Episode 15: Travel News: June 2023
Travel is at an all-time high with record-breaking Memorial Day flights to pre-pandemic levels, so to say the least travel is back and even better than it has been before. Stay tuned for more travel news coming your way and let’s dive into what’s new in the travel industry this week
1. Carnival Cruise ship hit by rocky weather left passengers in fear for their life.
Ever thought about going on a cruise? This might make you want to reconsider. Of course, these occurrences are not as often, but still do happen. ‘I really thought I wasn’t going to make it back’ is what many frightened passengers said. With inconsistent communication, passengers debated if this will be their last cruise, or if they’d forgive Mother Nature’s hissy fit. What would you do if you were in their position? Answer the poll & read more about it here!
2. After baby bison euthanized, Yellowstone visitor pleads guilty to a federal offense
If there’s one rule to follow when you visit a national park, it is to respect the land, nature & its inhabitants. A visitor had deliberately disturbed a baby bison causing it to not catch up to its herd. This caused distress for the calf later ended up in euthanization because it was, ‘it was abandoned by the herd’ and ‘causing a hazardous situation by approaching cars and people along the roadway’. It’s incredibly selfish to “have an interaction with these animals” at the cost of their own life. Overall, the citizen was charged only $1040 in fines which to me is too small in my opinion. What do you think? Read more about it here!
3. Air New Zealand to weigh passengers before they board the airplane
Ever seen those TikToks on packing hacks so you don’t get charged for an extra bag on Spirit or any other budget airlines? Well, New Zealand is starting a new protocol and it’s not for the reasons you may think. Overall, they’re trying to collect data on weight distribution on the planes. Now some might say this is putting people in uncomfortable positions, but they have already addressed that by saying “We know stepping on the scales can be daunting. We want to reassure our customers there is no visible display anywhere. No one can see your weight, not even us,”. Read more about it here.
4. The Italian beaches putting a daily cap on visitors this summer
Overtourism is hitting Italy hard, specifically, the two largest islands, Sicily and Sardinia. With pollution, sand theft, and overall environmental issues, locals are taking a stance on preserving the authenticity of their homes. They state, “Four beaches are affected. Cala dei Gabbiani and Cala Biriala both now have a daily cap of 300 visitors in place, while Cala Goloritze has a limit of 250 visitors per day, and Cala Mariolu, the largest of the beaches, has a daily limit of 700 people.”. There are also entrance fees included to help support the local communities. What do you think? Read more about it here.
5. Cathay Pacific’s free tickets to Hong Kong were all claimed in 2.5 hours
Remember Hong Kong was giving out FREE flights? Well, those were all snagged in just 2.5 hours. It really shows that if you want it badly, you gotta fight for it and be first! After three years of strict COVID regulations, the country was hit badly with a period of no tourism. I overall love programs like this which open up your world to new and exciting adventures without paying a hefty price for it. Read more about it here.
6. France bans short-haul flights where trains are available
If you know, you know that traveling around Europe is very easy and affordable via train. Everyone does it. Unless it’s really not worth the train ride, or you’re going a far distance, the trains are used throughout. Just this past Tuesday, France placed a ban on short-haul flights for any distance that a train or bus can go in 2.5 hours. Thinking about the emissions and environmental impact, this is a big step, and hopefully, other countries will follow suit. If you’re planning an upcoming trip to France/secured flights that might be affected, double-check to see if they’re still active and start rearranging your travel plans. Read more about it here.
7. Frontier will get Spirit’s LaGuardia slots if the JetBlue merger happens
If a JetBlue/Spirit merge happens, JetBlue will sell Spirits LaGuardia spots to Frontier. With only 4 slots in LGA, this will be a big move to allow more flights for Frontier. Read more about it here.
8. Uber launching boat service in Mykonos
Getting the chance to ride in a Tesla from Uber is like hitting the jackpot, now you can get a Uber boat in Mykonos. “The company said Uber Boat will allow up to eight people to cruise to popular destinations around the island.” There’s not much else to read on it- but feel free to check out the article here.
9. Analysts: An AA-JetBlue breakup could be complex, costly
May 19 started the end of the Northeast Alliance (NES) between American Airlines & JetBlue. There’s no immediate impact to flyers, The slow, 30-day descent won’t affect the summer schedule as much, but more long-term scheduling. They state: “In the long run, the inability to share revenue and coordinate means they can’t keep the structure the way they have it,” Snyder said. “American doesn’t even fly from Boston to New York anymore. They let JetBlue have it.” One of the biggest impacts would be “the fate of lease slots in NY”. Read more about it here.
10. Covid is no longer a global health emergency, WHO declares
After three long years, the WHO finally declared that COVID is no longer a global threat. With Biden’s administrators deciding to repeal vaccine requirements for international travelers starting May 19th. Read more about it here.
what do you think?