August 2017
 
Delta launches biometrics to board aircraft at Reagan Washington National Airport
Delta customers now can use fingerprints instead of their boarding pass to board any Delta aircraft at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Delta's biometric boarding pass experience that launched in May at the DCA Delta Sky Club is now integrated into the boarding process to allow eligible Delta SkyMiles Members who are enrolled in CLEAR to forego a paper or mobile boarding pass in favor of using fingerprints as proof of identity to board their plane. 

The final phase of Delta's DCA biometric boarding pass test, coming this summer, will allow Members to also use their fingerprints to check a bag.

Delta is partnering with CLEAR to power the back end of its pioneering biometric boarding pass experience. The DCA pilot is testing how Delta and CLEAR's systems work together while laying the foundation for Delta to deliver a more convenient customer experience broadly in the future. Being part of the initial tests means that eligible customers will be able to traverse DCA as they do today and simply use their fingerprint instead of pulling out their boarding pass. Participating in the test is optional.
 
DOT Reports Airline Bumping Rate Lowest in Decades


It seems like only yesterday, make that March, when the issue of bumping was top of mind after the infamous incident where United Airlines physically removed a passenger from a flight. But the U.S. Department of Transportation's August 2017 Air Travel Consumer Report found that bumping is now at an all-time low.
 
For the six months of this year, the 12 U.S. carriers who report involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, data posted a bumping rate of 0.52 per 10,000 passengers. According to the DOT, that's the lowest January through June rate based on historical data dating back to 1995 and down from the rate of 0.62 posted during the first six months of 2016.

The DOT's report compiles air carrier data for the month of June 2017, second quarter of 2017, and first half of 2017. For the second quarter of 2017, the carriers posted a bumping rate of 0.44 per 10,000 passengers, the lowest quarterly rate based on historical data dating back to 1995 and down from the rate of 0.62 posted in both the second quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017.
 
TSA Raising Aviation
Security Baseline

New U.S. airport screening procedures for carry-on bags to better focus on threats.


To ensure the security of airline passengers and the nation's airports, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is implementing new, stronger screening procedures for carry-on items that require travelers to place all electronics larger than a cell phone in bins for X-ray screening in standard lanes. Following extensive testing and successful pilots at 10 airports, TSA plans to expand these measures to all U.S. airports during the weeks and months ahead.

Due to an increased threat to aviation security, DHS Secretary John Kelly announced in late June new security requirements for nearly 280 airports in more than 100 countries. In an effort to raise the baseline for aviation security worldwide, TSA continues to work closely with airports and airlines to enhance security measures and stay ahead of the evolving threat.
"Whether you're flying to, from, or within the United States, TSA is committed to raising the baseline for aviation security by strengthening the overall security of our commercial aviation network to keep flying as a safe option for everyone," said TSA Acting Administrator Huban A. Gowadia.

As new procedures are phased in, TSA officers will begin to ask travelers to remove electronics larger than a cell phone from their carry-on bags and place them in a bin with nothing on top or below, similar to how laptops have been screened for years. This simple step helps TSA officers obtain a clearer X-ray image.

It is possible that passengers may experience more bag checks, however, through extensive testing, TSA identified ways to improve screening procedures with quicker and more targeted measures to clear the bags. The new screening procedures in standard lanes are already in place at the following 10 U.S. airports with plans to expand to all airports during the weeks and months ahead:
  • Boise Airport (BOI)
  • Colorado Springs Airport (COS)
  • Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) 
  • Logan International Airport (BOS)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
  • Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
  • McCarran International Airport (LAS)
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
In standard screening lanes, TSA officers will be stationed in front of the checkpoint X-ray machines to guide passengers through the screening process and recommend how best to arrange their carry-on items for X-ray screening. Travelers are encouraged to organize their carry-on bags and keep them uncluttered to ease the screening process and keep the lines moving. There are no changes to what travelers can bring through the checkpoint; food and liquid items that comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule, electronics, and books continue to be allowed in carry-on bags.

"It is critical for TSA to constantly enhance and adjust security screening procedures to stay ahead of evolving threats and keep passengers safe. By separating personal electronic items such as laptops, tablets, e-readers and handheld game consoles for screening, TSA officers can more closely focus on resolving alarms and stopping terror threats," said Gowadia.

