A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors

Effective April 3, 2008, ATA Airlines has ceased operating and has cancelled all current and future flights. On April 2, 2008, ATA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis. Customers who purchased Southwest Airlines tickets for flights operated by ATA should contact Southwest Airlines directly at (800) 308-5037 for rebooking information. According to Southwest, customers holding Southwest tickets for ATA code share flights will be rebooked “on a new itinerary closest to their previous travel plans, or offered a full refund for any unused portion of a ticket.” Southwest’s immediate focus will be on customers “who are scheduled to travel within the next 14 days.”Customers who purchased ATA tickets and made payment by credit card should contact their credit card company to dispute the charge. The Fair Credit Billing Act allows consumers to dispute charges for services that are not received. Details of fair credit billing can be found online. Customers who purchased ATA tickets by cash, or whose credit card charge fall outside the Fair Credit Billing Act, will need to submit a claim in ATA’s bankruptcy proceedings. Information about submitting a claim will be available here.

Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a Passport.

Effective April 3, 2008, ATA Airlines has ceased operating and has cancelled all current and future flights. On April 2, 2008, ATA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis. Customers who purchased Southwest Airlines tickets for flights operated by ATA should contact Southwest Airlines directly at               (800) 308-5037        for rebooking information. According to Southwest, customers holding Southwest tickets for ATA code share flights will be rebooked “on a new itinerary closest to their previous travel plans, or offered a full refund for any unused portion of a ticket.” Southwest’s immediate focus will be on customers “who are scheduled to travel within the next 14 days.”Customers who purchased ATA tickets and made payment by credit card should contact their credit card company to dispute the charge. The Fair Credit Billing Act allows consumers to dispute charges for services that are not received. Details of fair credit billing can be found online. Customers who purchased ATA tickets by cash, or whose credit card charge fall outside the Fair Credit Billing Act, will need to submit a claim in ATA’s bankruptcy proceedings. Information about submitting a claim will be available here.

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This is an exerpt from the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Newsletter regarding Skybus Airlines:

Skybus Airlines Ceases Operations, JetBlue and US Airways Offer Standby FaresColumbus, Ohio-based Skybus Airlines has ceased operations effective April 5, 2008. Ticket holders who paid by credit card should contact their credit card company. Future bankruptcy updates will be provided at www.skybus.com. JetBlue will offer affected Skybus customers a special $50 one-way standby fare. This fare will be honored for any JetBlue destination within 100 miles of the original Skybus destination. Skybus customers must call JetBlue Reservations at               800-JETBLUE        (              800-538-2583       ) to list as standby customers and must show proof of Skybus purchase at the airport upon check in. All travel must be completed by April 13, 2008. Details can be found on JetBlue’s Web site. US Airways will also offer a $50 standby fare for travelers who were scheduled to fly on Skybus to/from Columbus, Ohio and Greensboro, NC. The $50 fee applies per non-stop leg and does not include applicable taxes and fees. See USAirways.com for more information.

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As a rule, we don’t refer you to articles, because we usually know more about, or as much as, the person writing the article; however, if you travel a lot, you might find this article will give you some good ideas on making the grind of frequent or long travel a little easier. Check it out.

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By Jack Blacksmith

Let’s face it: it takes a lot of work to plan for a wedding. But, deciding where to go on your honeymoon once the knot has been tied is all about fun and fantasy. Your first holiday together as a married couple should be a delightful fulfillment of your dreams, a chance to enjoy the company of the person who means the most to you. This might just be the most romantic vacation you will ever experience, so consider these international locations when choosing the perfect spot.

1. There is no limit of beautiful destinations to choose from when planning a honeymoon. One of the most popular, however, remains Hawaii. Sought out by honeymooners the world over, the Hawaiian Islands offer the excitement of discovery: there is always an variety of beautiful views and fun experiences to keep you on your toes. Just sitting on a beach and watching the sunset with the love of your life might be worth a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. But if you were looking for something to fill the other twenty-three hours of the day, you could golf on some of the most beautiful courses on earth. Whatever you are looking for from your honeymoon, you can find in Hawaii.

