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LATEST STORIES
Beer for vaccination, Best US beaches, Uber/Lyft jammed up, Travel poll
The President and Budweiser have come up with a promotion featuring free beer for vaccinations before the 4th of July. Dr. Beach names the best beaches in the US. Discover alternatives to Lyft and Uber that can provide transportation. And Travelers United’s travel poll shows that 44 percent of our readers are planning trips this year.
Santa Fe sightseeing is far more than the city’s art
Santa Fe, New Mexico is more than a place. It is a spirit, an energy that enters your soul and takes residence in your worldview as well as your inner vision. A state of mind more than a city; a way of life more than a place to live. It’s a lifestyle, not a destination. All expressed in the poetry that is Santa Fe, a language not spoken anywhere else in the country.
POLICY
Why knowing airline wheelchair policies can make flying easier
Caregiver and airline wheelchair policies Always, always when traveling with anyone who needs wheelchair assistance, make sure to contact the airport and airline prior to arriving for caregiver and wheelchair policies. The earlier the better. In the US all airlines...
TRAVEL
Santa Fe sightseeing is far more than the city’s art
Santa Fe, New Mexico is more than a place. It is a spirit, an energy that enters your soul and takes residence in your worldview as well as your inner vision. A state of mind more than a city; a way of life more than a place to live. It’s a lifestyle, not a destination. All expressed in the poetry that is Santa Fe, a language not spoken anywhere else in the country.
FAA passenger fines are sky-high — DOT airline fines are zero. Why?
As we come to Memorial Day, the newspapers, radio, and newsletters are filled with scare tactics from the FAA. As a part of the DOT it seems to focus on fining passengers. DOT has never fined a passenger that I know of. And, DOT airline fines seem to only for breaking DOT regulations … sometimes.
Travelers United works with aviation industry on sustainable aviation fuel
The Sustainable Skies Act has been almost a decade coming. Years ago when environmental groups were battling airlines, Travelers United met with them to show how economic reality was matching environmental needs. The carbon emissions reduction, resulted in an increase in the industry’s bottom line. The goals of environmental carbon reduction and aviation profits fit together.
Important ways DOT needs consumer protections for passengers
A recent GAO report outlines a series of problems with DOT’s airline consumer protections. Problems with consumer protections range from airline incidents to the education of consumers. Plus, the GAO report highlights issues from handling complaints to enforcing regulations.
The magic of US tourist trails from sea to shining sea
US tourist trails have something for everyone. Some people are traipsing through lovely landscapes as others explore history from the days of Native Americans to the present. Avid birders spot colorful feathered friends in flight while canoers and kayakers dip paddles into the water.
Mom’s important travel lessons I will never forget
It’s Mothers Day. It is a good time for me to reflect on my traveles with Mom. I wrote a post thanking my Dad for giving me the gift of travel but my mother taught me how to get the most from travel. From Mom’s travel lessons I learned how to savor travel, how to revel in it, how to learn from it. While Dad provided the opportunities to observe foreign lands and peoples, Mom’s travel lessons were focused on the experiential side of travel.
How to discover Mother Nature’s little-known gems
Mother Nature’s little-known gems can be found throughout the country. While less well known, these are no less magnificent and wondrous in their ways. A bit of research can reveal often overlooked places that provide a variety of environments to meet any preference.
TRAVEL SAFETY
Mommy, where is the restroom? I have to go!
Finding a place to go to the bathroom has always been a problem for tourists. For years fast-food restaurants and coffee houses were the only places with public restrooms. And, today, many are not open to the public during the uncertainty of the pandemic. Regular restaurants are closed in many cities and states, except for take out. And that means far fewer toilets for the traveling public.
TRAVEL TIPS
How to stay safe when traveling — use city smarts
Another traveler has just been robbed in the Paris Métro. He claims he was on the lookout for people up to no good. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Stay safe while traveling by following these rules.
News of the death of travel is premature
It seems that reports of the death of travel are greatly exaggerated. Staycations, nearcations, and such just aren’t satisfying for many tavel junkies. More than 50 percent of those polled by Travelers United said, “a vacation to me is going far away.”
The most important pandemic lessons learned about travel
We know that COVID-19 is transmitted through the air, that masks stop it. It infects people everywhere. Governments failed travelers and that misinformation about COVID kills. Today, we know more pandemic lessons that will make dealing with the next spike more successful.
Why the Boeing 737 MAX can soar again, and soon
National Public Radio (NPR) released a damning report about Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA). However, searing the findings, the report was a rehash of old news, dating back almost two years. The subsequent FAA and Boeing actions have resulted in a good and safe aircraft. The Boeing 737 MAX can soar again.
Mommy, where is the restroom? I have to go!
Finding a place to go to the bathroom has always been a problem for tourists. For years fast-food restaurants and coffee houses were the only places with public restrooms. And, today, many are not open to the public during the uncertainty of the pandemic. Regular restaurants are closed in many cities and states, except for take out. And that means far fewer toilets for the traveling public.
Why knowing airline wheelchair policies can make flying easier
Caregiver and airline wheelchair policies Always, always when traveling with anyone who needs wheelchair assistance, make sure to contact the airport and airline prior to arriving for caregiver and wheelchair policies. The earlier the better. In the US all airlines...
8 factors to help decide how important it is to get to the airport early
"Getting to the airport early" — How early? A friend asked me tonight how early she should get to the airport as the pandemic eases. The short answer? Probably earlier than you think. Here are eight factors that should go into the decision. While the answer for...
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Accomplishments
These accomplishments have been achieved by working closely with our members, national media, the travel industry, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Congress and many other agencies.
- Bi-partisan bill to eliminate hotel resort fees introduced into House of Representatives
- Creation of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections
- Advertised airfares now include airfare plus, mandatory taxes and fees
- Lost/damaged/delayed luggage compensation limit increased to $3,500
- Passengers have 24 hours to change or cancel their nonrefundable tickets without penalty
- Once an airfare is purchased, that airfare and ancillary fees cannot be increased
- Families flying together act passed by Congress that requires family members 13 years of age and younger to sit with other family members at no additional cost.
