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Congressional hearing clarifies ongoing conflict over airline fees
The proliferation of airlines' ancillary fees has hindered travel agents' ability to serve clients because the fees have made it difficult to determine the full price of an airline ticket as well as compare ticket prices. A recent congressional hearing helped clarify the ongoing issue. Travel industry groups, including ASTA, and the Department of Transportation and Government Accountability Office are seeking greater transparency. Travel Agent (7/16)

Nantucket maintains its swagger
Nantucket has changed considerably in the almost 160 years since Herman Melville's Ishmael first described the Massachusetts island in "Moby-Dick." "There was a fine, boisterous something about everything connected with that famous old island," Ishmael said. That characterization remains true, although now the cobblestone streets are lined with upscale cocktail bars and expensive restaurants. The New York Times (free registration) (7/13)

Customs aims for more takers for its trusted traveler program
U.S. Customs and Border Protection hopes a new marketing push will net 100,000 total enrollments in its Global Entry program. About 58,000 passengers have registered so far for the trusted traveler program designed to speed their trip through Customs. "In order to have the security and trade promotions benefits, we have to go way beyond 60,000 members," says CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin. USA TODAY (7/19)

DOT to investigate airline pricing
The Department of Transportation is looking into pricing policies in the airline industry. Faced with competition from startups, airlines have had to implement often confusing "a la carte" options, such as paying to check an extra bag, to stay afloat. DOT's proposed solutions include requiring airlines to list mandatory fees as part of the full cost of a ticket and prohibiting companies from advertising "one-way" prices if tickets must be bought round-trip. Portfolio.com (6/9)

Amazing scenery draws visitors to Banff each summer
Canada features numerous beautiful destinations, including Banff, Alberta, and its surrounding national park. The area features rocky peaks, alpine meadows, cool turquoise lakes and awe-inspiring waterfalls. Plus, visitors can partake in a wide variety of outdoor activities such as canoeing, hiking, golfing, wildlife watching and soaking in hot springs. TravelAge West (6/6)

Column: Full-body scanners draw few written complaints
The Transportation Security Administration has received 600 comments from the estimated about 4 million passengers who have used the 80 full-body scanners in place at U.S. airports. Scott McCartney surveys the customer comments, picking out trends such as health concerns, privacy objections and lack of professionalism among TSA staff. The Wall Street Journal (6/9)

Fans are eager to try Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling published the final installment of the Harry Potter series a few years ago, and from a recent sneak peek at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando Resort, it has been a long wait for some fans. The attraction features everything from butterbeer to the Hogswarts Express, but a ride called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey might be the biggest muggle magnet. The New York Times (free registration) (6/7)

Abu Dhabi challenges Dubai as desert hot spot
Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates have spent the past decade trying to outdo one another with the most extravagant, spectacular hotels. The first Armani hotel in the world recently opened in Dubai, the latest shot in the ongoing battle. But Abu Dhabi appears poised to be the emirate of choice for the most discerning of global travelers. The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) (5/11)

French region of Languedoc-Roussillon draws summer visitors
Hundreds of years ago, castles found in the Languedoc region of southern France were used as hideouts by a religious sect that went against the Catholic Church. They became the site of a crusade against the sect, ending in bloody battles where thousands of heretics were slaughtered. Now, the remains of the castles are a tourist draw for the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Visitors make their way to this corner of France to hike, swim and indulge in its wine. The New York Times (free registration) (5/9)

Air travel in Europe, across Atlantic to face more disruptions
A new cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland is expected to continue disrupting air travel across Europe and the Atlantic Ocean during the next few days, according to aviation officials. Most airports in Europe are open today, but trans-Atlantic flights are questionable and the situation remains uncertain as the volcano continues to erupt. "Presently there are no indications that the eruption is about to end," the Icelandic Met Office said. The Wall Street Journal (5/10) , Bloomberg (5/9)

Cartegena shows truth really can be stranger than fiction
Authors often become associated with the cities they write about. Charles Dickens is known for his tales about London, and London is known by its stories by Dickens. The association between Gabriel García Márquez and Cartagena, Colombia, however, is not yet as well known, but it's making strides. Cartagena is the type of seedy yet charming city where truth is often stranger than fiction. The New York Times (free registration) (5/2)

United-Continental merger could boost airfares
The proposed merger between Continental Airlines and United Airlines is expected to result in an increase in fares as competition declines. "At least in the short term, fares are likely to rise, especially on routes with less competition and the 13 routes flown nonstop between the two airlines' hubs, such as Newark to Los Angeles, Cleveland to Chicago, Denver to Newark, Houston to Denver and others," said George Hobica, president of Airfarewatchdog. The multibillion-dollar deal also is expected to affect frequent-flier programs. MarketWatch (5/3)

U.S. warns of "imminent attacks" in New Delhi
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has issued a warning that says terrorists are planning "imminent attacks" in the city. Americans in India are being advised to maintain "a high level of vigilance" and be aware of their surroundings. The embassy added the word "imminent" to the alert, saying the situation is more urgent than a previous alert had indicated. The Wall Street Journal/The Associated Press (5/1

Column: Amtrak shows getting there still can be half the fun
Bob Gehrt, who spent much of his life promoting the Super Chief passenger train, compares Amtrak's newly launched Southwest Chief with the luxury ride of the Super Chief. Gehrt says that while the Southwest Chief might not have the glamour or prestige of the Super Chief, it did show the trip still can be half the fun. "A transcontinental train trip serves as a reminder of what a large, beautiful country we live in. The views will captivate you, if you let them," Gehrt writes. Chicago Tribune (5/1)

Seoul remains rooted in tradition but is also forward-looking
Over the centuries, Seoul, South Korea, has rebuilt itself a number of times because of invasions by the Japanese, the Chinese and the Mongolians. The South Korean capital city's latest incarnation includes two distinct zones. The southern part of the city has evolved into a tech-savvy, trend-following area filled with irresistible restaurants, boutiques and luxury condos. Meanwhile, the area north of the Han River features historical sites, traditional homes and outdoor markets. Hemispheres (5/2010)

Beirut emerges as hot destination thanks to political calm
Lebanon has enjoyed a couple of years of political peace, which has resulted in record number of travelers visiting the Middle Eastern country, particularly its capital, Beirut. The palm-fringed city has undergone a bit of a transformation as new cultural projects, a contemporary art museum, hotels and other interesting sites have sprung to life. The New York Times (free registration) (5/2)

 

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