The stronger security measures do not apply to passengers enrolled in TSA Pre ® who are using TSA Pre ® lanes. TSA also marked another milestone earlier this month with TSA Pre ® now available at 200 airports nationwide. Travelers enrolled in TSA Pre ® do not need to remove shoes, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, electronics, light outerwear, or belts. The program allows TSA to focus resources on passengers who may pose a high risk to security while providing expedited screening to those travelers who have been identified as low-risk, trusted travelers.
 
Blue Ribbon Business Travel has partnered with automated online expense reporting tools!

Simplify expense reporting for your business travelers.
It's never been easier for business travelers to complete and submit an expense report and quickly 
get reimbursed - all online. 

These expense tools create expense reports automatically, pulling travel and expenses from airline, car and hotel itineraries, personal and corporate credit card transactions, checking accounts, and scanned receipts.  Streamline the expense reporting process and improve the review and approval flow between departments.

They turn lengthy, tedious paper-based approval processes into one-click, online approvals. Managers can easily review and approve expense reports from anywhere, at any time - no paperwork involved. 

In fact, most expenses are pre-approved based on policy rules set in the system, and scanned receipts are included online making review and approvals faster and easier. Expense policy violations are clearly highlighted so managers can request corrections or simply remove questionable line-items and submit the expense report for reimbursement.  

The expense systems convert transactions for international travelers into the appropriate currency based on the date of travel.

To learn more, email us at info@blueribbontravel.com
Blue Ribbon Business Travel International Inc. is committed to providing you with useful information on the latest developments in the travel industry. The following information has been compiled from a variety of sources and is updated monthly.
 
 
 

Hilton now requires that travelers cancel their hotel reservations at least 48 hours in advance. If you don't cancel at least two days in advance, you'll end up having to pay the full price for your first night. 

According to TravelSkills, a Hilton spokesperson said that in more desirable locations, the cancellation policy will switch from 48 hours to 72 hours, requiring you to cancel your reservation a full three days in advance.
 
Construction begins on Delta's $4B facilities at 
New York-LGA

NEW YORK - Delta recently broke ground on its $4 billion, 37-gate facility at LaGuardia Airport, a major component of the transformation of the vital hub into a completely rebuilt, unified 21st-century airport.

Delta's new state-of-the-art terminal will feature four concourses with 37 flexibly sized gates that can accommodate Delta's full fleet; a new, larger Delta Sky Club with a Sky Deck; new hold rooms with more seating; 30 percent more concessions space; and sustainable and scalable technology befitting of an airport of the future.

Delta's new facility builds on the more than $2 billion the airline has already invested into New York airports over the past seven years and underscores its commitment to LaGuardia, to New York and to providing its customers and employees at LaGuardia and across the state with a world-class experience at one of the airline's most important hubs. The Delta project is part of the overall LaGuardia Airport redevelopment effort that broke ground in June 2016 on the new roadway configuration and on the LaGuardia Gateway Partners passenger terminal concourses on the western half of the new airport.
 
Planning to fly through
MSP next year?
Pick any day but 
Feb. 5
 
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is expecting its busiest day ever - by a wide margin - next Feb. 5, as crowds from the 2018 Super Bowl begin heading home.

The Star Tribune  reports on traffic projections for the Monday following Super Bowl LII, when an estimated 70,000 commercial air passengers will head to MSP for departing flights. That's half again as many people as on MSP's usual busiest day for the year, just ahead of a school holiday in October when about 47,000 people fly out.

MSP officials are also predicting tens of thousands of extra passengers ahead of the Super Bowl, though their arrivals will be a bit more spaced out. The airport plans to use some of the  10,000 volunteers being recruited by the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, and plans to add its own volunteers as well.

Holman Field airport near downtown St. Paul is also expecting big crowds, with officials predicting an additional 1,100 to 1,300 takeoffs and landings Super Bowl week from private aircraft filled with celebrities, NFL owners and other VIP guests.
 
TSA Pre-check travelers will 
only need ID at 
Austin airport
Pre-check passengers just need to hand their photo ID to the TSA agent at the security checkpoint. A boarding pass won't even be required. Then, the TSA agent will scan the passenger's ID in the credential authentication technology system. The technology is expected to verify the authenticity of the document and cross-reference against the Secure Flight database.

TSA anticipates this technology will enhance detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent documents at the security checkpoint.

Testing of this new technology started in Austin in July. It currently is already being used at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Dulles International airport and O'Hare International Airport. TSA says they will expand to other locations in August.