Alexandria, Va., Aug. 11, 2010- In much of the world, cash is still king and for those traveling abroad, the local ATM can be a vital source of money and decent exchange rates. However, with many banks seeking to keep a tight rein on fraud, some travelers are finding it harder to use their debit cards at ATMs in certain countries.

“ATM cards linked to the PLUS or Cirrus networks can be used in more than 135 countries, which makes them the convenient choice of cash-strapped travelers, however when traveling overseas, getting cash is not always as easy as it is at home,” said Chris Russo, American Society of  Travel Agents (ASTA) president and chair. “Travel agents recommend that their clients contact their bank or check out its Web site before they leave to find out if your debit card will work at their destination.”

Here are some additional tips from travel agents concerning the use of ATMs when traveling abroad:

• Variety is essential. Take a variety of payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, traveler’s checks and currency, to be prepared for all circumstances.
• Tell a teller. Go to a bank if you have problems withdrawing cash from an ATM. Many debit cards can also function as a credit card, which will allow you to get a cash advance (though at a higher interest rate than a normal debit transaction).
• Bank on it. Bring your bank’s contact information when you travel, just in case your card fails to work like you expect. Also, be sure to alert the bank that you will be traveling overseas, so they will expect to see activity generated on your account in a foreign country.
• No more than four. If your PIN number is longer than four digits, go to your bank and have it changed. Many ATM’s abroad, especially in Europe, do not accept PIN numbers longer than four digits.
• A, B, C, 1, 2, 3. If your PIN number is based on letters, translate the letters into numbers before leaving the country. Many ATMs abroad only have numbers on their keypads.
• Constant contact. Always have your travel agent’s contact information with you. It’s good to have an ally back home you can call whenever a problem arises.

Regardless of travel plans, using your professional Stellar Travel ASTA travel agent can save time and money.

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Effective July 13, the U.S. State Department will impose new fees for many of its passport-related products and services. The total cost of a new passport will increase from $100 to $135 for adults (age 16 and older) and from $85 to $105 for minors. Renewals will increase from $75 to $110 for adults and from $60 to $80 for minors. Travelers needing extra visa pages will pay $82. Previously, this service has been offered free. As a result, ASTA members should take this opportunity to alert travelers of the new fees.

The complete rules and fee chart can be found on the Passport page of the State Department’s website.

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 (May 18, 2010) – Delta Air Lines today announced it has received final Chinese government approval to launch nonstop flights between Seattle and Beijing, beginning June 4. The new route, which will operate five times weekly, will connect customers from destinations throughout Delta’s and code-share partner Alaska Air Group’s network to the Chinese capital via convenient connections at the Seattle hub.

Departure and arrival times have been revised from the initial announcement of the route based on the slot times granted at Beijing’s Capital International Airport.  Flights will operate as follows:

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As of Tuesday morning, April 20, a few Volcano-cancelled flights are now operating as some airspace is re-opened.

Here’s what we’ve been doing and will continue to do in the Stellar Travel corporate department for our affected clients:

• At the beginning of the crisis all of our travelers and their flights were monitored.  Where they were, where they were going, and contingency planning began.
• We use our inside contact relationships within the international airline sales departments.  These valued contacts give us direct access to flight status and assist with re-accommodation to other flights – giving our clients priority over internet or phone-booked travelers.
• As we monitor traveler’s flights for current and future travel, we re-book their reservations and keep them informed by email and phone in the U.S. and Europe.  Travel agency computer systems display all airline information in one source.
• Some alternate transportation has been available and reserved:  Eurail, car rental, and motorcoach options.
• We assist with business travel hotel reservations and re-booking to ensure the entire itinerary is re-scheduled or cancelled as needed.
• For cancelled trips, corporate agents work to secure refunds and/or apply ticket values to future dates of travel.

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Ash clouds from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokul volcano have caused airports across Europe to halt operations.  Full story is here.

