12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today (This is a recurring post, updated daily with new information):

Monday, May 15
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,484,125 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 14. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,620,276. (TSA)

 

TSA tests facial recognition technology to boost airport security
A passenger walks up to an airport security checkpoint, slips an ID card into a slot and looks into a camera atop a small screen. The screen flashes “Photo Complete” and the person walks through — all without having to hand over their identification to the TSA officer sitting behind the screen. It’s all part of a pilot project by the Transportation Security Administration to assess the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country. AP News

 

Hilton Waikoloa Village reopens redesigned pool area
The family-friendly pool is known for its waterslides, rope bridge and sand-bottom kids’ pool. The renovation included resurfacing slides and adding oceanfront cabanas, hot tubs, rock formations and new landscaping. Shaka Cones also moved into the area and will serve desserts like Dave’s Ice Cream. Travel Weekly

 

Hobby Airport serves up new dining options for Houston travelers after Pappas moves out
Hobby Airport has a new flavor – a group of new flavors, rather – after an overnight transformation to its food-and-drink offerings. A concessions group led by Pappas Restaurants moved out Thursday after a 20-year run at the South Houston airport and a months-long dispute with the City of Houston over a lucrative, 10-year contract awarded to a competing concessionaire. Seven new concepts opened Friday morning and more are to come during the next year-and-a-half as operations of some of the airport’s dining options transitions to a joint venture group led by Areas HOU JV, a U.S. subsidiary of Spain-based Areas. Houston Public Media

 

FAA investigating cracked windshield on Southwest flight diverted back to HNL
A San Diego-bound Southwest Airlines flight returned to Honolulu on Sunday night about two hours into flight after a window cracked onboard. Initial reports said there was “a shattered window” located near where the first officer sits on the Boeing 737 MAX 8. But according to preliminary information from the FAA, the flight crew reported “a cracked windshield” around 6:25 p.m. local time. Hawaii News Now

 

Nepali Sherpa ties Mount Everest climbing record
A Nepali sherpa guide climbed Mount Everest for the 26th time on Sunday, hiking officials said, becoming the world’s second person to achieve the feat. Pasang Dawa Sherpa, 46, stood atop the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak, sharing the record number of summits with Kami Rita Sherpa, said Bigyan Koirala, a government tourism official. CNN

 

Dead bodies litter Mount Everest because it’s so dangerous and expensive to get them down
More than 310 people have died climbing Everest since exploration first started in the early 1900s. It’s dangerous to retrieve the bodies, so many litter the mountain to this day. Many have blamed overcrowding for deaths in recent years, and 2023 will see a record number of climbers. Business Insider

 

Honolulu rail to begin operating June 30
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced an official opening date for the Honolulu rail. June 30 will be the big day when riders can finally travel by train. The City is encouraging the public to ride the rail and announced rides will be free of charge during its opening weekend.  KHON2

 

Air Canada reports doubling of revenue, as passenger demand returns
Air Canada reported first-quarter revenue nearly doubled compared with a year earlier as travellers hopped back on airplanes en masse — even as higher costs tamped down net earnings. Buoyed by a record $4.9 billion in revenue, the quarter marked the second in a row where the carrier has turned a profit following 11 straight quarters of losses totalling $10.1 billion. CBC

 

People are roasting Canada’s new passport design
They did it in grandiose fashion at a press conference, complete with a dramatic reveal of large-size passport models. Narcity

 

Reagan National Airport launches runway rehab project
Washington Reagan National Airport (KDCA) has embarked on a two-year, $94.4 million runway rehabilitation program funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) capitol construction program budget and federal grants. It will focus on 7,170-foot Runway 1/19 and 5,200-foot Runway 15/33 and will involve replacing the asphalt and base down to eight inches on both and changing all runway lighting to energy-efficient LED systems. Aviation International News

 

Man says American Airlines lost $26,000 prosthetic leg
A man claims American Airlines lost the suitcase containing his prosthetic leg. Michael Williams said his prosthetic leg cost $26,650, but he wasn’t compensated for it. Williams said he doesn’t want to fly anymore after the incident. Business Insider

Sunday, May 14
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened HASN’T BEEN UPDATED YET people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 13. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,611,324. (TSA)

