Airlines Pushing Back Against Passengers' Rights Law
New rules are going into effect which will fine airlines which keep passengers trapped on the tarmac for more than three hours. The bill of rights for passengers is long overdue, but the airlines are now threatening
to cancel flights at even a hint of bad weather in order to avoid the fines. The Wall Street Journal reports:
Carriers say that to avoid those fines, they will aggressively cancel flights before and during storms--even if the bad weather never materializes. The threats could foreshadow significant changes in air travel, making it even less reliable for millions of road warriors and vacationers. By canceling flights, it could take days for all travelers to get home when storms strike.
Of course, the warnings from carriers could simply be posturing to pressure the government into leniency. Passenger-rights advocates say airlines are trying to scare fliers. And the Department of Transportation says carriers have a lot of other options to avoid fines.
Still, on Tuesday, Continental Airlines Inc. Chief Executive Jeff Smisek threw down the gauntlet, calling DOT's rule "stupid." Even though many passengers will risk long delays to get where they are going, "the government by God says, 'We're going to fine you $27,500,'" he said at an investor conference in New York. "Here's what we're going to do: We're going to cancel the flight."
The Department of Transportation and consumer rights groups are not not impressed with the airlines' threats, saying that there are many options available to airlines instead of canceling flights willy nilly. They can have more crews ready to take over for crews who exceed flight hour limits and they can book passengers on competing airlines if a flight must be delayed or canceled.
Airline passengers have essentially had no rights at all since the industry was deregulated in the 1970s. Passengers deserve to be treated decently and the airlines will have to adapt to the new rules.
A company called the Toy Traveling agency will send your plush toy on a trip to see Prague. The agency will take pictures of your toy with scenic backgrounds, such as the Prague Castle or the Charles Bridge. The cost of a trip for your stuffed toys is around $120 to $200.
China's new bullet trains are replacing its slow steam powered trains. CNN reports that China is home to the world's fastest train is so fast it reduces airplane ticket sales. The train can 250 miles per hour. President Obama wants to have the fastest trains here in the U.S. Take a look:
Kingston Digital Releases 256GB USB Flash Drive in U.S.
Kingston Digital has announced the release of DataTraveler 310, the first 256GB USB Flash drive in the United States. The DataTraveler 310 replaces the 256GB DataTraveler 300, released in July 2009 to the Asia/Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. The drive includes Password Traveler software, which allows the user to create and access a password-protected privacy zone. The price for the drive is $1,108. Prices for data storage do tend to come down over time.
"We saw an opportunity to push the capacity envelope for USB Flash drives in the marketplace. Customer feedback and our research determined that this is a great solution for designers, engineers and architects who have a need to easily store and transport large data files," said Andrew Ewing, USB business manager, Kingston. "For the enthusiast who wants easy access to their full media library, the DataTraveler 310 can store up to 365 CDs, 54 DVDs or 51,000 images. This device makes an entire collection of data easily portable."
Luxury Aircruise Concept Slowly Floats You From London to New York
London-based design and innovation company Seymourpowell has come up with the Aircruise, a floating hydrogen gas powered luxury hotel. The Aircruise concept features penthouse apartments and bars and glass viewing floors. The Aircruise would take about 100 passengers on a leisurely 37 hour flight from London to New York. Here is a video of what the Aircruise will be like if it becomes reality. Take a look:
The Aircruise will not be witout competition. Popular Science has a story about another flying luxury hotel called the Aeroscraft that could carry up to 250 people.
Peter Greenberg Talks Travel Safety Following Antigua Tourist Murder
An American woman was recently found dead in Antigua. She was a tourist who had been aboard a cruise ship. Her murder is one of several murders of tourists in Antigua during past couple years. Travel expert Peter Greenberg talked to Maggie Rodriguez about the murder and offered some tips for vacationing safely. Greenberg says murders are not that common but assaults and rapes are. Greenberg advises men and women not to travel alone at night. He also says to avoid carrying large purses with straps or handles. Take a look:
TSA Announces Enhanced Screening For US Bound Passengers From 14 Countries
CNN reports that the TSA will implement enhanced screening measures for passengers flying to the U.S. from 14 countries including Syria, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.
The TSA said in a statement announcing the new measures that "effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders."
A senior government official, not authorized to speak on the record, provided CNN with the full list complied by the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department of 14 countries that fall under the TSA's "countries of interest" label -- which will automatically trigger the enhanced screening.
The State Department lists four countries as those that sponsor terror: Cuba, Sudan, Syria and Iran. The other 10 countries of interest are Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen, the government official said.
Passengers from other countries could still face enhanced security for other reasons.
CNN said the TSA will apply the enhanced measures to people traveling from and through the countries listed above. The TSA did not give any specifics as to what the enhanced screening measures will entail. This sounds like it will be far more effective than forbiding people from using the bathroom during the final hour of the flight or not allowing passengers to read books or use a laptop.
Video: Former Head of El Al Airlines Discusses How to Make American Air Travel Safe
In light of the recent bombing attempt, the debate is raging over how to best keep air travel safe for Americans. Some people advocate the backscatter xray machines that strip you naked for the TSA. Privacy advocates oppose those machines and many question the health aspects of being subjected to radiation -- especially for women who might be pregnant and not know it yet.
