Travelennium Inc.

11/26/2024

Here are 10 tips to make flying easier during the holidays - This will be one of the busiest weekends of the year for flying. Here is some advice if you are brave enough to fly this weekend and during the coming Christmas and New Year holidays.

#1 – Download the airline APP on your mobile phone and check in online before you head to the airport – Print out a boarding pass before you leave home – This keeps you out of one more line at the check-in counter.

#2 – Make sure your TSA Pre-Check number is listed in your reservation – If you have downloaded the airline mobile app and checked-in on the app you will receive a boarding pass that will clearly show the TSA Pre-Check symbol on your boarding pass. Those smart travelers who use a travel advisor will probably have a profile with the Known Travelers number captured so it automatically shows up on your boarding pass. If your boarding pass does not show your TSA Pre-Check number you should ask the airline rep at the check-in counter to add it to your reservation so you can use the Pre-Check lane for speedy access to the security lane.

#3 – Take an Uber or have your friends or relatives take you to the airport – Airport parking is often full (and expensive) and you can avoid the hassle of driving around for an hour to find a parking spot. – If you do drive your car to the airport be sure to take a picture of your car where you parked in the parking lot so you know where to find your car when you return.

#4 – Arrive at the airport at least 2-3 hours early as lines will be long – I know this sounds excessive however, nothing is worse than missing your flight because of long lines. If you miss your flights, you may miss out altogether on flying as ALL flights will be full and it will be hard, if not impossible, to find alternate flights.

#5 – Take only carry-on luggage – Avoid the check-in counter and go straight to the security checkpoint. This means you should take only carry-on luggage and avoid checking in any luggage (will save you at least 30 minutes of standing in line).

#6 – Take a picture of your checked luggage – Then if your luggage gets lost you can easily show the airline clerk what it looks like when filing a lost luggage claim.

#7 – Get on the plane early – Overhead bins will be full of Christmas gifts and overhead bin space is on a first come first served basis.

#8 – Scan or photograph your passport, driver’s license and credit cards – This can help you get replacements and contact your banks for new credit cards and credentials if needed.

#9 – Charge your phone and all of your electronics plus bring a charging battery – When the airports are full so are all the airport charging stations. Nothing is worse than trying to use your phone when the battery is about to die.

#10 – Leave your laptop at home – It is time to sit back and enjoy the holiday with family and friends.

#11 Bonus – Please, please, please don’t wrap your Christmas presents if you are flying with them – Many people who are flying to Grandma’s house with Christmas presents as carry-ons are going to be very upset when they watch the security staff unwrap those presents to check what is inside. My advice, if you are taking presents be sure you wrap them when you arrive to prevent the painful experience of watching your beautifully wrapped presents being opened and that 15 minutes of making the wrappings look perfect be dismantled at the security checkpoint.

#12 Bonus – Finally, take a big dose of patience with you – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's are three of the busiest weeks of the year for air travel. Airports will be full. Parking lots will be full. Security lines will be twice the normal size and every seat on every plane will be packed. The overhead bins on planes will be packed with holiday goodies. This is the time of the year when many families fly. So these travelers are often first-time flyers that are not aware of how the “system works”. Despite all the “hassle factors” you can remove most of the stress simply by arriving early at the airport and knowing in advance what to expect. So take a deep breath, enjoy all those cute children running around your feet and be thankful for all the wonderful blessings that this season offers.

Procrastinator’s Alert – The best gift you can give for Christmas is the dream of travel – We can still save the day for guys who have procrastinated buying their wife (or significant other) a Christmas gift. If you want to really see someone’s eyes light up on Christmas morning, give them a travel gift certificate. It is the easiest gift to buy and the one that your friends and family will most cherish. Let’s face it. Who needs one more ugly tie or one more bottle of cheap perfume to store in the closet? The most valued gifts today are not possessions but experiences. Call our office today (901-767-0761) and ask us to issue a travel gift certificate in any denomination you like. TRUST me your gift will be the most popular gift this Holiday Season.



ALSO, End-of-Year Warning – Protect your airline and hotel elite status before the end of the year – One of the most valuable things a frequent traveler can do is to make sure you retain your current airline and hotel elite status for the New Year. A simple call to your preferred airline or hotel and they will tell you if you are on track to maintain your status and all the bennies that go with it like complimentary upgrades, etc. If you are short, be sure to check to see if you have earned all your credits. If you still are just a few miles or stays short many people look at doing a quick mileage run (airline) or mattress run (hotel) to earn enough points to put you over the top. The airlines sometimes will allow you to buy additional qualifying miles before the end of the year to reach your elite status target. Good Luck!