What to know about Biden’s compensation plan for flight delays and cancellations
Technological failures, system outages and staffing shortages have caused thousands of flight delays and cancellations in recent months, wreaking havoc for travelers across the country and putting a spotlight on transportation officials. According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, around 20 percent of flights were delayed last year. While the weather is often to blame, airlines are also frequently at fault. The New York Times

 

IATA takes aim at US passenger compensation proposal
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has predictably hit out at the US Department of Transportation’s new passenger compensation proposals. IATA says the move will raise the overall cost of air travel. The US administration plans mandatory financial compensation for travelers for out of pocket expenses during long flight delays and cancelations. The rule will be issued later this year. Travelmole

 

Southwest Airlines pilots vote to strike. Here’s why your trip probably won’t be affected
Again I say, do not panic. Southwest Airlines pilots voted to authorize a strike, but it’s highly unlikely it will happen. Just a few weeks ago, American Airlines pilots announced they had also authorized a strike in a similar vote. In both cases, the vote is just the first step on a path that rarely if ever ends in an actual work stoppage. USA Today

 

NYC converts hotels to shelters as pressure mounts to accommodate asylum seekers
The historic Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan shuttered three years ago, but it will soon be bustling again — reopening to accommodate an anticipated influx of asylum seekers just as other New York City hotels are being converted to emergency shelters. Mayor Eric Adams announced Saturday that the city will use the Roosevelt to eventually provide as many as 1,000 rooms for migrants who are expected to arrive in coming weeks because of the expiration of pandemic-era rules, known collectively as Title 42, that had allowed federal officials to turn away asylum seekers from the U.S. border with Mexico. AP

 

Airline passenger accused of assaulting flight attendant over menu
An American Airlines passenger has been accused of assaulting a flight attendant. The passenger was traveling from Barbados to Miami, per a criminal complaint. The complaint alleged that he assaulted a crew member after objecting to the way he was spoken to. Business Insider

 

Unusual early heatwave set to sweep Pacific north-west of US
An unusually early heatwave is set to sweep through the Pacific north-west of the US this weekend as the region braces for potentially record-breaking temperatures. On Saturday, the National Weather Service warned that “much above average to record heat building [will occur] across the Pacific north-west” as temperatures reach the high 80s and 90s degrees Fahrenheit, with the warmth expected to spread into the Rockies and Great Plains by early next week. The Guardian

 

YouTuber Trevor Jacob admits to crashing plane for views
A YouTuber who intentionally crashed an aeroplane for views will plead guilty to obstructing a federal investigation by cleaning up the site of the crash, US prosecutors say. Trevor Jacob, 29, posted the video of the plane crash to YouTube in December 2021, implying it was an accident. It has over 2.9 million views to date. In a plea agreement, he said he filmed the video as part of a product sponsorship deal. He could face up to 20 years in prison. BBC News 

 

Video shows gun discharge at TSA checkpoint, ensuing chaos at Atlanta’s airport
Images of the moment a gun accidentally went off at the main TSA security checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport back in November 2021 have been made public. The new video comes as the person who caused the chaos was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Wednesday morning. Fox5atlanta.com

 

The number of TSA screening complaints has nearly doubled in the last year
The process of going through security at airports is a necessary, but often frustrating, step for airline passengers. With more than 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers screening more than 2 million passengers a day to ensure the safety of air travel, complaints have been on the rise, with a 42 percent increase in the last year, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)’s monthly Air Travel Consumer Reports.  Condé Nast Traveler

 

What travellers need to know ahead of a potential WestJet pilot strike
More than 1,000 WestJet pilots across Canada are preparing for the picket lines this month as a union claims the employees have been overworked and underpaid, while the airline argues they’re being fairly compensated. CTV

 

Mother’s Day is usually the busiest day of the year for restaurants
Going out to a fancy restaurant is often tied to a special occasion — and there’s no special occasion quite like one for moms. Research from the National Restaurant Association has found that in an average year, about a third of U.S. adults visit a restaurant to celebrate on Mother’s Day. That often makes Mother’s Day the busiest day of the year for restaurants. This deluge of diners even surpasses Valentine’s Day, perhaps because the mid-February holiday really only takes up tables for two, whereas a Mother’s Day celebration often takes up a four-top or more. Interesting Facts

 

Friday, May 12
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,585,633 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 11. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,611,324. (TSA)

