Tripso Weekend/July 20, 2007
TRIPSO WEEKEND
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Tripso Columns
An old-fashioned family road trip: 12 tips
At this exact moment, thousands of parents are thinking about hitting the highway for a family road trip this summer. Destination? Anywhere but here. It’s an exciting prospect for kids, but it’s also fraught with difficulties, including sudden back-seat fights and frequent retreats to the iPod Zone. Mark Sedenquist offers 12 tips for some old-fashioned fun. (Mark Sedenquist)
Lost luggage, ignored claim
British Airways loses three bags belonging to Izlen Umut Egeli’s family. Under the Montreal Convention, the airline must compensate the travelers for their luggage, but Egeli is trapped in a maze of claim forms, phone representatives who can’t help, and fax machines that won’t. Is there a way out? (Christopher Elliott)
Why are they ripping us off?
Stay at a reasonably priced hotel, and you’ll probably get a free breakfast, free Internet, free bottles of water and more. Stay at a really expensive hotel, and they’ll nickel-and-dime you on everything. Why do we seem to get less when we pay more? (Amy Bradley-Hole)
Who’s to blame for this airline mess?
James Wysong has been thinking a lot about the airline industry recently. Everywhere he looks he sees dissatisfaction. Customers are unhappy, stockholders are nervous, management is desperate and union workers are furious. Was it ever any different? Is somebody to blame? After much thought, James has finally figured something out. Yes, there is someone to blame, he says. And that someone is you. (James Wysong)
Holy high seas!
Faith-based travel is a huge business, and cruise lines and tour operators are getting into the act, offering theme cruises and religious destinations for both Christians and Jews. Religious cruising hasn’t been this busy since Noah’s Ark. Anita Dunham-Potter talks about the trend. (Anita Dunham-Potter)
This week in travel
Part of doomed jet’s braking system disabled
One of the two thrust reversers on an airliner that crashed in a fireball was turned off when the plane landed, the jet’s owner said Thursday.
Fatal crash prompts calls for closing of airport
A TAM jet pulled out of an attempted landing today at Sao Paulo’s Congonhas airport, and federal prosecutors sought a court order to shut down the entire airport — Brazil’s busiest — until the investigation into this week’s crash that killed at least 189 people was completed.
Grim search for bodies after Brazilian plane crash
Recovery workers picked through smoldering wreckage today, searching for victims of a fiery Brazilian plane crash that officials said left at least 200 people dead. The plane was trying to land at Sao Paulo’s Congonhas airport when it hit a building and exploded into flames.
Congress moves to ease passport crisis
Help may be on the way to deal with the backlog of unprocessed passport requests. Legislation passed Monday by the House would make it easier for the State Department to rehire retired personnel to pitch in.
Full planes may save airlines from weak second quarter
It’s been a busy summer travel season for the major airlines, with some carriers posting record occupancy loads on their planes. Airline profits for the April-June period are expected to be higher than a year ago when the carriers begin reporting second-quarter results this week.
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