1. Travel News Flash - Buyer Beware
The airline industry is responding to its latest financial crisis with across the board changes in amenities, services and fare rules. Following is a list of some of the changes announced in the past several days. Buyers need to be aware of these new fees/restrictions when purchasing tickets on-line or from travel agencies.

Continental Airlines:

• $20 fee for all domestic paper tickets whether purchased on-line or from travel agencies
  
• New and additional fees for selected services on low-fare routes
  
• Rigidly enforcing fare rules and creating a strict policy against waivers
  
• “Disciplined adherence" to collecting charges for excess baggage and change fees

US Airways:

• No longer allow passengers who buy non-refundable tickets for many routes in North America and Europe to use the value of an unused ticket as a credit toward the purchase of another one. If you miss the flight, your ticket isn't good for the next day
  
• $25 fee to each traveler who qualifies for an electronic ticket but chooses a paper ticket

American Airlines:

• $20 fee for all domestic paper tickets whether purchased on-line or from travel agencies.

Delta Air Lines:

• No waivers on published fare rules, including but not limited to: advance purchase/ticketing time limits, minimum/maximum stay requirements, refunding of non-refundable tickets
  

As a result of these changes we recommend that travelers:
1.Use electronic tickets whenever possible
2.Be aware that non-refundable tickets may have no value if not used for the original flights reserved.
3.Be aware that airlines will strictly enforce their ticket and baggage policies and procedures.

E-tickets: Many travelers are purchasing paper tickets instead of the e-tickets. The travel center charges $10 for paper tickets and now some of the airlines are charging additional fees for paper tickets (see above)!

Washington and New York Shuttle: Also, please remember to use the "no fee" (no reservation required) Washington and New York shuttle. Travelers can save an additional $4 each way off our special negotiated price available through the Harvard Travel Center. In addition, travelers do not pay the $45 fee the Harvard Travel Center charges to issue the tickets. We are still finding that some travelers are not taken advantage of this option.

Please see the Travel Office website for more details at: http://www.travel.harvard.edu/.

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2. New Preferred Harvard Travel Agencies
Two travel agencies have been added to the Harvard approved travel agency list.

Both of these agencies are currently servicing some departments within Harvard and by including them in the approved list they will now be able to apply Harvard's negotiated travel discounts and provide savings to our travelers. In addition these additions will provide more choices to the Harvard community and consolidate more of Harvard's $21 million annual air volume enabling us to be better positioned for future vendor negotiations.

Effective June 1, 2002 travelers will be able to call the following for discounted travel:

World Travel Partners - 617-496-8000
Oriental Tours and Travel - 781-890-9000
Great International Travel (New) - 617-527-0800
The Travel Collaborative (New) - 617-497-8123

All of the approved agencies have the same fee structure·

$45 for Domestic Air Tickets
$27 for AMTRAK Tickets
$55 for International Air and Rail Tickets
$55 for Groups and Meetings coordinated by the Harvard Travel Center
$10 for delivery of paper tickets (E-Ticket receipts will continue to be mailed at no charge.)
$25 for refunds
$25 for Hotel and/or Car only reservations (No Air or Rail)

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4. Outgoing Wire Transfers
The Office of Cash Management asks that departments provide a minimum of 2-3 days advance notice in situations where an outgoing wire transfer will be requested for amounts greater than $1 million.This will allow Cash Management to make sure enough funds are available on the day the wire must be sent.

Notification of the amount and date needed should be e-mailed to Michelle Sazo at: michelle_sazo@harvard.edu, or at 617-495-1647.