There’s always been a fine line between taking a calculated risk and foolishly gambling with your life. At a time when more tourists are coming home in caskets, that line is becoming increasingly faint. Can we tell the difference between being brave and being stupid?
From the monthly archives:
April 2008
After Myron Sigal’s wife is injured on a Mediterranean cruise, the Sigals can’t make their return flight from Venice to Philadelphia. US Airways promises them a voucher for the unused portion, but months later, there’s no sign of it. Is the money lost?
The American Express “black” card is legendary among upscale travelers. In order to qualify for the invitation-only card, you have to spend at least $250,000, plus pay $2,500 in annual fees. In exchange, you expect nothing but the best customer service. But that’s not always what you get.
Whether it’s Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines standing at the altar, assuring us their proposed merger would be a “win-win”, or the Transportation Department symbolically bumping up the compensation for bumped passengers, we travelers have been promised a lot this week. But will any of it really improve the travel experience? I doubt it. Read this week’s issue and then decide for yourself.
Unless you’re a frequent business traveler and own an expensive wireless mobile broadband aircard with a two-year plan, there’s no way around a hotel’s $9.95 per day wireless fee. If you want to stay connected when you’re away, the resort’s got you over a barrel.
Just in time for the busy summer travel season, the Transportation Department this morning announced a series of steps designed to calm the frayed nerves of air travelers, including a new rule that doubles the limit on compensation airlines must pay passengers who are involuntarily bumped from their flight.
What’s it like on the other side of the car rental counter? The answer may surprise you. I’ve been corresponding with a former car rental employee, and he’s shared some remarkable insights into the business that might help you make a more informed decision the next time you rent a car.
Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines have finally announced their merger this evening. No big surprises in the news release. We knew the Northwest name would be retired, and we knew how this would be spun.
One of the most explosive claims that disgraced guidebook author Thomas Kohnstamm has made in interviews to promote his new book, Do Travel Writers Go To Hell? is that he didn’t visit Colombia while writing a Lonely Planet guidebook about Colombia.
Discount carriers used to be the darlings of air travelers, if not travel columnists. With low fares and high standards of customer service, what wasn’t to like? That was then. This is now.
When Allison Fagerness’ flight to Rome is canceled, she’s forced to call off her vacation and return home. Her online travel agent, Expedia, promises a refund, but her airline, Alitalia, won’t pay. What should she do?
Wow, what a week! You’d think it’s the end of the world, to read what’s being written about the demise of low-fare airlines like Skybus and the massive inspection-related cancellations at American. But you’re smarter than that. You know that most vacations and business trips are taken by car, and that 99.9 percent of the travel industry (you know, like hotels, car rental companies and cruise lines) are doing just fine. Of course, I’m one to talk. I hit a few snags when I redesigned my Web site, delaying the transmission of this week’s newsletter by a few days. I’ll be back to my regular schedule next week.
Erysse tries to escape the paddleboat ride at the Magic Kingdom. Alas, she forgot her climbing shoes today.
Iden participates in the annual St. Luke’s preschool bike race. Got nitrox?
American Airlines blasted an apology to its frequent fliers yesterday, and it included a somewhat long-winded explanation of the MD80 meltdown. Will customers accept the airline’s version of events?
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