Pro-tip Edition

Here are some expert tips for smooth and rewarding business travel.

1. Rewards Programs

No, you cannot book flights or hotels based solely on your preferred rewards programs- but that shouldn’t stop you from collecting rewards points from a variety of locations. Rewards programs are easy and free ways of making business travel more profitable.

Egencia allows you to save rewards program numbers in your “Frequent traveler accounts” in your traveler profile. Each time you book a flight, hotel or car your corresponding program will automatically be attached to your booking.

2. Travel Preferences

Do you prefer an aisle seat to a window seat?

Are you on a low-calorie diet?

You can add to your trip comfort by saving travel preferences in your profile. Seat selection will filter automatically to your preferences and other requests will be carried to the vendor.

3. Is that your real name?

Joey, Barb and Jim will almost certainly have trouble at security check points and airport check-ins.

Your Egencia name should exactly match your full legal name as listed in your passport to avoid unnecessary hassles with irritable security guards.

If you need to change your name in Egencia please contact Karen to update.

4. Stay Organized

Getting organized is probably the easiest way to make your travel experience less stressful.

• Pack well. Travel light and smart with carry-on luggage and simple computer bags. Wear slip-on shoes and keep pack the belt and watch.
• Have a travel outfit. While it may sound silly, wearing the same jacket or bag each time you travel will allow you to keep your passport and ticket in the same pocket and avoid the 7 pocket slap dance each time you’re asked for your ID.
• Use technology. Install tools like Tripit on your mobile phone to keep your travel details in one place.  Add your teammates as “connections” to keep track of who is where.
• Stay hydrated. Jetleg can be minimized when you’re hydrating during travel. No, alcohol does not hydrate.
• Eat healthy. Eat, period. Often travelers forgo airport food altogether- or opt for a greasy piece of pizza before takeoff. Grab some fruit and nuts or a salad before you go to avoid junk food cravings later on.

5. Visas

We’re a global company, traveling further and faster. We can get you where you need to go- but if you don’t have the right Visa you’ll be turned away at the border.

You can find out if the country you are traveling to requires a Visa from the CIBT website. Brazil, India, China and Russia are popular and growing destinations that do require advance planning and travel Visas.

If you ever have questions, please check in with our resident immigration specialist Elisha Kim.

Do you have your own travel tips? Share them with us here!

 

 

2 comments

All About Hotels

1. What is a “Published Rate” hotel?

Egencia has 4 types of hotel rates: (listed in preferred order for booking)

• Negotiated Rate Hotels– Mozilla has negotiated a corporate rate with these hotels based on an assumed number of room nights. You reserve these rooms in Egencia and the hotel bills Mozilla. Good choice!
  
• Egencia Preferred Rate Hotels– Catering to business travelers and offering the most business amenities. Rooms are charged directly to Mozilla. Good choice!
• Expedia Special Rate Hotels– Catering to business and vacation travelers with varying degrees of flexibility and amenities. Rooms are charged directly to Mozilla. Good choice!
• Published Rates or “rack rates”– Hotels with whom Egencia does not have contracted rates. These hotels are reserved in Egencia but require payment on arrival to the traveler’s credit card. Rooms are filed as an expense and then reimbursed by Mozilla. Oops! Try again.
  

2. How do I tell what kind of room rate it is?

There are a few ways you can check what kind of rate you’re picking:

• Colored Pins– Your hotel search will produce a list of hotels. The pin color is associated with the type of rate. Published rate hotels will only show in your search results if there are no other results available .

Green Pins = Negotiated Rate Hotels Good choice!
Yellow Pins = Egencia Preferred Rate Hotels Good choice!
Blue Pins = Expedia Special Rate Hotels Good choice!
Gray Pins= Published Rate Hotels Oops! Try again.

• Continue to Booking– Once you continue to the booking page to select your room you will see the type of rate the room is listed at the top of the screen.

3. How do I know if this is a good hotel?

Egencia has recently added TripAdvisor hotel reviews to their hotel search.  You can read reviews before you book to determine if this hotel will be a good fit for your travel needs.

4. How do I change my hotel reservation?

Call your hotel directly. Hotel contact information and terms are always included in your trip information under the “Hotel summary.” If you have any problems you can always call an Egencia representative to assist you.

 

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