12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today (This is a recurring post, updated daily with new information):

Wednesday, September 27
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,054,526 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 25. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,054,526. (TSA)

American Airlines flight attendant, 66, found dead with sock in her mouth in hotel room
An American Airlines flight attendant was found dead in a Philadelphia airport hotel room with a sock in her mouth, two days after she was supposed to checkout. The 66-year-old woman from Las Vegas was discovered unresponsive by cleaning staff at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott on Monday evening and medics pronounced her dead at around 10:40 p.m. NY Post

 

Musician says American Airlines accused him of trafficking his biracial kids
After flying from Atlanta to Los Angeles on Sept. 15, musician David Ryan Harris says he was accused of trafficking his own children. In a series of Instagram videos, Harris — a singer-songwriter who has played guitar in John Mayer’s band for 20 years and collaborated with Dave Matthews — explained that he and two of his sons, Truman and Hendrix, were met at the top of the jetway by an American Airlines employee and four police officers after disembarking the plane. People

 

Air Canada confirms Dreamliner order
Flag carrier Air Canada has placed a firm order for 18 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in Q4 2025 with delivery completed by Q1 2027. The new Dreamliner jets will replace older, less efficient wide-body aircraft currently in the fleet. The agreement also has options for another 12 Boeing 787-10 Dreanliner aircraft. Travelmole

 

Married British Airways pilot Mike Beaton snorts coke off topless woman – then tries to fly packed holiday plane to UK
The appalled pal reported him to bosses who cancelled last month’s flight from Johannesburg to London, then drug-tested and sacked him. First Officer Mike Beaton was about to fly from South Africa to London when a worried stewardess raised the alarm. Shocked bosses then cancelled the 12-hour flight, costing the airline an estimated £100,000. The dad of one was suspended then flown home the next day as a passenger, before being drug-tested at Heathrow. When that proved positive, he was sacked. The appalled pal reported him to bosses who cancelled last month’s flight from Johannesburg to London, then drug-tested and sacked him. First Officer Mike Beaton was about to fly from South Africa to London when a worried stewardess raised the alarm. Shocked bosses then cancelled the 12-hour flight, costing the airline an estimated £100,000. The dad of one was suspended then flown home the next day as a passenger, before being drug-tested at Heathrow. When that proved positive, he was sacked. The US Sun

 

U.S. regional airlines battle with hiring, retaining pilots
The acute shortage of pilots, especially captains, continues to be a top challenge for U.S. commuter airlines, with the CEO of one of the largest regional operators saying that his airline is short by some 1,200 pilots. Speaking at the Regional Airline Association’s (RAA) Leaders Conference in Washington Sept. 26, SkyWest Airlines President and CEO Chip Childs said his Utah-based airline has around 4,300 pilots today, far short of where it stood in 2019, while demand for air service in smaller cities is growing, exacerbating the pilot gap that almost all U.S. regional carriers are grappling with. Aviation Week Network

 

Buttigieg visits Denver International Airport to tout $50M upgrades
The biggest Federal Aviation Administration project in the country is underway right now at Denver International Airport. More than $50 million went into a plan to improve safety and efficiency. The improvements are coming as some big questions loom over a potential government shutdown. “It’s exciting to see this project done,” said Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport. FOX31

 

Pilots at Australia’s Qantas demand chair quit over scandals
A union for pilots employed by Australia’s Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) called for the company’s chairman to resign following a host of scandals that have drawn fierce criticism from travellers, regulators, lawmakers and its own employees. The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), which represents most of Qantas’s roughly 3,000 pilots, said on Tuesday it wrote to the airline’s new CEO Vanessa Hudson demanding the resignation of Chairman Richard Goyder, saying morale “has never been lower”. Reuters

 

London’s Gatwick Airport limits flights this week due to staff illness, including COVID-19
Gatwick Airport, London’s second-busiest, is limiting flights this week, partly because of an outbreak of COVID-19 within air traffic control. In a statement late Monday, the airport said a daily 800-flight limit, affecting both departures and arrivals, has been imposed until Sunday. Gatwick said around 30% of staff in the division within air traffic control are off sick for a variety of reasons, including COVID-19. AP News

 

Here’s why legendary San Francisco Tiki Bar Trad’r Sam is closed ‘indefinitely’
Trad’r Sam is a longtime San Francisco institution, serving potent scorpion bowls and tiki drinks since 1937. But now a sign on the bar’s door claims Trad’r Sam is closed “indefinitely,” and court records show a legal battle has been playing out between its owners, siblings Dorothy Riedel and John Munguia. Fans need not fear, however, according to the owners. Though a visit to the bar on Monday afternoon confirmed the bar’s parklet has been removed, there was some activity inside the premises. And in an emailed statement Tuesday, September 26, owner John Munguia promised the bar would return in a few weeks. Eater

 

Alaska Airlines adds new transcon route from San Diego
U.S. carrier Alaska Airlines is adding a new transcontinental route during the summer 2024 season, offering nonstop service between San Diego and Atlanta. The route connecting San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) will commence on May 16, 2024, operating daily using Boeing 737-900 aircraft. The move will increase the airline’s network to 37 destinations from SAN. Aviation Week Network

