Travel News You Can Use
By Judy Newell December 19, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Airline News Avoiding winter flight delays

Lots of us will be traveling during the holidays. Here are two tips on how to avoid flight delays related to winter weather. 

Fly early in the day—weather-related delays are like dominos: if a storm knocks one flight off schedule, all the others start falling behind. When the weather clears, that first flight will be first in line for take-off. 

Book “warm weather” connections—if given the choice of flying through Phoenix or Minneapolis in January, choose the Arizona city every time. Airport closures due to snow are rare in Phoenix. 

Aeroméxico spreads wings 

Aeroméxico has begun nonstop flights between Chicago and Morelia, Mexico. Initially, flights will be available four days a week with an increase to daily service for the holiday season (December 15—January 11). The airline also offers packages through Aeroméxico Vacations which include airfare, hotel and rental car. The new flights expand the airline’s current international service between Chicago and Mexico City or Guadalajara to three daily flights. 

Aeroméxico plans to inaugurate service between Toronto and San Francisco to Mexico City starting in February, followed in March by flights to Mexico City from Denver. Previously, the airline announced it was seeking additional international routes in order to increase their earnings.

Aeroméxico apparently owes 120 million pesos in airport use fees it has collected from passengers but not yet delivered to airport management. Those fees are 179 pesos for each domestic flight and 220 pesos for each international flight.

In all, Mexican airlines owe 1.6 billion pesos in airport fees, landing charges and bills for navigation services. Since five airlines have stopped flying and a sixth (Aviacsa) may do so soon, authorities have not pressed airline management for payment. 

British Airways confirms Qantas merger talks

In response to recent media speculation, British Airways (BA) has confirmed it is exploring a potential merger with Qantas Airways via a dual-listed company structure. Meanwhile, discussions between BA and Iberia are continuing. 

The talks are an example of the attempts of an industry seeking to consolidate in order to cut costs during the economic downturn. BA’s news follows the rejection by Aer Lingus of a fresh approach from rival Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair, and October’s move by Germany’s Lufthansa to become British BMI’s majority shareholder. 



Cruise News

Cruise ships skip Mumbai after terrorist siege

A number of cruise lines have changed planned calls in Mumbai, India, after the three-day terrorist siege that killed 188 people. Cruise lines affected include Royal Caribbean International, Oceania Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Azamara Cruises.

Carnival drops fuel surcharges 

Carnival Corporation announced that it will suspend fuel surcharges for sailings departing on or after December 17, on six of its brands: Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn. If you are outside the final payment period for one of these cruises, you’ll receive an onboard credit for the amount of the surcharge. If you’re within the final payment period, the surcharge will be taken off the final payment. 

Nautica outruns Somali piracy attempt

Oceania’s Nautica evaded gunshots during a piracy attempt November 30, in the Gulf of Aden near Somalia, where numerous other ships have been captured or threatened in recent months. In a statement, Oceania said the Nautica was transiting the Gulf of Aden when two skiffs attempted to intercept the vessel’s course.

Capt. Jurica Brajcic began evasive maneuvers and the Nautica was immediately brought to flank speed, outrunning the two skiffs. One of the skiffs did manage to get within 300 yards and fired eight rifle shots in the direction of the vessel before trailing off. No one aboard the Nautica was harmed and no damage was sustained. 

The Gulf of Aden is a dangerous region for ships—more than 120 vessels have been attacked in the last year, Newsweek reported in its December 8 issue. The danger has risen to the point that a maritime conference was held in Kenya to discuss piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Some cargo companies, including Maersk, have decided to avoid the Gulf of Aden and instead detour around the Cape of Good Hope.

Sources: Mexico Tourism News, Mexican Tourism Board, USA Today, Travel Pulse Daily, Fare Compare, OSSN 

Judy Newell heads the travel company Perfect Journeys that specializes in discounted rates for airfare, hotels, tours and cruises worldwide, as well as in luxury and adventure travel. Contact her with comments or suggestions at JudyNewell_03@msn.com  or go to her website www.PerfectJourneys.net.  

Electronic System for Travel Authorization
From the US Consulate, Guadalajara

The Department of Homeland Security plans to implement the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) on January 12, 2009. ESTA is a new system that will help determine eligibility to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Citizens and eligible nationals of VWP countries will apply online for an ESTA in advance of their flight and a determination of whether they are cleared to travel will be made in advance of boarding.

All citizens and eligible nationals of VWP countries who plan to travel to the US for temporary business or pleasure must apply for an ESTA once it is implemented. This includes every child, accompanied or not, regardless of age. Third parties such as relatives or travel agents may apply for an ESTA on behalf of the traveler. ESTA does not apply to Mexican citizens traveling on their Mexican passport.

Currently, citizens and eligible nationals of certain countries may travel to the US for business or tourism of less than 90 days without a visa. A decision whether VWP travelers may enter the US is made in customs at their port of entry. 

Citizens and eligible nationals with machine-readable passports from countries such as Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom must be cleared. For a complete list, go online to the Customs and Border Patrol website: www.cbp.gov/esta.

Eligible travelers may already begin to submit ESTA applications voluntarily. Once ESTA is implemented and there is a requirement to use ESTA, travelers are recommended to apply at least 72 hours in advance of their flight.

ESTA will automate VWP admission and eliminate the paper I-94W form travelers currently fill out at the port of entry. In addition, it adds an extra layer of security by preventing ineligible applicants from entering the US and, time permitting, allow them to apply for a visa before boarding rather than being detained and deported after arriving in the US.









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