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Travel Briefs
New Countries and Rules for Visa Waiver Program
Seven countries have been newly accepted to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and some new rules will apply to foreign travelers, beginning January 12, 2009. We'll take a look at what's new, the specifics, and provide links to related resources.
What is the Visa Waiver Program?
The Visa Waiver Program enables nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business without having to obtain a visa if the trip is completed in 90 days or less. The program is reciprocal and U.S. citizens are not required to obtain visas to enter VWP countries (in most cases).
A total of 34 countries enjoy visa waiver status, including seven countries added within the last month: Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, the Republic of Korea and the Slovak Republic.
Why was the program instituted?
Currently administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the program was established in 1986 with the goal of easing travel barriers and stimulating the tourism industry. For instance, in 2006, 60 percent of foreign visitors were from VWP countries.
The new role security plays
Member countries must meet specific security requirements and comply with airport and aviation security measures, providing air passenger information and various background checks. According to the DHS, the VWP provides an incentive for countries wishing to participate in the program to enhance their security standards and deepen their cooperation with the United States on security-related issues.
ESTA: New Registration Rule for Visa Waiver Travelers
A new security measure takes effect January 12, 2009, requiring
VWP travelers to register before traveling to the U.S. The security
measure is completed online via the Electronic System for Travel
Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air
or sea to the U.S. ESTA registration is available online at
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov for citizens and eligible nationals of
VWP countries. The links below provide detailed information and
program FAQs.
Resources: Information About ESTA
Fact Sheet: Electronic System for Travel Authorization (PDF)
VWP and ESTA Action Items
To recap, beginning January 12, 2009, travelers from VWP countries must register before traveling to the United States. In addition, VWP travelers have specific passport requirements. Learn more from the DHS VWP Traveler Guide (PDF).
State Department Alerts
Read U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information by Country.
The Egencia Promise
Have you heard about the Egencia Promise and our new Flight Price Guarantee? Learn more.
Travel Light
Travel Trivia Talks Turkey
Can you name the American statesman and inventor who suggested
that his young nation's native turkey was a more fitting national
symbol than the bald eagle?
Find answer here.
Though Thanksgiving was not officially a national holiday until
1941, which president declared the final Thursday in November as
a national day of thanksgiving?
Find answer here.
According to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association, the
cranberry is one of only three fruits that are entirely native
to North American soil. Can you name the other two? (Go to The
History of Cranberry Production section for answer.)
Find answer here.
Serving Up Some Holiday Travel Tips
When over-the-river-and-through-the-woods is on your itinerary, may we suggest a full-bodied list of Holiday Travel Tips.
----------------------------------------------------------------A Traveler's Tiding
"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be
expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as
well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds."
–Theodore Roosevelt
E-mail this issue of Travel Updateon the image below. 
Business Class
with Tom Conway
Checked Baggage:
What's Not Covered?
Q: After a long business trip, I don't feel like lugging my laptop aboard the flight and would just rather check it. Is it okay packed in my luggage? -Dave P.
Lug It or Leave It?
A: Dave, I'd have to answer that question with another question, (as I channel and paraphrase Dirty Harry), "Well, do you feel lucky?"
I'd liken such a decision to me choosing to wear horizontal stripes or
obliging to sing karaoke; it's a tad bit risky.
Trust me, I feel your pain. I'd much rather enjoy a long flight
(if that's possible) unfettered by the burden of carry-on luggage,
but dare I trust my fragile treasures to the cold, over-packed
underbelly of an aircraft. I think not.
When it comes to damage or loss of personal property like a
laptop, airlines wrote the book on what is and is not covered.
For starters, an object's value is clearly defined by the airline
industry's tariff agreement in the contract of carriage. (Here's an example of an abridged version from
United Airlines.)
If an airline loses or damages your luggage, reimbursement
(in most cases) will not exceed $3,000 for a domestic flight.
(In December, it goes up to $3,300.)
International flights are less generous and limited to the
amounts agreed under the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions, which in some cases is $9.07 per pound ($20 per kg) for checked baggage and $400 per passenger.
Here's the caveat: not everything checked as baggage (no matter
what the value) is covered under the $3,000 of the airline's
tariff agreement. In fact most airlines assume no liability for
fragile, valuable, or perishable items, deeming such effects
unsuitable as contents of checked baggage, such as a laptop.
Some airlines allow you to declare excess valuation up to $5,000,
but this doesn't cover limited liability items (again, like a laptop).
Check with the airline, but in most cases the carrier is not
responsible for money, jewelry, eyewear, keys, medication, cameras,
video and electronic equipment (including laptop computers),
silverware, precious gems and metals, negotiable papers, securities,
business documents, samples, works of art, antiques, collectors'
items, artifacts, manuscripts, furs, irreplaceable books or
publications, and similar valuables (just to name a few) contained
in checked or unchecked baggage.
So Dave, when something is high-value, indispensable and/or
irreplaceable (again, like your laptop), lug it with you,
take a few breaths, and go to your happy in-flight place.
Tom Conway, who no longer uses his laptop as a laptray, looks forward to your questions,
comments and tips.
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