Talking Points – Germany

Copyright © 2017 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.

The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients when discussing travel to Germany. (Updated April 12, 2017)

1. While Germany has been the target of a few terrorist attacks over the past year, there is no Travel Alert or Travel Warning advising Americans against traveling to Germany.

2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being.

3. Safety is our top priority for our clients. We provide them with the facts so they can make informed decisions about their travels.

Below you will find additional information, supporting material and statistics to help further illustrate each talking point.

1. While Germany has been the target of a few terrorist attacks over the past year, there is no Travel Alert or Travel Warning advising Americans against traveling to Germany.

 On April 11, 2017, multiple explosion damaged the bus carrying the Borussia Dortmund soccer team, and one player was hospitalized due to his injuries.

o According to Deutsche Welle, the police are treating this as a terrorist attack.

o ABC News reports that “police have made one arrest following an incident in which multiple explosions went off near the team bus of Borussia Dortmund, one of Germany’s top soccer clubs, as it set off for a Champions League quarterfinal match on Tuesday evening. One of the team’s players was injured in the attack.”

o FOX News reports that “A person from the ‘Islamist spectrum’ was detained Wednesday in connection with the Borussia Dortmund soccer team bus attack in Germany that injured a player, German prosecutors said. Authorities are focused on another suspected extremist who may also be involved in detonating three explosives on Tuesday, Frauke Koehler, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors, said. A letter turned up near the site claiming responsibility and suggesting a possible Islamic extremist motive for the attack.”

 Germany has dealt with other terrorist attacks recently:

o On April 11, 2017, a teenage Syrian refugee was convicted for planning an act of terrorism: “The court found enough evidence that the boy had declared himself willing to carry out an attack in an internet chat with ‘a person close to the ‘Islamic State’ in Israel.’ He also received instructions on how to make a bomb,” according to Deutsche Welle.

o On December 19, 2016, a delivery truck crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, German, killing 12 people and injuring at least 49 others.

 The Wall Street Journal reports, “At least 12 people were killed when a semitrailer drove onto the sidewalk near Breitscheidplatz in Charlottenburg, a tony district in West Berlin, at about 8 p.m., a spokeswoman for the Berlin police said. About 50 were injured, police said. Authorities said that they had no immediate information on the motive but that signs pointed to a ‘probable terror attack.’”

 

o A suicide bomb outside a wine bar in Ansbach injured 15 people on July 24, 2016.

o Also, on July 22, 2016, nine people were killed by a gunman during a shooting incident at the Munich Olympia shopping center.

 The United Kingdom’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office does not explicitly warn against travel to Germany, but it does advise the following:

o “There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in public places visited by foreigners. The German government has announced that increased security has been put in place as a precaution at public buildings, major events, transport hubs and large public gatherings.”

 The Government of Canada indicates, “There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Germany” and citizens are advised to “exercise normal security precautions.”

 According to the 2016 Global Peace Index (GPI), which is compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Germany is the 16th most peaceful country in the world just behind Australia and ahead of Norway.

2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being.

 We recommend that U.S. citizens follow the advice of the State Department and register their travel plans at https://step.state.gov. This will help the State Department contact travelers if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or in the event an emergency transpires in the place where the individual is traveling.

o The U.S. State Department also offers a helpful guide called Traveler’s Checklist which provides additional travel tips.

o Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained through the Consular Information Program documents, by downloading the free Smart Traveler iPhone App, following the State Department on Twitter or the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook. Citizens can also call 888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern Time (except U.S. federal holidays).

 The updated State Department Travel Alert also provides practical steps American travelers can take:

o “U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places.”

o “Follow the instructions of local authorities, especially in an emergency.”

o “Monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities.”

o “Be prepared for additional security screening and unexpected disruptions.”

o “Stay in touch with your family members and ensure they know how to reach you in the event of an emergency.”

o “Register in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).”

 While no one can say with certainty that any destination is 100% safe, we strongly encourage our clients to use care and common sense – no matter where they travel – to maximize their safety and security. For example:

 

o Leave your itinerary, and passport data page, with a friend or family member back home so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

o Know and respect the laws in the country you are visiting.

o Remain alert to your surroundings at all times. Follow your instincts and avoid any areas or situations that seem as though they could become dangerous.

o Avoid all demonstrations, as even peaceful ones can quickly become unruly and a foreigner could become a target of harassment. If caught unexpectedly near a demonstration, obey instructions from police and leave the area as quickly as possible.

o Do not display expensive looking jewelry, large amounts of money or other valuable items. Also, do not leave luggage unattended in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.

o Check with your cell phone provider prior to departure to see if your phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G/4G international networks.

o Check your medical insurance coverage to make sure it applies overseas. If it doesn’t, consider buying travel insurance that covers overseas medical attention and medical evacuation.

