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Monday, December 19, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Family Suing for Death of Man on American Airlines Flight
The family of Othon Cortes has filed a $1 million lawsuit against American Airlines alleging AA of being negligent by allowing Cortes to board a flight even though appearing extremely ill, failing to provide adequate medical attention, and for delaying the plane's emergency landing in Norfolk, VA.
During a flight from Barcelona to New York, Cortes- traveling with his wife and daughter- consumed an in-flight meal of chicken and suffered severe stomach pain afterwards. The family made a connecting flight to Miami where he is reported to have felt nauseated and short of breath. During the flight to Miami, Cortes suffered a cardiac event, the plane was diverted to Norfolk, and Cortes was declared dead.
The cause of the cardiac event is currently unknown. Though most food poisoning incidents take 12-24 hours to appear, there are more virulent strains that can appear in 6 hours or so.
During a flight from Barcelona to New York, Cortes- traveling with his wife and daughter- consumed an in-flight meal of chicken and suffered severe stomach pain afterwards. The family made a connecting flight to Miami where he is reported to have felt nauseated and short of breath. During the flight to Miami, Cortes suffered a cardiac event, the plane was diverted to Norfolk, and Cortes was declared dead.
The cause of the cardiac event is currently unknown. Though most food poisoning incidents take 12-24 hours to appear, there are more virulent strains that can appear in 6 hours or so.
Airbus Ceasing Airbus A340 Production
Airbus will no longer be producing the Airbus A340 craft. Since 1991, Airbus has built a total of about 375 of the four-engine A340s. The craft does not hold more than 440 passengers and has most likely seen a decrease in popularity as a result of the popular Boeing 777. Airbus will continue to make the A330 through 2015.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
5 Scams Not to Fall For While Traveling
It may sound absurd that people might fall for any one of these 5 tourist scams, but there is a reason they are on this list! Read on and travel with caution!
Police Officers as Legitimate as a Village Person: The most common variation of this scam involves someone who appears to be an authority figure (how am I supposed to know what a police officer in Vilnius, Lithuania looks like?) that approaches you to warn of counterfeit money going around and insists on inspecting your wallet in order to ensure you have not been a victim. Naturally, after handing over your wallet the scam artist either runs off with your wallet/ passport or slickly steals what is of value inside of it before giving it back to you and telling you that you're clear.
Avoid anything that seems like suspicious police work! Don't hand over your valuables to anyone in a uniform!
Sorry I Bumped Into You! Let Me Take Your Wallet Now, Thanks!: Pickpockets are very common in areas with high tourist density and often work in teams in order to derail you of your valuables. These thieves often make their way through crowded areas where it is common to be bumped into or will accidentally spill something on you or something of that manner in order to gain access to you and anything you have that is worth money. Other common variants of this scam involve children asking for money, babies getting thrust towards you (in order for your instinct of reaching out for the child to create an opening to steal your goods), and other such events that cause you to fall victim because you are simply being a good human.
Avoid this by keeping your valuables somewhere safe and secure (no back pockets), keeping your purse/ bag around your body and secured in the front of your body, or by keeping your valuable items concealed under your clothing (though this practice when done poorly can showcase your foreignness, so be incognito).
Money "Errors" Like- Oh! 100 - 28 Isn't 11? Oops!: Only got 130 Euro for that $500 you just ponied up? No, the exchange rates didn't warp overnight (and those absurdly high exchange fees did not cost you 200 Euro). In locations that you are very unfamiliar with (though you should have done SOME research before showing up!), look out for the old slow count at cashiers where their counting methods may make it seem like you get the right amount or other similar curious encounters with exchangers. Also beware at restaurants and such (make sure you get the right amount of change back from your bill, as this is easily overlooked).
Avoid this by always using small bills and carefully counting your change. Also, make sure to only exchange money at a trusted retailer.
Scandalous Cab Drivers: Anyone who has traveled abroad should be familiar with the hoards of unscrupulous cab operators that lurk outside of airports (and other areas where transportation is a must), often following and harassing both individuals and groups about giving them a ride- maybe even offering a "package deal" that seems silly to pass up! Often these deals feature a discount hotel room with your cab fare, but when you show up to the (shoddy) hotel, the cheap rooms are all mysteriously gone and all that are left are overpriced rooms (with the cabbie getting a cut). Get fares up front and if it seems unfair, it probably is.
