Travel News

Remember – No Fireworks on the Planes!

The Federal Aviation Administration is reminding the traveling public that they are not permitted to carry fireworks, including the smallest sparklers, aboard aircraft.  This includes both carry-on and checked bags because of the tremendous fire risk they pose the aircraft in the air and on the ground.  Fines for those who break the rules run from $275 to $50,000 per violation and criminal prosecutions can result in up to five years in prison with fines of up to $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations.

Checkpoint Friendly Carry-On Luggage

A series of newly designed carry-on bags has been given the go ahead for passengers to use that will let them pass through security without having to take their laptops out for X-ray inspection.  Pathfinder Luggage and Targus are two manufacturers that are rushing to produce the new "checkpoint friendly" laptop cases and expect them to be available by last September or early October.  The cases will include either a fold-down section in a bigger briefcase or a stand-alone protective sleeve that contains no extra clutter and can be readily viewed through the scanner.

British Airways Buys all Business Class Airline

British Airways has agreed to buy L'Avion, the French airline that operates an all business class service between Orly and Newark. It already codeshares with the airline and completion of the deal is expected later this month.  It will become a British Airways Subsidiary.

Qantas Changes Frequent Flyer Program

Qantas has unveiled its new redesigned frequent flyer program offering members the option of using points to book any seat on any Qantas or Jetstar flight. Under the new system those with sufficient points can access more than 3 million seats each month in all classes.  Members can use a points plus pay option which allows them to use a combination of points and credit card payments, but they will cost more because they reflect commercial fares available and include all taxes and fees.

Fine Slapped to Spirit Airline

Spirit Airlines has been fined $100,000 for paying the Cuban government for permission to use the island's airspace.  This constitutes a violation of the long-standing US embargo against the island.  Between the months of September 2004 to March 2007, the airline made several money transfers to Cuban government accounts without a valid license to do so.  The fine is the largest such penalty imposed by the agency during the fiscal year that began last October and the second such fine to be imposed.  Using Cuban airspace requires a special permit from the Treasury Department as part of the laws of embargo.

Airline News

Three airlines have released their operating figures for June.  Allegiant Air reported passenger traffic was up 33.1% from the same period last year.  The carrier had a 94% load factor.  I don't think another airline will match that kind of load factor for June.  Southwest reported a 0.7% increase in traffic on a capacity increase of 5.7% resulting in a load factor of 78.2%.  Continental reported domestic revenue seat miles were down -3.9% on a capacity decrease of -1.9% with a load factor of 85.9% down 1.8% from June, 2007.

Northwest and Delta Pilots Moving Forward

Northwest pilots will receive a nearly 2.4% equity stake in Delta Air Lines, after the merger with Northwest.  They will also receive compounded raises of over 18% over four years.  Delta and Northwest pilots have agreed to submit to binding arbitration to help them craft an integrated seniority list if the two sides cannot reach a seniority deal on their own, within a certain timeframe.

The Norwegian Dawn Saves the Day - Twice

The Norwegian Dawn was kept busy Monday.  Just off the Massachusetts coast on its way to Bermuda, the cruise ship answered not one but two separate distress calls within 12 hours. The ship rescued two sailors from different boats in rough waters.  The first rescue took place off the coast of cape Cod and involved a sailboat on its way back from Bermuda where it had been racing.  One of the crew members was suffering shock-like symptoms and had to be evacuated immediately.  The Dawn contacted the Coast Guard and diverted to meet with them.  The Dawn came along side the sailboat in high winds and waves and a rescue team brought the sick sailor aboard.  Twelve hours later the ship received another distress call of a sailor with a serious head injury.  The ship repeated the earlier rescue and brought the injured sailor aboard.  Both men are in stable condition and will disembark the Dawn in Bermuda.  The passengers got a little more excitement than they expected.

News is courtesy of ARTA Online.

Footpath in Capri Italy Reopens

Italy's president has officially reopened a scenic footpath built into a cliff on the island of Capri.  The footpath has been closed for the past 32 years.  It was closed for safety reasons in 1976 and the country spent some $11 million to protect visitors from falling rocks and landslides.  The path is just under a mile with hairpin turns and connects the Gardens of Augusta with the Marina Piccola dock.  It was built in the early 1900s by German armaments manufacturer Krupp.

Express Service to your Car at Hertz Rentals

Hertz is introducing a self-service express check-in program guaranteed to get customers into their cars within 10 minutes.  If customers don't get their cars within that time period Hertz will give them a $50 credit towards a current or future rental.  The service will be available at the country's 50 largest airports effective today.  A spokesperson for Hertz said that high gasoline costs and long check-in lines are the two top complaints of their customers.

Passenger Information Required by China’s New Regulation  

China has a new regulation that requires international airlines to provide them with Advance Passenger Information before arrival.  The new rule goes into effect today.  An airline must provide a passenger's full name, nationality, gender, date of birth, passport validity and expiry date.  When the flight takes off the information would be transmitted to Chinese border management agencies through a special network.  The agencies would process the information two hours before the flight lands.  Carriers who fail to provide the information would be fined up to $4,286 per passenger.

