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Travel News

17 January 2007

Closures at STA Travel Branch Office

STA Travel will be moving to a new internal computer system and thus now result in a temporary disruption of their trading hours. The Branch will be closed during the following times:

Monday, 22 January - branch will close at 2pm

Tuesday, 23 January - branch will be closed

Wednesday, 24 January - branch will reopen at 9am and resume normal trading hours

Domestic bookings will still be possible through SAM during these periods.

These closures are necessary to roll out STA Travel's new computer system. STA Travel apologies for any inconvenience caused by these closures.

Macs and SAM

 

Some Mac users at the University may be aware that the travel online booking system (SAM) may not operate when you use certain browsers.

 

IT Services have advised us that if you are a Mac user you should use Mozilla Firefox 2.0 (download from the Firefox website). This browser has been tested and does operate with SAM.

 

This website allows you to download Firefox (free of charge).

15 December 2006

The Callaghan STA Travel branch will be closed from 20th December 2006 up until 8th January 2007. As a result, STA Travel require all requests, quotes, bookings and payments be submitted before 12:00 midday, Monday 18 December. Any requests, quotes, bookings or payments received after that time, cannot be actioned prior to reopening on 8th January, 2007.

STA Travel can be contacted during this period by phoning the emergency contact phone number (03) 9207 5950 which will route the call to STA Travel off campus. STA should only be contacted on this number if urgent changes to existing bookings are required or other urgent assistance is required. This emergency contact will be able to assist on the normal trading days during the closure, i.e. 27-29 December & 02-05 January.

08 December 2006

Just a few issues that may be of interest to you.

When booking Jetstar you will need to complete the online request for a CVV (Card Verification Value) number.  If you are not sure how to do this ask someone in your area who is a travel arranger for further information

STA Travel have advised that any 'Password' or 'Staff Linking to a Travel Arranger' requests are to be sent to the STA Travel branch at Callaghan. A 'Password/Travel Arranger' application form is available on the University travel website. This form can be faxed or emailed to the Callaghan STA Branch. Changes to the travel system will take approximately 24 hrs from the receipt of the form by STA Travel. If a booking is required within this time the booker will need to contact the STA Travel branch at Callaghan.

The online booking tool is only to be used to book Domestic flights. University policy dictates that all domestic travel is to be procured using the Self Booking Tool (SAM) and that all International Travel is procured by contact with the STA Travel Branch. International flights are not to be booked using the SAM system. The information in SAM is not complete and can lead to cost penalties for the University. STA Travel are currently seeking to remove the international booking capability from the system.

Please ensure that the Credit Card used to book travel has enough credit to able the bank to approve the booking. In the previous week, 12 credit cards were rejected in the SAM system due to having exceeded their credit limit. Use of credit cards that have exceeded their credit limit may attract an additional fee from STA Travel and requires additional consultant time to liaise with the credit provider.

To assist STA Travel could you please put the departure date in the subject line on all travel e-mails as this assists STA Travel in prioritising travel bookings.

9 November 2006
Information Required from Travel Arrangers

When the self booking tool first came online on 01 November the only information in the profiles were the names of the staff and their email address. The reasons why the other information was not included were -

As of 08 November a number of staff have been switched to travellers only, meaning that they cannot book travel for any other staff member. It was necessary for the University to do this due to security reasons.

All travel arrangers are now requested to send a list of all staff members they book travel for to john.ogrady@newcastle.edu.au. (The only details required for the traveller is their name.)

This information will then be entered into SAM.(SAM is STA Travel's online booking tool).Once this information is loaded into SAM travel arrangers will be able to book travel for all their nominated travellers

6 November 2006
System Issues for Jetstar Bookings

Jetstar have advised that they are reconfiguring their online connection system, which brings fares across to the STA Travel online system (Sabre). STA Travel (via Sabre) now needs to reconfigure the Sabre system to allow Jetstar flight details to be returned and flights to be booked online.

