I read this interesting op-ed piece on the L.A. Times this past week:  Airlines Need An Attitude Adjustment by David Lazarus.  He says:

A report out Monday found that U.S. airlines did a whole lot better last year getting passengers where they’re going and not losing people’s bags in the process. And maybe that’s true.

Maybe airlines are indeed stepping up their game. Maybe they’re responding to tough economic times with a renewed commitment to high performance and customer satisfaction.

I have to admit, it seems more common to hear complaints than rave reviews from air travelers, regardless of whether they are domestic or international.  Although international flights do tend to be a little more concerned with their passengers’ opinions, even they have degenerated from the golden years of flying we remember from years gone by.  You know–when you got your martini in a real glass, when flight attendants gave little wings to excited children, and when someone actually seemed to care if you needed a blanket.

In some ways I understand that people fly a lot more for business these days and that airlines are striving to streamline costs, focusing on the function over form.  Anyway, as Lazarus points out there’s really no point in complaining even if you do have a beef.  How often does an airline really respond to customer service issues?  Do you really have other options for urgent travel?  Sure you can choose another airline, but there doesn’t seem to be much difference between them when it comes to outstanding customer service.

Maybe I’m just old-fashioned, mourning a way of business that is antiquated and unnecessary in the modern age. But after reading Lazurus’ article in the Times, its nice to know I’m not alone.

On behalf of everyone at Swift Passport Service – we wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010!

Photo Credit

Photo Credit

When was the last time you’ve taken a vacation?  Not the type of vacation where you stay home from work and do home improvement projects.  Or go to a family reunion with relatives you barely know.  But a real vacation.  One where you can see something entirely new, try new foods, explore and discover?  There’s never been a better time than now–and here’s five good reasons you should travel in 2010:

1.  The Economy

The economy is still recovering and that means there are deals to be had almost everywhere.  Airfare, lodging, transportation, and entertainment is highly negotiable and you can plan a trip of lifetime for thousands less than you would have five years ago.  If you’ve got some travel funds tucked away for a rainy day, consider using it this year when you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck.

2.  Your Kids

No amount of classes are going to give your kids the education and experience of world travel.  Taking them to see various cultures, historical monuments, and natural wonders will bring to life everything they learned in school–and give them a real life education about the world they stand to inherit in a few short years.  Don’t put off traveling until the kids leave home.  Take them with you!

3.  The World is Changing

While change is inevitable, it is also bittersweet.  All over the world technology is transforming the landscape, ancient art and architecture is slowly deteriorating, and global warming is threatening certain habitats.  Take the time to see and appreciate the world before it changes.  You’ll have photos and memories that you can share with future generations about the way things “used to be.”

4.  Discover Your Roots

America is a nation of immigrants.  We all have lineages that go back thousands of years in other parts of the world.  Many people are rediscovering their ethnic and national heritage by traveling to the homeland of their forefathers.  Whether your ancestors came from Europe, Asia or Africa, you are sure to learn more about yourself if you take the time to visit and reconnect with your roots.

5.  Inspiration

Work is good, but too much work makes anyone dull and uninspired.  Whether you’re an artist or a computer programmer, you need to keep yourself motivated and excited about life and creating new things.  Travel is one of the best ways to get outside the box and view the world at different angles.  You’ll return with new ideas, fresh enthusiasm and a lot of great stories to share around the water cooler.

Photo by Matito

Brazil could quite possibly be one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Known for its exquisitely diverse wildlife and natural environments as well as being the eighth largest economy in the world, it’s no wonder so many Americans travel there every year. Obtaining the required travel documents however, can be time consuming and painfully confusing.

If you plan to travel to Brazil you will need a valid passport. That is the easy part. Brazil, like many countries, requires a travel visa in addition to the passport. You can obtain your Brazilian travel visa at one of nine cities in the United States. YOUR jurisdiction is determined by your place of residence. For example, residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin would obtain their Brazilian Visa from the Consulate in Chicago. California residents should know that there are two Brazilian Consulates in California, one in Los Angeles, and one in San Francisco. Your jurisdiction will be determined according to the county you live in. It is your job to either show up in person with your application OR to have someone show up on your behalf. You cannot just send in your application by mail!

