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You may have noticed the picture in the corner has changed. I took over the Consultant’s Corner this month. No worries, David will be back in October.

Like many of you, I travel often and enjoy my airline status, as well as hotel and car amenities, that come with loyalty programs. I have been fortunate to encounter few troubles while on the road. Although, recently I was in a situation where I was reminded how important it is to stay calm and be polite to the person that is trying to help. I was also reminded how important preferred loyalty status can be, when placed in a challenging travel situation.

I often fl y American Airlines and use their mobile app for my boarding pass, so I head straight to the Preferred security line with minimum delays. On a recent trip, when I arrived at the gate area, I found out that my fl ight was cancelled, and I was protected on a fl ight departing 5 hours later.

I appreciated being protected on a later fl ight, however, I decided to attempt to get on an earlier one. I quickly learned that the two earlier fl ights were sold out, each having a long standby list of travelers that were in the same boat as I was. Since these fl ights were controlled at airport check in, I waited for the AA Gate Agent to show, with hopes to get on the next fl ight.

When the gate agent arrived, I mentioned what had happened and

asked if I could use my upgrade credits for a seat on the next fl ight. Granted, the only seats shown to be open were First Class, (via my AA app), but I thought it was worth a try. She was polite as she told me it wasn’t possible but would put me on the standby list. She also assigned me a window seat on the fl ight I was protected on, as I currently had a middle seat. That was a nice touch as I wasn’t focused on that at the moment. As my preferred standby fl ight was boarding, my name was called. Not only was I cleared for the fl ight, but she also assigned a First Class seat. I feel my status and loyalty with AA, along with patience and a positive attitude paid off.

I share this story because I believe in acknowledging good service and the importance to being loyal to

- Consultant’s Corner...- Boston Airport Expands Behavior Detection Program...- United Continental to Spend $500 Million on Fleet-Wide Upgrades...- Amtrak gets $745 Million for Northeast Corridor Upgrades...- 7 Global Cities where the U.S. Dollar goes Far...- Southwest Airlines will Enter Atlanta Market on Feb. 12..- 10 Great Places to Feast from a Food Truck...- Airline Passengers get New Protections...

Contents:

September 2011 Newsletter

Consultant’s Corner

Jeff BorgerdingVice President, Client Relations

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vendors. My status with American saved me a long wait at the airport, and possibly the dreaded middle seat. Vendors do take care of customers who continually show their loyalty to them. Hotel loyalty programs also have benefits, such as in oversold situations, including holding your room and possible upgrades. Car programs are similar offering free upgrades to their preferred travelers.

It is just as important to have strong partnerships with you, our clients. Our commitment is to make your travel as enjoyable as possible, while providing you with ongoing savings.

Something we can all do to ensure a better travel experience is to keep our traveler profile current, such as credit card expirations dates, as accurate information is essential for us to help you experience a good trip.

As always we thank you for your business, partnership and loyalty to TSI USA (formally known as TravelFocus).

Jeff BorgerdingVice President, Client Relations

September 2011 Newsletter

Continued Consultant’s Corner

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Air travelers departing from Boston Logan International Airport may experience something new during the screening process: a “casual conversation” with security at the checkpoint.

On the job training began Tuesday for officers in the TSA’s expanded behavior detection program -- a pilot initiative that will be in place in the airport’s Terminal A for 60 days. Logan is the only airport with the pilot program.

As they talk with passengers, the officers will try to spot potentially high-risk travelers by looking for suspicious behavior and facial expressions of tension, fear or deception. “The majority of passengers will experience a casual conversation with a behavior detection officer after they provide their boarding pass and ID,” said TSA spokesman Greg Soule.

“A small portion of passengers may get selected for an extended conversation and if the behaviors are still being exhibited, they may receive additional screening. In some cases, they may be referred to law enforcement.” More than 3,000 behavior detection officers are already deployed at airports across the nation as part of the Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program, Soule said.The pilot initiative at Logan is different in that the officers will engage passengers in a conversation, rather than just observe them. TSA chose Boston’s airport for the pilot because the agency’s behavior analysis program started there in 2003 and was ultimately expanded to more than 160 airports nationwide, Soule said.He emphasized the expanded program is in place only at that one checkpoint in the entire country. The TSA will evaluate how the pilot impacts security and passengers before determining whether to expand it to other airports.

