|
In This Issue
June 1 – Western Hemispher=
e
Travel Initiative
CTP and Continental Team Together for Cost Savings
UA Goes Cashless
AA Pilots Plan Disruption of Flights<=
/i>
Southwest Testing Onboard Wi-Fi
Travel News Briefs
Travel Alert for Mexico
Meeting & Event Planning Services=
Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings=
&nbs=
p;
MARCH 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
officer to contact you in an emergency. During a disaster overseas, Ameri=
can
consular 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
register 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://ctptravelservices.com
|
<=
/span>
WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE=
![](3D"March_2009_files/image006.jpg") On June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, =
Mexico,
the Caribbean or Bermuda, by land or s=
ea,
know that they will soon be required to present one of the travel documen=
ts
listed below.
Many of these documents are already
available, and obtaining one now will ensure that you are ready on June 1, 2009, when they will be requir=
ed.
U.S. Passport - This is an internationally recognized travel document that veri=
fies
a person’s identity and nationality. It is accepted for travel by a=
ir,
land and sea.
U.S. Passport Card - This is a new, limited-use
travel document that fits in your wallet and costs less than a U.S. Passp=
ort.
It is only valid for travel by land, and sea.
Enhanced Driver’s Lice=
nse
(EDL) - Several states =
and
Canadian provinces are issuing this driver’s license or identificat=
ion
document that denotes identity and citizenship. It is specifically design=
ed
for cross-border travel into the U.S. by land or sea.
Trusted Traveler Program Cards - NEXUS, SENTRI,=
or
FAST enrollment cards can speed your entry into the U.S. =
and are
issued only to pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The cards are valid for =
use
at land or sea; the NEXUS card can be used in airports with a NEXUS kiosk=
.
Special Audiences - Information for Parents and
Children, Native Americans, and Boaters.
Knowing what documents are required =
and
having them ready when you return home will help streamline the entry pro=
cess
and ensure your return to the U.S.
is as smooth as possible.
CTP
AND CONTINENTAL AIRLINES TEAM TOGETHER
CTP
is pleased to announce major cost savings for our travelers. “Every
action we take reflects our mission statements promise to exceed customer
expectations”, states Christy Prescott, Owner and CEO. CTP approach=
es
each situation from a consumer focused perspective because it is the only=
way
that our promise can be fulfilled.
CTP
has available discounts on Continental Airlines that we are now able to s=
hare
with our valued clients. Discounts start at $50.00 per roundtrip and vary
based upon destination and class of service. For further information and =
to
book your travel, contact CTP at 210-366-9565.
UNITED
AIRLINES TO GO CASHLESS ON NORTH AMERICAN FLIGHTS
=
=
United
Airlines will no longer take cash for purchases made for flights within <=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">North America. “United Airlines says itR=
17;ll
start accepting credit and debit cards for onboard purchases beginning Ma=
rch
23. United says it’ll stop accepting cash for purchases on flights
within the U.S. and on flights to and from Canada, Mexico, Central America
and the Caribbean after the spring break season. No firm date’s been
set for the changeover. United is a unit of Chicago-based UAL. The company
says it would take both cash and credit on flights around the rest of the
world. The airline will continue to be cash-only on its United Express
regional flights. United says it got a positive reaction from passengers =
when
it tested credit and debit card purchases over the past year.”=
=
AMERI=
CAN
AIRLINES PILOTS PLAN DISRUPTIONS, NOT FULL STRIKE
=
=
In case
you missed this yesterday, trouble could be looming down the road for
passengers flying American Airlines. The
Associated Press writes “the pilots’ union =
at
American Airlines says it is preparing to disrupt the carrier’s
operations — but will stop short of a strike — if it can̵=
7;t
get a new labor contract. Union leaders on Wednesday declined to say exac=
tly
what they might do, other than to say they would wait until federal media=
tors
declare negotiations at a standstill. That could take months.”=
=
Pilot’s
union spokesman Sam Mayer tells Bloomberg News
the organization will offer details of its plan on Tuesday. “You ha=
ve a
continuum from doing nothing to a general strike,” he tells Bloombe=
rg. “You’re
only limited along that line by your imagination and what’s legal.&=
#8221;
The pilots could opt for a CHAOS (Creating Havoc Around Our System) type =
of
tactic that would limit disruptions only to certain airports or flights.
Bloomberg adds “the pilots’ plans to avoid a strike across
American’s entire network may decrease the chances that Obama would
intervene to stop a walkout, Mayer said.”
