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Christopherson offers dynamic technology and exceptional customer service to connect your business to where it needs to go.

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We’d be honored to serve you among our 1,000+ organizations, providing you and your teams with our signature, tailored experience to help your business reach its goals.

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We have a lot packed

Learn about our other services and how we can help your business take off.

Get more out of your travel budget and boost cost savings through our knowledgeable travel expertise.

Experience the luxury of smart travel technology with the trust of an experienced partner.

Our integrated booking, gives your travelers policy-compliant choices, all the while saving time and money.

Program management

Our travel program management services give you the tools and support to move upward and forward.

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Connect with our team of experienced travel experts to learn how Christopherson can help your business travel with ease.

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Business Travel Agency

Put the power of one of the world’s leading corporate travel agencies to work for you.

Making the most of corporate travel agency services

CWT understands that the relationship between organizations and their traveling employees is changing. Your employees need business travel agents who can help them stay productive, get the best prices, and make travel easier for them. Your organization needs a corporate travel agency that helps you manage your travel program effectively, including:

• Getting started
• Engaging travelers
• Staying overnight
• Managing risk
• Delivering travel ROI
• Driving action
• Managing meetings

CWT, one of the world’s leading business travel agencies, provides world-class corporate travel management fueled by decades of experience, our amazing corporate travel agents and backed by award-winning technology. Our organization focuses on the business of business travel—so you and your employees can focus on your company’s business.

We make business travel easier for your employees

• Easy bookings on one, integrated platform that offers corporate travel agency services via mobile, online or phone.
• Single platform for business-relevant flights, trains, car rentals and hotels no matter which booking channel they choose.
• Consistent service in ~150 countries around the world by corporate travel agents
• Price tracking technology, helps travelers take advantage of price drops even after they’ve booked their airline ticket or hotel room.
• Proven best hotel rates —with a Best Rate Guarantee on our specially negotiated deals
• Highest rated mobile travel app of any travel management company or third-party—on both iOS and Android platforms.  

We help you manage corporate travel better

• Online, 24/7 access to an award-winning travel management command center .
• Shareable reports and graphics to help you win over key stakeholders and showcase your value.
• Automated messaging to help you improve communications to traveling employees, helping you improve policy compliance and give your employees helpful information.
• Traveler tracking available 24/7 through interactive maps and enhanced risk management services.
• An array of tools, services and processes that support travel policy compliance.
• New insights and savings opportunities recommended based on your company’s specific travel data.

Reach out to CWT today to discuss a travel program

Learn more about our travel management offering.

Travelers: manage your travel here . The below form is for inquiries about our corporate travel management offering.

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With kind regards,

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Global Travel Management

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High-Touch Personalized Service

Unparalleled travel expertise, innovative & cost-effective solutions, certified women-owned business, personal service partnered with cutting edge technology.

Corporate Travel Management

VIP Service

High-Touch Service + High-Tech Solutions

You deserve a first-class travel management company that can keep pace with your changing business. At Teplis Travel, we provide you with proactive, intricate, and reliable corporate travel service 24/7/365. The detailed attention from every employee at Teplis Travel is a level of attention and commitment not likely to be matched.

A Corporate Travel Partner with Your Goals in Mind

About Teplis Travel

You deserve a top travel agency.

of Outstanding Service to our clients

Customer Retention Rate

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Testimonials

“Teplis Travel has always provided the answer/solution for me whether it be advice on negotiations, complex international ticketing or optimizing my Concur Travel and Expense solution. I am confident my corporate travel program is optimized to the fullest because of the support they provide.”

“Hands down, Teplis has the best team of any travel management company (TMC). They have world class travel agents, account team and OBT platform support. The knowledge that each vertical brings to the table is tough to beat.”

“We have some complex itineraries all over the world and Teplis does a great job of simplifying everything. Teplis travel agents are very knowledgeable and creative, especially when we are booking international fares.”

“Always an enjoyable and professional experience when working with the corporate agents at Teplis Travel. I love calling my favorite agent who knows exactly what I need when booking my business travel!”

“Our company is extremely pleased with the level of support our corporate travelers receive through Teplis’ online support desk. It is a huge benefit to have hands-on expertise available when our employees need assistance booking on Concur Travel.”

