Coronavirus: Entry update
Since certain countries will soon relax their entry restrictions and there are already countries whose borders are basically passable for Swiss nationals, you will find an entry update under the following link. Here you can see in colour which countries have opened their borders for Swiss nationals, are still closed or where it is increasingly likely that entry restrictions will be relaxed.

From 15 August onwards, a mask must also be worn in airplanes. The measure affects all scheduled and charter flights that take off or land in Switzerland, regardless of the airline. The Federal Council has thus extended the mask requirement in public transport, which has been in force since 6 July.

The Spanish mainland will be on the list of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health's (SFOPH) return quarantine list as of midnight next Saturday (August 8). With more than 68 infections per 100,000 persons in the last 14 days, the country is considered a risk area; Switzerland takes 60 new infections as the limit. This development had already been apparent for several days and is therefore no surprise.

Only the islands, i.e. the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, are not on the quarantine list with significantly lower case numbers - also as expected. This means that at least some of the most popular holiday destinations for the Swiss are not affected by travel restrictions. This is the first time the FOPH has distinguished between an entire country and regions.

People arriving in Switzerland from certain countries and areas are required to go into quarantine. The cantonal authorities carry out spot checks to ensure quarantine is being respected.

States and areas with an increased risk of infection

The newly added countries and areas are written in bold. Removed from the list on 8 August 2020: Azerbaijan, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. 

• Argentina
• Armenia
• The Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Cape Verde
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Eswatini (Swazsiland)
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Iraq
• Israel
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Luxembourg
• Maldives
• Mexico
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Occupied Palestinian Territory
• Oman
• Panama
• Peru
• Qatar
• Romania
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Sint Maarten
• Spain (with the exception of the Balearic and Canary Islands)
• South Africa
• Suriname
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United States of America (including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands)

From 1 August 2020, all passengers travelling to Dubai, including passengers with connecting flights in Dubai, must have a negative Covid 19 test certificate. The test must be performed no more than 96 hours prior to departure. Children under 12 years of age and passengers with a moderate or severe disability are excluded. The PCR tests are mandatory for all clients, including UAE nationals, UAE residents and tourists arriving in Dubai and transiting through Dubai, regardless of the countries from which they are travelling, Emirates said.

However, the Swiss quarantine list, on which Dubai is also included, does not apply to transit passengers. Anyone who has been in Dubai for less than 24 hours can enter Switzerland without quarantine.

This rule applies to all flights to and via Abu Dhabi.

Swiss is offering a basic return flight guarantee on all European routes from 25 June. The return flight guarantee applies to all customers, regardless of the class of travel and the fare booked. You will be flown back to Switzerland or to Germany and Austria with the airlines of the Lufthansa Group. Meaning: The return flight guarantee is also available with Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines.

In addition, the "Economy Classic" and "Business Saver" tariffs on European routes will be extended free of charge in cooperation with AXA Partners to include further attractive guarantee components to form an "all-round carefree package". If travellers are not allowed to enter the country, for example due to increased temperature at the destination, or if a coronavirus test necessitates quarantine at the destination, the insurance covers the costs of quarantine or medical repatriation. In addition, the tariff, in cooperation with AXA, offers the opportunity to take advantage of a medical consultation by telephone and to speak to a doctor via video call. Additional hotel costs are also borne by possible quarantine or transport costs, for example if the return flight is from another airport at the holiday destination. Even cancellation costs for unused hotel stays and excursions are reimbursed.

In addition, the Economy and Business Flex fares on European routes will be extended with the "Bring me Home Now" option. Swiss customers hereby receive the guarantee, if desired booked on the next available flight (with a member of the Lufthansa Group) and returned to Switzerland or to Germany and Austria. The rebooking costs only CHF 35.00, there are no further costs. For all other fares, the return journey is on the next possible Lufthansa Group flight, subject to availability.

As mentioned, the extensions in the above-mentioned tariffs will be available on all Swiss distribution channels from 25 June 2020 and until the end of August 2020. All trips with a return flight date until the end of January 2021 are covered.

If you have any questions or uncertainties, please contact Polyglott Tours and Travel. We are happy to help you.

Dear customers

With our services we help to ensure that we continue to function during this period. We do everything we can to ensure that you remain well supplied and connected despite the current emergency. However, the health of our employees is also close to our heart. They work tirelessly and we want to protect them as best we can. We have therefore decided to adjust our opening hours until further notice.

These are as follows:
Monday to Friday from 08.00hrs to 18.00hrs

Our counter is open again from 11.05.20, at the moment only by the hour.

Outside these hours, an emergency number is available around the clock as usual.
WhatsApp/Emergency: 079 409 65 37

By order of the Federal Council, our counter will remain closed until at least 11 May 2020. However, our opening hours will remain unchanged - we will be there for you as always - and can be reached by telephone and e-mail. Outside these hours, as usual, an emergency number is available around the clock.

The rapid spread of the novel corona virus SARS-Covid-19 from central China to currently more than 185 countries has a significant impact on international travel, tourism in general and also on our trips.

In this situation it is our concern to support you with advice and assistance. If you have any questions or uncertainties, you can contact us at any time. We will try to advise you as best as we can on your current travels, as well as inform you about the effects on the respective countries and entry regulations.

Various countries have adapted their entry regulations and have introduced measures such as medical examinations, quarantine, entry bans etc. It is therefore essential that travellers inform themselves about the entry requirements of their destination before starting a new journey. However, some countries can still be visited without hesitation. Please contact us if you are uncertain. We are happy to help you. Polyglott bases its assessment of safety and/or health risks for travel destinations on the travel advice of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). In this case, the recommendations of the WHO and the Federal Office of Public Health are authoritative. The FOPH has summarised recommendations for travellers on its website.

