Travelers get charitable choice

Thu., Sept. 24, 2009

Joshua Freed Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS – Travelers who buy airline tickets already wrestle with add-ons like cars, hotels or planting a tree to make up for the jet fuel planes burn. Soon, they may be able to donate to fight AIDS in developing countries, too.

The three major ticket distributors – Amadeus, Travelport and Sabre Holdings Corp. – announced on Wednesday that they’ve agreed to make donations of $2 or more an option for ticket sellers and buyers starting early next year.

The money will go to the Millennium Foundation, which works with United Nations-funded UNITAID to supply low-cost drugs to the developing world to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. They’re calling the donation effort MassiveGood.

It’s optional for everyone involved, including online sites, travel agents and corporate buyers such as American Express Business Travel and Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Both of those firms confirmed they intend to offer the donation option to companies that buy through them.

But the optional part could be the rub. While the ticket distributors are agreeing to allow and process the donations, travelers won’t see the donation option unless it’s offered by ticket sellers like Travelocity, travel agents and corporate travel. Tickets sold directly through airline Web sites aren’t part of the program.

So it remains to be seen how often travelers will encounter the pitch to make a donation.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Travelers get charitable choice

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

New: The Dirt: STCU to build 20th Spokane County branch

Starbucks rolls out performance bonuses, tipping changes for baristas

Spokane-area bike shop peddles off into the sun set