3. Safety is our top priority for our clients. We provide them with the facts so they can make informed decisions about their travels.

 Our business is founded on repeat customers. Therefore, we want to be sure everything goes off without a hitch.

 We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans.

 We closely monitor the U.S. Department of State website for travel alerts for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.

 Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there so they can make determine for themselves if they still wish to travel.

 We also work closely with respected airlines, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators and other suppliers to remain informed of security precautions they’re taking to guard our clients’ safety.

 

Talking Points – Israel

Copyright © 2017 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.

The following Talking Points may be used in conversations with the media and clients when discussing travel to Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. (Updated April 11, 2017)

1. Although the U.S. State Department has updated its longstanding Travel Warning for Israel, it does not explicitly warn against traveling there.

2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being. First and foremost: pack your common sense.

3. Safety is our top priority for our clients. We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans.

Below you will find additional information, supporting material, and statistics supporting each talking point.

1. Although the U.S. State Department has updated its longstanding Travel Warning for Israel, it does not explicitly warn against traveling there.

 On April 11, 2017, the U.S. State Department updated its longstanding Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, which are all included together despite political divisions:

o The Travel Warning does not specifically warn against travel to Israel, but instead advises that “the possibility of random violence continues to exist and can happen without warning.”

 “The security situation remains complex in Israel …and can change quickly depending on the political environment, recent events, and particular geographic location. U.S. citizens should exercise caution and remain aware of their surroundings when traveling to areas where there are heightened tensions and security risks.”

o The Travel Warning does not specifically warn against travel to the West Bank, which is under the control of the Palestinian Authority. Instead, the State Department advises that “the possibility of random violence continues to exist and can happen without warning.”

 “The security situation remains complex in …the West Bank and can change quickly depending on the political environment, recent events, and particular geographic location. U.S. citizens should exercise caution and remain aware of their surroundings when traveling to areas where there are heightened tensions and security risks.”

o The Travel Warning specifically warns against all travel to the Gaza Strip, which is under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

 “The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to the Gaza Strip and urges those present to depart.

 “Gaza is under the control of Hamas, a U.S. government-designated foreign terrorist organization. The security environment within Gaza and on its borders is dangerous and volatile.”

 

 “Violent demonstrations and shootings occur on a frequent basis and the collateral risks are high.”

o The State Department repeatedly notes the complexity of the region: “While Israel and Hamas continue to observe the temporary cease-fire that ended the latest Gaza conflict in 2014, sporadic mortar or rocket fire and corresponding Israeli military responses continue to occur.”

 “Within Israel and the West Bank, the possibility of random violence continues to exist and can happen without warning.”

 “U.S. citizens have been killed and wounded in recent attacks, though there is no indication they were specifically targeted based on nationality. Perceived religious affiliation was a factor in some of the attacks, and the majority of recent attacks have targeted uniformed Israeli security forces often in proximity to checkpoints throughout Jerusalem and the West Bank or near religious sites significant to multiple faiths.”

o Also according to the U.S. State Department, “The Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority both make considerable efforts to ensure security, particularly in areas where foreigners frequently travel.”

 Major metropolitan areas in Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, continue to be popular destinations for tourists and are similar to major cities around the world with regard to personal safety. However, the State Department notes that U.S. citizens should:

o Maintain a high degree of situational awareness and exercise caution at all times;

o Avoid demonstrations – which can turn violent – and steer clear of neighborhoods where police have restricted access;

o Beware of and report unattended items or packages;

o Follow the instructions of security and emergency officials;

o Report suspicious activities or items to security officials; and

o Learn the location of the nearest bomb shelter or other hardened shelter.

 U.S. citizens planning their own travel should consider the rules that apply to U.S. government employee travel, including:

o With the exception of Jericho, Bethlehem, and along Routes 1, 443, and 90, U.S. government employees are prohibited from personal travel within the West Bank. Restrictions on personal travel by U.S. government employees may change depending on the security environment;

o U.S. government employees are prohibited from personal travel into Jerusalem’s Old City on Fridays during the Muslim month of Ramadan. The U.S. government occasionally restricts travel for its employees to the Old City based on the current security environment;

o U.S. government staff take additional security precautions when visiting refugee camps and “seam areas” where Israelis and Palestinians intersect and which have historically been flashpoints for violence. For example, sites with significant religious meaning to multiple faiths can be subject to violent protests or security incidents with little to no warning, especially on or around significant religious holidays;

 

o U.S. government employees are prohibited from using public buses and public bus terminals throughout Israel and the West Bank

o Additional security requirement apply when U.S. government employees are traveling close to the Lebanese and Egyptian borders, within 7 miles of the Gaza demarcation line and on Route 98 in the Golan.

2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being. First and foremost: pack your common sense.

 If our clients are going to pack one thing, we’d strongly recommend it be common sense. No matter what our clients’ age or destination, they should always use good common sense when it comes to their personal safety, just as they would at home.

