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| Travelling
News from Kristina at WinWin Vacations |
[May,
2008] |
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Dear Safari Enthusiast,
I'm
again travelling to Africa departing May 1st
on NW Airlines via Amsterdam to
Johannesburg. I will attend a travel trade
conference in Durban, South Africa and
visit Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. I
will be open for business again on June 5th.
While I'm in Africa, I will post to my blog
whenever possible.
If you need help with travel while I'm gone,
please contact Sharon Emerson at
206-367-7657 or email her at sharon@cruiseandtourplanners.com
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The U.S. Ambassador to
Kenya, Michael E. Ranneberger, has addressed
an open letter to American travelers
advising them to visit Kenya after the
establishment of the new Grand Coalition
government that followed post-election
turmoil this past December.
"I can report that there have been
positive developments that are opening up
the economic climate and making Kenya once
again the perfect locale for business and
tourism," he wrote. "The country's
rival political camps reached a landmark
power-sharing agreement on February 28, and
Parliament acted quickly to codify this
through a constitutional amendment.
President Kibaki and the Honorable Raila
Odinga-now prime minister-are working
closely together to forge this new coalition
of parties in a new spirit of goodwill and
unity."
Approximately 102,000 Americans visited
Kenya in 2007.
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Updates from the Friendly Skies
American Airlines,
including American Eagle will start charging
$25.00 for that second checked bag on May
12. JetBlue is charging $20.00. United, US
Airways, Continental, Air Canada, Delta and
Northwest are already charging $25 for the
second bag. Alaska & Horizon will start
charging $25 this summer. Spirit Airlines
charge $10 for each bag/no free bag at all.
The airlines are raising fares also at the
moment up to $110.00 roundtrip. Ticket
change fees are also up from $100.00 to
$150.00 and calling your airline will also
cost you more from now on.
A new rule to compensate passengers who are
denied boarding because of an oversell by
the airlines goes into effect next month. If
you are involuntarily bumped you will/should
receive up to $400 if you are rescheduled to
arrive at your destination within two hours
of your original arrival time or four hours
for international flights, and up to $800 if
you are not rerouted within that time frame.
Look for the airlines to redefine the
definition of "denied boarding".
The airline dilemma as I see it: 5 airlines,
Aloha, ATA, Eos, Maxjet, Skybus and
Nationwide (in South Africa) have gone out
of business recently and mergers between the
big ones, Delta & Northwest, United and
Continental or USAir are looming, fuel costs
are sky-rocketing, so expect higher prices
and less space available in the crowded
skies. The regional airlines are struggling
too. With charges for snacks, earphones,
alcoholic drinks, the second checked bag,
preferable aisle and window seats, look for
the airlines to start charging for early
boarding to make sure your carry-ons find
space in the overhead etc. This is annoying
of course especially when getting less
legroom, no pillows or blankets or
magazines, but who said the airlines should
not be allowed to make a profit? I want them
to be profitable so they maintain their
planes here at home and get us to our
destination safely and with our checked
luggage and on-time. What happened to the
friendly skies? You tell me!
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Sincerely,
Kristina Trowbridge
WinWin Vacations |
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