The chance of a passenger dying in an airplane wreck is 1 in 11 million. A fatal accident only occurs once in every 2 million flights across all sizes of aircraft. Commercial planes can fly with only one engine and a skilled pilot can land them even if no engines are working. Even with all the safety measures, 12 deadly flights in the United States have greatly increased the safety of airplanes. Whenever a plane fails in the United States, the National Transportation Safety Administration makes a detailed determination of the cause, and that information is used to make airplanes even safer.
Air Canada 797 was flying at 33,000 feet on June 2, 1983, when smoke was reported coming from the plane’s lavatory. While the pilot managed to land the plane safely in Cincinnati, Ohio, when the emergency doors were opened, a flash fire occurred killing 23 people. Planes must now have smoke detectors and automatic fire-retardant systems. Additionally, more flame-resistant materials are used in the interior of planes and they now have emergency lighting.
On September 8, 1994, USAir Flight 427 crashed as it approached its landing at Palm Beach International Airport. It took five years for the National Transportation Safety Administration to determine that a faulty rudder was to blame; Boeing ultimately replaced the rudders on all of this style of plane. Furthermore, Congress passed a law so that the National Transportation Safety Administration could help victim’s families.
It took the deadly crash of ValuJet Flight 592 on May 11, 1986, before Congress passed laws that smoke detectors were required in the cargo area of all passenger airplanes. Unfortunately, the crash killed 110 people.
On July 17, 1996, TWA Flight 800 literally blew up shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy Airport. While there were 230 people killed, the government finally concluded that it was a spark that started a fire in the center fuel tank. All planes have since been rewired and natural gas is now put in fuel tanks to reduce the likelihood of fires.
Fire-resistant insulation was retrofitted into about 700 McDonnell Douglas Jets after the crash of Swissair Flight 111 on September 2, 1998. The new insulation was designed so that planes would burn slower giving pilots more reaction time.
On June 30, 1956, TWA Flight 2 and United Airlines Flight 718 ran together above the Grand Canyon killing all 128 passengers aboard both flights, but the result was the creation of the Federal Aviation Agency two years later.
Just three days after Christmas in 1978, a captain flying United Flight 173 refused to listen to his crew who tried to warn him that they were running out of fuel. While the plane crashed killing 10, it changed policies inside the cockpit so that all crew members have equal power.
On August 31, 1986, a small aircraft ran into Aeromexico DC-9 above the Los Angeles airport killing 82 people, but the result was that all small aircraft flying above major airports must have a transponder.
On July 19, 1989, United Flight 232 the back engine fell off the plane severing the hydraulic line. The plane crashed killing 111 aboard. The result, however, was that a crack in the fan caused the wreck and it should have been detected by mechanics on the ground. The way that engine inspections before takeoff were changed along with increased redundant safety equipment installed on planes.
On August 2, 1985, Delta Flight 191 was on its final approach to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport when it was caught in wind turbulence causing the plane to crash killing 134 people aboard and more on the ground. After an extensive investigation, wind shear warnings were installed in all airplanes along with colored radar that was easier for pilots to see.
On June 1, 2009, Air France 447 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean during a severe thunderstorm. Investigators later determined that frozen pitot tubes were causing the pilot to receive false information. Pilots were retrained to fly the airplane regardless of what the instrument panels were telling them.
No one knows what brought down Malaysia Flight 370 on March 8, 2014. In fact, no one is sure where the plane crashed because no mayday was ever heard from the plane. Despite the fact that millions have been spent trying to find the wreckage, major parts of it still remain missing. As a result of the crash, all airplanes must now have tracking equipment installed on them.
Flying in an airplane is extremely safe. While there has not been a major airplane crash since 2014, investigators stand ready to investigate another one if it should occur. Then, they will make recommendations to make flying even safer.