Crazy Fuel Prices causes Crazy Airline Actions

Yesterday Continental dropped the fare increase that started with Southwest last week and was quickly supported by the major carriers.  Then it turned around and added it back.  Maybe it was because oil took another turn upward sitting at $143.45 in the middle of the day.

Baggage Fee on Second Piece of Luggage for Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines is implementing a fee of $17 one-way for checking a second piece of luggage on interisland flights.  The fee applies to all tickets purchased on or after July 8 for travel on or after July 15.  Passengers can pay the fee online or at the airline's airport Kiosks or check-in counter.  There will be no charge for children's car seats, carriers and strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes and other personal assistant devices.  Their premium, corporate and affiliate members, first class passengers, those flying on government and military fares or someone flying with a person with exempt status will not have to pay for the second bag.

New Flights to Mexico from the US

The Mexican Tourist Board and JetBlue have agreed to establish a new working relationship that will bring new flights from the US to Mexico.

Orlando – A Hard Place to Fly to

An analysis of the fall schedules show that the number of seats, flights and destinations available out of Orlando will drop sharply at the end of the summer.  In October of 2007 airlines flew an average of 426 flights a day to 98 destinations out of Orlando, according to the OAG.  This October there will be an average of 363 flights a day to 88 destinations.  That amounts to several thousand seats less per day and 10 fewer destinations.  Orlando could lose the distinction of being the busiest airport in Florida to Miami.  The same thing is happening to Las Vegas as many airlines cut their schedules back for the fall.

Cool Jamaican Bobsled Feature at Mystic Mountain

Carnival Corp. has partnered with Rain Forest Trams Ltd. and others to develop Rainforest Bobsled Jamaica at Mystic Mountain, a new eco-friendly attraction in the Ocho Rios area.  There will be a soft opening today and a grand opening later in the month.  The new tourist attraction features a Jamaican Bobsled ride through the tropical forest, a chairlift journey, a zip-line ride through the treetops, an island culture and heritage center and mountaintop dining and shopping venues.  The attraction has about 100 acres and is located near Dunn's River Falls.  It supports a diverse ecosystem of natural springs, tropical foliage, native trees and colorful bird species.  Custom-designed bobsleds inspired by the Jamaican Olympic teams of the 80s and 90s travel on winding stainless-steel rails on a 3,280 foot gravity-driven ride.  Riders control their rate of decent with a handbrake.  The Rainforest Sky Explorer is a state-of-the-art chairlift that skims the top of the trees on the way up Mystic Mountain.  For more information visit http://www.rfat.com/

News is courtesy of ARTA Online.

Size of Carry-On Luggage being Checked more Closely

The airlines are planning to keep a better eye on the size of carry-on luggage now that they are adding fees for checked baggage, saying it is not fair to charge for a checked bag and then allow others to carry on large pieces of luggage and not have to pay.  They will be checking the size of the bags and will have extra staff posted at the gates to make sure that large bags don't get on the plane.  A spokesperson for US Airways said, "It’s up to us to get to them before they get too far in the line and say Ma'am or sir, you need to check that bag."  It is the FAA who sets the rules on carry-on luggage and now the airlines intend to enforce their rules.  Better not try and bring an oversized bag as a carry-on as you will have to pay for it if the airline charges for the first bag.  American Airlines says if a passenger is stopped before boarding with an oversize carry-on, American will charge that passenger the $15 fee to gate check it.

Another Passenger Bill of Rights in the Air

Rep James Oberstar (D-Minn) and Rep. Jerry Costello (Dem-Ill) have introduced another airline passenger Bill of Rights.  This new bill, The Air Service Improvement Act of 2008, would require airlines and large and medium hub airports to file emergency contingency plans with the DOT secretary for review and approval.  The airlines would have to submit plans detailing how they could provide food, water, restroom facilities, ventilation and medical treatment for passengers onboard an aircraft that is on the ground for an extended amount of time, with terminal access.  Airport operators would have to submit their plans on how they would provide ways to get passengers off aircraft when excessive delays occur and how they would make gates available.  The airlines would be required to provide monthly reports to the DOT on each flight that is diverted to another airport and each flight that departs a gate but is cancelled before takeoff.

FAA being Investigated by the DOT

The DOT has launched an investigation into the FAA's oversight of the airline industry.  The investigation will cover the FAA's system for reviewing flight risk, its air carrier compliance measures and its oversight of maintenance practices.  The investigation was prompted by the FAA oversight issues at Southwest.  The airline was fined $10.2 million and an FAA chief maintenance worker was blamed for allowing Southwest Airlines to keep planes flying that had missed safety inspections.  He retired last week.