Once you have determined your jurisdiction, you will then determine whether you need a Brazil Business Visa or a Brazil Tourist Visa. Most of the time this is quite obvious, but there are always exceptions to that. If you are unsure, it is best to ask an expert such as a Swift Passport representative for direction. For business visas, Brazil requires two additional documents. You will need both a Letter of Intent written on a company letter head that details the business intended to be performed in Brazil, and a Letter of Invitation from the company in Brazil with which you will be conducting business.

Many people run into obstacles when trying to sort out all of the forms and information required to obtain a Brazil visa expeditiously. Between the misinformation online and time required to travel to a consulate in person, you could waste hours trying to get this done on your own. Swift Passport Services has established relationships with all 9 consulates and can simplify the process for you to save time and money, and a headache. Our visa experts are trained to help you determine your jurisdiction and get all the answers you are looking for and are, as always, thrilled to help you make the process as smooth as possible. Need additional visa pages added to your passport? Not to worry, we can help you with that too. Let’s work together to make one of the more complicated countries to travel to an easier one so that you will be able to experience one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

You heard correctly, folks, you can now get a passport card that looks a lot like a driver’s license. This card can be used to travel from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, The Caribbean, and Bermuda via land and border crossings or sea ports of entry. It cannot be used to fly to any of these countries, or to fly to any other international destination. It is a great lower cost option for those who frequent these countries for both business and leisure travel.

Contrary to popular belief, you CAN have your passport card expedited by a visa service such as Swift Passport Services instead of having to travel to a city that has a passport agency to stand in line to get it done yourself. Very few passport and visa expediting services offer this service since this option is so new. Swift Passport is breaking new ground by being one of the first passport and visa expediting services to offer passport card expediting service to all 50 states.

So why should you get a card rather than a book? Well, let me start by making it very clear that the card and book are very different.

With the passport card you cannot travel internationally by just any means of travel. It can only be used if you are driving or boating to the countries mentioned above. If you are flying to one of the countries above, the passport card will not be sufficient for you. If you are either a regular visitor to one of these countries or only intend to travel to one of them once by land or sea and never again step foot off American soil again, then this passport card is for you. Passports cards are valid 10 years for adults (age16 and older), and 5 years for children (age 15 and younger). It is wallet size, easier to carry than a passport book, harder to lose, but most of, all it’s less expensive. An expedited passport card is only $80 for adults and $70 for children in comparison to $135 and $120 respectively for a passport book.

With the passport book, you can travel anywhere internationally by any means, though some countries will require additional visas. If you are trying to decide between a passport book and a passport card, you would definitely choose a passport book if you think there may be a chance that you will travel internationally by plane in the next 10 years. The passport book is good for travel to anywhere you could go with the passport card AND to the rest of the world. You will be far less limited with the passport book. An expedited passport book is only $135 for adults and $120 for children, and is valid for 10 years and 5 years respectively.

If you are traveling in 5 weeks or less, your best option is to have Swift Passport expedite the passport card for you. You will be able to relax and let us do the traveling and standing in line for you. We have relationships with the Department of State that gives us the ability to solve problems that can and do arise and get your passport card processed in as little as 12 hours!