 

Carnival Legend will sail from Galveston in winter 2025-26
Carnival Cruise Line has committed to sailing a fourth ship out of Galveston for the second winter season in a row, this time by sending the Carnival Legend to sail Western Caribbean itineraries from the Texas port in winter 2025-26. The Legend’s Galveston cruises are now open for sale. Travel Weekly

 

Tuesday, September 26
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,526,268 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 25. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,368,818. (TSA)

Uber strikes deal to partner with SoCal taxi operators
A multi-year partnership between Uber and Los Angeles Yellow Cab was announced early Tuesday morning. Under the deal, Uber will combine its operations with Los Angeles Yellow Cab’s five partner taxi fleets in Southern California, including, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Taxi drivers will gain access to Uber trip referrals, which should provide drivers with better earnings opportunities, a news release stated. KTLA

 

North Korea allows entry of foreigners
China’s state television has reported that North Korea started allowing the entry of foreigners on Monday — an apparent step to loosen the stringent border controls the nation put in place to tackle COVID-19 outbreaks. China Central Television said visitors will be required to quarantine for two days upon entry, citing information from North Korean authorities. North Korea implemented COVID-19 border controls in January 2020. But recently, it has been lifting the restrictions in phases and sent a delegation of nearly 200 athletes to the Asian Games in China. NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

 

A JetBlue flight hit ‘sudden severe turbulence’ near Florida that sent 8 people on board to the hospital
A Florida-bound Jetblue flight was hit by such extreme turbulence Monday that people were sent to the hospital. Flight 1256 “experienced sudden severe turbulence as it neared Florida,” JetBlue told Insider. The airline said seven passengers and one crew member were taken to the hospital. Insider

 

The world’s tallest skyscraper resumes construction after half a decade of pause
What do Philadelphia City Hall, the Empire State Building, and the Burj Khalifa have in common? They’ve all held the title of the world’s tallest skyscraper. And eventually Jeddah Tower, a neo-futuristic skyscraper planned in Saudi Arabia, will join the ranks among these iconic structures. Architectural Digest

 

Mexico residents hold parade for cartel for ‘rescuing them’
This is the shocking moment Sinaloa Cartel fighters received a hero’s welcome after they freed residents from the control of the archrival Jalisco New Generation Cartel in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas – a group that extorted and killed locals. The bizarre footage shows men and women in the town of San Gregorio Chamic across from the Guatemala border applauding the notorious criminal organization as its henchmen paraded down a federal highway aboard 20 SUVs and pickup trucks Saturday. Residents could be seen standing on both sides of the two-lane road cheering on the heavily armored cartel fighters, including some who were wearing bulletproof vests that had ‘MARINA’ (marines) printed on the back. Daily Mail

 

Woman hunted down Mexico cartel members who killed her daughter
A mother whose daughter was kidnapped and murdered by a Mexican drug cartel spent years hunting down her child’s captors in a dangerous — and ultimately fatal — mission. Miriam Elizabeth Rodríguez Martínez’s daughter, Karen Rodríguez, was abducted in the northeastern Mexico city of San Fernando, Tamaulipas, on January 23, 2012, after a group of armed men from the Los Zetas cartel forced their way into her car and took off with her inside. NewsNation

 

Lumberjack ride at Canada’s Wonderland park pauses mid-air, trapping passengers
A Canadian amusement park ride turned into nightmare fuel on Sunday after stopping suddenly, suspending passengers upside down, 75 feet above the ground, for nearly 30 minutes. The lumberjack ride, located at Canada’s Wonderland theme park in Vaughan, Ontario, contains two hydraulic arms, shaped like axes, that swing back and forth, occasionally propelling themselves into full 360-degree swings. NPR

 

It’s back to the office as key NYC subway stations reveal big ridership gains
A boost in subway ridership at key Manhattan stations this fall suggests many workers have returned to the city post-pandemic — and that companies’ push to return white-collar employees to their desks is sticking. Some of the sharpest year-to-year increases have been in office-heavy parts of Lower Manhattan and Midtown — with at least two stations hitting even their pre-pandemic levels, according to a snapshot of the MTA’s station-by-station ridership data. NY Post

 

Alaska Airlines will status match Delta travelers for 2024
Alaska Airlines is matching status of disgruntled Delta Air Lines frequent fliers as the airline recently changed its loyalty program. Alaska Airlines will now match a traveler’s status on Delta — and even raise some frequent fliers to the next status level — through 2024, according to the airline. To take advantage, travelers must request the status matching by Oct. 31. Travel + Leisure

 

American Airlines appeals court ruling halting JetBlue alliance
American Airlines (AAL.O) on Monday appealed a U.S. court decision requiring it to end an alliance with JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O). U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled in May the airlines’ “Northeast Alliance” that allowed the two carriers to coordinate flights and pool revenue violated antitrust law. JetBlue previously said it would not appeal as it seeks to protect a planned $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit Airlines (SAVE.N) that faces a separate legal challenge from the Justice Department. Reuters

 