“You have exceeded expectations and set the bar at a new level for travel agents. You have been awesome! After my experiences with this weekend, all I can say is that you qualify for sainthood.”

Global Partnership

Teplis is a FROSCH Global Partner, giving your travelers access to a support network of 2,000+ agents and unique ticketing capabilities in over 50 strategic global markets.

Service Update

On July 19, a global CrowdStrike outage affected multiple industries, with a significant impact on the travel sector. As a result, some flights may be delayed or canceled, and services from other travel providers (like hotels and ground transportation) may be affected. We’ve increased staffing levels 24/7 through the weekend to support travelers during the disruption. Our call lines may be busier than usual, so we really appreciate your patience and understanding. Thank you!

Solutions for every business travel program

Business Travel Management

We simplify the conversation around managed business travel, showing you how to combine capabilities and services to deliver or improve on your program goals. Review your current program or design what it might look like in the future. Focus on a single area or make plans across the entire program. Wherever you are today, there’s a solution to help you get where you want to go tomorrow. Get started

Get in touch

Contact us  if you have any questions, or if you’d like to know more about our solutions for business travel management.

Recognized by the industry

We’re honored that our work, members and company are repeatedly recognized by the travel industry and organizations. BCD Travel awards and recognition

Stay up to date with news, trends and insights from BCD Travel and the business travel industry.

3 reasons to meet BCD’s Life Sciences team at GBTA Atlanta 2024

Make an appointment with BCD’s Life Sciences team to solve the pain points of guest travel, clinical trial diversity and patient travel solutions.

Lost in relocation: How BCD solved confusing global mobility process for pharma giant

For a global business, managing employee relocations efficiently is crucial. When a leading pharmaceutical company found itself with a convoluted relocation travel process, they turned to BCD for a solution.

BCD survey finds disconnect between travel policy and compliance

Knowing about the company travel policy doesn’t necessarily mean travelers will follow it.

What to look for in a Travel Management Company?

Finding the right Travel Management Company (TMC) to partner with your organization requires strategic planning, a methodical process and involvement from the right travel stakeholders. 

Travel buyers are responsible for how an organization uses travel and meetings to help achieve their broader goals. Partnering with the right TMC leads to improved safety, productivity and wellbeing for business travelers and streamlined processes and cost savings for your organization.

The TMC should demonstrate broad experience in managing travel for organizations like yours. Identify the specific services you need from them, such as ability to connect travel program strategy to company mission and purpose, sector experience, hotel program expertise, sustainability, travel policy compliance, risk management, or a defined approach to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I).

Latest travel management resources

Visit our Business Travel Management Resources page for reports, case studies and tips to help you plan, streamline and optimize your company’s business travel.

Traveler Survey: Travel Policy

This survey explores corporate travel policies and looks at the changes happening to policies and traveler satisfaction with current regulations. The results are based on an online survey of 1,201 business travelers worldwide. The survey was conducted from April 10-19, 2024.

Airline operations

These reports present a roundup of what’s been happening to airlines in the world over the last month.

Cities & Trends APAC 2023 edition

Discover the latest insights into APAC business travel for 2023 with BCD’s Cities & Trends report. Explore key trends in destinations, flight routes, and car rentals. Optimize travel strategies, control costs, and benchmark your company’s performance effectively.

Change how you manage guest travel

As business evolves, companies are relying more on contractors, consultants, and mobile professionals to travel on their behalf.

BCD Invite is an innovative solution designed to streamline the management of guest travel. Drive compliance, eliminate manual processes, keep information secure, and most importantly, safeguard your reputation by providing a best-in-class experience for your guest travelers. Because first impressions last.

How To Guides

How-to guides help travel managers and business travelers navigate every aspect of business travel, from planning and booking to budgeting and expense management, to ensure a smooth and successful trip.

How to make sure your hotel sourcing strategy works for you and your travelers

If your hotel program runs from January to December, the time to start preparing for 2025 is right now. Here are four key tactics you should include in your 2025 hotel sourcing plan to improve the overall traveler experience and add value to your organization.

How to pack a business travel capsule wardrobe

To pack for business trips without sacrificing style, try building a capsule wardrobe. It’s a selection of clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits.

