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):

Saturday, June 3
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,463,873 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, June 2. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,623,947. (TSA)

 

Asiana flight attendant’s struggle during door open incident sparks calls in South Korea to ditch skirts 
Calls are growing in South Korea for airline companies to allow and encourage female cabin crew members to wear trousers for their benefit and convenience in their in-flight safety duties after a viral image showed an Asiana Airlines flight attendant wearing a skirt, which was then criticised as not practical after a recent in-flight incident. On May 26, a male passenger in his 30s allegedly opened an emergency exit of an Asiana plane 213m above the ground just before landing at Daegu International Airport. He told police that he felt suffocated and wanted to get off the plane. South China Morning Post

 

This airline just released reservations for the first-ever commercial electric plane flight
Flyers just got one step closer to greener air travel. This morning, Scandinavian Airlines (more commonly known as SAS) opened bookings aboard its first electric planes—the 30-seat ES-30 model, developed in partnership with Heart Aerospace—which will take to the skies in 2028. The announcement marks the first time that commercial passengers can reserve a seat on fuel-free flights. Conde Nast Traveler

 

Tropical Storm Arlene, 1st of season, forms in Gulf of Mexico
Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed Friday in the Gulf of Mexico on a track taking the cyclone south toward the western tip of Cuba. National Hurricane Center forecasters said in a 1:30 p.m. advisory that Arlene had sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was located about 265 miles (425 kilometers) west of Fort Myers, Florida. It’s moving south at about 5 mph (7 kph). AP

 

India train crash death toll rises above 230 with 900 injured as rescuers comb through debris
Rescuers waded through piles of debris and wreckage to pull out bodies and free people after two passenger trains derailed Friday night in India, killing more than 230 people and leaving hundreds of others trapped inside more than a dozen mangled rail cars, in one of the country’s deadliest train crashes in decades. AP

 

A nurse and her boyfriend got high fives from other Southwest Airlines passengers after they saved a man’s life on a flight

A nurse and her boyfriend saved a man’s life on a flight back home to Baltimore from a vacation in the Bahamas, CBS Baltimore’s Stephon Dingle reports.

Emily Raines, an acute care nurse at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, was on Southwest Flight 553 when she and her boyfriend heard a call from a flight attendant for anyone with medical experience on the plane — a fellow passenger was experiencing a medical emergency. Yahoo

 

NYC women are wearing ‘subway shirts’ this summer so men don’t bother them
Grace Masingale (@ideal.grace), a New York City resident working in vintage luxury and fashion, shared a TikTok of a new trend that’s helping subway riders feel more comfortable when getting unwanted attention: Enter the “subway shirt.”  Reports of assault on New York City subways have risen over the past year, and Masingale shared how she tries to protect herself when riding on the subway from “strange men” by wearing a long, oversized button-down shirt over her outfit, despite it being 85 degrees outside. In The Know

 

Denver Nuggets’ Rocky Tops List of Highest-Paid NBA Mascots
Being an NBA mascot can be a pretty lucrative gig. A report from Sports Business Journal revealed just how much money those in the mascot industry make, and it’s a rather large amount. The highest earner among the NBA’s 30 mascots is that of the Nuggets. Their mountain lion mascot, Rocky, reportedly collects a cool $625,000 annually. The list’s next highest earner is the Hawks’ mascot, Harry the Hawk. The bright red hawk gets paid a handsome $600,000 each year, just ahead of the third-highest earner, Chicago’s Benny the Bull, who collects $400,000 annually. cbs4indy.com

 

How begpackers became some of the world’s least popular tourists
When Hong Kong resident Ashley James first started seeing “begpackers” on the streets of his city in spring of 2023, he had two simultaneous thoughts: leisure tourism had returned to Asia, and it was time to make some memes about it. James, a comedian, is one of the posters behind the Instagram page Chaotic Hong Kong Expats. He shared a picture of a tourist sitting on a busy road with a cup of change and a sign in front of them and wrote “nature is healing, begpackers are back.” CNN