‘Pioneer’ gynaecologist dies during BA flight on birthday trip to Nice
A leading gynaecologist has died mid-flight on her way to France for her birthday. Family, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Professor Linda Cardozo, 73, who fell asleep on board a British Airways flight from London to Nice on Thursday while sitting next to her husband. A consultant gynaecologist at King’s College Hospital in London, Professor Cardozo failed to wake up after they arrived, the Independent reports. Metro

 

 

Monday, September 25
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,671,645 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 24. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,452,596. (TSA)

Buttigieg warns of airline disruptions if government shuts down
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned Sunday of airline disruptions if Congress is unable to pass funding bills or come to a short-term resolution before Friday, which would trigger a government shutdown. “A shutdown would include — just in the transportation side alone — shutting down air traffic control training at the exact moment when the country recognizes the need for more, not less air traffic control staffing, and when we have finally got cancellations back at or below normal rates,” Buttigieg said on CNN’s “State of The Union.” The Hill

 

‘Everyone on the plane is safe’: Pittsburgh Steelers charter plane diverted to Kansas City following Las Vegas game
A charter plane carrying the Pittsburgh Steelers football team was “unexpectedly” diverted to Kansas City this morning, according to Steelers Senior Director of Communications Burt Lauten. “Our team charter plane was unexpectedly diverted to Kansas City early this morning on our way back to Pittsburgh following our game in Las Vegas,” Lauten said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. CNN

This country has more of the world’s 50 best restaurants than any other
You wouldn’t be far off if you guessed Italy or France as the country with more of this year’s “World’s 50 Best” restaurants than any other. But no, that distinction goes to Spain, where six restaurants earned honors this summer on the 2023 list. (Italy had five and France had four, as did Peru, where the capital city of Lima is home to the No. 1 spot). CNN

 

How a storied national airline became reviled in its own country
Barely three years after its entire fleet was grounded, Qantas Airways has never been more profitable. But as Australia’s national airline has emerged stronger from the pandemic, it has alienated its most important constituency: Australians. They bemoan that its flights are unreliable and expensive. They are aghast at how government protectionism has made Qantas by far the biggest airline in Australia and pushed up the price of travel. They are stunned by allegations that it sold tickets for flights it never intended to fly. They cannot square how Qantas unfairly laid off hundreds of workers, then handed out enormous paychecks to its chief executive and board of directors. The New York Times

 

Dad of woman who died diving in Albania says he’ll ‘never stop’ search for answers
A man has said he’ll never stop searching for answers about the events that led to his daughter’s death while diving in Albania. George Gannon, 61, of Stone, Staffordshire, said in an interview with Sky News he hasn’t ‘even been able to cry yet’ after the loss of 29-year-old Rebecca. A former bakery owner, he added that over the past 12 months he’s spent his life savings trying to figure out what exactly happened to her, and that ‘I’ll never stop, never, never stop, until I get justice.’ Metro

 

The police seized my rental car reported stolen and Avis won’t refund me
A traveler was visiting family when police impounded her vehicle, saying it had been reported stolen. Why wouldn’t Avis give her money back, and why would they rent her a stolen car in the first place? The New York Times

 

Michael Jordan’s ultra-private, ultra-exclusive personal golf course: The Grove XXIII
For Bobby Weed, it was at once the most straightforward and most difficult brief he had ever received: “Build me the best golf course. Build me the best driving range.” And there had been plenty of briefs before. A protégé, then close friend, of legendary course designer Pete Dye, the South Carolinian served as the PGA Tour’s chief architect before launching his own course design company in 1994. Almost three decades on, Bobby Weed Golf Design has sculpted more than 20 courses from the ground up – from Stillwater, Minnesota, to Mito, Japan — and renovated many more, including Hobe Sound’s Medalist Golf Club in 2015. CNN

 

JetBlue launches Amsterdam flights from Boston
JetBlue has expanded its transatlantic route network with new Amsterdam flights from Boston Logan International Airport. It follows the successful recent launch of Amsterdam flights from New York’s JFK Airport. From JetBlue’s Boston focus city, it also offers daily service to London and in 2024 will launch service to Paris. “Our recently launched Amsterdam service from New York has already been very successful and we are thrilled to expand it to our Boston customers,” said Dave Clark, head of revenue and planning. Travelmole

 

Hawaiian Airlines logo muse and Miss Hawaii 1964, Leina’ala Drummond, passes away at 77
Leina’ala Ann Teruya Drummond, former Miss Hawaii 1964, accomplished entertainer, businesswoman, and the face representing the unique island girl profile for Hawaiian Airlines’ “Pualani of the Sky” has passed away. Born in Pu’unene, Maui, Leina’ala completed her education at Kamehameha Schools, Cannon’s Business College, and successfully finished the Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant Training program, starting work at 18 years old. kitv.com

 

Sports Illustrated plans to brand resorts in college towns
Travel + Leisure Co. and Sports Hospitality Ventures (a licensee of the Sports Illustrated magazine brand) are teaming up to launch Sports Illustrated Resorts. The sports-themed resorts will be located within college towns and “near universities with devoted fan bases.” Each Sports Illustrated resort will feature a full-service hotel, a vacation club and residential condos. Travel Weekly

 

