Stanford Travel Updates and Hot Topics Posted February 24, 2026

Stanford Travel is pleased to announce a new partnership with Qatar Airways that brings enhanced value and convenience to university travelers. Known for its award-winning service and expansive global network, Qatar Airways now offers exclusive benefits tailored to the Stanford community.

Top benefits at-a-glance

• Unlimited nominations to Privilege Club Silver status, equivalent to oneworld Ruby, for qualifying travelers.
• Special negotiated discounts ranging from 8% to 15% automatically applied to flight reservations booked through the Stanford Travel Program.
• Ability to refund non-refundable tickets.

How this helps campus

Whether traveling for research, conferences, study abroad programs, or collaboration, these benefits make travel more affordable and comfortable. Increased reward earn rates and airline loyalty status upgrades provide better value on long-haul trips, while corporate discounts help departments maximize travel budgets.

Learn more about the Qatar Airways partnership, along with other airline discounts and benefits.

Stanford Travel is excited to share that, through its partnership with Egencia, a service enhancement has recently been implemented to better support university travelers.

Stanford now works with a smaller, designated team of agents to support travelers. This service model allows Egencia agents to develop a deeper understanding of the complexity and unique needs of Stanford travelers, resulting in more consistent, personalized, and high-quality support.

The Stanford Travel team is excited to announce several new enhancements to the Stanford Travel hotel program. 

The Stanford Travel hotel program is excited to announce a new partnership with Wyndham hotels. This new partnership extends Stanford Travel’s negotiated rates beyond the local area, offering Stanford employees, students, affiliates, and visitors a 10% discount at all Wyndham properties chainwide.

The Stanford Travel hotel program, recently refreshed for 2026, continues to offer savings with competitive rates at hotels in Palo Alto and the surrounding areas for university-sponsored travel booked through the Stanford Travel Program. The hotel program now includes the Homewood Suites in Belmont. Discounts vary by hotel and are subject to availability.

Visit the Stanford Travel Hotel Program page to see all participating properties and discount rates.

Visit the Lodging page for information about hotel rate maximums and guidance on booking hotel accommodations outside of policy.

Many rideshare apps, such as Uber, offer green standard economy rides in electric vehicles (e.g., Uber Electric) that are the same price as other standard economy rideshares (e.g., UberX). For a more sustainable option, travelers are encouraged to select green standard economy electric vehicle options, such as Uber Electric (Uber Comfort Electric is a premium rideshare and only allowed when car service is permitted).

Uber Electric (formerly known as Uber Green) allows users to request rides specifically in electric vehicles (EVs), supporting Stanford’s and Uber’s zero-emission goals. Uber has committed to making 100% of rides zero-emission in the U.S., Canada, and Europe by 2030.

Learn more about using rideshare services for university-sponsored travel.

For additional tips on reducing your travel footprint, visit the Responsible Purchasing page.

Effective Nov. 13, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are now available on Stanford Travel Connect (STC), allowing Stanford travelers to link their Atmos™ Rewards loyalty accounts to the Stanford Travel Program. These airlines join STC as the fourth and fifth major carriers, enabling travelers to book university-sponsored travel directly on Alaska Airlines website or app while accessing Stanford-negotiated discounts and benefits.

Get the latest details on Stanford Travel Connect, including resources to help you get started, or learn more and launch the STC portal.

In Sept., 2024, Alaska Airlines completed its merger with Hawaiian Airlines and recently announced a new joint loyalty program, Atmos™ Rewards. Atmos™ Rewards replaces Alaska’s Mileage Plan and, as of Oct. 1, 2025, also replaces HawaiianMiles. Through STC, Stanford travelers can link either loyalty account, book directly with Alaska Airlines, and earn or redeem rewards across both carriers. Learn more about Atmos™ Rewards on the Alaska Airlines website.

Did you know Stanford students can use the Stanford Travel Program to book travel and access university discounts and benefits? In addition to booking travel related trips for their studies, students can also use the program for university-related travel, such as trips between home and campus or select personal travel options.

To further support student travelers and travel arrangers, the Stanford Travel team has updated Fingate resources, including:

• Stanford Travel Program – An overview of the booking options, their benefits, and exclusive discounts and offerings.
• Planning and Booking Travel – Step-by-step guidance for students planning, booking, and traveling for university-sponsored trips.
• Stanford Travel Program Desk Guide – A printable, two-page summary of the booking options, benefits, resources, and university travel services.