How to pick the right online booking tool (OBT) for your managed travel program

Picking the right OBT for your corporate travel program can seem a big task. But the key is understanding your program needs and requirements and working with a Travel Management Company (TMC) who understands you. The TMC should guide you in the process, helping drill down to what is needed for your travel program now and as it evolves.

When entertainment is your business, every detail has to be right.

Case studies.

Global Pharmaceutical customer raises the patient centricity bar with dedicated end-to-end service

PEMs are required to have a background in healthcare or caregiving. They intuitively and empathetically apply their expertise and training to anticipate client needs and customize solutions that keep the focus on the well-being of the patient. For additional reassurance, patient engagement is extended well beyond booking.

New relocation travel process improves global mobility for pharma company

Employees traveling for international assignments were confused because there was no clear global directive for managing relocations. The global mobility process was convoluted because relocation travel was booked in the U.S. or Switzerland, while assignments and housing were handled in the host regions. Learn how BCD solved the confused booking process with a hub system for relocation travel.

De Nora’s rapid growth calls for a consolidated travel program while meeting local needs

Read how BCD leveraged its advanced technology and industry expertise to optimize travel operations, reduce costs and support a seamless travel experience.

Life Sciences

We know life sciences

We support customers across the healthcare spectrum through our Life Sciences Center of Excellence.

As the leading life sciences travel management and meetings company, we service over 100 organizations in this sector across travel, meetings and consulting, including 90% of the top 20 pharmas in the world.

Read our blog

Move offers news and analysis of issues and innovation in business travel, especially for program stakeholders. Subscribe to stay one step ahead.

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Where we do business​

Our global network spans more than 100 countries. Find our location map and contact info here.

Travel smart. Achieve more.

Get solutions for business travel that help you save time, money and stress.

A Creative Spin on Business & Luxury Travel

ENRICH YOUR NEXT TRIP WITH A CLEVER TWIST

Blurring the Lines Between Business and Pleasure.

A COLORFUL, CREATIVE LUXURY & Corporate Travel Agency, BASED IN NEW YORK CITY

BlueOrange Travel is a luxury and corporate travel agency proven to perform brilliantly for discerning clientele of luxury and business travel.  For Influencers, VIPs, and the entertainment industry, we help creatives merge work and play in seamless fashion. Depend upon us to deliver the best of all worlds. Headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York, we have successfully transformed the landscape of corporate and leisure travel with creative, one-of-a-kind luxury experiences – by thinking outside the box.

We leverage negotiations, utilize preferred suppliers, and rely on the latest technologies to meet your specific needs. Allow us to convert the administrative aspects of travel management into absolute pleasure – contact us today!

CORPORATE TRAVEL

Work and play in perfectly equal balance. At BlueOrange, we know how to delight and inspire your clients, prospects, creative teams, and technologists, with distinctive business trips that they’ll remember for a lifetime.

ENTERTAINMENT TRAVEL

Enjoy the height of style during your next project. From high-profile fashion clients and film crews to touring musicians and more, BlueOrange caters to the entertainment industry with swift expert coordination.

NON-PROFIT TRAVEL

Sit back, relax, and leave all of your organization’s travel in our experienced hands. BlueOrange is honored to work with a variety of private foundations and non-profits, spreading greater joy throughout the globe.

INFLUENCER TRAVEL

Treat your VIP clients to networking at its finest, with influencer trips and events from BlueOrange. We partner with PR firms and influencer agencies, enabling you to add travel to the capabilities you’re able to offer to elite clientele.

THE WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Tap into our global network of resources, to enrich your next trip. BlueOrange Travel represents more than $20 billion in sales as a division of Tzell Travel , part of Travel Leaders Group. We have the tools and the passion to accomplish your company’s travel goals at the most competitive prices.

SHARP TRAVEL PLANNING

Wave goodbye to all of the typical stress involved in traveling for business. When you rely on BlueOrange to take care of the logistical details, we’ll make sure everything falls into place exactly as it should. We’ll get you and your team where you need to be.

