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

December 6, 2004

Another Cruise Passenger Lost at Sea
The Coast Guard called off its search Sunday afternoon for a Long Beach-bound cruise ship passenger suspected of falling overboard into Mexican waters the night before, an official said. The 37-year-old woman, whose identity was not released, was sailing back to Long Beach on the last night of a one-week Mexican Riviera cruise aboard the Carnival cruise ship Pride when she was last seen shortly before a 10 p.m. gathering Saturday, said Coast Guard spokesman Robert K. Lanier in San Diego. She missed the gathering, and crew members grew concerned when her bag was found near a ship railing, he said." (Press Telegram) Posted 6:35 a.m.
• Earlier: Search Called Off For Missing Man (AP)
• Earlier: Four Men Lost On Riverboat (Tennessean)

I'm beginning to wonder why the cruise industry can't keep its passengers. This is turning into a full-fledged, and macabre, trend.

Airports Apply to Get Rid of TSA
The uniformed screeners from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have become familiar sights to air travelers across the country. But not all airport officials are happy to have them around. Nevada's Elko Regional Airport last week became the first airport in the country to apply to get rid of TSA screeners altogether and return to private employees. The airport, which handles just 15 flights a day, has 14 screeners. Elko director Cris Jensen said there were no problems with the government screeners, but he feels his airport can do the same job more efficiently by better matching its personnel with demand. Dozens of other small airports are expected to apply for a similar exemption in the coming weeks. (Time) Posted 6:45 a.m.

Hotel Unions May Get Their Way in LA
Hotel workers in Los Angeles and two other cities intent on a key contract goal are taking an unusual approach to reach it: not going on strike. Unite Here locals in L.A., San Francisco and Washington want two-year contracts that would expire at the same time as those in several other cities around the country, giving the union nationwide bargaining clout against giant hotel chains. Instead of striking if they don't get two-year deals, union members may simply work without contracts until 2006 — getting what they want, they hope, by default. (Los Angeles Times) Posted 6:50 a.m.

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Wolves With Low-Fare Paint Jobs
I am dismayed to hear of the travails of some of the country's low cost carriers (LCCs). Independence Air and ATA have both been the subject of repeatedly negative news stories-in the case of ATA, bankruptcy; and in the case of Independence Air, rumors of bankruptcy. Indianapolis, support ATA. Washington, support Independence Air. If you want to maintain understandable, fair, transparent and reasonable airfares, fly on these airlines every chance you have. If the majors succeed in driving them out these markets, your airfares will skyrocket. (Travelcomment.com) Posted 6:55 a.m.

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Three Bankrupt Airlines Owe Airports $51 Million
Big airlines now in bankruptcy protection have run up tens of millions of dollars in debt to the nation's airports. But, aviation finance experts say, airports as a group have pulled through the industry's worst downturn in far better shape than the airlines. Initial court petitions of three airlines now operating in bankruptcy protection — United Airlines, US Airways and ATA Airlines — showed airports among their top creditors. They're owed more than $51 million in unsecured debt, mostly for landing fees and space rental. (USA Today) Posted 7 a.m.

Southwest Wants to Overturn Wright Amendment
Southwest Airlines is promising a "grass-roots campaign" to repeal a federal amendment that restricts flights from its home airport in Dallas to only other cities in Texas and nearby states. Chief executive Gary Kelly said the airline intends to use political clout to overturn the Wright Amendment. (AP) Posted 7:05 a.m.

Fawlty Towers Hotel is For Sale
The hotel which inspired the TV series Fawlty Towers has gone on sale for more than £1.5 million, it emerged today. Show creator John Cleese based the character of Basil Fawlty on Donald Sinclair, a former owner of the Hotel Gleneagles in Torquay, Devon. Cleese, who stayed in the hotel with the Monty Python team in 1971, described Mr Sinclair as "the most wonderfully rude man I have ever met". (Scotsman) Posted 7:10 a.m.

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