Tripso Weekend/August 26, 2007
TRIPSO WEEKEND
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Tripso Columns
New Northwest deal stinks
Last week brought the news that TPG Capital, a private equity firm based in Texas, has offered $450 million for the purchase of Midwest Air Group, the regional carrier based in Milwaukee. And who do we find on the “passive investors” list? None other than Northwest Airlines, the terror of the Midwest. Charlie Leocha smells something fishy. (Charles Leocha)
Help! My shuttle’s a no-show
Joan Cole’s airport shuttle bus is a no-show. A customer service agent finally tells her to take a cab and promises to pay Cole’s fare. But now Gray Line, the company that was supposed to pick her up, is ignoring her request for a refund. What should she do? (Christopher Elliott)
For the best travel bargains, join the locals
Tripso has a new columnist. His name is Tim Leffel and he has some miles on his shoe leather. Tim has been around the world three times, has lived in Istanbul, Seoul and Bangkok, and has dispatched travel articles from five continents. After spending 15 years in out-of-the-Zway places, Tim has some advice for the wayfarer: Think local. (Tim Leffel)
Why are U.S. airlines so bad?
People say U.S. airlines are among the worst in the airline industry. Stack them up against their international competitors and they fail the tests of customer service, amenities and overall friendliness. Why is that? Why can’t American carriers compete? James Wysong has some ideas. (James Wysong)
Customer bytes back at online ‘glitch’
Dave Tomasso had been saving for two years to take his family on a European cruise in 2008. While scanning Royal Caribbean’s Web site in March he found a “spectacular deal” on a 12-night Mediterranean cruise. He immediately booked two balcony staterooms. But a few days later, he learned the fare was a “glitch” and the cruise line was charging him $4,200 more. Frustrated, he contacted Tripso for help. (Anita Dunham-Potter)
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This week in travel
Storms play havoc on U.S. travel
Severe weather in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast overnight bedeviled air traffic, knocked out power to large sections of Chicago, Illinois, and pushed rivers and streams out of their banks.
British Airways is spared sky-high fine
The Justice Department is giving Britain’s largest airline a break, even as it faces one the largest antitrust fines in years. Representatives of British Airways are scheduled to plead guilty Thursday to two counts of conspiracy and face a likely fine of $300 million for colluding with rival Virgin Atlantic over fuel surcharges on international flights.
Mexico readies for Dean’s second punch
Hurricane Dean churned toward a second dangerous encounter with Mexico on Wednesday, as government officials warned residents of Veracruz and other coastal towns to prepare for its arrival.
Monster Dean smashes into Mexico, weakens
Hurricane Dean weakened today into a Category 3 storm after slamming into Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 5 monster capable of inflicting catastrophic damage. The hurricane is expected to cross Yucatan and re-enter the gulf as a Category 2 storm.
Dean aims at Caymans
Hurricane Dean picked up strength early today, setting its sights on the Cayman Islands and Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula after battering the southern coast of Jamaica. Within hours, Dean could become a Category 5 — the top of the scale, with winds in excess of 155 mph — as it moves into the western Caribbean.
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