CREATIVE THINKING ON THE FLY

Be prepared for absolutely anything. At BlueOrange, we know just how to roll with unexpected circumstances and adapt to real-time conditions, ensuring that you’ve got everything you need to achieve smashing success – no matter what might pop up. Depend on us to provide creative solutions and extraordinary experiences.

THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY

Don’t get left behind with the current wave of technology, which is revolutionizing the most efficient ways to book and manage travel. By working with BlueOrange, you’ll take full advantage of the industry’s newest advances. We’ll leverage your uniquely defined corporate travel policy, to reduce costs and maximize convenience.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT?

Our team of experts is waiting to assist you contact an agent to get started..

Stay safely ahead of the curve. BlueOrange is proud to provide experienced advice and time-tested travel wisdom, which make a measurable difference in planning productive trips.

BUSINESS TRAVEL BLOG

TSA Implements New, Safe COVID-19 Travel Guidelines

With new information about the Coronavirus, how it is transmitted, and how travelers can protect themselves, the Transportation Security Administration has updated their procedures for airport screening. These new guidelines… Read More

The Benefits of Working with a Travel Consultant in a Global Pandemic

The last months of quarantine have taught us all the value of connection, human interaction, and communication, and when it comes to travel, these are also the qualities that make… Read More

Crafting a Covid-19 Essential Business Travel Policy

Your company’s travel policy is a necessary document that helps to prioritize your employees, create a healthy work environment, and support your travel budget. But in the face of a… Read More

JUST A FEW OF OUR SATISFIED CLIENTS

Business Travel Bounces Back: Spending Forecast to Hit Record

Sean O'Neill , Skift

July 22nd, 2024 at 3:44 PM EDT

Business travel is roaring back, with global spending projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in dollar volume this year. Face-to-face wins.

Sean O'Neill

Business travel spending worldwide is projected to reach an all-time high of $1.48 trillion by the end of 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) said Monday.

GBTA surveyed 4,100 business travelers across 28 countries.

Business travel volumes are not back to 2019 levels, but spending is up, especially for long-haul flights. 61% of travelers and 68% of business travel managers report spending more this year than last in the GBTA survey.

The association projects that global business travel spending will top $2 trillion in 2028. That would represent an annual compound growth rate between 2025 and 2028 of 7%.

Recovery Varies by Sector and Region

• Tech companies have been slower to return.
• Insurance, finance, and consultancies travel about as frequently as in 2019.
• Small- and medium-sized businesses are now broadly above 2019 levels.
• Regions also vary. Asia Pacific was the fastest-growing region in 2023 (36% growth), followed closely by Western Europe (33%). North America, the Middle East, and Latin America have already reached pre-pandemic spending levels.

Patterns have shifted.

There are some changed priorities.

• Day trips are less common.
• Longer trips with multiple meetings are becoming the norm.

Election Year Policy Priorities for Business Travel

• Sustainability solutions : Pushing for government support to help the industry decarbonize. Working with policymakers, particularly in Brussels, to understand and clarify sustainability standards (like CSRD ) that will be implemented starting in 2025.
• Passenger facilitation : Addressing issues like visas, border crossings, and technology requirements. For example, GBTA wants government agencies to align on technology requirements, such as concerns about having to make smartphones accessible when landing in certain countries like China.

“The naysayers think that if you just have virtual meetings, that’s all you need,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA. “And guess what? The energy comes from actually meeting the people in person. And that energy translates into bottom-line gains for companies.”

Neufang was installed as CEO of GBTA in February 2021 after a controversy ousted the previous leadership. GBTA membership has grown to close to 9,000 members, with the fastest growth in Asia Pacific.

Airlines Sector Stock Index Performance Year-to-Date

What am I looking at?  The performance of airline sector stocks within the  ST200 . The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets including network carriers, low-cost carriers, and other related companies.

The Skift Travel 200 (ST200)  combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number.  See more airlines sector financial performance . 

Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200.

5 ways to boost your travel agency’s sales

No one knows about reinventing yourself like a travel agent. As technology advances and self-booking becomes more popular, the agency market has learned the hard way that the only way to keep a competitive edge is to evolve.

This article is for travel agents who are ready to do just that. We’ll look at important statistics that every agent living in 2024 should know and offer five tips to help you become the best in your niche.