=
AP says “the
union is attempting to erase concessions it made in 2003, when the airline
was near bankruptcy. But the union’s leverage is limited by the
recession, which is draining cash from American and other airlines, and b=
y a
federal law that makes it difficult for airline workers to strike.”=
=
As for
management, officials there say they’re “fully committed̶=
1;
to negotiations led by federal mediators. “While the union has a le=
gal
right to draw attention to their contract priorities, it’s important
that union officials are mindful of their specific obligation under the R=
ailway
Labor Act to take every reasonable step to prevent operational disruption=
s or
other unlawful job actions,” AA spokeswoman Susan Gordon says.=
<=
/span>
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES TESTING WI-FI
![3D"Southwest](3D"March_2009_files/image007.gif"=) We know you and the Travelers of your company=
will
be interested and excited to learn that Southwest Airlines is now evaluat=
ing
Wi-Fi internet access onboard! The service will be available on four airc=
raft
this quarter. With this innovation, we are giving Customers with Wi-Fi
enabled devices the freedom to be more productive and to stay entertained
while they fly with full access to the Internet, including e-mail, music,
shopping, and virtual private networks (VPN).
Internet access will be free during =
this
evaluation period, which will last about two months. We will be surveying
Customers throughout the evaluation to get input on various aspects of the
product and help us determine whether to equip the rest of our fleet with
this cutting-edge technology. So if you or any of your employees or custo=
mers
travel onboard one of our Wi-Fi planes, we’ll be asking for your fe=
edback!
Learn
more about Wi-Fi on Southwest Airlines!
<=
/span>
<=
/span>
TRAVE=
L NEWS BRIEFS
FAA testing radar system =
to draw
a bead on birds
The FAA is testi=
ng a
radar system that would detect birds, with the intent of preventing incid=
ents
like the recent one involving a US Airways jet. Although the Navy and Air
Force already use a similar technology, FAA officials say they want to en=
sure
that the new technology is thoroughly tested and reliable before rolling =
it
out to commercial airports nationwide.
&=
nbsp;
JFK to close runway for 4=
months
The longest runw=
ay at Kennedy International Air=
port
could be shut down for about four months as part of a $300 million repavi=
ng
and widening project. Runway 13R-31L handled about one-third of Kennedy's=
440,000
flights last year, prompting some to warn already that passengers could s=
ee
additional flight delays during construction. Long-term, however, the Port
Authority of New York and N=
ew
Jersey says improvements will reduce delays by
about 10,000 hours over the projected 40-year life of the runway.
&=
nbsp;
Carriers poised for major=
moves
at O'Hare
Airline consolid=
ations
and falling passenger counts are about to cause a major gate shuffle at
O'Hare International Airport, according to the Chicago Tribune. The paper
says both Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines will move operations t=
o be
closer to their merger or alliance partners, while both American Airlines=
and
Virgin America are said to be eying Delta's gates. The moves would repres=
ent
the biggest shuffle at O'Hare in decades, the Tribune reports.=
&=
nbsp;
Bill would lift restricti=
ons on
travel to Cuba
Rep. William Del=
ahunt,
D-Mass., has introduced a bill that would allow Americans unrestricted tr=
avel
from the U.S.
to Cuba.
The legislation would also prohibit the president from putting restrictio=
ns
on travel to the island nation unless a serious threat arose. President
Barack Obama favored easing the travel ban during his campaign.
&=
nbsp;
Delays likely as new pass=
port
rules take effect
Anyone planning =
to
step foot outside of the U.S. this year should get their passports as soo=
n as
possible and reconsider any road trips to Canada or Mexico in June. Start=
ing
June 1, identification requirements for crossing the borders change, and
delays and glitches are likely.
<=
/span>
TRAVEL ALERT
MEXICO - February
20, 2009<=
/span>
<=
/span>
This Travel Alert
updates security information for U.S. citizens traveling and
living in Mexico.
It supersedes the Travel Alert for Mexico dated October 15, 2008, and exp=
ires on August 20, 2009.
While millions of =
U.S.
citizens safely visit Mexico
each year (including thousands who cross the land border every day for st=
udy,
tourism or business), violence in the country has increased recently.&nbs=
p;
It is imperative that travelers understand the risks of travel to Mexico, how
best to avoid dangerous situations, and whom to contact if one becomes a
crime victim. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legiti=
mate
business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas wher=
e prostitution
and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is
safe and enjoyable.
Crime and Violence Throughout=
Mexico
The greatest increase in violence has occurred near the U.S.
border. However, U.S.
citizens traveling throughout Mexico
should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their
surroundings at all times. Mexican and foreign bystanders have been
injured or killed in violent attacks in cities across the country,
demonstrating the heightened risk of violence in public places. In
recent years, dozens of U.S.
citizens have been kidnapped across Mexico. Many of these=
cases
remain unresolved. U.S.
citizens who believe they are being targeted for kidnapping or other crim=
es
should notify Mexican officials and the nearest American consulate or the
Embassy as soon as possible, and should consider returning to the United States.
