July 16, 2010
Higher
Passport Fees Now in Effect
The
United States Department of State, Bureau of Consular
Affairs, has implemented new passport fees, effective
July 13.
Passport
fees increased effective July 13, the State Department
recently announced. The cost of getting a brand-new
passport for someone 16 or older has jumped 35 percent,
to $135 from $100, and for those under 16 has increased
by nearly 25 percent, to $105 from $85. If you’ve
already got your passport, you’re not immune:
the cost of renewing your passport for those 16 and
over has increased 47 percent, to $110 from $75.
Submitting
incorrect passport fees could delay the processing
of your application. Before submitting your application,
read the information below carefully and entirely
to ensure that your payment is correct. See
details
Air
passengers face fresh strike threat
Passengers
are facing the threat of more flight disruption after
the Unite union announced on Friday that it would
ballot more than 6,000 members on strikes in a pay
dispute that could close BAA's six UK airports. Read
more
Fees
and fares are the same thing ... or are they?
The
subject of airline fees was the story of the day in
the airline industry, with reports coming in from
publications across the nation. That follows the release
of a report from a federal watchdog on Wednesday,
which came ahead of a Congressional hearing on the
same subject. Read
more
Delta
Launches Global Fall Fare Sale
Delta
Air Lines has put hundreds of domestic and international
destinations on sale for travel this fall, with savings
on 21-day advance purchase tickets to many popular
destinations. Read
more
Germany
Considers Environmental Tax on Air Travel
In
a bid to encourage more environmentally friendly travel
and bolster its coffers, Germany will reportedly begin
charging airline passengers up to 26 euros ($33) for
flights taking off in the country. Read
more
International
air travel snaps back in May: IATA
IATA
reported that the recovery in premium travel resumed
in May following April's volcanic ash-driven slowdown,
rising 18.7% year-over-year for the month, a sharp
contrast from April's 1.1% growth. Read
more
Boeing
Lifts Long-Range Forecast
With
air passenger and cargo traffic recovering steadily,
Boeing on Thursday raised its long-range forecast
for commercial aircraft demand, citing expectations
of steady air traffic growth in Asia’s emerging markets
and the rapid expansion of low-cost carriers in Europe. Read
more
Airline
recovery spells good news for business travelers
For the first time in a
long while, a climate of "cautious optimism" pervades
the airline industry as the economy rebounds and business
travelers take to the road again. Such was the mood
among the world's airline CEOs at the recent annual
meeting of the International Air Transport Association
(IATA), where 700 industry leaders gathered to discuss
current issues in air travel. Read
more
How
to Get an International Driver License
If you are headed overseas
for extended business, you may find that having an
International Driver License makes things easier.
Here's how to apply for one: Read
more