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In This Issue
Seeking Health Care While Abroad<=
/b>
Packing The Right Credit Card=
CO Changes Alliances
Travel News Briefs
February Vacation Travel Show
Meeting & Event Planning Services=
Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings=
&nbs=
p;
FEBRUARY VACATION
SPECIALS
Cruise Lines and Tour Operato=
rs are
offering great values that are too good to believe.
Contact our leisure departmen=
t:
Rennert Travel
210-524-3300
CTP EVENT PLANNERS
Planning
an Event or Corporate Meeting?
Jump start the new year for 2009 Meetings and Events by
contacting one of our CTP EVENT PLANNERS!
"We Make You Look Good!" is the CTP Event Planners mantra. We
attend to every last bit of minutia so that you can relax as the perfect
event comes to life. Our clients and their guests never suspect the amoun=
t of
work Event Planners invest in their events - a fact that you are sure to
appreciate, and that we know is the truest sign of our success.
TRAVEL SMARTS
Register with the Embassy or Consulates=
Registration with t=
he
U.S. Embassy or Consulate (in the country you are visiting) makes your
presence and whereabouts known, in case it is necessary for a consular of=
ficer
to contact you in an emergency. During a disaster overseas, American cons=
ular
officers can assist in evacuation were that to become necessary, but they
cannot assist you if they do not know where you are. You can regist=
er
with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State
Department’s
travel registration web
site.
TRAVEL QUICK LINKS =
Bureau Consular Affairs – www.travel.state.gov/inde=
x.html
Health Information – www.mdtravelhealth.com=
FAA – www.faa.gov
Traffic Conditions – www.traffic.com
Weather – www.weather.com
Currency Conversion – www.oanda.com/convert/class=
ic
Time Conversion – www.worldtimeserve.com=
Current=
Airport Status – www.fly.faa.gov<=
/a>
TRAVEL =
WARNINGS
Travel
Warnings are issued to describe long-term,
protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable. A Travel
Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist Ameri=
can
citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or
because of a drawdown of its staff.
For list of countries please visit:<=
o:p>
www.travel.state.gov/inde=
x.html=
Current Travel Warn=
ings =
Haiti 01/28/2009
Philippines 01/27/2009
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza
01/15/2009
Burundi 01/08/2009
Sri Lanka 12/22/2008
Cote d'Ivoire 12/15/2008
Georgia 12/12/2008
Zimbabwe 12/12/2008
Nigeria 12/02/2008
Nepal 11/21/2008
Pakistan 11/21/2008
Eritrea 11/15/2008
Somalia 11/15/2008
Chad 11/14/2008
Kenya 11/14/2008
Yemen 11/10/2008
Congo, Democratic Republic of the &nb=
sp;
10/30/2008
Sudan 10/02/2008
Iran 09/15/2008
Lebanon 09/10/2008
Afghanistan 09/10/2008
Algeria 08/22/2008
Colombia 08/07/2008
Saudi Arabia 07/09/2008
Uzbekistan 07/03/2008
Iraq 06/13/2008
Syria 04/15/2008
Central African Republic 03/25=
/2008
=
=
TRAVEL =
ALERTS
Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate informati=
on
about short-term conditions, generally within a particular country, that =
pose
imminent risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural disa=
sters,
terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-rel=
ated
demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as international
conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions that mig=
ht
generate a Travel Alerto disseminate information about short-term conditi=
ons,
generally within a particular country, that pose imminent risks to the
security of U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups,
anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or
violence, and high-profile events such as international conferences or
regional sports events are examples of conditions that might generate a
Travel Alert.
C=
urrent
Travel Alerts:
Madagascar 01/28/2009
Fiji 01/15/2009
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza
India 12/24/2008
South Pacific Cyclone Season
Mali 12/10/2008
Mexico 10/14/2008
Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf
09/23/2008
Comoros 08/12/2008/2008
CONTACT CTP
Phone:
(210) 366-9565
(800) 523-9036
Fax: (210) 366-5052
Vi=
sit our Website:
http://www.ctptravelservices.com
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<=
/span>
SEEKING HEALTH CARE ABROAD<=
/span>
![](3D"February_2009_files/image006.jpg") In
addition to ensuring that all necessary travel documents are complete bef=
ore
departure, travelers should learn what medical services their health
insurance will cover overseas, as well as any policy exclusions. While so=
me
major health insurance carriers in the United States may provide
coverage for emergencies that occur while traveling, most do not cover
medical expenses due to exacerbations of pre-existing medical conditions
while abroad. It is also important to know the insurance company’s
policy for “out-of-network” services, pre-authorization
requirements, and need for a second opinion before obtaining treatment.
