Notice Regarding Travel to Mexico
April 27, 2009

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to an outbreak of H1N1 "swine flu." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an April 27 notice recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico at this time. CDC's notice also suggests precautions that travelers and U.S. citizen residents in Mexico can take to reduce their risk of infection while in Mexico.

CDC provides recommendations for those who must travel to an area that has reported cases of swine flu, and recommends measures to take following return from an area that has reported cases of swine flu. The complete CDC notice can be found at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. Please check this site frequently for updates. This Travel Alert expires on July 27, 2009.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sent experts to Mexico to work with health authorities.

On April 25, the Government of Mexico announced that as a precautionary measure, all schools from kindergarten through university level will remain closed until May 6 in the Federal District, State of Mexico, and San Luis Potosi. All government-sponsored events involving large crowds have also been canceled, and museums and most tourist attractions are closed.

Consular operations at all consular posts in Mexico will be affected by this flu outbreak. Please refer to Embassy Mexico's web page and that of individual posts for the latest information on closings and service reductions.

The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Mexico that most cases of influenza are not "swine flu." Any specific questions or concerns about flu or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional. Mexico City medical authorities urge people to avoid hospitals and clinics unless they have a medical emergency, since hospitals are centers of infection; instead, those with health concerns are encouraged to stay home and call their physicians to avoid potential exposure. Although the U.S. Embassy cannot give medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors can be found on our website at the following links: (Spanish)
(English)

For additional information, please consult the State Department's website at http://www.travel.state.gov, the CDC website at www.cdc.gov, or the website of the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int. The U.S.-based call center for U.S. citizens can be reached from 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, M-F, at 1-888-407-4747, or if calling from outside the U.S., at (202)-501-4444. The U.S. Embassy will also post additional information as it becomes available at: www.usembassy-mexico.gov. American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/.

For emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ccs@usembassy.net.mx. The Embassy's internet address is http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/.

Consulates:

Ciudad Juarez: Paseo de la Victoria 3650, tel. (52)(656) 227-3000. http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov.
Guadalajara: Progreso 175, telephone (52)(333) 268-2100. http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/.
Hermosillo: Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (52)(662) 289-3500. http://hermosillo.usconsulate.gov.
Matamoros: Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (52)(868) 812-4402. http://matamoros.usconsulate.gov.
Merida: Calle 60 no. 338 k, telephone (52)(999) 942-5700. http://merida.usconsulate.gov.
Monterrey: Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone (52)(818) 047-3100. http://monterrey.usconsulate.gov.
Nogales: Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (52)(631) 311-8150. http://nogales.usconsulate.gov.
Nuevo Laredo: Calle Allende 3330, col. Jardin, telephone (52)(867) 714-0512. http://nuevolaredo.usconsulate.gov/.
Tijuana: Tapachula 96, telephone (52)(664) 622-7400. http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/service.html.

Consular Agencies:

-Acapulco: Hotel Continental Emporio, Costera Miguel Aleman 121 - local 14, telephone (52)(744) 484-0300 or (52)(744) 469-0556.
-Cabo San Lucas: Blvd. Marina local c-4, Plaza Nautica, col. Centro, telephone (52)(624) 143-3566.
-Cancún: Plaza Caracol two, second level, no. 320-323, Boulevard Kukulcan, km. 8.5, Zona Hotelera, telephone (52)(998) 883-0272.
-Ciudad Acuña: Ocampo # 305, col. Centro, telephone (52)(877) 772-8661
-Cozumel: Plaza Villa Mar en el Centro, Plaza Principal, (Parque Juárez between Melgar and 5th ave.) 2nd floor, locales #8 and 9, telephone (52)(987) 872-4574.
-Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: Hotel Fontan, Blvd. Ixtapa, telephone (52)(755) 553-2100.
-Mazatlán: Hotel Playa Mazatlán, Playa Gaviotas #202, Zona Dorada, telephone (52)(669) 916-5889.
-Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcalá no. 407, interior 20, telephone (52)(951) 514-3054 (52)(951) 516-2853.
-Piedras Negras: Abasolo #211, Zona Centro, Piedras Negras, Coah., Tel. (878) 782-5586.
-Playa del Carmen: "The Palapa," Calle 1 Sur, between Avenida 15 and Avenida 20, telephone (52)(984) 873-0303.
-Puerto Vallarta: Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros #1, Local #4, Interior #17, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, telephone (52)(322) 222-0069.
-Reynosa: Calle Monterrey #390, Esq. Sinaloa, Colonia Rodríguez, telephone: (52)(899) 923 - 9331 San Luis Potosí: Edificio "Las -Terrazas", Avenida Venustiano Carranza 2076-41, Col. Polanco, telephone: (52)(444) 811-7802/7803.
-San Miguel de Allende: Dr. Hernandez Macias #72, telephone (52)(415) 152-2357 or (52)(415) 152-0068.

TSA Passenger Screening Update

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in October announced the final rule for the Secure Flight program, which is designed to enhance the security of domestic and international commercial air travel through the use of improved watch list matching.