Safe Travels

11/15/2024

New bag of tricks 🧳

Raise your hand if you’ve used Apple’s Find My feature to locate a misplaced phone or AirPods. Soon you might be able to use it to help your airline find that lost bag.

Apple this week said the next update to iOS will include Share Item Location. That means travelers using AirTags and other tracking devices will be able to share the location of their bag with an airline.

More than 15 airlines, including Delta, United, Air Canada, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, will use it as part of their lost-bag process. No details or timeline have been announced. For those concerned with privacy, Apple says the shared location will be disabled once you’re reunited with the item or will automatically expire within seven days. You can also turn it off.

None of this means you must run out and buy AirTags, of course. Several major airlines already offer digital bag-tracking through their apps and websites. Southwest added it a year ago. Watching your bag can be both soothing (Yay, my bag made it) and stressful (Yikes, it’s not showing up on this flight).

AirTags or compatible trackers will definitely help the airline pinpoint the bag’s location and more quickly reunite you with it. No driving to that off-airport warehouse to try to find it when you can’t reach the airline, like we saw in the summer of travel madness that was 2022.

11/05/2024

Are U.S. Airlines Heading Toward Bankruptcy Again? Six Giant Warning Signs to Watch -

In late September, a major development in the airline industry caught my attention—American Airlines' flight attendants finally ratified a new contract, securing a 20% raise. This followed a 40% raise for AA pilots. While this is certainly a win for the hardworking crews who keep the skies safe and comfortable, it also raises serious questions about the financial health of the airlines. A 20% - 40% increase in labor costs is a massive burden for any company to absorb, especially in an industry already stretched thin. As I looked deeper into the situation, it became clear that this isn't an isolated event—there's a growing list of similar labor deals across all major U.S. airlines. This has me wondering: Are the airlines flying straight into financial turbulence?

Let’s dive into six giant warning signs that suggest U.S. airlines might be on the brink of another wave of bankruptcies in the year ahead.

1. Skyrocketing Labor Costs - Recent labor agreements across the board are putting airlines in a precarious position. With wage increases ranging from 20% to 40%, airlines are facing a significant rise in operational costs. American Airlines is just the latest example—pilots, ground crews, and even flight attendants across multiple carriers are securing sizable pay raises. While these increases are necessary for retaining talent, they are also squeezing already-thin profit margins. The question becomes: How much longer can airlines absorb these hikes before they crack under the pressure?

2. Full Flights, No Room for Growth - It’s no secret that planes are packed these days. U.S. airlines have managed to recover demand post-pandemic, and flights are as full as ever. However, there’s a problem—airlines simply can’t squeeze more people onto flights. Load factors are maxed out, and while full airplanes should theoretically be good for business, it also means that airlines are running out of capacity to generate more revenue. Add to that the increasing operational costs, and the math starts to look shaky.

3. Limited Supply of New Aircraft - To make matters worse, there’s a limited supply of new airplanes available to expand fleets or replace aging aircraft. Supply chain disruptions and delays in aircraft manufacturing mean that carriers don’t have the option to significantly grow their fleets to increase capacity. With high demand for travel and a shortage of new planes, airlines are stuck between a rock and a hard place: they can’t grow their way out of rising costs.

4. Airlines have lost the ability to raise prices higher than they already have - Economists call thisprice elasticity and the airlines are seeing that the high prices of today can not go higher or they will simply see fewer people buy airline tickets.

5. Airlines are operating with junk bond status - Only two airlines, Southwest and Delta Air Lines have a strong enough balance sheet to be investment grade. This means all the other airlines have to pay higher interest rates to raise capital to survive.

6. In a recession, airlines could face a nosedive - In a recession, airlines could face a nosedive as reduced consumer spending leads to fewer travelers. Business travel often declines, straining revenues amid rising fuel and operational costs. Passengers may opt for cheaper alternatives or postpone trips, further challenging the industry's profitability. Continued economic decline could result in layoffs, route reductions, and even bankruptcies for struggling airlines.

