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):

=== Tuesday, September 15 ===

Qantas Is Retiring Its A380s. Is It Time to Say Goodbye to the Superjumbo?
Qantas plans to start retiring its 10 remaining Airbus A380s in 2028, four years earlier than previously expected, as maintenance and fuel costs continue to rise. The massive double-decker jet still has plenty of devoted fans, but this is another sign that the A380 era is slowly coming to an end. CNN

Dolly Parton’s New SongTeller Hotel Begins Soft Opening in Nashville
Dolly Parton’s new 245-room SongTeller Hotel is beginning its soft opening in Nashville. The hotel celebrates Parton’s music and career and includes two live-entertainment venues, including Jolene’s, a rooftop space featuring nightly performances from Nashville singers and songwriters. Fox 17

airBaltic Files for Chapter 11 but Says Flights Will Continue as Normal
Latvia’s national airline airBaltic has voluntarily initiated Chapter 11 proceedings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York as it works through a financial reorganization. The important news for travelers is that the airline says flights and customer services are continuing as normal. airBaltic

Cruise Passenger in Critical Condition Rescued 125 Miles Off Canadian Coast
A passenger aboard Celebrity Solstice was airlifted from the ship while it was about 125 miles off the coast of British Columbia. The Royal Canadian Air Force dispatched both a helicopter and an airplane for the early-morning rescue, and the passenger was taken to a hospital in critical condition. People

Amazon Suspends Cargo Carrier 21 Air After Fatal Miami Crash
Amazon has suspended its use of cargo airline 21 Air after an Amazon-branded aircraft crashed while landing in Miami earlier this month, killing five people. Amazon says the decision followed a review of circumstances surrounding the crash as the NTSB continues its investigation. NBC News

Traveler Sues Club Med After Alleged Shark Attack in Turks and Caicos
A U.S. traveler is suing Club Med after she says she was attacked by a shark while vacationing at Club Med Turkoise in Turks and Caicos. The woman alleges she suffered permanent nerve damage and severe scarring and claims a resort sailing instructor bears responsibility for what happened. The Independent

United Airlines Accused of Carrying Military Cargo on Passenger Flights
United Airlines is facing allegations that it transported military cargo aboard flights that were also carrying civilian passengers, raising questions about potential risks. The story draws comparisons to the history of civilian transportation being used to carry military supplies during wartime. Frommer’s

Wealthy Europeans Are Moving North as Temperatures Climb
As extreme summer heat becomes increasingly difficult to deal with in parts of southern Europe, some wealthy residents are looking north for cooler weather. The trend could have interesting implications for everything from real estate to where Europeans choose to vacation and spend their summers. The Wall Street Journal

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Undressing on American Airlines Flight
Police met an American Airlines flight arriving in Miami after reports that a female passenger had undressed and behaved indecently during the flight from Baltimore. The woman was arrested after the aircraft landed at Miami International Airport. New York Post

American Wanted in Texas Arrested in Phuket
Immigration officers in Phuket arrested a 48-year-old American man wanted in Texas in connection with an alleged 2022 domestic violence strangulation charge. Thai authorities reportedly tracked him down after receiving information from the U.S. Embassy. The Thaiger

How Southwest Came to Dominate Southern California
LAX gets most of the attention, but Southwest has quietly built an enormous presence across Southern California’s secondary airports over the past several decades. Cranky Flier digs into schedule data going all the way back to 1980 to show how Southwest became such a dominant player in the region. Cranky Flier

She Got Her First Passport at 91. Now, at 96, She’s About to Visit Her Seventh Continent
Here’s an inspiring one: Joy Ryan got her first passport at age 91 and, five years later, she’s preparing to visit her seventh continent. She and her grandson Brad have already traveled extensively together, including visiting all 63 U.S. national parks, proving once again that you’re never too old to start traveling. The Telegraph

