The latest numbers from the TSA show passenger counts more than 1 million per day every day since March 9^th of this year.  This is good news for the travel industry and the traveling public.  But while consumers are increasingly ready for the excitement of travel to come back into their lives, heightened awareness of hygiene-related safety protocols should remain top of mind.

Airlines and airports worldwide have instituted protocols and requirements to help keep the flying public safe. To aid in continued safety vigilance, CheapOair is sharing their top tips for strategies to reduce the risk of infection while flying.

Tip No. 1:  Book to fly when it is the least crowded.  Flights leaving between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. often have smaller passenger numbers.  Earlier flights can be filled with deal seekers, and airports are traditionally the busiest between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.  Further reduce exposure to large crowds by flying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, traditionally the slowest days of the week for air travel.

Tip No. 2:  Do not fly if you might be sick.  Your immune system is weaker when you are sick, so if you are feeling under the weather, put off travel to another day.

Tip No. 3:  Use Contactless Check-In at the airport, and everywhere else.  Check-in for your flight before you arrive at the airport, then use self-check to drop off your bags.  Download your boarding pass to your phone and sign up for text alerts to notify you of gate or schedule changes from your travel provider.

Click on the link above to read CheapOair’s full list of air travel safety and hygiene recommendations.

“It’s important for the public to understand that travel can be worry free where hygiene is concerned, as long as proper precautions are maintained.  We all know the value of wearing a mask and maintaining social distance.  Once you are at the airport, or on a plane, these simple practices can help you and your family enjoy their vacation with much less stress,” said Werner Kunz-Cho, CEO of Fareportal, the company behind online travel agencies CheapOair and One Travel.

Please note: With COVID-19 still prevalent, be sure to check local travel regulations and notices for any restrictions, rules, and safety guidelines that may be in place. For additional information please visit the CDC website for up-to-date health and wellness information. 

About CheapOair
CheapOair is an online travel agency that specializes in providing cheap flights and great last-minute flight deals for travelers worldwide. Consumers can book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone, or live chat. Part of Fareportal’s family of travel brands, CheapOair bridges the gap between an online travel agency and a traditional agency with travel agents available 7 days a week to help find great prices on flight tickets to global destinations on over 600 airlines, a million hotels, and 100s of car rental companies. Follow CheapOair on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for travel inspiration and helpful travel tips.

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Airline ticket sales illustrate growing confidence in visiting the USA

Some heartening news for the US travel industry, and the US economy, as leading online travel agency CheapOair sheds some light on interest in international to domestic airline tickets purchased through the end of March 2021. 

Overall, the indicators for incoming international visitors are very positive.  CheapOair’s data shows a global increase of 64% when comparing March activity to that of January 2021.

“The figures are really good news.  We all know that Covid caused a precipitous drop in the number of international travelers booking flights to the United States last year.  We believe there is a correlation between the great work being done in this country to get vaccines administered and the uptick in interest in travel to the US,” commented Glenn Cusano, Co-CEO and CFO of Fareportal, the parent company of CheapOair and One Travel.

Country Origin to USA Flight Tickets Purchased	% increase January to march
Israel	154%
Bahamas	119%
India	87%
Mexico	74%
Germany	69%
Italy	44%
Costa Rica	43%
France	42%
Colombia	31%
Great Britain	27%

Cusano continues, “Tourism means more than airline tickets.  Restaurants, hotels, tours and attractions, and retail sales in general benefit from the presence of our international visitors.  The latest CDC vaccination information shows that 32.6% of Americans have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.  As those percentages increase, we expect to see further growth in international visitors to the USA.”

Increasing willingness to travel comes as welcome news for the hard-hit travel and tourism industry.

About CheapOair
CheapOair is an online travel agency that specializes in providing cheap flights and great last-minute flight deals for travelers worldwide. Consumers can book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone or live chat. Part of Fareportal’s family of travel brands, CheapOair bridges the gap between an online travel agency and a traditional agency with travel agents available worldwide to help find great deals on flights to global destinations on over 600 airlines, a million hotels, and 100s of car rental companies. Follow CheapOair on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for travel inspiration and helpful travel tips. 

About Fareportal  
Fareportal is a travel technology company powering a next-generation travel concierge service. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated global contact centers, Fareportal has built strong industry partnerships providing customers access to over 600 airlines, a million hotels, and hundreds of car rental companies around the globe. With a portfolio of consumer travel brands including CheapOair and One Travel, Fareportal enables consumers to book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone, or live chat. Fareportal provides its airline partners with access to a broad customer base that books high-yielding international and domestic flight, hotel and other travel and add-on ancillaries. 

