Black Women On Realities Of Living In Portugal & Abroad
This Luxury Travel Agency Is Elevating Black Travel Experiences
Luxury should not be exclusive to one group of people. Black travelers deserve unique and personalized experiences in luxury travel. One Black woman-owned luxury travel agency is showing travelers exactly why Black luxury travel is important.
Claire Soares, the founder and CEO of Up In The Air Life, is not just a travel enthusiast. She's a visionary who has redefined the luxury travel experience for Black adventurers. Her commitment to creating extraordinary journeys for her clients has earned her well-deserved recognition in the travel industry. She curates meet-ups, trips and events for Black travelers looking for cultural inspiration, authentic connections and personal growth.
luxury travel agency
A Trailblazer in Black Luxury TravelSoares' passion for travel and business is clear from her extensive personal explorations. Her influence also extends beyond accolades. She is one of the six most influential Black women in the travel industry and a Top Black Travel Leader on Airbnb's inaugural list.
With over six continents and 64 countries on her passport, Soares embodies Up In The Air's ethos. Travel is not just a pastime, but a transformative journey. Her love of the history and culture of South Africa sparked her desire to share those experiences with travelers of color. Travelers get to immerse themselves in Afro-culture and history in different parts of the world that are not often highlighted in traditional group travel experiences. Every trip includes planned visits to Michelin-starred restaurants and highly sought-after sommeliers to indulge in every cuisine available in the local region.
More Than Your Average Travel AgencyUp In The Air is a movement to empower Black travelers to explore the world on their own terms. The company recognizes that luxury travel is often a white-dominated space. Soares seeks to change that narrative, so everyone finds belonging.
Up In The Air has options ranging from exclusive five-star hotel stays to private yacht excursions and fine dining. Planned itineraries include Dubai, Colombia, Australia, Bali, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and more.
Travelers can start by scheduling a call with Soares to discuss personal travel dreams. Afterward, they can choose a custom-curated trip based on travel goals and preferences. Finally, sit back and enjoy the trip. For a truly stress-free experience, every luxury trip has an experienced American guide and a dedicated customer service team.
How Luxury Travel Elevates The Black CommunityThe diverse tight-knit community of Up In The Air members, known as Lifers, is all about fostering cultural connections. As like-minded individuals with unbridled wanderlust, members create lasting bonds that extend beyond the trip. Traveling with Up In The Air means not visiting more than just another destination. It's about fully immersing in a country's culture, history, traditions and local communities. The heart of Black luxury travel is about elevating the self through empowering experiences. Representation matters because it shatters stereotypes. Black travelers deserve to take up space and love themselves in those spaces.
Up In The Air Life stands out as a vibrant thread weaving dreams, experiences and connections that elevate vacations and change lives. With at least a third of their clients booking their next trip within the year. Soares and her amazing team are transforming how Black travelers explore the world with style, sophistication and some of the finest experiences you'll find with this Black woman-owned luxury travel agency.
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Travel Agents File Ticket Pricing Complaint Against American Airlines
Ticket pricing data appears to be a commodity in itself, as tech upgrades potentially limit access to fare availability — with travel agents complaining it impacts their ability to do their job effectively and leads to higher fares for consumers.
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) claims that American Airlines has removed 40% of its fare inventory from distribution channels used by travel agents and travel management companies following the implementation of new systems with the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology.
ASTA has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) accusing American Airlines of unfair trade practice, claiming it has caused "substantially higher air ticket prices for consumers and frustrated travel management companies."
ASTA said the change in distribution has meant travel management companies are "unable to fulfill the duty of care owed to business travelers."
American Airlines responded to Skift's request for comment stating, "American has made huge investments to make travel agencies' transition to NDC easier." The airline claimed it was the "only carrier to connect its NDC content to all three global distribution systems – work that was done explicitly at the request of our travel agency partners."
"While some travel agencies have not yet connected, we have not withheld any information that would discourage or prevent comparison shopping. All of our fares remain viewable over both NDC and traditional travel agency channels," the airline further detailed in the statement.
In February this year, American Airlines announced it would be upgrading its systems in April to offer "three levels of differentiated content," that can be accessed via:
1) American-owned channels – its direct website, aa.Com.
2) American-owned and modern retailing channels, such as Expedia and Hopper.
3) Third-party technology, including the new NDC technology and American Airlines' older established Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (EDIFACT) used by travel agents and travel management companies. That is the technology that now reflects less fare inventory, according to the ASTA complaint.
American Airlines said in a statement issued in February that it would "sell differentiated content in new ways that benefit customers. Customers shopping via modern retailing channels will retain access to our best available third-party public channel content."