Southwest Airlines Fare Matched and Other Airline News

All the major carriers matched last Thursday's fare increase by Southwest of $10 to $20 roundtrip, although most raised fares up to $40 where they were not competing against a low fare carrier.  US Airways is phasing out the use of subcontracted skycaps at Philadelphia and other airports and replacing them with unionized airline employees, starting next month.  This is because of the new checked bag fee that takes effect July 9.  The fee for the first checked bag activates a provision in an agreement with ground customer service workers that requires the use of airline employees.  There will be no additional charge for curbside checking when the fee takes effect.  Delta will add a surcharge of $125 or $50 roundtrip on frequent flier free tickets effective August 15.  The lower fee applies to flights in the US and Canada and the $50 fee will be used on all other international flights.  Alitalia shareholders had a chance to vent at the airline's annual meeting last Saturday and those that showed up certainly vented.  The airline reported its 2007 results saying it lost 485 million euros and had an operating loss of 310 million euros.  Air Pacific Nui will suspend operation of its New York Tahiti flights for the winter.  The last service will end October 17 and the one-stop service via Los Angeles will end October 24.

Alitalia – The Lost Airline

Alitalia is now waiting for a survival plan from a major Italian Bank that was appointed earlier this month as an advisor.  The new chairman of the board, the fourth in two years, said unjustified privileges and power games had to end.  Italy's latest prime minister may be wishing he let air France-KLM purchase the airline after all.

Southwest Loans Cash to MacArthur Airport

Southwest will loan $5 million to Long Island's MacArthur Airport to expand the airport's underground jet-fuel tanks so the airport can keep more fuel on hand in case of a major emergency.  The loan will allow the airport to begin the work as it looks for other funding.  Southwest flies 92% of the commercial flights at MacArthur.

Cruise Ship Safety is Getting Better

Senator John Kerry (Dem-MA) introduced a new cruise ship safety bill to the Senate last week that would require cruise lines to install peepholes in cabin doors, increase guardrail heights and maintain crime logbooks.  He wants the cruise industry to be more accountable for crimes onboard cruise ships.  The bill mirrors the one introduced in the House and comes just after Senator Kerry led a Senate subcommittee hearing examining cruise ship safety.  Currently cruise ships are not required by law to report crimes that are committed outside of US territorial waters.  Under the new legislation crew members would have to be trained in crime scene investigation and to keep sexual assault evidence collection kits on board.  The ships would have to stock medications that are used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases after an assault, and a US-licensed medical practitioner would have to be on every ship to perform the necessary examinations and to administer treatment.

Ways to Save Fuel for Cruise Ships

Carnival has identified some 140 different ways of saving fuel.  The cruise line is looking at cutting the speed of their ships by using special paint so ships can cut through the water more efficiently.  They are considering harnessing waste heat, developing new software to automatically adjust the trim of ships, reducing speed through better itinerary planning and turning off lights.  I see more overnights in popular ports and fewer ports on cruises.

News is courtesy of ARTA Online.

Auto Europe Adds to it’s Fleet of Transportation Vehicles

Auto Europe is now offering the largest number of motorcycles, including Harley Davidson, Honda and BMWs, ATVs, Snowmobiles and Jetskis at over 40 major tourist destinations in the US, Mexico, Spain and France.  They will feature over 100 self drive tours.  Helmets are included with all motorcycle rentals as well as saddlebags.  Prices include unlimited mileage, environmental surcharges of 5.5%, local sales taxes, maps and suggestions, one way fees, and state mandatory liability insurance (US rentals).

Fuel Prices Fueled More Drastic Cuts for Airlines

Oil hit another record high this morning as it rose over $142 a barrel before dropping back a bit.  Yesterday was another day of doom and gloom in the airline industry as several airlines announced more service cuts and layoffs.  Northwest will drop service between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Paris October 2 but it will resume March 28, 2009.  The airline also cancelled Detroit to Dusseldorf effective October 2 and Hartford/Amsterdam October 2.  United has cancelled Denver/London Heathrow effective October 25, a route it began just recently.

Striking Engineers at Qantas Being Blamed for Delays

Qantas is still struggling with its engineers and expects further cancellations today and tomorrow.  The airline said it was happy with its new A380 service as advance bookings are strong from Los Angeles to Melbourne with people asking for the SuperJumbo.  The airline told its pilots when making public announcements to blame any flight delays on the striking engineers.  The pilot manual instructs them not to make disparaging remarks about the other sections of the airline and many of the pilots are not happy with the directive.  A spokesperson for the airline said pilots were not being asked to blame all delays on the engineers dispute but had provided them with "suggested wording" on what to say if a delay was due to the dispute but would not provide the wording to reporters.

Delta and Mesa Still at it

A federal judge granted Mesa a preliminary injunction against Delta to block the carrier from ending a contract.  Delta wants out of a contract with Freedom Air, a Mesa subsidiary, saying it was canceling the contract for non-performance.  Delta had moved many of their flights to JFK, a very congested airport where they were forced to cancel many flights.  Delta will appeal the decision.  Delta has to pay $20 million a month according to the contract.

Even Good Southwest Airlines Raises Fares

Yesterday Southwest raised some fares $10 to $20 roundtrip based on distance, for flights departing after November 8.  The increases are planned to correspond with capacity/growth cuts planned for late in the 3rd quarter and the 4th quarter.  Southwest opened its books for reservations from October 31 through January 8.  Delta and United immediately raised prices to match routes.  Delta's increase ranged from $20 to $30 roundtrip and United's $20 to $40 roundtrip.