 

Flight attendant shares view of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour from a plane
Taylor Swift performed at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, over the weekend. The stadium sits near Newark Airport, so planes flew over it as Swift performed. A flight attendant shared a TikTok video showing an aerial view of the show. Insider

 

Taylor Swift Adds International Eras Tour’Dates
Taylor Swift shared the first round of international tour stops for her Eras Tour on Friday morning. Swift will play three dates in Mexico’s Foro Sol stadium starting Aug. 24 and will also run through Argentina and Brazil, with a closing show on Nov. 26 in São Paulo, Brazil at Allianz Parque. The Latin American dates will see support for pop singer Sabrina Carpenter. Variety

 

The plastic road to Everest Base Camp
It’s pitch black, just after 5 a.m., and my fingers and toes already feel frozen. I am wearing every layer I brought to Nepal, but the early morning Himalayan chill is still seeping through my clothes. Everything is quiet except for the heavy breathing of trekkers behind me and the ice crunching beneath our boots. A fresh blanket of snow covers the ground, glittering as shards of ice reflect the light of my headlamp, revealing what looks like a starry night sky beneath my feet. My eyes are fixed on the path ahead as I carefully follow in the footsteps of Kami Sherpa, one of our guides. We are ascending Kala Patthar, an 18,519-foot peak in the Everest region. Canadian Geographic

Friday, June 2
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,463,873 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, June 1. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,623,947. (TSA)

Spirit Airlines technical issues delay about 60% of flights
Nearly 60% of Spirit Airlines flights were delayed Thursday, according to FlightAware, after technical issues with the airline’s website, app and airport kiosks, but the airline says the problems have been resolved. Spirit Airlines announced the technical issues before 9 a.m. A little after 3 p.m., almost 500 Spirit flights were delayed, according to FlightAware. Forty-two flights have been canceled. CNN

 

Southwest Airlines CEO sees industry-wide pilot shortage persisting for three years
Southwest Airlines Co CEO Bob Jordan said on Thursday that an industry-wide shortage of pilots is expected to last for three years due to the challenges carriers face in training new aviators. Jordan, speaking at the Bernstein Conference, said the Dallas-based airline has about 40 planes that it currently cannot fly because of pilot constraints. Reuters

 

Maryland travelers can clear TSA with Mobile ID in Google Wallet
Among their newest efforts to make air travel a little easier, TSA will now accept mobile IDs in Google Wallet on Android, starting with passengers from Maryland who have TSA Pre. That’s a lot of conditions, but it’s a first step in the right direction towards making the process of going through security more efficient by accepting new forms of mobile identification. Travelers with a Maryland-issued mobile driver’s license or ID card saved in Google wallet can now use this digital feature at checkpoints for identity verification at 25 participating airports. Timeout

 

Passenger traffic at Italian airports exceeds pre-COVID levels for first time
Monthly passenger traffic at Italian airports surpassed the pre-pandemic levels for the first time in April, the Italian airport operators association Assaeroporti said on Wednesday. Last month the number of passengers at Italian airports rose to 16.5 million, a 2.5% increase compared with April 2019. Reuters

Another tourist accidentally drove their car into deep water in Hawaii after following GPS directions
A driver following GPS directions accidentally drove into deep water at a Hawaii harbor. At first, she thought the harbor was just a big puddle, per Hawaii News Now. This is the second GPS-related incident to occur at the same harbor in the space of a month. Insider

 

Bed bugs found at HNL airport, cleaning efforts begin
Deep cleaning is underway at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport after bed bugs were found on Monday, May 29. According to the Department of Transportation, the critters are in gates E-5, 6 and 7. These gates are located in Terminal 2. KHON2

 

Princess Cruises offering sailings under $100 per day, up to 40% off cruise fares
The summer travel season may have arrived, but there are still deals to be found: Princess Cruises is running two new offers beginning Thursday, including discounted fares and reduced deposits. The cruise line is offering up to 40% off fares for select sailings in Alaska, the Caribbean, the California coast, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe and more. Princess is also selling hundreds of itineraries for less than $100 per day in destinations around the world. USA Today