U.S. ends last Covid travel barrier, vaccine mandate for foreign arrivals
International passengers traveling to the United States no longer have to show proof of vaccination against Covid as of midnight Thursday, when the coronavirus health emergency officially ended. The Biden administration dropped its requirement for coronavirus testing last June but kept in place its vaccination policy for foreign travelers. In February, the House of Representatives voted to end the last remaining pandemic restrictions on May 11. NY Times

 

Biden drops COVID-19 vaccine requirement for federal workers, air travel
The White House on Tuesday announced it is ending its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal workers and air travel starting Friday. The Biden administration made the announcement in an executive order revoking two previous executive orders requiring vaccinations for federal employees. UPI

 

German rail union’s planned strike likely to impact rail traffic
Germany’s railway union EVG on Thursday announced a new 50-hour strike to take place from Sunday to Tuesday as wage talks with state train operator Deutsche Bahn (DBN.UL) and around 50 other rail companies dragged on without a resolution. The walkout – set to start at 2000 GMT on Sunday and end at 2200 GMT on Tuesday – will be the latest in a wave of industrial action in several European countries as a cost of living crisis eats into incomes. Reuters

 

UK rail passengers face summer of strife as national strikes resume
Forty-eight hours of rail chaos is about to get under way. Travellers trying to reach the Eurovision Song Contest this Saturday and, next month, the FA Cup Final by train could find their trains cancelled by a series of strikes. As the next round of national rail strikes begins, the dispute between rail unions, train operators and ministers appears deeper than ever. The Independent

 

Lyft said it will stop offering shared rides
Lyft Inc. is officially discontinuing shared rides, the latest change the ride-hailing company’s new chief executive officer is making in a bid to revamp the platform to compete with Uber Technologies Inc. “The problem with shared trips is that they take people out of their way,” David Risher said in an interview Thursday. “At some point you have to pay attention to what your customers want.” Bloomberg

 

Virgin Galactic’s next crewed flight will blast to the edge of space later this month
Virgin Galactic is gearing up for its first crewed flight in nearly two years. The space tourism company announced that it will launch its Unity 25 crew into space later this month but didn’t provide a specific date. The upcoming spaceflight is “the final assessment of the full spaceflight system and astronaut experience” ahead of Virgin Galactic’s first commercial flight that’s planned for the end of June. Unity 25 marks the company’s fifth spaceflight and will launch four Virgin Galactic employees — Beth Moses, Luke Mays, Jamila Gilbert, and Christopher Huie — to the edge of space. The Verge

 

JetBlue revamps TrueBlue loyalty program 
Working toward priority status with an airline is generally an uphill climb with no reprieves along the way. JetBlue customers can now make the endeavor more enjoyable with attainable perks. The company launched its new TrueBlue loyalty program on May 10, 2023, and you don’t need flights booked every other week to rack up the new perks. JetBlue debuted a tile system that gives all types of travelers a path to Mosaic status while earning bonuses such as early boarding and complimentary in-flight drinks. Kiplinger

 

United pilots to picket; airline unions press for higher pay
Just ahead of what could be a record-breaking summer travel season, pilots from one of the nation’s biggest airlines are preparing to march in picket lines at major airports on Friday as they push for higher pay. The United Airlines pilots have been working without a raise for more than four years while negotiating with airline management over a new contract. AP

 

Lily Collins’ wedding rings stolen from spa at West Hollywood hotel
Emily in Paris” star Lily Collins was reportedly robbed of her jewelry during a visit to a luxury spa at a West Hollywood hotel over the weekend. TMZ reports the actress had locked up her engagement and wedding rings at the Edition Hotel on Sunset Boulevard prior to her spa session. But when she returned, she found her jewelry as well as some electronics missing. FOX LA

 

Turkish Airlines set to order 600 aircraft, chairman says
Turkish Airlines (THY) (THYAO.IS) will order a total of 600 new aircraft in June and they will be delivered within ten years, company chairman Ahmet Bolat said on Thursday. Such an order, if confirmed, would be the largest in the industry’s history by a single airline, eclipsing a record order by Air India for 470 Airbus and Boeing planes in December, but his comments took some industry sources and analysts by surprise.  Reuters

 

Taiwan’s Starlux faces trouble for allowing influencer into cockpit on inaugural flight
A new controversy with Starlux Airlines has surfaced while the company continues to reel from the public relations disaster stemming from delayed flights and alleged passenger mistreatment. Liberty Times reported that when Starlux Airlines Chair Chang Kuo-wei (張國煒) personally flew the company’s inaugural flight from Taipei to Los Angeles on April 26, he allowed Chinese-born Australian influencer Sam Chui (崔佳星) into the cockpit for a photo. Chui, who had been invited to fly first class, wrote on social media, “Not everyday the chairman of an airline flies his passengers personally!” Taiwan News

