Airlines stretched so thin
Airlines stretched so thin that one piece out of place throws them off — Charlie
Miller could be a poster child for nightmarish air travel during the winter now drawing to a close. He managed to get home late on Christmas Eve. But to do it, he had to sleep two nights at the airport, check in at two high-priced hotels, pay $150 for an 8-mile cab ride in Denver, buy a first-class ticket on United, fly to Los Angeles, then connect through Philadelphia. His total extra cost: $3,000. (USA Today)
Imams detained after prayer sue airline, airport — Six Muslim scholars who were escorted off a US Airways flight in November have filed a lawsuit against the airline and the Minnesota Metropolitan Airports Commission, saying their civil rights were violated. The 39-page complaint, filed in United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and announced Tuesday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the scholars should not have been kept off a Nov. 20 flight from Minneapolis to Phoenix. The lawsuit seeks an undisclosed amount of money as punitive and compensatory damages. (Mohave Daily News)
What do you think: What about those pesky Imams?
25 million reward offered for first non-polluting airline — To dramatically change the reckless attitude of airlines toward the atmosphere, LegalLock is offering a new prize, for innovation, or failing that, it will go to regulatory enforcement. Twenty-five million in reward money was offered for the first major trans-continental trans-oceanic airline to achieve zero emissions in the air and on the ground before 2021. Funded by LegalLock, the award will be administered by Robinson Joyce, its president. (PNN Online)
Carnival to build and operate cruise terminal in Honduras — Carnival Corporation & plc has signed an agreement to build and operate a cruise terminal on the island of Roatan, Honduras. Development of the facility - to be called “Mahogany Bay - Roatan” - is expected to start in fall 2007 and be completed by summer 2009 at a cost of $50 million. (Travel Daily News)
Tourist Unhappy with $1,000 Handicap Parking Fine — The last thing one expects while vacationing on St. John is to be slapped with a $1,000 fine for parking in a handicap parking space as they are leaving the island to return home. On the other hand, the operators of island’s car rental agencies do not enjoy paying motor vehicle tickets issued to customers and trying to collect the fines from a former customer.This situation was highlighted recently when visitor Don Stone was issued a $1,000 ticket for parking in a handicap space and had to pay the fine to Hospitality Car Rental on his credit card before leaving, so the agency didn’t get stuck with the fine. (St. John Tradewinds News)
US security scares away foreign visitors — Maryellen Fleming-Hoffman manages a gift store on the plunging rim of the Grand Canyon, where visitors come to marvel at one of the world’s greatest attractions. Business is good, local travel is buoyant, although one thing is different: foreign visitors to the canyon, like other U.S. tourist attractions, are no longer coming in the numbers they once did, she says.(MSNBC)
Carrie Charney, Christopher Elliott, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.