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☆ Flight attendants and pilots are anxiously gearing up for a potentially record-breaking summer of travel
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"It's just a really precarious time of year for airline employees," Anthony Cataldo, a flight attendant for American Airlines with 33 years' experience, told Insider. Such predictions have left some airline workers anxious about carrying the industry through what could be a record-breaking travel season, four mainline pilots and flight attendants told Insider. Compared to last summer, airline staffing levels have largely improved, with Delta and United hiring thousands of new employees this year. The Southwest and American Airlines pilot unions both voted to authorize a strike this month. Air traffic control remains understaffedAs of April, the crowded airspace around New York City had 129 certified air traffic controllers — just over half of the staffing target of 226 — with 67 air traffic controllers in training, according to aviation firm Rinaldi Consultants.

☆ Forget summer Fridays: These 9 European countries guarantee workers at least 5 weeks of paid vacation per year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

But in several European countries, taking five weeks of paid vacation per year is a legal right. Swedish workers are guaranteed up to four consecutive weeks of paid summer holiday. For some lucky Americans, that might mean two weeks of paid time off and an occasional summer Friday. While two weeks of vacation may feel indulgent by US standards, employees in European Union member states have the legal right to at least four weeks of paid vacation per year — and some countries require employers to give their workers even more. From France to Austria, these are the nine European countries where companies are required to give their staff a minimum of five weeks of paid vacation per year.

☆ MSC cruise ship fails health inspection with the lowest score in years after CDC finds a door handle covered in hamburger blood and yogurt containers with 'black filth residue'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The cruise ship MSC Seaside failed its CDC's sanitation inspection on April 27, records show. The vessel received a 67 out of 100 — the lowest score a cruise ship has received in five years. The cruise ship MSC Seaside failed the CDC's vessel sanitation inspection at the end of April with an unusually low score. The vessel received 67 out of 100 points, nearly twenty points below the agency's passing grade. In the past 10 years, only three other cruise ships have received sanitation scores below 70, CDC records show.

☆ Airlines could soon be forced to pay you if your flight is delayed or canceled
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Biden administration is proposing a new rule to address airline passengers' rights in the US. It would require airlines to provide cash compensation for flight delays and cancellations. JetBlue and Alaska Airlines are the only carriers that offer flight credit during lengthy delays, the DOT says. No major US airline currently guarantees cash compensation for controllable delays or cancellations, the dashboard shows. For comparison, the department's 2021 proposal that would require airlines to refund passengers for delayed luggage and broken WiFi still has not taken effect.

☆ A millionaire who says flying private is as addictive as cocaine is selling his jet after learning how terrible it is for the environment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Georgia businessman Stephen Prince loves flying his private jet to Nebraska and the Caribbean. But after realizing the environmental impact of flying private, he decided to sell his Cessna 650. The experience is so amazing, he said, that he often compares the addictive nature of private jet travel to that of cocaine. The multi-millionaire's private jet habit first started around six years ago, when he began chartering planes and soon bought a Mitsubishi MU-2 with a friend. The organization co-authored a report outlining the environmental and financial consequences of private jet travel.

☆ Uber CEO reveals 4 ways to boost your rider ratings — and tipping isn't one of them
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi revealed the best way for passengers to increase their ratings. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi shared four pieces of advice for passengers looking to boost their ratings in an interview with CNBC Tuesday morning. He said a only a minority of Uber riders tip. Khosrowshahi's insight is based on his experience going undercover as an Uber driver last fall in order to better understand the issues facing gig workers. He told CNBC he's a 5-star driver and the tips are "pretty good."

☆ Meet the typical private jet owner: 'Overwhelmingly male,' over 50, with a net worth of $190 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Private jet use has become more popular than ever. Members of the "jet-owning oligarchy" have a median net worth of $190 million, a new report says. The typical private jet owner is a North American male over 50 who works in finance or real estate. The report describes typical private jet owners as "overwhelmingly male," North American, and over the age of 50. Full private jet owners have a median net worth of $190 million while fractional jet owners have a median net worth of $140 million, the report says, citing data from Credit Suisse and Wealth-X.

☆ Flight attendants reveal the nasty passenger habit that makes them cringe
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Four flight attendants told Insider they recommend passengers keep their shoes on while flying. "It's probably bodily fluids that you're walking in," one flight attendant warns. "It's not water that you're seeing on the bathroom floor sometimes," Leysha Perez, a regional flight attendant, told Insider. One Delta flight attendant went a step further to advise passengers against wearing open-toed shoes like slippers while flying. Rich Henderson, a flight attendant and co-creator of the blog "Two Guys on a Plane" also suggests passengers wear "practical close-toed shoes."