 

This sunny California town was the cloudiest spot in America’s Lower 48 in May
When you think of the Southern California beaches in the weeks approaching summer, visions of blue skies and warm sand stretching along endless miles of sun-kissed beaches probably come to mind. So you might find it a bit shocking that San Diego was the cloudiest city in the Lower 48 in May, and northern neighbor Los Angeles wasn’t too far behind. Fox Weather

 

Airbnb sues New York City over short-term rental restrictions
Airbnb Inc (ABNB.O) on Thursday filed a lawsuit against New York City over a new law it called a “de facto ban” against short-term rentals set to go into effect in July, which the company says will limit the number of people who can host rentals in the city. Reuters

 

Delta developing first-of-its-kind airplane seat for wheelchair users
UK-based consortium Air 4 All has partnered with Delta Flight Products to create a cabin concept that allows wheelchair users to fly in their own chairs. The design involves removing the back cushion and flipping up the seat to accommodate a wheelchair. A working prototype with make its debut at the Aircraft Interiors Expo on June 6 but the seat still needs to be certified and tested. Insider

 

Americans’ summer vacation travel spend to reach record level
Despite cost of living worries and high airfares, Americans are showing no signs of slowing down on spending on their summer vacations. For the first time in Allianz Partners USA‘s annual Vacation Confidence Index, Americans’ total spend on summer vacations is likely to cross the $200 billion mark. It projects a spending total of about $214 billion. The figure represents around a 10% increase over 2022, and a huge 111% increase compared to pre-pandemic spending in 2019. Travelmole

Thursday, June 1
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,255,052 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 31. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,370,152. (TSA)

Senators want FAA to look into airplane seat sizes again
Two Senate Democrats want the Biden administration to take another look at whether airplane seats are too cramped. The pressure – in the form of legislation from Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Tammy Baldwin – would require the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct new airplane cabin evacuation tests with more realistic conditions, and issue standards that include the size of and space between seats. They’re concerned about safe evacuation in an emergency. But the issue of seat size is near and dear to travelers frustrated with wedging into tight coach seats. CNN Politics

 

American says it will appeal ruling on its Northeast Alliance with JetBlue
American Airlines said Wednesday it will appeal a court decision that would force the airline to break up its partnership with JetBlue Airways in the Northeast. American and JetBlue face a late-June deadline to end the agreement in which they coordinate flights and share revenue. The Justice Department sued to block the alliance, and a federal judge ruled last week that the partnership violates antitrust law. Travel Weekly

 

Singapore Airlines unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi free for all
Singapore Airlines is expanding free unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi across all cabin classes. From 1 July it includes all Premium Economy Class and Economy Class customers. It will be available virtually across the entire aircraft fleet and almost the entire route network.  Travelmole

 

Global airlines group to boost focus on non-CO2 emissions
Global airlines are setting up a task force to deal with non-carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, stepping up efforts to tackle cloudy streaks formed by aircraft known as contrails, an environmental threat that until now. Reuters

 

Southern California hotel workers to vote on strike authorization
A union is asking 15,000 workers at hotels in Los Angeles and Orange counties to authorize a strike during the height of tourist season. Unite Here Local 11 said contracts are expiring June 30 at 62 Southern California hotels, including luxury stays such as the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles, the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica and the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. Los Angeles Times

 

UK castle could be yours for $37,000, but there’s a catch
A sprawling Scottish castle is on sale for offers over £30,000 ($37,000), but there is a catch; its current owners estimate that it requires an additional £12 million ($14.8 million) for restoration. Situated on Fetlar, the fourth largest of the Shetland Islands, Brough Lodge is in one of the most remote parts of the UK. CNN

 

Southwest Airlines forecasts strong full-year profit
Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) said on Thursday it continues to expect a strong adjusted profit for the full year as travelers fly more for leisure, leading to more ticket sales. Reuters

 

