travel bank virgin faq

Travel Bank

The Travel Bank system can be used for individual travellers or corporations. You, the airline, choose who and what can be refunded into a Travel Bank account. Plus you can direct your travellers to your website to spend the accrued credits increasing your online market share. How does a passenger join the Travel Bank program? When a passenger changes travel plans and the ticket needs to be refunded or exchanged the outstanding balance is credited to either an existing account or a new account is created for a passenger that has not had a refund previously. Refunds or part exchange balances are credited to a Travel Bank account as 'soft' dollars that can only be used to purchase a new ticket for further travel. Purchasing a new ticket can be fulfilled either online throught the airlines booking engine or via the airlines agent reservations system. Credit expiry limits are set by the airline so unused dollars do not become a financial liability for the airline. The program is beneficial for both the airline and the passenger. Travel Bank assists the airline to build loyalty amongst passengers by allowing credits on unused tickets towards future travel. Travel Bank can be used for both individual travellers and corporations. For more information about Travel Bank contact %1

Set up your free TravelBank expense and travel management account

This article outlines the process for administrators to set up their TravelBank account.

This article is directed toward administrators with a free TravelBank expense and travel management account.

Create your TravelBank account

Follow the link in your welcome email with the subject line “Use TravelBank to manage your Commercial Rewards Card program.” The link has you log in to TravelBank . When you first log in to TravelBank, an onboarding wizard walks you through steps to set up your organization’s travel and expense policies, as well as set up new users.

TravelBank sends the welcome email to the primary program administrator listed during the application process. If you do not see the welcome email, contact [email protected] .

Set up your program

TravelBank has several support articles to guide you through the setup of your organization’s program in TravelBank. To get started, review the appropriate administrator guide:

Go to the Commercial Rewards Card program administrator guide.

Go to the Commercial Rewards Card paid plan administrator guide.

If you need help, contact the Commercial Rewards Program team at [email protected] .

Publish date : December 21, 2023

Last update : January 19, 2024

Virgin Voyages Help & Support

Whether you’re looking for a specific answer, getting ready to set sail, or just came here for a little ship knowledge… we've got you covered.

• Help & Support

Trending topics

General information.

Itinerary Updates

Loyalty Programs

Nonperformance (US only)

Help with a new booking

Cabin Upgrades

Choosing Your Cabin

Accessibility

Help with an existing reservation

Shore Things

Pre-Voyage Policies

Embarkation day

Port Information

Travel Requirements

Onboard experience

Entertainment

Spa Services

Post voyage

Disembarkation

Post Voyage Support

Browse FAQs

Before you sail, the days at sea, back on dry land, need help getting the as to your qs, hit the big, red button below and reach out to our sailor services crew..

Welcome to Travel Bank

- Online at www.virginaustralia.com - Via the Virgin Australia Business Portal if you are a corporate customer, by choosing Travel Bank as your form of payment - Over the phone via the Guest Contact Centre.

Heathrow strikes to cause disruption to flights: Full list of dates and airlines affected

Here's what you need to know about when all the strikes are, what disruption is expected and which airlines are affected.

Wednesday 24 April 2024 16:28, UK

Staff at Heathrow airport are set to strike on the early bank holiday in May, with their union warning planes could be "delayed, disrupted and grounded".

It's part of a slew of strike dates by different departments at the UK's biggest airport over the next few weeks.

Refuelling workers

50 refuellers working at the airport are set to strike on the following days:

Saturday 4 May

Sunday 5 May

Monday 6 May (bank holiday)

The Unite union says it expects the strikes by its members to lead to severe disruption for passengers over the bank holiday.

Unite says the workers' employer, aviation fuel firm AFS, imposed cuts to the terms and conditions of new staff recruited since January 2024, including offering them reduced pension and sickness benefits.

Heathrow Airport says it is working on contingencies with AFS to manage any potential disruption, saying it has "robust" measures planned, adding that passengers can book flights from Heathrow with confidence.

Sky News has attempted to contact AFS for comment.

Full list of airlines set to be affected:

American Airlines

United Airlines

Virgin Atlantic

Japan Airlines

Singapore Airlines

Korean Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines

Lot (Polish)

Royal Air Maroc

Middle East Airlines

Sas (Scandinavian)

Tap Air Portugal

Malta Airlines

Aero Mexico

Latam Airlines

Bulgarian Air

China Airlines

Air Mauritius

Turkmenistan

Tianjin Airlines

Beijing Capital

Almost 800 staff in various departments

Unite members in the following departments at Heathrow are set to take part in a week of strike action in May:

Passenger services - who assist travellers to catch connecting flights

Trolley operations

Campus security - the security guards who are responsible for all workers at Heathrow and vehicles being checked before entering Heathrow

Firefighters

Airside operations

The walkout will take place on the following days:

Tuesday 7 May

Wednesday 8 May

Thursday 9 May

Friday 10 May

Saturday 11 May

Sunday 12 May

Monday 13 May

Unite says the strike action "will inevitably cause widespread disruption across the airport, leading to delays and disruption".