Soule declined to provide examples of the questions travelers may face, saying only that the process will involve a casual greeting.

United Continental Holdings announced Sunday, August 21st it’ll invest more than $500 million to install premium-class seats, expand overhead storage space, roll out new inflight Wi-Fi and entertainment systems and renovate older planes. The changes come on top of 25 new aircraft, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which the airline will introduce next year.

When United and Continental airlines merged in 2010 to form the company, it announced plans to upgrade service and modernize its combined fleet. “We are planning many other product enhancements, both on the ground and in the air,” says Jeff Smisek, the company’s CEO.

Boston Airport Expands Behavior Detection Program

September 2011 Newsletter

United Continental to Spend $500 Million on Fleet-Wide Upgrades

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In September, United will begin installing new flat-bed seats, on-demand audio, and video programming and iPod connection ports in the premium cabins on 26 Boeing 767s (12 Continental 767s and 14 United 767s). It’ll also install more extra legroom in the 26 aircraft, which primarily serve Trans-Atlantic, Latin and Hawaiian markets.

Ongoing upgrades to Boeing 777s will continue, resulting in flat-bed seats in about a dozen aircraft and a new in-flight entertainment system in all three cabin classes - first, business and economy.

The company will begin installing Economy Plus seating on all Continental mainline aircraft this fall. It hopes to finish the work on 38 Continental aircraft by the end of the year and about 100 more by March 2012. Economy Plus seating is available on all United mainline aircraft. Beginning March 2012, the airlines will nearly double the size of the overhead bins on all 152 of its Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. The company says the larger bins will increase space for standard 22-inch rolling bags by 66%. United plans to introduce streaming video on its Boeing 747s, which will allow customers to watch video on their smartphones, tablets and laptops.

United is also renovating its p.s. (premium service) fleet - which serves the New York to San Francisco and Los Angeles markets - by adding more flat-bed seats and on-demand audio and video service.

September 2011 Newsletter

Continued United Continental to Spend $500 Million on Fleet-Wide Upgrades

Amtrak is receiving $745 million in federal grants for upgrades along its Northeast Corridor line in New York and New Jersey.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said $449.9 million will be spent upgrading electrical systems and tracks between New York’s Penn Station and Trenton, N.J.

An additional $294.8 million will be spent on a project expected to alleviate train traffic in New York, LaHood said.

Amtrak Gets $745 Million for Northeast Corridor Upgrades

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Continued Amtrak Gets $745 Million for Northeast Corridor Upgrades

September 2011 Newsletter

The track and electrical work will enable Acela Express trains to increase their speed to 160 mph (up from 135 mph) along a 24-mile stretch between New Brunswick, N.J., and Trenton, the Department of Transportation said. Work will begin in 2012.

In New York, a new railway bridge in the borough of Queens will separate Amtrak trains traveling between New York and Boston from the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North commuter lines. Construction will begin in September 2012.

The DOT did not provide a completion date for either project.

5 Global Cities where the U.S. Dollar goes Far There are affordable destinations that offer a rich feast for the senses

Many Americans are working long hours to offset smaller work forces, stagnant incomes and other such trials and tribulations of our economic malaise. Needless to say, we could all use a vacation. But the same weak economy that has worked us to exhaustion has also decreased the value of the American dollar so much so that a getaway seems virtually unfeasible. Though the U.S. dollar has seen a slight recovery of late from previous all-time lows, it’s still losing too many other major currencies, including the Canadian dollar, the Australian dollar, the Chinese yuan, the Mexican peso, the British pound and the euro. Hard-earned and hard-to-come by American dollars would be squandered on sky-high exchange rates in many desirable destinations.

So what’s an R&R-deprived American to do? Help is here, in the form of seven unique and exciting destinations where the U.S. dollar travels as far as you do.

Hanoi, Vietnam Previously known as the backdrop to many a war film, Vietnam is becoming more popular with vacationers in recent years. French colonial charm blends with Eastern influences from centuries of Chinese hegemony in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital and second-largest city. The local currency is the dong (VND), and $1 is worth approximately 20,595 of them. Though you’ll have plenty of money to haggle with vendors at the Night Market in the lively Old Quarter, sample eccentric local delicacies from dog meat to cobra, or maybe even take a Vietnamese cooking class, Hanoi offers a handful of free activities as well. Visit various outdoor wartime sites, watch locals practice tai chi by the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake, or join one of the free student-run tours around the city. To save even more, find a bed and breakfast

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in town for as little as $15, sample various rice dishes from street vendors for $1, and wash it down with a fresh, light and cheap Bia Hoi, a Vietnamese beer ubiquitous on the streets of the Old Quarter.