Norse Atlantic launches ticket sales for Miami flights
Scandinavian carrier today Norse Atlantic Airways has opened bookings for nonstop Miami flights from London Gatwick. The route will operate four times a week throughout the winter season from 18 September. “Miami has high levels of passenger demand with both direct and connecting traffic volumes greater than other airports in the region,” said Bjorn Tore Larsen, Norse Atlantic CEO.  Travelmole

 

Sea-Tac Airport parking rates going up more than 30%
Sea-Tac Airport parking garage rates are going up by more than 30% to $8 an hour, starting this Thursday. Airport officials said the increase will help “maintain fair market rates, support ongoing garage maintenance and customer service investments and keep pace with inflation and local tax increases.” Premium parking on the 4th floor will be $10 an hour. MyNorthwest.com

 

Notre Dame’s fire-ravaged roof rebuilt using medieval techniques
If time travel was possible, medieval carpenters would surely be amazed to see how woodworking techniques they pioneered in building Notre Dame Cathedral more than 800 years ago are being used again today to rebuild the world-famous monument’s fire-ravaged roof. AP News

 

What causes the May gray/June gloom that stubbornly blocks the sun for days in Southern California?
Sunny Southern California has not been so sunny lately, with gray skies casting a dreary shroud over the region. What causes the stubborn low clouds that muscle out the sunshine day after day? To start with, the cloud cover is a function of the season. In May and June, the upper atmosphere is more stagnant. Troughs of low pressure, the kind that brings rain in winter, still pass over the region but are much weaker. At the same time, the sun’s angle is higher and more direct. It heats the land and air, but the ocean remains cool, because water absorbs heat. LA Times

 

Wednesday, May 31
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,342,489 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 30. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,247,421. (TSA)

Southwest is selling a $200 sweatsuit that comes with $350 in flight credits
Recent decades of airport attire have not been the pinnacle of fashion or style—remember when people were dressing up for their flights back in the 1970s and smoking! on! airplanes!? I think it’s probably for the best that smoking on airplanes is a thing of the past, but I do think we can embrace the idea of looking fabulous for our flights. I just think the definition of fabulous needs to shift. Instead of furs, plaid blazers, corduroy bell bottoms, and knee-high snakeskin boots, ultra soft fabrics and luxurious comfort should be prioritized. Thrillist

 

Delta Air Lines hit with lawsuit over claims of carbon neutrality
A consumer class action lawsuit filed Tuesday claims Delta Air Lines inaccurately billed itself as the world’s “first carbon-neutral airline” and should pay damages. The complaint in federal court in California alleges the airline relied on carbon offsets that were largely bogus. Companies around the world buy carbon credits to cancel out their carbon releases with projects that promise to absorb carbon dioxide out of the air, or prevent pollution that would’ve happened. But they’ve been under the spotlight in recent months with claims their benefits are exaggerated. Detroit News

 

Lawmakers want to add more direct flights from Los Angeles to Washington D.C.’s Reagan Airport
If you’ve ever tried to fly from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., you may have noticed there’s a surprising lack of direct flight options between two of the nation’s most populous cities. It turns out, that’s intentional, and several local organizations, with the help of some lawmakers, want to change that — with or without the local airport authority’s cooperation. In the 1960s, Congress enacted a specific set of rules that limited travel to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), then known simply as Washington National Airport. KTLA

 

Violent brawl at amusement park results in cops hurt, teens arrested
Police in Illinois broke up a large fight on at an amusement park on Monday night, resulting in six teens being arrested. Gurnee police officers and other law enforcement agencies were called to Six Flags Great America at around 7:15 to break up a fight that was near the front gates, according to FOX 32. The fight began between two groups and spread into the amusement park’s parking lot, witnesses said. Fox News

 

British man dies in Greece ‘after being struck by lightning paddleboarding’
An investigation has been launched into the death of a British man who was reportedly struck by lightning while paddleboarding in Greece. The unnamed man was in the sea off the beach in Agia Agathi, Rhodes, as his girlfriend filmed him from the beach, according to local media. The port authority of Rhodes confirmed to the PA news agency the man was 26 and a British national but would give no further information. The Guardian

