Originally started in 2009, Concur Mobile was created to allow business travelers to manage their travel and expenses on the road. This now allows travelers to easily access travel information through their phone. The application can be accessed through all three major mobile operating systems: Blackberry, iPhone, and Microsoft.

Since 2009, Concur has extended its mobile platform to allow for greater information to be accessed by the traveler. The Concur Connect program will offer mobile applications from the following partners: Amtrak, FlightTrack, GateGuru, Metro, OAG, Open Table, and Taxi Magic.

For further information click here  http://www.concur.com/about/news-events/press-releases/08-09-10_4.html or you can always contact support@safeharbors.com.

Now gate agents basically come in two types. There are those who want to solve your problems and get you to your destination as quickly and smoothly as possible, and then there are those who just want to get you away from their desk. Fortunately, most fall into the first category but there are those want to kick the can down the road for someone else to deal with. Regardless of which type of agent you get, here are some tips to help your interaction and bring resolution to your problem.

Be polite but firm

Always be calm and polite when dealing with gate agents. Yelling at the agent because your plane was late won’t solve anything. Remember, they are people too and are dealing with the stress of trying to re-accommodate a lot of passengers. If you have an issue, state it clearly and ask for the agent’s help. If the agent tries to shuffle you along without resolving your problem, then politely but firmly insist that she help you.

Review all of your options

Often the agent will only give you one solution to your problem and expect you to take it. Don’t hesitate to ask if there are other options, including putting you on a different airline so that you land closer to your original arrival time.

Get a confirmed reservation

If you are dealing with a missed flight, never leave the counter without a confirmed reservation to get you to your final destination. Often the agent will say, “You can fly standby for this other flight,” and send you away. Your response should be, “Okay, I’ll try to fly standby, but I still need a confirmed reservation in case that flight is full.”

Ask for accommodations

If you are delayed significantly, be sure to ask for meal vouchers. Also, if you have to spend the night, ask for the airline to provide a hotel and meals. Many times if you don’t ask for it the agent won’t offer it.

Locate your bags

Be sure to discuss your bags with the agent before leaving the counter. If the agent rebooks you, ask that your bags be pulled and retagged to be on the same flight with you. Once you get to your new gate, check with the agent there to be sure this was done. By doing this you reduce the chance of a baggage delay.

Ask for a Supervisor

If you feel that you are not getting anywhere with the agent, ask to speak to a supervisor. Again, remain calm and polite but firmly state your situation and ask for resolution.

Most flights run smoothly, but if you do run into problems remember these six tips. Hopefully they will help you resolve your problem quicker and with less stress.

After 75% of British Airways union members voted for a walkout due to low wages, London’s Heathrow Airport could be in danger of having to close. Europe’s busiest airport could be without a majority of its firefighters, engineers, and security staff due to the possible strike.

According to the Unite Union, British Airways employees are due for a pay raise after accepting a freeze in their pay last year. The raise has yet to come and on 22 separate occasions flights already been grounded at Heathrow due to British Airways cabin crew strikes.

The possible strike could also close terminals in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Southhampton and could put a major dent in the economy.

British Airways has offered a 1.5% increase in salary, but the Union is not satisfied with the meager raise. British Airways defends its position based upon the decrease in travel activity during the recession.

The impending strike is not yet certain. If the official strike does occur, then the Union would have to give British Airways seven days notice.

We will keep you up to date with the latest information.

Customers traveling in the World Traveller economy cabin to and from the USA, Canada, Bermuda, Argentina, Mexico and the Caribbean will now have a one bag free allowance of 51lbs. (23kgs).  Customers travelling in First, Club World, Club Europe, and World Traveller Plus, in addition to Gold and Silver Executive Club members travelling in World Traveller, will retain their existing cabin allowance.
 
Many of Ministry Travel clients take advantage of the ‘one additional bag’ for missionary purposes.  The new checked baggage policy will affect this.  Previously, each person was permitted 2 checked bags and 1 additional bag for missionary/humanitarian purposes.  The new policy will guarantee one free checked bag and one free additional bag (51 pounds or less) at no additional cost.  A 3rd checked bag may be granted at the check-in counter without additional fees, depending on the load and weight limits of the plane.  British Airways will have the ability at check-in to waive the fee for the 3rd bag or charge the fee.  Please know that the 3rd checked bag is NOT guaranteed to be free. 
 
To avoid any changes in the current policy, be sure to purchase all tickets prior to October 7th.  Contact your Ministry Travel specialist today with questions.

Given the significant challenges in combining two programs currently located on very different technology platforms, you will experience a few changes. Effective October 1st, your flight miles will no longer post immediately at departure but may take up to 24 hours after your flight departure. The merchandise redemption program (Medallion® Marketplace) will temporarily close on September 25th, but will return by year-end with a broader selection of products and offerings.

And, good news – on October 1st, Platinum and Gold Medallion members will no longer pay a $20 per ticket service charge when purchasing tickets via reservations or at our airport locations. Plus, all members will no longer pay a $25 per ticket partner handling charge when issuing Award Tickets. These new elite benefits and fee reductions are part of our continued effort to build a best-in-class loyalty program. For more information, please visit delta.com/what2expect and  delta.com/integrationtimeline for a specific timeline.

The program is for fare types with specific guidelines for use; generally understood to be circle or around the world type trips. Our team of agents is well versed in these rules, with planning and flexibility the offer can work for your extensive itineraries between the US – Europe and South America OR from the US to Asia and Australia.

Fare types include: Explorer, Circle Pacific, Circle Atlantic, Circle trip Explorer, Circle Asia & South West Pacific and the oneworld Visit Passes. When considering, these fares they often offer lower price value from standard retail and now you can save an additional 10%. Start planning now by giving us a call.

In last month’s newsletter you read about the implementation of the US Government’s Secure Flight rules that will require all international travelers to use their complete name on air tickets purchased.

As this new program moves forward there have been a few challenges arising for travelers. The air carrier’s loyal travelers are finding that when they attempt to exercise their benefits at security check points they are prevented due to the differences in their name on travel documents.

The Secure Flight program will be implemented over time once the carriers and the industry reservations systems complete the programming to collect the required details. However, it appears there may be little effort focused on making changes to the member’s name on the frequent flyer accounts. In an article released on January 29, 2009, it stated that many in the industry are suggesting that frequent travelers begin to contact the carrier’s member program service centers to make name changes on frequent flyer accounts (Jonas). It is crucial that you contact your frequent flyer service desk as soon as possible to make these name changes, because in some cases it could take two to six weeks for these changes to be implemented. The changes can be made over the phone, through fax, or by mail depending on the situation. Check the carrier’s web-sites for service center contact information.

On a brighter note, customers that are members of Delta’s SkyMiles and Northwest WorldPerks programs will have the ability to link their accounts. This may also be an opportunity to change the name on the account to reflect the same as that on your identification used when traveling; reducing the hassle of having to do it later in the year.

Linking these two accounts together will be simple; you only need your SkyMiles and WorldPerks member number and the pin numbers. Then the carriers will validate to ensure the names match on both accounts and the two accounts will be linked. Once this online linking program combines your Delta and Northwest accounts into one, you will have all mileage combined, making it easier to track and accumulate mileage.