WAR WATCH
Flight Cuts and You
Potential travelers undeterred by war are still reluctant to buy a
plane ticket, fearing that the war's effects on the industry will mean
their flight gets canceled or their carrier liquidates.
Flight cancellation fear is not paranoia -- both U.S. and
international carriers are slashing capacity as war drives away
passengers. Airlines are supposed to call you if your flight is canceled.
Call before your flight to double-check. Airlines must offer
refunds for "significant" changes.
U.S. Airways and United are already in bankruptcy, American teeters,
and most carriers say they can't survive a protracted war without help.
United is the most threatened of the major carriers, but analysts
disagree about its long-term prospects. "If I were a loyal United
customer, I'd buy a ticket. I'd say there is only a 15 percent
chance they'd go under in the next six months," says Roy Neidl of the
investment firm Blaylock and Partners. Darryl Jenkins, of the Aviation
Institute at George Washington University, wouldn't bet that far out. "I'd
buy a ticket on United up to 60 days from now. Call me at the end
of that and I'll give you a new forecast."
Until Feb. 14, 2004, airlines must offer passage to any traveler
stiffed by a bankrupt airline, on a space-available basis. They may
charge no more than $25 for the change. And if you pay by credit
card, you might find a refund there.
By law, if card holders complain within 60 days after being
billed that they did not receive what they paid for, credit card companies
are obliged to give refunds (some companies extend the deadline). The rule
does not apply to bankruptcies, but in the past, some companies have
offered refunds on a case-by-case basis.
travel tech
Get Your Newspaper Fix
Globetrotting newspaper junkies who previously were limited to the
International Herald Tribune, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal Europe
now have more options: Just look for an International Newspaper Kiosk.
The kiosks, available at hotels, conference centers and airports
around the world, offer same-day versions of 114 international
newspapers for $3 to $5 each. (The Washington Post and New York Times
are not included in the offerings from the kiosks, developed by the Dutch
firm PEPC Worldwide. The Miami Herald and Philadelphia Inquirer are among
the papers available.)
Kiosk locations are as far-flung as the Hilton Vienna Danube, the Grand
Hyatt Bali and the Fairmont Dubai. Here in D.C., you can get your daily
fill of El Pais, the Süddeutsche Zeitung or Komsomolskaya
Pravda at the Latham, Omni Shoreham, Marriott Wardman Park and
Hamilton Crowne Plaza hotels.
It works like this: Using the kiosk's touch screen, you scroll
to the paper of your choice, insert your credit card, and in about two
minutes, the paper prints before your eyes.
Content-wise, it's essentially the same paper you'd buy at your
local newsstand, though the pages are smaller and harder to read.
Indeed, the print quality is underwhelming, the screen feedback can be
confusing and some newspapers apparently update infrequently. Still, it's
hard not to love the idea of having one more creature comfort when you're
on the road.
Info: http://www.pepcworldwide.com/.
TRAVEL TICKER
The U.S. Embassy in Argentina is open for business. CoGo
reported its closing last week at press time; it reopened the following
day. . . The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recom- mends
postponing nonessential travel to Hanoi, Hong Kong and China's Guangdong
Province, due to the viral disease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
BARGAIN OF THE WEEK
Bermuda Short
Delta is offering bargain fares to Bermuda from Reagan National
and BWI. Round-trip fare with taxes from Reagan National is $323. Travel
must take place during select days in April. Fare must be purchased by
Friday at http://www.delta.com/.
Reporting: Douglas Heingartner, Cindy Loose, Carol Sottili.
Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy
tattles to: cogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo,
Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
20071.