It says the airport has announced the work of passenger services, trolley operations and campus security is set to be outsourced by 1 June in a "cost-cutting exercise" that Heathrow says will save it £40m.

"This cost reduction will lead to a substantial reduction in the number of workers, which raises serious security concerns, given the safety critical nature of much of the work undertaken," Unite says.

Its firefighters and airside operation members are also striking because they fear they "may be next in line" to have their work outsourced, the union adds.

Read more on Sky News: Train drivers at 16 rail companies to strike in May Which countries are unsafe to travel to amid Middle East tensions?

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Heathrow Airport's actions are deplorable, it is raking in massive profits for the bosses while trying to squeeze every last penny out of its workforce.

"Unite is fully focused on defending its members jobs, pay and conditions and our members at Heathrow will receive the union's unrelenting support during this dispute."

A Heathrow spokesman said: "We are reorganising our operations to deliver better results for our customers. There are no job losses as a result of these changes, and we continue to discuss with Unite the implementation of these changes for the small number of colleagues impacted.

"Unite's threats of potential industrial action are unnecessary, and customers can be reassured that we will keep the airport operating smoothly, just like we have in the past."

Border Force officers

They will walk out for four days over changes to their working conditions, according to the Public and Commercial Services trade union.

The union said more than 300 of its members working at terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the airport will walk out on the following days:

Monday 29 April

Tuesday 30 April

Wednesday 1 May

Thursday 2 May

The effect of this strike would be on arrivals rather than departures.

It's because around 250 Border Force staff will lose their jobs at passport control under new roster plans, the union says.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Our members are angry and disappointed at being forced out of their jobs.

"While not everyone will be affected, the changes will disproportionately hit those who are disabled or have caring responsibilities.

"The Home Office should be doing all it can to retain experienced, trained staff - not lose them by introducing an unworkable new roster system."

The Home Office said it was "disappointed" with the union's decision but added it remains "open to discussing a resolution".

It added: "The changes we are implementing will bring the working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with the way staff work at other ports, provide them with more certainty on working patterns, and improve the service to the travelling public.

"Keeping our borders secure remains our top priority and we have robust plans in place to minimise any potential disruption."

Related Topics

HIGHLIGHTS & SIGHTSEEING IN KHABAROVSK

• The City Tour along wooden and brick houses preserved from the time of the city’s founding will enable you to feel an unmistakable charm of Khabarovsk. The oldest Komsomolskaya Square houses the remarkable redbrick building dating 1901(now the Public Library). Splendid view of the St.Innokenty church – the first church built in the city. During the Stalin’s period, a well known GULAG Camp existed near the Ulakhan village which was located close the city.
• The Archaeological Museum contains over 40,000 artifacts; among them, there are the world famous petrogliphs of Sikachi Alyan and cultural heritage of the Golden Empire of the Jurchen People.
• The Art Museum possesses a unique collection of the Far Eastern aboriginal crafts and arts that includes fish skin outfits, beautiful carpets and bone engraved items. Some wonderful ancient Russian icons and paintings by famous Russian artists Ilya Repin, Ivan Shishkin and Isaac Levitan, as well as works by Western masters, such as Rembrandt, Rubens and Monet are exhibited in the Art Museum.
• The Cruise along the Amur River is might be a beautiful journey within a live archeological museum. The riverside rocks make an unusual display of man-made carvings – petrogliphs that are the images of ancient cultural heritage of local ethnic groups. The Bolshekhetsirsky State Nature Preserve has conifer-broadleaved forests rich in typically virgin nature and genetic stock of organic life. In 30 miles to the southwest of the city, there is the Khekhtsir State Nature Reserve, a unique place where southern lianas, Manchurian walnuts grow side by side with evergreen conifers. Bears, foxes, wolves, elks and tigers could be watched occasionally there. The Badjal Range – one of the most picturesque parts of the Russian Far East with unique flora and fauna is abundant in sable, musk deer and bears.

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Heathrow Airport bank holiday flights under threat as refuellers announce strike, warns union

A similar 72-hour walk-out was called by the unite union involving the same group of workers in july 2022, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts

Get simon calder’s travel email, thanks for signing up to the simon calder’s travel email.

