March 21, 2023

Direct Travel

News Briefs

March 21, 2023

In This Edition… Travelport buys Deem, American pivots – all about NDC, airline flight service updates, Lufthansa’s cabin redesign, passport renewal news, re-verification for Clear, updates on Uber, hotel news, tipping while traveling, additional travel tips, and much more!

Dans cette édition… Travelport achète Deem, American se réoriente – tout sur la NDC, des mises à jour sur les services de vol des compagnies aériennes, le remodelage des cabines de Lufthansa, les actualités concernant le renouvellement des passeports, la revérification de Clear, des mises à jour sur Uber, des actualités hôtelières, la question des pourboires durant les voyages, des conseils supplémentaires pour les voyageurs, et bien plus encore!

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Procurement Strategies to Try with Your Corporate Travel Program

We recommend reviewing the following procurement strategies to help you better manage sourcing, spend, and contract management. Read More

4 Ways to Maximize Your Travel Program With an Online Booking Tool

In today’s world of business travel, companies are doing more with less. This post-pandemic shift has raised the bar for expedited bookings, stronger compliance, simplified processes, and tools that support duty of care. Read More


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Travelport Buys Deem, Plans Full Integration on Travelport Plus

Business Travel News — Travelport has acquired corporate travel management platform Deem, with plans to make it a “fully integrated corporate tool” with the Travelport platform. Deem continues to operate as a separate entity following the acquisition. Read More

American Blows Up Its Sales Team, Launches a Risky War Against Corporate Accounts and Travel Sellers

Cranky Flyer — American has decided that the way it sells travel through third parties and to companies in general is broken, and it has launched a risky effort to completely remake the space. Read More

What NDC is Really All About

Travel Weekly — Mark Pestronk from Travel Weekly gives his opinion about what’s really going on with NDC. Read More


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Air France to Operate Summer Schedule at 2019 Levels

Business Travel News — Air France plans to operate its schedule for its summer season—April through October—at 2019 levels, the carrier announced, citing strong travel demand coupled with the lifting of remaining travel restrictions. Read More

Air Canada to Launch Montreal-Amsterdam Service

Business Travel News — Air Canada beginning June 2 will launch nonstop seasonal flights between Montreal and Amsterdam through Oct. 14. Read More

United Resumes San Francisco-Hong Kong Service

Business Travel News — United Airlines last week resumed Hong Kong-San Francisco service with daily flights using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Read More

Korean Air to Increase China Service

Business Travel News — South Korean carrier Korean Air beginning mid-March will increase service to China after the two countries this month agreed to restore the number of flights between them to pre-pandemic levels. Read More

Lufthansa Unveils New Cabins With Over-the-Top First and Business Suites—Here’s a First Look

Afar Magazine — Seven business-class options. Reclining premium economy seats that don’t encroach on other passengers. Read More

A ‘Business Imperative’: Delta Outlines Roadmap to More Sustainable Travel

Delta.com — Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer outlines the company’s bold strategy for achieving net zero-emissions and more sustainable travel by 2050, including scaling the sustainable fuel market, innovating for the fleet of the future, addressing single-use plastics and encouraging net-zero supply chains. Read More

Airlines to Fight Additional Schiphol Flight Reductions

Business Travel News — Delta Air Lines, KLM, EasyJet and other carriers have joined forces to sue the Dutch government after it announced it would further reduce flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport from 500,000 annual movements—take-offs and landings—to 460,000 by November. Read More

U.S. Appeals Court Refuses To Order FAA to Stop Shrinking Seats On Planes

Forbes — Over the past decades, airlines have crammed more seats into planes for increased profit. Read More


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U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse

Travel Market Report — It could be the highest demand year ever for passport applications. Read More

Heads Up: You May Have to Re-verify Your Identity to Use Clear Every 5 Years

The Points Guy — Aligning with TTPs, Clear users must re-verify their identity every five years, despite having an annual membership. Read More

Need a New U.S. Passport Fast? Here’s How You Can Speed Up the Process

Afar Magazine — From emergency travel to suddenly realizing your passport has expired right before a big international trip, there are numerous situations that might require a quick passport turnaround. 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 Launches Airport Guides to Help Cut Pickup Confusion

Axios — The handy feature — which will include directions and accompanying photos — will be available at more than 30 airports worldwide to start. Read More

Uber Expanding Reserve Window

Business Travel News — Ride-hailing company Uber “is beginning to roll out” longer periods for which customers can reserve rides, to 90 days from 30. Read More

Amtrak Considers New NYC-Texas Service

Business Travel News — Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission have partnered to apply for federal funds to study new service between New York and Dallas-Fort Worth through Atlanta. Read More


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Marriott Is Bringing the Ritz-Carlton to Lake Como

Travel Market Report — The new hotel will be the first Ritz-Carlton hotel in all of Italy. Read More

Hoteliers Say Business Travel Has Permanently Shifted

CoStar — Some urban hotels now performing better midweek than on weekends. Read More

Moxy Hotel Opens in Brooklyn

Travel Weekly — The industrial-inspired hotel sits near the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge. Read More


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What Causes Turbulence on Flights?

Afar Magazine — Reports of severe turbulence on planes (and in some cases, injuries) can make flying stressful. But understanding what turbulence is—and why it’s not so bad—can help ease fears. Read More

What You Need to Know About Sustainable Travel

Travel Market Report — Sustainability, responsible tourism, eco-friendly travel, green travel … these have become more than buzzwords of late, and there is a growing number of consumers who opt for travel experiences that tick off the boxes of sustainability. Read More

Fast, Free Wi-Fi Coming to Delta’s International Jets with Latest Upgrade

The Points Guy — Delta is teaming up with Viasat, one of the leading providers of satellite connectivity, to outfit the airline’s entire wide-body fleet with the provider’s latest connectivity solutions. Read More

Travel Etiquette: Who Should You Tip When Traveling

USA Today (subscription may be required) — Knowing whom to tip, how much to tip and when to tip can help make tipping feel more like a blessing than a burden. Read More

The Unofficial Rules for Talking on Planes

The Washington Post (subscription may be required) — What you need to know about “cell yell” and social cues before you start blabbing on your next flight. Read More

CDC Lifting COVID Testing Requirements for Arriving Chinese Travelers

TravelPulse — The world continues to get back to normal in the wake of coronavirus. Read More

What Happens to Your Body on a Long-haul Flight

CNN — No, you’re not imagining it. Your body does some weird things up in the air. Here’s a guide for the common and merely embarrassing, to the rare but serious. Read More

Travelling As A Woman Is Less Safe Than Travelling as a Man Say 71% of Women Business Travellers

Travel Daily News — Women more likely to take measures to protect their safety during business travel. 31% don’t travel or go out on their own at night; 46% stay in close touch with family and friends so their whereabouts are known. Read More

Europe Will Charge Travelers Entry Fees in 2024

TravelPulse — The launch of the European Union’s electronic entry-authorization system for visa-free visitors has been pushed back again. Read More


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Food Donation Improvement Act

PreVue Meetings — Thanks to the Food Donation Improvement Act (FDIA), hotels and venues now have a more streamlined path to donate food without concern about liability. 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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