British Airways San Diego: Airline to add new London flight at SAN
Traveling to Europe will become more convenient as British Airways is adding a second daily flight between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR), officials said. Starting April 20, 2024, the new second flight (BA265 and BA264) will arrive in San Diego at 3:25 p.m. and depart for London at 5:15 p.m., SAN said in a news release Tuesday. Fox 5 San Diego

 

Sunday, September 24
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,065,096 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 23. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 1,966,234. (TSA)

MGM Resorts computers back up after 10 days following crippling cyberattack
MGM Resorts brought to an end a 10-day computer shutdown prompted by efforts to shield from a cyberattack data including hotel reservations and credit card processing, the casino giant said Wednesday, as analysts and academics measured the effects of the event. MarketWatch

Flight attendant arrested at PHL for carrying loaded handgun through security
A flight attendant was arrested by police at Philadelphia International Airport for attempting to travel with a loaded handgun on Friday, Sept. 15, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday. The woman had a .380 caliber handgun with her that was flagged as she went through security before working a flight, according to the TSA. The flight attendant lives in Arizona. Police arrested the woman, who now also faces a federal financial penalty for carrying a gun to a checkpoint. CBS Philadelphia

Singapore aims for passport-free departures from Changi Airport next year
Some passengers will soon be able to depart from Singapore’s Changi Airport without a passport, as part of changes to the city-state’s immigration law that allows for end-to-end biometric clearance. From the first half of 2024, biometrics will be used for authentication at various automated steps in the departure process, from bag-drop to immigration and boarding, communications minister Josephine Teo said in parliament Monday. Bloomberg

Family says 14-year-old daughter discovered phone taped to back of toilet seat on flight to Boston
The family of a 14-year-old girl who allegedly discovered a phone taped to the back of a toilet seat on a recent flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Boston said they believe she was targeted by a member of the crew. During the Sept. 2 American Airlines flight 1441, the girl was told by a male member of the crew to use the first-class bathroom. The crew member entered just before 14-year-old, told her the seat was broken but not to worry about it and then re-entered the bathroom after she left, her family said in a written statement. AP

Disney plans to spend $60 billion on parks and cruises
On Tuesday, Disney offered a clearer picture of the opportunity it sees, which can only be described as colossal: The company disclosed in a security filing that it planned to spend roughly $60 billion over the next decade to expand its domestic and international parks and to continue building Disney Cruise Line. That amount is double what Disney spent on parks and the cruise line over the past decade, which was itself a period of greatly increased investment. The New York Times

Lawmakers seek to ban cruise ships from spewing dirty fumes at NYC ports
Massive cruise ships would have to eschew dirty fossil fuels and connect directly to the shore’s energy grid in order to dock at New York City ports under a bill being helmed by local lawmakers. Each day that cruise ships dock at the ports in Red Hook, Brooklyn and the west side of Manhattan, they emit as much carbon into the atmosphere as 34,000 tractor-trailers, say City Councilmembers Alexa Avilés (D-Brooklyn) and Erik Bottcher (D-Manhattan), whose respective districts are home to the city’s two cruise ship ports. amNewYork

Hilton says it will ‘quickly’ move to disclose mandatory fees
Hilton said on Thursday that it would “quickly” act to “ensure mandatory fees are displayed upfront on all Hilton websites and apps.” Hilton made the comments on Thursday in a letter to U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Jerry Moran — co-sponsors of legislation to create a standard for mandatory fee display for hotels and short-term rentals. Hilton announced in the letter it now supports this legislation. (See letter, embedded below.) Yahoo

 

Brightline opens $6 billion line to Orlando, expands U.S. rail market
Rail company Brightline began operating trains Friday from Miami to Orlando, using the fastest American trains outside the Northeast Corridor to become the first privately owned passenger operator to connect two major U.S. metropolitan areas in decades. The debut of the 235-mile, 3.5-hour ride completes a $6 billion private investment in Florida. It brings the new train service to a large swath of the state, promising modern amenities and faster trip times than those available through Amtrak, the nation’s passenger railroad. The Washington Post

 

Bogus jet-engine parts fallout spreads as FAA warns airlines
US aviation regulators warned airlines and other industry players that London-based AOG Technics Ltd. improperly sold bushings for a longstanding type of General Electric Co. jet engine. The alert, known as an Unapproved Parts Notification, is the Federal Aviation Administration’s first formal warning to the US aviation sector over the potential risks posed by thousands of spare jet-engine parts sold with forged airworthiness documentation by London-based AOG Technics Ltd. Bloomberg

 

Air Belgium ceases passenger flights to focus on cargo, ACMI
Air Belgium has made the decision to halt its passenger flight operations to focus on the transport of goods and Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) services. Flights scheduled after October 3, 2023, may be canceled and “refunded on a priority basis,” Air Belgium said. Aerotime

EWR Restaurant fires back at NYT columnist after he complained about the cost of his meal: ‘Keep drinking buddy’
A restaurant fired back at New York Times columnist David Brooks after he complained Wednesday on social media about the cost of his meal, saying, “This is why Americans think the economy is terrible.” “This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible,” Brooks wrote with a picture of his dinner, which consisted of a cheeseburger, fries and what appears to be an alcoholic beverage. FOX News