Summary of Fees IF

• You have never had a passport and are applying for a U.S. passport (book or card) for the first time; or
• Your expired US passport is not in your possession; or
• Your previous US passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; or
• Your previous US passport was issued when you were under 16 years old

Summary of Fees IF

• Your passport expired less than 5 years ago and is in your possession
• Your previous U.S. Passport was issued in the USA
• Your previous passport is in good condition
• You were age 16 or older when your last U.S. Passport was issued

Summary of Fees IF

· You/ Your child is age 15 or younger whether they have had a passport in the past or not

Now that you’ve determined which is right for you, the book or the card, give us a call at 1-877-917-9438. A Swift Passport Representative will be happy to answer your questions as well as help you get started. So make those travel plans and don’t forget to visit our website for agency fees and travel visa information at Swiftpassport .com

Amber Colbert, Houston Manager

The Department of State recognizes 194 independent countries. Some countries require Americans to have a travel visa with their passports to enter the country and others do not. Some situations may require a tourist visa, some, a business visa. For some, this leaves a whole grey area. Then, there is the matter of determining how many visas you may need. Are you traveling to multiple countries? What are those country’s requirements of an American coming in from the country prior? How long does it take to obtain the visa?

I will tell you, as the newest member of Swift Passport, I had no idea where to begin. In fact, I thought understanding all the requirements given the many thousands of varying circumstances, for passports was next to impossible to figure out. How in the world is it possible to have one answer for every client, especially being that each answer is slightly more complicated than the next? And then I was introduced to visas.

So I, like many people before they became Swift clients, set out to try and figure it out on my own. I found the Brazilian Consulate here in my home town of Houston and I stepped inside. The place was packed. There were several windows open, unlike the supermarket on a Saturday, and I waited in several lines. Each line I found a person slightly less helpful than the first. It seemed no one was willing to answer my questions; they seemed to expect me to know this stuff already. As the very polite security guard began to escort me out of the building I asked with the sweetest Southern drawl possible “How can I get some questions answered?” He looked down at my feet as he pushed them past the threshold of the front door and mumbled “E-mail.” I immediately went to my home office and sent an e-mail. And another, and another.

I found a little more information on the Brazilian Consulate website, but by no means everything I needed to know. What kinds of documents would they require of me besides my passport? How would I help a client determine what type of visa they would need?

As I waited for my answers from Brazil, I decided to pay a visit to the Chinese Consulate. Slightly less busy, and a bit friendlier, I was able to get a bit more information; however, I still didn’t get all that I needed. So I began to express to my colleges at Swift, that these visas intimidate me. How is it that people are supposed to figure this stuff out? Their response as always was “Ask us anything”. So I did. Do people need a visa to Russia? Canada? Cambodia? They had all the answers seemingly at her fingertips. “Well, what if a lady is traveling on a cruise ship to Brazil, but on that ship she will be working as a singer and gainfully employed? But while they doc in Brazil, she is touring just like everyone else? Business visa or tourist?” Would you know? I sure didn’t.

After I realized my Swift friends had the answers available, while I’ve been struggling to find them, it hit me. They’ve already done this. They have already hashed out all the major details and have figured out how and in what manner to find the answers to any given question. So it dawns on me, had I needed to really travel to Brazil, would I have been able to figure out what I needed by myself? Seeing as how I’m still waiting on those e-mails, I doubt it, at least not in a timely fashion. I would have had to have help. Leave it to the visa experts at Swift!

I can only imagine how difficult and confusing acquiring passports and visas would be for a first time international traveler. Passports require collection of several documents that are not always easy to obtain and visas can make your head spin if you’ve never had to have one before. So the next time you are considering travel internationally, the first item on your to do list should be to visit the Swift Passport.

Don’t worry about how complicated your travel situation is, we’ve probably heard it before. What answers we may not already have, we do have the ability to nail down for you. Traveling internationally should never be stressful. Let Swift Passport turn your nightmare into the smooth dream vacation it should be.

–Amber Colbert

SPS owners Rob and Laurie Dickenson Lee spent some time answering questions about their young business, their plans for the future, and what it’s like about working in the travel industry:

1. How long has SPS been in operation?

2007

2. What drew you to the travel industry?

Laurie and I have traveled extensively since we were kids. We were both very fortunate to grow up in families that traveled. My dad is British and explored the Antarctic for over 2 years in the 60’s. He has lived all over the world and always believed that traveling was an important aspect of being a well rounded human being. Laurie’s family travelled all over when she was a kid so it is in her blood too. We love experiencing new cultures, new foods, and remote places off of the beaten path. We had a 2 year stint in Costa Rica and Panama which was definitely a huge adventure. Now that we run a business we travel far less than we would like, but it is our goal to be able to run Swift Passport from virtually any location.