Cuzco, Peru Until the dollar rebounds, trade the Eiffel Tower for an equally beautiful cultural landmark: Machu Picchu, Peru, where the U.S. dollar gets you 2.75 Peruvian nuevo soles (PEN). Cuzco, the capital of the Incan Empire, is one of Peru’s largest and liveliest cities, located just 75 miles from Machu Picchu. The journey will take a little effort, including a taxi and a train, and some money (the trip costs just over $50 each way), but the favorable exchange rate guarantees an once-in-a-lifetime experience for a relative steal. Cuzco’s myriad accommodation options begin at less than $10 a night in a hostel. In addition to walking, taxis are a common and inexpensive way to get around the city, with short rides costing only 2 to 4 soles. Local buses and vans are even cheaper. For bargain meals, shy away from fancy restaurants serving foreign food and stick with the smaller joints offering local fare such as chifa, a fried rice dish brought over to Peru by Chinese immigrants, or cuy, a regional specialty of roasted guinea pig. Since Cuzco is known for its indigenous population, you can find unique local products at a great price, but watch out for tourist traps. Both food and goods cost less the farther you get from the bustling main square.

Sibiu, Romania While Bucharest remains Romania’s capital and largest city, Sibiu, in southern Transylvania, was coined the European Capital of Culture in 2007 thanks to its old Germanic charm, colorful squares, stunning medieval architecture and plentiful culture and music festivals. Despite rising economic development and Romania’s recent admission to the European Union, Sibiu offers plenty of bang for the America buck. The national currency is the leu, of which one U.S. dollar buys almost three. Dinner for two with multiple courses and

September 2011 Newsletter

Continued 5 Global Cities where the U.S. Dollar goes Far

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Continued 5 Global Cities where the U.S. Dollar goes Far

drinks at a good restaurant in the popular Small Square will only cost about $35 — an affordable opportunity to sample regional specialties such as a clear sour soup called ciorba and tuica, a local plum brandy. Guesthouses in the main square start around $31 a night while hostels start at just $14. Regional products such as wools, leathers, fur, wine and artisan food products are great buys for American visitors. Visit Sibiu’s unique museums, hike the nearby Fagaras or Cindrel Mountains, or simply stroll the old medieval town, which is the main attraction in and of itself.

Chennai, India Though it may cost a few American dollars to get to India, you’ll save once you’re there, considering that one U.S. dollar is worth nearly 45 rupees. Chennai, the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, is India’s fourth-largest city, with direct flights from North America. Formerly known as Madras, Chennai was one of the first outposts of the East India Company, and its foothold, Fort St. George, was built in 1640 and still stands today. There is much to do in Chennai, from visiting India’s first zoo to viewing Mughal-era paintings at the National Art Gallery and bargaining for bangles at the Pondy Bazaar. Chennai is also known for its beautiful beaches (but don’t count on taking a dip — strong currents mean swimming is prohibited). Restaurants range from budget, many of which are strictly vegetarian, to upscale. Try one of the many South Indian fast food stands where masala, pongal and dosa cost only a couple of dollars. (Spend the money you save on bottled water, as tap water can be risky.)

San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala Find inner peace and topographical splendor in the spiritual oasis of San Marcos La Laguna, a quiet town on Lake Atitlan in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. One U.S. dollar gets you more than 7.5 quetzal, Guatemala’s local currency. The beautiful volcanic Lake Atitlan is one of the busiest tourist destinations in the country, and San Marcos is a quiet — and cheap — way to experience it. Still present in San Marcos is a rich Mayan culture, evident from the brightly colored clothing to the local cuisine. Drive or take a bus for less than $5 from Guatemala City to the quaint town where you’ll find more footpaths than roads. Once you’re there, travel the lake in lanchas, small boats, for about $1 to $4 a ride to the various surrounding towns. Climb the dormant volcanoes for stunning views of the country, or relax with reiki, massage or yoga. Vegetarian cuisine is dominant in San Marcos and you can purchase inexpensive fresh produce at open-air markets. Hostels can be found for as little as $7 a night per person while resorts and eco-lodges, where meals are sometimes included, can range anywhere from $40 to $140 a night.