ASTA said the complaint follows several private discussions between ASTA and representatives of both American Airlines and the DOT. Industry bodies such as the Travel Management Coalition, the Business Travel Association (UK), and FOLATUR have Joined ASTA in the complaint.
The filing, lodged with the DOT on July 31, calls for the DOT to use its statutory authority to urge the airline to "restore access to all fares in all channels and to undertake a comprehensive review of the current state of competition in the domestic airline industry."
Best Travel Insurance Companies Of August 2023
Comprehensive travel insurance policies package together a number of valuable benefits. You can also buy policies that cover only trip cancellation or only medical expenses. With the wide variety of travel insurance plans available, you can find coverage levels that will fit your budget and trip needs.
Look for these top coverage options in a comprehensive travel insurance plan.
Trip Cancellation InsuranceYou don't book a trip with the intention of canceling it, but unexpected illness, injury, family member sickness, jury duty and more could disrupt plans. Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you 100% for money you lose in prepaid, non-refundable deposits if you have to cancel for a reason listed in the policy.
If Covid is a concern, you can find travel insurance policies that cover Covid-related trip cancellation if you contract the virus right before the trip.
A good strategy for trip cancellation coverage is to buy insurance for the total amount you have put into non-refundable and prepaid deposits. Don't insure refundable amounts, like refundable plane tickets, because you can't make an insurance claim for that.
Travel Delay InsuranceIt can be inconvenient, stressful and costly if your trip is delayed due to unforeseen events.
Travel delay insurance reimburses you for expenses if you're stuck somewhere due to a holdup that's covered by your travel insurance plan. For example, if you're stranded in an airport all day because bad weather delays your flight, travel delay insurance can reimburse you for necessities like food and toiletries.
If you have a long delay, travel delay benefits can pay for an Uber, a night in a hotel and meals. Travel delay insurance has a specified waiting period before benefits apply—for example, six or 12 hours—and also a per day maximum limit and a total maximum per person.
"Cancel for Any Reason" CoverageIf you want the freedom to cancel your trip no matter what, look for travel insurance that allows you to upgrade your trip cancellation insurance to "cancel for any reason" (CFAR) travel insurance. Having CFAR allows you to cancel your trip for any reason that's not listed in your base policy. For example, you could cancel the trip because you simply don't feel like going anymore, as long as you do so at least 48 hours before your departure time.
Reimbursement under a CFAR claim is 75% or 50% of your trip costs, not the 100% that's available under the base trip cancellation coverage. CFAR adds an average of about 50% to an insurance plan's cost. Not all travel insurance companies offer a CFAR upgrade.
Travel Medical InsuranceTravel medical insurance pays for ambulance service, X-rays, lab work, medicine, doctor and hospital bills, and other medical expenses during your trip. This is important coverage for travelers going abroad, where your U.S. Health plan may have limited global coverage or no coverage. You can find generous coverage limits of up to $500,000 per person with some travel insurance policies, but you may decide that lower levels of coverage are adequate for your needs.
The best travel insurance for seniors includes travel medical insurance because Medicare does not pay for health care outside the U.S., except in very limited circumstances.
Many travel insurance policies cover Covid-related medical expenses just like any other illness—but not all do—so be sure to confirm that Covid is covered by your travel insurance policy if you contract the virus during your trip.
Emergency Medical Evacuation CoverageThis is also important coverage for those traveling abroad, especially if you're going to a remote area where quality medical care might be hard to find. Emergency medical evacuation insurance pays to get you to the nearest adequate medical facility. You can find ample coverage of $1 million per person in the best travel insurance policies..
Trip Interruption InsuranceIf you have to cut your trip short because of a reason listed in the policy, trip interruption insurance is valuable coverage to have. It can reimburse you for the non-refundable parts of your trip that you miss, such as a resort stay or prepaid scuba diving lesson. It can also pay for a last-minute one-way ticket home if you have an emergency.
Baggage Delay CoverageYour bags may be on their own detour, but what do you do while you're waiting? This coverage reimburses you for necessities while you wait for your luggage. For example, if you're in Canada you may need a coat, hat and essential toiletries. Policies usually require a certain time delay before baggage delay coverage kicks in, such as six hours.
Baggage Loss and Personal Effects CoverageIf your luggage doesn't arrive at your destination when you do, it can throw your trip into chaos.
Baggage insurance can at least ease the financial pain a little. It can reimburse you for the bags and clothes and shoes that never arrive, but note that reimbursement is for the depreciated value of the items, not the cost to buy new ones. It also pays out for items lost to theft.
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