 

Thursday, May 11
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,248,503 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 10. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,343,675. (TSA)

US airlines thrown a curveball as consumer habits change post-pandemic
Shifting travel patterns by consumers in a post-pandemic world are forcing airlines to guess at what is the “new normal” as they seek to adjust by cutting flights, revamping networks and packing even more passengers into planes. Reuters

 

Frontier damages pro tennis player’s wheelchair jeopardizing games
Andrew Bogdanov is a professional tennis player who uses a specialized wheelchair to compete. His mobility on and off the court is tied to his chair. Airlines disregarded that. Twice while Bogdanov was traveling to competitions recently, airlines damaged his sports chair He’s now worried about how it could affect his livelihood while he waits for a replacement. USA Today

 

JetBlue workers surprised merger comments made public
JetBlue Airways Corp. orchestrated a campaign to flood the government with thousands of online comments from employees in favor of the airline’s bid to merge with Spirit Airlines Inc. The campaign, which included a pre-written form in support of the merger, generated roughly 90% of the more than 10,000 comments on the Transportation Department’s public comment page. The comments are identical and are identified as coming from JetBlue and Spirit crew members who wrote that they believe the $3.8 billion merger will improve their lives, according to a Bloomberg News review of the database. Bloomberg

 

DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg Encourages Airlines to C
When the COVID pandemic hit, it took a huge toll on our regional airlines by reducing the amount of flights taking off each day. The reduced air service is not a unique issue to our area but it’s something other small and regional airlines across the US are dealing with, too. We brought this issue to the Department of Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg. He shares with WENY News exclusively what the DOT is doing to maintain reliable air service to small, regional airports. WENY News

 

Air France, KLM pull back from Twitter as a customer-service travel hack
A couple of major European airlines, including Air France, are telling travelers not to contact the company through Twitter. Twitter has long provided a fast way for frustrated fliers to reach airline customer-service desks—a service many people used last summer as hold times on the phone stretched for hours. Airlines themselves encouraged customers to reach them via Twitter. WSJ

 

Air New Zealand to charge over $400 for a four hour snooze in the sky
New Zealand’s national airline will charge NZ$400-$600 (US$250-$380) for four hours in a six-person bunk bed cabin, under its “world-first” design for an economy class sleeper pod. Air New Zealand debuted its prototype for the “skynest” cabin designs this week, but bookings for the bunks will only be available from September 2024. The Guardian

 

Dubai-based airline Emirates logs record profits of $3 billion
Emirates reported record profit and revenue figures Thursday for the year ending April 2023, as passenger numbers surged by 123%. The Dubai-based group reported an annual profit of 10.9 billion United Arab Emirates dirhams ($3 billion), having recorded losses for the two previous years thanks to pandemic-related travel restrictions and skyrocketing fuel prices. CNBC

 

Help! A check-in agent’s mistake made me miss an Antarctic cruise and I’m out $17,000
I was set to take what for me was the “trip of a lifetime,” a $17,000 Antarctic cruise with Australia-based Aurora Expeditions. But when I tried to check in for my flight from Nashville to Santiago, Chile (via Miami), the check-in agent insisted that entering Chile required two forms I had never heard of, even though I had researched the requirements carefully. I missed my flight, and the cruise. When I complained, American Airlines quickly refunded the (nonrefundable) flight, but Aurora would not give me credit for a future cruise and my travel insurer, Trip Mate, denied my claim. I’d like American to acknowledge in writing that they made a mistake and use that to ask Aurora to reconsider and to file an appeal to Trip Mate. Can you help? Deborah, Franklin, Tenn. The New York Times

 

More snow meant more visitors for ski resorts this year
U.S. ski areas have enjoyed record visitation during the 2022-23 season. According to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), domestic ski areas have welcomed 64.7 million visits, a 6.6% increase over 2021-2022’s 60.7 million visits, which was also a record-breaking year. This season’s number remains preliminary, as some ski mountains are still open. The NSAA records a skier visit anytime someone use a lift ticket or pass at a ski area. Travel Weekly

 