1. Niche down and sell experiences

Today, when almost anybody can book a basic trip, the role of a travel agent is shifting to offering niche expertise to smaller target audiences who want to save time on planning. 

Here are a few ways to choose the best travel niche:

• Focus on a particular destination. Look for cities or regions your audience might be interested in that other travel agencies don’t specialize in. For example, your theme might be islands, trips to your home country, a particular continent, and so on.
• Focus on your target audience. This might mean specializing in budget travel, luxury tourism, trips for senior couples, honeymoon vacations, etc. And for many audiences, the standard flight-and-room package doesn’t do it anymore. For example, one study shows that almost 70% of high-income tourists prefer experiences over hotels.
• Offer custom packages. Personalized experiences mean higher revenue for travel agents and help build loyal audiences. To understand customer wants, ask open-ended questions such as “What is your ideal vacation?” or “What do you remember most about your last trip?” Creativity in crafting unique adventures will mark you as a true pro. 

2. Grow your online presence

You can start by joining relevant groups and communities on Facebook, Quora, Medium, and niche forums. Sharing tips and tricks from your professional experience can help build meaningful conversations and, in the long run, promote your brand.

But socials aren’t enough – it’s even more important to create your own website or blog. This allows you to promote your brand and be there for your customers wherever they need information.

3. Offer new online services on your website 

Opt for new services that won’t require much time or effort to implement. For example, you can launch a custom flight or hotel search so clients can find flights or hotels in your key destinations without having to click away.

This can benefit your business in several ways, by:

• Keeping you relevant in the age of self-booking
• Attracting a new audience across the globe
• Retaining visitors who just want flights, not travel packages
• Generating passive income from affiliate commissions 
• Providing clients with prices lower than those offered by GDSes
• Turning your website into a one-stop travel platform

One of the quickest ways to make this happen is with white label solutions. They don’t require effort or money and operate on the commission model, meaning you earn a percentage on each booking made through your website.

For example, in just 30 minutes, you can set up the low-code solution by Travelpayouts, which equips your website with a custom-branded metasearch function featuring flights and hotels from 250K travel companies worldwide. If you don’t have a website yet, it also allows you to launch a brand-new flight and hotel search site from scratch.

Check out this video overview of metasearch functions you can build with White Label Web.

4. Build a loyal audience

People buy from people. Understanding your audience and establishing yourself as a trustworthy expert can go a long way toward building a loyal following that will refer even more customers in the future. 

• Monitor your agency’s reputation online . If someone starts talking negatively about you, social sentiment tools will inform you, so you can respond quickly and show your credibility.
• Gather as many positive reviews as possible . As only 6% of travelers do not trust testimonials, publishing inspiring customer reviews is crucial. Fortunately, 80% of customers are eager to leave a review if asked to do so. 
• Develop a loyalty program . Think of ways you can reward repeat customers: discounts, exclusive deals, price alerts, etc. 

5. Develop a personal touch

Even as basic travel planning becomes easier and easier, people still prefer travel agencies to ensure security and convenience for more complex or unfamiliar experiences and remote trips. 

Soulless corporations are sooo 2019. Nowadays, people appreciate businesses that don’t feel like chatbots. That’s why it’s important to look for ways to enhance your customer relationships with a human touch. For instance:

• Offer last-minute bookings . If someone decides to take a trip tomorrow, you can swoop in to save them a lot of stress and decision-making.
• React promptly . A fast response to a client request makes a huge impression.
• Pay attention to your writing . Invest in improving your communication skills. The goal is to get things across clearly in a way that makes you sound confident and smart. This will help build a professional image and make customers feel reassured.

Future-proof your travel agency

With growing interest in off-beat and remote travel experiences, this might be a great time to invest in your travel agency. The tips above will help you stay competitive, grow together with the travel market, and secure your target audience. A great way to start is to integrate a White Label on your website and earn affiliate rewards while helping travelers book their trips.

Now we’ll turn things over to you. What are the best ways to grow a travel agency these days? Are you following any of the trends above, or do you have a better solution you want to share? 

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Budget 2024 boosts Bihar's religious tourism, but neglects core travel industry issues: Travel agents association of India

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The 5 best budget travel companies in the US

Best online travel agency for business travel, 1. travelperk: the one agency for all your business travel needs.

