April 13, 2022 Greetings! It's been a busy week in the travel industry and it's only going to get busier as summer travel nears. The biggest topic today is the breaking news that the CDC is reportedly extending the federal mask mandate. Here's what you need to know.
Today's Travel Tip
If an Airline Severely Delays or Cancels Your Flight, Are They Obligated to Cover Your Hotel Accommodations?
In response to my story JetBlue Falls from Grace After Horrendous Customer Service, Lies and the Gall of Their Spirit Airlines Bid, I received a question from follower Meg R. on Twitter asking me: “Per DOT rules, don’t they owe pax refunds if the airline cancels? Of course, pax need to know and insist.” If you read the story above, you can tell that along with thousands of others, I’m really ticked off at JetBlue and the other airlines for not being able to manage their operations lately, even though they received billions of dollars from the government to do so. And then there’s the fact that they were blaming the weather, when in reality, that was just a small part of a bigger problem. The real problem is not enough staff. I believe that JetBlue and other airlines are blaming the weather so they don’t have to cover hotel stays. To add insult to injury, a few days earlier, JetBlue made a $3.6 billion bid to buy Spirit Airlines, while stranding thousands without accommodations. Here’s what Meg R and other concerned travelers need to know.
VIDEO: Passenger Does Laundry Mid-Flight at Her Seat – What’s the Craziest Thing You’ve Seen?
Now, I've seen a lot of crazy things in my time up in the air and I'm sure you have, too. But this one you really do have to see to believe. Watch the crazy video here.
Why You Shouldn’t Pay Extra for American Airlines' Preferred Seats
Almost every traveler will tell you, legroom in coach is getting tighter and tighter. The airlines have started squeezing more seats into planes to make more money and the result is less room for you. But don’t get suckered into paying extra for a “Preferred Seat” on American Airlines. Here’s why.
Video: Cops Pull Over a Driverless Car in San Francisco and it’s Hilarious
This weekend, Twitter user Seth Weintraub posted a unique video with the caption: “Welcome to the future. Cop pulls over driverless car (because no lights?) Then Cruise goes on the lamb.” Here's the video.
Hotel Review: 14 Reasons to Stay at Town and Country in San Diego
My family and I took a mini getaway last week to San Diego. We took the kids to the newly opened Sesame Place theme park (more on that in the coming days) and stayed at a family-friendly resort in San Diego called Town and Country. It was a pleasant surprise for a number of reasons. Read our review here.
Travel Product of the Week
Universal Plug
Planning an international trip? Well, if you read last week's tip on how to figure out which electrical adaptor you need, then you know one of the many items, I always keep in my carry-on bag is a universal plug. They're only $11 and will save you a lot of aggravation. Here's the one I recommend. | 