The FAA says it’s going to be a busy week, plus four more top travel stories.
A big travel boom is coming to the U.S. this week with the Solar Eclipse. The Federal Aviation Administration has reminded travelers to pack their patience and be prepared for delays. Last week, American Airlines revised a major policy to make it more pet-friendly, but United and Frontier had minor issues that injured passengers. Here are this week’s top five travel stories.
AMERICAN AIRLINES CHANGES PET POLICY
Good news for pet owners: American Airlines has made it easier to travel with pets in the cabin.
The airline has changed its pet policy to allow fliers to take a carry-on into the plane, along with their pet. The old policy counted the pet carrier as the carry-on, meaning only one personal item (like a purse or bag that fits under the seat) was allowed. But now passengers can choose between a personal item or a carry-on bag, but not both.
Like before, there is a pet fee of $150. “Carry-on pets are limited to cats and dogs that meet the size, age and destination requirements,” America specifies. Pets can also be transported as cargo.
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DOG THAT RAN AWAY FROM FLIGHT IS REUNITED WITH OWNER
Pet owners will also appreciate this piece of news this week. A dog, who ran away from airline staff, has been reunited with his human.
Moose was supposed to be on the same flight as its owner, but Alaska Airlines said that due to a misstep in the loading process, he wasn’t able to make it on the plane. He was scheduled to fly from Raleigh-Durham Airport the next day and stayed with the team at the airport overnight. While he was being taken into his crate the morning of the flight, Moose shook his collar away and escaped.
Airport workers chased him and he was seen at various locations around the airport. Fire rescue teams and law enforcement officials stepped in to help. The owner flew back to Raleigh to look for him and thankfully, Moose was found the next day. The airline apologized for the stressful situation.
FAA WARNS FLIERS TO EXPECT DELAYS THIS WEEK
Spring break is in full swing, but according to the FAA, this week will be the busiest of the season, thanks to the Solar Eclipse on April 8. It estimates that 50,670 flights will take off on April 4.
“Travelers flying along the eclipse path may encounter limited parking and potential delays at airports due to the high volume of aircraft and drones attempting to witness the total solar eclipse,” the FAA said in the statement.
American Airlines could see delays at its hub of Dallas-Fort Worth, which is within the eclipse’s path of totality, CBS reported. Other airports likely to be affected are Chicago, Indianapolis, Houston, and Kansas City.
In a video message, the FAA also warned pilots about higher traffic volume and drones and said that they should check notices prior to flights to learn about restrictions along routes or special procedures.
BARCELONA INCREASES TOURIST TAX ON APRIL 1
If you were planning a trip to Barcelona this spring or summer, you need to factor in additional costs in your budget.
From April 1, the city will charge €3.25 (up from €2.75) per night. This is on top of the regional tourist tax. The regional tax for Catalonia province depends on the type of accommodation. For those staying in five-star hotels, the tax is €3.50 per night; rental accommodations and Airbnbs cost €2.25; and four-stars charge €1.70.
In short, you will pay €6.75 per night as tourist taxes in Barcelona if you book a five-star hotel (or €47.25 for a seven-night stay) on top of the accommodation cost.
Cruisers pay €3 to enter the region if they spend less than 12 hours and €2 for more than 12 hours. The tourist tax is also increasing for day-trippers, who will now have to pay €6.25 to the city of Barcelona.
Spain is no stranger to tourist taxes. Barcelona was the first city to introduce an extra tourist tax in 2012 and it has been steadily increasing the amount to control overtourism. The mayor’s office said that this city tax will be used for infrastructure.
FRONTIER FLIGHT EVACUATED DUE TO STRONG ODOR
More than 200 passengers were evacuated from a plane in Charlotte, North Carolina, after a strong odor permeated the aircraft. The Frontier flight was boarding for Florida when the pilot ordered the plane to be emptied as a matter of precaution. The passengers exited via the jet bridge and evacuation slides were also deployed; one person was injured on the slide. No visible fire or smoke were observed and it’s not clear what caused the smell.
In another flight incident this week, seven people were taken to a hospital for observation after a United flight experienced severe turbulence. The flight with 319 passengers from Tel Aviv to Newark was forced to land at New York Stewart International Airport. Passengers complained of nausea and motion sickness due to the turbulent flight, but no serious injuries were reported.