Tagged: government

Can I Cancel a Flight and Get a Refund? Rules for Refunds, Reimbursements, and More

Sorting through the fine print of an airline’s policies can be tedious and confusing, and it doesn’t get any easier when things go awry. From meal and hotel vouchers to refunds,…

Pressure Mounts for Improving Accessibility for Air Travelers with Disabilities

Every time he boards a commercial aircraft, Lee Page fears being injured. Having used a wheelchair for more than four decades, Page says the airline boarding process requires…

Passport Wait Times Go Up Again: Here's Where They Stand Now

The U.S. State Department seems to be having a crisis of sorts—the wait for passport renewals and applications rises by the week.Two weeks ago, we warned you about a processing…

Amid Record TSA PreCheck Enrollment, Here’s How to Get Through Airport Security Faster

If you’re a TSA PreCheck member and have noticed more company in the line at airport checkpoints lately, you’re not imagining things. New numbers show the TSA is seeing interest in its…

How Dangerous Is Turbulence on Planes—and Is It Getting Worse?

UPDATE, March 31: After the below article was published on March 16, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board released findings that the severe movements of a…

Is the U.S. Government’s New Dashboard on Airline Family Seating Actually Useful?

The U.S. Department of Transportation has rolled out an update to its airline customer service dashboard, adding a new section focused on which airlines do and don’t guarantee the…

As United Makes Family Seating Easier, What Are Other Airlines Doing?

Amid 2023’s busiest travel weekend so far, United Airlines announced it’s making changes to its policies and computer systems to make it easier for families to sit together. The…

Peru’s Machu Picchu Reopens to Tourists—but Is It Safe to Go There?

Machu Picchu, the world-renowned Inca citadel in the Andes of southern Peru, reopened to tourists this week after a nearly monthlong closure due to antigovernment protests. Peruvian…

Did You Know You Can Enroll in TSA PreCheck at Staples Stores? Here’s How

Because I'm a frequent traveler, I know I should have enrolled in TSA PreCheck long ago. But I'm also a writer and therefore a chronic procrastinator. So even though the U.S.…

The End of Tourism in Bali? Indonesia Outlaws Sex Outside Marriage—For Visitors Too

The slow creep of religious supremacism in world government has claimed a new victim: one of the planet's most beloved tropical destinations. On Tuesday the parliament of Indonesia,…

Bar Harbor, Maine, Votes to Limit Cruise Passengers, Setting Stage for a Fight

Amid all the U.S. election news earlier this month, you might have missed a development that could have a significant impact on travelers. Voters in the picturesque town of Bar…

TSA PreCheck Will Come to You Now: How to Find the Mobile Enrollment Truck

Enrolling in TSA PreCheck is getting more convenient in cities across the U.S. this fall. Thanks to the expanded IdentoGO mobile enrollment push, travelers who want to join the…

The FAA Wants Your Thoughts on Airplane Seat Sizes

If you think airplane seats are too small—and it's hard to imagine anyone this side of Smurf Village who wouldn't feel that way—the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would…

Will the U.S. Government Finally Stop Airlines from Separating Kids and Parents?

We can all agree that kids should sit next to their parents on flights, right? And we can also agree that parents shouldn't have to pay an extra fee or higher fare to sit next to their…

White House Tours Are Back. How to Snag a Spot and What You’ll See

A full schedule of White House tours will resume in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 19, the Biden administration has announced. As the Associated Press reports, free tours of the…

Traveling to Cuba Gets Easier for Americans—but Big Obstacles Remain

In late 2019, the Trump administration banned U.S. airlines and chartered flights from going to any cities in Cuba other than Havana. This week, as part of Pres. Biden's stated aim to…

This (Possibly Cursed) Presidential Palace Just Opened to the Public for the First Time

South Korea's hottest attraction right now is an empty house that's said to have bad feng shui. Cheong Wa Dae, also known as the Blue House for the thousands of blue tiles decorating…

What's the Most LGBTQ+-Friendly Country in Europe? This Ranking Declares a Clear Winner

Travelers concerned with visiting places that protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people might want to circle Malta on the map. The Mediterranean island nation received the highest score in…

$27 for One Beer?! Officials Vow to Clamp Down on Out-of-Control Airport Prices

Charging $5 for a bottle of water or nearly $11 for a side of fries is bad enough. But $27 for a single beer is outrageous even by airport standards. When a passenger at New York…

Venice Really Is Finally Adding an Entry Fee—Here’s How It Will Work

UPDATE, May 31: Officials in Venice have reportedly decided to postpone the implementation of the city's entry fee for day-trippers described below. Though the program's trial run was…

Where You Can Still Book Short-Term Rentals Under Honolulu's Strict New Law

Honolulu is changing the rules for what qualifies as a short-term vacation rental on the Hawaiian island of Oahu—and the term isn't very short. By a vote of 8–1, the Honolulu City…

Are Avis and Hertz Fixing Rental Car Rates? Congress Is Demanding Answers

As excoriating letters from members of Congress go, these made little effort to soften accusations. "Hertz appears to have used its market position to raise prices substantially even…

How American Travelers Can Get a Digital Vaccine Pass for France

Update: As of March 14, 2022, the Pass Vaccinal system has ended except for visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and other locations with vulnerable citizens. It is no longer required…

Work from Italy: Venice Will Help Remote Workers Relocate

The Italian city of Venice has never had trouble attracting visitors—quite the opposite—yet the population of permanent residents is in decline. The new Venywhere program proposes a…

U.S. Extends Mask Mandate on Planes and Shortens Testing Window for Border Arrivals

Passengers will need to continue masking up on U.S. planes, trains, and buses through at least March 18, 2022, the White House announced today. The country's mask mandate for public…