Each week I am going to highlight my favorite posts on news and blogs that I frequent. Ones that fascinated me (I see a lot of stuff, so it takes a bit to tickle my curiosity) and ones that I think are informative and would highly recommend at least a quick scan.
I was looking for a name for this weekly roundup and it struck me that all these these stories are timely and definitely depart on time (as opposed to the 30+% recent delays). So here it tis “On-Time Departures”.
It was an interesting week in the world of travel. Virgin America made it’s maiden voyage, New York passed a Passenger Bill of Rights, and more fall fare sales hit the market. There was also some great coverage by some great bloggers of other stories that every traveler should be aware of. Here are just a few:
Petition to Keep Airplanes Cellphone-Free
The folks over at Gadling aren’t the only ones who dread the day when cell phone conversations will serve as background noise for the entire length of a flight. The UK has already seen a petition put out to stop those loud talkers from making life miserable for those of us who want to read a book, do a little work, or just stare out the window when we’re flying. Gadling calls for others around the world to follow suit and keep airplanes as some of the few cell-free places left on this planet of ours.
Travel Industry Rules Need to Change
Over at Upgrade: Travel Better (with a nod to Chris Elliot), they put together a list of some of the stupidest airline rules that need to be changed. My favorite: Anything Can be Blamed on the Weather.
It’s what I refer to as the Get Out of Jail Free card. The airlines can get off free and clear if a delay or cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances. And, oh yeah, the airlines are the ones who get to decide what constitutes extraordinary circumstances.
Worst Flight Delays Ever
The DOT reports that flight delays for the first half of the year are the worst they’ve been since the DOT kept tabs on such things. Paul Kedrosky also points out that a particular Delta flight from JFK to LAX is delayed about 100% of the time. That’s OK, though. Not many people fly between two small markets like New York and Los Angeles.
Have a great weekend!