Airlines are just banks now
Last week, Delta Air Lines announced changes to its SkyMiles program that will make accruing status and taking advantage of perks much harder. Instead of relying on a combination of dollars spent and miles traveled in the air, Delta will grant status based on a single metric—dollars spent—and raise the amount of spending required to get it. In short, SkyMiles is no longer a frequent-flier program; it’s a big-spender program. These changes are so drastic that one of the reporters at the preeminent travel-rewards website The Points Guy declared that he’s going to “stop chasing airline status.” The Atlantic

Saturday, September 23
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened TSA HASN’T UPDATED YET people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 22. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,510,926. (TSA)

 

What would a government shutdown mean for travel? Here’s what to know
Members of Congress are still in discussions about Washington’s next funding bill, but as gridlock continues, the country is inching closer to another government shutdown. The good news, if it happens, is it’s unlikely to have a huge impact on any travel plans you may have, so you’ll still be able to drown your frustrations in a mai tai and bury your head in the sand whatever’s going on. USA Today

 

Hilton says it will ‘quickly’ move to disclose mandatory fees
Hilton said on Thursday that it would “quickly” act to “ensure mandatory fees are displayed upfront on all Hilton websites and apps.” Hilton made the comments on Thursday in a letter to U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Jerry Moran — co-sponsors of legislation to create a standard for mandatory fee display for hotels and short-term rentals. Hilton announced in the letter it now supports this legislation. (See letter, embedded below.) Yahoo

 

Brightline opens $6 billion line to Orlando, expands U.S. rail market
Rail company Brightline began operating trains Friday from Miami to Orlando, using the fastest American trains outside the Northeast Corridor to become the first privately owned passenger operator to connect two major U.S. metropolitan areas in decades. The debut of the 235-mile, 3.5-hour ride completes a $6 billion private investment in Florida. It brings the new train service to a large swath of the state, promising modern amenities and faster trip times than those available through Amtrak, the nation’s passenger railroad. The Washington Post

 

When he missed a Beyoncé concert, the Hive went to work
The airline could not accommodate the electric wheelchair Mr. Hetherington, who has cerebral palsy, relies on to get around. The crew tried to find Mr. Hetherington, 34, another flight on a plane that could accommodate his wheelchair; an Airbus could do it, he was told, but the only one available would get him there 12 hours too late. “This is a systemic issue, this is ableism, this is what I’ve dealt with my whole life,” Mr. Hetherington said in an interview. “I was demoralized by the whole thing.” The New York Times

 

Why does Florida have so many invasive species?
I was told the monkeys would be here, although nothing about this spot seemed particularly suitable for wildlife. On a stifling morning in late July, I stood in a large parking lot near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, about 40 miles north of Miami. Cars drove in and out. Planes passed low overhead. It reeked of gasoline. The only visible natural habitat was a sliver of forest, just a few hundred feet wide, wedged between the paved lot, a field of oil tanks, and a highway. I couldn’t find monkeys in the lot, so I tried my luck in the forest. Vox

 

Restaurant releases video to refutes tourist’s complaint about $700 dish
The Singapore restaurant accused of massively overcharging a crabby customer last month said it was “deeply upset” by viral accusations against them, and released security footage to refute the alleged shellfish swindle Wednesday. Restaurant operator Paradise Group released screengrabs of footage showing a waiter pointing at its menu and apparently explaining the pricing to tourist Junko Shinba and her sightseeing group, and bringing out the live crab for them to observe before it was prepared. NY Post

 

You can now park at LAX for less than $20 a day in this new parking lot
The LAX ground-transport revolution — that is, the unveiling of the automated people mover connecting terminals to bus, Metro and rental car centers — isn’t due until sometime in 2024. But travelers hoping to save some money got a consolation prize today: a new parking lot. Los Angeles International Airport opened a 2,600-space Budget Parking lot with most spaces priced at $15 to $20 per day. The best rates will go to those who book ahead online. LA Times

 

France to seek minimum price for flights in Europe
France will seek support from other European Union countries for a minimum price on flights in Europe in a bid to reduce the aviation sector’s contribution to climate change, Transport Minister Clément Beaune has said. The move, if approved, would hit airlines offering super-cheap fares. But it may struggle to win sufficient support among EU countries, which include island nations that rely on air transport, and regions with tourism sectors buoyed by low-cost flights. EURACTIV.com

 

Air Belgium ceases passenger flights to focus on cargo, ACMI
Air Belgium has made the decision to halt its passenger flight operations to focus on the transport of goods and Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) services. Flights scheduled after October 3, 2023, may be canceled and “refunded on a priority basis,” Air Belgium said. Aerotime

 

United Airlines at LAX adds zero-emission electric tugs to fleet
United Airlines is flying into the future with their brand new electric super tugs. The machines are used to move airplanes across tarmacs and runways without burning jet fuel. LAX is currently the first and only airport where the emission-free tugs are being used. “It’s a new piece of equipment that my team is really excited to utilize,” said Anthony Galvez, a Move Team Assistant Manager for United at LAX. “These two tugs were delivered here to LAX and they are the first ones.” ABC7 Los Angeles

 