Some airlines and tour operators have relaxed their cancellation and rebooking conditions. This information is updated regularly.

In order to make it easier for you to decide whether to book a new trip, some airlines and tour operator brands such as Kuoni, Helvetic, Tui, FTI, Hotelplan, etc. have decided to offer a free cancellation and rebooking facility for newly booked trips, regardless of the destination booked. This under certain conditions. We will be happy to advise you on this as well.

We all hope that the situation will improve soon. We wish you, our valued customers, good health and continued smooth, beautiful, successful and unforgettable travel.

PartnerPlusBenefit

PartnerPlusBenefit ist ein besonderes Bonusprogramm für KMU's mit dem Motto: fliegen, punkten, profitieren. Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos und die Prämien sind überaus attraktiv.

Mitmachen ist ganz einfach: Nach der Registrierung Ihres Unternehmens sammeln Sie und Ihre Mitarbeiter auf Flügen aller teilnehmenden BenefitPartner Airlines wertvolle BenefitPunkte, die Sie beispielsweise in Freiflüge, Upgrades, Barauszahlungen oder Sachprämien eintauschen können. Ausserdem bietet Ihnen PartnerPlusBenefit regelmässig attraktive Promotionen, bei denen Sie gleich mehrfach punkten können.

Vorteile

• Reduzierung der Reisekosten
• Attraktive Prämien
• Bei SWISS und Partner Airlines Punkte für Ihr Unternehmen sammeln
• Gleichzeitig Gutschrift von Meilen im Vielfliegerprogramm für den Reisenden
• Weltweite Abdeckung mit den BenefitPartner Airlines

Bedingungen

Für das KMU Bonusprogramm PartnerPlusBenefit können sich nur Firmen anmelden, die keinen Firmenvertrag mit SWISS abgeschlossen haben. Registrieren Sie sich in dem Land, von wo aus Ihre Geschäftsreisen in der Regel starten. Prüfen Sie auf der PartnerPlusBenefit Webseite – www.partnerplusbenefit.ch , ob das Bonusprogramm in Ihrem Land verfügbar ist.

Kosten

Die Teilnahme am KMU Bonusprogramm PartnerPlusBenefit ist kostenlos.

Swiss Best-Preise bei Polyglott

Die Lufthansa Gruppe (zu der auch Swiss gehört) hat in verschiedenen Medien kommuniziert, ab dem 5.4.2018 eine neue Bestpreis-Politik zu starten. Will heissen: Auf verschiedenen Strecken werden die besten Tarife nur noch auf den direkten Buchungskanälen zur Verfügung stehen.

Wir freuen uns und sind stolz, Ihnen mitteilen zu können, dass Polyglott über einen Vertrag und eine Direktanbindung (SPRK) mit der Lufthansa-Group verfügt und somit die besten Preise anbieten kann - und erst noch zum persönlichen und kundenfreundlichen Polyglott-Service.

So können Sie bei Ihrer nächsten Swiss-Buchung also weiterhin von unseren Best-Preisen profitieren.

100 Geschäftsführer und Verantwortliche für Geschäftsreisen in Schweizer Unternehmen wurden von BCD befragt. Aus den Antworten geht hervor, dass viele Manager möglichst stressfrei reisen wollen und sie beim hierzu beim Geschäftsreisemanagement auf externe Dienstleister setzen. Auf Effizienz und guten Service werde gleichermassen grossen Wert gelegt.

69 Prozent der Unternehmen gaben als wichtigsten Grund für die Nutzung von Geschäftsreisebüros an, dass persönliche Ansprechpartner Fragen zu Reiseverbindungen und Hotels besser und schneller beantworten können. Knapp die Hälfte (47 Prozent) der Reiseverantwortlichen in Firmen wissen es zu schätzen, dass sie selbst keinen zeitlichen Aufwand für das Suchen der besten Reiseverbindung oder der besten Übernachtungsmöglichkeit haben. Ebenso viele geben an, dass die Beauftragung eines Geschäftsreisebüros für Unternehmen von den Kosten her günstiger ist, als die Reiseorganisation in Eigenleistung vorzunehmen.

«Eine Geschäftsreise sollte möglichst ohne Komplikationen verlaufen: Wenn beispielsweise ein Flug kurzfristig ausfällt, übernehmen die Mitarbeiter des Geschäftsreisebüros jederzeit die kurzfristige Umbuchung auf eine andere Verbindung» sagt Michel Jegerlehner, Director Sales & Account Management BCD Travel Schweiz. «Der Reiseverantwortliche oder buchende Person des Unternehmens kann oft nicht so flexibel reagieren oder ist beispielsweise bei fortgeschrittener Uhrzeit nicht mehr am Arbeitsplatz.»

Über alle Branchen hinweg betrachtet sind es oft mittelgroße Firmen ab 100 Mitarbeitern (58 Prozent) und grosse Unternehmen mit 250 und mehr Mitarbeitern (52 Prozent), die mit einem Geschäftsreisebüro zusammenarbeiten. Anders in den Branchen Handel, produzierendes Gewerbe und Industrie: «Da in diesen Branchen die Reisetätigkeit sehr gross ist, lassen sich hier bei der Reiseplanung auch viele kleinere Firmen von externen Spezialisten unterstützen», sagt Jegerlehner. Gerade die kleineren Firmen ohne Büroorganisation schätzten den Rund-um-Service.