Airline travelers get consolation
Travelers stripped of carryon toiletries because of heightened airport security will find a consolation gift when they pick up Avis Rent A Car vehicles in the nation’s major airports.
Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble has donated “smile packs” with its Crest toothpaste, mouthwash and floss that Avis will leave on the front seats of cars at 25 U.S. airports starting Wednesday, Avis spokeswoman Susan McGowan said.
She said P&G contacted the rental car company Friday to discuss a partnership, in reaction to the stepped-up security that dramatically expanded carryon bans in the aftermath of a thwarted plot to blow up U.S.-bound planes using liquid explosives.
She said the packs are full-size products, not travel sizes, worth a little more than a total $10 each at retail stores, not including P&G’s costs for shipping them. Elrod said at least 25,000 packs are being shipped initially.
Some U.S. hotel chains also are offering more free toiletries to help soothe travelers.
•Managers of three state pension funds with holdings in H&R Block Inc. urged the financial company Tuesday to reform its practice of giving high-interest loans in anticipation of federal tax refunds.
North Carolina treasurer Richard Moore, New York comptroller Alan Hevesi and Connecticut treasurer Denis Nappier, also requested an immediate meeting with H&R Block’s board of directors.
The states hold 1.6 million shares of H&R Block stock, about 0.5 percent of the company’s 322 million outstanding shares. North Carolina’s retirement system holds more than $7 million worth of H&R Block stock, according to the treasurer’s office.
•Nordic consumer regulators will meet in Iceland this month to discuss possible legal action against iPod-maker Apple Computer Inc. if the company does not ease restrictions that prevent songs bought at its online store from being played on rival music players.
The meeting, to take place in Reykjavik on Aug. 24-25, will discuss whether the countries will seek to file a lawsuit against the company, and “whether we will address the Apple case individually or jointly,” Bjoern Erik Thon, the Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman, said Tuesday.
In June, consumer agencies in Norway, Denmark and Sweden claimed that Apple was violating contract and copyright laws in their countries by making its iPod the only portable music player compatible with songs purchased from the company’s iTunes Music Store.