• Extensive inventory of travel services
• Flexible booking with FlexiPerk
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 customer support with a 15s target
• Integration with 3rd party tools , such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

Start saving money on business travel for your company today!

The best budget travel agencies in the usa for leisure travel, 2. trafalgar.

• Savings and offers for groups of 9 travelers or more
• Live chat customer support
• Custom group tours for groups of 10 travelers or more
• Savings of up to 15% on last-minute deals
• “MyTrafalgar” portal enables travelers to personalize upcoming trips
• Solo traveler options

3. Costsaver

• Savings for groups of 9 travelers or more
• Couple travel packages
• Loyalty program discounts of 5%
• Custom tours for groups of 10 travelers or more

4. Intrepid Travel

• 18-29s tours
• Active adventures (hiking, biking, kayaking, etc)
• Adventure cruising
• Family tours
• Wildlife and polar tours
• Women’s expeditions (all-female tours)
• Urban Adventures day tours

5. Exoticca

• Over 300 itineraries within more than 60 countries
• Focus on small group tours
• Several travel styles, including interest, season, and type of group travel
• Itineraries include local experiences and day trips
• Traveler app for direct access to a 24/7 customer support team
• Multilingual customer support

Wrapping up: Which budget travel company is best for you?

Make business travel simpler. Forever.

• See our platform in action . Trusted by thousands of companies worldwide, TravelPerk makes business travel simpler to manage with more flexibility, full control of spending with easy reporting, and options to offset your carbon footprint.
• Find hundreds of resources on all things business travel, from tips on traveling more sustainably, to advice on setting up a business travel policy, and managing your expenses. Our latest e-books and blog posts have you covered.
• Never miss another update. Stay in touch with us on social for the latest product releases, upcoming events, and articles fresh off the press.

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When a hurricane upends travel plans, what do airlines owe consumers for a flight not taken?

Airline practices give passengers perverse incentives to fly in potentially dangerous weather, some customers say.

On the day before her scheduled trip to Cancun, Ashley McEvoy and a couple of friends in Boston nervously exchanged emails about an unruly intruder threatening to ruin their long-planned beach holiday.

It was Hurricane Beryl and it was packing highly destructive winds of more than 100 miles per hour as it barreled across the Gulf of Mexico toward their destination on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Landfall was forecasted for a few hours after McEvoy and the others were scheduled to touch down in the path of a major hurricane on July 4.

What to do? Well, cancel, of course, she thought. That was the safe and responsible thing to do. But would their airline refund their $850 airfare?

The answer, she discovered, was no — Delta Air Lines would not give her a cash refund, instead offering a credit for future use on the airline (aka, a “travel voucher”) which is of considerably less value.

That felt like Delta was disrespecting the reasonable decision she and others had made to avoid potentially catastrophic weather, McEvoy said. After all, Delta had already posted a dire-sounding weather advisory on its website.

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What are the rules when airline ticket holders decide it’s best to cancel due to extreme weather? McEvoy, 30, of Watertown, wondered.

The basic rule — backed by the Department of Transportation — is that when the airline cancels its flight, you are owed a full cash refund. And it’s supposed to be automatic, according to new Transportation Department rules. But if you cancel before the airline cancels, your best hope is for a credit, and even that is at the discretion of the airline.

McEvoy and her friends wound up spending the hours before their scheduled flight from Logan checking and rechecking the Delta website hoping Delta would cancel its flight. Finally, a few hours before their scheduled departure, McEvoy and the others gave up and canceled, knowing the financial consequences.

“It was like a game of chicken,” McEvoy said.

And despite the weather, Delta flew to Cancun on that flight on July 4 — with about half the seats empty.

She said the difference between a cash refund and a credit weirdly incentivizes ticket holders to fly into a hurricane zone to avoid losing money.

After I contacted Delta on behalf of McEvoy and the others, the airline relented and apologized. It makes exceptions on a case-by-case basis “when we have extenuating circumstances like these,” a spokesperson said. A full cash refund is now promised.

