I n  T h i s  I s s u e
Greetings from A & I Travel Service. This edition of our newsletter contains must know information on the passport crisis, overbooked planes and as always a special leisure travel offer with exclusive amenities.

By the way, if there is anything in particular that you would like to see in next month’s edition, just click here and let us know – we are always happy to hear from you.
 


TMCs Warn Clients of New EU Rules On Cash

Passport Production at Record Levels to Meet Demand

Bumped Fliers and No Plan B

NWA Welcomes China Airlines as Newest Alliance Partner

NWA Moves to New Houston, Cancun Terminal Facilities

First NWA 757 Trans-Atlantic Flight Takes Off

New York City Sees Wave Of New Mid-price Hotels

Airlines Score Lower Than IRS in Customer Satisfaction

U.K.: Iris scans to Speed Passengers Through Security at Gatwick Airport

Caribbean Yachting Voyage

 
Articles of Interest
TMCs Warn Clients of New EU Rules On Cash
Source: ttgbusiness.com
Travel management companies are warning clients about cash control regulations. The European Union rules come into force on June 15, and restrict travelers to 10,000 Euros, as part of the fight against money laundering and financing terrorists. Anyone carrying more than that amount in or out of the EU has to declare it to customs. Click Here to continue.

Passport Production at Record Levels to Meet Demand
Source: U.S. Department of State
The Department of State set new records in March and April, issuing more than three million passports to Americans planning international travel. With passport demand at record levels, passport production time averages 10-12 weeks. Americans should apply at least twelve weeks before they plan to travel. Click Here to continue.
Airline News
Bumped Fliers and No Plan B
Source: New York Times
The summer travel season is under way, and so many planes are expected to be full that, if you are bumped, you could end up waiting days for a seat on another flight to the same destination. The number of fliers bumped against their will is expected to reach a high for the decade this year. True, those travelers — about 56,000 of them — still represent only a small fraction of all passengers. But the increasing difficulty of rebooking bumped passengers has made the experience more maddening for fliers, and for the airline workers who deliver the bad news. Click Here to continue.

NWA Welcomes China Airlines as Newest Alliance Partner
Source: Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines announced that it has signed an agreement with China Airlines that launches cooperation between the two airlines to be phased in through the summer.
The agreement between Northwest and the Taiwan-based airline features enhanced frequent flyer benefits and lounge access for Northwest’s WorldPerks members, along with convenient electronic ticketing and one-stop check-in for passengers connecting between Northwest and China Airlines flights. Click Here to continue.

NWA Moves to New Houston, Cancun Terminal Facilities
Source: Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines has moved to new terminal facilities in Houston, Texas. Effective May 16, 2007, Northwest operations in Houston (IAH) will be moving from Terminal B to Terminal A. NWA is being reassigned to Gates A10 and A12. CO is expected to be complete building a President's Club adjacent to A10 in the first half of June. CO will also establish and maintain a busing operation between Terminals A and B until the Automated People Mover is constructed. Also later this month, NWA (and all other U.S. carriers) will be switching to the new terminal in Cancun (CUN). With a total investment of approximately US $100 million, Terminal 3 will double international passenger capacity at CUN. It will have a covered area of 42,000 square meters, 84 check-in counters and a platform equipped with 11 gates.

First NWA 757 Trans-Atlantic Flight Takes Off
Source: Northwest Airlines
NWA launched its trans-Atlantic fleet of Boeing 757-200s with the departure of Flight 96 from Detroit to Frankfurt on May 7. The aircraft have been fitted with "winglets," or extensions of the aircraft wing, that improve fuel efficiency and extend range. The interior has also been re-configured to provide optimal customer comfort. Click Here to continue.
 

Exceptional Customer Service


C.C. Chambers

C.C.,

Perhaps for you folks at A&I the rebooking of flights for anxious customers is just a routine task, but I assure you that from my perspective you're virtually heroic!

