Be more cautious in Mexico, plus four other major travel stories from this week.
European travel is getting complicated. Flights are expected to be more expensive this summer, while union action is creating disruptions every few weeks. Even in the U.S., staff shortages remain persistent and may drive up the costs of your holidays. Apart from this, there are five more arresting stories from the past week that you should know.
Related: The Very Annoying Reason European Flights Will Be More Expensive This Summer
MEXICO WARNING FOR SPRING BREAKERS
Spring is just around the corner, and countries have started releasing advisories for travelers before they set out. In the U.S., there is a new warning for travelers heading to Mexico.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico listed 10 threats, including crime, drugs, and unregulated alcohol. “U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution in the downtown areas of popular spring break locations including Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, especially after dark,” it said. It also informs that drug use is illegal and possession of guns and arms may lead to lengthy jail sentences.
Mexico is a popular holiday destination for Americans all year, not just around spring break. Different regions in the country are on different levels of advisory, so you should check the State Department’s information before you travel. The recent message advises spring breakers to enroll in the Smart Traveler’s program, get health insurance, drink responsibly, and keep friends and family informed of your plans.
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CANADA ASKS TRAVELERS TO VACCINATE AGAINST MEASLES
It’s not just the U.S. releasing advisories. Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam reminded Canadian travelers to get their two doses of measles vaccine before they leave the country.
Global measles cases have increased due to a decline in vaccination during the pandemic, the statement explained. “Although measles has been eliminated in Canada, cases can still occur here when an individual who is not fully vaccinated has travelled to or from a country where measles is circulating. Imported cases can lead to subsequent spread of measles in Canada among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people.”
Those who are not vaccinated with the two necessary doses are at risk of being infected with this highly contagious virus when they travel internationally.
Related: Measles Cases Increase in Florida
MAN GETS STUCK IN FLIGHT BATHROOM
In a bizarre incident last week, a passenger flying Delta was trapped in the lavatory.
The flight was on its way to New Orleans from Salt Lake City when a passenger used the bathroom and couldn’t get out. Unlocking the door turned off the light and he started to force the door open. According to the passenger’s wife, the flight attendant initially thought that he didn’t know how the lock worked but later the crew realized the passenger was stuck inside. A male passenger and the pilot were enlisted to help and the flier was finally freed after 35 minutes in the small, dark space.
The passenger’s wife shared the ordeal on a Reddit thread and said, “We thank God that Brent didn’t take our 4-year-old with him. We thank God that it was a 34-year-old man who got stuck and not an elderly person or young child. We thank God it wasn’t someone who would have a panic attack over claustrophobia or germaphobia.”
Delta told Newsweek that they were in touch with the customer with an offer of apology and they are investigating how it may have happened.
Related: The Scariest Thing That Happened to Me on an Airplane
RICHARD BRANDSON SURPRISED DELTA PASSENGERS WITH FREE CRUISE
Delta passengers on their way to San Juan, Puerto Rico, had a celebrity on board. British businessman Sir Richard Branson, co-founder of the Virgin group, gifted complimentary tickets of Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady, an adults-only cruise.
All Delta SkyMiles members 18 and above received tickets to the nine-day Caribbean cruise that’s debuting in Puerto Rico this year. The starting price of the cruise is $1,120 per person.
Before boarding, all passengers got a chance to spin a wheel and win free flights, hotel stays, and vacations from Delta and Virgin.
PAKISTAN AIRLINE CREW MEMBER VANISHES ON TOUCHDOWN IN CANADA
Pakistan International Airline (PIA) is having a bizarre problem with employee retention. Crew members flying from the Asian country to Canada keep giving them the slip upon landing. In a case that made headlines last week, another flight attendant vanished after a PIA flight landed at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
The flight attendant traveled from Islamabad to Toronto and was due to fly back to Karachi when she didn’t turn up. In her hotel room, her uniform and a note saying “Thank you, PIA” was found. Pakistan’s newspaper The Dawn reports that in 2023, at least seven crew members went missing.
The problem isn’t new. In 2021, PIA decided to confiscate passports of its crew members during layovers to prevent such incidents, but they continue to happen.