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| NEWS & NOTES |
February 2003
flight gripes
What's the most annoying thing that can happen to you in the air? According to a survey of 2,000 travelers by Fodors.com, 40 percent of women and 34 percent of men agreed that nothing is worse than someone behind you kicking or pushing your seat. Also ranking high on the gripe list was a crying child, cited by 31 percent of men and 23 percent of women, followed by seatmates who encroach on your personal space (23 percent of men, 27 percent of women). Ranking low on the complaint list were a lack of overhead storage space (cited by just 4 percent of travelers) and chatty seatmates (7 percent).
hot news A January debut was set for the 700-room Westin Charlotte, adjacent to the convention center
Starwood has a new W Hotel in San Diego
A March opening is scheduled for Le Meridien Minneapolis, a 21-story tower next to the city's Block E Development
There's a new Embassy Suites Hotel five miles from Denver International Airport at 7001 Yampa Street
The former Monarch Hotel in Washington, D.C. is now the Fairmont Washington
Hyatt cut the ribbon on a new Park Hyatt in Moscow, near the Bolshoi Theatre
Four Seasons is growing in the Mideast, with one new hotel opened during January in Amman and another in Riyadh by March 1.
rental report After Hertz recently started charging 50 cents a day to customers who want to collect miles in nine different airline programs, ANC Rental said it is "reviewing the value of its participation in airline loyalty programs," with a decision due in the first quarter of 2003. "Not all frequent flyer programs offer the advantage they once did," said an official of ANC, the parent of National and Alamo
Due to a change in New York State law, rental companies will be able to sell collision damage waivers once again, starting in late February
Hertz outlets in Florida and California now offer Sirius satellite radio service in some models for $5 a day.
euro bumping
The European Parliament recently passed a law boosting the mandatory compensation for airline passengers who are bumped or whose flights are cancelled--although the payments are less than originally proposed by the European Commission. The new compensation levels are $200 for flights under 1,000 kilometers, $400 for flights of 1,000-3,500 km., and $600 for longer flights. The old levels ranged from $150-$300. Cancellations caused by weather and other events beyond the airline's control are exempted.
fast food
Which airports have the healthiest eating options? The latest survey of dining outlets at the 10 busiest U.S. airports by the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine gave the top ranking to San Francisco International, where 96 percent of the restaurants have healthy menu options. Denver ranked second at 79 percent and Los Angeles third with 54 percent. The worst availability of nutritious noshes was in the midwest—42 percent at Chicago O'Hare and 44 percent at Minneapolis/St. Paul.
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