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Southwest Airlines will Enter Atlanta Market on Feb. 12

10 Great Places to Feast from a Food Truck

Southwest Airlines didn’t buy AirTran to get a foothold in Dayton or Newport News. It bought the carrier so it could take over its Atlanta hub.

Southwest will finally enter the Atlanta market on Feb. 12 when it begins service to Austin and Houston, the gateway for Dallas passengers to and from Atlanta, as well as to Denver, Baltimore and Chicago.

Initially, though, we’ll have the interesting situation that Southwest passengers won’t be able to connect to AirTran flights. Code-sharing won’t begin until the two carriers resolve all the technical issues involving in linking the two airlines, including selling tickets, building connections, moving bags, etc.

We take note that Southwest is taking more than nine months to enter the Atlanta market, from its May 2 closing of the AirTran deal to Feb. 12, 2012.

Some of the best meals these days come out of trucks, says James Cunningham, host of Eat Street, a Cooking Channel show about street food. Cunningham says many trucks are run by chefs who lost jobs or restaurants during the recession and decided to try out their skills in mobile kitchens. “Stuff being handed off the carts is literally gourmet — as good as I’ve gotten from the best restaurants in the world.” Social media has also fueled the trend, making it easy to track down trucks on Twitter and Facebook.

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Continued 10 Great Places to Feast from a Food Truck

The Grilled Cheese Truck Los Angeles Forget your diet if you plan to track down this truck serving modern versions of classic comfort food. The cheese is melted between slices of Texas toast that’s buttered on both sides. Cunningham’s fond of the Cheesy Mac and Rib sandwich, which includes macaroni and cheese, barbecued pork and caramelized onions. Other sandwiches feature double-cream brie, Gruyere and habanero jack cheese. Twitter:@grlldcheesetruk; thegrilledcheesetruck.com

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck New York New York’s familiar soft-serve ice cream truck gets a makeover with this imaginative shop on wheels. Cones come with wild toppings like ground wasabi peas. But Cunningham swears by the Salty Pimp: vanilla ice cream with dulce de leche sauce rolled in sea salt and dipped in chocolate. “The combination of the salt and the chocolate and the cold of the ice cream is just delicious.” Twitter:@biggayicecream; biggayicecream.com

Maximus Minimus Seattle You’ll be in hog heaven when you spy this pig-shaped truck. The chef specializes in all things porcine, and is committed to natural ingredients. Although the menu includes chicken and mac and cheese, Cunningham swears by the pulled-pork sandwich. Top it with maximus sauce made with beer, six-pepper blend, onions and fruit juices, or minimus, which has tamarind, honey and molasses. Twitter:@somepigseattle; maximus-minimus.com

Big EggPortland, Ore. Portland has one of the highest concentrations of food trucks on the continent, so you can be sure the Big Egg is something special. “Their passion is breakfast and everything that has to do with eggs,” Cunningham says. He suggests the Monte Cristo sandwich. It comes with one egg served with grilled ham, gorgonzola cheese and maple glaze, served between slices of vanilla cardamom brioche French toast. Twitter:@thebigegg

DC Slices Washington There’s nothing wacky or outrageous about the slices served from this truck. It’s just good fresh pizza, made with fresh dough, homemade sauce and hand-grated cheeses, and baked aboard the truck. “They really take their time and they’re passionate about it and it really stands out,” Cunningham says. “It’s so good.” Twitter:@dcslices; dcslices.com

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Continued 10 Great Places to Feast from a Food Truck

Spencer On The Go! San Francisco The owner of a popular bistro decided to mix things up when he bought a used taco truck and filled it with French chefs. Now you can get take-away curried frog’s legs, sweetbreads and escargot from the side of the road. “This isn’t street food, this is haute cuisine. It beats any French restaurant,” Cunningham says. Twitter:@chezspencergo; spenceronthego.com

The Mighty Cone Austin For all the appeal of a taco, it’s usually a two-handed undertaking. This food truck has changed things up by making an ice cream cone-shaped taco shell, freeing the second hand for a drink. Cunningham says he was impressed by the innovation — and the tacos. “They’ve taken the basic taco shape and made it user friendly.” Twitter:@themightycone; mightycone.com