 

Woman almost misses flight because of glamorous passport photo
A traveller was ‘humbled’ after she almost wasn’t let on her flight because she didn’t look anything like her passport photo. Alisha Marie’s very casual no-makeup look bore little resemblance to her glamorous passport picture – so much so the agent didn’t believe it was the same person. The 30-year-old laughed as she warned others to think twice before putting on too much makeup when getting their passport photo taken. Daily Mail

 

Train status: Delayed. Amtrak’s new Acela fleet not ready for service just yet.
Amtrak’s new Acela trains are already years late. The new trains were supposed to enter service in 2021, and the railroad says the delay is because testing isn’t going smoothly. “We want our customers to experience these new train sets as soon as possible, but Amtrak cannot operate them for passenger service until Alstom has completed testing and meet all safety requirements,” an Amtrak spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Based on currently available data from Alstom, the initial revenue launch is anticipated to be delayed to 2024.” USA Today

 

Passengers flock to cruise ships as pandemic fears abate
Americans are booking trips on cruise ships at rates not seen since before the pandemic, a sign travelers are more comfortable boarding vessels that were once vectors for coronavirus. Florida-based Royal Caribbean said earlier this month that the load factor, or percentage of seats filled, of its cruise ships rose to an average of 102% in the first quarter of 2023. By comparison, the occupancy rate was 57% a year ago and 107% in 2019 just before pandemic lockdowns. CBS News

 

Carnival cruise passenger goes overboard
“He was reported missing by his companion late Monday afternoon and an initial review of closed circuit security footage confirms that he leaned over the railing of his stateroom balcony and dropped into the water at approximately 4:10 a.m. Monday,” a Carnival spokesperson said in an emailed statement. USA Today

 

Venice authorities discover why canal turned fluorescent green
A mysterious patch of fluorescent green water that appeared in Venice’s famed Grand Canal Sunday was caused by a chemical commonly used in underwater construction to help identify leaks, environmental authorities say. The chemical – fluorescein – is non-toxic. It remains unclear how the substance ended up in the canal, but the Regional Agency for the Environment in Venice (ARPAV) said given the volume released it was unlikely to be an accident. CNN

 

Woman won’t get off phone, spits on plane passenger: feds
An American Airlines passenger prevented a plane from taking off — forcing others to reschedule their flights — after she was asked to get off her phone, federal prosecutors said. The woman refused the flight attendants’ request, which made her “irate” as the plane heading to Chicago was departing from Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York on April 19, 2022, according to court documents.  Miami Herald

 

Tuesday, May 30
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,577,437 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 29. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,499,002. (TSA)

U.S. holiday air passenger travel tops 2019 pre-COVID levels
U.S. holiday air passenger travel topped 2019 pre-COVID levels over the Memorial Day weekend, which typically marks the start of the busy U.S. summer air travel season, figures from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) showed on Tuesday. The TSA said nearly 9.8 million passengers were screened or passed though security checks over the four-day weekend, about 300,000 more than over the same holiday period in 2019, the agency said on Tuesday. Reuters

 

A sign of things to come? Flight cancellations spark fears of another summer of travel chaos
British Aiways chaos during the bank holiday weekend has led to concerns that the travel industry isn’t ready for a busy summer of travel. Friday was the busiest day for UK air travel since 2019. If Heathrow airport is anything to go by, the industry isn’t ready to give passengers a stress-free experience. British Airways (BA) cancelled dozens of flights at Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, on Friday. This led to the knock-on effect of delays lasting into the weekend. Euronews

 

Why this airline has started weighing passengers
Social media caught fire over the weekend with reports that Air New Zealand was now weighing passengers, with scales at the departure gates recording how many kilos they’re carrying in bodyweight as well as luggage. So what’s behind it all? The Kiwi carrier says it’s actually a requirement by the country’s Civil Aviation Authority, and extends to everything which is going onto the plane: passenger, luggage, cargo, meals and more. Executive Traveler