‘Superhero’ dad of 4 dies after getting caught in rip current while trying to save son at Mass. beach
A Massachusetts father of four died Wednesday after he tried to save his son from a rip current, a district attorney said. Gary Simard, 44, was “enjoying the day with family” at Salisbury Beach Wednesday afternoon when his son was dragged away, Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker told CBS affiliate WBZ-TV. An eyewitness said the dad struggled in the water after he ran into the ocean, according to WBZ-TV and ABC affiliate WCVB-TV. People

 

A popular California beach will be closed until 2030 because tourists won’t stop messing with sea lions
San Diego is closing part of one of its most popular tourist beaches for seven years. The closure on Point La Jolla and parts of Boomer Beach comes after sea lions faced harassment. Visitors to the beach threw sand at sea lions, kicked them, and invaded their spaces. Insider

 

If you don’t see the northern lights from these cruises, you’ll get a free trip
Norway offers some of the world’s best views of the northern lights. In fact, two cruise operators in the region are so confident travelers will see the aurora borealis, they’ll give passengers a free cruise if they don’t. Havila Voyages and Hurtigruten Norway both offer a Northern Lights Promise, giving passengers a second voyage if the aurora borealis doesn’t turn up. USA Today

 

Friday, September 22
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,638,133 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 21. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,510,926. (TSA)

What would a government shutdown mean for travel? Here’s what to know
Members of Congress are still in discussions about Washington’s next funding bill, but as gridlock continues, the country is inching closer to another government shutdown. The good news, if it happens, is it’s unlikely to have a huge impact on any travel plans you may have, so you’ll still be able to drown your frustrations in a mai tai and bury your head in the sand whatever’s going on. USA Today

 

US transportation chief calls New York air traffic staffing ‘unacceptable’
Air traffic control shortages in New York “unacceptable,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday, vowing the government would work to boost hiring. On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would again extend cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2024, citing staffing shortages. New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (N90) staffing is just at 54% of recommended staffing. Reuters

 

Woman’s strange rash on Greece vacation was cancer. Now she can’t fly home
When Sandra Gutierrez arrived in Crete, Greece, for a destination wedding in late August, she noticed a swath of bruises on her arm. But with her history of anemia, a blood condition that can cause a rash, she didn’t worry too much. Still, at the recommendation of a physician assistant friend, she got her blood tested, just to be safe. The results led to Gutierrez being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during her trip. She’s currently hospitalized in Crete and unable to travel. Today

 

L.A. conference attendees sickened by intestinal illness
A meeting of union delegates at Westin’s historic Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles last month ended with more than two dozen attendees falling ill to an intestinal illness, health officials said. The conference took place from Aug. 21 to 24 and, the following day, some attendees began complaining of symptoms, according to the Alameda County Public Health Department, which was the first to report the outbreak. KTLA

 

EWR Restaurant fires back at NYT columnist after he complained about the cost of his meal: ‘Keep drinking buddy’
A restaurant fired back at New York Times columnist David Brooks after he complained Wednesday on social media about the cost of his meal, saying, “This is why Americans think the economy is terrible.” “This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible,” Brooks wrote with a picture of his dinner, which consisted of a cheeseburger, fries and what appears to be an alcoholic beverage. FOX News

 

Bogus jet-engine parts fallout spreads as FAA warns airlines
US aviation regulators warned airlines and other industry players that London-based AOG Technics Ltd. improperly sold bushings for a longstanding type of General Electric Co. jet engine. The alert, known as an Unapproved Parts Notification, is the Federal Aviation Administration’s first formal warning to the US aviation sector over the potential risks posed by thousands of spare jet-engine parts sold with forged airworthiness documentation by London-based AOG Technics Ltd. Bloomberg

 

Travel boom not enough to drive profits at US budget airlines Frontier, Spirit
Travel boom has delivered bumper earnings for U.S. carriers, but no-frills airlines such as Frontier (ULCC.O) and Spirit (SAVE.N) are struggling to return to sustainable profitability. That has made some of them weigh premium-price offerings, including first-class seats, customer lounges and branded foods even as they expect fares to remain the primary driver for bookings. Ultra low-cost carriers offer a no-frills experience at rock-bottom fares and charge heavily for ancillary services. Reuters

 

Airlines are just banks now
Last week, Delta Air Lines announced changes to its SkyMiles program that will make accruing status and taking advantage of perks much harder. Instead of relying on a combination of dollars spent and miles traveled in the air, Delta will grant status based on a single metric—dollars spent—and raise the amount of spending required to get it. In short, SkyMiles is no longer a frequent-flier program; it’s a big-spender program. These changes are so drastic that one of the reporters at the preeminent travel-rewards website The Points Guy declared that he’s going to “stop chasing airline status.” The Atlantic

 

Family sues after dad drove off collapsed bridge while following Google Maps
The family of a man who died after driving his car off a collapsed bridge while following Google Maps directions is suing the technology giant for negligence. They claim Google had been informed of the collapse in Hickory, North Carolina, but failed to update its navigation system. Philip Paxson, a medical device salesman and father of two, drowned on September 30, 2022, after his Jeep Gladiator plunged into a creek, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday. Metro

 

