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

December 9, 2004

Law Protecting Air Travelers Extended
The U.S. Congress on Wednesday extended a law to make healthier airlines pick up the slack should bankrupt carriers that fail stick travelers with worthless tickets. The measure, included in the intelligence reform bill that received final congressional approval in the Senate, would extend the protection through Nov. 19, 2005. The provision was initially included in the 2001 airline bailout law when there was serious concern several carriers might fail as their finances worsened rapidly in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 hijack attacks. The ticket provision requires stronger carriers, within reason, to accommodate passengers whose travel plans are disrupted by another airline that goes out of business. . (Reuters) Posted 6:35 a.m.
• Change Fee Capped at $50 Per Person (Biz Journal)
• Earlier: Bush Signs Airline Bailout Law (CNN)

This is sure to make airline passengers feel more confident about the airlines. But is it a good measure for the industry?

Uh-Oh, More Construction at Newark
Newark Liberty International Airport's cramped Terminal B, which handles dozens of daily international flights, will undergo a $280 million expansion as part of a five-year construction project the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is expected to approve today. The work, officials said, will improve both the physical configuration and security of the terminal, which is used by numerous overseas carriers, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM and Air France, as well as domestic carriers such as Delta and Northwest. (Star-Ledger) Posted 6:45 a.m.

End Of the Line For Premier Travel
A consumer fraud case that attracted national attention has come full circle. Assets of the now bankrupt Premier Travel International will be sold at public auction December 29 at the firm’s former location on Commercial Boulevard, Oakland Park. “Even though I got my money back, I’m delighted to hear they’ve gone out of business, Boca Raton resident Mary Bailey said Wednesday. “I couldn’t be more pleased,” she told The Boca News. “And I’ll be (at the auction) on the 29th – no matter what.” According to the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), Premier attracted customers with phone solicitations offering free travel for attending an informational meeting. (Boca Raton News) Posted 6:50 a.m.

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Car Insurance Confusion
Car-rental surcharges aren't unusual. Fuel-purchase options or upgrades can add a little extra to the cost of your vehicle. But what if you're charged nearly $800 more than what you were quoted by the car-rental company? That's what happens to Jessica Spiegel when she rents a car from Hertz in Europe. The company insists she ordered optional insurance, but she denies it. Is there any hope for a refund? And how do you prevent this from happening to you on your next rental? (Triprightst.com) Posted 6:55 a.m.

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Still No Deal Between Attendants, US Airways
US Airways and its flight attendants union on Wednesday failed to reach a tentative agreement that would provide the bankrupt airline with $116 million a year in savings. Teddy Xidas, president of Association of Flight Attendants Local 40 in Pittsburgh, said the two sides last night were focusing on a proposal that would chop salaries by 10 percent -- down from the company's demand of 15 percent. (Tribune-Review) Posted 7:05 a.m.

Delta Rewards Execs With Big Bonuses
Delta Air Lines has awarded its top six managers a bonus of about 300,000 stock options apiece. The move came just two weeks after the Atlanta-based carrier and its pilots union signed an agreement cutting pilot compensation by $1 billion annually. (Enquirer) Posted 7:10 a.m.

Owner of Vacant Hotel Gets Record Fine
The British owner of a long-vacant landmark Wellington Hotel was hit with an apparent record $480,000 fine in City Court Wednesday for letting the building slowly crumble. Judge E. David Duncan found Sebba Rockaway Ltd., which bought the hotel in 1987, guilty of a dozen building code violations, ranging from a rotted roof and broken windows to dangerous falling bricks and a massive sign left hanging precariously above the boarded-up front door. (Times Union) Posted 7:15 a.m.

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