Source & Copyrights: The Daily Beast

Although airplane travel is the safest mode of transportation, and America arguably has the safest air traffic system in the world, there are differences worth noting for the millions of global travelers who will fly a U.S.-based airline this summer. Incidents, and accidents, do happen!

The Daily Beast ranks America’s most dangerous airlines and U.S. Airways and JetBlue came in near the top, while Delta, United and Continental came in at the bottom.

See the results and read more at: America’s Most Dangerous Airlines

Read more at: Most Travel Insurance Companies Covering Travelers Affected by Iceland Volcano Eruption Says US Travel Insurance Association

Update:
We just read this post on a UK-based website that Co-operative Bank will honor travel insurance claims for volcano ash. Here’s what the post says:

The Co-operative Insurance said its travel insurance customers will be covered on an ex gratia basis, subject to standard policy limits. “Although the volcanic eruption would not be ordinarily covered under The Co-operative Insurance’s travel policy, as a customer centric organisation we have taken the decision to honour any customer claims on an ex gratia basis for the delay or cancellation of flights and/or accommodation,” said a statement issued by the insurer. “We would also advise customers to contact their flight provider or travel agent directly.”

Customers with a Co-operative Bank or smile packaged current account have been told they will also be covered for their travel insurance on a similar ex gratia basis.

Read more at: Travel insurers to honour volcano ash claims

Also read: Direct Travel Insurance to Pay Claims for Travellers Impacted By Volcanic Ash Cloud

Original Post:

Source: dailymail.co.uk

We all know how much chaos the Iceland volcano has created in the last few days. Sources say that an estimated 7 million passengers are stranded world-wide because the airlines have grounded the planes. To add to the woes of these cash-stricken passengers, travel insurance companies are refusing to cover claims brought on by the disaster, says the Wall Street experts.

Here’s what the Wall Street Journal says:

As of April 13, travel insurance policies generally stopped covering the disruption that resulted from the ash cloud from Iceland.

It’s called the theory of the burning house. If your house is ablaze, you can’t go out and quickly buy homeowners coverage. In travel, as soon as a storm or event is known, you can buy all the insurance you want but it won’t cover those “known’’ events. Once a hurricane is named, most policies won’t cover it if the insurance was sold after the moment the storm was identified.

“In general, travel insurance policies don’t cover events related to natural disasters that are in progress or that have just happened. Even an approaching hurricane wouldn’t be covered if officials have already given it a name,” said Chris Harvey, chief executive of Squaremouth.com, a travel insurance comparison site.

Even if purchased before April 13, travel insurance can be of limited utility to travelers. If airlines refund tickets for canceled trips, for example, there’s no claim with insurers. If you haven’t left home, you won’t get money for hotels and accommodations under most policies. And many policies have limits on daily expenses if you are stranded away from home.

Are you stuck and reading this? Did you purchase travel insurance before this calamity? Send us your thoughts by comments.

Read original post: Travel Insurance Warning: No Ash Coverage Anymore
Also read: Insurers See Millions in Claims by Travelers

MetroRail 2010, held at the end of March, was the 6th annual conference bringing together worldwide leaders of the public transportation industry. The Metros are awards given at the event to recognize the top metro companies.

Huffington Post has compiled information on the 2010 Metro Awards winners, and highlighted some other notable metros.

Read more at: 9 Of The World’s Best Subways

Excerpt: Huffington Post

The airline will charge $8 for a pillow and blanket in coach class for domestic trips and some international flights longer than two hours, beginning May 1. The international flights are to and from Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Central America.

The airline will sell a blue fleece blanket with an inflatable neck pillow in a clear zippered pouch, and will throw in coupon for $10 off a $30 purchase at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

JetBlue and US Airways charge $7 for a blanket-and-pillow set, with US Airways adding eye shades and earplugs.

We wonder if airlines will ever increase the allowed baggage weight to carry all these extra stuff. Send in your comments with what you think.

Read more: American Airlines Blankets Will Cost 8 DOLLARS

DOT's airline consumer protection site

The website, allows travelers to file complaints to the DOT, compare historical on-time and baggage mishandling records of airlines and get helpful tips about air travel. The site also contains a compendium of information on government rules and guidance on subjects such as baggage, fare advertising, refunds, overbooking, disability and flight delays.