Stellar Travel is working to rebook all of our travelers who have been effected by these closures.

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It looks like the British Air flight attendants will strike at midnight. 

From the BBC:

A strike by British Airways cabin crew will go ahead after talks between the airline and the Unite union collapsed.

The three-day walkout begins at midnight, with a further four days of action set to commence on 27 March.

BA chief Willie Walsh said the strike was “deeply regrettable”. The airline has said 65% of passengers will reach their destination during the action.

Full story is here.

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Designed for frequent international travelers, the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program is operational in 20 U.S. airports, including Seattle.  Pre-approved travelers  expedite entry and by-pass the usual immigration/passport control lines using a 4-question kiosk check-in and taking the machine-produced receipt directly to the expedited customs exits.  The average time at the kiosk is under one minute.

U.S. Citizens may apply online at www.globalentry.gov.  Once U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reviewed the application, an in-person interview is required for photo and fingerprinting.  A valid passport and one other form of identification are also required. The interview concludes with a demonstration on using the automated entry kiosk.

Cost:  $100 non-refundable processing fee, valid for 5 years.

Timing:  Approximately 2 weeks total time from online application to interview.

Group interview is available:  For corporations with 15 or more international travelers enrolling in Global Entry, CBP staff will arrange to conduct the in-person interview and processing at the corporation’s location.

Stellar Travel Co-President Susan Bluhm recently viewed the system and kiosk demonstration.  Questions may be directed to her at susan@stellartravel.com or www.globalentry.gov

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One Way Awards now available on United

• One-Way Awards are available for both Saver Awards (fewer miles) and Standard Awards (more miles and more flexibility).

• You can use these awards to fly United- or United Express-operated flights only. Sorry, these awards cannot currently be used with our airline partners.

• You must fly the most direct route from origin to destination. That means no stopovers. You can, however, make connections. Tip: If you want to visit multiple cities, you can use multiple One-Way Awards to create your itinerary.

• Complete One-Way Awards rules

Did your flight depart late but arrive early?

Airlines are padding their schedules by adding minutes to the flight duration to ensure that more flights arrive on time and boost their “on-time” performance ratings.   It used to be that if your flight left late, you knew you would arrive late.  But now, travelers are beginning to notice that you can leave late and arrive early.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, it analyzed 50 different domestic flight times and learned they are about 10% longer in March 2010 than March 1996.  Airlines say they have to build in congested airports and air-traffic control delays.  In addition, planes are flying about 2% slower to save fuel costs.  Airlines use historical data to estimate schedules and aim for about 65% of flights getting to the gate exactly at the scheduled arrival time.  The DOT gives a 15-minute cushion to rate “on-time”.

Northwest Airlines is no more

Delta has completed their integration of Northwest Airlines and January 30th saw the last flights operating as Northwest.  Any future flights that were ticketed as Northwest were automatically converted to Delta flight numbers over the past weekend.

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According to a rental car consulting firm, the average weekly published rate in 2009 for a compact car was $335.05, up 51% from 2008.  They are predicting rates will continue to rise in 2010.

Fleet sizes have been reduced by all rental companies, falling by an average of 25% in 2009 and they are down 50% from just a few years ago.  Since demand has fallen about 20% across the county, companies have been able to raise rates. Rental car companies are planning to increase fleet sizes in 2010 as demand increases, but it is expected to be slow since they will try to maintain pricing power.

Stellar Travel assists its corporate clients with securing discounted car rental rate agreements, including company and traveler benefits.  Contact Susan Bluhm – susan@stellartravel.com.

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On December 20, 2009 Argentina began collecting a $131 entry fee from U.S. visitors.  The Argentine government set this entry fee to an equal amount that Argentine citizens must pay when requesting a visa to travel to the United States.

The payment of this fee IS NOT a visa since Argentina does not require a visa for U.S. citizens.  The fee will only be collected at the Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport and is valid for multiple entries into Argentina for 10 years.

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