York City, said John Zicconi, spokesman for the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
Rail at 110 mph is planned for Chicago to Detroit and Chicago to Milwaukee; St. Louis to Kansas City, Mo.; Charlotte, N.C., to Washington, D.C.; New York to Buffalo, N.Y.; and Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pa. to Pittsburgh.
A 150-mph route is planned for Portland, Ore., to Seattle, eventually extending to Eugene, Ore.
Amtrak last month unveiled a $117 billion, 30-year vision for a high-speed rail line on the East Coast. It would reduce travel times along the congested corridor using trains traveling as fast as 220 mph.
Amtrak's Acela trains already run as fast as 150 mph, but south of New York, Acela runs at 135 mph because of curves, tunnels and additional station stops, spokesman Steve Kulm said.
Tom Maziarz, chief of planning for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, is adamant that federal and state money will draw passengers in New England to faster, if not high-speed, trains by improving tracks and stations, reducing travel time and increasing frequency of trains.
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SECURE FLIGHT PASSENGER DATA COLLECTION PROCESS
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that after November 1, 2010, air passenger reservations without full Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) will be rejected by Secure Flight and will not be processed. This policy will apply to all passenger records regardless of source, aircraft operator, or air carrier.
Select airlines will now prohibit ticket issuance if the passenger's full name, date of birth and gender are not present in the reservation.
To facilitate the collection of the SFPD, The Lawyers' Travel Service has created a secure, encrypted web form which travelers can use to input this information. When the information is submitted, the traveler profile will be updated.
If you have not already done so, please click on the URL directly below to complete the collection process: https://secureflight.lawyerstravel.com
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THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THE FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA
138 St. James Avenue
Boston
Glimmering prominently in the city's historic cultural neighborhood, Boston's "Grande Dame Hotel," The Fairmont Copley Plaza provides travelers with an unrivaled and authentically local experience.
Featuring Boston's Award Winning Oak Room Restaurant, The Fairmont Copley Plaza is located on Copley Square in Boston's Back Bay section. Just steps away from fashionable Newbury Street, Back Bay businesses, the Boston Public Library, the Prudential Center, and the Hancock Tower, the hotel melds Boston's historic charm to its new modern business pulse.
The Fairmont Copley Plaza is pleased to offer numerous services and amenities including: Complimentary Car Service, Wireless Internet Access, Flat Screen TV's, I-Home ipod docking stations, and the uncompromising service and personal touches you would expect to find at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The Fairmont Copley Plaza is $249 (compared to a corporate rate of $386).*
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THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THE MANSFIELD
12 West 44th Street
New York City
Built for the well-heeled gentlemen of the early 1900's, the turn-of-the-century Mansfield Hotel is a midtown landmark located on 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Handsomely restored to its original glory, The Mansfield is well appointed with a soaring Beau Arts lobby, an intimate Club Room, atmospheric guest rooms furnished in dark wood and original details. The leather upholstered M Bar features a dramatic half-moon mahogany bar serving classic cocktails, American cuisine and live Jazz on select nights.
The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The Mansfield is $279 (compared to a corporate rate of $407).*
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THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THE NINES
525 SW Morrison
Portland
Ideally situated next to Portland's Pioneer Square and the MAX light Rail, The Nines rests atop the landmark Meier & Frank Building and is a contemporary homage to the structure's storied past, both in its striking decor and impeccable service.
Over 13,000 square feet of meeting space is available to guests, as well as a cutting edge fitness center and club lounge. Two dining and bar options speak to global palates, including the Asian-inspired rooftop Departure restaurant.
A magnificent contemporary art collection by local artists graces each of the 331 luxurious guestrooms, including 13 suites. Plush bedding, 42" HD televisions, and twice daily maid service completes the picture of approachable elegance.
The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The Nines is $165 (compared to a corporate rate of $229).*
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THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THE ROYAL HORSEGUARDS
2 Whitehall Court
London
Gracing the banks of the River Thames, The Royal Horseguards began life as the National Liberal Club, offering its members a sanctuary from the rough-and-tumble of Westminster politics. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse, whose architectural legacy in London includes the Natural History Museum, it played host to some of Britain's greatest writers, thinkers and political leaders: the foundation stone in the hotel's cellars was laid by William Gladstone, one of five Club members who went on to serve as Prime Minister.
More than 120 years on, this magnificent 5-star hotel near Charing Cross, Trafalgar Square and The Strand, has been restored to its full Victorian splendor. But the hotel has not forgotten its origins as a warm, welcoming and relaxing haven in the very heart of London. The views travelers will enjoy from their room or the restaurant over the River Thames and landmarks including the London Eye are truly breathtaking.
With 281 luxurious bedrooms, including a choice of Suites and an Apartment, The Royal Horseguards has a grandeur and opulence to match its prestigious Whitehall address. Next door is One Whitehall Place, their dedicated meetings and conference facility. Part of the same magnificent building, it shares the hotel's unique splendor and ambiance, giving any event a real sense of occasion. And with the hotel near Charing Cross Tube and mainline stations, it's easy to bring people together for business or pleasure.
Discover The Royal Horseguards, part of the Guoman collection of 4- and 5-star London hotels. A unique hotel experience, in a city like no other.
The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Royal Horseguards is £189 (compared to a corporate rate of £270).*
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* All rates are subject to availability.
______________________________________________________________
The Lawyers' Travel Service
www.lawyerstravel.com
info@lawyerstravel.com
800.431.1112 |
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