Maui County announces first wildfire re-entry zone area in Lahaina
Maui County announced on Wednesday night that some Lahaina residents will have the chance to visit their property in the fire-ravaged town during the upcoming week. The county said they will give vehicle passes to allow owners and residents to return to Kaniau Road — Zone 1C. The Disaster Area Restrictions will only be lifted for those given access from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25, and Tuesday, Sept. 26. NewsNation

 

Tropical Storm Ophelia threatens to impact three NFL games on Sunday
As hurricane season continues in the Atlantic, a tropical storm has emerged that could wreak havoc on NFL games on the Eastern Seaboard this Sunday. Tropical Storm Ophelia has continued to gain strength and appears destined for landfall in the Carolinas this weekend. Given the current path of the storm, which has become more clear as the weekend nears, it appears that three NFL games could be affected by the bad weather, all in the 1:00 p.m. ET window. Sports Illustrated

Thursday, September 21
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,198,837 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 19. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,188,236. (TSA)

POV: You’re an impending government shutdown
Hundreds of thousands of government workers could be furloughed. Essential workers may be expected to clock in without pay. That includes air traffic controllers and the TSA, who might stop showing up and start polishing their resumes, causing significant travel disruptions. MorningBrew

Lawmakers seek to ban cruise ships from spewing dirty fumes at NYC ports
Massive cruise ships would have to eschew dirty fossil fuels and connect directly to the shore’s energy grid in order to dock at New York City ports under a bill being helmed by local lawmakers. Each day that cruise ships dock at the ports in Red Hook, Brooklyn and the west side of Manhattan, they emit as much carbon into the atmosphere as 34,000 tractor-trailers, say City Councilmembers Alexa Avilés (D-Brooklyn) and Erik Bottcher (D-Manhattan), whose respective districts are home to the city’s two cruise ship ports. amNewYork

MGM Resorts computers back up after 10 days following crippling cyberattack
MGM Resorts brought to an end a 10-day computer shutdown prompted by efforts to shield from a cyberattack data including hotel reservations and credit card processing, the casino giant said Wednesday, as analysts and academics measured the effects of the event. MarketWatch

India suspends visa services for Canadians, tells Ottawa to cut its diplomatic staff
India halted all visa services for citizens of Canada and told Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic staff Thursday as a rift widened between the countries after Ottawa said New Delhi might have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen. Ties between Canada and India, two key strategic partners on security and trade, have plunged to their lowest point in years after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week said there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader on its soil. LA Times

J.D. Power ranks the best US airports. Is yours on the list?
J.D. Power found airline passengers are actually more satisfied with their overall airport experience this year than they were last year. The firm’s 2023 North American Airport Satisfaction Study was released Wednesday and it found flyer morale is improving on the ground, despite reliability issues that have been plaguing flights recently. “It has not been an easy year for North American airports, but major capital improvements they’ve made over the last several years and new investments in getting food, beverage and retail operations back up and running at full capacity have helped them manage the crush of passengers,” Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power said in a statement. “Happy passengers spend a lot more money at the airport, so ongoing efforts to spread passenger volumes throughout the day and deliver superior service at all customer touchpoints will be critical.” USA Today

India’s possible name change is all about
India has changed the names of many of its towns and cities over the years. The port city and one-time capital Calcutta became Kolkata in 2001. The name of India’s financial capital Bombay, was changed to Mumbai in 1996. That same year, Madras was renamed Chennai. Over the years, even some roads, railway stations and markets have been renamed. The idea, we Indians were told each time, was to allow the nation to make a clean break once and for all with its colonial past. As the inaugural G20 sessions got underway, suspicions heightened: The nameplate at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seat identifying the country he represented read “Bharat” instead of “India.” Indian officials, meanwhile, wore badges with the words “Bharat Official.” CNN

Airbnb cracking down on fake listings, will use AI to verify ads
Airbnb says it has removed 59,000 fake listings and prevented another 157,000 from joining the platform this year. Fake listings and high cleaning fees are among several issues that Airbnb said Wednesday that its users highlighted in a company survey. Others included high cleaning fees and a desire for lower prices. The San Francisco company said more than 260,000 listings have lowered or removed cleaning fees this year, since it gave consumers the means to sort listings in order of all-in pricing. France24

Vermont town temporarily shuts down after too many influencers showed up to take fall foliage photos
With the first day of fall approaching, people are beginning to travel to New England to participate in seasonal traditions such as apple and pumpkin picking and to take in the changing color of the leaves. But one town in Vermont has now decided to shut down one of its roads for three weeks in response to the influx of influencers that have shown up looking for fall content. The Independent

Storm brewing off East Coast may affect New York this weekend
A storm system developing near Florida may work up the East Coast later this week and bring a range of impacts to New York, according to an AccuWeather forecaster. John Feerick, an AccuWeather senior meteorologist, said the area of low pressure has a “small window” to strengthen into either a subtropical or tropical depression in the coming days, though chances for that level of development are low. The next system to reach named storm status, with maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph, will be called Ophelia. AccuWeather

Wingsuit skydiver was decapitated by plane’s wing 20 seconds into jump: trial
An experienced wingsuit skydiver smashed into a plane’s wing and was decapitated just 20 seconds into his jump in the south of France, it was revealed during the pilot’s manslaughter trial. Nicolas Galy, 40, was the first of two skydivers who were released from the single-engine Pilatus plane at 14,000 feet over the town of Bouloc-en-Quercy in July 2018, reported The Times. NY Post