Many company’s chief financial officers will tell you that their employees do a very poor job of staying in compliance with their corporation’s travel policies. Others will tell you that they are constantly being asked to pay for expenses exceeding proposed budgets. This constant fight can be handled by making sure that travel policies are clear and up-to-date along with appropriating funds correctly. Many company’s chief financial officers will tell you that their employees do a very poor job of staying in compliance with their corporation’s travel policies. Others will tell you that they are constantly being asked to pay for expenses exceeding proposed budgets. This constant fight can be handled by making sure that travel policies are clear and up-to-date along with appropriating funds correctly.
Regardless of a company’s size, they should have written corporate travel policies that are in line with the company’s culture. These policies should clearly spell out where employees are expected to book their travel or if they can choose to book wherever they find the best rates. Policies should also enunciate when corporate travel cards will be used and when employees can use their own credit cards while receiving compensation at a later date. Furthermore, the policy should state what class of flights will be covered and if particular airline alliances are preferred. The policy should state how to determine the type of accommodations the employee must choose along with how to determine an appropriate rate. Policies should also be put into place on car rentals, taxis and other forms of transportation allowing employees to understand when these expenses will be covered. Clear and realistic policies are likely to increase employee compliance.
The corporate travel policy should cover an estimate of a reasonable cost for airline tickets into different cities. Encourage employees to book as far ahead as possible by putting a requirement in place that tickets booked on short-term notice must be approved by upper management. Encourage employees to use exchange rates to the company’s advantage. Additionally, make it fun for employees to hunt down the best fare for their seats by splitting the savings with them.
Average Ticket Prices US to Major Destinations | ||
Destination | First Class | Economy Class |
US to Africa | $5,800 | $4,800 |
US to Asia | $3,800 | $2,800 |
US to Australia | $5,800 | $4.800 |
US to India | $5,000 | $3,700 |
US to Europe | $3,500 | $2,500 |
US to South America | $3,800 | $2,800 |
Corporate financial officers can help keep travel budgets under control by making sure that all policies are outlined clearly in writing so that employees know what is allowed and what they must avoid. The policy should cover all areas of travel including airlines, taxis, car rentals and trains. The written directions should also cover when a hotel will be paid for along with advice on picking out great ones at reasonable costs. Encouraging employees to save money by splitting the rewards with them when they find a great deal may also help keep costs in check.
People know about business travel, but it’s not to be confused with business travel management. Business travel is just travelling for business purposes and that’s it. Business travel management, aka corporate travel management, is the utilization of strategic techniques so that businesses can control expenses, initiate better travel spending, and ensure safety in travelling. Business travel management companies handle business travel management. They handle all the ins and outs of travel management for businesses so that their clients won’t have to worry this process that could be really tedious.
In researching, there is no variation of business travel companies. They are all basically the same in that they are for-profit businesses specializing in providing the best service possible for corporate travels. The companies may differ in various offers from one another, and they are in competition with each other for more customers. One company may have different offers on group travelling for businesses, another one may offer no fees for after hours, and another one may offer monthly pricing plans. And no matter what offers each company may have, the bottom line is to provide the utmost service in corporate traveling where businesses can get the best return possible on investment. And furthermore, with all the steep competition, these companies go out of their way to sway consumers in thinking each one of them is the best business travel management company for them.
There are tons of benefits when utilizing business travel management. For one, business travelers will obtain the most cost effective tools available when using business travel management companies. Also, the following are other benefits for using a proficient business travel management company:
Ryanair has a program called Business Plus. This program offers improved frequency and flexibility. They offer the option in flexibility to change the flight time, departure airport, or destination. It’s a plus or minus two-day flexibility. They are able to do this because they have a really big network consisting of 200 destinations that range over 31 countries along with 1,800 routes per day. With this capability, high frequency departures are offered for key business routes.
Mostly all of Ryanair’s flights arrive on time. As a matter of fact, more than 92 % of all their flights arrive on time. This makes them one of the more reliable business travel management companies that would deliver on time results for their clients.
