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

December 13, 2004

New York Airport Fees Take Off
Passengers will likely pay $1.50 more in departure taxes at the region's three airports, the Port Authority decided yesterday as it approved its 2005 budget. The increase would bump the fee from $3.00 to $4.50, making LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark airports among a growing number charging the highest departure taxes allowed. About 130 of the nation's 400 airports now assess passengers the $4.50 fee. Officials said the increase, subject to federal approval, is expected to begin mid-next year and will allow the Port Authority to improve security and expand infrastructure at airports amid dwindling federal support and without hiking PATH fares or tolls. (Newsday) Posted 5:35 a.m.
• Will Generate $167 Million in '05 (Star-Ledger)
• Port Authority Budget Equal to '04 (Times)

These added fees are no fun. But as someone who has been a regular user of all three New York-area airports since the 70s, I can tell you that these facilities appear to be improving with age. Specifically, Newark and JFK. Money well spent? I'm not sure If I'd go that far ...

Crewmembers Face Cruise Screening
As part of a federal intelligence-overhaul bill that President Bush is expected to sign into law soon, the government will be required to screen cruise-ship passengers and crew before a ship departs to stop possible terrorists from sneaking on board. Currently, passengers -- but not crew members, most of whom are foreign nationals -- are checked against terrorist watch lists after ships depart. Sometimes, the screening is done within minutes after ships leave port, although it doesn't have to be done until four days before a ship returns to port. (Florida Today) Posted 5:45 a.m.

Traveling For a Good Cause
Picture yourself immersed in a giant mug of hot chocolate. It's the latest spa treatment at Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania, and the cherry on top is that part of the cost goes to a good cause. At other hotels, just checking in may help a charity. At a new resort in South Carolina, guests can add $2 to their bill per night to help preserve local ecology. As the gifting season approaches, and the beginning of a new year heralds the need to plan vacations for 2005, inveterate Christmas shoppers may be willing to consider a heartwarming challenge to their holiday spending. They'll find a variety of vacation opportunities and travel gifts that benefit charities. (Miami Herald) Posted 5:50 a.m.

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Stupid Travelers
Stupid people are everywhere. Just look around and you will see that oh, about 90 percent of the population is a solid 30 points below you on the Sanford-Binet. And nowhere is that more true than when you travel. It never ceases to amaze me how clueless people can be. It seems that each day brings another chuckle to our staff with the silly, insulting, inane and plain old stupid questions. (Travelcomment.com) Posted 5:55 a.m.

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TSA Screeners Complain of Abuse by Passengers
We all have heard by now the horror stories of the Transportation Security Administration, but what about the horror stories of the "lost passengers"? This is a much better movie plot that is happening daily at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. No one is talking about the mistreatment of the screeners at the checkpoints and why not? (Sun-Sentinel) Posted 6:05 a.m.

Drunken Tourist on Rampage at Kenyan Resort
A drunken German tourist stabbed a British woman on her honeymoon in Kenya and attacked two other hotel guests, killing one of them before killing himself. Lisa Seaman, 32, was stabbed in the stomach in front of her husband, Mark, 31, as the couple walked back to their hotel room on Saturday night. They had been married on Wednesday last week as part of a holiday package at the resort of Malindi, 320 miles east of the capital, Nairobi. (Times) Posted 6:10 a.m.

Southwest, AirTran Wrestle Over Midway Gates
Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest low-cost carrier, will try to make its case at a court-supervised auction this week that its more than $100 million part cash/part loan bid for only six Chicago Midway Airport gates is a better deal for bankrupt ATA Airlines than a competitor's deal. The competing plan from AirTran Airways would take all 14 ATA gates. (Sun-Times) Posted 6:15 a.m.

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