|
|
 |
|||||
|
|
MC Square | Search | |
||
|
|||||
Guidelines:
Content Navigation:
|
|
Travel Information
Live FLight Tracking Time Conversion
Currency Converter
All tickets for College domestic air travel must be purchased through Travel Time Travel Agency. However, due to the complex nature of international travel, tickets may be purchased through either Travel Time Travel Agency or MTS Travel, Inc. What do I need to do to book a trip with Travel Time? If you have already completed a "Traveler's Profile," then you may call Travel Time at your convenience. How do I go about completing a traveler's profile? Though it is not required, Travel Time asks that each traveler complete a "Traveler's Profile" prior to making a reservation. The profile gives Travel Time information concerning your travel needs and preferences. You may complete the profile on their web site at www.trvltime.com. Do I have to travel by airplane? No, you may travel by airplane, personal auto, fleet vehicle or rail. You may rent a college fleet vehicle by contacting the college receptionist at extension 3770 (see section 4.06.14.07 College Vehicles in the Messiah College Policy and Procedural Manual for your questions relating to reserving a college vehicle.) You may also rent a car through Travel Time Travel Agency. Special car rentals have been negotiated by Messiah College for Avis, Budget, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Hertz, and National Car Rental Company. Rail travel accommodations may be made through Travel Time Travel Agency. Can I book hotel accommodations through Travel Time? Yes, Travel Time has negotiated rates for Messiah College with all the major hotel chains (e.g., Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Ramada, Radisson, Best Western, Hampton Inn). What happens if I need to make travel arrangements in an emergency situation? For emergency services after Travel Time Travel Agency hours, please call toll free 1.800.343.9594, extension 540. Where can I find the travel policies of Messiah College? You may find all of the travel policies in the Messiah College Policy and Procedural Manual sections 4.06.14 through 4.06.14.12.02. They are also available in the COE Handbook (contact the Provost's Office for exact location). Or click here to view online. Who at the college would I contact if I have additional questions? You may contact John Cooker, at extension 6010. Why Messiah Does Not Rely on Internet Travel Messiah College partners with Travel Time Travel Agency, a travel management company. Besides a friendly voice on the phone and a relationship with one individual to handle all of your travel needs including air, hotels, and car rentals, we do not rely on Internet travel for the following reasons: 1. Service: First and foremost is the issue of service. If you don’t encounter any problems with your flights or have need to make any changes, Internet bookings work fine. Unfortunately, when you make your reservations, you don’t know whether your flights are going to be problem free or not. When you run into a problem, you will most likely have difficulty finding someone to resolve it. This includes issues of rebooking on alternate flights if your flight is cancelled or delayed, a rather frequent occurrence these days. 2. Emergencies: Travel Time has a toll-free, 24-hour emergency information service to provide assistance and alternatives. 3. Refunds & Exchanges: Travel Time will continue to look for lower fares even after you have purchased a ticket. If your fare goes down after you have purchased the ticket, they will automatically reissue the ticket at the lower fare. They will then automatically issue a voucher for the difference. (This does not include airfare booked through “Fare Ferret.”). You can use these vouchers toward your next fare. 4. Ticket Voids: If the fare goes down the same week as you purchase the ticket, they can actually void the ticket (even if it is non-refundable!) and reissue it at a lower fare, thereby avoiding the airlines $100.00 fee. This is not possible on the Internet where fares are non-refundable and can’t be exchanged. 5. “Fare Ferret”: Travel Time utilizes a software product called Fare Ferret. Fare Ferret looks at over 40 different sites (including Orbitz®, Travelocity®, Expedia® and a host of airline owned sites) and comes back, in seconds, with the site offering the lowest fare for your itinerary. If the fare is better than Travel Time’s quoted price, it will be offered to you. 6. Site Selection: If you use just one or two Internet sites regularly, how can you be sure you are actually getting the lowest fare? On any given day, any of 40 different sites may have the lowest price. 7. Productivity: If you try different sites it may be rewarding, but it is time consuming. What is your time worth? 8. Risk Management: Whom do you turn to for help when there is a problem? The airlines can assist you when you have booked on their site, but the public Internet sites are not necessarily prepared to assist customers. This was amply demonstrated during the days immediately following the tragedy of September 11. Hundreds of travelers who had booked on the Internet found themselves stranded because they couldn’t find anyone to help them rearrange their flights. 9. Traveler Preferences: Use of your traveler profile to make sure your travel preferences are considered when making reservations. 10. Confirmations: Quick email or fax confirmations on reservations. 11. Guarantee: A guarantee that if the price on your ticketed itinerary goes down, your ticket will be automatically reissued at the lower fare. 12. One-Stop Shopping: One-stop shopping for airline, train, hotel, and car rental arrangements with substantial hotel discounts as a result of Travel Time’s American Express® affiliation. 13. Valuable Management Reporting: This is not unlike paying a firm to manage our endowment. We spend thousands of dollars each year on travel. We need information so we can negotiate with suppliers using data from the reports. 14. Best of Both: Messiah’s plan is the best of both worlds. We have access to an agent and Internet rates. 15. Seat Assignments: Advance seat assignments are pursued using traveler preferences. Additionally, no Internet site will continuously check your reservation to see if it can find you better seats. 16. Parking Discounts: Discounted airport parking at Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Baltimore airports. 17. News: Travel Time sends news and up-to-date information on travel issues (i.e., airport security). 18. Clubs: Travel Time uses their network of contacts to enroll Messiah in programs like Hertz® Club Gold and British Airways® Venture Club. These programs deliver free rental car days, attractive rates, and points to be used toward future travel. |
|
|