These updates provide clearer guidance, available offerings, and details on discounts and benefits for students.

For support or guidance with university-sponsored travel and other types of university-related travel, contact the Stanford Travel team.

Delta Air Lines is committed to becoming the first major airline to achieve carbon neutrality, targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Key initiatives include adopting Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to reduce lifecycle emissions, modernizing its fleet with fuel-efficient aircraft, and driving innovation through the Sustainable Skies Lab, which develops and tests new sustainable aviation technologies. Additionally, Delta is actively reducing waste by eliminating single-use plastics on board and investing in recycling programs while engaging in community conservation efforts.

Through these comprehensive sustainability initiatives, Delta is not only enhancing the travel experience for passengers but also making substantial progress toward a greener future in aviation. Travelers can feel confident knowing their journeys support responsible air travel practices. For more information about Delta's sustainability efforts, visit Delta's website.

For helpful tips on how to reduce your travel footprint, visit Responsible Purchasing – Travel Tips.

Many members of the Stanford community are preparing for upcoming travel. Whether you're heading to a conference, field research site, or international program, a little preparation can make all the difference. Below are some key tips and resources to help university travelers stay organized, informed, and ready to go.

1. Check travel identification requirements
Make sure that the identification is up-to-date. For domestic air travel, REAL ID enforcement started on May 7, and a REAL ID-compliant identification or an acceptable alternative (like a passport) is required to fly within the U.S.

2. Review visa and travel authorization needs
International travelers should confirm visa requirements well in advance. Processing times can vary, especially during peak travel seasons. Don't forget to check whether the destination requires special travel authorizations or entry forms. The university has discounted rates with CIBT visas.

3. Renew passports early — and online
Passports should be valid for at least six months beyond your return date. If a traveler’s passport is expiring soon, take advantage of the U.S. Department of State’s new online passport renewal service, which can help streamline the process.

4. Know your airport resources
Before heading to the airport, check TSA wait times, security checkpoint updates, and available services. Tools like Mobile Passport Control (MPC) can expedite travelers’ arrival at select international airports.

5. Download supplier apps
Airlines and Stanford Travel booking options often send real-time updates through their apps. Download and log in to travel supplier apps before the trip for information on flight delays, gate changes, and other key information that is typically available first via mobile notifications.

6. Use Fingate for travel guidance
Stanford travelers can use Fingate for essential travel information, including reimbursement policies, allowable expenses, and pre-trip checklists. Bookmark the Stanford Travel Program overview for quick access to booking options and Travel team contact information.

Pro tip: Always double-check the itinerary and document requirements at least two weeks before departure to avoid last-minute surprises.

Wherever your travel takes you, a little planning now can lead to a smoother, more enjoyable journey.

The Stanford Travel booking options Egencia and Key Travel simplify the process of monitoring and managing individual carbon emissions associated with university-related air travel.

• Egencia includes a built-in carbon emissions estimator tool that provides travelers with clear visibility into the environmental impact of their flight choices. For each flight listed, the platform displays the estimated total carbon emissions to help travelers identify the most carbon efficient flight for that route. Additionally, the Egencia Air-Rail Display enables travelers and travel arrangers to choose rail as a more sustainable alternative to flights on select routes and airlines.
• Key Travel offers a carbon emissions sort feature, allowing travelers to sort flight options based on their environmental footprint, from the lowest to the highest emissions. In addition to individual flight data, Key Travel provides the total carbon emissions for an entire trip.

Together, Egencia and Key Travel provide Stanford travelers with valuable insights into carbon emissions of air travel, enabling them to make more environmentally conscious flight choices.

Stanford Travel is excited to announce an exclusive offer for Stanford travelers through a partnership with National Car Rental. Stanford travelers enrolled in the Emerald Club loyalty program can now book directly with National, offering greater flexibility and convenience while still enjoying access to Stanford-negotiated discounts and exclusive benefits.

To take advantage of these discounts and benefits, Stanford travelers must enroll in the Emerald Club loyalty program or update their existing profile. Discounts will be automatically applied at the time of booking and are intended solely for university-sponsored travel.

Learn more or enroll or update an existing profile.