Weekly Travel Roundup
Here are some articles and links from around the travel world that came across my desk this week. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave them in the comments, post them on our Facebook page or send them my way on Twitter.
Airbus: Pilots don’t really need windows
Airbus has filed patents for a radical new cockpit design that does not include windows – and it doesn’t even need to be at the front of the plane, either. Instead, pilots in the future may use giant video screens to control the aircraft, making the plane more aerodynamic, lighter, and able to hold more passengers. This technology is still decades away from being implemented in commercial flights, but it’s always fun to get a sneak peak in to what the future may hold.
NYC’s First Five-Star Hotel in Decade Seen at One57 Tower
Hyatt Hotels is bringing luxury to New York when it’s 5-star Park Hyatt property opens soon. Rooms will start at $795 a night (and cost an average of $1.8 million to build) and will come with floor to ceiling windows and wood floors. The hotel will take up 25 floors of the One57 building in Midtown.
New Guide To Passenger Rights Aims To Help Air Travelers Navigate The Skies
If you’ve ever been seriously delayed, unintentionally bumped, or had your flight cancelled, do you know what your rights are? The Department of Transportation has mandated that airlines fairly compensate disrupted passengers, but every airline still has their own rules. Our friends at Airfare Watchdog go over what you should do if you find yourself in this situation, and then they put together a summary of all of their airline’s policies available on their website.
Southwest goes international, charts expansion
Southwest Airlines took a big step recently when their first international flight took off from Baltimore headed for Aruba. Initially, the airlines is offering three international routes, but plan for 50 by next year. This is great news if your a fan of the airline’s customer service, and the competition for other airlines big and small could help lower prices for flights in these new markets.
Near Miss At Barcelona-El Prat
In a display of both miscommunication and excellent piloting skills, one 767 coming in for a landing in Barcelona was forced to pull a go-around when another 767 crossed the runway moments before approach. Thankfully, a tragedy was avoided.
