EU website scam. A fake EU border website has been stealing passport information, so be careful. Check the URL, and look for misspellings before entering your information.
Six Flags accident. An elementary school teacher fell off the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia outside Atlanta and perished a few days ago. An investigation is under way to determine how the accident occurred. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased.
Panama earthquakes. Panama suffered a 7.7 earthquake on Friday, October 9th, followed by more than 200 aftershocks. No deaths have been reported, but hundreds of buildings have been damaged.
Luxury suites on Japan’s Shinkansen trains. Japan’s famous bullet trains are now offering Supreme Class on some routes. The single or double suites have a lockable door from floor to ceiling, seat recline, and lots of space. The service also includes a welcome drink and a sweet treat of some kind. The route from Tokyo to Osaka, for example, currently costs $384 for a double suite and $268 for a single suite. What do you think – is it worth it? I think unless I got a meal, I wouldn’t spring for this, as Japan’s Shinkansen trains are comfortable enough already. (See the photo below.)
Cliffside collapse in Hawaii. The 90-foot volcanic rock cliffside called Holei Sea Arch collapsed into the Pacific over a period of days from September 23-27.
American Airlines flight loses toilet function. A Boeing 777 flown by American Airlines lost function of 6 of its 8 toilets while en route from Madrid to Dallas-Fort Worth. As a result, it had to divert to JFK airport in New York. The flight carried 287 people including crew with just two functioning toilets.
Nepal suffers another flash flood. On October 11th, the area along the Budhi Gandaki River in Nepal was evacuated before flash floods went through, destroying structures. Five people were reported missing, and many had to be rescued.
New flight to Marseille, France. Starting on June 4, 2027, United Airlines will launch nonstop service daily from Newark airport to Marseille Provence Airport.
American Express Centurion lounge upgrades. The Centurion lounges are my favorites, and they have plans for a few upgrades. Newark Liberty will get a huge new lounge, while London Heathrow will get a second one. The Houston and Philadelphia lounges will expand significantly.
Kenya’s first case of Ebola. A traveler from the Congo died of Ebola in Nairobi on October 6th, making him the first case of the disease in the country.
Delta Air Lines rejects Starlink. Unlike some other airlines, Delta has decided not to use Starlink for in-flight Wi-Fi, and that has caused a bit of a feud between Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian and Elon Musk of Starlink.
Famous Paris food market destroyed. On October 12th, the famous Marche des Enfants Rouges in the Marais neighborhood was destroyed by a fire. The oldest food market in Paris, it was a historic landmark for more than 400 years.
TSA automation. TSA in the U.S. is trying out e-gates and full body scanners for a few weeks at 7 airports in an effort to cut down on long lines and personnel. We’ll see what happens! I have certainly used e-gates in airports abroad.
No more horse-drawn carriages in NYC. Well … soon. Mayor Mamdani has reached an agreement with the City Council Speaker to phase out and ban the horse-drawn carriages by June 1, 2028. I applaud this, as I think it’s bad for the horses. But Central Park will certainly look different, and I feel bad for the handsome cab owners and drivers, who will have to find a different livelihood.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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