Fifty aircraft refuellers working at Heathrow airport will strike for 72 hours from 4 May , meaning potential chaos on one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The action, part of a dispute over terms and conditions for new staff, has been timed to hit travellers over the early May bank holiday .

Those taking part are members of the Unite union working for AFS Aviation. The union says they refuel aircraft for 35 airlines at Heathrow, including Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and Air France, and warns the strikes “are likely to lead to severe disruption to airline services for passengers”.

AFS Aviation also services the three biggest US airlines – American, Delta and United – as well as Air Canada and Singapore Airlines.

The dispute is over reduced pension and sickness benefits for new staff recruited since the start of the year, leading to what the union calls a “two-tier workforce.”

The Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “AFS is behaving appallingly by attacking the T&Cs of new members of staff – those it views as the easiest to intimidate.

“But Unite will not stand for such bully-boy tactics and we will be backing our members in their fight for improved pensions and sick pay for all staff.”

Unite regional officer Kevin Hall added: “Our members recognise that if they allow this attack on their conditions to take place, before long this will become the norm. Unite won’t allow that to happen and is standing firm with our members on the picket line.

“AFS will have to answer directly to the airlines and passengers for the disruption caused by their unmerited actions.”

Sources at Heathrow say contingency planning is taking place. British Airways, which operates more than half the flights from Heathrow, has its own fuelling service and is unaffected.

The Independent has asked Virgin Atlantic and Emirates for comment.

A similar 72-hour strike was called by the Unite union involving the same group of workers in July 2022, over a peak summer weekend. But the dispute was settled before the action started after an improved pay offer was made.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Khabarovsk: The city on the 5,000 ruble banknote

A night view of Khabarovsk, the capital of Russia's Far East. Source: Lori/Legion-Media

Located at the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri rivers, Khabarovsk (6140 kilometers from Moscow) is the second largest city in the Russian Far East after Vladivostok. Having grown from a small military post in the middle of the 19 th  century, the city got its name from the famous Russian explorer Yerofei Khabarov, who surveyed the Amur River. Currently Khabarovsk is the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District.

Where to go on a first date with the city

Source: Lori/Legion-Media

The city was founded by Count Nikolai Muravyov-Amursky and the main street is named in his honor. Modern buildings and shopping centers coexist with old stone houses of gray and red. A monument to this famous Russian statesman can be found in the city’s Central Park. This statue can also be seen on the 5,000-ruble banknote.

The best way to explore Khabarovsk is on foot, beginning at Lenin Square and working your way towards the banks of the Amur River. The two main boulevards, Amursky and Ussuriisky, run parallel to each other. The architecture on Lenin and Serysheva streets, with its mostly Stalin-era structures, differs from the beautiful pre-revolutionary buildings on ul. Muravieva-Amurskogo. The Amursky and Ussuriisky boulevards did not exist until the mid-1960s.

Source: Shutterstock/Legion-Media

Khabarovsk is not a typical Russian city along the Trans-Siberian Railway. The unusual fusion of Russian and Chinese cultures is felt in the food, culture and even lifestyle of its residents. Japanese touches complement this picture in the form of blossoming cherry trees and cars with steering wheels on the right hand side. That Khabarovsk has such a strong Asian influence should not seem surprising, as the city is located only 17 kilometers from the state border with China. The nearest Chinese settlement, Fuyuan, is 65 kilometers down the river from Khabarovsk.

Khabarovsk’s gem is its picturesque river embankment and the Amursky rail and road bridge, which is also depicted on the 5,000-ruble banknote. Just like the Eiffel Tower, this bridge won the gold medal of the World Exhibition in Paris in the early 20 th  century.

Khabarovsk's museums

Khabarovsk became famous during the Soviet period for a popular song about border guards that stand on the "high banks of the Amur" and protect the motherland. It is not hard to find old cannons on display in the city that were fired during the Russo-Japanese War.

At the present time Khabarovsk is the headquarters of Russia’s Far Eastern Military District.

The Military Historical Museum of the Far Eastern Military District depicts in great detail everything you ever wanted to know about the formation and development of the army in the Far East. Models of weapons from different years are exhibited over the museum’s 13 halls and heavy military equipment is placed in the courtyard of an observation deck. The museum itself is located in a historic building right on the bank of the Amur River.

The Far Eastern Art Museum, also known as the "Far East Tretyakov Gallery" features original works of ancient Russian art, as well as local artists from the Amur Region. Among the artists on display are Ivan Aivazovsky, Ivan Shishkin, Ilya Repin, Vasily Surikov, Isaak Levitan, Alexander Benois, Apollinaris Vasnetsov and Mikhail Vrubel. Many of these works of art came to the Far East from museums in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The Khabarovsk Regional Museum holds collections of flora and fauna, ethnography exhibits of indigenous peoples and Slavic settlers, and displays by paleontologists and geologists that tell the city’s story from its foundation. The only archaeological museum in the Far East is the Okladnikov Museum, which features 120,000 ancient artifacts pertaining to the Amur Region.