Travelers should carry claim forms and a copy of their insurance policy c=
ard,
if their insurance policy does provide coverage abroad. The Social Securi=
ty
Medicare program does not provide coverage for medical costs outside the =
United
States, except under very limited circumstances (1); some Medigap plans
available to people enrolled in the original Medicare plan provide limited
coverage for emergency care abroad (2). Furthermore, very few health
insurance companies cover the cost of medical evacuation, which can vary
widely, ranging from a few thousand dollars to over $100,000, depending on
the circumstances. Travelers who will be outside the United States for an
extended period of time, who have underlying illnesses, or who are partic=
ipating
in activities involving greater risk for injury are encouraged to consider
purchasing a supplemental health insurance policy that provides guaranteed
medical payments, assistance via a 24-hour physician-backed support cente=
r,
and emergency medical transport, including repatriation. A list of travel
insurance and medical evacuation companies is available at the U.S.
Department of State website (3). A brief list of additional assistance
companies is also included below; this list is not all-inclusive:
 &=
nbsp;
International SOS: http://www.internationalsos.com=
.
International SOS offers comprehensive 24-hour physician-backed medical a=
nd
security assistance, for which members pay a fee. Membership provides acc=
ess
to on-line services, including medical and safety travel advisories,
pre-travel itinerary-based recommendations, and computerized medical reco=
rds.
Insurance policies include medical evacuation and repatriation coverage,
access to international clinics that provide primary care, diagnostic, and
emergency services, and voluntary patient support programs to assist with
medication compliance while abroad.
&=
nbsp;
MEDEX: http://www.medexassist.com. MEDEX
travel assistance services include 24-hour access to coordinators who can
help locate appropriate medical care providers, coordinate direct payment=
of
covered medical expenses, and assist in other medical, legal or travel
situations. Insurance policies include medical evacuation and repatriation
services, emergency dental coverage, and assistance with replacement of
medications. For an additional fee, subscribers also have access to
itinerary-based destination reports, which cover practical topics from lo=
cal
transportation and cultural norms to medical and security alerts.
&=
nbsp;
International Association for Medical Assistance to
Travelers: http://www.iamat.org. IAMAT is a nonpr=
ofit
organization established to provide medical information to travelers and =
to
make competent medical care available to them worldwide. IAMAT maintains =
an
international network of physicians, hospitals, and clinics who have agre=
ed
to treat IAMAT members in need of medical care while abroad. Membership is
free, although a donation to support IAMAT efforts is appreciated. Members
receive a directory of participating physicians and medical centers and h=
ave
access to a variety of travel-related informational brochures.=
Travelers with underlying medical conditions also
should consider choosing a medical assistance company that allows them to
store their medical history before departure, so it can be accessed world=
wide
if needed. Alternatively, they may carry a letter from their physician
listing underlying medical conditions and current medications (including
their generic names). Travel insurance companies differ in their policies
with regard to coverage for exacerbations of underlying medical condition=
s.
Travelers are encouraged to research this carefully and understand the fi=
ne
print.
PACKING THE RIGHT CREDIT CARD
=
=
Traveling
frugally means more than just cadging free bar snacks in Bologna or hopping low-cost flights
between third-tier European airports. To keep costs to a minimum, you hav=
e to
plan well in advance, and that means getting your finances in order.=
=
The first
thing you’ll want to do is apply for a new credit card. Most card
issuers charge fees for overseas transactions. American Express, for exam=
ple,
adds 2.7 percent to every overseas transaction (up from 2 percent last
summer), while Bank of America, Chase, Citibank and HSBC tack on 3 percen=
t,
according to Curtis Arnold, who runs =
CardRatings.com,
a Web site that tracks credit card fees.
=
These
fees not only include in-store purchases but all transactions made abroad=
, so
even if you’re buying something on the Web from the warm confines of
your home, you still get hit with a fee if the Web site processes the
purchase through a foreign bank.
=
There
are ways around this. Discover, for example, charges no fees, but is not =
as
widely accepted abroad as Visa, MasterCard and American Express. In Decem=
ber,
Charles Schwab Bank, a corporate sibling o=
f the
brokerage house, introduced a credit card that charges no transaction fees
and puts 2 percent cash back into a brokerage account.<=
/p>
=
Capital
One charges no fees of its own and even eats the Visa charge. Customer
service can be a little awkward when calling them to tell them you are go=
ing
abroad (necessary to keep your purchases from being flagged as potentially
fraudulent), but that’s the price you pay for saving money.