Ryanair also offers premium seats and priority boarding through its business plus program. With these two benefits, the clients would have a more enjoyable ride especially because this aspect allows the customer to be the first ones to board and disembark, and Ryanair allocates the seat for the customer. With this, there’s limited stress and a breeze as the customer is capable to get right down to business easier and quicker.
As with other business travel management companies, baggage allowance of a small cabin bag and a carry-on is permitted. However, Ryanair takes it a little further with their baggage allowance incentive. With them, clients are able to take a free 10 kg cabin bag along with a small carry-on and a free 20 kg check-in bag. Additionally, there is no need to go through queues because they provide at the airport a dedicated business plus desk.
Besides these incentives in the Ryanair program, all the airlines make it convenient for consumers by having them purchase travel through various travel partners. That way, these travel managers would centralize the travel in just a few steps. They will obtain regular reports concerning the companywide travel spend overview, the details of where the company employees are going, whether or not they are complying with the travel policies, and help them to make good choices. There are also some travel partners that have it where employees can conveniently use designated tools for booking online travel and ensuring compliance. There are also some programs that allow for monthly payments, and sometimes they offer other discounts.
Over 94 percent of all business travel in the United States happens on the ground within four hours of where the business executive is based. The other 6 percent are usually made by air and last for less than four days. Businesses expect to pay an average of $1,887 on business trips. Almost 50 percent of all business travelers say that they feel intense pressure from their employers to control expenses while traveling. These excursions are usually made because top management finds that there is no substitute for being there in person. The average business traveler is 38 years old, has a college degree and is male. Beyond that, business travelers tend to divide into two distinct groups who each have their own expectations.
Business travelers who are road warriors tend to take more than 13 trips annually, and they tend to spend at least four days away from their main office on each business trip. Staying connected to their families is a high priority because of the amount of time that they spend flying. Therefore, they are very likely to bring along the latest gadgets and they embrace new technology with open arms. They are also likely to bring along multiple ways to connect because they do not want connectivity issues to ruin their trips. While they are capable of writing expense reports that outshine other travelers in their offices, most prefer to use technology to make filing these reports faster and easier. Many road warriors have been to the same destination multiple times, so they are harder to impress although they will not hesitate to spend money on a new adventure when the opportunity presents itself.
In order to become a road warrior, businesses must recruit younger members who are willing to spend time traveling. These travelers are very likely to take more than 14 business trips a year. They are also more likely to tack personal days on either end of a business trip, and they may even bring someone else along with them. Therefore, the best companies have created well-written policies on how many personal days can be taken on a business trip and who can go. The inexperienced business traveler is more likely to spend money entertaining clients in unique ways. This has given rise to travel industries offering unique experiences for the business traveler. The inexperienced business traveler is also more likely to use social media to connect with local friends in each destination, and they are more likely to share their experiences on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.
In order to make the most of the travel budget, corporations must have well-written travel policies. Establishing these policies ahead of time sets clear expectations on what employees can and cannot do while traveling on corporate expense budgets. Corporations need to make it easier for travelers to use the latest technology to stay connected to their families and friends while on the road. Allowing employees to file expense reports quickly adds to the enjoyment level of trips while lowering stress and burnout rates. Businesses need clear policies on who is allowed to go on trips along with policies on what expenses are deductible.
About 48 percent of all business executives who make more than 13 trips a year say that their primary concern when traveling is staying safe. Business travelers should take precautions to stay healthy while traveling along with using caution to protect themselves from dangerous situations. It is essential that travelers know what to do in various scenarios. Businesses should create a written plan covering the most common scenarios along with what they expect their employees to do in each case when traveling overseas.