Stefania’s Pierogi Hoboken, N.J. A mother-son team offers a food truck rarity: Polish comfort food. Cunningham grew up eating pierogies: dumplings stuffed with potato filling, sauerkraut and cheese, and served with sour cream. He also likes the homemade kielbasa. “It’s all really fresh. You can buy almost anything premade, but it shows when the chefs really take their time.” Twitter: @PierogiTruck

La Dominique Creperie Philadelphia Crepes are served on the streets in Europe, but this Philly cart is different. It’s run by a former sculptor. “He’s a perfectionist,” Cunningham says. “Every single crepe is a work of art.” Cunningham’s favorite? The strawberry-banana-Nutella crepe. “The flavors are so perfectly balanced that they play off each other.” 33rd and Market streets

The Rolling Stove Miami This truck packs a secret weapon: a wood-burning stove. It makes what some call Miami’s best burger, but Cunningham’s a fan of the Sloppy Jerk: ground beef with caramelized onions slathered with Jamaican-style jerk barbecue sauce. “The spice is so perfect; you taste the meat as opposed to all the spice,” Cunningham says. Twitter:@TheRollingStove; therollingstove.com

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Airline passengers get new protections

Flying may get just a little less frustrating and a bit more transparent starting August 30, 2011 when new federal airline passenger protection rules go into effect.

“It’s huge,” said Kate Hanni, founder of FlyersRights.org, who has fought for the changes for years.

“If you’re flying on (August 30, 2011), you’re 400% better off than you were before.”

The Association of Passenger Rights also applauded the rules, calling them long overdue.

“If you talk to most air travelers ... traveling on the airlines is about as popular as the U.S. Congress right now,” said Brandon Macsata, a spokesman for the group.

Here is what you need to know about the Department of Transportation’s new protections:

Bumping compensation gets a boostPassengers involuntarily bumped from oversold flights are now eligible for more money.

Under the new rule, bumped passengers can get up to $650 if the airline can get them to their destination within a short period of time (within one to two hours of their originally scheduled arrival time for domestic flights), or up to $1,300 if they are delayed for a long time.

Before Tuesday, the amounts were capped at $400 and $800 respectively.Inflation adjustments will be made to the compensation limits every two years.Always take cash rather than flight vouchers, Hanni advised.

“Vouchers come with a lot of caveats. Anytime the airline offers you a voucher, it’s to their benefit, not yours,” Hanni said.

“If they give you a $1,300 voucher, it’s worth about a quarter of that to the airline as opposed to having to give you cash.”

International flights get tarmac delay limitInternational flights stuck on U.S. airport tarmacs more than four hours must now allow passengers to get off the plane or face huge fines, with exceptions allowed for safety, security or air traffic control-related reasons.

Macsata called it a step forward, but said he would have preferred for this protection to be consistent with the three-hour rule that already exists for domestic flights.

The domestic provision has significantly reduced the number of lengthy tarmac delays since it was implemented last year. Fourteen flights were

September 2011 Newsletter

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Continued Airline passengers get new protections

stuck on the tarmac for three hours or more in June, compared to 268 flights in June 2009, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

But Hanni said the extra hour allowed for international flights is still an improvement.

“Four hours is a heck of a lot better than 12 and we’ve had a lot of complaints from people who sat for 12 hours on international flights prior to takeoff or after landing,” Hanni said. “So we’re making headway, that’s a huge deal.”

International airlines operating to and from the United States must now post contingency plans for lengthy delays, customer service plans and contracts of carriage on their websites.

Bag fee refundsIf you pay extra to check a piece of luggage and the airline loses your bag, it must now refund the bag fee. (Airlines already must compensate passengers for lost or damaged baggage.)

“That’s just common sense,” Macsata said.

Hanni also wanted the airlines to be required to refund the fee if your bag is delayed, but wasn’t successful in having that provision included.

Where refunds are due, airlines must now provide prompt refunds of fares and optional fees.

More to comeThis isn’t the end of new rules for fliers.

The federal government postponed a handful of other consumer protections that were scheduled to go info effect Tuesday after airlines and travel agents said they needed more time to implement the changes.

Those rules, now set to begin on January 24, 2012, will require airlines to prominently disclose all potential fees on their websites and will ban carriers from raising prices after a ticket purchase.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is pictuerd in March 2011. US officials unveiled new rules Wednesday aimed at giving better protection and compensation to airline passengers for lost bags, overbooking and flight delays.

September 2011 Newsletter