Deaths on Airplane Traumatic, But Not Common
Third Person Dies After Florida Plane Collision
Pilot Seniority a Cautionary Tale for Impending Merger
Hidden Hotel Fees Strike Again
Legendary Plaza Hotel Opens After Renovation
DEATHS ON AIRPLANE TRAUMATIC, BUT NOT COMMON – The New York Times
After the media buzzed with reports of a woman who died on a flight from Haiti to New York, concerns have arisen over safety and medical training onboard. MedAire, a company that has on-ground doctors to advise flight crews during medical emergencies, has said that there is a 1-in-7.6 million chance of dying on board in a medical incident; far less than the chance of dying in a plane crash. Hundreds of people have died on airplanes in recent years, often causing trauma and distress for relatives and passengers who then have to share close quarters with the body. The FAA requires that airlines stock equipment such as defibrillators, syringes and epinephrine, and train flight attendants in CPR and first aid; however, FAA spokesman Les Dorr has stated that he is unaware of any policies in place of how to deal if there is a death on the flight.
Link: The New York Times
THIRD PERSON DIES AFTER FLORIDA PLANE COLLISION – ABC News
The fiery two-plane collision in Florida on Saturday killed two people, and a third died the following day. A fourth person is still in critical condition, according to the National Transportation Safety Bureau. The two aircraft collided and burst into flames at an airpark in Titusville, Florida; one airplane was either flying low or had just landed when it crashed into the other plane, which cartwheeled and landed upside-down. Other reports reveal that one of those killed was a New York pilot who had built the plane he was flying in.
Link: ABC News
PILOT SENIORITY A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR IMPENDING MERGER - Arizona Republic
If the ongoing battle between America West and US Airways pilots is anything to learn from, the issue of pilot seniority may impact the impending merger between Delta and Northwest. America West and US Airways combined back in 2005 and pilots are still duking it out over seniority; it may take years for them to be able to work under a joint contract. The issue of seniority is a major deal for pilots, as it determines the kind of planes they can fly, which routes they take and their schedule. “It means everything,” said Arnie Gentile, a US Airways pilot and former union representative. One analyst agrees that it would behoove both Delta and Northwest to hash out the details of pilot seniority ahead of time.
Link: Arizona Republic
HIDDEN HOTEL FEES STRIKE AGAIN – Consumerist
Travelers beware. There’s now another hidden hotel fee that may sneak its way onto your bill upon checkout. A guest at the Comfort Suites in the Bahamas wrote in complaining about a $144 charge on his bill, due to a $6 per person, per night “energy surcharge.” As always, the best advice for battling undisclosed fees is to talk to the manager and ask that it be removed.
Link: Consumerist
LEGENDARY PLAZA HOTEL REOPENS AFTER MASSIVE RENOVATION – Reuters
After two years and a $400 million renovation, the legendary Plaza Hotel in New York reopened on Saturday. Part of the overhaul involved converting much of the hotel into luxury condominiums, and all but one of the 181 units have been sold. The biggest cost was $30 million to repair a leaking roof, The hotel still has 282 guest rooms which average at $1,000 a night and reach up to a whopping $20,000; when the hotel opened more than 100 years ago, a room cost $2.50 a night and $4 with a bath.
Link: Reuters
Want to see other recent Travel News Roundups? Click here.
Or, check out more travel news you can use in our main Travel News section.