The safest airline in the world is El Al, the Israeli airline. It has not had a terrorist incident in 30 years. The former head of El Al, and a former security agent, Isaac Yeffet, had some very interesting opinions about the issue. He says that the bomber would never been allowed on an El Al flight because his own father told the American Embassy he was going to Yemen to train with terrorists. He was incredulous that his visa wasn't revoked immediately based on this information alone.
Yeffet says the backscatter machines just humiliate people by stripping them naked and doesn't think they add anything to the security. He says it's ridiculous to stop people from using the restroom an hour before landing: that just tells the terrorists to blow up the plane an hour and a half before landing. Instead, El Al knows who every person is before he or she gets on the plane, they question passengers and they send trained agents into the airport to look for people who are acting suspiciously. Take a look:
Canadian officials have banned most carry-on luggage for U.S. bound passengers as a result of the failed Christmas day plane bombing attempt. The strict measure allows people to only carry medical devices, small purses and bags containing "life sustatining items." This is simply not going to work for most travelers. The new measure is expected to remain in effect for several days. Take a look:
Video: New Travel Restrictions and Security Measures Explained
Matt Lauer of The Today Show explores the new security regulations for air travel. For the last hour of the flight there are no bathroom breaks the last hour of the flight, no items in your lap, no access to carry on luggage and no in flight entertainment. The former head of security for American Airlines says that this is nothing; he thinks the security is going to get even tighter. He says passengers should expect full patdowns and searches. Take a look:
Extra Security Causing Long Lines and Flight Delays in Detroit
New security measures are resulting in longer airport lines and flight delays. CNN's Allan Chernoff reports from a very cold looking Detroit aiport. He says people are arriving as much as three hours before their flight to give themselves time to deal with the extra security measures. Many people commenting on Twitter and other social networks are very unhappy with some of the new security measures, especially the remain in your seat for the last hour of your flight rule and the keep nothing in your lap, not even a book, for the final hour of your flight rule. Allan Chernoff managed to find a couple people that agree with the new regulations. Take a look:
Powerful New Winter Storm Will Create More Headaches for Travelers
A new storm system is already creating headaches for travelers. The winter storm has created blizzard-like storms in the Midwest. USA Todayreports that the storm is expected to create icy conditions as it moves east with an ice storm warning already up for West Virginia.
Meteorologists predicted the slow-moving storm would glaze highways in the East with ice through Christmas night and that gusty thunderstorms would hamper the South. An ice storm warning was issued for parts of West Virginia and the Blue Ridge mountains in North Carolina and Virginia, while a wind chill advisory cautioned of temperatures as low as 30 below zero in Montana.
The National Weather Service warned that blizzards would hit parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin on Christmas Day and into the evening.
You can find more about the developing winter storm on weather.com. NOAA's website displays all the current warnings.
Peter Greenberg Shares Last Minute Gift Ideas for Travelers
Travel expert Peter Greenberg shared some of his favorite travel gifts on the Early Show's "Early Holiday Unwrapped" segment. One of his gift ideas is an amazing $175 jacket called the Scott E-Vest which contains nineteen different pockets, including a place for your iPod. Peter Greenberg also likes the Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera WX1/B, which can take panoramic photos. Another items mentioned is the Zadro Nano Wand UV Disinfection Scanner for germaphobes. Take a look:
New Travel Regulations In Effect for Thanksgiving Travel
Thanksgiving travel will be especially onerous this year because of new fees and increased security regulations on flights. The Wall Street Journalreports on the new rules. One rule that many people don't even know about is that the TSA is requiring that passengers book tickets in the exact same name as their drivers license, and that they give their birth date and gender ahead of time when they purchase their tickets.
Security screening may be bumpier for some travelers. That's because the Transportation Security Administration is phasing in a new policy that requires the name on your boarding pass to match exactly the name on your ID. If not, you may face some questions. Also, screeners will be looking more closely at any powders in your bag.
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The biggest changes are occurring at security checkpoints. TSA has been instructing travelers to book tickets using their full legal names, plus birth dates and gender, as part of a "Secure Flight" program to better utilize terrorist watch and warning lists. The hope is that more information will cut down on "false positive" red flags and keep people from unnecessary extra screening, and at the same time make it harder for bad guys to slip through. Some travelers have now had to update frequent-flier program records at airlines to book reservations under full legal names, rather than using middle names or initials.
The program is still being phased in, and some airlines are ahead of others at collecting all the information. TSA says that for the holiday season, travelers will still be able to fly if their boarding pass doesn't exactly match their ID--either a driver's license or passport. But they will be asked for more information.
"We allow for slight variations between the boarding pass and a passenger's ID, such as small differences with the middle name and initial, hyphens, longer names, et cetera," said TSA spokeswoman Sterling Payne. "The message we want to make sure everybody understands is don't be concerned, as you should not be inconvenienced."
If you take any kind of powder in your carry-on luggage, it will be subject to extra scrutiny, and cosmetics are subject to being sampled to make sure they can't be used to make explosives.
To make things even more fun, there are fewer airline employees to help out when things go awry and flights are expected to be jam packed.
Nina Willdorf of Budget Travel tells Kathie Lee and Hoda about some unusual hotel rooms for travelers that are looking for something a little different. From the room where the furniture is on the ceiling to the room that has a mini-golf course running through it, these are not for those looking for the nearest Hilton or Hyatt. Take a look:
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