August 23, 2022

Direct Travel

News Briefs

August 23, 2022

In This Edition… 2023 Per Diem rates, airfares are coming down, SAS flight cancellations, supersonic air travel, AA reduces November schedule, Delta resumes LAX-Tokyo Haneda flights, Lufthansa Group and sustainable air travel, Air Canada to improve third quarter performance, flight service updates—including new flights to Cape Town, renew your passport online, Uber shifts to paid subscriptions, hotel updates, and many traveler tips!

Dans cette édition... Les tarifs journaliers de 2023, la baisse des prix des billets d’avion, les annulations de vols de la SAS, les voyages en avion supersonique, AA réduit son programme de novembre, Delta reprend ses liaisons LAX-Tokyo Haneda, le groupe Lufthansa et le voyage aérien durable, Air Canada améliore ses performances au troisième trimestre, les mises à jour des services de vol, y compris les nouveaux vols vers Le Cap, le renouvellement de votre passeport en ligne, Uber passe aux abonnements payants, les mises à jour relatives aux hôtels et de nombreux conseils à l’intention des voyageurs.

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Powering a More Sustainable Travel Program with Direct ATPI Halo

A progressive and more conscious world outlook has brought about a major movement towards “going green.” Both businesses and the travel industry alike have become more educated about the effects of. Read More


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GSA Increases 2023 Per Diem, Lodging Allowance

Business Travel News — The U.S. General Services Administration for fiscal year 2023 increased its standard allowable per diem rates for federal travelers by $2 to $157. Read More

Passengers on U.S. Airlines Are Starting to Get a Break From Higher Airfares

Wheels Up Network — Passengers flying U.S. airlines got some welcome news in Wednesday’s inflation report from the White House: Airfares are coming down, and at a faster clip. The price of the average airline ticket dropped 7.8% in July, to $311, after a 1.8% dip in June. Read More

Europe Pushes Back Registration Requirement for U.S. Travelers

Afar Magazine — Initially meant to come into effect on January 1, 2021, the ETIAS travel authorization for U.S. travelers has been delayed again. Read More


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SAS Cancels 1,700 Flights Following Pilot Strike

BTN Europe — Scandinavian Airlines has canceled 1,700 flights scheduled in September and October following a 15-day pilot strike in July and delayed aircraft deliveries. Read More

YYZ, YYC & YUL to Adopt Common Check-In Technology Platform

Travel Pulse Canada — Passengers travelling through three of Canada’s largest airports are being promised a faster and easier… Read More

Is Supersonic Air Travel the Future of Aviation?

Travel Pulse — Is supersonic air travel the next big thing, or will it become a new method for those who can afford it instead? Read More

Air Canada Says Delays, Cancellations & Baggage Handling Showing Strong Improvement

Travel Pulse — Air Canada says the operational improvement initiatives implemented in response to airport challenges coming out of the pandemic are paying off with fewer cancellations, delays and baggage mishaps. Read More

Flights at Twice the Speed Are Coming

Afar Magazine — That means San Francisco to Tokyo in less than six hours, New York City to London in only three, or three hours from Los Angeles to Honolulu. Read More

American Airlines Makes Significant Cuts to November Schedule

Travel Pulse — The airline has taken 31,000 flights off the board. Read More

Delta is Restarting LAX-Tokyo Haneda Flights

Travel Weekly — The carrier said it is resuming the route in anticipation of a broader reopening of Japan to foreign travelers. Read More

American Airlines Places Deposit on Boom’s Supersonic Jets

Travel Weekly — Boom expects to complete production of its first aircraft by 2025, with the first passenger service to commence in 2029. Read More

British Airways Ends Suspension on Selling Short-haul Heathrow Tickets

Business Travel News Europe — British Airways has confirmed that it has ended the suspension of sales of short-haul tickets from Heathrow, which had been in place for the past two weeks. Read More

How Lufthansa Group Is Making Sustainable Air Travel a Reality

Afar Magazine — Guided by the ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, this global airline is shaping a more sustainable future for aviation. Read More

Air Canada Pledges Better Operations as Corp. Travel Grows

Business Travel News — Beset by operational challenges that have spurred the cancellation of more than 150 flights in July and August, Air Canada said it would take additional measures in the third quarter to improve its performance. Read More

Delta, United Announce Cape Town Service Details

Business Travel News — After vying for limited arrival slots in Cape Town, both Delta and United get thrice-weekly service to the city. Delta also to add Miami, Tahiti, Tel Aviv service. Read More