3. Who are your typical customers?

We basically have 2 types of customers: corporate and 1 time users who find us on the internet. Corporate clients have a close relationship with us and use our services on a weekly or monthly basis. Travel departments and HR departments essentially partner with us and use us for all of their passport and visa needs. Right now it takes as many as 6 weeks to obtain a passport. Business people who travel frequently often times do not have 6 weeks to wait between trips to get their passport renewed or replaced. Our service is invaluable to these kinds of people as we can obtain a passport in as little as 1 day! Other businesspeople just realize that spending a day in line at a passport agency or consulate and dealing with the headache of government agencies is simply NOT the best use of their time. We make the experience fast and painless- no headache required!

4. What is the most challenging part about owning SPS?

Good question. Getting away from the business is my biggest challenge. Most of the people who work with us have serious deadlines and the slightest error can cost them a business trip or vacation. Instead of sleeping in on Saturdays I find myself reaching for my iphone to see if our FedEx Saturday deliveries made it to their destinations on time! In the course of a sale our staff gets to know most customers on a personal level which means we share in their anxiety.

5. What is the most rewarding part about owning SPS?

There is nothing better than owning your own business. It’s the hardest work you will ever do but once you do it I think you could never go back to a 9-5. We are growing fast and really proud of our technological advancement. It is our goal to be able to operate from anywhere and I love researching new technology that will help us reach that goal. I once watched my wife make a sale on a cell phone while we were driving through the desert and she placed the order and faxed our client the forms they needed seamlessly from the passenger seat! We are responsible for our successes and accountable for the falls along the way. I imagine it is much like having a kid- that doesn’t sleep often.

6. What services do you offer at SPS?

We offer expedited passport and visa services to individuals and corporations. We can get a US passport in as little as 1 day (the government takes 6 weeks), and international visas to virtually any country. We work with corporate HR and travel departments who have a tendency to spend a lot of time sorting through the mountains of forms and instructions online looking for the information they need to obtain passports and visas. Others are sick and tired of having to work with the government and are frustrated with long processing times and zero communication. We hear horror stories everyday about what a nightmare it is trying to get answers and guarantees from the government. We often find that corporations such as aren’t aware that there is a way to totally avoid the misery that actually ends up saving them time and money

7. How often do you get to travel?

Sadly, our international travel plans have been paused while we grow our business. We travel domestically on business every few months and do our best to get off the beaten path wherever we go.

8. What is your favorite travel destination?

Missoula, Montana, Southeast Asia, and northern Patagonia in that order.

9. How do you see the travel industry changing in the next ten years?

There are so many great deals out there right now that people who normally could not afford to travel can now. Study abroad programs are booming- spending a semester abroad is pretty standard these days which is great. Its never been easier for a business to become an international business than now. Globalization means more world travel.

10. What are the future plans of SPS as a small business?

Currently we work with the Chicago and Houston Passport Agencies. We are waiting for permission to also work with the New York, San Diego, Seattle, and Denver Passport Agencies. We hope to grow and to cultivate a team and culture at Swift who will grow with us. We want people who work with us to love what they do as much as we do! We are working on a scholarship program that will enable college kids studying abroad to get passports for free, and look forward to expanding our presence nationwide.

Photo Credit:  Mike Baird

You’ve done this before, traveled abroad, maybe even many times. Your passport and visas are in order; you’ve packed plenty of snacks, reading material, and that trusty extended flight headrest from Sky Mall. Only this time is different. This time you have kids in tow. So what can you expect of your children on a long international flight?

