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Obama signs ‘Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act’ into law

August 1, 2010 The Travel Trolley
President Obama last week signed into law the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act. According to USA Today, the new law “requires cruise lines to contact the FBI and the U.S. Coast Guard as soon as a suspicious death or assault of a passenger on a ship is reported.” “The term ‘duty free’ does not apply to the safety of passengers,” U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said in a statement. “Murky lines of jurisdiction are
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Travelocity: As temperatures climb, summer hotel rates fall

August 1, 2010 The Travel Trolley
A recent pricing report from Travelocity indicates cheap hotels are still available for summer travel, and while airfare for summer has risen slightly, hotel rates have decreased. On May 20, 2010, summer’s average domestic hotel rate was $140 and international hotel rate was $201, according to Travelocity. As of mid-July, average domestic hotel rates dropped to $131 and average international rates to $182. At the same time, the average domestic airfare rose in price from
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FAA: Mexico does not meet ICAO Safety standards

August 1, 2010 The Travel Trolley
Mexico is not in compliance with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Federal Aviation Administration contends, and Mexican airlines cannot establish new service to the United States, at least for now. The agency made the announcement following “an assessment of the country’s civil aviation authority,” it said. As a result, the United States is downgrading Mexico from a Category 1 to Category 2 rating, and with the Category 2
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House approves airline safety provisions

July 31, 2010 The Travel Trolley
The U.S. House of Representatives this week agreed to a short-term extension of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs that include airline safety and pilot training provisions. The extension is the 15th extension. Airline safety and pilot training provisions in the FAA extension include: Establishes consolidated database of pilot records for hiring decisions Addresses pilot fatigue concerns within 90 days of enactment Requires prescreening standards for pilots to ensure only the best applicants are hired Requires
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UPDATE: DOT fines Comair for violating ‘bumped passenger’ rules

July 27, 2010 The Travel Trolley
ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Transportation this week fined Comair $275,000 “for violating federal rules regarding passengers denied boarding” – better known as bumped passengers – “on oversold flights.” “Our bumping rules are designed to protect passengers when airlines overbook a flight,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “We expect carriers to comply with these rules and will take enforcement action when they do not.” The DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office opened
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DOT fines Comair for violating ‘bumped passenger’ rules

July 27, 2010 The Travel Trolley
ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Transportation this week fined Comair $275,000 “for violating federal rules regarding passengers denied boarding” — better known as bumped passengers — “on oversold flights.” “Our bumping rules are designed to protect passengers when airlines overbook a flight,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “We expect carriers to comply with these rules and will take enforcement action when they do not.” The DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office opened an
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‘Ticket frenzy’ email said to be a hoax

July 23, 2010 The Travel Trolley
An email claiming that “a 30 day speeding ticket frenzy” kicks off Aug. 1 is really a hoax, according to Georgia authorities. “Starting Aug 1, Georgia will launch a 30 day speeding ticket frenzy,” the email reads. “The state estimates that 9 million dollars will be generated in speeding tickets. 1 million will go to pay state troopers’ overtime. The rest to help with dwindling budgets.” Local media confirmed the “ticket frenzy,” the email claims.