CHICAGO, May 28 /PRNewswire/ — OAG (Official Airline Guide), the global flight information and data solutions company, today announced the launch of OAG travel Planner Pro, its new intelligent online tool for people who need to search, plan and book business travel quickly and efficiently, and a completely rebuilt web site for people who need to control their travel arrangements.
OAG travel Planner Pro is a brand new online business travel planning application which enables business travellers and professional travel arrangers to plan, book and manage multiple trip plans for multiple travellers, and to create highly complex itineraries in an easy to use and intuitive online environment. OAG travel Planner Pro enables users to do everything from a simple look-up for flights, hotels, car rental, trains and destination information, right through the trip building process using the trip builder wizard, to checking flight status and printing off a full itinerary including appointment details.
OAG.com, the company’s dedicated travel web site, has been completely redesigned based on extensive research into the online behaviours of business travellers and those who are responsible for managing travel arrangements. Geary Interactive, a full-service digital marketing agency based in San Diego, USA, has designed and developed the new site to create a digital environment where consumers can interact intelligently with the wealth of travel information OAG is known for providing.
David Rosen, Managing Director OAG travel Solutions, said, “Our strength is providing the best information and travel planning tools available, using the same OAG database that keeps the global travel industry moving. Our customers are not shopping for ideas, they are shopping for solutions. They know where they’re going and when they need to be there, and need reliable information to ensure they are fully prepared. Business trips can be very complex to arrange, especially when things change last minute. We have listened to our customers and introduced a booking and fulfilment service for travellers and planners who currently self-book, which will put them in full control of their travel arrangements and make their lives easier. Now, with OAG travel Planner Pro, they will have everything in one place in a really easy to use and intuitive online application for smarter travel planning.”
Rosen continued, “For travel managers and planners who already use a travel management company, OAG travel Planner Pro can provide real benefits. Once the planning is completed, they can then simply send their travel plans to their TMC for booking and fulfilment. travel agencies are an important customer group for OAG, and we have already had a lot of interest from companies wishing to white label travel Planner Pro as a full-service option for their own clients.”
The booking and fulfilment service within OAG travel Planner Pro is provided through a number of specialist global travel partners.
Travellers and arrangers wishing to watch a guided demonstration of OAG travel Planner Pro, or to register for a free trial, should go to or email .
OAG travel Planner Pro is the online part of OAG’s multi-media offering to help business travellers take off and land with a plan. It is complemented by OAG Flights2Go for instant access on your mobile phone to worldwide flight schedules and flight status updates, and the OAG Pocket Flight Guide for when print is the best solution. The Guide is published monthly in four regional editions: Europe, Africa & Middle East; North America; Latin America & Caribbean; and Asia Pacific.
Highlights of OAG travel Planner Pro include:
Search results: the ability to create a shortlist of possible flights and hotels which can be sent to the traveller for selection.
Trip Builder Wizard: this brand new function means you can quickly and easily build a skeleton itinerary which you can then populate. The Wizard guides you every step of the way as you search and add in flights, hotels, car rental, trains, boats and ferries. You can also include custom items such as buses, staying with friends, local restaurants and meetings during the trip.
Booking and Fulfilment: users will have immediate access to a fast and reliable fare comparison, booking and fulfilment service wherever they are in the world.
Travel Assistant: this feature provides additional information and support for the user to find reservation numbers, minimum connecting times, check the status of a flight, and numerous other useful things for a complete itinerary.
PDF facility: all itineraries, no matter how complex, can be output automatically to a standard template which can be exported as a PDF file for easy printing and emailing.
About OAG travel Solutions
OAG travel Solutions () provides the world’s foremost travel planning and booking tools for its premium corporate and individual business travel subscribers. Its suite of online, mobile and print reference products are recognized globally as the world standard. OAG-branded consumer products include the world’s most comprehensive and up-to-date online flight search service, OAG Flights; itinerary building tool OAG travel Planner Pro; and printed reference products such as OAG Flight Guide and the regional OAG Pocket Flight Guides.
