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

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November 1, 2004

Another Outbreak at Milwaukee Hotel
Health officials in Wisconsin and more than a dozen other states are on alert because of an illness that apparently broke out at a hotel in downtown Milwaukee. Milwaukee health officials believe the Hilton Milwaukee City Center may be ground zero for the illness. People reported head cold symptoms, as well as nausea and diarrhea. This began last week when at least 120 people fell ill during a conference at the hotel. The Milwaukee Health Department is investigating what caused so many people to get sick at the Hilton. Symptoms popped up after a computer software conference. At least 300 people from around the country attended. Health officials are looking for any explanation. Milwaukee Channel | Posted 6:35 a.m.
• Norwalk Virus is Likely Culprit (WAOW)
• Flamingo Confirmed: It Was Norwalk (LVRJ)

Between potential flu outbreaks and Norwalk problems, this is going to be a busy indoor season.

Book Trains Travelers in Self-Defense
Coffee. Magazines. Soda cans. Neck ties. These are the unassuming weapons of the war on terror, according to a self-defense manual for airline passengers by three Dallas-Fort Worth authors. The book, Never Again, provides diagrams of common self-defense tactics and advice for how to plan a counterstrike if an airplane is hijacked. The book raises interesting questions about the danger of passengers interfering with air marshals and flight attendants. But many industry officials say self-defense for air travelers could be beneficial as long as passengers heed the book's warnings. Dallas Morning News | Posted 6:45 a.m.

Pensacola Still Reeling From Storm
For the last six weeks, nary a tourist has set foot on Pensacola's barrier islands. Vacation dinners aren't being eaten, T-shirts aren't being purchased and beach hotel beds are left undisturbed, except when the rooms around them are gutted for repairs. Tourism, the $1 billion annual boon and third-largest sector of the Pensacola Bay Area economy, ground to a halt after Hurricane Ivan roared ashore Sept. 16. The Pensacola Convention and Visitor Bureau was severely damaged by Hurricane Ivan, but help is on the way, said Ed Schroeder, vice president for tourism at the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. News Journal | Posted 6:50 a.m.

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Don't Get Screwed: A 7-Step Program - Your travel agent just bolted with your money. Your cruise line sold your cabin to someone else. Your tour operator went belly up, and there's no chance for a refund. Over the past six months there have been dozens of news stories highlighting the "shady" travel industry. No one can dispute the fact that some travel agents did abscond with some money, Carnival did oversell several sailings, and several tour operators simply ceased operations with little more than a padlocked front door. But how can you protect yourself? > All-new featured story from Travelcomment.com | Posted 7 a.m.

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US Airways May Now Face Strike - High fuel prices. Low-fare tickets. As if bankrupt US Airways didn't have enough to worry about, now comes this: the threat of a strike. The Communications Workers of America, which represents 6,000 gate and reservations agents, has sent out ballots to members seeking permission to call a strike if U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stephen S. Mitchell voids US Airways' union contracts. US Airways officials reacted forcefully to the CWA's action. They said that federal law prohibits an immediate strike, and that even the threat of a work disruption could scare away customers during the busy holiday travel season. Tribune Review | Posted 7 a.m.

Screening: Foolproof vs. Foolish - More than three years after terrorists brought down four commercial airliners with devastating results, there remain serious shortcomings in the screening of passengers and baggage at U.S. airports. Aside from the fact that all non-carry-on baggage is still not scanned for explosives and that virtually no air freight in commercial airline cargo holds is scanned, Transportation Security Administration training for airport baggage screeners is still inadequate. Seattle PI | Posted 7:05 a.m.

Passenger Sues Airline Over Lizard Lunch - The lizard biryani served on a Jet Airways flight in India proved just too spicy for a startled passenger who is now taking the private carrier to court. The airline admitted in a statement published on Friday that it had launched an inquiry into how the 5.1cm lizard came to be cooked and served up to businessman Ashok Sharma. "We are conducting an investigation into the unfortunate incident," Jet Airways chief operating officer Peter Luethi said. IOL | Posted 7:10 a.m.

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