VISTA Staffing Solutions | Locum Tenens

Take heart all you frequent locum tenens fliers! The US Transportation Department has ruled that US airlines must offer bag fee refunds for losing luggage, one step toward holding carriers more accountable for snafus that lead to 2 million lost bags annually.

The new rule also doubles the penalty for involuntarily “bumping” passengers from sold-out flights and goes further than previous orders from Congress aimed at addressing passenger complaints.

Airlines collected more than $2.5 billion in bag fees alone last year, the government estimates.

“It’s just common sense that if an airline loses your bag or you get bumped from a flight because it was oversold, you should be reimbursed,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.

Airlines are already required to reimburse passengers for reasonable expenses if their luggage is damaged or lost. The new rule specifically covers bag fees, which feel like salt in the wound for consumers who had to deal with those 2 million lost bags in 2010.

The new regulation also:

– Requires airlines to disclose all potential fees on their websites, including for meals, bags, seating upgrades, and cancelling or changing reservations.

– Doubles the possible compensation when passengers are “bumped” or involuntarily placed on another flight. Today, “bumped” passengers are eligible for compensation equal to the value of their tickets — up to $400 — but certain restrictions apply.

– Expands the existing ban on those unbearable runway delays to include flights on overseas airlines at US airports.

Continental Airlines left the SkyTeam Alliance, a global airline alliance, in October 2009. If you are a Continental Elite member, you will no longer earn bonus miles and Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) when flying Delta to your locum tenens or international locums assignments. But no worries! Delta has offered to match your Silver, Gold, or Platinum Continental Elite status in its SkyMiles program.

Once matched, you will receive special benefits such as:

• Complimentary upgrades
• Priority boarding and check-in
• Waived baggage fees and other SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus member benefits

Here’s how it works: Email, fax or phone your request by December 31, 2009 to receive matched status. Be sure to include your full name, SkyMiles number, Continental Elite status, and Elite OnePass membership number in your communication.

• Email: deltamatch.delta@delta.com
• FAX: 1 404 677 2547
• Phone: 1 800 323 2323

Your status will be matched within three business days and will be good through February 28, 2011.

TSA has instituted a new Secure Flight Program that affects all air travelers. When making reservations, the following information must be provided for each passenger:

• Full name as it appears on government-issued I. D. approved for traveling
• Full date of birth
• Gender

VISTA will be required to provide this information when arranging travel for you.

In addition, if you use a redress number (to prevent misidentifications through the Department of Homeland Security Watch List) we can provide it to the airline for you when we make your reservations.

Questions? Just ask a member of our Travel Team next time you book travel to a locum tenens, extended placement, or international locums assignment.

Effective January 12, travelers from countries participating in a US Department of Homeland Security Visa Waiver Program must register on-line through the department’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization before you embark on a trip to the US.

On-line applications may be submitted at any time before you travel, and once approved, will be in effect for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Authorizations will also be valid for multiple entries into the U.S. DHS recommends that applications be submitted as soon as you begin planning travel to the US, and not less than 72 hours prior to travel.

Click here to access the on-line registration site: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

The following is a list of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program:

Andorra
Austria
Australia
Belgium
Brunei
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Just in case you were hoping to avoid checked baggage fees by lugging a full-size suitcase on the flight to your next locum tenens assignment, take note that US Air has announced limits on the size and weight of carry-on luggage. It’s very likely that other airlines will follow suit.

On US Air, as well as most airlines, you’re allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item. Personal items include a purse, briefcase or laptop bag. Carry-on baggage must be stowed in carry-on compartments of the aircraft, under a seat, or in an overhead compartment.

New size requirements

Beginning February 1, 2009, your carry-on bag can measure up to 45 in/115 cm (14 x 9 x 22 in or 36 x 23 x 56 cm) and weigh up to 40 lbs/18 kg.

Additional items you can take at no charge

The following items will be accepted in addition to the checked baggage allowance at no charge. This is standard for most airlines. Check with your locum tenens travel agent if you have any question.

• Required mobility assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs, canes, or crutches) These items may also be carried onto the aircraft.
• Infant assistive device (stroller or car seat).
• Required medical supplies or equipment. These items may also be carried on to the aircraft, as long as they meet size and weight restrictions. Carry these items in a separate bag! If they are included in a bag with other non-essential items, that bag will not be considered a free item, and will be subject to baggage fees.

Effective January 1, 2009, United, American, and most major airlines have started strictly enforcing a little-known policy that applies to non-refundable airline tickets. They now require travelers to CANCEL a ticket before the flight date and time if they are not going to make the flight.

