July 25, 2023

Direct Travel

News Briefs

July 25, 2023

In This Edition… Air carriers adjust operations due to extreme heat, flight service updates, Air Canada expands in-flight menu and entertainment, Delta revamping small-business loyalty program, United obtains new seats with charging stations, Canada’s new digital Nomad Visa, potential for Amtrak service disruptions, and much more!

Dans cette édition... Les transporteurs aériens réorganisent leurs activités suite aux températures caniculaires, des mises à jour sur les services de vol, Air Canada élargit son menu et ses divertissements à bord, Delta réorganise son programme de fidélité pour les petites entreprises, United propose de nouveaux sièges équipés de stations de recharge, le Canada lance un nouveau visa pour les nomades numériques, des risques d’interruption de service chez Amtrak, et bien plus encore!

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Why Your Business Needs a Travel Expense Policy

As the post-pandemic workforce evolves, digital expense reporting has continued to grow in popularity as a method for keeping both employees and budgets on track. Read More

Top Business Travel Tips for Staying Productive on the Road

Here are our tops tips for ways your team can make the most of balancing work objectives with the demands of travel. Read More


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Extreme Heat Forces US Airlines To Reduce Fuel Loads, Passenger Numbers

Travel Pulse — The unusually intense heat waves currently scorching wide swaths of the U.S. are now causing air carriers to adjust operations in some of the worst-affected cities. Read More

United Airlines Will Further Trim Its Newark Schedule

Travel Weekly — The carrier is taking steps to improve its operational stability at the airport, United’s largest East Coast hub. Read More

Air Canada Reveals New In-Flight Menu, Expanded In-Flight Entertainment

Travel Market Report — The upgrades are highlighted by additions to its in-flight beer and wine menu. Read More

Delta’s SkyBonus Revamp Aims to Simplify Miles Redemption

Travel Weekly — Delta is revamping its small-business loyalty program. Read More

United to Add New, Expanded Routes to Pacific Network

Business Travel News — United Airlines plans to increase its Pacific network with new or expanded direct routes servicing Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei and Tokyo from the U.S. Read More

Delta Air Lines to Offer Flights to Curacao for First Time in More Than a Decade

Travel Pulse — The carrier says it will resume nonstop service to Curaçao this winter. Read More

Air France to Serve Raleigh-Durham

Business Travel News — Air France on Oct. 30 will begin direct service between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Read More

United Airlines Unveils New Seats with Wireless Charging Stations

Travel Pulse — United Airlines announced a new domestic first-class seat with a wireless charging station in every armrest. Read More

New Air Canada, United Lounges for SFO, Newark

Business Travel News — Air Canada has opened its first Maple Leaf lounge in Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport. Read More

United Club Opens in Newark’s Terminal A

Travel Weekly — The lounge has more than 300 seats within its 15,000-square-foot space. Read More

Alaska Airlines Will Fly to the Bahamas from Los Angeles and Seattle

Travel Weekly — These will be Alaska’s first Bahamas flights. Read More


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How to Apply for Canada’s New Digital Nomad Visa

Afar Magazine — The new short-term visa scheme is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2023. Read More

TSA Targeting More CLEAR Members for Additional Airport Screening

Travel Market Report — The change stems from a security incident in July 2022. Read More

U.S. State Department Launches Passport Fairs to Ease Delays

Travel Market Report — The events will run through July and August in a number of different cities. Read More

TSA Reminds Travelers What They Can’t Bring Through Airport Security

TravelPulse — Some things are just common sense. Like it should be a no-brainer that you can’t bring a firearm on an airplane whether you are legally registered in your home state or not. 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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Amtrak Warns of Potential Summer Travel Disruptions Amid Infrastructure Improvements

Travel Pulse — Amtrak announced that infrastructure improvements this summer along the busy Northeast Corridor (NEC) may cause temporary service disruptions. Read More

Yes, You Can Rent an Electric Vehicle for Your Next Trip—Here’s How

Afar Magazine — What to know about planning a trip using an EV rental car. Read More


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Marriott, MGM to Launch Combined Loyalty Offering

Business Travel News — Marriott International in October will begin to add 17 MGM Resorts International properties to Marriott’s Bonvoy loyalty program under a “long-term” licensing agreement. Read More

IHG Hotels in Portugal Are Awarded the coveted Green Key Certification for Environmental Excellence

Travel Daily News — The Green Key eco-label certification is the leading standard for excellence in environmental responsibility and sustainable business practices within the tourism industry. Read More

Margaritaville to Reflag a Mountain Resort in Lake Tahoe

Travel Weekly — The Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel in South Lake Tahoe will become the brand’s first mountain resort in time for the 2023-’24 ski season. Read More

Edition Hotel Makes Its Debut in Rome

Travel Weekly — The 91-room Rome Edition, the Marriott luxury lifestyle brand’s sixth in Europe, is located near Rome’s Via Veneto. Read More

Tips on Tipping

ASTA.org — When we asked ASTA travel advisors for their guidelines on hotel tipping, they emphasized that tipping is very much a personal decision. Read More


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What Happens When You Skip Your Connecting Flight

Afar Magazine — It’s called skiplagging, a travel hack that some fliers use to score cheaper airfares. Here are the airlines’ policies regarding the practice. Read More

Tips for Being a Responsible, Respectful Traveler

Vox — Consider the culture, people, and the earth when you travel. Read More

How to Behave Abroad: What Are the World’s Quirkiest Etiquette Practices?

Insider Travel Report — Remitly, a leading digital financial services provider for immigrants and their families, has delved into the world of cultural norms and customs to discover some of the most unusual and unique etiquette practices around the world. Read More

Will Europe’s New Border Entry System Present Challenges for Travelers?

Travel Pulse — Beginning in January 2024, travelers from more than 60 countries—some 1.4 billion people—will need to apply in advance for authorization to visit. Read More

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