Delta Offers Travel Assistance to Customers Affected by Winter Weather Across U.S. Midwest and Southeast

/PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today announced travel options for customers whose flight plans may be affected by severe winter weather across the U.S. Midwest and Southeast, including at the airline's Memphis hub, through Saturday.

Customers booked on Delta or Northwest ticketed flights to, from or through the following states from Jan. 28-30 may make a one-time change to their travel schedule without fees if tickets are changed by Feb. 1, 2010.

-- Arkansas
-- Kentucky
-- Mississippi
-- North Carolina
-- South Carolina
-- Oklahoma
-- Tennessee


Delta may proactively reduce flight schedules to and from affected airports to minimize delays during the storm. However, customers may wish to consider postponing or rerouting their trip without penalty to avoid possible inconvenience.

Travel for changed itineraries must begin by Feb. 1, 2010, and changes to origin and destination may result in a fare increase. Any fare difference between the original ticket and the new ticket will be collected at the time of rebooking. Customers whose flights are cancelled may request refunds.

Delta will continue to monitor the weather situation and provide the latest weather updates at delta.com.

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Travelers Willing to Trade Convenience for Security But Are Not Sold on New TSA Rules

/PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®, the world's most trusted source of travel advice, today announced the results of its Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security guidelines survey of more than 1,100 U.S. respondents. Although recent incidents have spurred new security guidelines and concerns, 96 percent of respondents are still planning to fly this year. Only eight percent of travelers said they have changed their 2010 flight plans at all in light of new security guidelines.

Familiar, But Not Feeling It

Seventy-two percent of travelers said they are either completely or mostly familiar with the latest TSA airport security guidelines. When asked if the new measures are appropriate, though, 42 percent said yes, 34 percent said the TSA was overreacting and 24 percent said the new guidelines are not strict enough.

TSA Doesn't Get an "A" from Travelers

Despite new security initiatives being undertaken by the TSA, 50 percent of travelers believe the agency is not doing a good job of increasing security. Twenty percent of respondents said the TSA was doing a good job, while 30 percent were unsure. About a third of respondents (33 percent) think the TSA should focus on improving airport security by providing better training for staff, while 25 percent cited increased coordination with foreign airport security officials.

Suspicions Rise

Eighty-two percent of respondents support the security "profiling" of certain passengers based on their race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin, and subjecting them to additional airport security screenings.

Security Over Convenience

Seventy-seven percent of travelers said they would rather have enhanced airport screenings, even if it meant longer lines at the airport. Thirty-five percent of travelers said they would favor a ban on carry-on luggage if it would make flights more secure.

Excited About Deals, But Dreading Delays

When asked what they were most excited about in air travel for 2010, 41 percent of travelers said great online airfare deals, followed by 15 percent for in-flight Wi-Fi and eight percent for increased airport security. When asked what they were most concerned about in air travel for 2010, 28 percent cited longer security lines, 23 percent higher airfares and 22 percent more airline fees.

Ready to Act

Ninety-nine percent of travelers said that they would take action if they observed suspicious activity on their flight. Ninety-one percent would alert a flight attendant to the suspicious behavior, while nine percent would take matters into their own hands.

Erring at Airports?

Ninety-six percent of travelers think that the level of security varies from airport to airport across the U.S. Only 37 percent of respondents think that U.S. airports are more secure than foreign airports.

Don't Tinker with In-Flight Toilets

Seventy-six percent of travelers do not think airlines should ban in-flight bathroom use during the first and last hours of flights, as was the case on some flights following December 25, 2009. Twenty-two percent of respondents would support the ban as long as there were reasonable exceptions in place, such as for travelers flying with young children.

Dressing for Airport Security Success

Sixty-four percent of respondents said they dress differently when going to the airport in order to avoid setting off the metal detector. Despite the precautions, however, 70 percent of travelers said they have set off the metal detector at the airport.

More Screenings, But Still Flaws

Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they have made it through security with a prohibited item. Seventy-two percent of travelers said they have been selected for additional screening at an airport security checkpoint, with eight percent of those respondents reporting their secondary screening took place after December 25, 2009.

"Despite recent events and airport security changes, the vast majority of travelers aren't changing any flight plans for 2010," said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of new initiatives at TripAdvisor. "Travelers appreciate the need for increased security at airports so they can have safe and enjoyable flights. Ideally, enhanced security won't come with added hassle at the airport."