 To maximize safety and security while traveling in Israel or any other international destination:

o Follow your instincts and avoid any areas or situations that seem as though they could become dangerous.

o Stay in the well-known tourist areas of the cities.

o Know and respect the laws in the country you are visiting.

o Visit only legitimate businesses and tourist areas, and avoid areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur.

o Leave your itinerary with a friend or family member back home.

o Check with your cell phone provider prior to departure to see if your phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 4G international networks.

o Do not display expensive looking jewelry, large amounts of money or other valuable items.

o Make every attempt to travel during daylight hours, and stick to main roads.

 We recommend that U.S. citizens follow the advice of the State Department and register their travel plans at https://step.state.gov. This will help the State Department contact travelers if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or in the event an emergency transpires in the place where the individual is traveling.

3. Safety is our top priority for our clients. We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans.

 We closely monitor the U.S. Department of State website for travel alerts as well as the more severe travel warnings for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.

 Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there so they can determine for themselves if they still wish to travel.

 Also, should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination where a client is currently located, we try to immediately contact the client to check on their well-being and work to assist them if they require alternate travel arrangements.

 We make certain to work with a select group of travel partners who take the safety and security of our clients as seriously as we do.

 

Talking Points – Ross River Virus in Australia

Copyright© 2017 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.

The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and customers when talking about the Ross River virus and travel to Australia. (April 11, 2017)

1. While the CDC has not issued any advisories against traveling to Australia due to the Ross River virus, it does recommend travelers protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites as part of its “Level 1 – Watch” notice.

2. There are basic precautions travelers can follow to limit their possible exposure while traveling in Australia, particularly the state of Victoria, including Melbourne.

3. We are here to assist our clients; the safety and well-being of our clients is our top priority.

Below you will find additional information, supporting material, and statistics supporting each talking point.

1. While the CDC has not issued any advisories against traveling to Australia due to the Ross River virus, it does recommend travelers protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites as part of its “Level 1 – Watch” notice.

 According to the Department of Health in Australia, as of April 10, 2017, a total of 3,655 Ross River virus disease (RRVD) cases have been reported. The number of cases reported in the first quarter of 2017 is almost equal to the number of RRVD cases reported in the entire year of 2016.

o Australia’s HealthDirect program says that typically, RRVD is found most often in “Queensland, Northern Territory and the Kimberly region in Western Australia between January and April.” Recent cases, however, have been appearing in Victoria.

 A Watch Level 1 travel health notice from the CDC is the lowest of three advisories it issues, meaning it recommends travelers “practice usual precautions.”

 RRVD is spread through mosquito bites. About 55%–75% of people who are infected do not feel sick. For those who do feel sick, symptoms of RRVD include joint pain and swelling, muscle pain, fever, tiredness, and rash. Most patients recover within a few weeks, but some people experience joint pain, joint stiffness or tiredness for many months.

o Travelers who plan to spend a lot of time outdoors or who will be in areas with a lot of mosquitoes are at increased risk of RRVD. Disease risk is likely to decrease with the colder weather during the coming winter months in Australia. Ross River virus disease is the most common mosquito-related infection in Australia.

2. There are basic precautions travelers can follow to limit their possible exposure while traveling in Australia, particularly the state of Victoria, including Melbourne.

 No vaccine or medicine can prevent RRVD. The only way to prevent RRVD is to prevent mosquito bites

 

o Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.

o Use an appropriate insect repellent as directed.

o If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

o Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents).

o Stay and sleep in screened or air conditioned rooms.

o Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

 Talk to your doctor or nurse if you feel seriously ill, especially if you have a fever.

3. We are here to assist our clients; the safety and well-being of our clients is our top priority.

 We would not send our clients to a particular destination if we believed it to be unsafe or were unable to provide precautions to minimize risks. Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there and provide detailed information on the situation so they can make informed decisions for themselves if they still wish to travel.

 Our business is founded on repeat customers. Therefore, we want to be sure everything goes off without a hitch.

 By working with a true travel professional, we assist our clients by consulting on the ideal vacation experience they are looking for and providing alternative destinations should the need arise.

 

Talking Points – Involuntary Bumping on Airlines

Copyright © 2017 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.

The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients when discussing involuntary bumping of airline passengers. (April 10, 2017)

1. While it is common practice for airlines to oversell flights, bumping of passengers is infrequent and primarily voluntary. Involuntary bumping of airline passengers is quite rare.

2. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has specific rules in place for involuntarily bumping airline passengers, including compensating them fairly.

3. We are here to assist our clients; the safety and well-being of our clients is our top priority.

Below you will find additional information, supporting material, and statistics supporting each talking point.

1. While it is common practice for airlines to oversell flights, bumping of passengers is infrequent and primarily voluntary. Involuntary bumping of airline passengers is quite rare.