Airlines Found Guilty in Price Fixing – Who gets the money from the criminal fines?

Air France-KLM, Cathay Pacific, Martinair and SAS have all pleaded guilty to price fixing air cargo rates and will pay criminal fines totaling $504 million.  The airlines were charged with conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing cargo rates charged to customers for international shipments.  Scott Hammond, deputy assistant attorney general in charge of criminal enforcement for the DOJ's antitrust division said, "The air cargo conspirators artificially raised the prices paid to ship billions of dollars of goods.  When these companies and their co-conspirators got together and agreed to raise prices for air cargo shipments, American businesses and consumers ended up picking up the tab."  Cathay Pacific will pay $60 million, Martinair $42 million, SAS $52 million while Air France-KLM will pay a fine of $350 million, the second highest fine ever levied in a criminal antitrust prosecution.

$50 Fee to Change Same-Day Ticket on Continental Airlines

Continental will allow passengers with restricted tickets to make changes to flights within 24 hours of scheduled departure.  The fee for the change is $50 and applies to all flights on Continental, Continental Express and Continental Micronesia.  If no seats can be confirmed customers can stand by for the flight.  The fee will only apply if a seat is confirmed on an earlier flight.

New Riverboat for Uniworld

Uniworld's newest riverboat, the River Tosca, will be the first vessel to sail outside of Europe when it takes to the Nile River in April 2009.  The riverboat will feature a swimming pool with cabanas, Jacuzzi on the sun deck, gym, hairdresser, library, gift shop and rooftop bar.  There will be 42 suites and most will have more than 300 square feet.  It is an all-suite ship and will be the 10th ship in the Uniworld fleet.

News is courtesy of ARTA Online.

Cuisine Museum Opens in New Orleans

New Orleans has a new museum at Riverwalk Marketplace.  Southern Food and Beverage is a non-profit organization that set up the museum that is dedicated to research, discovery and celebration of food, drink and related culinary culture of southern states.  The museum has an exhibit of Louisiana and New Orleans cuisines.  There is an exhibit of "Eating in the White House - America's Food" that reveals the culinary practices of the White House kitchens and the chef's that manned the kitchens.  There is a huge collection of menus from around the US and menus of eateries serving southern food all over the world.

Zimbabwe Travel Alert

Both the Department of State and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office have advised against travel to Zimbabwe.  "US citizens should defer all travel to Zimbabwe.  US citizen residents in Zimbabwe should carefully review their personal circumstances, avoid all travel after dark, and consider moving to a more secure location in advance and immediately following the scheduled June 27 runoff of the presidential election.  There have been numerous and widespread attacks on opposition supporters, renewed farm invasions and arrests and beatings of election officials accused on vote tampering.  There is a continued risk of arbitrary detention or arrest.  Americans should be particularly cautious when using still, video or telephone cameras in any urban setting or in the vicinity of any political activity as that could be construed by Zimbabwean authorities as misrepresenting oneself as an accredited journalist, a crime punishable by arrest, incarnation and/or deportation.

Pilots on Air India Flight Fall Asleep

An Air India flight from Dubai to Mumbai, with a stop at Jaipur, was halfway to Goa before air traffic controllers could wake the pilots up.  The plane was on autopilot and when the controllers tried to contact the pilots for landing there was no response.  The controllers thought at first there had been a hijacking.  Finally they buzzed the cockpit and woke the pilots up and they turned the plane around.  They had been flying overnight and their fatigue level had peaked putting them into a deep slumber.  There were 100 passengers onboard.

More Flights Cut at American Airlines

American announced more cuts yesterday, this group beginning in November.  The airline is eliminating service to Albany, Providence, Harrisburg, San Luis Obispo, Samana, Dominican Republic and Barranquilla, Colombia.  O'Hare will lose 62 flights, 28 departures from its mainline service and 34 on American Eagle.  St. Louis will lose 8 flights, Dallas/Fort Worth 19 and LaGuardia will loose 5.  American Eagle will cut 35 from St. Louis, 23 from Dallas/Fort Worth and 37 from LaGuardia.  If you are planning thanksgiving or Christmas Holidays remember that there will far fewer flights to choose from but it’s probably not a good idea to be looking as yet because there could be even more cuts by the end of summer.

False Bomb Threat on Southwest

A woman from Denver has been arrested and charged with calling Southwest Airlines and claiming her husband had just boarded a plane with a bomb.  She told the airline her husband was planning to blow up the plane from Denver to Las Vegas.  The airline investigated without interrupting the flight.  She faces five years in prison if convicted of charges of providing false information and threats to aviation transportation.  The incident happened back in April.

Cuts Continue at United Airlines

United Airlines said yesterday it would halt operations at Palm Beach International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and cut 66 jobs.  The airline is planning capacity cuts of 14% in the fourth quarter.

What will the fate of Alitalia Airlines be?

Alitalia is still hanging in but it no closer to being sold than it was last year.  The latest plan to salvage the struggling airline includes a fresh capital injection before resuming the hunt for a partner.  They had a buyer, Air France-KLM, but the recently elected government didn't think the bid was enough.  Now Air France-KLM is taking legal action against Alitalia over the failure of the bid.  The airline got an infusion of money from the Italian government to last it for a year although the EU thinks the loan is illegal.