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Spirit Airlines Gives Free Flights to Those Donating to Haiti Relief Effort

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spirit Airlines has announced plans for providing relief to the people of Haiti.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the people in Haiti during this terrible tragedy”

“Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the people in Haiti during this terrible tragedy,” says Spirit Airlines CEO and President Ben Baldanza. “Our initial focus is on raising funds for relief agencies that are best equipped to aid in the overall relief and Spirit stands ready to give a billion miles to those that assist in this effort.”

Spirit will give 5,000 FREE Spirit miles to everyone who donates at least $5 to the Red Cross, UNICEF or Yéle Haiti, enough miles for a free flight*. The ultra low cost carrier will give up to a billion miles.

Those interested in joining Spirit Airlines in their fundraising relief efforts for Haiti should visit www.spiritair.com/haiti after making at least a $5 donation to one of the following organizations:

* Yéle Haiti (www.yele.org)
* Red Cross (www.redcross.org)
* UNICEF (www.unicef.org)

Spirit will in turn credit 5,000 miles to their FREE Spirit accounts, enough for a free flight*. For complete details, visit www.spiritair.com/haiti.

Since Spirit Airlines started flying to Haiti in 2007, it has lowered fares over 40 percent, saving Haitians over $10 million.**

Spirit Airlines Flight Information Update:

* Spirit’s Wednesday, January 13 and Thursday, January 14 flights between Fort Lauderdale and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, are cancelled.
* Spirit will reinstate service to Haiti when the airport is open to commercial airlines.
* Spirit is providing updates at www.spiritair.com with details about flights and the relief effort as they become available.

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Spring Travel Fun! 74-Year-Old Atlanta Dogwood Festival Focuses on New Features

/PRNewswire/ -- No question - 2009 was good to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. With a homecoming to Piedmont Park, successful new features like the International Stage, Friday Night Comedy Show and Friends of Dogwood Pavilion, the city's oldest festival seemed shiny and new. As a result, the Dogwood Festival was honored with a variety of awards this fall including Readers' Pick award for Best Annual Event (Creative Loafing), Readers' Pick for Favorite Festival (Atlanta Magazine), Best Annual Event (Georgia Magazine) and a Silver Award for Best Community Outreach Program for the International Stage from the International Festivals and Events Association's Pinnacle Awards.

LOCATION: The 74th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival takes place in Atlanta's beautiful Piedmont Park. On April 16, 17 and 18, 2010, attendees will enjoy fine art, live entertainment ranging from music to comedy, a variety of food offerings and the fantastic Atlanta spring weather. http://www.dogwood.org/

ARTS: The 2010 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Artist Market participants have been selected from the largest number of exhibitor applications in Dogwood history. The Artist Market welcomes fine artists from throughout the country and will include a special section featuring Georgia artists.

The Dogwood Festival is particularly proud of its High School Art Exhibit, a community-oriented special feature of the festival, which presents the best works created by high school art students.

GLOBAL: Last year, Dogwood went international! The International Stage and decorated golf carts were such hits, that the festival is bringing them back and then some. Look for more exciting and maybe unusual performances on the International Stage, visit the International Village and get a picture next to the golf cart representing your favorite foreign holiday destination without even having to leave town. Each golf cart will be decorated by a local international organization or consulate to bring the world to Atlanta!

SPECTATORS: Each year, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival offers entertainment throughout the weekend. As always, the Main Stage at the 2010 festival will include performers from a variety of musical genres. Dogwood attendees can also enjoy the popular live dog show on the lawn or hit the Friday Night Comedy show at the Lake Clara Meer stage; last year's inaugural event sold out, so get tickets early.

FOR FOODIES: The "Friends of Dogwood Pavilion," a ticketed event that has become a popular feature of the Dogwood Festival, will be open Saturday and Sunday. The Pavilion pairs fare from top local restaurants with wines and beers to show the upscale side of the city's longest-running outdoor festival. Tickets to Friends of Dogwood can be purchased in advance at http://www.dogwood.org/ or at the door.

KIDS: Designed just for the younger festival visitors, the Kid's Village has become a Dogwood favorite for families. This interactive zone comes complete with hands-on art projects, special kid-friendly displays and hours of entertainment for children. Spider Jump, anyone?

ENTRANCE: Just as it has been for the past 73 years, the 74th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival is free!

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Reconnect with nature: Plan a trip to a national park

(ARA) - Considered "America's best idea," national parks provide travelers preserved views of natural wonder as far as the eye can see. An American invention, they give us a unique backyard vacation oasis where postcard views meet real, life-altering experiences. And, it's this beauty, exploration and enrichment, combined with the accessibility of national parks, that make them a popular vacation choice.

According to the National Park Service, trips to national parks are on the rise. Tour operators offering guided visits through America's parks agree.