 Recently, a passenger on United flight 3411 headed from Chicago O’Hare to Louisville, Kentucky, was involuntarily bumped from the flight and was forcibly removed from the plane.

o A passenger on the flight told the Louisville Courier-Journal that “passengers were then told a computer would select four random passengers. A couple was selected and left, but when the man who was removed was selected, he contested, saying he was a doctor who needed to see patients Monday morning.”

o In a statement from the Oscar Munoz, CEO of United Airlines, “This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation.”

 According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, “carriers posted a bumping rate of 0.62 per 10,000 passengers in 2016, an improvement over the 0.73 rate posted in 2015 and the lowest annual rate based on historical data dating back to 1995.

o Bloomberg reports that “Last year, the 12 largest U.S. airlines bumped slightly more than 40,600 of 659.7 million passengers.”

 The Associated Press reports that last year, “United forced 3,765 people off oversold flights and another 62,895 United passengers volunteered to give up their seats, probably in exchange for travel vouchers. That’s out of more than 86 million people who boarded a United flight in 2016, according to government figures. United ranks in the middle of U.S. carriers when it comes to bumping passengers.”

2. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has specific rules in place for involuntarily bumping airline passengers, including compensating them fairly.

 According to the DOT, each airline is required to “give all passengers who are bumped involuntarily a written statement describing their rights and explaining how the carrier

 

decides who gets on an oversold flight and who doesn’t. Those travelers who don’t get to fly are frequently entitled to denied boarding compensation in the form of a check or cash. The amount depends on the price of their ticket and the length of the delay.”

o If you are bumped involuntarily and the airline arranges substitute transportation that is scheduled to get you to your final destination (including later connections) within one hour of your original scheduled arrival time, there is no compensation.

o If the airline arranges substitute transportation that is scheduled to arrive at your destination between one and two hours after your original arrival time (between one and four hours on international flights), the airline must pay you an amount equal to 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination that day, with a $675 maximum.

o If the substitute transportation is scheduled to get you to your destination more than two hours later (four hours internationally), or if the airline does not make any substitute travel arrangements for you, the compensation doubles (400% of your one-way fare, $1350 maximum).

o If your ticket does not show a fare (for example, a frequent-flyer award ticket or a ticket issued by a consolidator), your denied boarding compensation is based on the lowest cash, check or credit card payment charged for a ticket in the same class of service (e.g., coach, first class) on that flight.

 In addition, the DOT rules state that “you always get to keep your original ticket and use it on another flight. If you choose to make your own arrangements, you can request an ‘involuntary refund’ for the ticket for the flight you were bumped from. The denied boarding compensation is essentially a payment for your inconvenience.”

 There are exceptions to the DOT rules and those include:

o To be eligible for compensation, you must have a confirmed reservation.

o Each airline has a check-in deadline, which is the amount of time before scheduled departure that you must present yourself to the airline at the airport. If you miss the check-in deadline, you may have lost your reservation and your right to compensation if the flight is oversold.

o As noted above, no compensation is due if the airline arranges substitute transportation which is scheduled to arrive at your destination within one hour of your originally scheduled arrival time.

o The rules do not apply to charter flights, or to scheduled flights operated with planes that hold fewer than 30 passengers. They don’t apply to international flights inbound to the United States, although some airlines on these routes may follow them voluntarily.

 Also, if you are flying between two foreign cities — from Paris to Rome, for example — these rules will not apply. The European Commission has a rule on bumpings that occur in an EC country; ask the airline for details, or go to http://ec.europa.eu/transport/passengers/air/air_en.htm.

o Airlines set their own “boarding priorities” — the order in which they will bump different categories of passengers in an oversale situation.

 When a flight is oversold and there are not enough volunteers, some airlines bump passengers with the lowest fares first.

 Others bump the last passengers to check in.

 Once you have purchased your ticket, the most effective way to reduce the risk of being bumped is to get to the airport early.

 

 For passengers in the same fare class the last passengers to check in are usually the first to be bumped, even if they have met the check-in deadline. Allow extra time; assume that the roads are backed up, the parking lot is full, and there is a long line at the check-in counter.

o Airlines may offer free tickets or dollar-amount vouchers for future flights in place of a check for denied boarding compensation. However, if you are bumped involuntarily you have the right to insist on a check if that is your preference.

3. We are here to assist our clients; the safety and well-being of our clients is our top priority.

 We are advocates for our clients; and they know that by working with a true travel professional, we are there for them before, during, and after their trip should they need us – which gives them peace of mind.

 As travel professionals, we advise our clients on check-in procedures, airport security policies and boarding information, to help manage expectations and ensure they get through the airport as quickly and efficiently as possible.

 Our business is founded on repeat customers. Therefore, we want to be sure everything goes off without a hitch.