02 OCTOBER 2007

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BA. LAUNCH LOWER OFF-PEAK CLUB WORLD NEW YORK FARES

British Airways have introduced 2 new “off peak” Club World fares to New York aimed squarely at cost-conscious business travellers. Compared to the current lowest Club World fare without a Saturday night stay requirement these new fares, both priced at £2,939.00 (excluding taxes, fees and surcharges of approx. £240.00) will save travellers up to £839.

Tickets are on sale now. Please note that passengers need to book at least 14 days before departure. The fare is valid for travel on over 75% of BA's services between London and New York City, subject to availability. Here are further details:

Flight-Specific peak day C class fare
Fare	GBP2939.00
Booking class	C
Advance Purchase	14 days
Valid on days/flights	Outbound: Sun BA185/BA117/BA175 Inbound: Thu/Fri BA186/BA178/BA172
Changes?	Permitted by paying upgrade to higher J2BA fare + £100 admin fee
Changes?	20% penalty prior to departure. After departure – no refund
All the rules	Same as existing CRT1 fares.

We think these will be very popular option for bookers & travellers who can plan ahead and commit to their arrangements. Contact our Business Travel Team on 0208 731 1333 for further details and reservations.

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BA MINIMUM CHECK IN TIME STANDARDISED

British Airways are introducing a standard minimum check-in time for all mainline flights departing from London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports, with an aim to ease the customer’s journey through the airport and provide a consistent check-in time message at these airports.

From 28 October 2007, BA and GB Airways customers will be asked to check-in for their flight at least 45 minutes before departure.

Airport check-in desks and kiosks will therefore close 45 minutes before the flight is scheduled to depart. Online check-in is not affected and will continue to close 60 minutes before departure, and check-in times for flights from all other airports, both UK and worldwide, remain unchanged.

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JAPAN RAMPS UP BORDER SECURITY PROCEDURES

All foreign nationals arriving in Japan from 23rd November onward will have their fingerprints and photograph taken when entering the country.

At present only the US requires visitors to scan their fingerprints when entering the country, a move designed to tighten security following the 9/11 attacks. The Japanese embassy says it is following suit in order to "identify persons considered to pose security risks, such as terrorists, and persons travelling with passports that are not their own."

Arriving passengers over the age of 16 (with the exception of certain permanent residents and those performing diplomatic or official duties) will be asked to place the index fingers of both hands on a digital fingerprint reader, before having their photograph taken. Anyone refusing to submit to the new regulations will be refused entry. 

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CONTINENTAL OFFER “FREE” HELICOPTER TRANSFERS INTO MANHATTAN

Continental Airlines aim to make the journey from Newark airport into Manhattan considerably easier for premium cabin business travellers by offering them free helicopter transfers with US Helicopter.

The airline is offering passengers on J and D class BusinessFirst transatlantic tickets a free (nil fare) transfer, although they will have to pay taxes of around US$18. The US Helicopter service departs gate 71 in Newark's terminal C with a journey time of just eight minutes to either the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at Wall Street or the East 34th Street Heliport in Midtown. Passengers are restricted to carrying one bag and a briefcase or laptop bag.

Jim Summerford, the airline's Vice President Europe, Middle East & India, says: "Continental already offers the most convenient way to get to Manhattan, thanks to our modern fleet and our New York Liberty hub, with its exclusive customs and immigration facilities and AirTrain service to Penn Station in Midtown. Thanks to our partnership with US Helicopter, getting to Manhattan is now even quicker - and at no extra fare to our highest-yield customers."

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BA ADVANCE PASSENGER INFORMATION FOR KUWAIT

Many governments are now imposing the requirement for passenger information for passengers travelling to and / or from their countries to improve security processes known as Advance Passenger Processing(APP).

Whilst other countries for example USA and Spain require Advance Passenger Information (APIS).

From 3 October 2007, BA will provide Advance Passenger Processing (APP) for all passengers travelling to/from Kuwait.

APP requires passport information to be submitted for approval via the country authorities before a boarding card can be issued.

For Kuwait this information needs to be supplied at the time of check-in (When using Online Check-in, Check-in kiosks or a check-in desk). The information supplied will be automatically sent for approval from Kuwait and actioned immediately. A boarding pass can then be printed when approval is received. 

Information required;

• Passport number
• given names (as they appear on the passport)
• family name
• gender
• date of birth
• country which issued passport