☆ Cruise workers reveal what happens if you quit your job in the middle of the ocean
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

If a cruise worker quits they have to pay for their flight home, current and former employees say. On a cruise ship, quitting your job is a luxury not all workers can afford. "What will happen is the cruise line will fly you home, but will deduct from your wages what you owe," Jim Walker, a Miami-based maritime lawyer who represents cruise workers and passengers, told Insider. What happens when you try to quit your job on a cruise shipFor the most part, resigning on a cruise ship looks logistically similar to any other job, except for the fact that you might be hundreds of miles away from home (or from any land, for that matter). Do you work on a cruise ship?

☆ Royal Caribbean's CEO made over $10 million in 2022 — 705 times more than company's median worker
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty made $10.76 million in 2022, regulatory filings show. Meanwhile, crew members onboard Royal Caribbean's ships made a median annual wage of $15,264. Royal Caribbean Group's CEO Jason Liberty made over $10 million in 2022, approximately 705 times the median annual wage of the cruise giant's shipboard crew members, regulatory filings show. Meanwhile, crew members working onboard Royal Caribbean's ships took home a median yearly salary of $15,264 in 2022, according to the company's estimates. On a single cruise ship, crew members may represent over 100 countries around the world.

☆ The 27 most popular places around the world where the ultra-wealthy are snapping up second homes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Hannah Towey | Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Over 700 "centi-millionaires" live in Miami and The Hamptons during peak holiday months. From South Africa to Italy, see 27 places around the world attracting affluent seasonal residents. Come summertime, that number skyrockets to over 700, according to the latest wealth report from London-based consulting firm Henley & Partners. The data compares the number of primary residents to seasonal homeowners during peak holiday months, which varies by location. From beach towns in California and Portugal to mountain retreats in Switzerland and Colorado, these are the world's top 27 seasonal destinations where millionaires are snapping up second homes.

☆ I commute between Boston and New York City up to three times a week on a seaplane. Here's why it beats taking the train or flying commercial.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

I've been using Tailwind Air, a seaplane shuttle service, to commute between Boston and New York for almost two years now. It's the most efficient and productive way to commute between the two citiesInsider aviation reporter Thomas Pallini flying on a Tailwind Air seaplane in 2021. If you fly frequently, the cost difference isn't that huge compared to commercialFlying on a Tailwind Air seaplane. For the long-term, it's not a sustainable commuteFlying on a Tailwind Air seaplane. I think short-hop travel will look totally different in 50 yearsFlying on a Tailwind Air seaplane.

☆ The US is one of the only countries that doesn't guarantee paid vacation — here are 25 places where workers get a full month off
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US is one of the only countries in the world that does not guarantee workers paid time off. 25 countries provide at least 28 days of paid vacation per year, according to a recent study. Do you live or work in a country that guarantees paid vacation? That's because the US is the only advanced economy in the world that does not have federally mandated paid vacation for its workers. According to 2022 data analyzed by the software development company Resume.io, a total of 25 countries around the world guarantee workers at least 28 days of paid vacation (not including holidays).

☆ The 'Robinhood of passports' says it's a mistake to ban golden visas — make them fund affordable housing and refugee programs instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Portugal and Ireland recently announced they are shutting down their "golden visa" programs. Their less-advantageous siblings, "golden visas," provide temporary residence permits in exchange for investment, as opposed to permanent citizenship. A golden taxInstead of banning golden passports and visas outright, countries should adjust the investment requirements to match their current needs, Arton says. A scandalous historyBut golden passports don't only raise the issue of inequality, the European Commission argues, they also pose a threat to national security. Last year, 282 of Ireland's 306 golden visa applications came from Chinese citizens, The Irish Times reported.

☆ Meet the real-life manager of the luxury hotel in Sicily where 'The White Lotus' was filmed, with rooms starting at $2,000 a night
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Lorenzo Maraviglia is the general manager of the hotel where "The White Lotus" Season 2 was filmed. He told Insider what the show gets right about his job and where it embellishes reality. That's because the renovated 14th-century convent overlooking the Ionian Sea was the central filming location of the hit-TV drama — and it's all hotel guests want to talk about. "It's funny because in "The White Lotus," Jennifer Coolidge gets killed on the cruise — so I don't know how inspiring that can be." Sabrina Impacciatore plays the hotel manager Valentina in "The White Lotus" season 2.

☆ Getting a new passport takes longer than you think these days. Here's what you should know about getting yours faster.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Department of State reports wait times of up to 13 weeks for a passport. As of now, the processing time for a new passport or a renewal is estimated at 10-13 weeks, according to the State Department. The State Department is facing "unprecedented demand" for passports, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, according to CBS News. The April estimate for expedited passport processing, which will cost you an extra $60, is about 7-9 weeks, the agency says. On its site, the State Department acknowledges extended wait times for calls about passport issues, and offered processing options for applicants.

