Business Travel Tips

Following the recent release of the next generation of MacBook Airs, smaller than the older models, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) clears things up about if they need to come out of bags prior to X-ray screening.

TSA says: “The 11” model of the MacBook Air is fine to leave in your bag, and the 13” model must be removed prior to X-ray screening“.

The same rules apply: electronic items smaller than the standard sized laptop (including e-readers, netbooks, tablets, personal DVD players, etc) do not need to be removed from your bag or their cases. That is the case unless you own one of the Checkpoint friendly laptop bags.
(source)

AirTran, Delta Air Lines and Virgin America will offer free wifi access on every domestic flight from November 20, 2010 through January 2, 2011.

The three carriers are teaming up with Google Chrome to provide free Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi on domestic flights from November 20 through January 2nd.

Last year Google had been partnering with Virgin America to offer free WiFi on every Virgin America flight between November 10, 2009 and January 15, 2010.

According to a survey more than half of organisations make no attempt to quantify the benefits of travel and expense (T&E) management.

The survey, sponsored by KDS, a leading European supplier of integrated T&E management systems, also shows that half of the business travelers submit expense claims on paper.

Some of the survey’s most significant findings include:

- 51.2% of the respondents admitted some of their business trips, in retrospect, are not worth the time or cost involved;

- 55.5% of respondents acknowledged that on several occasions they would have reconsidered business trips had they known in advance the total cost – including travel, accommodation and other expenses.
(source)

With British Airways Visa Signature card from Chase you will earn 50,000-mile signup bonus. That for a $75 annual fee.

British Airways Visa Signature is the first airline co-branded card without any foreign currency transaction fees. That means you can use the card abroad with no foreign currency transaction fees.

You can redeem 50,000 bonus BA Miles for 1 transatlantic reward flight in World Traveller, economy class from the USA to Europe Zone 1 (United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland), or choose to redeem for another qualifying flight.
Please note, all reward flights are subject to taxes, fees, charges and surcharges, including airline surcharges. Details of the promotion are available (here).

Lufthansa’s Miles & More, Air Canada’s Aeroplan and Kingfisher’s King Club were the big winners in the first annual Frequent Traveler Awards.
The Frequent Traveler Awards rates the best frequent flyer and frequent guest programs from around the world.

Frequent travel programs compete in five categories, with frequent travelers worldwide selecting programs in one of three global regions: Americas, Europe/Africa, and the Middle East/Asia and Oceania. 

Lufthansa’s Miles & More program won all five airline categories in the Europe and Africa region. Kingfisher won four of the five airline categories in the Middle East and Asia/Oceania region. Air Canada’s Aeroplan won three airline categories in the Americas.

Below’s the 2010 winners list

- Program of the Year
The Americas Airline: Air Canada Aeroplan
The Americas Hotel: Marriott Rewards
Europe and Africa Airline: Lufthansa Miles & More
Europe and Africa Hotel: Marriott Rewards
Middle East & Asia/Oceania Airline: Kingfisher Airlines King Club
Middle East & Asia/Oceania Hotel: Taj Hotels InnerCircle

- Best Redemption Promotion
The Americas Airline: Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
The Americas Hotel: Marriott Rewards
Europe and Africa Airline: Lufthansa Miles & More
Europe and Africa Hotel: Marriott Rewards
Middle East & Asia/Oceania Airline: Singapore Airlines
Middle East & Asia/Oceania Hotel: Marriott Rewards

- Best Earning Promotion (more…)