A Perfect Storm for Bankruptcy? - It’s starting to feel like déjà vu. We’ve seen this scenario play out before, and history suggests that without significant changes, U.S. airlines could once again find themselves filing for bankruptcy. Unfortunately, airline management has been running scared and the massive expenses of new labor contracts are turning the airline business model into a nightmare.

10/17/2024

We received this important update from British Airways and wanted share.

Starting January 8, 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter or transit through the United Kingdom. The ETA is the UK’s travel authorization and pre-departure security process for screening travelers from visa-exempt countries. This ETA will also be required for those transiting through the UK, even if you do not pass through border control.

We do not have a flyer regarding the UK ETA program we can share, but I have included important information below. Please share this with your agents and keep checking the website link for updates:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

• This new entry requirement will affect all U.S. and Canadian travelers going to the United Kingdom, including those who have layovers or connecting flights in any UK airport.

• The cost of the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is £10. Once approved, the ETA is valid for multiple entries into the UK for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. This allows travelers to visit or transit through the UK for short stays, such as tourism, business, or short-term study, during this period.

• If you are a U.S. and Canadian passport holder, you may apply on the ETA app or online beginning November 27, 2024.

• UK Student Visa & Visa Holders
• Caveat for students… The ETA is primarily designed for non-visa travelers entering the UK for short-term visits, such as tourism, business, or short-term study, and international students and visa holders who already possess a valid UK visa are exempt from this ETA requirement.

• So, if someone holds a student visa or other long-term visa for the UK, they won’t need to apply for the ETA. International students and visa holders who already possess a valid UK visa are exempt from this ETA requirement.

Information on who can get an ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK.

10/08/2024

Here are the 10 requirements to renew your passport online:

1. The passport you are renewing is or was valid for 10 years, and you are age 25 or older.
2. We issued the passport you are renewing between 2009 and 2015, or over 9 years but less than 15 years from the date you plan to submit your application.
3. You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.
4. You are not traveling for at least 8 weeks from the date you will submit your application. We will only offer routine service, and the time it takes to get a passport will be the same as renewing by mail.
5. You are applying for a regular (tourist) passport. 6. You cannot renew a special issuance (diplomatic, official, service) passport online.
You live in the United States (either state or territory). You do not qualify to renew online if you live in a foreign country or have an Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) address.
7. You have your passport with you, and it is not damaged or mutilated, and you have not reported it as lost or stolen. Keep your most recent passport and do not mail it to us.
8. You can pay for your passport using a credit or debit card.
9. You can upload a digital passport photo.
10. You are aware that we will cancel the passport you are renewing after you submit your application. You cannot use it for international travel.

09/23/2024

Passports can now be renewed online

The U.S. State Department's online passport renewal program officially launches today. The State Department anticipates that in the future nearly 50% of passport renewals will be completed online. The new digital online renewal process hopes to improve the efficiency and timeliness of passport renewal. The State Department recently began beta testing the online renewal option, which is currently available to U.S. citizens over 25, with a limited number of slots opening daily at 1 p.m. ET. The State Department reported that 200,000 individuals have already participated in the program. Eligibility for online renewal includes being based in the U.S., having a passport valid for 10 years, and ensuring the passport has not been expired for more than five years. To find out how to process online passport renewals visit: https://go.executivetravel.com/e/1073683/n-passports-have-passport-html/nd4fss/1395509000/h/i2k-pbawvPsPpgDUESdoXy9IKnLjxqMDnAkpVCtypmk

07/25/2024

https://www.travelmole.com/news/southwest-to-ditch-open-seating/?otg=1&nidd=amtydWNodGVuQHRyYXZlbGVubml1bS5jb20=

Airline has revealed key changes like ending the open seating policy and introducing extra legroom seating in the future

07/19/2024

https://wsjtravel.cmail20.com/t/d-e-eddwlk-dtjlgdrz-r/

06/28/2024

https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/hotels/check-in-early-hotel-tips/

If you're wondering how early you can get access to your room, these tips and tricks can help you get an early check-in on your next stay.

06/11/2024

Is International travel going cashless? - Recently a traveler returned from London and told us every retail store he went into would not allow him to pay with pounds, only credit cards. We are seeing more and more countries moving rapidly to cashless purchases. Not sure if I like that or not. I always worry that my bank will view a charge as fraudulent and stop me from charging. I do, however, really like the touchless feature that allows you to simply tap your i-phone on the credit card reader and the touchless charge happens.

