Paul

Qatar Airways 2-for-1 Companion Offer.

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Qatar Airways is currently running a Business Class 2-for-1 offer, but be quick, the offer expires on 17th January 2016! Please call us for further details and both passengers must travel together at all times.

Paul

British Airways – Upgrade to First Offer.

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British Airways has once again launched its Club World to First upgrade offer. This is available to both the general public and members of BA’s On Business corporate loyalty programme.

You can also book BA’s semi-flexible Club World fares for the best value for money, and still receive a one-way upgrade to First. Bookings must be made by 2359 on 11 March and all travel must be completed by 16 April 2016 (your flight must land in the UK on and no later than this date).

Executive Club members will be awarded Tier Points & Avios for the cabin/class of travel in which they fly.

Richard

Belgian Strike January 2016 – Eurostar Update

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Belgian Strike 6 and 7 January 2016

Due to strike action on the Belgian rail network on 06/07 January 2016, Eurostar services on the Brussels route will only be able to operate to and from Lille Europe on this day.

The impact of this means that Eurostar will be working to an amended timetable between London and Lille Europe.

There will be coaches operating in both directions between Lille Europe and Brussels Midi.

The last train from London St Pancras on 5 January will be changed as follows:

Train 9158 departing London St Pancras at 19:34 local time, will now terminate in Lille Europe.

If your clients are travelling to Brussels on the 9158, they will be re-accommodated onto train 9148 departing London St Pancras at 17:04. Please ask them to check in at least 45 minutes before their new departure time.

The following services on 6 January 2016 have been cancelled:
From London St Pancras:

9116: 08:55 – 12:05 – passengers automatically re-accommodated to 9126 departing London St Pancras at 10:58 and Ebbslfeet 11:15, arriving into Lille Europe at 13:26.

9158: 19:34 – 22:38 – passengers automatically re-accommodated to 9054 departing London St Pancras at 20:01 and Ebbslfeet 11:15, arriving into Calais Frethun at 21:56 and Lille Europe at 22:24.

From Lille Europe:
9113: 07:56 – 08:59 – passengers automatically re-accommodated to 9117 departing Lille Europe at 10:00 and Calais Frethun at 10:31 arriving London St Pancras at 10:27.

9149: 16:56 – 18:06 – passengers automatically re-accommodated to 9153 departing Lille Europe at 18:36 arriving Ebbsfleet at 18:45 and London St Pancras at 19:05.

The following services on 7 January 2016 have been cancelled:
From London St Pancras:

9116: 08:55 – 12:05 – passengers automatically re-accommodated to 9126 departing London St Pancras at 10:58 and Ebbsfleet at 11:15 arriving Lille Europe at 13:26.

From Lille Europe:

9113: 07:56 – 08:59 – automatically re-accommodated to 9117 departing Lille Europe 10:00 and Calais Frethun at 10:31 arriving London St Pancras at 10:27.

9149: 16:56 – 18:06 – automatically re-accommodated to 9153 departing Lille Europe at 18:36 arriving Ebbsfleet at 18:45 and London St Pancras at 19:05.

Customers affected by the suspensions can apply for a full refund or free exchange to an alternate date within 60 days. However, we are strongly advising customers to do so before Sunday 3 January 2016.

Paul

Guarulhos International Airport, Sao Paulo.

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Please note that if you are travelling through Guarulhos Airport Sao Paulo to another country, EG. an international connection, from 1st February 2016, then you must be in possession of an onward ticket.

Alternatively, a transit visa may be required depending upon a traveller’s nationality and whether their country/s do, or do not, have a visa exemption agreement with Brazil.

This policy also applies to travellers who commenced their journeys as of 1st October 2015.

 

Paul

British Airways – Important Update.

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Please note that British Airways is in the process of standardising check-in and bag drop closure times at airports across its network.

