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KLM To Power European Flights With Used Cooking Oil
Dutch carrier KLM is set to begin using used cooking oil for some of its flights. The announcement comes less than two years after the airline flew the first biokerosene-fueled passenger flight in Europe
TSA Makes About-Face On Child Patdowns
The Transportation Security Agency has revised its rules on patting down children, two months after it sparked international outrage by frisking a 6-year-old girl and defending the actions of its security personnel
Best Travel Companies to Work For
If you'd like travel to be part of your work, consider trying to snag a job at Southwest Airlines or Virgin America. Those companies rank at the top of a new list of best travel-related employers compiled by career website Glassdoor. The ranking is based on evaluations by employees who work at those companies. Here's Glassdoor's full list of top travel companies to work for
More on the 'Myth' of Unchanged Hotel Bed Sheets
No recent story has generated more hate mail than my investigation of hotels that don't change their sheets between guests. I use the term investigation lightly as I simply reviewed some of the previous articles, told a few of your stories, and added my two cents -- which is that a vast majority of hotels always change their sheets. That didn't go over very well with some of my readers
Hotels Don't Always Change the Sheets Between Guests
Glenn Robins is grossed out. As a frequent traveler, he assumed the sheets on hotel beds are changed between guests. But a new TV ad by the Hampton Inn chain calls that assumption into question. It shows housekeepers changing sheets in hazmat suits, at what appears to be a competing hotel chain
AirTran edged Hawaiian out of the top spot in this year's annual 'Airline Quality Rating' (AQR) scores. And the combined quality score for the country's 16 largest airlines again crept up a bit over the previous year. Nevertheless -- although AQR doesn't indicate it -- airline travel remains a miserable experience most of the time. Here's why
Mandatory Housekeeping Fees May Be Just Around the Corner
To get an idea of what the hotel bill of the future might look like, take a look at your present bill at the Atlantis in the Bahamas. Guests at the resort are 'required to pay a mandatory housekeeping gratuity and utility service fee of up to $22.95 per person per day,' according to the terms on its website
Disney Turns to Guests to Promote Theme Parks
In one video, a little boy dances during a parade at Disney's Magic Kingdom. In another, a young girl dressed as a princess embraces her father. And in a third, two women explore Cinderella's Castle. All are part of Disney's new campaign called Let the Memories Begin -- a promotion that relies on what the company refers to as 'guest-generated' content
Ticket? Check. Bag? Check. Insurance? Pre-check
Forcing travelers to opt out of a purchase when they're buying a ticket or a hotel room isn't new. But the volume of complaints I've received about pre-checking is on the rise, as is the number of well-known travel companies engaged in this questionable e-commerce practice
Expedia Goes Accessible; Travelocity Goes Opaque
The big online travel websites keep improving their utility, constantly adding new features and improving old ones. Latest tweaks involve rooms for travelers who need special access features, plus a new 'opaque' option.
Clear Airfares Act Left Sitting on the Tarmac
The Clear Airfares Act is a Senate bill that would require airlines and online travel agencies to disclose any additional fees before you buy a ticket. And the End Discriminatory State Taxes for Automobile Renters Act would prohibit states or localities from collecting a discriminatory tax on motor vehicle rentals. Just one problem: Neither of these bills have been passed.
When Travelers Experience Discrimination
As self-described 'adventurous grandparents,' Trevor and Jean Broome had been looking forward to their upcoming trip to Costa Rica, which included diving, hiking, snorkeling and whitewater rafting. Until they got some bad news from their tour operator: They were too old for the tour they had selected.
My Hotel Lost a Star -- What Now?
When Stephanie Farrow books a nonrefundable hotel room through Priceline, she's promised a four-star property. She ends up with a three-star and when she complains, she's given the runaround. Is her lost star a lost cause?
Good Airline Fees? Some Are Worth the Money
This isn't another story about airlines and their misguided fees. It's about the surcharges that are worth paying -- and why you should consider saying, 'yes' to them. That's right, I said 'worth it.' While many fees are outrageous, some aren't entirely out of line.
Good Airline Fees? Some Are Worth the Money
This isn't another story about airlines and their misguided fees. It's about the surcharges that are worth paying -- and why you should consider saying, 'yes' to them. That's right, I said 'worth it.' While many fees are outrageous, some aren't entirely out of line.
