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

July 16, 2004

Government Jettisons CAPPS II
The Homeland Security Department, citing privacy concerns, is abandoning a plan to create a giant database of personal information from airline passengers and assign color codes to determine the risk that each might be a terrorist. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress directed the federal government to improve the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS) to prevent terrorist strikes. In response, the Transportation Security Administration in the Homeland Security Department began developing CAPPS II, spending $100 million for planning. "CAPPS II is not going forward. However, we are going forward in replacing the antiquated airline system known as CAPPS," said Suzanne Luber, Homeland Security spokeswoman. Washington Times | Posted 6:30 a.m.
• U.S. Rethinks Air Travel Screening System (LA Times)
• Government "Reshaping" Screening (NY Times)

CAPPS II may be dead, but the government is moving ahead with a plan to update its antiquated screening systems. That's an idea I've supported for a long time.

Southwest Airlines CEO Resigns
When Jim Parker told the Southwest Airlines board of directors yesterday he was resigning, the reaction was pure Southwest. He received a standing ovation. Board members hugged him. A few tears were shed. "I am sad," Herb Kelleher, Southwest's co-founder and chairman, said a few hours later. "Jim is an admirable and indeed lovable human being." Parker's abrupt exit was notably different from other recently high-profile CEO resignations, which are often terse, awkward affairs in which company failures are piled on the shoulders of the departing chief. Parker, 57, was lauded for his 18 years at the company. He was praised for his role in keeping Southwest on course and profitable amid the industry downtown after the Sept. 11 attacks. Knight Ridder | Posted 6:45 a.m.

Attorney General Sues Travel Agent
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has sued a Florissant, Mo., travel agent for taking money to book trips for clients but not providing the trips or full refunds. Nixon filed suit against Tina Marie Flenoy, who does business as RMT Travel & Cruises, in order to get restitution for more than 30 customers. He also obtained a restraining order prohibiting her from operating as a travel agent. More than 30 members of the Soldan High School class of 1974 paid more than $27,000 to Flenoy to arrange a class reunion trip to Cancun. Flenoy did not make the reservations for the trip, and later canceled it. So far she has provided 10 refunds, and still owes more than $22,500 to other class members. Business Journal | Posted 7 a.m.

Marriott Profits Jump on Business Travel Demand - Marriott International Inc., the largest US hotel operator, on Thursday posted a jump in quarterly earnings and raised its profit forecast as the travel industry continued to improve. Marriott, which owns the Ritz-Carlton and Courtyard brands along with its flagship name, said net profit rose to $160 million, or 67 cents per share in the second quarter, from $125 million, or 51 cents per share, a year earlier. Reuters | Posted 7 a.m.

LAX Cracks Down On Illegal Immigrants - Los Angeles International Airport is the focus of a crackdown on human smuggling rings that have made their hub in Southern California, authorities said. Sixty-four suspected illegal immigrants from Mexico and South America were arrested at the airport Tuesday and Wednesday. They were planning to board commercial flights to other parts of the US, said Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. AP | Posted 7:05 a.m.

TSA Screener Charged in Ticket Scam - federal airport screener has been charged with stealing more than $55,000 in a ticketing scheme by charging passengers adult fares but reporting them as lower infant prices and pocketing the difference, prosecutors said. Laura Chico-Moreira, 37, of Ozone Park, Queens, allegedly operated the scheme while working as an independent travel agent for XLJE Tours. Chico-Moreira is also an agent for the Transportation Safety Administration. AP | Posted 7 a.m.

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• Off the Record... The widely-praised SkyTrain at JFK still needs some work. Flying from Orlando to New York yesterday on Song (great airline, by the way), I had an opportunity to use the new train for the first time. It's confusing and the new consolidated car-rental facility is very much a work in progress, to put it mildly. Also, arriving passengers must walk long distances outside to reach the train station, which is fine right now, but try that in below-freezing weather. Posted 7:10 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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