Travel Agents Take Second Hit From Airlines
For the second time in two years, travel agents have taken a hit on airline ticket commissions. The nation’s six largest airlines - United, Delta, American, Northwest, USAirways and Continental - recently cut all commissions to 8 percent, with a cap of $50.
Why should you care? The American Society of Travel Agents predicts consumers will ultimately suffer from less service and higher prices.
Agents still sell about 80 percent of airline tickets, but passengers are increasingly booking via the Internet. ASTA says as more struggling agents are squeezed out of business, passengers will “suffer the consequence of no longer having access to complete, accurate and objective information about their choices.” More agents also may charge fees for services (about a quarter now do - up from 10 percent before commissions were capped), ASTA said.
Airlines say cutting commissions will save up to $100 million a year and enable them to offer improved service.
Toll-free palaces: One-stop shopping for information on some of Britain’s royal palaces and other tourist attractions is provided by a new toll-free number: (800) 806-7187.
The number gives recorded information on the Kensington Palace State Apartments, where Princess Diana lived before her death, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Palace and the Banqueting House in Whitehall, as well as the Tower of London. It includes descriptions of the sites, directions, hours open, special events and how to mail-order items from gift shops at the sites.
A note on the Kensington Palace State Apartments: They are closed for renovations and are expected to reopen next May.
Guggenheim in Spain: The much-heralded Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Bilbao, Spain, designed by Los Angeles architect Frank O. Gehry, is set to open today.
The inaugural exhibition offers more than 300 modern and contemporary artworks.
The museum will be closed Mondays, with varying hours on the other days. Admission is $4.
Foliage top trip: The top motorcoach trips, as selected by the readers of Mature Traveler magazine in the September issue: 1. New England leaf-watching; 2. American West; 3. Branson, Mo.; 4. Nashville; 5. Washington, D.C.; 6. Alaska; 7. Europe and the United Kingdom; 8. Western Canada; 9. Orlando; 10. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
From the bookshelf: Literature, photography and adventure are the themes of three new books for travelers.
“Sleeping with Literary Lions: The Booklover’s Guide to Bed and Breakfasts” (Fulcrum, $16.95, paper) by Peggy van Hulsteyn takes readers on an exploration of sites and accommodations dedicated to American authors and their fans.
Organized by state, the book includes anecdotes about writers both famous and lesser-known. Pacific Northwest guest houses earning a mention include the Chambered Nautilus B&B and Beech Tree Manor in Seattle; Povey Pensione in Hailey Idaho, the River Street Inn in Sun Valley, and Ketchum Korral Motor Lodge; the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, Ore.; and four B&Bs in Ashland, site of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival - Chanticleer B&B Inn, Hersey House, Morical House Garden Inn and Mount Ashland Inn.
“Nature Photography HOTSPOTS” (Firefly, $19.95, paper) by Tim Fitzharris is intended for the serious photographers. But anyone who enjoys exceptional wildlife and landscape photography will enjoy Fitzharris’ colorful images.
The book is divided into five categories: marine wildlife, landscapes, small treasures, big game and birds. Within those categories Fitzharris addresses five or six specific subjects - for instance, chipmunks and squirrels at Banff National Park in Alberta - and suggests the best time of year and best strategy to capture them on film.
“Travels Along the Edge” (Vintage, $14, paper) by David Noland is an invitation to abandon the cruise ship, skip the tour bus and set off on an adventure that will make your friends question your sanity.
Noland recommends 40 exotic ways to see the world, from paddling Alaska’s Kongakut River to hanging out in the Sahara Desert with Mauritanian nomads.
All these trips - from ski-touring the Tetons to horseback riding in Mongolia - share a degree of excitement and challenge, as well as uncertainty and even danger. And in case you can’t resist, Noland offers tips on choosing the trip and outfitter right for you.
, DataTimes