U.S.
citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight
hours, particularly the toll (“cuota”) roads, which generally=
are
more secure. Occasionally, the U.S. Embassy and consulates advise t=
heir
employees as well as private U.S.
citizens to avoid certain areas, abstain from driving on certain roads
because of dangerous conditions or criminal activity, or recommend driving
during daylight hours only. When warranted, U.S. government employees a=
re
restricted from traveling to or within parts of Mexico without prior approv=
al
from their supervisors. When this happens, the Embassy or the affec=
ted
consulate will alert the local U.S. citizen Warden network=
and
post the information on their respective websites, indicating the nature =
of
the concern and the expected time period for which the restriction will
remain in place. U.S.
citizen visitors are encouraged to stay in the well-known tourist areas of
the cities. Travelers should leave their itinerary with a friend or
family member not traveling with them, avoid traveling alone, and should
check with their cellular provider prior to departure to confirm that the=
ir
cell phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G international networks.&nbs=
p;
Do not display expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money, or other
valuable items.
Violence Along the U.S. - Mex=
ico
Border
Mexican drug cartels are engaged in an increasingly violent conflict - bo=
th
among themselves and with Mexican security services - for control of
narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border. In order=
to
combat violence, the government of Mexico has deployed troops =
in
various parts of the country. U.S. citizens should cooper=
ate
fully with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.
Some recent Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels have
resembled small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and
grenades. Large firefights have taken place in many towns and cities
across Mexico
but most recently in northern Mexico,
including Tijuana=
, Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez. During some of t=
hese
incidents, U.S.
citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the
area. The U.S. Mission in Mexico currently restricts
non-essential travel to the state of Durango
and all parts of the state of Coahuila south of Mexican Highways 25 and 22
and the Alamos River for U.S. government employees
assigned to Mexico=
.
This restriction was implemented in light of the recent increase in assau=
lts,
murders, and kidnappings in those two states. The situation in nort=
hern
Mexico=
remains fluid; the location and timing of future armed engagements cannot=
be
predicted.
A number of areas along the border are experiencing rapid growth in the r=
ates
of many types of crime. Robberies, homicides, petty thefts, and
carjackings have all increased over the last year across Mexico
generally, with notable spikes in Tijuana
and northern Baja Californi=
a.
Ciudad Juarez,
Tijuana and Nogales are amo=
ng the
cities which have recently experienced public shootouts during daylight h=
ours
in shopping centers and other public venues. Criminals have followed
and harassed U.S.<=
/st1:place>
citizens traveling in their vehicles in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, <=
st1:City
w:st=3D"on">Matamoros, and =
Tijuana.
The situation in Ciudad Juar=
ez
is of special concern. Mexican authorities report that more than 1,=
800
people have been killed in the city since January 2008. Additionall=
y,
this city of 1.6 million people experienced more than 17,000 car thefts a=
nd
1,650 carjackings in 2008. U.S. citizens should pay close attention=
to
their surroundings while traveling in Ciudad Juarez, avoid isolated locat=
ions
during late night and early morning hours, and remain alert to news
reports. A recent series of muggings near the U.S. Consulate Genera=
l in
Ciudad Juarez
targeted applicants for U.S.
visas. Visa and other service seekers visiting the Consulate are
encouraged to make arrangements to pay for those services using a non-cash
method.
U.S.
citizens are urged to be alert to safety and security concerns when visit=
ing
the border region. Criminals are armed with a wide array of
sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants have worn full or =
partial
police or military uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police
vehicles. While most crime victims are Mexican citizens, the uncert=
ain
security situation poses serious risks for U.S. citizens as well. =
; U.S. =
citizen
victims of crime in Mexico
are urged to contact the consular section of the nearest U.S.
consulate or Embassy for advice and assistance. Contact information is
provided at the end of this message.
Demonstrations and Large Publ=
ic
Gatherings
Demonstrations occur frequently throughout Mexico and usually are
peaceful. However, even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can =
turn
confrontational and escalate to violence unexpectedly. Violent
demonstrations have resulted in deaths, including that of an American cit=
izen
in Oaxaca
in 2006. In 2008, a Mexican Independence Day celebration was the ta=
rget
of a violent attack. During demonstrations or law enforcement
operations, U.S.
citizens are advised to remain in their homes or hotels, avoid large crow=
ds,
and avoid the downtown and surrounding areas. Since the timing and
routes of scheduled marches and demonstrations are always subject to chan=
ge, U.S. =
citizens
should monitor local media sources for new developments and exercise extr=
eme
caution while within the vicinity of protests. The Mexican Constitu=
tion
prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result=
in
detention and/or deportation. U.S. citizens are therefore
advised to avoid participating in demonstrations or other activities that
might be deemed political by Mexican authorities. As is always the =
case
in any large gathering, U.S.
citizens should remain alert to their surroundings.
Further Information
For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, please see the Mexi=
co
Country Specific Information at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_=
970.html.
<=
/span>
&=
nbsp;
<=
/span>
&=
nbsp;
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nbsp;
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nbsp;
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