“I apologize that [McEvoy and the others] did not receive this level of service when initially working with us,” Delta told me in an apparent reference to the repeated unsuccessful attempts the McEvoy group made to get cash refunds after their cancellations.

Here are some things to know about flight cancellations:

What did Delta say about the weather before the flight?

McEvoy and her friends said they received no emails regarding the weather from Delta, but when they checked Delta’s “SkyWatch” weather advisory page it specifically named the Yucatán Peninsula as in the path of Beryl. At that point, Delta offered ticket holders the chance to change their itinerary without incurring fare differences, but no refunds.

While Delta opted to fly to Cancun International Airport, other airlines canceled on July 4 — about 10 percent of all flights, according to news reports. Beryl hit as a Category 2 hurricane but caused no injuries or deaths before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved across the peninsula.

What does Delta say about its decision to fly?

Delta told me it “maintains a high standard of care for the safety of our people and customers and this was deemed to be safe operation given conditions en route and at the Cancun airfield.”

Why is a credit so much less valuable than a cash refund?

There are significant limitations on the use of a credit. McEvoy and her friends booked their flights in March, when a hurricane in the Gulf seemed highly unlikely. (In fact, Beryl was the earliest major hurricane in decades.) Airlines typically say you have one year to use your credits, but it’s one year from the time you booked your flight, not from the time of your scheduled flight. Had they accepted the credits, McEvoy and her friends actually would have had less than eight months to use them. And of course some people never get around to using their credits at all, for whatever reason, which is a financial boon to airlines.

Are there other limitations?

Yes, you get one flight to use your credit, no matter the cost of that one flight. The credit would cover a trip to Cancun (with some adjustment if prices change), but what if you don’t want to go there? You can use your credit to fly anywhere, but if you fly somewhere that costs less than your credit, say to New Orleans for $250, you can’t later use the balance for another trip, in the New Orleans example, of $600 ($850 minus $250). You get one shot at using your credit, whatever the cost of the flight you take.

What if my ticket was nonrefundable?

It doesn’t matter. Consumers are entitled to a refund if the airline cancels their flight due to weather or any other reason, according to the US Department of Transportation .

What if I purchased my ticket through a travel agent or online travel agency?

In most instances, the same rules apply to ticket agents and online travel agencies — they are required to provide a refund due to a canceled flight to, within, or from the United States.

How do I get my refund?

Airlines must provide a refund within seven business days if you paid by credit card, and within 20 days if you paid by cash or check. There are no clear rules for the timing of refunds owed by ticket agents. Even as you wait for your automatic refund it’s a good idea to make a request for it in writing to your airline or a ticket agent to get it on the record. If you are refused a refund, file a complaint against the airline or ticket agent with the Transportation Department at https://secure.dot.gov/air-travel-complaint .

Got a problem? Send your consumer issue to [email protected] . Follow him @spmurphyboston .

Mass IT outage: here's a list of companies and operations affected

• A huge global IT outage is disrupting flights, banks, retailers, and media outlets.
• The widespread disruptions have been linked to an issue with the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.
• Operations affected include airlines in the US and Europe, supermarkets, and some 911 lines.

A mass IT outage has hit flights, banks, retailers, and media outlets around the world.

The issues appear to be linked to the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike .

Microsoft also acknowledged the issue in an X update early Friday, writing, "Our services are still seeing continuous improvements while we continue to take mitigation actions."

Here are some of the companies and operations affected.

Numerous airlines grounded flights early Friday morning, including the big three US carriers: United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines. In statements, they all cited technology issues.

Delta and American had both canceled their ground stops by 7 a.m. ET.

A United spokesperson told Business Insider that it was holding all aircraft at their departure airports while it works to restore systems. "Flights already airborne are continuing to their destinations," they added.

American has blamed the issues on CrowdStrike, saying they were because of a "technical issue with Crowdstrike that is impacting multiple carriers," according to BBC News.

The budget airlines Frontier, Allegiant, and Spirit also issued ground stops which were later canceled.

Frontier's was issued on Thursday night. "Flight operations are currently being impacted by a major Microsoft technical outage," it said in a statement.

Spirit said it was unable to rebook affected customers because of the outage.

Disruption also extended to Europe. The continent's largest airline, Ryanair, advised passengers to arrive early as the outage caused "disruption across the network."