"Bookings on our North American National Park tours have witnessed an increase of 180 percent in the last year," says Scott Nisbet, president and CEO for the Globus family of brands. "National parks are idyllic vacation 'hot spots' perfect for relaxation and introspection, wildlife exploration or adventure, depending on the traveler and his or her interests."

A wide range of experiences can be had at national parks, including everything from snorkeling, rafting and hiking to learning about the environment, geology and wildlife. They also provide a perfect retreat for those hoping to reconnect with themselves or nature.

And, it's the diversity of experiences national parks offer travelers that can make booking a national park vacation seem overwhelming. Use these tips from Globus to simplify the process and book the perfect getaway for 2010:

1. Choose the right park destination

From the east to west coasts, Alaska to Hawaii, America has more than 50 national parks to explore. Do your research to choose a park that has what you're looking for. For instance, if you're interested in an abundance of hoodoos and canyons, Bryce Canyon National Park might be the right fit. Or, if you want a vacation filled with bird watching or boating, the Everglades National Park could be a great choice.

2. Go rustic or go luxury

Lodging is an important consideration for any vacation. Some travelers prefer to experience the outdoor beauty of the parks 24 hours a day and choose to camp. Others want to escape to the more modern conveniences provided by nearby hotels, cabins and lodges. Decide what experience best suits you or your family - and decide early! Spots (camping or lodging) fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons.

3. On your own or with a guide?

Some travelers prefer to hike or road trip through national parks while others are interested in a more insightful and pre-planned journey. While maps are available for nearly every park, guided tours have become a popular option for travelers and are often offered as part of a packaged tour vacation, including accommodations.

"Our national park-focused tours offer an inclusive-style of travel with incomparable exploration and enrichment opportunities," says Nisbet. "With a wide range of national park destinations, hotels and price points, coupled with unparalleled service and storytelling, we create experiences for travelers they couldn't produce on their own."

For more information or assistance planning your national park vacation, visit www.us-parks.com, www.nps.gov or www.globusjourneys.com. Or call your travel agent or the Globus family of brands toll-free at (866) 313-2855.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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AirTran Airways Statement Regarding Flight 39

/PRNewswire/ -- AirTran Airways today issued the following statement regarding its flight 39 scheduled from Atlanta, Ga., to San Francisco, Calif.:

AirTran Airways flight 39, a Boeing 737-700 aircraft carrying 132 passengers and 5 crew members pushed back from the gate at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 9:48 a.m. EST and departed at 10:36 a.m. EST headed to San Francisco International Airport with a scheduled arrival time of 12:40 p.m. PST.

During the flight, a male passenger, allegedly intoxicated, became disruptive and irate with a flight attendant. The passenger refused to follow flight crew instructions to take his seat and then proceeded to lock himself in the aft lavatory. The male passenger was traveling from Richmond, Virginia, to San Francisco, Calif., with a connection in Atlanta, Ga. Out of an abundance of caution, the captain elected to divert the aircraft to the nearest airport which was Colorado Springs Municipal Airport in Colorado Springs, Colo. The captain requested the local law enforcement officials meet the aircraft on arrival in Colorado Springs, Colo. The plane, escorted by two F-16 fighters dispatched under the direction of Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region (NORAD), landed safely in Colorado Springs, Colo., at 11:55 a.m. MST and taxied to a remote location of the airport where law enforcement officials detained the individual in question. The aircraft was then repositioned to a gate where it was searched by canine teams. The FBI is on the scene and is overseeing the law enforcement response. AirTran Airways is cooperating fully with the law enforcement officials.

Flight 39 has been cleared for departure to San Francisco and will continue the flight.

"It is an unfortunate and rare event when flight crew instructions are not followed. AirTran Airways fully supports our flight crew in performing their assigned duties, and we admire the professionalism the flight 39 crew showed in this case."

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AirTran Airways Customers Affected by Winter Storms in Atlanta May Change Travel Plans Without Penalty

/PRNewswire/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., (NYSE:AAI) , advises passengers that a winter weather system expected to affect Atlanta could result in flight delays and/or cancellations.

Passengers scheduled for travel from 12:00 noon January 7, 2010, through 9:59 a.m. January 8, 2010, on AirTran Airways to/from Atlanta, may change their reservation without penalty as long as travel is completed within five days from the date of the original scheduled departure date, based on space availability without fees or fare adjustments.

Passengers holding reservations for travel to/from Atlanta should check http://www.airtran.com/ under "Flight Status" for updates or call 1-800-AIRTRAN (247-8726).