New Ship for Holland America

Holland America's new ship Eurodam will be on display to the UK travel industry tomorrow in Southampton.  It will stay overnight before going to Rotterdam to be named by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on July 1.  It will sail its maiden voyage from Copenhagen and operate in the Baltic before sailing to Canada for Canadian and New England sailings and then on to the Caribbean for next winter.  The Eurodam is the first of a new line of Signature Class ships and features an additional deck with 63 new cabins over Vista class vessels.

Ranger’s on Cruise Ships in California Failed to Pass

California's Ocean Ranger Bill did not pass the California state assembly committee.  The bill had been approved by the state Senate but just couldn't get past the Assembly's Public Safety Committee over concerns it would create a jurisdictional and legal mess.  So no Ocean Rangers on cruise ships in California waters.

News is courtesy of ARTA Online.

Get a Deal on In-flight Luxuries

Sunwing, a Canadian tour operator, has introduced a new level of in-flight services called "Elite Plus."  Travelers can elect to pay an additional $35 each way and receive elite service that includes hot towel service, in-flight entertainment with 'yours to keep' headsets, a bon voyage glass of champagne and choice of hot meal served with red or white wine on flights to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, plus advance seat selection, extra legroom, 30 kg of baggage allowance and priority check-in and boarding.  Actually this is a bargain as you get back all the things, except more baggage allowance, that was part of flying years ago.

Motorized Suitcase has Arrived

A British company has introduced the world's first motorized suitcase designed to ease the strain on travelers by making weighty luggage feel as light as the empty case.  The PA case is fitted with tiny motors in each wheel which switch on automatically the moment you tug on the handle.  The electric suitcase then centers the weight of the baggage directly over its wheels, rather than on your arm, meaning it feels virtually weightless.  It does weigh 10 kg when empty which means in today’s climate you could only pack about 12 kg of clothing etc.  But it also costs about $1,400 so I doubt many flying economy would purchase it.  The suitcase is recharged with a plug-in charger similar to those for mobile phones.

Earthquake in China Created new Lakes

China says it will turn a dangerous "quake lake" that once threatened up to 1.3 million lives into a tourist spot as part of rebuilding efforts in its quake-hit southwest, according to state press.  The Tangjiasham Lake was the biggest of several lakes created when the May 12 earthquake struck Sichuan province, triggering landslides that blocked rivers and led to the build up of large bodies of water.  "The scientific development of the quake lakes will be an important part of the rebuilding plan of new Beichuan," said the head of the Communist Party's Beichuan Rebuilding Committee.

Planes are on their Way

Emirates has delayed the launch of its service from Los Angeles and San Francisco because of a delay in delivery of four Boeing 777-200LRs which are being held up because delivery of the galleys.  The new service will now start on October 1from Los Angeles and November 20 from San Francisco.  Booked passengers will be offered alternatives.

Strikes in Iceland

Air traffic controllers in Iceland are planning multiple strikes from June 27 through July 20.  The controllers are not allowed to go on full strike but plan to stage 20 short strikes lasting approximately four hours each.  The union said they would only call off the strikes if the government meets their demands for shorter workdays and a pay increase.  The next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.

Milestones for Delta/Northwest Merger

Delta and Northwest pilots have reached a tentative agreement on a joint contract and a single pilot seniority list to take effect on the closing of the merger later this year.  This has been one of the biggest stumbling blocks to complete the merger.

Baggage Policies Change at Air Jamaica

Air Jamaica has made some changes in its baggage policies.  Passengers flying economy will still be able to check up to two bags and up to three bags in Lovebird Executive class at no charge.  However, effective July 1, the baggage allowance for Lovebird class will now be three pieces at a maximum weight of 50 pounds each.  Checked bags weighing 51 to 70 pounds will be charged $75 per piece, sporting equipment will no longer be considered as standard checked baggage and baggage fees will apply.  No excess bags will be accepted from July 1 through August 31 on flights from Toronto to Jamaica or flights between JFK and Barbados/Grenada or JFK and Jamaica.  Economy class passengers may check up to two bags with a maximum weight of 50 pounds each.

Strikes at Qantas Continue

Qantas is still having problems with its maintenance engineers and was forced to cancel 35 flights yesterday and 14 are expected to be cancelled tomorrow.  The engineers have postponed additional strikes until Friday, but the problem remains unresolved and cancellations are likely to continue due to spill-over affects from aircraft that remain grounded for maintenance.  Most travelers are experiencing delays to their travels.

Gourmet Oasis of the Seas Ship Appeals to the Masses

Royal Caribbean said their new ship the Oasis of the Seas will command higher prices because of all the amenities and activities being offered onboard.  The ship will hold 5,400 passengers and will be the largest cruise ship ever built (until the next one comes along).  The ship will have a family-focused amusement area called the Boardwalk, an outdoor water show venue, a zip line and other features.  The Royal Promenade will be twice as wide as the ones on other RCCL ships and there will be a "Central Park" with live trees and outdoors eateries.  There will be something for everyone on this ship.  The design is built around "neighborhoods" such as the Boardwalk where there will be carnival games, an ice cream parlor and the first merry-go-round at sea, plus other amusements.

