Rising Fuel Prices Hit Airline Customers in the Pocket
Short-Term Car Rentals in Europe
What’s the Deal With Runway Incursions?
Hotel Companies Planning Construction Despite Slowing Demand
The Wackiest Festivals in America
RISING FUEL PRICES HIT AIRLINE CUSTOMERS IN THE POCKET - MSNBC
Customers aren’t exempt from the rising fuel prices that are affecting the major airlines. American, United and Delta (aka “the big three”) are hiking their round-trip fares by $20. The result? The carriers’ excess charges cost about $130 round-trip, meaning that some passengers are paying more in taxes and fees than the base airfare itself. Delta was the first to make this move, mostly in domestic markets, which is its second fare increase in just over a week. The other carriers matched the fee almost immediately. Between increased airfares, surcharges and paying for extra bags and legroom, what will it take for air travelers to start pushing back?
Link: MSNBC
Related: Peter Greenberg on MSNBC: Tips to Ease the Impact of Airline Fees
SHORT-TERM CAR RENTALS IN EUROPE – Upgrade Travel Better
Want to zip around a European city for just a few hours? It’s easier now that Hertz is offering short-term car rentals in 1,200 cities across Europe, including France, Italy, Spain, the UK and Switzerland. Renters can now use the new service, called Hertz 369, to hire a car for three to six hours for a day trip, or nine hours for overnight trips. This move responded to a recent Hertz survey which said that 61 percent of travelers would be more likely to rent a car if they didn’t have to do it for a full 24-hour day.
Link: Upgrade Travel Better
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH RUNWAY INCURSIONS? – Salon
If you’ve heard one too many stories about the rise of “runway incursions” at U.S. airports, it’s time to learn what the deal is. Pilot Patrick Smith explains that a runway incursion is “when a plane or other vehicle erroneously enters or crosses a runway without permission from air traffic control, setting up a potential collision hazard.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean that two planes are on the verge of crashing into one another. In fact, most incursions are harmless. But numbers are undoubtedly up and there were a handful of close calls—and despite the increase of aircraft taking to the skies, the incursions have been rising out of proportion to traffic growth.
Link: Salon.com
HOTEL COMPANIES PLANNING CONSTRUCTION DESPITE SLOWED DEMAND – Business Travel News
Many hotel companies have announced their ambitious plans to expand both domestically and internationally, despite growing concerns over the economic outlook. Carlson Hotels Worldwide announced that it will open 50 new properties in 19 countries, while InterContintental Hotels Group said that it signed 19,678 new rooms during the first quarter of this year. Starwood Hotels & Resorts recently reported 43 hotel management and franchise agreements, which will add 120,000 rooms, most of which will be in its “upper upscale” and luxury brands, more than half of which will be outside of North America. And Marriot International is planning to add 130,000 new rooms, more than 40 percent of which are already under construction.
Link: Business Travel News
THE WACKIEST FESTIVALS IN AMERICA – Budget Travel
Don’t turn your nose up at the next small-town or wacky festival that you see listed in the local paper. Some of them have a kitsch factor that shouldn’t be missed. Take the O. Henry “Pun-Off” in Austin Texas coming up in a few days, followed by the Horned Toad Derby in Coalinga, California (it’s exactly what it sounds like, plus barbecued beef). If you can stomach the Testicle Festival in Olean, Missouri, then chances are you’ll be able to handle the upcoming Cherry-Spitting Festival in Eau Claire, Michigan. Oh, and if you can’t stand wacky festivals, try the Telluride Nothing Festival that is literally about nothing (don’t worry, it’s free).
Link: Budget Travel
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