=
Having
no-fee credit and A.T.M. cards is important, but in an emergency, you may=
also
need the kind of money that you can’t put on a credit card. You may
want to arrange for travel medical insurance.
<=
/span>
CONTINENTAL: SKYTEAM MEMBER=
SHIP
ENDS OCT. 24
=
=
Continental
Airlines will end its membership in the SkyTeam frequent-flier alliance on
Oct. 24, the carrier says in e-mail sent to its frequent fliers Thursday
evening. The Houston Chronicle
says that opens “the way for it to join the Star Alliance, led by
United Airlines and Lufthansa.”
=
Though
the change seems to be widely anticipated many Continental frequent flier=
s,
the switchover could be bumpy, some industry observers say. “It wil=
l be
decidedly confusing in the short term ... ,” aviation consultant Bob
Mann of R.W. Mann & Co., predicts in the Chronicle article.
=
In the
meantime, Dow Jones Newswires not=
es that
“as part of the pact, Star is seeking antitrust immunity for
Continental alongside the existing approval (already) granted to some (of=
its
other) members on transatlantic and other markets.” Continental
announced in June that it would defect from the SkyTe=
am
frequent-flier alliance—and codeshare partner Delta̵=
2;in
favor of a partnership with United and the Star Alliance group.
<=
/span>
TRAVE=
L NEWS BRIEFS
DALLAS LOVE FIELD SLATED FOR PRICEY MAKEOVER
Dallas Love Field is
aiming to emphasize speed and convenience in a proposed $519 million make=
over
that will largely be financed by its major tenant, Southwest Airlines.
Airport officials are studying a drive-through check-in area and valet
service as part of the overhaul, along with environmentally friendly touc=
hes
in the main concourse. Southwest, which now pays about $1.50 per enplaned
passenger at Love Field, could see its costs rise to almost $5 per passen=
ger.
&=
nbsp;
RECESSION FORCES TRAVEL COMPANIES TO SLASH PRICES
Airlines, cruise lin=
es and
hotels have drastically lowered prices as part of an effort to attract
travelers during the recession. Observers note some Americans are taking
advantage of the more favorable exchange rate and traveling to Europe for the first time in years.
&=
nbsp;
BIOFUELS TAKE FLIGHT
A test flight last w=
eek
proved that a mix of jet fuel and biofuel from algae and jatropha nuts can
power a Continental Airlines jetliner. The fledgling biofuels industry is
moving beyond research into commercial production of fuels that promise to
reduce the carbon footprint of the airline industry. And the progress bei=
ng
made is exciting: "We're looking at five-year time horizons, not 20-=
year
time horizons," says Continental Airlines CEO Larry Kellner.
&=
nbsp;
TEST FLIGHTS SPEED UP FUEL-MIX TIMETABLE
The success of recen=
t test
flights may speed the commercial development of airplane biofuels availab=
le
commercially in the next five years. Virgin Atlantic Airways, Air New Zealand, Continental Airlines and Japan Airlines =
have
conducted tests of fuels that blend Jet A1 with oil made from such things=
as
jatropha, algae and camelina.
&=
nbsp;
TECHNOLOGY AIMS TO SPOT FEATHERED FRIENDS
Air traffic controll=
ers at
some airports are testing high-tech radar systems designed to help avoid
collisions between birds and planes. Seattle-Tacoma In=
ternational
Airport and Chica=
go
O'Hare are among the sites testing systems, which the FAA says are far fr=
om
perfected.
&=
nbsp;
AMERICAN SAYS LATE DELIVERIES WILL TRIM CAPACITY BY 1%<=
/a>
Due to production de=
lays
at Boeing Co., American Airlines says it will take delivery of only 29 new
737s this year, not the 36 originally promised. American says the revised
delivery schedule will result in an additional 1% cut in capacity, becaus=
e it
won't use older MD-80s to take up the slack.
&n=
bsp;
TRAFFIC AT CHICAGO O'HARE PLUNGES TO 15-YEAR LOW
Traffic was down nea=
rly 5%
last year at Chicago O'Hare, reaching its lowest level in 15 years, while
Chicago Midway saw traffic plunge more than 12%. Despite the slumping
numbers, Rosemarie Andolino, head of the O'Hare Modernization Program,
insists plans for a new runway and new terminal will move forward. "=
The
aviation industry is cyclical and continues to bounce back," she sai=
d.
&=
nbsp;
<=
/span>
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nbsp;
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nbsp;
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nbsp;
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