Travel Blogger

American Airlines aims to cut 13,000 jobs

DALLAS -- The parent of American Airlines wants to eliminate about 13,000 jobs -- 15 percent of its workforce -- as the nation's third-biggest airline remakes itself under bankruptcy protection.

The company proposes to end its traditional pension plans, a move strongly opposed by the airline's unions and the U.S. pension-insurance agency, and to stop paying for retiree health benefits.

AMR Corp. said Wednesday that it must cut labor costs by 20 percent. It will soon begin negotiations with its three major unions, but the president of the flight attendants' union quickly rejected the company's ideas as unacceptably harsh.

via www.heraldextra.com

(It may be time to use some of my 103,618 American Airlines AAdvantage miles.... TB)

Tripadvisor banned from claiming its reviews are real - UK Telegraph

(This is for the United Kingdom Tripadvisor site only.  This is a major problem with online reviews shown on travel sites, and other sites that use consumer submitted reviews. TB)

Tripadvisor, the travel review website, has been banned from claiming that all of its hotel and restaurant reviews are real.

It follows complaints that some unscrupulous hoteliers have posted fake comments on the site to boost their own business or sabotage others. Following a four month investigation, the Advertising Standards Authority found that it was possible for “non-genuine content” to appear on Tripadvisor, which is designed to allow holidaymakers to share tips and opinions on places they have visited.

The advertising watchdog said that because reviews can be posted on the site without any form of verification, Tripadvisor must no longer claim that all of its reviews are honest, or even from real people.

via www.telegraph.co.uk

Alaska Airlines ditching prayer cards

Responding to complaints, Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is eliminated in-flight prayer cards Feb. 1.

"This difficult decision was not made lightly. We believe it's the right thing to do in order to respect the diverse religious beliefs and cultural attitudes of all our customers and employees," Alaska Air Group Chairman and CEO Bill Ayer and Alaska Airlines President Brad Tilden wrote to customers Wednesday.

via www.seattlepi.com

Sunday Cartoon

Weekend Photo - Deer Valley, Utah

Skiers enjoy the slopes of Deer Valley, Utah.  More