Boarding Pass

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 388th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.

Each month, this magazine presents articles and letters written by its subscribers, travelers sharing advice, adventures and discoveries. We toss in a few columns by Contributing Editors and descriptions of upcoming tours, events and products as well, plus news of interest to travelers. For example. . .

Travel agents in Hong Kong reported that authorities in China have stopped issuing multiple-entry, 3-year visas until Oct. 17, after the Beijing Olympics, though government spokesmen deny any change in policy.

This is apparently in response to criticism of China’s human rights record, particularly regarding its squelching of antigovernment riots in the Tibetan regions.

Agents report that processing of the remaining 30- to 90-day, single- and double-entry visas is going slower (next day rather than same day) as authorities more closely monitor applicants.

Ever since 2005, to lessen the impact of too many visitors, no more than 500 people per day have been allowed to hike the 4-day Inca Trail, which leads from the Vilacanota Valley to the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Peru. Consequently, by mid-April of this year the trail was “sold out,” with openings not available until September.

There are three alternative trails leading to Machu Picchu (pictured at left), and Peru is not short on other scenic hikes, of course.

Got your seat belt buckled? Okay, here we go.

I reported in April on United Airlines’ beginning to charge coach-class passengers $25 each way for a second checked bag. Continental, Delta, Northwest and US Air have implemented similar fees. There may be exceptions for elite-status frequent flyers, military on traveling orders and anyone paying full fare.

In many cases, the fee for a checked bag weighing more than 50 pounds has increased from $25 to $50.

Likely again leading the way, United is now charging a fee of $150, up from $100, to change a ticket.

Delta’s “handling charge” for booking tickets over the telephone has increased from $20 to $25. And the airline now imposes another “handling charge” of $25 for any Delta award ticket booked through a Delta representative that includes a flight leg on another airline; this fee is not charged when it’s booked online.

In US Airways’ new Choice Seats program, customers checking in online 24 hours before their flight have the option to pay $5 to $30 more for an aisle or window seat in the front of the plane. The price depends on the length of the flight.

This will apply to about 8% of each plane’s seats. East Coast shuttle flights are not included. Passengers with elite-flyer status may reserve the Choice Seats at no extra charge.

Among airlines that already charge for “premium” seats in coach class are Air Canada, AirTran and Northwest.

ITN normally does not cover travel in North America (or the Caribbean), but with so many costly trends catching on among airlines, I think you need a heads-up on this.

When an Air Canada flight is delayed, its customers now may phone special customer service agents who will provide “travel and accommodation solutions” for a fee. For short flights the charge is $25, and for flights over 1,000 miles it’s $35.

The airline purports that the agents are extra-helpful.

In the skies over Europe, the ‘No yapping’ sign has been turned off. The European Commission in April gave all European air carriers the green light to develop in-flight mobile phone service.

Carriers still need to install the hardware on planes, and each system will have to be approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency. Since, at cruising altitude and over water, your mobile signal will be coming from the aircraft, the charging of minute and roaming fees likely will be at each airline’s discretion.

Veiled good news — Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator, has agreed to refund $40 million among customers who were made to pay a fuel surcharge of $5 per person per day after they booked their trips.

Customers who booked their trips last year before the surcharge was announced on Nov. 7 and who traveled on or before April 4, 2008, are to be refunded and will be contacted by the company, which owns Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn lines. Those on trips departing between April 5 and June 23 will get an on-board credit. For eligible passengers departing after that date, the surcharge will be removed.

Previously, Royal Caribbean Cruises agreed to refund $21 million to eligible customers.

Here’s the bad news. Cruise lines are allowed to continue collecting the fuel surcharges, and the amounts have increased.

The Carnival Corp. cruise lines are charging $7 per person per day, not to exceed (with qualifications) $70-$98 per cruise; Azamara, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have increased the fuel supplement to $8 pp/day, up to $112 per cruise, and Norwegian Cruise Line, $9 pp/day.

In this issue of ITN we’re sharing “Q Ratings.” A reader suggested that air travelers keep track of how many queues they have to stand in at international airports, to give others an idea of what to expect.

With this first batch of responses have come ideas for fine-tuning the rating system, making it even more useful.

You have no excuse not to participate. If the lines are long, you’ve got plenty of time to take notes. If the lines are short, you’ve got plenty of time to take notes. Send in your airport Q Ratings. See page 46.

ITN Publisher Armond Noble, who has written a “Departure Lounge” column this month (page 104), showed me the results of research he did. He hesitated in letting me share them with you, for fear of appearing to gloat, but I felt you were entitled to know.

Each of the following magazines is followed by the percentage of its readers who are college graduates: TIME, 40.9%; Newsweek, 42%; Budget Travel, 43%; Travel + Leisure, 49.8%; Audubon Magazine, 58%; The New York Times (Sunday), 65.8%; Financial Times, 68%; Atlantic, 68.2%; Condé Nast Traveler, 71.8%; The Wall Street Journal, 76%; The New Yorker, 76.9%, and. . . ITN, 81.2%.

I thought you’d like to know the good company you keep, just who else is reading ITN. Clearly, you’re not swayed by the lack of slick paper and full color; you’re reading for content — and writing in to share your own knowledge with other travelers.

It’s appreciated. Willie K. Friar of the Republic of Panama wrote, “I love ITN and recommend it to all of my traveling friends. I, like many of your readers, have been to more than 100 countries. Thanks for a job well done month after month. My three-year subscription renewal is enclosed.”

Jacqueline Hetman of El Cerrito, California, told us, “ITN is the best magazine on the market and I still plan my trips from it. I always take copies with me on my trips and spread them around.”

Keep those letters coming, and enjoy the magazine. — David Tykol, Editor