OAG travel Solutions is a division of OAG (Official Airline Guide ), a global flight information and data solutions company for the passenger aviation, air cargo logistics and business travel markets. OAG is part of Commonwealth Business Media () a wholly owned subsidiary of United Business Media plc ().
OAG travel Solutions

SAO PAULO, Brazil, April 28 /PRNewswire/ — - Airfinance Journal recognizes success of company’s senior guaranteed notes issue in April last year TAM (Bovespa: TAMM4 and NYSE: TAM) has been recognized with the LatinAmerica Best 2007 Deal award by Airfinance Journal for its bond issued abroadin April of last year. The company issued senior guaranteed notes at 7.375%,with a total value of US$ 300 million, expiring in 2017. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080221/SPTH002LOGO ) The funds would be used to finance the upgrading and expansion of thecompany’s operational fleet, with the remaining amount to be used for generalcorporate proposals. In its ninth edition, the “Deal of the Year” awardrecognizes the most important business deals made throughout the year thatcombine innovation, creativity, structural ability and good execution. The award was given to TAM’s director of International Contracts, JoseZaidan Maluf, at a ceremony held Monday, April 21, in the Rainbow Room of theRockefeller Center in New York. “The bond offer we made in 2007 has hadexcellent results and demonstrated investors’ interest in the company. Theaward given by Airfinance Journal is in recognition of the operation’ssuccess,” said Libano Barroso, vice president of Finance and Management anddirector of Investor Relations. Airfinance Journal is one of the foremost business publications offeredby the worldwide commercial aviation industry. Investor Relations: Press Agency: Phone: 55-11-5582-9715 Phone: 55-11-5582-8167 Fax: 55-11-5582-8149 Fax: 55-11-5582-8155 invest@tam.com.br tamimprensa@tam.com.br www.tam.com.br/ir MVL Comunicacao Phone. 55-11-3594-0302 / 0304 / 0305 About TAM: TAM (http://www.tam.com.br) has been the leader in the Brazilian domesticmarket for more than four years and closed March 2008 with a 51.4% marketshare. The company operates flights to 42 Brazilian destinations. It serves79 different destinations in the Brazilian market through commercialagreements with regional companies. Among Brazilian airline companies, TAM’sinternational market share was 68.9% in March. Its international operationsinclude direct flights to 17 destinations: New York and Miami (USA), Paris(France), London (England), Milan (Italy), Frankfurt (Germany), Madrid(Spain), Buenos Aires and Cordoba (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Caracas(Venezuela), Montevideo and Punta del Este (Uruguay), Asuncion and Ciudad delEste (Paraguay), and Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba (Bolivia).Additionally, it has code share agreements with international airlines, whichallow passengers to travel to another 64 destinations in the United States,South America and Europe. TAM was the first airline company to launch aloyalty program in Brazil; TAM’s program currently has 4.5 million membersand has redeemed more than 5.2 million tickets in exchange for points. Web site: http://www.tam.com.brTAM

DALLAS, April 22 /PRNewswire/ — This year the excitement of planning an international trip of a lifetime also comes with the reality of a weak dollar. While you may think that your pockets aren’t deep enough for traveling overseas this summer, STA Travel has expert tips to make a summer getaway affordable.Here are STA Travel’s tips for planning a great summer getaway on a manageable budget. — Pre-Book Everything — There isn’t much you can’t purchase prior to departure including tours and activities, accommodations, international cell phones, and travel insurance (and the list goes on and on). You can literally save hundreds of dollars by paying for these items here in the U.S. rather than battling the exchange rate while away. This also helps to lock in your budget before you leave and cuts down on unexpected expenses along the way. To really lock down your travel budget, book a package tour that includes lodging, transportation and in some cases food for an inclusive adventure. For example, embark on a 14-day European tour that includes accommodations, activities and entertainment as well as most meals for $1,694. — Exchange Your Currency at Home, Not at the Airport ATM or Abroad — Along with pre-booking your travel must-haves, you can also purchase your foreign currency online at before you go. STA Travel allows you to buy from a selection of 100 foreign currencies and have them conveniently delivered right to your door. Even better, if you return with left over funds, you can exchange them back at the fixed rate of your original