Business Travel Tips

Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport was added last week to the list of airports participating to the paperless boarding pass pilot program TSA launched in 2007.

The paperless boarding pass has a two dimensional bar code containing passenger information as well as authentication information from the airline that can only be decoded by a TSA scanner.

It offers more functionality and a faster passengers’ experience at airport. Also with TSA scanner detecting any sign of tampering, paperless boarding pass will prevent fraudulent paper boarding passes.

You can take part in this pilot program when flying out of one of the participating airports on a participating airline. Below the list as reported by TSA.

Atlanta Hartsfield International (ATL), Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS), Boston Logan International (BOS), Chicago O-Hare International (ORD), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG),Cleveland Hopkins (CLE), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Indianapolis International (IND), John Wayne, Orange County, CA (SNA), Las Vegas McCarren (LAS), Los Angeles International (LAX), Memphis (MEM), Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP), New York LaGuardia (LGA), Newark International (EWR), Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Salt Lake City International (SLC), San Antonio International (SAT), Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Continental: IAH, DCA, EWR, BOS, AUS, SAT, CLE, LGA, LAS
Delta/Northwest: ATL, LAS, MEM, MSP, DET, SLC, CVG
Delta only: LGA
Northwest only: IND
Alaska: SEAAmerican: ORD, SNA, LAX.

Qantas passengers flying international routes will be able to check in online.

The Australian carrier has introduced the ability to check-in online for international travel.

Customers who check-in online will enjoy a faster airport experience with dedicated online check-in counters for bag drop and necessary visa checks.

Also, top tier Frequent Flyers (Platinum, Gold and Silver) will be able to request their seat online.

Qatar Airways has launched Qbiz, a global corporate travel rewards programme developed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses.

The programme allows both employees and their companies to accumulate Qmiles for the same flight through the airline’s Privilege Club loyalty programme.

While Privilege Club members will continue to earn Qmiles and membership status in their own accounts, their companies will also be able to earn Qmiles for the same trip.

The accumulated miles can be used to redeem free flights or upgrades on Qatar Airways.

Members of Hyatt Hotels loyalty programme Gold Passport will be able to earn 2,500 bonus points per stay when paying with MasterCard.

The promotion is valid through September 15, 2009.

There is no limit to the number of bonus points that can be earned; points never expire.
With just two stays, members can collect enough points to redeem a free night or a room upgrade.

European travel and expense management company KDS has recently surveyed 435 business travelers around the world to see how their travel behaviour had changed as a result of the recession.
The KDS study highlights 4 main business travel trends.

- Travel costs are under great scrutiny, so providers need to rebalance their offerings with a focus on value. Certain airlines are expanding their economy sections at the cost of underutilised first class compartments, and other businesses should follow this lead. In this context, KDS argues that travel and expense management systems have a bright future ahead, since they also facilitate lower-cost travel choices.

- Travellers are prepared to make concessions in how they travel, but still place greater value on certain options. As many would sacrifice a comfortable hotel room for a business class air ticket – and potentially greater time to be productively engaged at the destination – employers should consider whether more flexibility in their travel policies could yield greater benefits for the businesses.

- Travellers experience stress as a result of their travel, in terms of impacts on health and family life. Yet, they also find (more…)