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Delta Offers Travel Assistance to Customers Affected by Winter Weather Expected Across U.S. Southeast

/PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today (January 5) announced travel options for customers whose flight plans may be affected by winter weather expected across the U.S. Southeast on Thursday, Jan. 7 - including at the airline's Atlanta hub.

Customers booked on Delta- and Northwest-ticketed flights to, from or through the following states for travel on Thursday may make a one-time change to their travel schedule without fees if tickets are changed by Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010.

-- Alabama
-- Arkansas
-- Georgia
-- Mississippi
-- Tennessee


Delta may proactively reduce flight schedules at affected airports to ensure delays are minimized during the expected storm. However, customers with travel booked to or from the affected states on Jan. 7, may wish to consider postponing or rerouting their trip without penalty to avoid possible inconvenience.

Travel for changed itineraries must begin by Jan. 9, 2010 and changes to origin and destination may result in a fare increase. Any fare difference between the original ticket and the new ticket will be collected at the time of rebooking. Customers whose flights are cancelled may request refunds.

Delta will continue to monitor the weather situation and provide the latest weather updates at delta.com.

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FAA OKs Four More Portable Oxygen Concentrators

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that passengers needing medical oxygen now have the option of using four additional portable oxygen concentrators while traveling, bringing the total number of approved units to 11.

The newly authorized devices are DeVilbiss Healthcare’s iGo, International Biophysics Corporation’s LifeChoice, Inogen’s Inogen One G2 and Oxlife’s Independence Oxygen Concentrator.

“This is our latest step toward making air travel more accessible for people who need medical oxygen,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “We want these passengers to have as many options as possible while ensuring all of our safety guidelines are being met.”

Portable oxygen concentrators are small, portable devices that separate oxygen from nitrogen and other gases in the air and provide oxygen to users at greater than 90 percent concentration. They do not use compressed or liquid oxygen, which the government classifies as hazardous material.

The Department of Transportation requires that U.S. carriers allow passengers to use portable oxygen concentrators approved by the FAA during all phases of a flight – including taxiing, takeoff and landing – if the unit displays a manufacturer’s label that indicates it meets FAA requirements for portable medical electronic devices, is properly stowed, and meets certain other applicable safety-related conditions.

For example, passengers must ensure the unit is in good working order and must be able to respond to the unit’s warning alarms. They must protect extra batteries in carry-on baggage from short circuits and physical damage. Carriers also must let passengers operate these FAA-approved concentrators while moving about the cabin whenever the captain turns off the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign.

Carriers can legally refuse to allow inflight use of an FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrator that does not have a manufacturer’s label indicating that the device complies with FAA requirements. However, the Department encourages airlines to voluntarily allow the inflight use of such devices. Inflight use of an FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrator, whether labeled or not, poses no safety danger so long as carriage of the device is in accordance with instructions provided by the FAA.

The FAA previously approved these portable oxygen concentrators for use:

* Delphi Medical Systems RS-00400
* Invacare XPO2
* AirSep Lifestyle
* AirSep Freestyle
* Inogen One
* SeQual Eclipse
* Respironics EverGo

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Time to Enjoy the Weird & Bizarre: Ripley’s Believe It or Not Opens 30th Attraction in Veracruz, Mexico

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shrunken heads, matchstick art and freak animals invade the city as Mexico’s third Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium opened on Sunday, Dec. 20, in the city’s Plaza Acuario.

“We are proud to have Attracciones Culturales De Mexico as long-time Ripley franchisees and I am sure their new Ripley’s in Veracruz, with the latest in interactive exhibits, will be as successful as their two other attractions”

The 10,000 square foot museum is the most interactive exhibit of the weird in the country and offers a one-of-a-kind rope course, amazing and weird artwork, unbelievable historical items and an 8-foot tall horse – made from chrome car bumpers! There are nearly 400 items featured in two floors of exhibits and activities.

Located next to the Acuario de Veracruz (aquarium) and the Museo De Cera (wax museum), the new museum is open year-round and joins other Ripley’s facilities in Mexico City and Guadalajara, all franchised from Ripley Entertainment Inc. by Attracciones Culturales De Mexico.

“We are proud to have Attracciones Culturales De Mexico as long-time Ripley franchisees and I am sure their new Ripley’s in Veracruz, with the latest in interactive exhibits, will be as successful as their two other attractions,” said Jim Pattison Jr., president of Ripley Entertainment Inc.

With the opening of the Veracruz facility, there are now 30 Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums, in 12 countries in the world. The 31st location is set to open in late January in Surfers Paradise, Australia.

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