| Administration looks to ease summer air travel
The Bush administration announced new rules designed to reduce congestion at three New York-area airports and to provide passengers more information about flight delays and travel costs.One new rule requires airlines to release more information about how long aircraft are delayed after leaving the gate. Airlines and travel agents will also now be required to disclose on the Internet and in print ads the fees for checking a second bag. .
1.3 Million Plan Memorial Day Travel, Says AAA Travel Survey
DEARBORN, Mich., May 15, 2008 -- An estimated 1.3 million Michiganians will travel during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, launching the start of the 2008 summer travel season, says AAA Michigan. According to a national survey conducted for AAA by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), record fuel prices and challenging economic times will alter travel plans for some Americans. "Many residents will travel more economically -- looking for the best travel bargain for their dollars this upcoming holiday weekend," said Claire Lockley, vice president of Travel for The Auto Club Group (ACG), including AAA Michigan. To cope with rising gas prices, this summer many families will drive shorter distances, spend fewer nights away from home, and spend less on hotels, restaurants, souvenirs and shopping.
Hotels seek workers on eve of summer travel season
The shortage of workers at Ted Blair's three hotels near Yellowstone National Park is so severe that Blair himself might soon be busing tables and stripping beds. Less than a month before the start of the summer travel season, Blair and other hotel owners are scrambling to find low-wage employees because Congress dramatically reduced the number of guest-worker visas during last year's immigration debate. "We will keep running," Blair said. "We have to - even if the management has to make beds." The labor shortage is so severe that some hotels in the Rocky Mountains are hiring staffing firms and turning to foreign students for help. Others are considering getting out of the business altogether. "If you've owned a property for years and years, and suddenly you have to make beds all day, you just can't handle it," said Lynn Birleffi, president of the Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association.
L.B. native loved to travel
He was a huge NASCAR fan, but he never drove the fast cars. Instead, Jack Robertson enjoyed slowly traveling scenic routes during family vacations. "He loved to drive. He loved to see the road along the way," said his wife of 50 years, Irene Robertson. "He loved nature. We would stop and just see things. We always took the back roads, we never took the freeway." Jack, 69, died April 19, a month shy of his 52nd wedding anniversary. He and his wife were married at the Poly High Carnival on May 4, 1956, and although it was done as a fundraiser at the time and wasn't legally binding, the two took it seriously. So seriously that they still have the certificate. They legally married a year later, on May 24. The Long Beach native and his wife meet in the early '50s while both were attending Stephens Middle School in West Long Beach.
Memorial Day travel expected to decline
With gasoline and airfare prices going up, the number of Americans traveling Memorial Day weekend is expected to go down for the first time in 10 years. AAA released its Memorial Day travel report Thursday, predicting a .9 percent decrease in travel for the Memorial Day holiday as 37.9 million Americans travel 50 miles or more from home. About 31.7 million will travel by car, a 1 percent decrease from last year and 4.4 million will travel by air, a .5 percent decrease. In the Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin, Illinois, indiana, Michigan and Ohio, 5.7 million people are expected to travel, a 1 percent decrease from a year ago. Record-high gas prices are having a detrimental effect on travel. "Many families are feeling the financial stress of record high gas prices and other factors in the economy and they are now adjusting their summer travel plans because of it," said Tom Frymark, AAA Wisconsin regional president.
|