2. Tour the coast of southern Europe. The Mediterranean region offers both beauty and culture to the couple looking for a variety of experiences. Travel to Italy, where you can enjoy the sand by the sea and the beautiful mountain scenery of the Alps. Visit Rome and Vatican City, where you can take in ancient ruins and Baroque statues on one guided tour. In northern Italy, you will find the vibrant cultural centers of Venice and Milan. Stop off in the Florence and visit some of the most renowned museums in the world.

3. When looking for the perfect tropical destination, you cannot beat Tahiti. This Polynesian island might just be the closest thing to paradise on earth. There are pristine beaches to explore, of course, but also the rustic town of Papeete which has plenty of shops and eateries to appeal to tourists. Take a cruise tour of the surrounding islands, or even go below the water and visit the coral reefs.

4. Another tropical option is Anguilla, a tiny island near the British Virgin Islands. Anguilla is the place for couples who just want to relax and bask in the glorious sunshine. Besides the perfect beaches that you would expect from an island in the Caribbean, you can also expect to find hospitable lodgings and restaurants. This island is just the place to enjoy that perfectly romantic sunset.

5. The islands of Fiji combine pristine beaches with spectacular mountain views. Located in the South Pacific, it is one of the most beautiful locations you could find. Fiji even allows you to book a private island for a day! Spend a the day alone the person you love best, running down the beach, swimming, eating a delightful lunch and finally, relaxing on the beach as the sun sets. What could be better?

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About The Author:

Jack Blacksmith publishes first and foremost for Alicante Spain

Salt Lake City’s airport is the location of a TSA experiment to speed up security checks and it appears to be working well and may be instituted in other airports.

Travelers in Salt Lake are separated into three groups, depending on the number of carry-on bags, whether they’re with children and other factors.

It is being done to separate those carrying a number of bags and those with children and strollers from those who can move quickly through the lines. The most likely airport to start the new system is the Denver airport.

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New technology is enabling travelers to refine their searches using of relevant intelligence.

The president of Internet start-up Kango.com said there are six to eight billion searches for travel information a year.

The number of searches is small compared to the major travel site like Orbitz, but it is growing fast. Users find the booking information they want, then book it directly at the site of the destination or provider. The search sites don’t charge fees and make their money through ads.

The two biggest companies in the industry, Kayak.com and SideStep.com merged in December, and handled 34 million searches in January.

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The U.S. State Department just issued a travel alert regarding travel to Serbia (Capitol is Belgrade) and Serbia (Capitol is Prisina). If you are in Europe or going there, stay away from that area.

Here is the alert from the State Department:

This travel alert is being issued to inform U.S. citizens of safety and security concerns from ongoing demonstrations in Serbia related to Kosovo’s recent declaration of independence.

This travel alert expires on March 6, 2008.

On February 21, a large organized demonstration in front of the Serbian Parliament in downtown Belgrade turned violent. Street protesters in different locations clashed with police and have attacked the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade. The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade remains temporarily closed to the public. U.S. citizens are advised to remain in a secure location and avoid downtown Belgrade.

The U.S. Embassy consular section will be closed on Friday, February 22, and Monday, February 25. U.S. citizens or family members concerned for the safety of U.S. citizens in Serbia or with an afterhour’s emergency may call 24/7 at 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada. Callers outside the U.S. and Canada should call our regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade expects that future gatherings and events protesting Kosovo’s declaration of independence, both official and unofficial, could pose security risks for onlookers and participants. Businesses and organizations with U.S. affiliations may serve as focal points for these demonstrations.