Upon full implementation of the Secure Flight program, each passenger travelling to or from a U.S. destination will be required to provide specific information before an airline can issue a boarding pass.

Through the Secure Flight program, the TSA will assume from airlines, responsibility for conducting prescreening of passenger information against federal government watch lists. Initially, airlines with flights operating within the United States will be required to provide the TSA with the following passenger data; in a second phase, international flights will be added:

 

• Passenger’s full name as it appears on the ID used to pass through airport security
• Date of birth
• Gender
• DHS Redress Number (if available) or Known Traveler Number (if available, once the Known Traveler Program is implemented)  

When will the Secure Flight rule go into effect?

• TSA will notify each airline of the specific dates by which the airline must be capable of collecting and transmitting the Secure Flight Passenger Data. TSA expects airlines to begin providing passenger names in February 2009.  By assuming watch list matching responsibilities from airlines, TSA will: Decrease the chance for compromised watch list data by limiting its distribution
• Provide earlier identification of potential matches, allowing for expedited notification of law enforcement and threat management
• Provide a fair, equitable and consistent matching process across all airlines
• Reduce instances of misidentified and inconvenienced individuals
• Offer consistent application of an expedited and integrated redress process for misidentified individuals via the Department of Homeland Security's Travel Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP)

Travel Services and our contract travel agencies, Centre for Travel and E-Travco, will begin collecting the required information in the near future.  If you  have any questions, please contact Travel Services at 814-865-0395 or cls53@psu.edu.

Delta Introduces New Account-Linking, Mileage-Transfer Capabilities for SkyMiles, WorldPerks Members

Airline continues 2009 program alignment to create improved frequent flyer experience.

(Feb. 3, 2008) – Delta Air Lines today announced that Delta SkyMiles® and Northwest WorldPerks® members now have the ability to link frequent flyer accounts and transfer miles between both accounts at no charge. Members who link their accounts before March 15, 2009 will earn 500 bonus miles.

This new feature allows members who have SkyMiles and WorldPerks accounts to visit delta.com or nwa.com, link their accounts and transfer any amount of miles into either account on an unlimited basis. Both accounts will remain open and functioning until late 2009 when Delta plans to merge the two programs to deliver one best-in-class loyalty program for members in 2010.

“The mileage-transfer feature enables our frequent flyer members to immediately enjoy both SkyMiles and WorldPerks redemption opportunities, including Award Tickets, upgrades, merchandise and experiences. We encourage them to link their accounts today,” said Jeff Robertson, Delta’s vice president of Loyalty Programs. “This marks yet another step toward aligning the two programs and offering more value to our combined members.”

The programs also recently announced that members may earn elite status by flying a designated number of flight segments on either Delta- or Northwest-operated flights. Additionally, SkyMiles and WorldPerks elite members continue to be eligible for complimentary First Class upgrades on both airlines’ flights.

More information on the SkyMiles program is available at delta.com/skymiles. WorldPerks program information is available at nwa.com/worldperks.

The award-winning Delta SkyMiles® program offers members multiple mileage-earning opportunities when flying Delta, Delta Shuttle®, the Delta Connection® carriers, Delta AirElite® and other SkyTeam® airlines. Additional mileage-building opportunities are offered through more than 100 partners such as the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express, participating hotels, car rental companies, the SkyMiles Store, restaurants, SkyMilesShopping.com, floral and gift retailers and more. Now in its 27th year, SkyMiles is one of the longest-running and most successful loyalty programs in the travel industry.

It was named “Best Domestic Frequent Flyer program” for 2007 and 2008 by readers of Executive Traveler magazine and “Best Frequent Flyer Program” for 2006 and 2007 by Business Traveler magazine. The program also received top honors for “Best Bonus Promotion” from InsideFlyer magazine at the 2007 Freddie Awards.

* Only SkyMiles and WorldPerks miles can be transferred between accounts. Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM), Medallion Qualification Segments, Elite Qualification Miles (EQM) and Elite Qualification Segments, which are used to qualify for elite status, will not be immediately affected by linking or transferring, but will be combined when linked accounts are merged later this year. Elite status is currently recognized on both Delta and Northwest.

Terms and Conditions Complimentary upgrades are subject to availability and offered on most Delta and Northwest flights within or between the United States (excluding Hawaii), Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and northern South America. All SkyMiles program and WorldPerks program rules apply to SkyMiles and WorldPerks program membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption and travel benefits, respectively.

To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide and nwa.com/worldperks.

Important Things to Remember

• Don't forget to update all travel related profiles such as Travelport and National Car Rental with current expiration dates for driver's licenses, credit cards and any changes in membership numbers for airlines or hotels.  If the information on file is not correct, it will  not pass to the vendor correctly and cause problems.
• When booking travel, it is critical that the airline reservation is booked in the name as it appears on the driver's license for domestic travel and the passport for international travel. 
• Extra caution should be taken to make certain names are in the proper first and last name order and not reversed.  If booking as a travel arranger on Travelport, double check before you begin that you are booking in the traveler's name and not your own. 
• If you have properly selected the traveler's profile, their name will appear at the top of the screen.