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

March 8, 2004

Is Delta Air Lines Bouncing Back?
As would be expected after only two months on the job, Delta Air Lines' new 71-year-old chief executive hasn't yet wrought many visible changes. But his early actions suggest he is more than a seat-warmer until the troubled airline finds fresh leadership. "At some point in your life you have to make a decision to trust someone," Gerald Grinstein recently told a group of retired and current pilots, according to a pilot's account that was verified by a Delta spokesman. "I'm the last, best hope you've got," he added. From the day he was named CEO-in-waiting, Grinstein, a longtime member of Delta's board, signaled a new direction by accepting a flat $500,000 salary with no bonus. That was far less than his predecessor, Leo Mullin, who abruptly stepped down Jan. 1 at age 60 got. Atlanta Journal | Posted 6 a.m.
-- Morning News: Critics were wrong about JetBlue

• Finally, the old-line legacy carriers are showing signs of life. But let's not forget who helped many of those airlines return to profitability. And we are still being unfairly taxed for the favor, as I pointed out in a recent essay. Send us your comments.

Look Out for 'Spring Broke' Scams
Spring break is more accurately called "spring broke," according to a report by State PIRG's Higher Education Project, a nonprofit public interest advocacy group. Researchers who surveyed spring break advertisements by 17 travel companies posted at colleges and universities found that, when the trip is over, students have paid out an average of 62 percent more than the advertised price. Travel companies use hidden fees, buried in fine print, to charge an average extra $367. Typical are "processing fees" or "departure taxes." Companies also charge late booking fees and for travel insurance. MarketWatch | Posted 6:20 a.m.
-- AR: Be sure to question the screaming deals

Look Out for Border Delays
Securing the nation's borders - keeping out those who are not welcome without dissuading those who are - is a daunting task. As with any barrier, there are inevitable downsides. Recent measures to tighten security at United States borders are no exception, not only angering foreign visitors but also making it harder for Americans to venture abroad and return with the ease they once had. These new obstacles include measures other countries have adopted in response to American policies, such as higher fees for travel visas or increased scrutiny of visa applications, as well as the potential for delays re-entering the United States. New York Times | Posted 6:30 a.m.
-- The Sun: Bush backs off fingerprinting Mexicans

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• And finally ... about the new paint jobs. At least two airlines have introduced new so-called liveries - that's airline-speak for paint schemes - in the recent past. Two of them happen to be either the recipients of government loans or have applied for billions in taxpayer-backed aid. But I wonder if painting the planes is the best way of straightening up and flying right. I think the answer is evident. Posted 6:40 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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