Extended! Discount for Parking at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield
University Travelers will receive a significant discount on parking at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield now through April 30, 2022. To date, the discount has saved the University of Nebraska over $8,000 with approximately 200 reservations through this promotional program.
The discount is available for business and personal travel for University employees. Flyer and instructions can be found here.
Conference Rates/Room Blocks
Fox World Travel/Conferma cannot book conference rates as the blocks are held by a third party. For a conference rate, this requires the room to be booked individually by the traveler on the conference website.
Airfare Comparison Required within 24 Hours
An airfare comparison needs to be done within 24 hours of finding a flight outside of Fox World Travel. Travelers are required to allow Fox World Travel the opportunity match the fare per the University travel policy [page 6].
New Employee Welcome Letter
To serve as guidance for employees who are new to the University or those employees/delegates who are getting back to making travel arrangements, a welcome letter is available on the travel office website.
Travel Updates:
Major Airlines
Since late 2021/early 2022 all four major airlines have decreased flight schedules for a total of 4,000 markets (city pairs) being eliminated. This has caused multiple schedule changes and flight cancellations. Be sure to double check flight schedules at least 24 hours prior to the departure date. Note: the mandatory mask requirement for air travel has been extended through April 18, 2022 by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) within all airports and airplanes within the United States.
In addition, labor shortages (40,000 pilot shortage) have caused most airlines to reevaluate further markets. Airfare costs are rising, with predictions that fares will increase upwards of 7% per month through June. Try to book as far in advance as possible. Airfares are typically less expensive when booking the flights on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Car Rental Agencies
Enterprise/National expects to be fully recovered from COVID pandemic by June 2022. They expect to have 1.5 million cars available world-wide. Hertz expects to be 20% electric by the end of 2022.
Hotels
Hotel chains are having significant labor shortages and it will continue through 2022. Some hotels are resorting to shutting down multiple hotel rooms due to lack of staff to clean them.
Lincoln’s newest hotel, The Scarlet at Innovation Campus in Lincoln, is slated to be open by mid-April 2022. The University Travel Office is currently in negotiations with them for discounted pricing.
Upcoming Training Sessions (please check the training website as dates/times may change)
- March 22 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- April 21 10:00 a.m. – noon
- May 17 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