Two missing climbers at Denali National Park may have triggered avalanche and fell
A search and rescue effort was ongoing in Alaska for two people who disappeared while climbing at Denali National Park and Preserve late last week. The climbers, from Seattle, went missing Friday on Moose’s Tooth, a 10,300-foot peak near the Ruth Gorge in the park, according to the U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service. USA Today

 

Does falling space debris pose a risk to airplanes?
As the Earth’s orbit continues to fill with discarded rockets and old satellites, experts say airplanes could be in danger from falling debris. “There is a real risk,” Aaron Boley, an associate professor in astronomy and astrophysics at the University of British Columbia, told CTVNews.ca. “The uses of space are simply expanding, and as we put large objects in orbit, they come down eventually, and if they’re uncontrolled, that’s a hazard to people on the ground, at sea and in airplanes.” CTV News

 

Wednesday, May 10
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,073,603 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 9. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,191,387. (TSA)

Mexico drops Covid-19 emergency status
Mexico has officially ended the Covid-19 heath emergency. The Undersecretary for Prevention and Health Promotion Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez announced the end in line with last week’s declaration by the World Health Organization. “These characteristics are fulfilled in Mexico. In fact, they have been fulfilled for several months,” he said. Travelmole

 

SFO becomes first US airport to formally launch airplane wastewater testing for emerging Covid-19 variants
San Francisco International Airport has launched a program with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test wastewater from airplanes for traces of emerging coronavirus variants. Traces of the virus that causes Covid-19 can be detected in people’s feces when they are infected, even if they don’t have symptoms.  CNN

 

Airfare to Europe, Asia is more expensive this summer by this much
For a summertime flight to Europe, expect to pay an average of $1,167 per ticket. This is 36% more than last year’s average costs. A ticket to Asia will cost even more – an average of $1,817, 62% more than pre-pandemic. Many travelers are itching to visit Asian destinations like Japan since it opened its borders within the last year. USA Today

 

J.D. Power rankings have Southwest on top for economy flights
Travelers are increasingly unhappy with North American airlines, according to the latest rankings from J.D. Power. While carriers are reporting record profits, they’re also doing less flying than they were before the pandemic and passengers are feeling the squeeze. USA Today

 

New Canadian passports renewable on-line
The Canadian government has unveiled a new, more secure, high-tech passport. Officials also promise Canadians can renew their passports online starting later this year. “The new passport has been redesigned from cover to cover with state-of-the-art security features and new artwork, maintaining its status as one of the most secure and universally accepted travel documents in the world for all Canadians,” officials said today at a press conference at Ottawa International Airport. Jimbyerstravel.com

 

Hawaii Tourism Authority survives for at least one more year
After months of uncertainty about the future of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state has come up with a “compromise solution” to fund the tourism organization for the next fiscal year. Travel Weekly

 

Airline flight attendants ask public’s support for bill to punish bad behavior by passengers
Flight attendants and other airline workers are calling for harsher penalties on unruly passengers after a sharp rise in violent incidents on planes in recent years. Some airline workers were out at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday talking to the public about proposed federal legislation they say would help protect them. They were handing out flyers that read “Assault Won’t Fly.” ABC7 Los Angeles

 

They wanted to go to Amsterdam, but had to make a stop in Boston thanks to an unruly passenger
A Delta Air Lines flight from Detroit to Amsterdam diverted to Boston because of an unruly passenger on Friday. The plane was met by local law enforcement on arrival at Boston Logan International Airport and the passenger deplaned, the airline said in an emailed statement. USA Today

 

Man convicted for inappropriately touching sleeping woman on L.A.-bound flight
A 49-year-old man from Pomona was found guilty by a federal jury for the felony offense of intentionally touching the inner thigh of a woman sleeping next to him on a flight to Los Angeles, authorities announced Tuesday. The incident occurred on Feb. 17, 2020, after Mohammad Jawad Ansari boarded a flight at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport that was bound for LAX, according to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office. KTLA

 

Evicted Pittsburgh International Airport airmall operator could return after court ruling
In a major reversal, the operator of Pittsburgh International Airport’s popular airmall, evicted last June, could be returning to the job after a ruling Tuesday by a state appellate court. The Pennsylvania Superior Court reversed an August decision by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Christine Ward that denied a request by Fraport Pittsburgh for a preliminary injunction to stay on the job. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