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Flight booking innovation improves customer experience

Continuing a string of flight technology booking innovations, Fareportal, the travel technology company that powers leading online travel agencies CheapOair and One Travel is pleased to announce the launch of New Distribution Capability (NDC) to ensure customers purchasing tickets on any airline of the Lufthansa Group, which include Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS and Brussels Airlines, via Fareportal sites have access to their full range of products and services.

“We’ve always emphasized technical innovation at Fareportal and are therefore very pleased to be able to support our valued partner Lufthansa Group airlines in their NDC integration with a hybrid travel agency,” said Sam S. Jain, Fareportal CEO & Founder.

For Fareportal, this is the latest in a series of NDC integrations with major airlines.

“Lufthansa Group airlines are committed to constantly enhancing their customer experience, and so is Fareportal. NDC integration is part of that commitment. We’ll now be offering customers the ability to easily purchase seats, bags, branded fares, ancillary bundles, and “Continuous Pricing” price offers,” remarked Chema Alvarado, Fareportal Executive Vice President, Supplier Relations.

“We are excited to enter into this partnership with Fareportal fostering modern airline retailing to the benefit of our customers,” said Frank Naeve, Vice President of Sales, The Americas, Lufthansa Group. “Jointly we aim at developing a unique customer experience and are committed to shaping the industry with distribution innovation.”

The launch is scheduled for early April 2021, just ahead of the generally anticipated uptick in demand for travel expected by travel experts this spring/summer.

About Fareportal  
Fareportal is a travel technology company powering a next-generation travel concierge service. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated global contact centers, Fareportal has built strong industry partnerships providing customers access to over 600 airlines, a million hotels, and hundreds of car rental companies around the globe. With a portfolio of consumer travel brands including CheapOair and One Travel, Fareportal enables consumers to book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone, or live chat. Fareportal provides its airline partners with access to a broad customer base that books high-yielding international and domestic flight, hotel and other travel and add-on ancillaries. 

About The Lufthansa Group
The Lufthansa Group is a globally operating airline group. In its home market of Europe it plays a leading role. The Lufthansa Group is made up of the business segments Network Airlines, Eurowings and Aviation Services. All business segments are among the leading providers in their respective sectors. The Network Airlines business segment includes the airlines Lufthansa German Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines. Eurowings focuses on point-to-point traffic, especially on short-haul routes. The Aviation Services include in particular the business segments Logistics, MRO and Catering.

How Americans vacation looks different than it has in past years but that doesn’t mean planning a trip isn’t possible. CheapOair, the travel experience experts, offers insight into a few of their favorite and safest National Parks destinations across the country.

“In the midst of a pandemic, crowded cities are certainly not ideal vacation destinations but fortunately there are dozens of gorgeous National Parks that offer safe and socially distanced options for the perfect getaway. Travelers are trading in luxury hotels for breathtaking views from their tents,” remarked Sam S. Jain, Fareportal Founder and CEO.

Yosemite National Park
Located in northern California, Yosemite is one of the most well-known National Parks in the U.S.  With 1,169 square miles of unforgettable hiking trails and valleys, exciting wildlife (you may be able to spot a bear from a safe distance!), and massive ancient sequoia trees that will leave anyone awestruck, it’s truly a one-of-kind American landmark.  

Travel Advisory: The park is currently open with all its primary activities active. Please visit this site for more information and safety tips: https://www.yosemite.com/covid-19/

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
This southern Colorado oasis is home to North America’s largest sand dunes that are estimated to have formed over 11,000 years ago. While this park is the perfect place for traditional outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and stargazing (the Milky Way is easily visible at certain times of the year!), it also offers unique activities such as sand sledding and sandboarding!

Travel Advisory: As of June 17^th, The Great Sand Dunes Park has entered Phase 2 of its re-opening with increased recreational access and activities. Visit this site for more information: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Isle Royale National Park
Michigan, already known for its over 11,000 lakes, boasts this beautiful gem of a National Park. Located on a remote island in Lake Superior, people from all over flock to this unique piece of land to fish, kayak, boat, and camp. Isle Royale is also the only National Park in the U.S to be closed for the entirety of its off-season which spans from November-April.

Travel Advisory: All campgrounds, docks, and trails are currently open to the public.

About CheapOair
CheapOair is an online travel agency that specializes in providing cheap flights and great last-minute flight deals for travelers worldwide. Consumers can book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone (1-646-738-4820) or live chat. Part of Fareportal’s family of travel brands, CheapOair bridges the gap between an online travel agency and a traditional agency with certified travel agents available to help find discount flight tickets to global destinations on over 600 airlines, a million hotels, and 100s of car rental companies. Follow CheapOair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to learn how to travel the world for less.

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