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E L L I O T T' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

January 23, 2004

Judge Won't Toss Flight Abuse Suit
A federal judge refused yesterday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by parents of a girl who said she was molested on a Northwest Airlines flight in 2001. "I just can't agree with you," U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen told Northwest Airlines lawyer Daniel Seymour of Detroit, who pushed to drop the suit at a hearing because the airline had no legal obligation to protect the child. The girl, then 11, said she was repeatedly fondled by a man aboard a flight to Detroit on Aug. 4, 2001. The Free Press | Posted 7:40 a.m.

More Americans Booking Travel Online
Travelers’ use of the Internet to plan and book their trips continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace, according to a Travel Industry Association of America study. More than 64 million online travelers — 30 percent of the U.S. adult population — used the Internet last year to get information on destinations or to check prices or schedules. Of that group, 42.2 million actually booked travel online during 2003. The number of Americans using the Internet for travel planning has stabilized at 64.1 million, due to the slower growth of “wired” households in the U.S. TIA | Posted 7 a.m.

• This isn't a new trend as I pointed out in a 1997 commentary on the growth of online travel. What's different? Brick-and-mortar agents have adapting to it much better than anyone expected. Send us your comments.

Southwest is Profitable Yet Again
Southwest Airlines continued its winning streak yesterday by posting its 31st consecutive year of profits. The Dallas-based discount carrier reported it earned $66 million in profits for the fourth quarter of 2003, up 57 percent from last year. For the year, the airline earned $442 million in profits, up 83 percent. Southwest is the largest U.S. airline that has been consistently profitable during the past three years. It recently unveiled its latest assault on the major carriers - an expansion into Philadelphia, the hub of struggling U.S. Airways. Fort Worth Star Telegram | Posted 7:30 a.m.
-- Herald: Airline not liable for racist rhyme

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• And finally ... remember the American Airlines pilot who gave authorities the finger when they tried to photograph and fingerprint him? There's a discussion raging on the bulletin boards about who looked dumber, the pilot or the Brazilian government. Seems they both could've handled the incident a bit more ... tactfully. By the way, check out my story on rude passengers on NPR's Day to Day. Posted 8 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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