The new standardised time for UK domestic and short haul customers to clear check in, and drop their bags, is up to 45 minutes before departure. Whilst the new standardised time for long haul customers to clear check in and drop their bags is up to one hour before departure.

Global Travel Management recommends that passengers allow plenty of time for check-in, or bag-drops, particularly during peak travel times. GTM customers can access either our itinerary management app, or the BA app, to assist them.

Lastly, GTM recommends that all travellers flying with British Airways ALWAYS check in online for their flight/s.

Paul

New South Africa Passport Requirement.

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Please note that with immediate effect travellers flying to South Africa must be in possession of a machine readable passport. Anyone with a non-machine readable passport will be denied entry.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your passport please do not hesitate to contact us.

Paul

Eurostar – Brussels Ticket Exchanges.

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Following the ongoing situation in Brussels, we (Eurostar) are extending the free exchange period up to and including Monday 30 November 2015. These exchanges need to be processed within 60 days from the original travel date.

In addition to direct Brussels services, we are also exchanging Any Belgian Station and connection tickets, e.g. Brussels to Cologne.

Our (Eurostar’s) no refund policy is maintained.

Please note that passengers may choose to board or disembark at Lille station if they no longer wish to travel into Brussels for a connecting journey.

Our current policy on Paris remains, we are only offering exchanges for those that were due to travel up to and including Sunday 22 November.

 

Paul

Lufthansa Cabin Crew Strike Confirmed.

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The ‘Organisation of Independent Flight Attendants’ union (UFO) has announced that it will take strike action on Lufthansa flights from today, Friday 6 November until Friday 13 November.

The UFO union has called up on its members based in Frankfurt and Dusseldorf to go on strike today  between 14.00 and 23.00 hours CET. Further strike actions are to be expected tomorrow, 7 November 2015. Lufthansa flights from and to Munich will operate as scheduled. There will be no strike action on Sunday, 8 November.

Lufthansa is currently creating a special timetable for the strike period. The necessary cancellations for long-haul flights from Frankfurt and Dusseldorf will be published shortly. Updates on all short-haul flights will be available at 11.00 hours CET.

Lufthansa expects at least 8 of their long-haul flights to operate as scheduled. However, the majority of short- and medium-haul flights scheduled for departure from 14.00 hours onwards will have to be cancelled.

Flights operated by Lufthansa City Line, Germanwings, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and SWISS will not be affected by any possible strike action and will continue to run as normal.

We (Global Travel Management) are currently in the process of contacting our affected customers, however, if you are a client of ours please do not hesitate to call us, on +44 (0) 1483 747 321 to discuss alternative arrangements.

You may also call our emergency out-of-hours (ooh) team over the weekend on +44 (0) 20 3130 9767 for assistance too. Please note though that charges do apply for calls made to our ooh team.

Paul

US Extends Global Entry To ‘Low-risk’ UK Travellers.

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The US government has announced, at this year’s World Travel Market, that its Global Entry programme has been extended to UK citizens.

Global Entry allows for quicker clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travellers. UK citizens can register to be eligible from December 3. To register travellers must apply through the UK Home Office website and pay a £42 processing fee.

Provided UK vetting is successfully passed, the applicant will receive a UK Access Code, which will be entered when applying for Global Entry through the Global Online Enrolment System.

The non-refundable application fee for a five-year membership is $100 and applications can only be made online. Once approved the travellers must then attend an interview with a US customs officer.

Travellers will then be able to use special gates at US airports. The US claims the process cuts down passport control waiting times by around 70 per cent.

Global Entry is currently in use at 46 US airports.

Paul

Lufthansa cabin crew strike looms.

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Passengers who are due to fly with German airline Lufthansa are facing possible disruption to their travel plans due to a planned strike by the airline’s cabin crew and the union representing them.

The industrial action is due to start this Friday, 6th November 2015, and will last for a week, unless the union’s demands regarding retirement and pension benefits are agreed to.

Lufthansa has until 1600 this Thursday to respond.