JFK airport hotel will become 318-unit affordable housing complex
A team of developers is turning a hotel near JFK Airport into more than 300 new apartments — putting the building on pace to become the city’s first such residential conversion under a stalled measure meant to spur affordable housing. Gothamist

 

Tuesday, May 9
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,468,179 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 8. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,512,315. (TSA)

U.S. to propose new rules for airline cancellations, delays
President Biden said Monday that his administration will write new regulations that will require airlines to compensate air travelers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the airline’s control. The compensation would be in addition to ticket refunds when the airline is at fault for a flight being canceled or significantly delayed. It would give consumers in the United States protections similar to those in the European Union. LA Times

A cruise ship passenger arrested after setting up hidden bathroom camera
A passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise spotted a hidden camera in a public bathroom. Another passenger who was seen in a video setting up the camera was arrested. The FBI said the video showed adults and minors as young as 4 years old changing. Business Insider

 

Buttigieg says FAA is about 3,000 air traffic controllers short
Air traffic control in the United States is understaffed by about 3,000 positions, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNN on Friday, as hiring to fill some of that gap opened. The Federal Aviation Administration ATC workforce currently numbers about 11,500 controllers, but “the optimal number is closer to about 14,500,” the secretary said on CNN News Central. The numbers are similar to the agency’s assessment this spring that about one in five controller positions nationwide are vacant. CNN

 

Woman lost in Australian bushland survives for 5 days on lollipops and wine until found by search party
An Australian woman who got lost in remote bushland survived for five days on wine and lollipops, authorities said. Victoria police shared video shot from an aerial rescue unit of an area of dense bushland where the woman was eventually found. ABC7 New York

 

The ‘Queen Mary’ will reopen this summer following a multimillion-dollar makeover
After three long years, the Queen Mary is nearly ready to welcome back royal subjects. The cruise liner-turned-tourist attraction is set to reopen to the public this summer following a lengthy, multimillion-dollar makeover. Robb Report

 

Scorpion stings woman passenger on Air India Nagpur-Mumbai flight, airline calls it ‘unfortunate incident’
Air India on Saturday issued an apology after a woman passenger was stung by a scorpion mid-air on its Nagpur-Mumbai flight. The woman is reported to be safe. The incident took place on April 23 on Air India Nagpur-Mumbai flight AI 630. The airline, while regretting the incident, has said that the stung passenger was first attended to at the airport and then was treated in the hospital as well. India Today

 

He smelled something strange in his Tibetan hotel room. It was a dead body under his bed
When a tourist at a Tibetan hotel noticed a foul smell in his room and asked to move, little could he have guessed he would get caught up in a murder investigation. The traveler spent half a day in the room wondering where the smell was coming from and initially suspected either the bakery downstairs or perhaps his own feet. But he was later informed it came from a dead body under the bed. CNN

 

How U.S. airlines make $7 billion a year from checked bags
U.S. airlines had baggage fee revenue of more than $6.7 billion last year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. American Airlines alone earned almost $1.4 billion from checked bags, accounting for more than 2% of the carrier’s full-year revenue. For decades, most bags flew for free, but in recent years fees have surged, boosting the bottom line of the nation’s carriers. CNBC

 

Dispute over apple juice leads to US airport security assault
TSA officials said Makiah Coleman, 19, allegedly attacked the officers as she was going through airport security early in the morning. Court documents showed Coleman became upset because TSA officers took away her apple juice while she was going through security because large amounts of liquids aren’t allowed. Coleman reportedly was ranting as she tried to retrieve the juice from a disposal bin but was pushed away by a TSA agent.  1 News

 

Florida beach live webcams show surf, waves, sargassum seaweed conditions
There’s only one word a beachgoer would use to describe sargassum seaweed: Bleah! Raise your hand if you saw a big blob of sargassum seaweed on the beach and avoided it by stepping on hot pointy shells rather than set foot on the springy, crunchy, brown clusters of seaweed. Palm Beach Post

 

A care revolution: Inside Canada’s first dementia village
In Langley, British Columbia, there’s a village that may remind you of your own: you can go for a stroll, pick up a couple of items from the grocery store or even pop by the salon. But, this particular community was purposefully built to allow for freedom and quality of life. Because every resident in this village has something in common: they’re all living with dementia. Globalnews.ca

Monday, May 8
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,583,350 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 7. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,419,114. (TSA)