Police Officers as Legitimate as a Village Person: The most common variation of this scam involves someone who appears to be an authority figure (how am I supposed to know what a police officer in Vilnius, Lithuania looks like?) that approaches you to warn of counterfeit money going around and insists on inspecting your wallet in order to ensure you have not been a victim. Naturally, after handing over your wallet the scam artist either runs off with your wallet/ passport or slickly steals what is of value inside of it before giving it back to you and telling you that you're clear.
Avoid anything that seems like suspicious police work! Don't hand over your valuables to anyone in a uniform!
Sorry I Bumped Into You! Let Me Take Your Wallet Now, Thanks!: Pickpockets are very common in areas with high tourist density and often work in teams in order to derail you of your valuables. These thieves often make their way through crowded areas where it is common to be bumped into or will accidentally spill something on you or something of that manner in order to gain access to you and anything you have that is worth money. Other common variants of this scam involve children asking for money, babies getting thrust towards you (in order for your instinct of reaching out for the child to create an opening to steal your goods), and other such events that cause you to fall victim because you are simply being a good human.
Avoid this by keeping your valuables somewhere safe and secure (no back pockets), keeping your purse/ bag around your body and secured in the front of your body, or by keeping your valuable items concealed under your clothing (though this practice when done poorly can showcase your foreignness, so be incognito).
Money "Errors" Like- Oh! 100 - 28 Isn't 11? Oops!: Only got 130 Euro for that $500 you just ponied up? No, the exchange rates didn't warp overnight (and those absurdly high exchange fees did not cost you 200 Euro). In locations that you are very unfamiliar with (though you should have done SOME research before showing up!), look out for the old slow count at cashiers where their counting methods may make it seem like you get the right amount or other similar curious encounters with exchangers. Also beware at restaurants and such (make sure you get the right amount of change back from your bill, as this is easily overlooked).
Avoid this by always using small bills and carefully counting your change. Also, make sure to only exchange money at a trusted retailer.
Scandalous Cab Drivers: Anyone who has traveled abroad should be familiar with the hoards of unscrupulous cab operators that lurk outside of airports (and other areas where transportation is a must), often following and harassing both individuals and groups about giving them a ride- maybe even offering a "package deal" that seems silly to pass up! Often these deals feature a discount hotel room with your cab fare, but when you show up to the (shoddy) hotel, the cheap rooms are all mysteriously gone and all that are left are overpriced rooms (with the cabbie getting a cut). Get fares up front and if it seems unfair, it probably is.
Ways to avoid this one are pretty straightforward. Do your research. Know the distance between the airport and hotel (or wherever you plan on traveling to)- make sure the driver knows that you are knowledgeable (even if you might be faking it). Only take trusted, licensed cabs (no... not every person with a car offering rides is a legitimate cab driver...) not just any unmarked car off the street- many cities like London offer a service that can provide an official cab for you for little or no cost.
And of course...
The Deceitful Do-gooder: Beware the all-too-eager-to-help bystander, they may be out to rip you off. This is not to say that you should be suspicious of every person that comes within a 48 foot radius and offers to help you out, some people actually are good Samaritans. Some common traps: In Spain, a woman offers you a sprig of rosemary and as you reach out for it, she grabs your hand and reads your fortune and demands payment; in Paris, people on the street may offer to make you a friendship bracelet and the next thing you know they have a super strong string tied around your finger threatening to break it unless you pay them big bucks; somebody may pop your tire and then nicely offer to help you change it (while their accomplice raids your vehicle); and don't forget the classic "I will take your picture!" and then scream at you as they are sprinting down the road while you are standing there looking foolish pretending to hold the Leaning Tower of Pisa up with just a finger (a mere finger!)... "Sucker! Thanks for the camera!" Others offer to help buy you train tickets, etc only to take off with your cash.
Bottom line is, not everybody is out to get you- but if you're not careful you might just get got by the one person that is. Don't give people an opening and you likely won't be targeted. If you are approached by someone it is typically a best practice to avoid eye contact and not to accept anything they are handing out.
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