 

Coast Guard calls off search for recent graduate
The U.S. Coast Guard has ended their search for a Louisiana teenager who fell overboard from a sunset cruise in the Bahamas on Wednesday night. Cameron Robbins, 18, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was staying at the Atlantis Paradise resort in Nassau with other teenagers to celebrate their recent high school graduation, WBRZ reported. Robbins had just graduated from University Lab School a few days earlier. USA Today

 

California nurse seriously injured while vacationing in Costa Rica
A nurse from Mission Viejo was seriously injured by a falling tree branch while vacationing in Costa Rica over Memorial Day weekend. Deanne Niedziela was on a waterfall hike with her husband when the tree limb fell on her. She suffered a major spine injury that could leave her paralyzed, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help with the costs of getting Niedziela home. The transport is estimated to cost up to $100,000, according to the post. KTLA

 

A Maine state trooper shot at a truck approaching the US-Canada border with a sign indicating …
A Maine state trooper shot at a man’s truck as he drove toward the Canadian border and refused to stop after the trooper observed a sign on the vehicle indicating the driver had an explosive inside, police say. The trooper first tried to stop the vehicle as it was heading north on Interstate 95 at around 10:39 a.m. Monday in Houlton, Maine, according to a statement from Maine State Police. The statement did not say why the trooper initially attempted to stop the truck. CNN

 

Several Disneyland Resort attractions to close for refurbishment in July
Guests visiting the “Happiest Place on Earth” in July won’t be able to enjoy several classic rides and attractions due to scheduled refurbishments. Beginning on July 5, Alice in Wonderland, Soarin’ Around the World and the Disneyland Monorail will be closed to park guests, according to the Disneyland calendar. The resort hasn’t provided a specific reopening date for the attractions. KTLA

 

US Travel addresses gun violence
On a day when a toddler was shot in the head by a stray bullet while playing outside at daycare in Utah – just another day in the life of a country where gun violence has claimed nearly 17,000 lives in the first half of 2023 alone – the US Travel Association gamely tackled the issue of gun violence in America at last week’s IPW travel trade event in San Antonio. Travel Industry Today

 

Don Bateman saved more lives than anyone in aviation history
As late as the 1970s, the most common type of fatal aviation accident happened when a pilot in full control of the aircraft, but flying in poor visibility conditions or at night, lost awareness of the plane’s position and unwittingly either landed short of the runway or flew straight into a mountain. Such accidents on commercial jets are very rare now, thanks to the work of Don Bateman. The Seattle Times

 

Lufthansa Group acquires the worst airline ever
I can’t remember the first time I heard a rumor that Lufthansa was interested in buying Alitalia… ages ago to be sure. But this long-lived rumor has now become reality. Lufthansa will buy a chunk of Alitalia’s successor, ITA, to ensure that it remains the Worst Airline Ever for years to come. As an added bonus, Lufthansa can now share in the airline’s losses year-in and year-out. Cranky Flier

A European startup airline said it bought an Airbus A380 to fly across the Atlantic
European startup carrier Global Airlines has purchased its first plane — the Airbus A380 superjumbo. The carrier plans to equip the plane with “approximately” 471 seats and fly between the US and UK. The plan differs from many other carriers that have been actively retiring the A380 due to high costs. Business Insider

 

Monday, May 29
Yesterday’s TSA checkpoint numbers
TSA officers screened 2,257,766 people at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, May 28. Four years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,555,578. (TSA)

 

Cruise ships reach capacity as demands surges
Americans are flooding back to cruise ships this summer as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line said their occupancy rates went above a hundred percent. Passengers are being advised to book travel as far as a year in advance. NBC News

Venice authorities investigate after Grand Canal turns fluorescent green near Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy
Venetian authorities are investigating after a patch of fluorescent green water appeared in the famed Grand Canal on Sunday morning, CNN reported. “This morning a patch of phosphorescent green liquid appeared in the Grand Canal of Venice, reported by some residents near the Rialto Bridge. The prefect has called an urgent meeting with the police to investigate the origin of the liquid,” Veneto regional president Luca Zaia wrote on Twitter. ABC7 New York

