In September, Canada launched a passenger bill of rights, entitling fliers to humane treatment and--get this--a chance to disembark if a delay seems interminable. So we shouldn't be surprised by the latest bit of travel news out of Ottowa: Air Canada and other airlines based in the country can no longer charge disabled or obese people extra for an additional seat.

The Supreme Court of Canada didn't actually make a ruling in a case involving a wheelchair-bound woman and a paraplegic who both insisted that they shouldn't have to pay extra to travel; instead, the court decided not to hear an appeal, effectively upholding a Canadian Transportation Agency ruling that all carriers must charge passengers the same fare, regardless of medical concerns.

In the US, airlines can--and do--charge extra if passengers need an extra seat, whether that's because of obesity or because they need a caregiver to accompany them. The so-called passenger of size policy is of Southwest, which says you must buy an extra ticket if you can't fit between the arm rests, is now of particular interest: The low cost carrier starts code sharing with Canadian airline WestJet in 2009.

Related Stories:
· Air Canada Can't Make Disabled People Pay Extra [Bloomberg]
· Canada Protects Obese Two-for-One Rights [Airline Biz Blog]
· Progressive Travel: Canada Launches Passenger Bill of Rights [Jaunted]

[Photo: Eric Bégin]]]> pbb 2008-11-22T11:30:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/20/33634/589

Siem Reap Airways is the division of Bangkok Airways used exclusively to carrier tourists to and from Angkor Wat, the famed religious complex we helped you navigate recently. The busy airline is now suffering some seriously bad publicity after the European Commission banned the airline from using EU airports. The reason? Inadequate compliance with international aviation safety standards. Yikes.

Since the airline only flies between Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap, the town adjacent to the Angkor ruins, it seems like the ban prohibiting the carrier from flying inside the EU is purely symbolic. But it also serves as a warning to travelers that the planes are considered sub-par. The commission also extended bans on Angolan carriers and two carriers from the Ukraine. All the more reason why land travel becomes more appealing with each passing economically-depressed day.

Related Stories:
· EU bans Siem Reap Airways [Reuters]
· Wats Up: Intro to Angkor [Jaunted]

[Photo: Taekwonweirdo]]]> ced138 2008-11-20T11:00:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/5/152442/523

A 45-year-old woman flying from Puerto Rico to Chicago on United Saturday was duct taped to her seat by the crew after she allegedly slapped a flight attendant on the butt, threw a wet cloth across the cabin, poked and prodded her fellow seatmates and stumbled over another passenger before pulling her hair.

Eventually, the pilot decided to divert to Charlotte to toss Maria Esther Castillo from the flight. Once on the ground, she racked up a charge of resisting arrest to go with her count of interfering with a flight crew after, apparently, resisting arrest.

She's headed to a detention hearing in federal court tomorrow at 10 am, during which we'll hopefully learn more about what exactly was on that "wet cloth." We're so hoping it was just water.

Related Stories:
· Passenger Jailed in Flight Disturbance [Charlotte Observer]
· Bad Seatmates coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of what's probably behind all this: prettywar-stl]]]> pbb 2008-11-05T15:25:43-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/8/3625/86952

Not only do we have to worry about our investments nosediving, but now we need to worry about our flights on even the most reputable airlines doing the same.

Qantas, Australia's largest carrier and renowned for its safety record, was involved in some mid-air trauma yesterday. A flight from Singapore to Perth made an emergency landing after an Airbus A330-300 suddenly dropped altitude. As many as 74 passengers and crew were injured, some with broken bones and lacerations, officials said.

A fleet of emergency vehicles met the plane when it made an emergency landing at the Learmonth air force base, about 680 miles northwest of Perth.

We can only hope that the once heralded airline gets its act together and that all those hurt in the drama get well soon so they can enjoy the incredible, isolated, modern city that is Perth.

Related Stories:
· Computer Glitch Caused Qantas Dive [The Australian]
· These Particular Qantas Passengers More Than Allowed to Clap on Touchdown [Jaunted]

[Photo: tripletrouble]]]> ced138 2008-10-08T09:01:03-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/19/151011/333

Things for Alitalia somehow look worse than they did earlier this week, with passengers wondering if the carrier has enough cash to cover the fuel for its flights. (Alitalia says it does.) Meanwhile, Italy's National Civil Aviation Authority says Silvio Berlusconi has until Monday to fix the crisis--or it'll ground the carrier.

Berlusconi--who made fixing Alitalia a major campaign promise--is blaming airline unions for refusing to OK his most recent rescue plan. Fliers are already abandoning the airports for safer travel options; the state railway company is adding trains between Milan and Rome to accommodate the extra traffic.

Meanwhile, there are still lots of deals being advertised on alitalia.com: Want to flee Rome for the Sicilian town of Catania? That's just €92 each way! But, uh, book with a credit card!

Related Stories:
· Berlusconi Given Deadline for Alitalia Rescue [UK Times]
· Alitalia Flies into Uncharted Territory [FT]
· Alitalia Officially Italy's Most Ridiculous Airline [Jaunted]

[Photo: andreagraziadio]]]> pbb 2008-09-19T15:15:30-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/17/113830/528

We always thought of Eurofly as Italy's worst airline, but you can't deny it offers up killer deals. But Alitalia has just surged into first place among unbelievably horrible Italian carriers.]]> pbb 2008-09-17T11:50:28-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/16/171616/895

US Marshals have apprehended Christina Szele, she of the alleged in-flight outburst involving a cigarette, some swearing and a jab to the jaw of a JetBlue flight attendant.

According to authorities, she tested positive for cocaine *twice* while awaiting trial and was slapped with a charge of misdemeanor assault in Queens after a fight with her roommate.

The attorney's office in Denver, which decided to let Szele enter a plea in a New York court, now wants to prosecute its case back in Colorado. Since Szele's been banned from commercial air travel, she'll have to fly back with marshals on a government plane.

It'll be just like "Con Air," except she's innocent until proven guilty in court!

Related Stories:
· Woman from JetBlue Flight Arrested Again [Denver Post]
· Smoker Arrested Again [KUSA]
· Smokin' Szele Plans to Cop a Plea [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-09-16T17:20:16-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/