For those traveling with children, Khabarovsk has special kid-friendly attractions including an aquarium featuring fresh water fish of the Amur River basin, as well as the Gaidar Amusement Park and the Khabarovsk State Circus.

Source: TASS/Alexander Savchenko

A living museum of Far Eastern flora can be found at the Khabarovsk Arboretum, established as an experimental laboratory in 1896. It has collected about 300 plant species that grow in the Ussuri taiga as well as those from the Himalayas, Central Asia and North America.

Khabarovsk is known for its parks such as Dynamo or Yuri Gagarin Park. The Central Park of Culture and Relaxation is perfect for taking leisurely strolls and leads to the river station located within the park, where you can take a boat ride on the Amur River. Especially memorable is taking a walk along the river at night, when Khabarovsk is illuminated by hundreds of colored lights. In the park there is also an observation deck that offers a spectacular view of the Amur.

The cultural center of the Far East

Source: RIA Novosti/Ruslan Krivobok

The oldest Orthodox Church in Khabarovsk is a Church of St. Innocentius  of Irkutsk, erected in 1870 in honor of the patron saint of Siberia and the Far East. The impressive Holy Transfiguration Cathedral (its height with golden domes is 95 meters), built from the donations of inhabitants of the region, is the third largest temple in Russia after Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

Several major theaters operate in Khabarovsk, which is often called the cultural center of the Far East. These include the Khabarovsk Regional Musical Theater performing classic operetta and musical comedy, and the Regional Drama Theatre featuring international and domestic classics. There is also the Triad professional mime theater, which offers unusual performances in interesting interiors. 

Why you should climb the Khabarovsk cliff

Khabarovsk is hot and humid in the summer with temperatures reaching 30 C and cold and dry in the winter with the average temperature being -24 C. However, the temperatures often drop below -30, making Khabarovsk the coldest city with a population of 500,000 or more in the world. There are massive ice sculptures on Lenin Square from January until the spring thaw in April as part of the annual Amur Crystal and Ice Fantasy festivals. City Day, celebrated on the last Saturday of May, is a good reason to visit Khabarovsk at the beginning of summer.

No matter the season, if it is clear, then climb the Khabarovsk cliff (ul. Shevchenko 15), a true symbol of the city. A famous building was constructed here on a rocky promontory 70 years ago by an architect named Starikov. At first it was a station for military observation, later becoming a rescue station. After the building was transferred to Khabarovsk Central Park of Culture and Recreation, a viewing platform was added that now offers the best panoramic views of the Amur River. Take a selfie here with a view of the Amur River at the monument to Count Muravyov-Amursky.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

Khabarovsk, Russia

Tours, Attractions and Things To Do in Khabarovsk

Khabarovsk travel guide.

• 1. Architecture
• 2. Attractions
• 3. Cultural life
• 4. Souvenirs

Khabarovsk, Russia fascinates visitors with its unusual heritage and fabulous untouched nature. Tourists are drawn to the native culture, eclectic architecture and mesmerizing waters in this off-the-beaten-track destination, which promises a unique and memorable vacation.

As the center of Russia’s far eastern region of Khabarovsk Krai, the city offers celebrations throughout the year which are sure to give added flair to your trip, from traditional culture days to large-scale food fests. It is easy to keep a full itinerary during your stay thanks to its many theaters, museums, restaurants, workshops and quest rooms. Guests who want a more relaxed holiday can venture into the serenity of Khabarovsk nature, including the coast of the Sea of Japan or one of the region’s many picturesque lakes .

Khabarovsk Architecture

Khabarovsk architecture surprises with its harmonious blending of varying types and styles. This is due in large part to major changes which the city underwent in the mid-19th-early 20th centuries in conjunction with developments in the political, economic, scientific and technical spheres. The search for new trends in architecture came after the death of the classicism style, which had dominated the Russian Empire and the wider world for centuries. Beginning in the mid-19th century, the practice of mixing eclectic architectural styles began to emerge, leading to an era of amazing stylistic improvisations.

During the final decades of Romanov reign, many educational institutions for architects and engineers were opened. As a result, the face of numerous Russian cities began to change rapidly. Art Nouveau - a new, modern trend that absorbed several preceding styles – had come to dominate the architectural scene.