Travelers can take several precautions to help them stay healthy when traveling overseas. All employees should be washing their hands on a regular basis. Encourage your employees to drink bottled water. When setting up travel itineraries, read reviews of restaurants as choosing top-rated restaurants often helps one avoid food contamination. Within reason, allow employees to use part of their travel budgets to stay active or house employees in hotels with good fitness facilities. A company’s travel budget should pay for recommended vaccinations wherever they choose to send your employees. Employees should have access to the latest travel health warnings from a reputable organization before leaving.
Employees should have a list of the best hospitals and emergency clinics in the area in a folder when they travel. The name of these facilities should be written down in the local language helping employees share the information with taxi drivers and chauffeurs if needed. Furthermore, it is a great idea to write down any health conditions in the local language. Teach employees that they can contact the local embassy for more help. Many companies pay for travelers’ insurance on their key employees or offer it at a greatly reduced rate.
Staying safe on the road begins with booking the right hotel. After checking a hotel’s reputation, then book a room between the third and sixth floors for your employee. Rooms located on the first floor are more prone to being broken into while those above the sixth floor are harder for emergency responders to reach. Teach employees that if their room number is announced when they check-in that they should immediately ask for another room. In addition, encourage travelers to carry their own hotel safety devices with them.
Someone at the company’s headquarters should have immediate access to any employee’s travel itinerary. Employees should be taught who they can contact 24 hours a day seven days a week to receive help if they feel like they are in trouble. A file should be created with copies of the traveler’s passport and tickets. The employee should give this to someone at the office before embarking on their travels; they should also give it to a trusted family member or friend along with emailing a copy of it to themselves.
After they leave, employees should be encouraged to carry all their important travel documents, credit cards and cash in different locations. The safest spot to carry these important items is in front pockets as it is much harder to pick a front pocket than a back. Employees may be tempted to turn their back for just a second if the documents and money are in a pocketbook.
Staying safe while traveling on corporate business begins with staying healthy. Take precautions before leaving by getting the right vaccinations and reading about the area. Drinking bottled water and hand washing can help prevent many illnesses. Encourage employees to make copies of their travel documents and to carry all important papers and money in separate locations. Ask employees to choose hotels based on their safety ratings.
When you are traveling, the last thing that you want to think about is your health. For many of a vacation is, well, a vacation from everything. We eat what we want, and we do what want to do. As a diabetic, however, there are certain things that you should keep in mind.
For most people, traveling itself does not pose a health risk. The problem most arises from a lapse in judgment. If you are receiving dialysis make sure you are not skipping a treatment.
To keep yourself in good shape, following these tips will help plan an exciting and healthy trip.
We have all been there. The flight is cramped, noisy, and hot. What makes it worse is that the snacks and food are bland. Then, you notice the people in the first-class cabin looking comfortable. You could be envious, but then there are ways that you can be as content, even in coach. If you follow these steps, you can feel first class in the main cabin.
While most of know you need to carry travel size liquids in a clear quart-sized bags, there are other things that we don’t think about. Neglecting to prepare for regulations and procedures will cause you a lot of headaches. If you are traveling there are certain things you should consider before flying.
Know if your carry-on is too big. The airline will check, especially on a full flight. Gate agent may measure your bags, but seasoned agents can spot a large bag by eye. Keep in mind that even if it is the right size, you still may be asked to check it on a budget airline or a flight that is at capacity. The general rule is that your carry-on should be under 22 inches high, 14 inches wide and 9 inches deep. You also allowed a personal item such as a purse, laptop/tablet bag, or stroller.
Be sure not to pack items that are prohibited for your carry-on items.
If you have any questions, please check with your airline or the TSA to make sure you can carry an item on board the plane.
Before your trip, be sure to make sure you have all your documentation in order when traveling to another country. Use the following checklist to help you.
If you have children and intend to fly by plane, you should make the necessary arrangements for your journey. You should first consider the age of your child, since most airlines do not host kids who are less than a week old. Children might develop health complications while traveling, especially during landing. They might develop ear pains that can easily be countered by letting them drink a beverage or chew some gum before landing.