‘Such a disconnect’: Tourists photograph Maui’s wildfires aftermath
Raised in Lahaina, Tuipulotu was planning to spend the weekend with friends and family who live in Honolulu to decompress from the anguish happening at home. As the plane took off, Tuipulotu noticed the couple in front of him put their phones up to the window to take videos and photos, and they weren’t being discreet about it, he said. Tuipulotu knew what they were capturing – directly below was Lahaina. USA Today

Wednesday, September 20
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 1,989,431 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 19. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,033,490. (TSA)

A teen girl found an iPhone in an airplane bathroom. Her family says it was put there to record her
The family of a 14-year-old girl who allegedly discovered an iPhone taped to the back of a toilet seat on a recent flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Boston said they believe it was put there to record her by a member of the crew. Law enforcement officers met the plane at the gate after it landed. Massachusetts State Police escorted a flight attendant off the flight. Spectrum

 

Flight attendant arrested at PHL for carrying loaded handgun through security
A flight attendant was arrested by police at Philadelphia International Airport for attempting to travel with a loaded handgun on Friday, Sept. 15, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday. The woman had a .380 caliber handgun with her that was flagged as she went through security before working a flight, according to the TSA. The flight attendant lives in Arizona. Police arrested the woman, who now also faces a federal financial penalty for carrying a gun to a checkpoint. CBS Philadelphia

 

Tourist plummets 300 feet to death after crossing ladder on Instagram-popular mountain
A 42-year-old British man plummeted 300 feet to his death in Austria after slipping off a ladder bridge in the Dachstein Mountains, a popular place tourists flock to for a good Instagram photo. The unknown victim was alone on the famous 130-foot ladder when he experienced trouble and fell into the valley below, according to the Mirror. NY Post

 

U2 shocks Vegas fans with pop-up concert on Fremont Street ahead of MSG Sphere residency
U2 surprised Las Vegas fans with a pop-up show Sunday ahead of their 29 concerts at the MSG Sphere this month. Outside the Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas, the rock group debuted “Atomic City,” an original song dedicated to the City of Sin. The song contains the lyrics “I’m free. I came here for the fight. I’m front row in Las Vegas. And there’s a big one on tonight.” USA Today

 

Disneyland temporarily closes Space Mountain for refurbishment
Disneyland has closed Space Mountain just as the Halloween season kicks off at the “Happiest Place on Earth.” The popular Tomorrowland indoor roller coaster will be closed until Oct. 25 for refurbishment, according to the Disneyland calendar. The closure of Space Mountain comes as more guests usually visit the Anaheim resort for Halloween. KTLA

 

Disney plans to spend $60 billion on parks and cruises
On Tuesday, Disney offered a clearer picture of the opportunity it sees, which can only be described as colossal: The company disclosed in a security filing that it planned to spend roughly $60 billion over the next decade to expand its domestic and international parks and to continue building Disney Cruise Line. That amount is double what Disney spent on parks and the cruise line over the past decade, which was itself a period of greatly increased investment. The New York Times

 

Mexican railway operator halts trains because so many migrants are climbing aboard and getting hurt
A Mexican railway operator announced Tuesday it is temporarily suspending train runs in the northern part of the country because so many migrants are climbing aboard freight cars and getting hurt in the process. Ferromex said it has temporarily ordered a halt to 60 trains carrying cargo that would fill 1,800 tractor trailers. It said some international trade would be affected by the stoppage. AP

 

A Danish artist submitted blank frames as artwork. Now, he has to repay the museum
In 2021, an art museum in Denmark commissioned a conceptual artist to create a piece reflecting wage differences within the European Union — and even sent him scores of cash with which to do it. But the curators of the Kunsten Museum of Art in the western city of Aalborg may have gotten more (or, more accurately, less) than they bargained for when Danish artist Jens Haaning had another idea in mind. When museum staff opened the boxes Haaning sent to inspect the artist’s works, they were surprised to see the money was not incorporated into the installation as intended. USA Today

 

Houseboat with 29 people aboard catches fire at Lake Powell
A houseboat with 29 people on board caught fire at Lake Powell last week, and other boaters in the area rushed over to assist with the rescue. “As we pull up, [the fire] starts getting bigger and bigger,” Jake Cahoon, who was on a nearby boat, told NBC affiliate KPNX. “And so, that’s why I’m like ‘You guys got to jump, you got to get off this boat as soon as you can.’” NBC New York

 

Caesars Entertainment pays $15 million ransom to cyber-hackers after breach
Cyber-hackers recently targeted Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International, two of the world’s largest casino companies, with Caesars leaders confirming that they paid a multi-million-dollar ransom after the hackers acquired a “significant number” of their customers’ driver’s-license and Social-Security numbers. National Review

 

Delta worker accused of stealing $258K in bag from JFK Airport cleared by jury
A former Delta Air Lines worker and his friend accused of stealing a bag containing more than $258,000 from JFK Airport were cleared in the heist on Monday. NY Post