First, there are a few things you have to expect when traveling with children especially children under the age of 12 that you must plan ahead for. The first of these things are if you plan to travel with an infant, particularly if this is your first child, you must know that you WILL be late. No doubt about it, ask any experienced mom or dad. You have to pack your things, and baby’s things, and travel tools like a stroller, car seat, and diaper bag necessities. With kids, always leave early. If your airline suggests that you get to the airport two hours before your flight, get there three hours early. After all the loading and unloading you are sure to do, you will still barely make the boarding time. Give yourself extra time for bathroom breaks and snack times because these things require much more time.

Second to note, pack snacks, snacks, and more snacks. Depending on how long your flight is, you can usually never have enough snacks. This rule applies to children of all ages. Whether it’s extra formula or pre expressed milk, toddler approved dry cereals, or pre prepared sandwiches for the always starving teenager, you most likely will need lots more than you think you will. A large number of children will “Ewe Groce!” the airline food and it’s usually not the healthiest of snack anyway unless you’re rolling first class. You know your child and what they will eat, and you also are the only one aware of any allergies they may have. Some healthy travel friendly suggestions are dried fruit, nuts or seeds without shells, granola bars, and healthy individually wrapped snack packages such as whole wheat crackers. Packing snacks from home not only saves time and keeps the masses satisfied, but it’s also significantly less expensive than buying food on the go. Airport food can be particularly pricey.

Finally, you thought you got bored on an 18 hour flight? This one will also apply to children from infants to 17 year olds. You must bring plenty of things to do and a wide variety of such to end the constant barrage of “I’m Bored!” Age appropriate of course, and keep in mind you each usually only get one carry on a piece, but books, puzzles, games, and the ever popular digital ANYTHING is great for modern day children. Ideally for smaller kids a giant game/ puzzle/ color book will save space and keep the weight of the carry on to a minimum. For older kids, the in flight movie may be appropriate so plan to bring ear buds or for some airlines, you can purchase ear buds for $5. Also checkout Travel Kiddy. This website has travel friendly kits and suggestions for activities for the little ones.

Of course, never forget plenty of medication if your kids require them and have it available during the flight if necessary. Bring lollipops for older children to minimize ear popping. For infants, if ear popping is a problem and makes them cry; try having a flight attendant poor hot water from a coffee pot into a paper or Styrofoam cup, allowing the cup to heat. Then poor the water out and place the cup over an ear of the infant for a moment. This seams to ease out the pressure and will sooth the child. Don’t forget to contact Swift Passport Services in advance to gather all your passports and visa for the whole family and give yourself plenty of time to collect these things. Allowing older children to present their own passports at check in will make them feel super important and can change the foul mood of most! Don’t ever be afraid to ask for help of the airline staff or other passengers. Traveling with children internationally can be extremely stressful, but if you plan well in advance, it can be one of the most memorable trips your family will take together.

-Amber Colbert, Swift Passport Services

WSJ: Global Premium Air Travel Keeps Declining

With a 27.3% drop, the Pacific region experienced the worst decline in premium passenger numbers, while of the larger markets, Asia was the weakest, said IATA. Only Africa saw more passengers buying first and business-class tickets, but the 2.8% increase in that market is less significant due to its small size. Across the North Atlantic, premium travel fell 22.5%, following a 14.5% drop in January.

The number of passengers traveling on economy-class tickets fell 8.3% in February, following a 4.7% fall in January. Overall passenger numbers were down 9.6%, or 6% if adjusted for the extra day in February 2008.

Now is the time to do some international travel if you’ve been socking away some funds for a “trip of a lifetime”.  The article goes on to say that the market is about to bottom out, and that means we may not see prices again this low for decades.  Add to this the struggling  global economy and you’re sure to find amazing deals on lodging and other services.  Travel Agent Central is reporting a huge decrease in hotel rates both here and abroad.

Just make sure you check the State Department’s interactive guide for travel advisories before you make your plans.