Improved DOT 'Air Consumer' Website
The U.S. Department of Transportation's recently updated 'Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement' Website provides easy access to information available on your 'rights' as an air passenger. And although the content is generally the same as before, it's more accessible. Of the six main options in the opening menu, three are of greatest use to most travelers.
Hotel Fees That Must Die and How to Kill Them
Resort fees. Mandatory tips. Concierge surcharges. If you've stayed at a hotel in the last few years, you've become accustomed -- if not anesthetized -- to these annoying extras. You expect them. You're indifferent to them when they appear on your bill. You shouldn't be.
At least one big cruise line has decided to court the solo travel market. Norwegian Cruise Line's new Norwegian Epic has 128 'Epic Studios' designed for single occupancy. Although a few other big cruise ships have a few single cabins, Norwegian Epic's studios are unlike anything else in the major-line cruise inventory
Should Airlines Honor Fares That Are Obvious Mistakes
I've run across travelers who feel that a company should honor any fare error, no matter how outrageous, and who don't think twice about booking blocks of rooms or several tickets at a wrong price. Not only do I find that ethically problematic, but it also makes matters more difficult for passengers
'People Movers' Ease Airport Hassles
Dulles inaugurated its new billion-dollar 'people mover,' and it should make life a lot easier for you whether you live in the area, visit the area, or have to change planes there. Dulles joins a number of other airports around the United States -- and the world -- that offer an easier and more convenient alternative to trekking through endless corridors or schlepping on and off buses
Fast Trains Are Cool ... and Very Expensive
Of all the ways Florida could blow through $1.25 billion in federal recovery funds, a bullet train is certainly the flashiest. Connecting Tampa, Orlando and Miami by high-speed rail is a scheme that's been chugging around for decades, and the prospects for profitability are the same today as they always were: nil.
Should the TSA Trust in Full-Body Scanners
The Heritage Foundation's James Jay Carafano recently argued that scanners will help stop terrorists, while FlyersRights.org's Kate Hanni wrote that they won't work. A sampling of your thoughts
Find Cheaper Car Rental Rates Away From the Airport
The best rate Darren Popik could find on a car rental at the airport recently was $114. So he widened his search to off-airport car rental locations and found a better deal. At a time when rental rates are climbing, many travelers cast a wide net when looking for affordable auto rental rates. Why such a dramatic price difference between on-airport and off-airport locations?
As if the lousy economy and security hassles weren't enough, the travel industry keeps cooking up some new ways to squeeze a few more dollars out of you or squeeze you into fewer inches. Last year's decline in tourism has inflicted a big hit on the economies of many destination areas. So what do those destinations do?
Canceled Flight ... So Where's My Refund
I recently booked a flight through Expedia from Orlando to Hyderabad, India. The flights were on Continental Airlines and Jet Airways. After I made the reservation and received a confirmation, I got an e-mail from Expedia that one leg of my flight had been canceled. I have been trying to get a refund for that canceled flight since then
Post-Holiday Travel Bargains Abound But Are They Worth It
Dead Week, for those of you who aren't dyed-in-the-wool bargain hunters, takes place the first week of every year. Actually, Dead Week isn't the only dead week. The week after Thanksgiving and the one after spring break tend to be exceptionally quiet. Are vacations at these times worth it?
5 Common Travel Mistakes and How to Fix Them
I'm dedicating this column to travel mistakes, a topic that will be familiar to anyone who reads this feature or follows my misadventures. So here it is, mistakes you should avoid when you travel and how to fix them
The Unofficial Guide to Traveling in 2010
There's good news for travelers in 2010. Several new laws and policies are scheduled to take effect that might upgrade the quality of your trip. Among them are Secure Flight, with its lofty promise to "improve the travel experience for all passengers," a new credit card bill and stricter disability rules for airlines.
Flying in the Snow: 6 Lessons for Coping With Winter-Weather Delays
Winter is only starting, and when bad weather moves in, your flight schedule isn't worth the paper it's printed on. What to do when your flight is delayed or cancelled due to winter weather
TSA to Conduct Full Review After Sensitive Information Leak
TSA officials say that a full review is underway to determine how a 2008 copy of its standard operating procedures for all airport security checkpoints was released in its entirety on the Internet.
