Starting July 1, 2025, all employees traveling on university business will be required to book airfare through Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP), U-M’s designated travel partner since December 2022. 

The new requirement was announced in an April 14 email from U-M's executive vice presidents to all deans, directors, and department managers. The University Record featured an article explaining the reasons for the policy change and detailing savings that individual units can expect. Over 40 percent of university travelers are already using CTP to book airfare. 

For more information:

• Review the CTP Booking Requirement and FAQs articles regarding this change. 
• Learn more about using CTP through the Knowledge Base, starting with the Travel Booking Overview landing page.
• Ask Trip, Procurement’s Travel & Expense AI assistant, your questions about the change, general travel guidelines, how-tos, and more. Trip can be found on the bottom right-hand corner of the Travel Booking webpage.

The Travel Program Team has engaged in many valuable discussions following the Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP) airfare booking requirement policy change. Understandably, this change has been met with some uncertainty. While the announcement has prompted thoughtful questions from the university community, it has also revealed several common misconceptions about using CTP. This article aims to dispel these myths, offer reassurance to university travelers, and clarify what to expect moving forward.

Let's set the record straight:

🔹 "I can't make last-minute changes."

❌ Busted! CTP offers 24/7 support for rebooking. Travelers can also use carrier mobile apps, such as Delta’s, for in-route, same-day changes, ensuring flexible and convenient travel experiences while on the go.

Click for more busted myths!

CTP has recently implemented a series of enhancements to the Lightning booking tool, designed to significantly improve the user experience. 

Multi-city international options

Users can now search for multi-city flights for international travel, a feature previously limited to one-way and round-trip options. This new functionality is designed to provide greater flexibility and convenience for travelers. However, for more complex international travel, we recommend booking via a CTP agent.

Streamlined hotel results

In response to user feedback, hotel search results will no longer be separated into "best" and "the rest." This change simplifies the selection process, allowing you to easily compare all available options and make informed decisions based on your preferences and requirements.

Updated Fare Forecaster widget

The Fare Forecaster widget on the CTP Portal has been updated to include a graph alongside the existing grid. This visual enhancement offers a clearer and more comprehensive view of fare trends, enabling you to make informed decisions about when to book your travel.

Improved Manage Bookings feature

The Manage Bookings section in Lightning now offers three options to view your trips: All, Upcoming, and Archived. The "All" option displays trips from the past two years. "Upcoming" includes all current and future bookings, and "Archived" contains past trips as well as those that have been cancelled or voided. This feature makes it easier than ever to keep track of your travel history and manage your itineraries.

These enhancements will make your travel booking experience more efficient and enjoyable. As always, we welcome your feedback for further improvements to Lightning. Please contact us at travelprogram@umich.edu. 

In the ever-evolving world of travel technology, booking tools are designed to provide the most comprehensive and user-friendly experience possible. CTP is continuously working to enhance Lightning based on direct feedback from U-M users. However, there are times when certain content may not be visible or accessible.

Here are some common reasons this might occur:

• Time selection for searches: Lightning categorizes search results into three time frames—midnight to noon, noon to 7 p.m., or 7 p.m. to midnight—according to the time chosen on the search page. Initial search results will only include flights within the selected time frame. You can choose a different time frame or click "All" to view additional flights for that day.
• User settings and filters: User-selected filters may inadvertently hide certain content. Check your search filter to ensure it aligns with your current travel needs.
• Data synchronization delays: Occasionally, real-time data synchronization between airlines and booking platforms can lag, leading to temporary discrepancies in available options.
• Connectivity issues: Like any digital platform, travel booking tools can experience technical issues that temporarily affect the content displayed. Our team is committed to resolving these issues swiftly to ensure a seamless booking experience.

For immediate assistance with booking a flight not found in Lightning, contact a CTP agent. U-M’s dedicated agents are available by phone (877) 804-3688, email umichigan@ctptravelservices.com, or via the Travel Request Form.

If you believe you have discovered an error with Lightning, please contact us at travelprogram@umich.edu so we can work with CTP to resolve it.