News is courtesy of ARTA Online.

Many Against Digital Fingerprints for Travel

The airline industry and embassies of 34 countries, including the members of the European Union are urging the US government to stop a plan that would require airlines and cruise lines to collect digital fingerprints of all foreigners departing the US.  The airlines say the plan would cost them $12.3 billion over 10 years.  The plan is part of a program known as US-VISIT.  IATA has called on the DHS to integrate and streamline five passenger data collection programs that include reservation system data, passenger manifest information and immigration and customs forms.   The program has recorded images and fingerprints of nearly 100 million people entering the country since 2004.  DHS says the program has helped find criminals and deterred potential terrorists.  Congressional supporters see the program as a way to determine whether people are overstaying their visas and joining the illegal immigrant population.

Harrah’s Opens in Ontario

Harrah's Entertainment's Caesars brand opened its first international hotel casino in Windsor Ontario, just across the river from Detroit.  The property, originally the Casino Windsor, had a three-year $439 million renovation.  It has 758 guest rooms, the Coliseum, a 5,000 seat entertainment center, Nero's Steakhouse and 100,000 square feet of convention space.  It is the only casino in Windsor but there are three across the border in Detroit.

United Airlines Pilot too Upset to Fly

A pilot at United Airlines told passengers he was too upset to fly the plane so the flight from Salt Lake City to Denver was cancelled.  The pilot referred to an incident at the gate that he thought was witnessed by some passengers and said it was an interpersonal confrontation that upset him to the point he was not focused to fly.

More Airline Fees

Spirit has begun charging passengers for the option of selecting their seats at the time they make their reservation.  Fees are $10 for an aisle or window seat, $5 for a middle seat and $15 for an exit row.

Southwest Upgrades its Computer Systems to Fly Even Better

Southwest is investing $175 million to implement Required Navigation Performance fleet wide for use at 64 US airports.  The airline is working with Naverus and the FAA to jumpstart the US transition to a satellite-based NextGen ATC system.  The RNP program will involve training the airline's 5,700 pilots, equipping the entire fleet of both737NGs and Classics to be RNP-capable, developing RNP procedures and making necessary airport upgrades.  Implementing RNP will make near-term gains in reducing harmful emissions, improving fuel efficiency, increasing airspace capacity and maximizing flight safety.  Southwest aims to begin implementing RNP by the fall of 2009, in the Dallas Houston area.

Airline News

The Sudanese government announced Sudan Airways has been grounded indefinitely as of June 23 due to civil aviation requirements violations.  The grounding is due to general performance issues, the government said, and is unrelated to the crash of a Sudan Airways flight in Khartoum on June 10.  AirTran is adding more flights to and from San Juan.  The airline will add a second daily flight from Atlanta and begin a daily flight from Baltimore.  US Airways has signed a codeshare agreement with Air China.  Their code will be on service to Beijing from Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York and US Airways will carry Air China's code on flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Phoenix, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Charlotte.  United is laying off about 950 pilots as it is cutting capacity to offset high fuel prices.  This number represents some 15% of the airlines 6,618 pilots.  The airline is also cutting 1,400 to 1,600 staff.   American is holding a dress rehearsal tomorrow for its broadband service expected to begin shortly.  Some lucky passengers traveling on American between New York and Los Angeles will have a chance to surf the internet in-flight.

Carnival Dream Cruise Ship Revealed

Carnival has released some details of its new Carnival Dream, scheduled to debut on September 21, 2009.  The ship will cruise to European and Caribbean destinations with reservations open on July 1.  The Dream will be a new class of ship for Carnival.  It features The Piazza, an indoor/outdoor cafe and live music venue, elaborate children's facilities, a huge WaterWork's aqua park, scenic whirlpools extending over the ship's beam and more stateroom categories, including some specifically designed for families.  Its inaugural cruise will be a 12 day Grand Mediterranean cruise from Rome to Naples, Livorno, Venice, Dubrovnik, Messina, Monaco, and Barcelona.

News is courtesy of ARTA Online.

Tourists may not be allowed to climb Ayers Rock

The UK government is planning to outlaw age discrimination which will affect areas including travel insurance.  It would be nice to see more of that in the US.  The Australian Aborigines are threatening to stop tourists from climbing Uluru in protest of government intervention in indigenous communities.

Dominican Republic Improves Highway System

The Dominican Republic is investing $1 billion in tourism infrastructure.  The government will use the money to build better roads, a new cruise ship marina, high-speed ferry service between Punta Cana and Samana and more luxury hotel rooms.  They will upgrade the highway between Punta Cana and Santo Domingo to allow visitors to travel between the two cities in one third the time it now takes.

Travel Agents are Preferred Method of Booking Travel

A British Travel company commissioned a survey on those planning a trip.  The study found that 54% were buying their holiday online but 80% said booking with a travel agent was the best way to ensure a trouble-free trip.  31% said they need more help about where to go, what to see, and what to do while on holiday and 30% said they paid more than expected when booking online.  The travel company wants to highlight the expertise of travel agents and is planning a campaign entitled "Are You Ready" that asks holiday makers whether they are properly prepared for their trip and encourages them to consult an independent retailer.