purchase. Much better than walking around with 40 Euros for the next 3 months! — Consider Alternate Entry Points Into Europe — While London, Paris and Rome may be convenient, some alternate entry points can save you hundreds of dollars and offer much better availability. Brussels, Munich, Manchester and Zurich are all wonderful alternatives. From these locations, you can catch the rail and see the European countryside through the comforts of the train. The rail can also save on your accommodations. If you plan your arrival at nighttime and jump on the train, you can catch some z’s on the ride and save yourself a hotel stay. — Anyone for Asia? — Alternative entry points are always a good idea but what about some alternate summer destinations to help you cut considerable costs? Thailand, Uruguay, Panama and Costa Rica are locations where the dollar is considerably strong and offers everything a student traveler is looking for including food, music, culture and lifestyle. While the cost of the air ticket won’t differ greatly from Europe, the on-ground expenses for these destinations are still a bargain! — Save While You’re Away — Take advantage of even more international discounts with your International Student Identity Card (ISIC). You’ll save hundreds for only $22.Visit or for more on these offerings and other great ways to save on your next vacation.About STA TravelSTA Travel is the largest student and youth travel organization in the world serving over two and a half million students each year. With 70 retail locations in the United States, a 24-hour call center and an online presence on and , students have access to comprehensive travel products and services including discounted student airfare, accommodations and tours, discount cards, student travel loans, travel insurance, foreign currency exchange, international cell phones and visa application services. STA Travel is the exclusive distributor of the ISIC card and the Blue Ticket(TM) in the United States. STA Travel also has extensive resources and expertise to service group clients with its International Programs and Group Services division. Contact: Amanda Webb 972-538-8843STA Travel

SAO PAULO, Brazil, April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — TAM (Bovespa: TAMM4 and NYSE: TAM) is the first Brazilian airline that comes to mind for the “gauchos”, the people of Rio Grande do Sul. The company achieved the ranking in the 2008 Top Of Mind survey, conducted since 1991 by Revista Amanha, a business and economics magazine from Porto Alegre (RS). This is the first time the company has led in its category, scoring 34.8% among those surveyed in the area.(Logo: )According to the magazine, 1,200 interviews conducted from the beginning of the year through February were used to calculate the results. Customers surveyed were from all social classes, between 16 and 65 years of age. To arrive at the final list that put TAM in first place, the question asked was: out of all the categories surveyed, what is the first company, product, service or personality that comes to mind?”We’re pleased with this recognition in a market as important as the Gaucho is,” said TAM Marketing Director, Manoela Amaro. “The results go along with our commitment to providing excellent service, which is one of TAM’s three pillars — along with excellent management and technical operational excellence.” Investor Relations: Phone: (55) (11) 5582-9715 Fax: (55) (11) 5582-8149 Press Agency: Phone: (55) (11) 5582-8167 Fax: (55) (11) 5582-8155 MVL Comunicacao Phone. (55) (11) 3594-0302 / 0304 / 0305 About TAM:TAM () has been the leader in the Brazilian domestic market for more than four years and closed March 2008 with a 51.4% market share. The company operates flights to 42 Brazilian destinations. It serves 79 different destinations in the Brazilian market through commercial agreements with regional companies. Among Brazilian airline companies, TAM’s international market share was 68.9% in March. Its international operations include direct flights to 17 destinations: New York and Miami (USA), Paris (France), London (England), Milan (Italy), Frankfurt (Germany), Madrid (Spain), Buenos Aires and Cordoba (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Caracas (Venezuela), Montevideo and Punta del Este (Uruguay), Asuncion and Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), and Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba (Bolivia). Additionally, it has code share agreements with international airlines, which allow passengers to travel to another 64 destinations in the United States, South America and Europe. TAM was the first airline company to launch a loyalty program in Brazil; TAM’s program currently has 4.5 million members and has redeemed more than 5.2 million tickets in exchange for points. TAM