=== Sunday, September 13 ===

Honoring the Flight Crews Who Died on 9/11, 25 Years Later
Twenty-five years later, the memories of September 11, 2001 remain incredibly vivid, especially for those who work in the travel industry. Cranky Flier pays tribute to the flight crews who lost their lives that day and makes sure their names and stories are not forgotten. Cranky Flier

25 Years After 9/11, TSA Is Rethinking Some Airport Security Rules
Airport security changed dramatically after 9/11, but some of those rules are now being reconsidered as threats evolve. TSA has recently eased certain procedures, including allowing some PreCheck passengers to access secure gate areas without a boarding pass with advance notice, while focusing more attention on emerging threats like drones, AI and cybersecurity. CNBC

Could Nashville International Airport Be Renamed for Dolly Parton?
Here’s something politicians on both sides in Nashville apparently agree on: honoring Dolly Parton. Officials are supporting the idea of renaming Nashville International Airport after the Tennessee icon, which would reportedly make her the first woman to have her name on one of America’s 50 busiest airports. CNN

FAA Meets With Airline CEOs About Plan to Reduce Flight Delays
Anything that can reduce flight delays has my attention. The FAA administrator met with CEOs of major U.S. airlines to discuss using advanced software to overhaul flight scheduling and improve how flights are managed across the country. Reuters

Hyatt Is Teaming Up With Delta and Ending Its Enhanced American Airlines Partnership
There’s a big shake-up in the loyalty world: Hyatt and Delta are launching a long-term partnership that will let eligible elite members earn rewards across both World of Hyatt and Delta SkyMiles. At the same time, Hyatt’s enhanced loyalty partnership with American Airlines is coming to an end. Travel Weekly

Air Traffic Controller Shortage Causes Cancellations and Delays at Sydney Airport
Travelers at Sydney Airport faced cancellations and major delays Friday morning because of an air traffic controller staffing shortage. Airservices Australia said it had to restrict traffic flows to safely manage demand, another reminder that ATC staffing problems aren’t just a U.S. issue. Reuters

JetBlue Forces Famous Surfer to Leave His Surfboard in a JFK Trash Can
Talk about a brutal way to end a trip. Ecuadorian surfer Jorge Sangachi reportedly had to abandon his surfboard at JFK after a ticket purchased through United was switched to JetBlue, which had a different policy for traveling with surfboards. Surfer

U.S. Diesel Prices Top $6 a Gallon for the First Time Ever
Here’s another reason everything seems to be getting more expensive: the national average for diesel has hit a record $6.05 a gallon, up more than 60% from $3.71 a year ago. Since diesel powers much of the trucking, rail, construction and farming industries, those higher costs could eventually make their way into the prices consumers pay. Reuters

Italian Airport Authorities Find Crocodile Head in Passenger’s Luggage
Here’s something you definitely don’t expect airport security to find in a suitcase. Authorities at Turin Airport discovered the head of an endangered crocodile in the luggage of a man arriving from Miami via Istanbul, and he is now under investigation. UPI

Princess Cruises Passenger Runs 7 Marathons in 7 Days
I thought I packed a lot into my recent Mediterranean cruise aboard Enchanted Princess, but this guy takes the cake. Paul Manson ran seven marathons in seven consecutive days during his cruise, mapping out routes in destinations including Rome, Naples and Sicily, then returning to the ship to recover before doing it all over again. People

Which Country Has the World’s Most Polite Tourists?
A new survey has ranked Japanese travelers as the world’s most polite tourists, followed by travelers from Norway and Switzerland. The survey also looked at other travel behaviors, including tipping, trying local food and how adventurous travelers are when they’re away from home. Euronews

This Is America’s Most Beautiful Hotel, According to Time Out
Time Out’s editors have ranked the most beautiful hotels around the world, and a New York City property came in fifth overall, making it their highest-ranked hotel in the United States. The list celebrates hotels that stand out for their architecture, design and memorable settings. Time Out

=== Thursday, September 10 ===

=== Tuesday, September 8 ===

Hurricane Lowell menaces Hawaii with strong winds and heavy rain
Hurricane Lowell is bearing down on western Hawaii with sustained winds near 110 mph, prompting a hurricane warning for Kauai and Niihau and a tropical storm warning for Oahu. Unlike Hurricane Lala’s August brush with the state, Lowell’s track puts the western islands more directly in its path, according to Travel Weekly.