STA Travel were advised of this by Jetstar on Friday night (3 November) and have had staff working around the clock in an attempt to have Jetstar available via the Booking Tool for Monday 6 November. However, it has not been possible to fix this issue over the weekend. Therefore, for 6 November only, Jetstar flights will not show up on the online booking engine. Qantas, Qantas private fares, and Virgin flights will continue to show. STA Travel sincerely apologises for this, and are seeking an explanation from Jetstar.

Staff seeking to book Jetstar flights on Monday 6 November should do so via the STA Travel branch office.

Further updates on this situation are available by monitoring this website. Your understanding is appreciated.

3 November 2006
Web Address for SAM Has Changed

STA Travel and the Self Booking Tool system provider (Sabre) have changed the Web address (URL) for the SAM system (the STA Travel Self Booking Tool). This change will improve the response time of the system. The STA Travel Self Booking Tool is a new system and has been experiencing a number of difficulties over the last few days; however, the University remains confident that STA Travel are working hard to get this new system fully functional.

Please find below the new web address (URL) for the STA Travel Self Booking Tool. To login, you are now required to enter an additional Security Number, shown below.

The new Self Booking Tool Website address is http://sta.sabrepacific.net.au/. This will be accessible via the University Travel Website shortly.

User Name: This is your FULL email address (including @newcastle.edu.au).

Password: If you have been a recent traveller or travel arranger, this password has already been sent to you via email in the last few days. If you have not yet received your password or need to know how to arrange a password for the system, please contact John O'Grady of the Contracts Management Unit on ext 17431.

Security Number: EJ31. This is the same for all staff and will need to be entered every time you access the Self Booking Tool (SAM system).

The change from Kistend Campus to STA Travel and to ongoing implementation and refinement of the on-line travel booking systems will require information on changes or updates to be disseminated to University travellers and travel arrangers. As such, current information in relation to all travel related matters including systems use, general travel information, advice from STA Travel, and other information relevant to the arrangement and completion of travel will be placed in the Travel News Updates section of the University Travel Website. All Staff involved in travel are advised to check the Travel News Update site frequently to keep up to date with any changes in travel, particularly during November during implementation by STA Travel of their new IT Systems.

Anyone who has deleted the email from sabre.com.au containing their Self Booking Tool password should email John OGrady via email. John will arrange with STA Travel for another password to be sent to you.

1 November 2006
New Username and Password for Travel Users

By 1 November 2006, all users will receive a password for the STA Travel self booking tool via email. The email will be be from "noreply@sabre.com.au". This will enable you to begin making bookings on the STA Travel online system as of 9am on 1 November 2006. Please check your junk mail to see that this email has not been blocked.

As a user of the system, you will be able to change profile information (for example credit card details, contact numbers etc) as well as book travel for anyone in the University who has a profile on the system. Your username is your email address.

Please check all your information when you log in or book a traveller to ensure that the information is correct. If it is not, you can make any changes yourself and save the new information. If you do not receive an email from "noreply@sabre.com.au" , this means we have not received your email address and can therefore not activate your account. Please advise the branch by emailing newcastleedu@branch.statravel.com.au and we will activate your account. Alternatively, you can access profile information via the travel portal on our website, complete the form and send it to the STA Travel branch.

STA Travel have loaded all profiles supplied, so please make sure a credit card is listed in the profile before making a booking.

If you have any questions, the SAM user manual (Word) is available for download the web site from 1 November, or phone the STA Travel branch on ext 16008.

Anyone who has deleted the email with their password for SAM in it should email John O'Grady. John will arrange for another password to be sent to you.

31 October 2006
New Preferred Provider: STA Travel

On 1 November 2006, the University will be moving to STA Travel to provide all our travel requirements. STA Travel will replace Kistend Campus Travel as the University's preferred provider. Staff members should be aware that the University Travel Policy states that all University-related travel must now be booked through STA Travel.

This arrangement will continue until 30 October 2007.