The website, which is aimed at US citizens but contains some information about international carriers operating in the US, is also available in Spanish.

Website: Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement

US Airways had raised its maximum fees to those amounts last year. Continental is doing so later this week.

Until now at Delta, the fees have been $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for a second checked bag, with a $5 surcharge on each for travelers who didn’t pay online.

AirTran Airways, which is based in Orlando and has its largest hub in Atlanta, still charges $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second. A spokesman did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

American Airlines and US Airways charge $20 for the first checked bag and $30 for the second. US Airways also has an extra $5 surcharge for paying the fees at the airport. United still charges $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second, with a $5 surcharge on each for paying at the airport.

Delta and other carriers started charging a fee for a second checked bag on domestic flights in 2008, then added a fee for the first checked bag later that year. Last year, Delta and other carriers added surcharges for paying the baggage fees at the airport and also started charging a second checked bag fee on many international flights.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
Aviation Security Directive
Subject: Security Directive
Number: SD 1544-09-06
Date: December 25, 2009
EXPIRATION: 0200Z on December 30, 2009

This Security Directive (SD) must be implemented immediately. The measures contained in this SD are in addition to all other SDs currently in effect for your operations.

INFORMATION: On December 25, 2009, a terrorist attack was attempted against a flight traveling to the United States. TSA has identified security measures to be implemented by airports, aircraft operators, and foreign air carriers to mitigate potential threats to flights.
APPLICABILITY: THIS SD APPLIES TO AIRCRAFT OPERATORS THAT CARRY OUT A SECURITY PROGRAM REGULATED UNDER 49 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR)1544.101(a).

ACTIONS REQUIRED: If you conduct scheduled and/or public charter flight operations under a Full Program under 49 CFR 1544.101(a) departing from any foreign location to the United States (including its territories and possessions), you must immediately implement all measures in this SD for each such flight.
1. BOARDING GATE

1. The aircraft operator or authorized air carrier representative must ensure all passengers are screened at the boarding gate during the boarding process using the following procedures. These procedures are in addition to the screening of all passengers at the screening checkpoint.
1. Perform thorough pat-down of all passengers at boarding gate prior to boarding, concentrating on upper legs and torso.
2. Physically inspect 100 percent of all passenger accessible property at the boarding gate prior to boarding, with focus on syringes being transported along with powders and/or liquids.
3. Ensure the liquids, aerosols, and gels restrictions are strictly adhered to in accordance with SD 1544-06-02E.
2. During the boarding process, the air carrier may exempt passengers who are Heads of State or Heads of Government from the measures outlined in Section I.A. of this SD, including the following who are traveling with the Head of State or Head of Government:

1. Spouse and children, or
2. One other individual (chosen by the Head of State or Head of Government)
3. For the purposes of Section I.B., the following definitions apply:
1. Head of State: An individual serving as the chief public representative of a monarchic or republican nation-state, federation, commonwealth, or any other political state (for example, King, Queen, and President).
2. Head of Government: The chief officer of the executive branch of a government presiding over a cabinet (for example, Prime Minister, Premier, President, and Monarch).

2. IN FLIGHT

1. During flight, the aircraft operator must ensure that the following procedures are followed:
1. Passengers must remain in seats beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.
2. Passenger access to carry-on baggage is prohibited beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.
3. Disable aircraft-integrated passenger communications systems and services (phone, internet access services, live television programming, global positioning systems) prior to boarding and during all phases of flight.
4. While over U.S. airspace, flight crew may not make any announcement to passengers concerning flight path or position over cities or landmarks.
5. Passengers may not have any blankets, pillows, or personal belongings on the lap beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.

