The Apple AirTag and Airline Baggage Tracking

21 February 2025Mano Chandra DhasAir Transportation, Blog, Lost BaggageAir Travel, Apple AirTag, Checked-in Baggage, Lost Baggage

An increasing number of airlines are beginning to integrate the Apple AirTag into their checked-in tracking systems to assist with tracing Mishandled Baggage. The recent announcement of the Lufthansa Group brings the total of airlines using the AirTag up to 18.

I wonder how many readers are right now thinking about how the small AirTag will help an airline’s passenger baggage tracking system. Of course, the process will only be of importance to you if your baggage does not arrive on the conveyor belt (I know well the feeling and the consequent thought process when one is in that situation), in the baggage arrival hall. Let’s have a look at how it works

VAT Recovery on Business Travel: A Complete Guide for Colombian Companies

7 February 2025Mano Chandra DhasVAT Refund, BlogBusiness Travel, Colombia, European Union, VAT Refund1 Comment

In today’s interconnected business world, international travel remains essential for companies expanding their global presence. Consequently, there are expenses companies need to take on, and there are expenses that can be recovered. Many Colombian companies, don’t seem to realise they can recover Value Added Tax (VAT) paid during international business travel. Let’s take a deep dive and break it down to study what it is, and how VAT refunds work for Business Travel.

Walking Through Time: Exploring Bogotá’s La Candelaria on Foot

10 January 2025Mano Chandra DhasLeisure Travel, ColombiaBogota, City Tour, Colombia, Holidays12 Comments

There is no experience in Colombia that parallels walking through time in Bogota’s La Candelaria district. North, South, East or West, you will meet head-on with history. Within a radius of about 1.5 to 2.5 km, there is more history compacted than in the rest of Colombia.

Foreign VAT Recovery for Businesses in the USA

8 June 2024Mano Chandra DhasVAT Refund, Corporate Travel ManagementUSA, VAT, VAT Reclaim, VAT Refund

If you have a business in the USA, and travel to other countries on business, you should be recovering Foreign VAT (Value Added Tax) on expenses paid. The deadlines for submitting your documents for VAT recovery from the EU and other countries are fast approaching – mostly June 30, and December 31 for UK. This is when many US businesses that travel overseas for business, often drop the ball on foreign VAT reclaim.

Emirates Airlines Strategic Move in South America – New Miami-Bogotá Route 03 June 2024

21 February 2024Mano Chandra DhasAir Transportation, Colombia, DubaiAirlines, Colombia, Dubai, Emirates2 Comments

Emirates Airlines, the popular and award-winning airline of Dubai, announced today it is making strategic expansions into South America. The new service will be an extension of the existing Emirates service to Miami International Airport (MIA), to Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG), in Colombia. This move not only marks a significant step in the Airline’s growth strategy but also highlights its commitment to enhancing connectivity between different continents.

Emirates announced today 21 February 2024, that it will launch a new daily service from Dubai to the Colombian capital city, Bogotá, starting 3 June 2024 to become Emirates’ fourth gateway in South America and the airline’s network to expand to 19 points across the Americas. The new services will establish a historic first-ever link between the greater Middle East region and the northern part of the South American continent.

Guatavita – A Fascinating Town on the Colombian Andes

30 January 2024Mano Chandra DhasLeisure TravelDay Trip, Guatavita, Leisure Travel2 Comments

Guatavita – one of my favourite towns. It is not far away from Bogotá. I would recommend the route through Sesquilé. The distance from Bogotá to Sesquilé is 58 km and from Sesquilé to the New Guatavita town, 21 km. If you drive straight through, it will take you a little over an hour and

Zipaquirá Day Trip – A Memorable Excursion From Bogotá

17 July 2023Mano Chandra DhasColombia, Leisure TravelColombia, Corporate Leisure, Leisure2 Comments

If you are on a short business trip to Bogotá, I would recommend a break after you are done with Business. Go to Zipaquirá, one of the best day trips from Bogotá. Take three or four days off your hectic schedules to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Andes. Leave the capital city behind. I would propose a laid-back trip to the nearby town of Zipaquirá. Here below are my recommendations for the town of Zipaquirá, and a day trip you will not forget.

Artificial Intelligence in Business Travel – The Future Is Here.

2 July 2023Mano Chandra DhasCorporate Travel Management, Air Transportation, Air Travel, TechnologyAI, Air Travel, Artificial Intelligence AI, Business Travel, TMC20 Comments

Artificial Intelligence in Business Travel is a much-discussed topic in Corporate Management circles today. It is about to completely change the face of Business Travel. There is even talk, that Travel Management Companies (TMCs) could become extinct by 2030. I do not believe that. There will always be a role for the innovative TMC to play, but the time has come for TMCs to once again innovate to survive.

Emirates Posts Record Profit of US$ 3 Billion – How Did They Do it?

23 May 2023Mano Chandra DhasAir Transportation, Airline PricingAirlines, Emirates, Profitability8 Comments

Emirates posts record profit of US$ 3 Billion for the financial year 2022-23. The Group’s revenue was US$ 32.6 Billion during the same period. The question that immediately comes to mind is how did they do it when so many airlines are struggling around the world with some having closed down and others going through very difficult times. There are many factors that contribute to the Airline’s success. Let’s take a look at the how and why of Emirates’ success – as a former insider, I have had the pleasure to play in the actual arena.

Best of Bogotá In 3 Days: A Tour Itinerary For in and Around Colombia’s Capital City

18 April 2023Mano Chandra DhasLeisure Travel, ColombiaColombia, Corporate Leisure, Holidays, Leisure Travel, Tourism14 Comments

If you plan to visit Colombia, you must set aside three or four days to take in the vibrant Andes capital city of Bogotá and around. Here below, is what to me, is the best of Bogotá in 3 days. It is a tour designed with Bogotá as your base and could take you out of the city as well.

The City is located high on the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes Mountains, at an altitude of 8,660 feet above mean sea level. As the bustling capital of Colombia, Bogotá is home to over 8 million residents, with a daytime population that could soar to almost 10 million. The metropolitan population is over 12 Million. It is a large city by any standard.