We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. Avoid the areas of demonstrations and exercise caution. Since the timing and routes of marches and demonstrations are always subject to change, American citizens should monitor local media sources for new developments.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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Beginning May 11, 2008, about one hundred million Americans might not be able to use their driver’s license to prove their identity when traveling on domestic commercial flights. If you hold a driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards issued by Maine, South Carolina, Montana, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire, you might be one of them. Those states’ legislatures have voted not to participate either because of privacy issues or because of the added costs to the states.
Eighteen other states and the District of Columbia have rejected the Real ID regulations on privacy and cost grounds or have not yet agreed to comply. The 18 states that have not yet decided whether or not they will participate include TX, LA, MS, TN, MO, GA, FL, NC, VA, WV, DC, MD, DE, NJ, CT, RI, MA, WI, and MI.
Beginning May 11, if your state has not agreed to comply with the Real ID Act or has not asked for an extension, you will experience delays going through security at airports.
Travelers from these “non-Real ID states” will have to undergo delays and “enhanced security screening,” in the words of TSA, unless they have a valid U.S. passport book or card. About 27% of Americans have a U.S. passport and many more have applied for the new passport card which can be used exclusively for crossing at land and sea border. Both the passport book and the passport card will be acceptable, in lieu of a driver’s license, for proving identity for airport security clearance for domestic flights. The passport card cannot be used for international flights.

There may be a last-minute compromise before the May 11 deadline, but neither the Bush administration nor the states have blinked yet. Any substantive changes would require a new law to be passed by Congress and that is unlikely.
The Department of Homeland Security says the law is clear: a federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver’s license or state-issued identification card unless the state is meeting the requirements of the law or has agreed to do so. Thus TSA, a federal agency, will not accept driver’s license from non-participating states.

DHS has published almost 300 pages of regulations that states must comply with. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said that only criminals and terrorists should be “disappointed” with the Real ID rules.

DHS has offered states a five-year extension, until 2013, to issue the new cards, provided they agree to abide by Real ID regulations and submit a report describing its plans by May 11, 2008. Those that don’t will find their driver’s licenses disallowed at airports beginning May 11, 2008.

In the final rule released in January 2008, DHS extended the deadline a second time to December 1, 2017. Only states that can prove they are well on their way to implementing Real ID can qualify for the lengthiest deadline extension.

Here is the essence of the Real ID Legislation if you want to know the details

TITLE II–IMPROVED SECURITY FOR DRIVERS’ LICENSES AND PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS

SEC. 202. MINIMUM DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS AND ISSUANCE STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL RECOGNITION

Beginning May 11, 2008, a Federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver’s license or identification card issued by a State to any person unless the State is meeting the requirements of this section.

To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall include, at a minimum, the following information and features on each driver’s license and identification card issued to a person by the State:

(1) The person’s full legal name.
(2) The person’s date of birth.
(3) The person’s gender.
(4) The person’s driver’s license or identification card number.
(5) A digital photograph of the person.
(6) The person’s address of principle residence.
(7) The person’s signature.

To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall require, at a minimum, presentation and verification of the following information before issuing a driver’s license or identification card to a person:

(1) A photo identity document, except that a non-photo identity document is acceptable if it includes both the person’s full legal name and date of birth.
(2) Documentation showing the person’s date of birth.
(3) Proof of the person’s social security account number or verification that the person is not eligible for a social security account number.
(4) Documentation showing the person’s name and address of principal residence.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

A State shall require, before issuing a driver’s license or identification card to a person, valid documentary evidence that the person–

(i) is a citizen or national of the United States; or
(ii) is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent or temporary residence in the United States; or
(iii) has conditional permanent resident status in the United States; or
(iv) has an approved application for asylum in the United States or has entered into the United States in refugee status; or
(v) has a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant visa or nonimmigrant visa status for entry into the United States; or
(vi) has a pending application for asylum in the United States; or
(vii) has a pending or approved application for temporary protected status in the United States; or
(viii) has an approved deferred action status; or
(ix) has a pending application for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States or conditional permanent resident status in the United States.

You can see here your state’s position on the issuance of Real ID’s by clicking on your state on the map.

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