A couple who were caught having sex on a budget flight to Spain were greeted by police when they landed.
25.08.2023 - 13:09 / skift.com / Edward Russell
The U.S. Department of Transportation has released its final rule governing the size of lavatories on narrowbody aircraft, or those with just one aisle, with the aim to make air travel more accessible.
Under the rule released Wednesday, all newly manufactured narrowbody planes with 125 or more seats would need at least one lavatory that is “large enough to permit a passenger with a disability and attendant, both equivalent in size to a 95th percentile male, to approach, enter, and maneuver.”
Travelers, however, should not expect larger lavatories anytime soon. They are only required on all newly built aircraft 12 years — or from around 2035 — after the rule becomes effective. Airlines will not need to install the new lavatories in aircraft already in service.
“The inability to safely access and use the lavatory on long flights can impact the dignity of passengers with disabilities and deter them from traveling by air, limiting their independence and freedom to travel,” the DOT said in the rule.
The rule, barring further delay, would become effective in 60 days, or around September 24. The DOT has solicited comments on the proposed rule since 2020.
The size of lavatories on narrowbody aircraft have shrunk in recent years. Airlines have embraced denser seating layouts on planes that, in part, are possible by shrinking the size — but not number — of toilets available to passengers. Carriers and manufacturers have insisted that planes remain accessible even as lavatories have shrunk. For example, they have incorporated removable dividers between two adjoining lavatories that, when removed, allows for the creation of a single larger single lavatory for travelers in a wheelchair.
The DOT already requires at least one larger, accessible lavatory on widebody aircraft, or those with two aisles.
The most popular aircraft flying U.S. domestic routes — the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families — would be subject to the new rule. Most smaller planes, like the Airbus A220 and Embraer E-Jet family, would not.
A couple who were caught having sex on a budget flight to Spain were greeted by police when they landed.
As fall brings cooler temperatures, many travelers will be seeking a Caribbean getaway this season.Puerto Rico should be high on their list as Americans can visit without a passport. That's a significant advantage given the current extended wait time for a new travel document.Routine processing times are up to 10-13 weeks while expedited processing (for an additional $60) can still take as long as 7-9 weeks."Since Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, American citizens and permanent residents don't need a passport to travel to the island," Discover Puerto Rico reminds travelers. "However, they must always travel with a valid ID, such as a driver's license or a state ID card."International travelers such as residents of Canada or Mexico will still require a valid passport to visit. Additionally, visitors to the island no longer require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result to enter.Amid Atlantic hurricane season running through November 1, travelers will also want to be aware of any restrictions due to weather conditions. Hurricane Lee is projected to pass north of Puerto Rico this week with minimal impact. "All major airports in Puerto Rico are fully operational, as are cruise ports with cruises/ferries operating normally. Similarly, all major hotels and venues are thoroughly prepared for inclement weather and have generators," according to Discover Puerto Rico.
Brazil will mandate visitors from the U.S., Australia and Canada obtain an e-visa prior to entering the country starting January 10, 2024, according to Embratur, Brazil tourism’s board.
Flight prices have been all over the place this past year.
Capital One, which led a $170 million investment round in travel app Hopper in 2021, has added $96 million to the kitty, and the companies announced a long-term partnership between Hopper and Capital One Travel.
Yosemite National Park will not have a reservation system for the summer of 2023 and will embark on a process of gathering community input as whether it should to reinstate it in the future. Yosemite put a reservation system in place for two years because of the pandemic and continued it because of park construction projects. But the reservation requirement set off a chain of consequences for local communities, including traffic jams because cars weren’t allowed to drive through the park.
Southeast Asia’s tourist economies are set to be leading beneficiaries of China‘s scrapping of travel bans as they have steered clear of the COVID-19 tests before entry that Europe, Japan and the United States have imposed on Chinese visitors.
Beijing Capital International Airport will no longer require proof of a negative Covid result for entry into its terminals, Reuters has reported, quoting Beijing News, a newspaper owned by the Chinese Communist Party.
China will stop requiring inbound travellers to go into quarantine starting from Jan. 8, the National Health Commission said on Monday in a major step towards easing curbs on its borders, which have been largely shut since 2020.
People perceived to be African American or Black still see their prospective Airbnb reservations rejected by hosts at higher rates than any other racial group, but the company made changes to Instant Book last month to attempt to ease the injustice.
Hotel company Sonesta said on Tuesday it would launch a new brand, Sonesta Essential, and offer a just-added brand, The James, to developers.
In hindsight, we should have known the mess that was air travel in 2022 was coming. Airlines kicked off the year canceling tens of thousands of flights amid the surge in Omicron variant cases that kept crews at home, and travelers — unfortunately — on the ground.