6 injured at Colorado resort pool when HVAC system fell into pool
Six people were taken to the hospital after a collapse at a Gaylord Rockies pool Saturday morning. Aurora Fire Rescue Chief Alec Oughton said eight firefighters that were already at the resort for physical training responded around 9:50 a.m. after part of a HVAC system fell into a pool with around 50 to 100 people in it. 9 News

 

Delta flight to Amsterdam forced to land in Boston due to unruly passenger
A flight bound for Amsterdam made an unscheduled landing in Boston due to an unruly passenger on Friday, according to The Boston Globe. The Delta Air Lines flight, an Airbus A330-300, took off from Detroit destined for Amsterdam but was forced to land at Boston Logan International Airport before 9 p.m. because of the passenger, according to a Delta Air Lines statement to the Globe. Mass Live

 

Women ‘forced to change in public’ to board American Airlines flight
Two women claim they were forced to change their clothes in public “with no cover” to board an American Airlines flight. Passenger Chrissie Mayr tweeted about the incident, which she says happened at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Independent

 

Vietnam and Laos record hottest temperatures ever as heat wave grips Southeast Asia
Temperature records tumbled across Southeast Asia over the weekend as the region swelters under a weekslong heat wave that has brought misery to millions. All-time highs were recorded in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand’s capital, where the heat has been compounded by an intense smoggy season that has caused pollution levels to spike. Scientists have long warned that heat waves are set to get worse as the impacts of the human-caused climate crisis accelerate.  CNN

 

Delta joins an effort to kill the perimeter rule in DC
‘Tis the season to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Congress, and that means it’s time for all sorts of ideas to crawl out of the woodwork in hopes of being included in the bill. There are rarely new ideas but instead resurrected old ones. Today, I’ll focus on the latest effort to remove Washington National Airport’s perimeter rule, an effort that’s being backed by Delta. Cranky Flier

 

Bali considers big change for tourists to clean up image
Bali is considering a big change for arrivals on the holiday island, with a proposal to charge tourists up to $150 to enter now being mulled over by its government. The possibility of a ‘tourist tax’ has been speculated for years and resurfaced last month. Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno confirmed this week discussions between the government and President Joko Widodo were now underway after an initial study into the matter. Yahoo

 

I found a huge, hairy tarantula in my jeans after vacation
This guy was really buggin’ out — and rightfully so! A wave of dreadful shock surged through a man’s body as he unpacked his suitcase following a Mexico vacation to find a nearly 5-inch-long, furry tarantula in his jeans. “I let out a yelp!” confessed James Mugridge, 31, from England, to South West News Service. “It really was the last thing I was expecting.” NY Post

 

Hawaii’s new Monkeypod Kitchen will have one of Waikiki’s best views
Longtime Hawaii chef Peter Merriman is bringing a new restaurant to Waikiki. Though the space is undergoing renovations, one thing that won’t change is the incredible view. It’s one of the best in Waikiki. Merriman, one of the founding members of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, is opening another location of his Monkeypod Kitchen in the former Shore Bird Restaurant & Beach Bar space at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, a location that may be familiar to many visitors. The restaurant is right on the beach and will be a prime viewing spot for Waikiki’s Friday night fireworks display and nightly sunsets. SF Gate

 

Tourist boat capsizes in southern India, at least 20 dead
A double-decker boat carrying more than 30 passengers capsized off a beach in southern India on Sunday night, and more than 20 people including children died, local media reported. “The boat is being hauled ashore and more bodies are expected to be recovered from inside,” Sports Minister V Abdurahiman told the Press Trust of India news agency, adding that four people in critical condition were admitted to a hospital. AP News

 

Leaders express disappointment with changes to Canadian North airline
Northern leaders say they are disappointed with changes that allow Canadian North to increase prices and reduce flight service in remote communities, but the airline says it will be better able to meet demand. Ottawa announced late last month it had approved new terms and conditions for Canadian North’s merger with First Air. Those include permitting the airline to reduce community service to one flight per week and increase fares up to 25 per cent within a calendar year. CTV News

 

No more teal: Air New Zealand planes get a makeover
She’s a big job, giving a new look to eight Q300 aircraft, but the Airbus team in Blenheim are kitted out for it. Air New Zealand’s last aircraft in the teal blue Pacific Wave livery from the early 2000 will gain a new black and white paint job over the next four months. The teal was a nod to the airline’s 80-plus years of history, starting with the creation of what was then Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), that has since become Air New Zealand. Stuff NZ g