☆ These US port cities are fighting to restrict cruise ships. It's easier said than done.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The pandemic offered coastal communities across the US a taste of life without cruise ships. Now, port cities in Florida, Maine, Alaska, and California are fighting to limit or ban the vessels. A few weeks prior, Juneau, Alaska's city assembly voted to cap the number of cruise ships visiting the capital's downtown port at five per day. According to one study commissioned by Stand.earth, an environmental organization, found that cruise passengers visiting Victoria, a major Canadian cruise port, were responsible for less than 2% of tourism spending. Do you live or work near a US cruise port?

☆ Google Flights will pay you the difference if a ticket gets cheaper after you book — here's how to use the new tool
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Google Flights launched a "price guarantee" program for some flights departing from the US. If you buy an eligible ticket and the price drops afterward, Google will pay you the difference. Through its new "price guarantee" pilot program launched in April, Google Flights promises to pay travelers the difference if their ticket price drops anytime after booking. If your ticket price drops anytime between booking and take-0ff, you'll receive a notification after your first flight. Within 48 hours, the difference should be deposited in your Google Pay account — just make sure to use the same email for Google Pay and Google Flights and download the Google Pay app.

☆ See the 6 private islands in the Caribbean owned by cruise lines with amenities like water parks, luxury villas, and private beaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Hannah Towey | Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

And of course, cabanas can be rented at an extra cost. It wouldn’t be a private island owned by a cruise line without some paid amenities, after all.

☆ Why you don't want to be called 'gate lice' at the airport
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Gate lice" is the unflattering name used to describe travelers who crowd the gate before boarding. But it's a major flight attendant pet peeve, aviation veteran Rich Henderson told Insider. The "gate lice" are likely passengers who are positioning themselves to be first in line so they can secure overhead bin space for their carry-on bags. Crowds of "gate lice" forming in the airport appeared to become more widespread following the pandemic, as The Points Guy senior aviation reporter David Slotnick wrote in 2021. But at least "gate lice" are waiting for their turn to board — unlike passengers who cut the line before their group is even called.

☆ 35 secret terms only cruise workers know — and the ones you don't want to hear as a passenger
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Cruise workers have their own secret language they use to communicate with one another. That's because crew members have dozens of secret code words and sayings they use to communicate while keeping passengers in the dark. Insider compiled a dictionary of cruise ship language based on interviews with cruise workers, previous reporting, and industry blogs. GUSTAVO GRANADO/AFP via Getty ImagesBabaloo: Alternatively spelled "Babalu," this is widespread cruise worker slang that means "fool" or "idiot." Cruise to Nowhere: Also called a "stay-cation" by some cruise workers, this is when a ship cruises at sea without stopping at any ports.

☆ Flight attendants reveal the gross reason you shouldn't take your shoes off on an airplane
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

☆ Republicans are more likely to go on a cruise right now than Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A recent survey suggests Republicans are more likely to take a cruise right now than Democrats. In a December 2022 survey of 1000 US adults, 35% of Republican respondents said they were "very comfortable" going on a cruise today, a level of enthusiasm shared by only 12% of Democrats. On the flip side, 40% of Democrat respondents said they were "very uncomfortable" going on a cruise ship, nearly double that of Republican respondents. Taking a cruise vacation wasn't always politically polarized — 16% of Democrat respondents said they had gone on a cruise prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, just a few percentage points less than Republican respondents. With this month marking three years since the onset of the pandemic, industry executives claim cruise demand has officially returned to 2019 levels.

☆ Vacation destinations like Finland and Sicily are giving away free trips, flights, and hotels to revive tourism — see the full list
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sicily is offering discounted airfare and hotel stays, and Finland is giving away 10 free trips. Taiwan said it will pay international visitors $165 and Hong Kong is giving out 500,000 free flights. Sicily, Finland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are giving away free flights, hotel stays, excursions, and even straight cash. Hong KongThe central district of Hong Kong. Starting March 1, the tickets will be distributed by airlines Hong Kong Express, Cathay Pacific, and Hong Kong Airlines, Time Out reported.

☆ Flight attendant of 10 years shares top travel tips — from how to switch seats to what happens if you cheat the boarding line
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Bribing flight attendants with candy or gift cards won't get you upgraded to first class, he said. Flight attendants have a word for that, according to Henderson, and it's not something you want to be called: "gate lice." "That's one thing I can say about all flight attendants across the board. Moreso than treats, Henderson said flight attendants really appreciate passengers who take the time to thank them at the end of the flight. "Even just so much saying thanks for keeping us safe, or thanks for all you do," he told Insider.

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