British Airways Passing Fuel Costs to Passengers in Premium Cabins

British Airways has been accused of sneaking in another increase in fuel surcharges which will cost business travelers about $100 more on a return flight, just three weeks after the last and largest increase was announced.  In fact they did do that.  Business and first-class passengers are to be forced to pay higher fuel surcharges than economy passengers for the first time.  BA said it had decided to restructure the levy to reflect the higher amount of fuel burned per passenger in the premium cabins.  Last Thursday the surcharge for first class and business passengers was raised about $50 one way for a total of $521 roundtrip for flights of more than 9 hours, Premium Economy goes to $237 one way or $474 round trip while economy remains the same at $214.  The airline said the changes were meant to spread some of the increase in fuel among those passengers traveling in cabins with fewer seats, using more space and benefiting from larger baggage allowances and more fuel per passenger to fly them.  This move is a fair one but let’s see if any other airlines match.

Reconsider Japan Airlines with a $1000 Fuel Surcharge

Speaking of fuel surcharges Japan Airlines will become the first airline to charge travelers a $1,000 fuel surcharge on its popular Sydney to London route when its latest surcharge goes into effect July 1.  Thai and Malaysian Airlines will increase their surcharges as well but not quite to the $1,000 fee for the same route.  Flight Centre reports that Qantas and Virgin Blue raised their base fare rather than the surcharge.  Emirates raised the fare, but have no fuel surcharge.

Pay for Speedy Security Check

Delta is planning to become the first major US carrier to offer passengers the option of paying for speedier security lines.  The airline plans to start its Registered Traveler program at JFK, LaGuardia and Los Angeles to passengers who pay $128 a year to go through an exclusive line at airport checkpoints.  Currently the Registered Traveler program has only been offered through an airport or a few foreign carriers.  Delta will be working with Verified Identity Pass to enroll passengers in Registered Traveler and operate the lines at the three airports.  Delta will receive a share of the $128.  The Air Transport Association opposes Registered Traveler saying it doesn't help airport security and a year ago sent letters to airport directors asking then not to offer the program.  The DHS says the airlines don't like the program because it competes with the airlines exclusive security lines they provide to first class flyers and frequent flyers.

Other Airline News

Frontier will begin adding sandwiches, salads and fruit cups on certain flights, supplementing current offers of snack mixes and beverages.  Beginning July 1 it will offer sandwiches for $6, salads for $7 and fruit cups for $3.  They will be available on daytime and evening flights to all East Coast cities, Anchorage, Costa Rica and Mexico.  Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand and Boeing are joining forces to develop the world's first green aviation fuel made from pond and sea weed.  British Airways could face a wave of strikes this summer after it was revealed the airline may create a subsidiary firm to employ its cabin crew with less pay and benefits.  Midwest is grounding its entire fleet of MD-80 aircraft, used largely for long-haul flights to the West Coast, and laying off an undetermined number of employees to counter the high cost of fuel.  Delta will refund the $25 second bag fee for fliers who bought tickets from the airline prior to April 9 and flew on or after May 5.  This is a one-time exception to its contract of carriage rules for passengers who bought tickets before the new fee was announced on April 9.  Qantas has had to cancel several flights and delay others because of rolling engineer strikes.  The strikes have stopped for now but they could resume on Friday.

United making it Harder to Travel

The news just keeps getting worse.  United has raised fares up to $90 one-way and is bringing back the dreaded minimum stay for nearly all domestic coach seats beginning in October.   Starting October 6 most of United's economy fares will require a one-to-three night or weekend-night minimum stay, but other classes of service are not affected.  The new requirements are applicable even on routes where United competes against low cost airlines such as Southwest and JetBlue.  The length of stay will depend on the destination.  An example given was a traveler booking the cheapest ticket for a flight between Chicago and Minneapolis would require a three night stay midweek or the entire weekend.  The same for a flight between Boston and San Diego. 

Strikes at Lufthansa

Lufthansa was hit by strikes this morning forcing the cancellation of flights and many delays.  Their largest union wants increased pay for more than 60,000 workers.  The airline's financial chief said last week he is confident the airline can match last year's operating profit in spite of high fuel costs and will use the crisis facing airlines to examine acquisitions.  The airline posted a $2.14 billion operating profit last year.  He said the crisis is strengthening the strong and weakening the weak making it an opportune time to weigh acquisitions, not only of BMI, but also of carriers outside the Star Alliance Group.  It's a good time to strike as far as the union is concerned.

Cruise Ship Safety

Senator John Kerry said he would introduce legislation to oversee passenger safety on cruise ships after another federal hearing on the issue.  Kerry was chair for the hearing for cruise ship safety for the Senate's Surface transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Sub-Committee.  He said current statutes do not require cruise ships to report crimes that occur in international waters to US authorities. CLIA's members voluntarily reported 489 crimes between April 1, 2007 and April 30, 2008 that included one suspicious death, eight cases of missing people and 83 reports of sexual assault.

