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COVID-19 Information

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. It’s now BCD Travel’s absolute priority to support our clients and travelers who are affected by the coronavirus situation. We’re closely monitoring the developments and are taking necessary actions to limit the impact for our travelers. On this page you’ll find an overview of recent updates and links to reliable sources and reports. Like you, we’re doing our best to keep up with all the changes. The situation is very fluid with authorities, suppliers and airlines changing policies at a rapid pace.

Information for business travelers

Know before you go

Check the local COVID-19 requirements for your destination(s)
Check your airline carrier and hotel for travel restrictions, requirements and adjustments to inflight services, check-in options and/or on-property amenities. There may also be new hygiene and sanitizing practices in place for your protection. Not all policies will be the same for departure and arrival cities and airports. Check information for all segments of your trip.
Remember to bring several protective face masks as some carriers and local municipalities require both the nose and mouth to be covered in public locations. Local laws differ so be prepared with extra masks to cover your entire stay.
Make sure you have your company’s emergency and medical assistance information easily available.
Confirm any COVID-19 related protocol with the onsite management of any office or location you will visiting to ensure your safety and that you are prepared for any local requirements.
There are many reliable resources for you to gather information for your upcoming trip, we recommend you read the health and safety information published by IATA and our SolutionSource® partner International SOS.

If for any reason you need to cancel your future trip, you can do so directly in the TripSource® app.
Simply tap the menu in the top right corner and select cancel trip.
IMPORTANT: If you are within a four-hour window of your trip, call your travel team directly, using the number on your itinerary.

Information for travel managers

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on travel programs. We’re doing all we can to minimize the consequences for your program and travelers. As different countries require restrictions on movement, office hours may be adapted per country. Local teams will keep clients informed about these changes.

To get the latest information on COVID-19 and the global situation we advise you to only use official sources.

BCD Travel information

What You Need To Know reports

As demand declines and governments around the world restrict travel, airlines are adjusting their operations, and, in some cases, suspending all services. Our What You Need To Know reports summarize what airlines and hotels across the world are doing and planning.

What you need to know

What you need to know: Airline operations

With the onset of COVID-19, airlines around the world adjusted their operations and, in some cases, suspended all services. Some are now beginning to resume service. These reports summarize what airlines across the world

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Insights

Airline cancellations, disruptions and refunds

Most of the airlines have goodwill policies in place for cancellations or modifications. For the most up to date information, please refer directly to the airline. Here’s a list of airline companies and links. Please be aware that many airlines worldwide have restricted our ability to process automated refunds via the GDS, including refundable tickets. As a result, BCD Travel has been forced to manage these processes manually to support our clients’ needs. Many airlines are now requiring us to complete and submit forms that serve as requests for refunds. We will continue to request refunds on your behalf via manual processes. However, we are unable to provide an estimated date for refund receipt, as airlines do not communicate processing time at any point during the submission process. We expect the revised airline procedures to delay travelers’ receipt of refunds. We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to submit refund requests on your travelers’ behalf.

Advice for better virtual collaboration

Our consultancy colleagues at Advito published information on how to turn your corporate travel program into a sustainable collaboration program. They also have a page on getting the most out of virtual collaboration.

Assist your travelers with DecisionSource

In risk situations, DecisionSource® by BCD Travel can help travel managers locate and assist travelers before, during and after an event. Find out more about the three DecisionSource reports that help travel managers to located and assist travelers in need.

Engage your travelers and keep them informed

We encourage travel managers to remember that during periods of disruption, providing guidance during times of uncertainty is essential. Here are our top tips for engaging your travelers.

Other useful information