The U-M Travel Program’s Virtual Supplier Feature series continued in April with a spotlight on National Car Rental/Enterprise Rent-A-Car. These quarterly Zoom events offer U-M travelers the opportunity to connect directly with our preferred travel suppliers, learn more about available benefits, and ask questions.

If you missed the session, you can watch the recording here.



Join the next session featuring Southwest Airlines, scheduled for August 14, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m.

United Airlines recently announced that annual United Wi-Fi subscriptions will be discontinued. Current subscriptions will remain active until their one-year expiration, but renewals will no longer be available.

Why the change?

United is rolling out free, high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi powered by Starlink for all MileagePlus members. As Starlink installations expand across the fleet, travelers will enjoy faster internet for streaming, gaming, and browsing.

Until then, Wi-Fi access remains available through several other options.

As a reminder, U-M will pay for in-flight Wi-Fi when the traveler is on U-M business travel and it is needed for business use. Travelers should check with their unit for any stricter policies.

Delta has introduced new fare names and options for flights departing on or after October 1, 2025. 

Delta’s new fare structure includes:

• Delta Main—formerly Main Cabin and Basic Economy
• Delta Comfort—formerly Delta Comfort+
• Delta Premium Select
• Delta One
• Delta First—formerly First Class

All fare classes will offer two new seat products—Classic and Extra—for more personalization.

Learn more about Delta’s updated experience and seat products here. U-M’s Delta Airfare Class Guidelines outline how these changes align with the university’s travel policies.

If you have already purchased a ticket for a flight after October 1, Delta will treat it as follows:

• Non-refundable tickets: Expect no changes to your travel experience.
• Refundable tickets: If the flight is in a market where “Extra” was launched, you will automatically receive the “Extra” experience; there is no action to take.

The UM Travel Program Team has partnered with CTP to provide a solution to perform a mass upload of arrangers (ten or more) for departments. Departments can populate a spreadsheet with details for employees and their arrangers, which CTP will use to update the employees’ profiles.

Email travelprogram@umich.edu if you are interested in using this service, and a member of the Travel Program Team will be in touch.

Whatever the purpose of your business travels, understanding and managing potential risks is crucial. Did you know that booking your trip through the University of Michigan’s travel program provides you with valuable insurance protections?

When you use a U-M PCard, Travel Card, or the Central Travel Account (CTA), you unlock a range of insurance benefits offered by our corporate card provider, JPMorgan Chase, to ensure peace of mind during your travels.

Insurance coverage includes:

• Worldwide Travel Accident Insurance
• Hotel/Motel Burglary Protection
• Medical Evacuation
• Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Baggage Protection

For a detailed overview of these benefits from JPMorgan Chase, as well as university-offered travel health coverage and rental car protections, please visit the Travel Insurance Guide for Employees.

The Travel Program Team offers multiple training and Q&A sessions each month. We encourage you to attend one as your schedule permits. CTP and U-M representatives will be available to answer your questions. We look forward to seeing you!

• June 18, 2025, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.—Q&A
• June 19, 2025, 9 to 10 a.m.—Training
• June 23, 2025, 1 to 2 p.m.—Q&A
• June 26, 2025, 9 to 10 a.m.—Training
• June 30, 2025, 1 to 2 p.m.—Training
• July 9, 2025, 9 to 10 a.m.—Q&A
• July 15, 2025, 1 to 2 p.m.—Training
• July 24, 2025, 9 to 10 a.m.—Training
• July 31, 2025, 1 to 2 p.m.—Training
• August 6, 2025, 9 to 10 a.m.—Training
• August 12, 2025, 1 to 2 p.m.—Q&A
• August 14, 2025, 10 to 11 a.m.—Virtual Supplier Feature (NEW): Southwest Airlines

Use the Zoom link and passcode below for all sessions.

https://umich.zoom.us/j/96013633019

Passcode: 684564

Dates for additional sessions will be published on the Procurement Services travel webpage as they’re scheduled.

We encourage you to join the U-M Travel Program’s Slack channel, #travel-program, to stay up-to-date on all things related to U-M travel, including program updates, announcements, travel tips, events, and more. 

If you haven’t heard of Slack, we encourage you to check it out! Creating an account is easy and we hope to see you on Slack soon!