KLM also said it had to "largely suspend operations" as the outage made "flight handling impossible."

British Airways, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa, and Qantas were also among those who said they were affected.

According to a Facebook post from Alaska State Troopers , emergency lines in the state are also affected.

The post said: "Due to a nationwide technology-related outage, many 911 and non-emergency call centers are not working correctly across the State of Alaska."

"We appreciate your patience and will update you when we know more," the statement added.

The major UK airports Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton have reported issues, with some warning of delays and disruption.

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An X post from Gatwick Express , a train service for the airport, said the company was unable to access driver diagrams at certain locations, "leading to potential short-notice cancelations, particularly on the Thameslink and Great Northern networks."

A spokesperson for Belfast International Airport confirmed to BI that whiteboards were being used to handwrite flight information before systems were later restored. Whiteboards were also used at Singapore Changi Airport.

Hospitals and doctors' surgeries

Several hospitals and doctors' practices appear to have been affected by the outage.

In the UK, the NHS' EMIS system, which doctors use to book appointments, view patient notes, order prescriptions, and make referrals, appears to be having issues .

A spokesperson for the NHS told BI in a statement: "The NHS is aware of a global IT outage and an issue with EMIS, an appointment and patient record system, which is causing disruption in the majority of GP practices."

They said that long-standing measures were in place to manage disruption and that there was no known impact on 999 or emergency services, so people should use these services as normal.

"Patients should attend appointments unless told otherwise and only contact their GP if it's urgent, and otherwise please use 111 online or call 111," they added.

Two German hospitals canceled elective operations scheduled for Friday, Reuters reported.

NYCT Subway

Commuters in New York City and DC may also face delays Friday morning.

In an X post, the NYCT subway said: "Train arrival information is unavailable for A/B/C/D/E/F/G/J/M/N/Q/R/Z/Rockaway Park Shuttle/Franklin Av Shuttle due to a worldwide technical outage. Train service is unaffected."

The post said the tech outage also impacted Subway officials' ability to see train locations.

Broadcasters

Sky News also appears to have been hit by the outage. The UK news channel has been showing archive footage and briefly displaying an error message.

The news site appears to be up and running at the time of writing.

London Stock Exchange

The London Stock Exchange's website was also experiencing issues.

"RNS news service is currently experiencing a third-party global technical issue, preventing news from being published on www.londonstockexchange.com ," the company said in a statement.

"Technical teams are working to restore the service. Other services across the group, including London Stock Exchange, continue to operate as normal," it continued.

Retailers and fast-food giants

Bloomberg reported that McDonald's Japan suspended about a third of its stores in the country on Friday. The issue was with the stores' cash registers, the report said.

The grocery-store chain Woolworths told BI that some stores had "been impacted as a result of the global IT issue." All but six stores were open for business, but some had fewer functioning checkouts.

Delivery delays

FedEx and UPS are warning of delivery delays because of the outage.

In a statement on the company's website , FedEx said it was experiencing "substantial disruptions throughout our networks due to a global IT outage experienced by a third-party software vendor." The company said parcels due to be delivered on Friday might face delays.

A UPS spokesperson told BI that it continues to operate effectively but there may be some service delays due to third-party outage "impacting some UPS computer systems in the U.S. and Europe."

Some US state driver services are down

Drivers in some states are unable to access services because of the outage.

Georgia's Department of Driver Services posted on X that "due to the global Microsoft/Crowdstrike outage, DDS services are unavailable at this time."

Tennessee's Department of Safety and Homeland Security said some Driver Services Centers may not be able to process transactions, according to a post on X.

North Carolina's Department of Motor Vehicles driver license and plate agencies are also impacted and unable to assist customers, according to a CNN report.

Bloomberg reported that at the Ocean Park Marriott in Hong Kong, staff were using pen and paper to check guests in and said the outage was affecting their systems globally.

Marriott International later told CNN in a statement that "certain hotel systems" have been affected.

"We are actively working with our vendors to resolve issues that have impacted certain hotel systems," the company said in a statement to the publication. "We apologize for any inconvenience that guests may experience."

Watch: Global computer glitch grounds flights, knocks out 911

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