Travel

It's unclear whether the idea will take flight. But back on the ground, one airport in New Zealand is implementing a maximum time of just three minutes for loved ones to say goodbye to their relatives with a hug. “It’s hard to say goodbye so make it quick. 3 minutes max,” says one of a series of signs at Dunedin Airport on the country's South Island. “Max hug time three minutes” another reads. Those seeking “fonder farewells” should “use the car park,” where a generous 15-minute window is allowed, a third says. Dan De Bono, the airport's CEO, has said the lighthearted approach is aimed at keeping the traffic into the terminal flowing smoothly. “We’re trying to have fun with it. It is an airport, and those drop-off locations are common locations for farewells” he told Radio New Zealand...

The Vessel, the honeycomb-shaped tower in New York City that closed in 2021 after a series of suicides, reopened Monday with added safety features.The 150-foot attraction first opened in 2019 as the centerpiece of the Hudson Yards development on the west side of Manhattan. It was a popular tourist destination, thanks to its zigzagging stairs and Hudson River views, but four suicides over 18 months forced its closure. The Vessel remained indefinitely closed to the public while owners worked to address the significant safety concerns highlighted by the deaths, NBC New York reported. Among the measures: Four stairwells and their adjoining platforms have been fitted with steel mesh barriers designed to preserve the structure’s appearance and views. The Vessel in Hudson Yards in New York on ...

The U.S. Transportation Department announced a $50 million fine Wednesday against American Airlines over allegations it mistreated passengers with disabilities, which the department said in some cases caused injuries.The fine is 25 times larger than the any other fine by the department for disability-related violations, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on a conference call with reporters.The airline from 2019 to 2023 “provided unsafe and undignified physical assistance to passengers on a number of occasions that, at times, resulted in injuries,” Buttigieg said.“They repeatedly failed to provide prompt wheelchair assistance, and they damaged thousands of passengers’ wheelchairs, which left passengers without the device they need to live their life fully,” he said.American Air...

Emily Reeve and her husband usually spend Thanksgiving in Hawaii, Florida or Disneyland, but not this year.“I have a toddler now and I’m worried about being in a potentially volatile situation should we be traveling post-election,” said Reeve, 32.The couple doesn’t have family near their home in Portland, Oregon, so they like to skip town for the November holiday. But they say they’re staying put this time to avoid getting caught in an airport or a popular destination “and suddenly facing riots or looting, etc., because the people in the area aren’t happy with the election outcome.”Anxiety around the 2024 vote is causing some consumers to rethink where, when and with whom to travel, industry experts and travel agents say. Federal authorities, meanwhile, say their security procedures are...

The cans, which have been on sale since early October, can only be found in local stores in and around Como. They can't be purchased online, with the company aiming to promote visits to the Lake Como area."Only those who visit Lake Como can want to buy our souvenir, memories are not bought but lived," the website says.The cans are being sold at two locations in Como — a bookshop and a restaurant — as well as in Menaggio and Lenno, two popular destinations on the lake.Lake Como, 50 miles north of Milan, is renowned for its extravagant villas that attract celebrities and other well-heeled vacationers from far and wide.International film productions have chosen the lake as a stunning backdrop, and social media are awash with users showing off their trips.Interest in Lake Como soared in 200...

A brand-new Disney cruise ship rushed to the aid of a catamaran taking on water in the Atlantic on Sunday and plucked four people to safety, authorities said. The 50-foot Serenity was 265 miles from Bermuda when it called for help at 8:30 a.m., prompting the Coast Guard out of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to alert nearby vessels, the agency said in a statement.The Disney Treasure responded, saying it was 80 miles from Serenity, before it headed to the catamaran and arrived between 1 and 1:45 p.m., the Coast Guard said.A lifeboat from the cruise ship Treasure heads toward a disabled catamaran. U.S. Coast GuardOnce Treasure got close enough, it launched a lifeboat and got all four passengers off Serenity, officials said.“We are pleased that the Disney Treasure was able to provide aid t...

An American Airlines flight departing Hawaii was hastily ordered to make an “expedited climb” to avoid crashing into mountainous terrain on Wednesday. Flight 298 had departed Honolulu, headed for Los Angeles International Airport, when an air traffic controller from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport ordered the flight to “turn right and expedite your climb through terrain and then turn right,” according to broadcast audio from website LiveATC.That order was made around 1 a.m. local time Wednesday.The Federal Aviation Administration said that an air traffic controller instructed the flight to “perform an expedited climb after the crew did not make the assigned turn while departing from Honolulu International Airport.”The FAA, which is investigating the incident, said the...

Almost 80 million people will hit the roads and airways this Thanksgiving, with traveler numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels, the AAA predicts.Journeys of 50 miles or more will be made by 79.9 million people in the holiday period — an increase of 1.7 million from last year and 2 million more than in 2019. For the first time, the AAA's annual prediction includes the Tuesday before and Monday after Thanksgiving to better reflect people's traveling habits. "Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising," Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement.The majority of trips, 71.7 million, will be by car, meaning 1.3 million more travelers will be on the road compared ...

Spirit Airlines said Monday it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after having struggled with losses, growing debt and a failed merger during the post-pandemic travel lull.The company said in a stock market statement that it had secured a prearranged deal with bondholders that includes $300 million in financing to keep it afloat, with the business planning to end its bankruptcy in the first quarter of 2025.Ticket sales and all other operations will continue as normal, the company said in the statement just 10 days before record numbers of travelers are expected to take to the skies over Thanksgiving.“I am pleased we have reached an agreement with a supermajority of both our loyalty and convertible bondholders on a comprehensive recapitalization of the Company, which is a str...

Traveling for the holidays this year? The answer increasingly depends on your paycheck. Households earning at least six figures a year are expected to make up the largest share of holiday travelers this season — 45%, up from 38% in 2023, according to a recent survey by the consulting firm Deloitte. And they’re on track to make up a majority of paid lodging customers, expanding their ranks as hotel guests from 43% last season to 52% now.“Travelers are looking to invest in upgrades and experiences that will make the holiday memorable,” said Kate Ferrara, vice chair for U.S. transportation, hospitality and services at Deloitte.But that’s partly a reflection of who’s traveling in the first place. While richer people are expanding their footprint in the holiday travel mix, lower-paid ones ar...