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Current Events
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- January 23 is new passport deadline for air travelers entering the U.S.
- Travelers see a transformation in airport business lounges
January 23 is new passport deadline for air travelers entering the U.S.
As previously reported in CWT Traveler, the Department of U.S. Homeland Security plans to implement part of its Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative in early 2007. The current deadline is January 23, 2007, by which citizens of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document to gain entry into the U.S. A similar deadline for travelers arriving to the U.S. by land or sea is currently slated for sometime in 2008.
As an alternative to the $97 USD cost of a passport, travelers have the option of purchasing a $50 USD People Access Security Service (PASS) card. The PASS card is intended for individuals who frequently cross U.S. borders and would be valid for 10 years - the same as a passport.
Sources: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of State, USA TODAY
Flu shots offered at an increasing number of airports
More and more airports across the U.S. and Canada have begun offering flu shots this season and travelers have responded overwhelmingly. For instance, at Chicago O'Hare International Airport's clinic, an average of 2,400 flu shots are administered each week.
The price of a vaccination ranges from $18 USD (cash only) at Denver International Airport to $40 USD at Vancouver International Airport, and hours of operation range from standard weekday business hours at Boston Logan International Airport to 24-hour availability at Los Angeles International Airport.
For exact prices, hours of operation, and locations within the airport, travelers should visit their airport’s web site. Following are the airports currently offering flu shots: Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, Boston's Logan International Airport, Honolulu International Airport, New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
Sources: USA TODAY, ATA SmartBrief
Travelers see a transformation in airport business lounges
Airport lounges - a place where travelers can relax or work before their flight - have been a staple in the travel world since the 1990s but have grown in popularity as longer lines and earlier check-in times have become the norm. Now, however, traveler feedback, the publicized effects of jet lag, and a recent surge in airport facility updates are causing traditional airport lounges to evolve.
Both domestically and abroad, carriers are enhancing the services offered in their lounges. While still providing the basics of comfortable seating, food, beverages, and wireless Internet access, some lounges now offer a wider array of services including spas, shower facilities, and swimming pools. Additionally, lounges like Virgin Atlantic’s at London’s Heathrow Airport offer clinics to travelers providing instructional tips on topics ranging from BlackBerry use to the best styles in sunglasses.
Another reason airlines are revamping their lounges is to differentiate themselves and their services to justify first - and business-class expenses by travelers’ corporations. This cost-conscious transformation shifts the focus to the value behind the fares corporations pay for their travelers to sit in these classes of service.
In other cases, corporations are using business lounge access as compensation for requiring their travelers to fly in economy class, allowing them to purchase access to the lounges even though their ticket doesn’t automatically provide this service.
Sources: Financial Times, ATA SmartBrief