News is courtesy of ARTA Online.

New Chart to Determine all those Airline Fees

This is a site you need to bookmark especially now that the airlines are charging so many fees http://rickseaney.com/domestic-airline-fee-chart/  You will find a chart of all the fees the airlines are charging and it is being kept up to date.  You might want to read some of the comments as well as readers make sure mistakes are noted.

Road Travel Limited in China During Olympics

In preparation for the Olympics, China will limit road travel within Beijing according to a vehicle's registration number.  Starting July 1, all heavy-polluting vehicles and all those carrying hazardous materials will be banned from the city's roadways.  Beginning July 20 through September 20, vehicles will only be allowed on the roads according to their even or off registration number, even one day, off the next.  Vehicles will not be permitted to enter Beijing without first applying for a special permit and meeting air quality standards.  China is trying to cut pollution and traffic congestion during the games.

Another Airline Cooperation Idea: Continental & United this time

Continental and United announced they signed a framework agreement to cooperate extensively, linking their networks and services worldwide, to create revenue opportunities, cost savings and other efficiencies.  Continental will join the Star Alliance and drop SkyTeam.  The two airlines will cooperate on their frequent flyer programs, lounges, facility utilization, information technology and procurement and establish joint ventures allowing them to cooperate with each other and with other Star Alliance members in international regions and compete more effectively.  Initially Continental will ask the DOT to allow it to join United and other Star Alliance carriers in their established antitrust immunized alliance.  This will allow CO to pool revenue on transatlantic routes with United, Air Canada and Lufthansa.  Joint ventures are also planned for the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions.  United and CO will code share domestically if approval is granted.  Continental cannot leave SkyTeam until nine months after the merger of Delta and Northwest is completed because of existing contracts.

Skunk-O-Rama
You have to love this story.  American's flight 915 from Miami to Bogota was delayed Wednesday night after a skunk was found in the back of the cargo hold and the poor frightened skunk didn't hold back.  The skunk was discovered as workers were loading the plane.  When crews tried to remove the skunk it released its notorious rotten smell.  No one was injured, but the odor naturally got into the cabin and passengers had to be taken off the plane.  The flight was more than two hours late.

ATA Sues FedEx

Bankrupt ATA is suing the FedEx Corporation over its decision to drop the airline from its military charter team.  ATA says that decision forced it into bankruptcy protection and left it financially destroyed.  The airline said charter flights of military personnel and their families generated more than $400 million in annual revenue.

News is courtesy of ARTA Online.

Katmandu Public Museum Opens

The massive Katmandu Palace of Nepal's deposed king was opened to the public as a museum, just four days after he surrendered the throne following the abolition of the monarchy.  The key tourist attractions will likely be the diamond-and-emerald adorned crown, scepter and gilded royal throne, as well as a Mercedes Benz given to the former king's grandfather by Adolf Hitler.

Now Cameras on our Airplanes?

An article in the Timesonline says airlines could install "spy in the cabin" systems on their aircraft in a $60 million program developed by the EU to prevent terrorist attacks.  The EU wants to develop a project for in-flight monitoring of passengers with tiny cameras and microphones in aircraft cabins.  Computers would constantly analyses facial expressions and conversations for suspicious behavior, triggering alarms if certain traits were identified.  The EU has already funded a program to develop the technology and the move is provoking concerns about civil liberty.

Monopoly if Delta and Northwest Merge

A group of unhappy airline passengers have filed a federal lawsuit in a San Francisco court to stop the merger of Delta and Northwest alleging that the deal would result in an illegal monopoly.  The lawsuit was filed by 28 passengers from 10 states who believe the merger would have a monopolistic grip on the industry as it would control 24% of domestic flights and reduce competition and would become the world's largest airline.  The lawyer taking the case is Joseph Alioto.  The name will be familiar with many of you from the first lawsuit regarding the commission cuts in the mid 90s.  The suit seeks a court order blocking the acquisition.

First Basic Computer

This link may interest some of you.  It takes you to an article and picture of the first computer that had all the components now regarded as characteristic of the basic computer.  It was the first computer that could store not only data but any user program in electronic memory and process it at electronic speed.  The first successful program was run June 21, 1948.  Just think of how far we have come in the past 60 years, from a huge room with huge components to an Ipod or a Blackberry.  View it at www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/2008/06/17scicomp117.xml

Airline News

Virgin America is going to service Las Vegas from JFK with one daily non-stop effective September 4.  Fares start at $159 one way in economy and $599 in first.  Singapore Airlines is raising the fuel surcharge by up to $30, effective June 24.  The biggest increase will be for flights between Singapore and gateway cities in the US and Canada where the surcharge will be $180 one way.  AirTran is leaving Stewart International Airport as of September 3 because of mounting losses.  Qantas is facing more rolling strikes by its engineers as they plan to strike next Monday over pay disputes.  Strikes would affect Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Cairns.  Their last strike occurred last month resulting in 17 planes grounded and many delays.  Japanese pilots and crew members staged a strike yesterday forcing the cancellation of 86 flights.