AIRCRAFT OPERATOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The aircraft operator must immediately provide written confirmation to its assigned PSI indicating receipt of this SD.
AIRCRAFT OPERATOR dissemination required: The aircraft operator must immediately pass the information and directives set forth in this SD to all stations affected, and provide written confirmation to its PSI, indicating that all stations affected have acknowledged receipt of the information and directives set forth in this SD. The aircraft operator must disseminate this information to its senior management personnel, ground security coordinators, and supervisory security personnel at all affected locations. All aircraft operator personnel implementing this SD must be briefed by the aircraft operator on its content and the restrictions governing dissemination. No other dissemination may be made without prior approval of the Assistant Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration. Unauthorized dissemination of this document or information contained herein is prohibited by 49 CFR Part 1520 (see 69 Fed. Reg. 28066 (May 18, 2004).
APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE MEASURES: With respect to the provisions of this SD, as stated in 49 CFR 1544.305(d), the aircraft operator may submit in writing to its PSI proposed alternative measures and the basis for submitting the alternative measures for approval by the Assistant Administrator for Transportation Sector Network Management. The aircraft operator must immediately notify its PSI whenever any procedure in this SD cannot be carried out by a government authority charged with performing security procedures.
FOR TSA ACTION ONLY: The TSA must issue this SD immediately to the corporate security element of all affected U.S. aircraft operators.
FOR STATE DEPARTMENT: Retransmittal to appropriate foreign posts is authorized. Post must refer to STATE 162917, 201826Z Sep 01, Subject: FAA Security Directives and Information Circulars: Definitions and Handling, for specific guidance and dissemination.

Gale Rossides
Acting Administrator

This just shows how screwed air-travel will get. Sigh! Send your comments.

[via Gizmodo]

The line is part of the future 2100-km long Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, while the Beijing-Shijiazhuang and Shijiazhuang-Wuhan sections are still under construction and expected to be opened in 2012.

From December 28, 2009, until Guangzhou South Station is opened in late January 2010, 28 passenger trains run on the line. Of these 28 trains, 2 run between Wuhan and Changsha South, 5 run between Changsha South and Guangzhou North, and 21 run between Wuhan and Guangzhou North. 2 of the 21 trains are non-stop, cover the 922-km long journey in 02h57m or 02h58m.

There are 18 stations on the line. 14 of them are opened for passenger service. Guangzhou South station is expected to be opened on January 30, 2010. Lechang East and Yingde West stations are under construction. Wulongquan East is an overtaking station, not opened for service.
It is operated by double-heading CRH2C and CRH3C trains. Each train group has two trains totaling 16 cars. The passenger capacity is about 1114 (CRH3C) or 1220 (CRH2C).

Fares:
The second class is about ¥0.46 per kilometer and the first class is 60% higher. Deluxe class is also available on CRH3 trains, which is about 80% higher than second class. Like other train services in China, insurance of ¥0.0011722 per kilometer is included for every ticket. The rate-making distance is based on the existing Jingguang Railway, not the actual rail distance of the new railway. Hence though the actual rail distance between Wuhan and Guangzhou South is 968 km, 1069 km is charged. The ticket price between the two terminal stations is ¥490 and ¥780

Before this line was open, the fastest commercial train service was the train run between Lorraine TGV and Champagne TGV in France, averaging 279 km/h.

Station Information:
0 – Wuhan
48 – Wulongquan East
85 – Xianning North
127 – Chibi North
209 – Yueyang East
279 – Miluo East
347 – Changsha South
387 – Zhuzhou West
455 – Hengshan West
496 – Hengyang East
552 – Leiyang West
628 – Chenzhou West
711 – Lechang East
758 – Shaoguan
826 – Yingde West
885 – Qingyuan
922 – Guangzhou North
968 – Guangzhou South

[Source: Wikipedia]

In the news:
CNN

Charges will range from £10 ($16) per passenger for an economy class flight within Europe, £20 for a long-haul economy seat or £50 for an exit row seat.

Business-class passengers will be charged £20 for a short-haul flight and £60 for a long-haul flight.

Passengers now can choose a seat only in the 24 hours before departure, at no charge. The new policy is effective from October 7.

[Source: NYTimes]

American’s website said: “Customers purchasing economy class tickets on or after September 14 for travel between some countries and US …. may check one bag for no charge and the second bag for $50.” The airline’s call centre said the first bag allowed to be cheked in for free should weigh up to 23 kg. “If that bag is over 23 kg and below 32 kg, a charge of $50 will be for being overweight. Similarly, if the second or third bags also weigh between 23 and 32 kg, then a similar fee of $50 will be levied on each in addition to the additional bag charge of $50 and $150,” said the call centre for economy class passengers.

Foreign carriers, especially US airlines, had earlier this year started levying charge for both internal and international flights. Many even levy a charge of $20-30 for the first check-in bag. LCCs abroad, like Britain’s Ryan Air, also make passengers pay for check-in baggage.