Airline fines and delays: The world didn’t end

by Tom Johansmeyer on

How many planes were stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours in May? You can count ’em on one hand: five. This is the second lowest result since the feds began monitoring this metric back in October 2008. A year earlier, 34 planes sat on the ground loaded with passengers for more than three hours, according to data from the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

May 2010 was the first full month in which the airlines faced stiff fines for keeping passengers out on the tarmac too long. Staying out there for more than three hours exposes carriers to fines of up to $27,500 per passenger.

Four of the five delays in May went to United Airlines on the same day and to the same destination: May 26, 2010 to Denver. They were diverted to Colorado Springs for weather-related reasons. The other delay belonged to Delta. There have been no fines yet, because the matters are still being investigated.The Air Transportation Association, which represents many of the top airlines in the country, says the positive results for May are the result of airline efforts to improve and good weather – not the threat of fines. The association says that declines in waits of more than three hours have been “in decline for over a year,” according to a USA Today report.

While the association claims these factors had a greater impact than the threat of fines, the steep year-over-year drop, the fact that there were only four in April and the plunge to current levels from 25 in March all suggest that the hefty costs associated with stranding passengers have all played a role.

Airline concerns that the new rule would lead to high rates of cancellation seem unfounded, as only 1.2 percent of flights were canceled in May 2010, a slight up-tick from 0.9 percent in May 2009.

Says Kate Hanni, director of FlyersRights.org, which advocated for the stricter rule: “I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so.”

Boston gets first luxury hotel for dogs

by Melanie Nayer on

The Boston hotel industry is going to the dogs. News from the Bay State is that Urban Hound Daycare will open later this month marking the city’s first luxury hotel for dogs.

The 8,500 square foot space will be located in a two-story building in Boston’s South End. Plans for the canine campground include a hospital grade air filtration system, high-tech drainage and flushing system, K-9 grass, an Urban Hound training classroom and luxury sleep suites.

The Urban Hound, founded in 2003, serves local Boston neighborhoods including Beacon Hill, the Back Bay, the South End and South Boston.

Now pet owners have no excuse for not traveling. The only question is whether or not your dog’s digs are better than yours.

D.C. area airports pet relief areas – fake fire hydrant included

by Scott Carmichael on

I am not a pet owner – so I never thought about the challenges involved in letting Fifi or Mr. Bigglesworth relieve themselves during a trip.

Apparently, the Washington D.C. airports did consider these challenges, because they just opened several designated pet relief areas.

At Dulles, two of these areas are actually inside the airport. Each of these fenced in areas has a fake fire hydrant, artificial grass and bag dispensers. To keep things clean, these locations also have special ventilation and a flushing system. Three other locations at Dulles are pre-secruity, outside the main terminal building.

At Reagan National, all the relief areas are outside the terminal buildings. They are located at Terminal A, B and C. A map of the locations can be found here. The relief areas were originally intended for service animals, but traveling pets are also welcome.

Yellowstone sets new record for visitors in June

by Kraig Becker on

It seems that the sluggish economy isn’t preventing Americans from traveling this summer, at least not to one of our favorite adventure destinations. The National Park Service announced earlier this week that more than 694,000 people visited Yellowstone in June, an increase of 7.9% from last year, and a continuation of a recent trend that has seen travelers flocking to the park.

In 2009, Yellowstone set an attendance record with nearly 3.3 million visitors making the trip to the America’s first national park. But it seems that mark is already in jeopardy in 2010, as every month this year, save May, has seen an increase in traffic. With July and August, the park’s two busiest months, still to come, it seems that the Park Service will have another very successful year on its hands.

With all of the spectacular natural beauty that is found in Yellowstone, it is easy to understand why it is so popular. The park is famous for its amazing mountain vistas, impressive waterfalls, sprawling canyons, and of course its geysers, with Old Faithful being the most famous of all the attractions. Yellowstone is also home to plenty of wildlife ranging from elk and bison to wolves and bear, making it one of the best places in all of North America to watch wild animals.

If you’re still undecided about where you want to travel to this summer, perhaps you’ll add Yellowstone to your itinerary. It’s a classic American destination, and a must see for any traveler.

[Photo credit: Daniel Mayer via Wikimedia Commons]

Discovery Cove plans new saltwater reef attraction in Orlando

by Leigh Caldwell on

SeaWorld Orlando’s Discovery Cove is known as the place where you can swim with the dolphins, but starting in 2011, visitors will be able to swim among sharks, tropical fish and other sea life, as well.

The theme park has not made an official announcement about the reef, but it did confirm the project to the Orlando Business Journal.

The 875,000-gallon saltwater reef project will also include a nature trail, so that visitors can interact with sea life while on dry land, too. Construction permits show that material costs for the project have already exceeded $17 million.

Discovery Cove’s marquee experience is semi-private time to swim and interact with a dolphin. In addition, the Orlando, Florida, park offers an aviary, beaches, a tropical reef and a lazy river.

The price tag for a day at Discovery Cove starts at $199, and all tickets are all-inclusive, which means all your food and drink and other amenities, such as towels, lockers, sunscreen, snorkeling equipment and parking are included.

Only 1,000 guests per day are allowed in Discovery Cove, so it’s essential that you make a reservation in advance.