Thanks for promptly rebooking me onto an alternative flight recently. Your response was so rapid and effortless that I could hardly believe my new boarding pass would be waiting for me so quickly. I appreciate the fact that it was late in the day - after normal business hours - when you took my call and helped get me to my destination.

Wishing all a terrific day,

Fred Call
Buckman Laboratories
 
Hotel News
New York City Sees Wave Of New Midrise Hotels
Source: BTN Online
Several major and midprice hotel brands will unveil a number of new properties in New York City in the coming months, even as they plan additional properties for the years ahead. The additional guest rooms and meeting space, developed either by hotel companies themselves or by private developers, will mean more choices and greater options for corporate travel and meeting buyers in a time when limited supply has helped to create the strongest hotel seller's market in the United States. Click Here to continue.
 
Did You Know?

Airlines score lower than IRS in customer satisfaction
Source: USA Today
 Airline passengers are some of the most dissatisfied consumers in the USA, says the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction index.
The annual report shows that the industry scored 63 out of a possible 100 in 2007, down from 65 a year ago, and the airlines' lowest rating since 2001. The long-running survey represents the views of some of the 80,000 consumers queried about goods or services they've purchased. Click Here to continue.

U.K.: Iris scans to speed passengers through security at Gatwick Airport
Source: T&E
Eye-scanning equipment has been installed in the south terminal at Gatwick Airport to help speed passengers through security. Flyers must sign up in advance to use the scanners, which combine records of iris patterns with passport details. Enrolling in the program is free, takes about five minutes and is being conducted in departure areas of the terminal. Heathrow, Birmingham and Manchester airports in the United Kingdom already use the technology.
Travel & Leisure

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Experience the Caribbean in Style on a
Caribbean yachting voyage

7 nights from $2,999, or 9 nights from $3,699 on a yachting voyage to SEA DREAM's Caribbean aboard SEADREAM I & II, ocean-view yacht club stateroom.

"It's yachting, not cruising" for the 55 lucky couples who will be splendidly spoiled in a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere by an award-winning crew of 95. Dine al fresco or in the elegant Dining Salon. Only yacht casual attire is needed. A retractable water sports marina offers a variety of water toys. Because you are on a yacht, you will visit little-known paradises like lles des Saintes off the coast of Guadeloupe. Overnight stays at key ports will show you night life in the Caribbean's liveliest ports.

Your cruise selection: Departures
November 2007 - April 2008

Fare includes: All ocean-view staterooms, award-winning gourmet meals, wine with lunch and dinner, open bar with selected premium brands, use of water toys, mountain bikes, 30-course gold simulator, iPods, CDs, DVDs and gratuities.

Port Highlights: San Juan, Charlestown, Marigot, Road Town, Great Harbor, Charlotte Amalie, lles des Saintes, Tobago Cays, Bridgetown, St. Johns, Soufriere Bay, Mayreau, Bequia

 


A & I Travel Exclusive
Offer

Book by July 15th, 2007 to receive $200 per stateroom spa credit on select SeaDream voyages



 


Special Interests you
will enjoy on this Cruise

Beach
Food and Wine
Golf
Scuba Diving
Tennis

Call an A & I Travel leisure specialist to make your reservations.
Ask for Joan, Joye, or Rhonda
901-291-1400 or 1-800-467-1182
vacation@aitvl.com
 

Prices and terms are displayed as received from individual suppliers. Prices shown are per person, double occupancy. Certain offers carry restrictions and penalties to be advised at time of booking. Validity differs with each offer. Offers are subject to change without notice, subject to availability, and may be withdrawn at any time. Some blackout dates apply. Neither Ensemble Travel® Group nor any of its member agencies assume any responsibility for the accuracy of prices and terms. Ensemble Travel® Group and its sub-agents act solely as agents for the companies providing services and facilities to travelers and have no responsibility or liability for loss of or damage to property, injury or death due to errors, omissions or intentional acts of the companies providing services.
 

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