Washington Trade Groups Want Their Piece of Pie in the Sky
No one would claim that any of the new travel-related laws scheduled to take effect in 2010 are game-changers for travelers. They're relatively minor. An overwhelming majority of the organizations I spoke with said that reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration would be in our best interests.
Frequent Flyer Miles: Currency, not Loyalty
Frequent flyer miles no longer have much if anything to do with loyalty: Instead, they've become a strange sort of currency that you don't really own and has value that is at the whim of the airline. Unless you fly a lot, it's time to re-think your frequent flyer plans.
If Europe Can Handle In-Flight Cellphone Use, So Can America
Despite predictions that in-flight cellphone usage would lead to Armageddon, the global rollout has been just the opposite. In 20 months of global usage, there has not been one reported incident or problem. In fact, 93 percent of passengers who flew on an in-flight communication-equipped aircraft want all jets so equipped. So why not U.S. carriers?
Allowing Cellphones In-Flight Would Make Air Travel Even Worse
With airline customer satisfaction at an all-time low, this is not the moment to consider making airplane travel even more torturous by allowing in-flight cellphone conversations. After arriving hours early at the airport and often after waiting for a delayed, or even canceled, flight, what could make air travel worse?
Luxury Travel & Business Travel Industry - Strong, Challenging Market Growth ... - MarketWatch (press release)
MarketWatch (press release)
DALLAS, May 25, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- ReportsnReports.com adds new market research reports on the Travel and Hospitality Industry to its store. These reports focus on the Luxury Travel and Business Travel segments and their status since the ...
Travel industry is paying close attention to customer frustrations - WCSH-TV
WCSH-TV
WCSH-TV
He says the travel and hospitality industries are trying hard to listen to customer feedback, particularly in social media. The comment you tweet or post is likely to get acted upon to try to maintain a competitive edge. "Any time there is a complaint, ...
Travel:Honoured for excellence in travel business - The Citizen Daily
The Citizen Daily
A fortnight ago, Durban, the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), was brimming with exciting activities of Africa's most important travel and tourism business networking gathering. Nearly 3000 international buyers and visitors attended the Indaba, ...
Personalised customer care key for success
Cheaper gas spurs more travelers this Memorial Day - Bismarck Tribune
Boston Globe
Bismarck Tribune
Memorial Day travel is usually a good proxy for the summer. Alan Pisarski, independent consultant for the tourism industry, expects summer travel to be about flat compared with last year. Pisarski says concerns about the economy, primarily about jobs ...
Falling gas prices expected to boost summer travel, region's tourism industry
More travelers hit road
Cheaper gas spurs more travelers this Memorial Day - Glens Falls Post-Star
Glens Falls Post-Star
Memorial Day kicks off the summer travel season, and since pump prices never reached $4 or $5 a gallon, as feared, economists says travelers are likely to dine out or shop more once they pull off the road. About 30.7 million people will drive more than ...
Your Holiday Promotion Opens a New Marketplace for Special Travel Deals and ... - San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Hong Kong (PRWEB) May 27, 2012 With a view to becoming the largest and most trusted holiday clearinghouse on the web, Your Holiday Promotion now connects local travel-industry merchants directly with travel agents and independent travelers shopping for ...
Qatar travel industry representatives attend tourism fair in Ankara - Gulf Times
Gulf Times
Metex, which will now become an annual event, will provide a networking point for travel and tourism professionals for business relations, market expansion and to showcase innovative ideas, new destinations and co-operation within the industry.
Pre G20 tourism summit discussed ways to promote the industry in the Americas - MercoPress
MercoPress
MercoPress
The event, which took place from May 16-18, was preceded by a ministerial meeting in Merida where tourism ministers from the region discussed challenges and opportunities in the global travel industry and provided recommendations for the upcoming G-20 ...
Beijing also tourism capital - Xinhua
Xinhua
Xinhua
CYTS is among the leading local travel agencies to greatly benefit from outbound tourism. Last year, its outbound tourism revenue reached 8.46 billion yuan, increasing 38 percent from 2010. Despite the overall growth of the industry, insiders have ...
Int'l tourists may visit Beijing visa-free
China's 'Hollywood' shines in business - China Daily
China Daily
China Daily
In order to promote its travel business, Hengdian World Studios Co established its own marketing company for tourism in 2003. So far 46 branches that focus on marketing have entered a large number of cities nationwide. These branches build partnerships ...
travel industry news - Google News
Google News