Gas prices hit a Labor Day record
Drivers faced some serious sticker shock over the holiday weekend, with the national average for regular gasoline reaching $4.15 a gallon — the highest ever recorded for Labor Day. The upcoming switch to cheaper winter-blend fuel could provide some relief if oil prices cooperate, according to CNBC.

Trump calls for Bombardier plane ban, drawing GOP pushback
President Donald Trump called for Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier to be barred from selling planes in the U.S., escalating trade tensions as new Canadian tariffs on American goods took effect. Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas pushed back on the proposal; Bombardier’s U.S. headquarters is in his state, according to NBC News.

Miami airport lacks safety system for planes that overrun runways
Miami International Airport does not have an Engineered Material Arresting System, which uses crushable material beyond a runway to rapidly slow aircraft that overrun or veer off course. The technology is designed to reduce the risk of serious accidents when planes can’t stop within the normal runway area, according to NBC 6 South Florida.

Widespread flight delays hit London airports, including Heathrow
A technical problem disrupted flight departures across the U.K., including at London Heathrow, with some flights temporarily grounded. Britain’s National Air Traffic Service said engineers were working to resolve the issue and restore normal operations, according to NBC News.

Royal Caribbean cancels Alaska cruise after passengers board
Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas got an unwelcome surprise when their Alaska cruise was canceled after they had already boarded in Vancouver. Guests spent about two days aboard the ship before the cruise line scrapped the voyage because of a mechanical problem, according to USA Today.

Eiffel Tower closes as workers strike over treatment of female staff
The Eiffel Tower closed Monday as employees went on strike following allegations that female staff members were told to stay out of sight during a visit by roughly 100 members of the Hindu organization BAPS. The allegations quickly drew criticism from French politicians, according to CNN.

Drone and weather balloon cause hundreds of San Diego flight delays
Labor Day weekend travel got messy at San Diego International Airport after a drone and weather balloon were spotted near the airport Friday afternoon. The FAA temporarily halted arrivals and departures, leaving hundreds of flights delayed and some travelers waiting about two hours, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

United flight attendant catches baby slipping from sleeping mom’s lap
A United Airlines flight attendant is being praised for quickly catching a baby who was about to fall from an exhausted mother’s lap during a flight from Newark to Grand Rapids. Fellow passengers applauded Monique Harris for spotting the danger and reacting just in time, according to the New York Post.

How ‘Ted Lasso’ turned a London suburb into a tourist hotspot
Richmond-upon-Thames has long drawn visitors with its sprawling park, historic buildings and quintessential English charm, but “Ted Lasso” has given the London suburb a whole new fan base. Tourists are now flocking to locations associated with the fictional AFC Richmond and its relentlessly upbeat American coach, according to CNN.

Budget travelers get creative as vacation costs climb
Higher gas prices and sharply more expensive airfare aren’t keeping budget-conscious travelers home — they’re just changing how people vacation. From hostels to “mystery vacations,” travelers are finding creative ways to stretch their dollars even as much of the industry chases higher-spending luxury customers, according to CNBC.

How cash-paying shoppers help subsidize credit card rewards
Credit card swipe fees can work their way into retail prices, meaning even shoppers who pay with cash may end up covering part of the cost of lucrative card rewards. The National Retail Federation estimates those fees add more than $1,200 a year to the average household’s costs, while rewards-card users can offset some of that expense through points, cash back and travel perks, according to NBC News.