Many Art Nouveau buildings can still be seen in central Khabarovsk. These include:

• Takeuchi apartment building (5 Muravyov-Amursky Street)
• Esplanade Hotel (18 Muravyov-Amursky Street)
• Luhta apartment building (84 Komsomolskaya Street)
• Zandau apartment building (34 Muravyov-Amursky Street)

Khabarovsk also has many Gothic buildings, a style distinguished by its elegance and attention to detail. Every element of Gothic architecture emphasize a vertical orientation, as seen in the massive walls and columns, round arches and wide windows which contrast with narrow towers, pointed peaks and lancet windows.

Khabarovsk’s Gothic architecture is best represented by the artillery warehouse buildings located at 16 Komsomolskaya Street. Another notable example is the Red Guard Headquarters (105 Komsomolskaya Street), which has been preserved in its original form. The complex consists of two identical two-story brick buildings with unusual motifs containing pseudo-gothic elements.

Also of note is the early 20th-century Treasury Building, a luxurious red brick structure with openwork balconies that exudes an architectural grace.

Khabarovsk also has many Soviet-era buildings which were mostly designed in the constructivism style. Characterized by their enormous size and grotesque shapes, they often occupy most of the block and dominate the surrounding space.

During your Khabarovsk excursion, be sure to appreciate its unique architectural heritage by going for a walk downtown .

Khabarovsk Attractions

The layout of Khabarovsk is very simple: its 3 main streets of Lenin, Muravyov-Amursky and Seryshev pass through the downtown area, while Ussuriysky and Amur Boulevards run perpendicular to them. A distinctive feature of Khabarovsk are its many hills, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes for your walk.

Begin your walking tour of Khabarovsk from the train station, where you can see the monument to Yerofey Khabarov, the famous explorer for whom the city is named. Nearby is a sculpture of a double-headed eagle, erected in memory of soldiers, officers and builders of the Far Eastern Railway. Moving from the station along Amur Boulevard you will reach the central market, just past which is Lenin Square. A spacious area with a granite fountain in the center, it is the main plaza of Khabarovsk and the site of the city’s Christmas and New Year celebrations. Next to the square is Dynamo Park, famous for its three ponds and Ferris wheel.

From Lenin Square, move along Muravyov-Amursky Street to reach Amur Embankment, passing most of Khabarovsk’s famous 19th-20th century buildings along the way. Descend to the embankment via two grand staircases or make a small detour onto Shevchenko Street, where you can follow the slope until you reach the embankment’s main stretch. Among other things, the area is home to the House of Officers and three museums.

As you move along the embankment through a park you will come across the city symbol of Khabarovsk, a building set on a steep cliff above the Amur River. It was at the foot of this cliff that the founders of a military post, the first semblance of civilization in the area, first landed.

After reaching the river and walking along Ussuriysky Boulevard to Turgenev Street, turn right to reach Glory Square. Here you will find another famous Khabarovsk landmark, Transfiguration Cathedral, along with a magnificent view of the Amur River and its dreamy islands. Glory Square concludes the main walking route of Khabarovsk, but from here you can reach any part of the city by public transport or taxi .

Khabarovsk Cultural Life

Khabarovsk entertainment centers around its many theaters and museums. Visit Khabarovsk Museum of Local Lore to get a better glimpse of city and regional life. Children and adults alike will want to visit Fishes of Amur River Museum, an aquarium which is home to some 90 species of the underwater world. To catch the vibe of local artists, head to the Far Eastern Art Museum.

There are several theaters in Khabarovsk, each of which is worth visiting:

• Khabarovsk Regional Puppet Theater;
• Triad Pantomime Theater;
• Khabarovsk Regional Philharmonic;
• White Theater, and others.

In addition, Khabarovsk offers several concert halls, culture houses, cinemas and art institutions .

Khabarovsk Souvenirs

While the city’s souvenir selection is not as diverse as in other Russian cities, guests can still find something suited to their tastes on their tour to Khabarovsk. Amur River and the Sea of Japan offer an abundance of seafood that can be tasted on the spot or brought home in dried or smoked form. Yet it is the rich culture of the local indigenous peoples which provides the largest selection of national souvenirs.

If you’re looking for an original gift, traditional Nanai slippers are comfortable and warm. Sewn from leather or fabric and decorated in a bright, colorful style before being trimmed with fur, they make the perfect house shoes in winter. Traditional decorations include amulets which are made from animal bones, fur or fabrics and decorated with ribbons and colored beads.

Standard souvenirs like plates, magnets, mugs and flasks stamped with images of Khabarovsk or its coat of arms can be purchased in souvenir shops, which are mostly located downtown and at the airport and railway station.