SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 1, 2004–A busy holiday travel season not only means the fun of family gatherings and getaways, but can often also mean rough winter weather and some of the lengthiest flight delays of the year for millions of travelers throughout the United States. Inclement winter weather combined with holiday travel crowds can be particularly challenging for business travelers needing to adhere to an on-time schedule.
Rally Caparas, Eye On The Sky correspondent for Travelocity Business(SM) and former FAA air traffic controller, offers vital tips on helping business travelers during this busy time avoid the time crunch of flight delays, airport congestion and missed flight connections.
During winter, airport flight schedules often become more of a wish list than a reliable guideline, so it’s more important than ever to build a travel strategy, particularly for business travel. Because of his experience as an FAA air traffic controller and traffic management specialist, Caparas has access to key data from the FAA, allowing him to deliver valuable, time-saving travel information as it develops.
Some of this season’s top tips for avoiding flight delays during the coming winter months include:
-- Contrary to the tactics for air travel during warm weather
months, business travelers headed into cold weather airports
between November 15 and March 15 should try to schedule
flights to arrive between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time of
their destination city.
-- Arrival delays in these cities will regularly exceed two
to three hours, as snow, sleet, and ice become major
factors, especially throughout the Midwest and Northeast.
-- Planning an arrival between these prescribed times allows
for an arrival during the warmest times of the day at your
destination, which may mean less effects from the freezing
conditions and shorter delays.
-- When flying out of the nation's major/hub airports throughout
winter, expect 30 to 60 minute departure delays, as de-icing
procedures become a daily routine at many cold weather
locations.
-- These delays will usually be absorbed while travelers are
aboard the airplane, so expect takeoff wait times to be
longer than normal.
-- When flying during the winter months, expect the most runway
closures and highest rate of cancelled flights, compared with
any other time of year.
-- These delays make it even more important to schedule
flights during the warmest part of the day, decreasing
your chances of a lengthy delay or cancellation.
-- Be aware of likely delays and cancellations when
scheduling meetings. Avoid scheduling important business
near your planned arrival times.
As another corporate travel insider, Amy Ziff, Travelocity Business’ travel pro, offers the following tips to make delays productive:
-- Make a "To-Do" list of all of the things you need to
accomplish when you arrive for your meetings or return to the
office. Prioritize your list so you are ready to get to work
when your plane lands.
-- Lighten your reading stack. You know that delays are likely,
so bring along that stack of papers that has been piling up on
your desk. You finally have the time to read through them.
-- Organize your contact list. Go through your Blackberry, cell
phone or address book and cross out and delete old contacts
and phone numbers.
-- Catch up on your e-mails with wireless Internet access if it
is available. If not, just go through your e-mail archive and
read all those long documents clogging your inbox.
-- Fill out your expense report. Having your expense report
complete before returning to the office will give you one less
responsibility when coming back for the new year.
For the latest on air traffic and flight delay updates before and during travel, access Travelocity’s Eye on the Sky, Rally Caparas at www.travelocitybusiness.com/eos.
About Travelocity Business
Travelocity Business is a full-service corporate travel agency that helps companies easily manage travel and reduce costs, while providing more choices to travelers. Travelocity Business combines the savings and convenience of online with the full service of dedicated agents available 24/7 who typically answer the phone in 20 seconds, and within 60 seconds guaranteed (see site for guarantee details). Companies can cut travel costs through flight deals, Web fares, hotel discounts and service fee savings — representing an average savings of more than $100 per trip, including airfare savings averaging 26 percent per ticket and service fee savings of up to 84 percent.
Travelocity Business combines the expertise, service and travel choices of Travelocity with corporate experience gained from serving more than half of the Fortune 200. For more information, companies can visit www.travelocitybusiness.com.
CONTACT: VOLLMER
Mary Kate Smither, 972-488-4790
marykate@vollmerpr.com
or
Lisa Pollack, 972-488-4790
lisa@vollmerpr.com
SOURCE: Travelocity