04/25/2024

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/new-rules-require-automatic-cash-refunds-for-delayed-cancelled-flights/

The Biden administration has announced rules that will require airlines to issue automatic cash refunds for any domestic flight that is canceled or delayed more than three hours, regardless of reason, including weather. Passengers can waive the refund and get rebooked on another flight if they choos...

03/26/2024

Travelennium will be closed on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29, for the Easter holiday. We will reopen on Monday, April 1st at 830am.

02/27/2024

In the middle of the pandemic, Jack and Henry Perkins decided to make a gin with a flavor profile more palatable to Americans.

02/27/2024

One of our clients recently flew from Memphis to Orlando roundtrip as it was a directly/non-stop flight and the price was much better than flying into Ft Lauderdale which was their final destination. From Orlando they took the Brightline which is the train from Orlando to Miami with various stops enroute to Miami. They said the experience was WONDERFUL. Check out their site below:

Ride Brightline & experience a high-speed train unparalleled in speed, comfort, and style. Now servicing 5 destinations in South Florida. Live life on the bright side today.

02/21/2024

Ten critical things you need to know to navigate a car rental in Europe – Renting a car in Europe is much different than renting a car in the USA. Here you go:

1. Get an international driver’s license – First, make sure you have a valid driver’s license from your home state. Secondly, although the rental car company may not require you to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) you may have to produce one or face stiff fines if you have a traffic ticket or accident. To avoid the worry, spend the $20 and get the IDP.

2. Minimum age requirement – Most car rental companies in Europe require you to be at least 21 years old. Some companies are as high as 25 years old. Be sure to ask the car rental company BEFORE you go.

3. Get ready to be flimflammed by the counter agent – they will ALWAYS try to upgrade you.

4. Insurance is very expensive – If you wait and get the car insurance at the registration desk be prepared to pay $25-40 a day for coverage. Check to see if your credit card company provides primary and secondary coverage in the countries you are traveling.

5. Beware of the tiny trunks to hold your luggage – If you rent a 4 passenger car and everyone brings a checked piece of luggage and a carry-on you will NOT be able to fit it all in the car. Basically, all cars in Europe have tiny trunks and can only hold about 4 total pieces of luggage. Cars in Europe are all very small and most of that shortened size comes at the expense of trunk space.

6. Most of the cars have manual transmissions – can you drive car with a manual transmission? Be sure you reserve an automatic transmission when you make the reservation. It may cost you a few more Euros, however, nothing is more frustrating that having to negotiate a manual transmission when going up a hill at a stop sign and you don’t know how to easily slip the clutch to move forward.

7. Use the car GPS – GPS mapping systems now come on most rental cars. Using a European GPS will also show you where the speed traps are and actually warn you in enough time that you can slow down and avoid getting tickets. Although most of these speed traps are marked very well with signs; however, you will often be distracted when driving and not notice them. It can be expensive to have a lead foot in Italy.

8. Have plenty of Euros for toll roads – Many of the expressways in Europe are funded by tolls. In one day you may pay for three or four tolls along the way. It is always good to have some spare 5-10 Euro bills handy to pay the automated toll booths.

9. Finding a parking space in large cities is much harder than in the states – They also are often several blocks away from your hotel or attraction you want to visit. If I stay in a nice hotel in the city, I often find it is easier to pay the valet parking than spending 30 minutes finding a parking stall.

10. Beware of the restricted traffic zones (ZTL) – Many cities have restricted travel zones where only authorized vehicles are allowed. Proceed at your own risk if you enter these as they come with big fines if you are caught. Also please realize that some of the streets in these historic cities are hundreds of years old and may only be 8 to 10 feet wide. There are a lot of one way streets as well.

11. BONUS – Don’t drink and drive anywhere but especially in Italy. They have very low tolerance levels and it is a very serious crime if caught.

01/17/2024

Due to the weather conditions in Memphis Tennessee, Travelennium has been closed since Monday. Depending on road conditions Wednesday, we hope to reopen starting at 10am.

Please call if you need immediate assistance. More inclement weather is due to arrive on Thursday so we will have a limited hours both Thursday and Friday. Stay safe.

Thank you

01/15/2024

Due to an over abundance of caution, Travalennium will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16th. Thank you in advance for your understanding.