Locum tenens travelers—when you know you are going to miss a flight due to weather, traffic, work delays, please call the airline directly to cancel the flight. Attempting to contact VISTA or our after-hours travel service could result in delays. Tickets not canceled before the date and time of departure lose all value. We can’t even rebook you with change fees.

We’ll remind you of the policy on the itineraries you receive for travel to each locum tenens assignment. And as always, we are just a phone call away to help you rebook and get to your locums assignment. We just ask that you please make sure to call the airline first to avoid losing the value of the ticket.

In making this announcement the airlines emphasized that it is not a new policy, just strict enforcement of an existing policy. The same policy applies to international tickets, unless they are handled locally, then current policies will continue.

As a locum tenens traveler, it really pays to take the time to sign up for and use frequent flyer, preferred guest, and all those other programs that give you perks in return for your loyalty. It’s easy, it’s generally free, you can usually do it on-line, and you only have to keep track of the numbers long enough to get them to your friendly VISTA Staffing Solutions travel agent. We will add them to your travel profile, which includes your preferences, special needs, and such, and enter them whenever you book travel and housing for a locum tenens assignment.

Even if your locums travels take you to vastly different places on different airlines and to different hotels, the points can add up. For example, Delta, Northwest, and Continental honor each other’s frequent flyer point programs. United and US Air have a similar arrangement, as do Alaska Air/Delta and Alaska Air/American.

When and how you use your points is, of course, entirely up to you. Even though you earn them on tickets paid for by locum tenens clients, you are entitled to the benefits. Our team suggests that you save upgrades for a flight that’s three hours or longer—almost anyone can survive a short haul in coach. Timing is also an important consideration, and an upgrade might make a packed end-of-the-business week flight much more comfortable if you are able to get it.

Check the websites of the airlines you fly for on-line applications and rules and restrictions for using your points. There is no question the travel industry is becoming less generous in this respect, but there are still benefits to be had.

And don’t forget to sign up for preferred traveler programs at the hotels you frequent. Your points may entitle you an upgrade or a free stay when a friend or family members decides to join you for all or part of a temporary medical assignment. Always ask hotels if they honor airline frequent flyers programs too—most of them do.

One final note—find a little pocket in your carry-on bag and get in the habit of stashing your boarding passes there. When you get your frequent flyer program statements, verify that you were credited for all the segments of your journey. If you were not, only the boarding pass can convince the airline to add the points for a segment to your account. Happy traveling!

In what may be a strange tribute to the memory of 911, TSA has launched the 3-1-1 campaign to help travelers adapt to the new restrictions on liquids in carry-on luggage. We thought we’d remind you about it as you prepare for your next locum tenens assignment. Here’s how it goes:

3-ounce bottles or less (by volume)
1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag
1 bag per passenger, to be placed in the screening bin as you approach security.

TSA reports that the one-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. The three-ounce container size is a security measure. Packing all the bottles into one clear, not-likely-to-fly-open bag that can be X-rayed separately will speed screening.

They also want to remind travelers that 3-1-1 is for short trips when you may choose not to check a bag. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.

Some liquids are allowed in larger quantities, but you must declare them as you pass through security. These include medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice in reasonable quantities. They do not need to be in zip-top bags.

Your VISTA travel team wishes you safe journeys to and from all of your locums assignments and BEGS you to GET TO THE AIRPORT EARLY, for your sanity and ours.

No, this is NOT the strangest carry-on question I’ve received, but in thinking about physicians traveling to locum tenens assignments and actually having a little free time to pursue other interests, it seemed like a good answer to share.

The good news is, knitting needles are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage.

The not-as-definitive news is that TSA Security Officers have the authority to determine right there on the spot if an item could be used as a weapon. Therefore they may not allow your knitting needles to pass through security. So, if you do decide to carry on that scarf you are knitting for Aunt Sophie, TSA recommends the following:

• Circular knitting needles should be less than 31 inches in total length
• Bamboo or plastic (not metal) needles are preferred
• Scissors must have blunt points
• Carry a self addressed envelope so that you can mail your knitting back to yourself if a Security Officer does not allow your knitting tools through security. Otherwise you will have to surrender them at the security check point
• Always carry a crochet hook with yarn in your knitting bag to save the work you have already done in case your knitting tools are surrendered at the checkpoint

Ok, but what about needlepoint? TSA says that most needlepoint project tools are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage except circular thread cutters or any cutter with a blade contained inside. These items cannot be taken through a security checkpoint. They must go in your checked baggage.