Cruise lines threaten to sue Alaska for new tax
A cruise ship attorney warned Alaska legislators Tuesday that cruise operators will likely sue the state if it charges a $50 head tax on cruise ship passengers. The state would spend “tens and tens of thousands of dollars” defending the head tax proposed by Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, said Susan Burke, a Juneau attorney who represents the NorthWest CruiseShip Association.
US to tighten border control by 2008
Americans traveling to Canada and Mexico would need passports to come home to the United States under guidelines proposed Tuesday in the latest effort to deter terrorists from entering the country. The new rules, which would be phased in by 2008, apply to Americans traveling from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Panama.
Airport work under way to accommodate A380
The largest passenger aircraft ever built will soon be able to land at Melbourne Airport, with construction to widen the main runway set to begin. Work will begin today to widen the north-south runway by 15 metres in preparation for the arrival of the new Airbus A380.
Airline workers bear the brunt of costs
Airline workers bear the brunt of costs — Pilots, flight attendants and mechanics who have already seen their wages, benefits and pensions slashed by billions of dollars face even more pain as struggling airlines swing the cost-cutting ax anew.
Sanibel Island’s shore thing
At low tide on Bowman’s Beach, after the flats-fishing boats have motored out of Punta Rasa for the morning and the traffic along McGregor Boulevard ebbs into a barely audible hum, they begin to appear near the Sanibel Causeway. One after another, they take their places in waist-deep water on a distant sandbar.
Business travelers keep online travel sites busy
Almost three-quarters of business travelers prefer to book their travel online, according to Accenture. Business travelers are doing more of their booking online. In 2003, 57 percent said they preferred to book online. Two years later, the figure has risen to 71 percent.
Inspectors find airplane food warehouse infested with rodents
A storage facility for airplane food at O’Hare was shut down Tuesday after city inspectors found it infested with rodents.
Authorities closed Gate Gourmet Storage where airline snack foods such as pretzels, pop and beer are stored.
Texas tops list for rising rental car rates
Texas tops list for rising rental car rates — According to a study from online travel booking company Travelocity that examined added rental car taxes, the average taxes added to base rates for car rentals at major U.S. airports has increased from 24.4 percent in 2003 to 25.8 percent in 2005, with Texas leading the nation in terms of sticker shock.
John’s tips on tipping
When you’re traveling, it seems that every service employee is looking
for a handout. Your valet pauses for a moment after you hand him the keys to your
car. Your luggage porter lingers after delivering your bags to your
room. A server signs your check with a smiley-face, hoping for a
generous gratuity.
Air travel agents threaten to block sale of tickets
The stand-off between international carriers and travel agents over
commission rate cuts intensified today with 2,000 travel agents from across India reiterating their threat to block ticketing services of some carriers. Starting April 1, 2005, travel agents will stop selling tickets of Air-India and go slow on the sale of tickets of all international carriers that cut the commission rates.