You should also make sure that your children are immunized or vaccinated, and this will depend on applicable rules at your destination country. Proper adherence to the required procedures and prescriptions in respect to vaccines, like yellow fever, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and meningococcal disease, should be followed. Some vaccinations are not suitable for children of certain age groups, and it is advisable to seek medical information.
Another major problem for children is diarrhea and gastrointestinal diseases. They are a result of touching or interacting with dirty objects. This condition makes children become dehydrated faster than normal healthy kids. It is, therefore, recommended that one should control the type of food that the children eat. Fruits should be thoroughly washed and peeled before eating.
It is also good to carry your food, so as to avoid the temptation of having to buy foods from outside vendors which might be infected. Foods such as fish and meat should be immediately eaten after preparation and one should also use purified water to cook or make ice. Make sure that your children’s teeth are thoroughly brushed, including disinfecting their toys and hands too. Oral rehydration is required in case of dehydration.
Children are also vulnerable to parasites, because they are often in contact with the ground. Always make sure that they wear shoes to protect them against the parasites. They can also easily contract rabies, because of their exposure to animals like dogs.
In case they have been bitten, promptly treat the wound with clean water and soap and assess if the wound needs further medical attention. Sunburn is also common among children. Apply high protection sunscreen and avoid direct sun exposure. It is also good to use hats and sunglasses to reduce exposing your children direct to the sun.
When visiting a malaria prone area, take preventive measures by giving your children prescriptions that are most appropriate for them. Try as much as possible to avoid mosquito-infested areas.
You can also use sprays after noting all the safety requirements. It is also a good idea to have a first aid kit with you that consists of things like band-aids and disinfectant solutions, protective ointments, fever medication, high protection sunscreen and other necessary equipment.
Statistics obtained from numerous studies have proved that cruising is the safest form of transport. In contrast to the popular belief, road transport bears the greatest risk after even the air transport.
Before embarking on a cruise, there are some key factors which have to be taken into consideration. These include the safety protocol and procedures, the criminal risks associated with it and the health concerns during the travel.
The passengers should be aware of both, their personal safety and the security of their luggage. It is crucial for any passenger to be familiar with the safety equipment that is installed in a water vessel. That includes their precise location and their use as a safety measure.
In addition to that, they should have sufficient knowledge of the safety protocol observed in the case of an emergency. Often, the travelers are advised to take part in safety drills before embarking on such a journey.
Moreover, the passengers should be made aware of the potential criminal risks that they might encounter. They should be conscious of their surrounding at all times and the people around them. In instances where valuable items are involved during the transportation, arrangements should be made so that they are stored in the lower decks within the safe storage units.
Taking such measures is critical in warding off other persons who may have malicious intentions to the other passengers.
The travelers should also take a keen interest in their health. First and foremost, a traveling insurance should never be overlooked. Its essence is pronounced in the case of a medical emergency that may involve evacuation. It is important that those who are on medication, by the time of travel, to have consulted with their physicians beforehand.
They should not forget to carry their medication with them as most of the medicine in the ships are for emergency purposes and not specialized medication. Most cruise ships these days have medical doctors who can provide guidance in case of any related problem.
Sea sickness is a normal condition experienced by some people, due to the rocking motion of the vessel. It should not be a cause for alarm whatsoever. It occurs to people who may be sensitive to motion. It is characterized by being nauseated and in some instances dizziness.
It is a common occurrence in adults than children. The condition can be controlled by sitting next to a window to get fresh air. Any mentally intensive activity should be avoided during the period, as it can alleviate the condition. It is also important not to fix the eye on a particular object but rather gaze at the horizon.
Finally, all the passengers are advised to take interest and learn some basic laws of the country they will dock. In cases where the ship does not process group visas for the passengers, each one is advised to acquire one even if he/she has no intention of getting off the ship. This information can be obtained by consulting with their traveling agents.