FAA warned before 9/11
In the months before the Sept. 11 attacks, federal aviation officials reviewed dozens of intelligence reports that warned about Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda, some of which specifically discussed airline hijackings and suicide operations, according to a previously undisclosed report from the 9/11 commission.
Airlines attack consumer law
The International Air Carrier Association (IACA), an industry body representing charter airlines, has described new EU consumer protection legislation which will come into force next week as “fundamentally flawed.” The European Commission’s so-called ‘Denied Boarding Directive’ will become law next Thursday and greatly increases consumers’ powers to claim compensation from airlines.
Budget derails Amtrak
Amtrak is once again facing the end of the line. President Bush repeated his call for ending federal subsidies to Amtrak in his budget proposal released yesterday, a move he acknowledged would likely throw the train operator into bankruptcy. “The principle here is clear: Taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely or not at all,†Bush said.
Travel sites are unresponsive
A consulting firm that rates how well companies treat their online visitors says the travel industry has some explaining to do. Literally. The Customer Respect Group has issued results from its semiannual study of airlines and travel companies, and they did worst in responsiveness to visitor inquiries. They aren’t so hot on customer privacy, either.
Airline service declines
U.S. airline service was worse in 2004 than 2003, but the rate of late flights, mishandled bags and complaints still was lower than most years, the federal Transportation Department said Thursday. Consumer complaints about airline service soared 25 percent to 7,477 last year, up from 5,983 received in 2003 - the lowest total since complaints were first recorded in 1970. Nevertheless, 2004’s complaint total was the second lowest since 1997.
Five-star South Florida
No sooner had we settled into our room at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove than we heard a knock at the door. Aren, our 16-month-old son, toddled over to open it, but his tiny hands couldn’t reach the knob. “Room service,” the voice on the other side announced. Did we order room service? Hardly, but that didn’t stop a hotel employee from delivering a silver tray with an enormous, freshly-baked M&M cookie - Aren’s favorite - to our room.
Man guilty in cruise scam
A Dobbs Ferry, NY, man who claimed that he was blinded in four separate cruise-ship accidents - all in the same eye - pleaded guilty yesterday to charges he fraudulently tried to get $500,000 in insurance for the latest “mishap.” Brian Calen faced up to 15 years in state prison for second-degree insurance fraud and second-degree attempted grand larceny.
Senators: probe uniforms
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama on Tuesday asked Congress and the Transportation Security Administration to investigate the easy availability of commercial airline pilot uniforms online. They said it was easy to obtain uniforms without working for an airline and that immediate action was needed to close a potentially deadly loophole.
Bill: eliminate TSA screeners
The chairman of the House aviation subcommittee said Monday he is drafting a proposal to get rid of all government security screeners at the nation’s airports and replace them with employees working for private companies. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said that travelers would face fewer long waits at checkpoints if the government hired hired private screeners.
Virus strikes Veendam again
About 230 people on a Holland America cruise ship came down with a gastrointestinal illness on a Caribbean voyage, forcing the trip to end early. About 200 of the 1,220 passengers and 30 of the 572 crew members aboard the Veendam got sick on the trip, which ended in Tampa on Friday evening about 13 hours early. Sick passengers were quarantined to their rooms, passengers and officials said.