 

Passengers aboard Carnival Sunshine describe ‘nightmare’ sailing into Charleston in storm
Several people who cruised on the ship shared on Facebook photos and videos of “horrific” conditions they endured on what was supposed to be a peaceful holiday vacation. For one couple, the start of their engagement and first-ever cruise was described as a nightmare. WCIV

 

4 dead after tourist boat capsizes in storm on Italian lake
A body was retrieved early Monday in a northern Italian lake by police divers, raising to four the final death toll in the capsizing of a tourist boat a day earlier during a sudden, violent storm that included a whirlwind. Two bodies had been recovered by firefighter divers on Sunday evening, while the fourth victim had died shortly after being rescued following the capsizing of the houseboat, which the owners used as a tour vessel to take visitors around Lake Maggiore, police said. AP

 

Asiana Airlines to stop selling seats near emergency exit on Airbus A321s
Asiana Airlineswill no longer sell tickets for certain emergency exit seats of its Airbus A321-200 aircraft, the airline said Sunday, following a recent incident in which a man allegedly opened a jetliner door during a flight. The seats are number 26A on 174-seat A321s and number 31A on 195-seat models, the airline said in a statement. The seats are near the center of the plane, closest to the doors on the left-hand side of the single-aisle aircraft. CNN

 

U.S. Coast Guard airlifts 3-year-old girl from cruise ship
The United States Coast Guard rescued a 3-year-old girl from a moving cruise ship, about 90 miles off the Santa Barbara coast on Wednesday. Around 2 p.m., Los Angeles Coast Guard personnel responded to reports of a young girl on the Emerald Princess cruise ship who was suffering seizure-like symptoms and needed to be evacuated from the ship, according to a USCG press release. KTLA

 

Influencer couple’s airplane etiquette about overhead baggage leaves fellow fliers divided
A couple have left the internet divided after sharing their airplane etiquette for fellow travelers to follow. Travel influencers Matt and Hillary, behind TikTok account @HillnPoo, posted a video telling passengers not to stow their coats and jackets in the overhead baggage area. Instead, they argue, travellers should hang their coats on the hooks provided, or lay their jackets across their lap. Daily Mail

 

Spain travel warning as flash flooding turns streets into rivers in popular holiday spots
Areas of Spain have been hit with periods of heavy rain in recent days that have resulted in flash floods. Popular holiday spots have been impacted as Madrid, the capital of Murcia, has experienced dramatic weather as well as Valencia where it had not rained significantly in months. Daily Record

 

These 20 US airports had the worst delays last summer
Last summer, 22.9% of scheduled US flights arrived more than 15 minutes late at their destination. During the summer of 2019, 18.2% of flights were delayed, only marginally better than in 2022. Airports in New York and Orlando tend to record a high percentage of delays regardless of the year. Business Insider

 

Flight etiquette should be known by all, including not wearing pajamas on board
An etiquette expert based in Florida is sharing actions that people should never take while traveling on a flight — including wearing pajamas, eating seafood and holding up others in the aisle while loading bags in the overhead bins. Jackie Vernon Thompson, 53, of Sunrise, Florida, said that traveling on an airplane can be complex when it comes to etiquette because there are unspoken rules to follow — and many people get it wrong. Fox News

 

Why more brides are opting for solo bachelorette trips
Some brides are bucking tradition and trading tiaras, sashes and bar hopping in major cities with their friends in favor of a more subdued celebration, alone. Aja Dang-Puspos arrived to champagne and strawberries at her bachelorette celebration in July 2022 at the Civana Wellness Resort and Spa in Carefree, Ariz. Her meticulously planned itinerary for the week included spa treatments, healing work featuring a sound bath and reiki, and plenty of resort activities, such as water aerobics and pickleball. The New York Times