Business Travel Tips

Starwood American Express offers 10,000 Starpoints after first purchase and an additional 20,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in 6 months.

The offer expires on December 12.

This card comes with a $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then a $65 fee afterwards.

You can redeem Starpoints at over 1,000 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries and for flights on more than 350 airlines. Offer details are available here.

To frequent fliers who are wondering about how the AMR’s bankruptcy filing will impact on their miles, American Airlines says its frequent-flier program will be unaffected.

AMR Corporation, the parent of American Airlines and American Eagle that just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, says passengers of both airlines will not see any changes.

Over the frequent flyer programs they ensure they will maintain AAdvantage frequent flyer and other customer service programs. Also AMR says that all AAdvantage miles and elite status earned by members remain secure and intact.

Delta, United, Continental and US Airways have all gone through Chapter 11, but their frequent flier programs were not affected from that.

You are working till late night in office and your boss has planned an international trip for you next morning. What do you do?
Business travel involves a great sense of professionalism but it also needs to be carefully planned so you are able to enjoy a business trip comfortable and productive. Here are few basic travel tips for those travelling on a business tour.

• Even if you are not sure of the next business trip, keep your travel luggage ready! So if you have to leave for an emergency, you can just pick and walk out with your luggage. Keep fresh clothing and essentials ready in the bag, not forgetting your travel document inclusive of Visa, passport etc. That will surely save your time if you have an early morning flight.

• Plan your trip to avoid rush hours and busy airports. If you want to get to your destination on time, either take the first flight out in the morning or late night to arrive a day prior to your business meet or conference.

• Make sure that the hotel you are choosing offers all facilities you need.

• Carry a cell phone to make several international calls especially business related. And to make this simpler, you could register with a calling service which allows you to make free calls.

• Carry your tech-kit inclusive of your own laptop, Ethernet cable, a couple of USB memory sticks, CDs, presentation files, laptop charger, etc. And make sure all this goes into another bag, not mixed with your luggage or travel documents.

• Do a research on the company you are going to visit. They would certainly be making a big effort to welcome and escort you. So, you should be friendly, humble, and professional.

• Learn the names of the people you are suppose to meet so that you address them by name. This will help to build trust with them.

• You have to look decent and professional when you are on a business trip. The way you present yourself will tell them a lot about the sort of person you are and about your company. Make sure that you are wearing proper attire. Be sure to have a smile on your face and a good posture while walking and sitting.

• Don’t assume everyone eats meat and drinks alcohol. Be careful what you order considering hygienic and safety factors. It is important to stay healthy while travelling as you are there for business and not to ruin your health.

• Once you complete all your business meets, you could take the time to visit your business destination, if you feel it is worth to do that.

Full body scanners for passengers will be compulsory at UK airports. That means that air passengers selected for scanning at UK airports will not be allowed to opt for alternative screening methods and would not be able to fly if they were not willing to be scanned.

The airports of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, have been trialling full body scanners, but The Mirror quoted Transport Secretary Justine Greening as saying that she believed that scanners should be rolled out more widely at UK airports.

Ms Greening said she does not believe that alternative methods, for example, as a “pat down” search, are equivalent in security terms to a security scan.

The UK government says that the feedback from the airports conducting the trials shows that nearly all passengers accepted the use of scanners, with only 12 refusals among more than a million scans.

US Airways will be giving a 100% bonus on purchased miles during the month of December 2011.

That means when you buy US Airways Dividend Miles December 1 – 31, 2011, you’ll automatically earn a 100% bonus.
You can earn bonus up to 40,000 miles.

US Airways recently raised the price of purchased miles.
Details of the US Airways’ Buy miles program are available here.