United Pays $10M Deposit for 100 Electric Aircraft

Business Travel News — United Airlines paid Archer Aviation a $10 million deposit for 100 of the company’s vertical take-off and landing electric aircraft. Read More

Delta Air Lines Cuts Five Routes, Adds One

Travel Pulse — Four of the five routes being eliminated started in Detroit and the other started in Minneapolis, based on low demand for these routes. Read More

American Airlines Becomes Latest Carrier to Cut Fall Flights

Travel + Leisure — The carrier cancelled about 2 percent of its September schedule and 4.6 percent of its October flights. Read More

WestJet Winter: Airline Brings Back The Heat With 17 Restored Sun Routes

Travel Pulse Canada — WestJet has announced its winter schedule, with the headline news that 17 sun routes are returning to its network after being suspended for more than two years. Read More

London’s Heathrow Extends Limit on Passengers Through October

Afar Magazine — The passenger cap is likely to result in even more canceled flights at Britain’s busiest hub. Read More


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You Can Now Renew Your Passport Online—if You Act Fast

Afar Magazine — Only 25,000 Americans will be allowed to take part in the pilot program. Read More

Government Travel Warnings & Alerts

U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More


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Uber to End Free Loyalty Program, Shift Focus to Paid Subscriptions

PhocusWire — Uber is endings its Uber Rewards free loyalty program this fall… users can continue to earn points through August 31 and points must be redeemed by midnight on October 31, 2022. Uber is keeping Uber One, its membership program. Read More

Concur Car Rental Booking Tool to Include Sustainability Features

Business Travel News — SAP Concur’s new car rental booking tool, slated for release by year-end, will feature tools to help travelers make more sustainable transportation choices, Concur Travel president Charlie Sultan said in a memo. Read More


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Choice Completes Acquisition of Radisson Hotels Americas

Hotel Business — Choice Hotels International Inc. has completed the acquisition of the franchise business, operations and intellectual property of Radisson Hotels Americas for approximately $675 million from Radisson Hotel Group, inclusive of the real estate value of three owned hotels. Read More

A Winning Alliance: Palladium Hotel Group & Wyndham Adds 14 Hotels to Registry Collection

Travel Pulse Canada — Palladium Hotel Group forged a savvy, long-term strategic partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, bringing 14 Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts and TRS Hotels in Mexico, the Caribbean and Brazil to the Wyndham Registry Collection. Read More

W Hotels Opens Its First Property in Greece

Travel Weekly — The W Escape in the Costa Navarino resort area features a bioclimatic design with an emphasis on sustainability. Read More


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The DOT is Launching an Airline Customer Service Dashboard

Travel Weekly — The new web feature is designed to provide travelers with comparative information on the services that airlines offer when they are responsible for flight delays and cancellations. Read More

Want to Get Into Your Hotel Room Early? Try This…

The Points Guy — Regardless of the hotel brand, there are tricks that might help get you into your room early. In some cases at no cost. Read More

Air Travel Plus-Size Fliers: Airlines Share Policies for People Who Need More Space on Flights

Travel Noire — Travel Noire shares the airline rules for plus-size fliers in Economy class for plus-size people avoid being targeted and shamed during their travel. Read More

Prevue’s Top 10 Packing Tips of All Time

Prevue Meetings — Who better to share their best packing tips than Prevue’s editors and meeting planner readers, who are always on the road? Read More

Are Airplane Seats Too Small? The FAA Launches Review and Gets an Earful

Afar Magazine — Fed up with packed airplanes, tight legroom, and pint-sized coach seats? The U.S. government wants to hear from you. Read More

How Big Is Too Big? A Guide to Carry-On Luggage Restrictions

Afar Magazine — Carry-on luggage size restrictions vary by airline—here’s how to tell if your bag is small enough to bring on board. Read More

RNC Confirms Milwaukee for 2024 Convention

Northstar Meetings Group — The Wisconsin city is the first destination in 50 years to welcome back-to-back Democratic and Republican national conventions. Read More


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Do Meeting Planners Need to Worry About Monkeypox?

Prevue Meetings — Now that the Biden administration has declared monkeypox a public health emergency, do meeting planners need to worry? Read More

Seven Tips for Planning Successful Corporate Retreats

Northstar Meetings Group — Taking small groups to remote locations will help get business back on track. Read More

Looking for guidance on planning your next convention, incentive, or group trip? Direct Travel will assist with all your meetings and event details!  Whatever your needs may be when it comes to your event, you can always depend on us to design streamlined travel arrangements, plan strategic meetings, and deliver real-time results. For details, please send a message to: [email protected].

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