p26-27 letters june19 16/6/09 16:51 Page 26
Your letters
Visit USA responds to Jenny’s
criticism of Esta system
Jenny Ley-Meek missed out a crucial point
about Esta in her recent column (TTG June 5).
Carriers’ luggage
Using the US’s Electronic System of Travel
Authorisation (Esta) enabled her customer’s
problem to be flagged before the client even
travelled to the US.
If her client had tried to use his passport,
which was registered as “missing or stolen”,
limits are lunacy
to enter the US prior to Esta’s introduction,
the likely outcome would have been “Refused
Entry” with possible deportation back to the
UK. CAN someone, the OFT or the LET My belief is that we shall soon be
Esta has been put into place to pick up on CAA, put an end to the cut-throat
OF THE
TER
fed the myth that there are safety
situations just like this one, to ensure that all rivalry on the no-frills airlines’ (note: not “security”) reasons
visitors’ travel documents are pre-approved chaotic websites?
WEEK
connected with an aeroplane’s
for arrival into the US. Maximum measurements for all-up weight limit.
Quite why her client’s passport was registered cabin bags vary: Ryanair’s and In fact, virtually any modern aircraft
as “lost or stolen” is unclear, but it is most easyJet’s are the same, Flybe’s is appreciably operating a short-haul route to Europe could
likely this would have been an issue with the smaller while Aer Lingus’s is more generous – probably allow every traveller 50kg of free
UK passport records. until you discover the latter’s maximum baggage without even bothering to weigh it.
Esta did the job it is supposed to, but it is weight for a cabin bag is 6kg, against The industry should be shouting from the
unfortunate in this rare case that Jenny’s Ryanair’s and Flybe’s 10kg and easyJet’s “no rooftops to get the government to step into
clients experienced distress and additional limit, within reason”. this baggage farce.
expense before the situation was resolved. The Aer Lingus 6kg limit is laughable; an At the same time it should tell the OFT to
We are thrilled that ultimately they were able empty carry-on suitcase conforming to normal get tough with those airlines (including all the
to travel to the US with peace of mind and that maximum dimensions weighs 4kg, leaving the above except easyJet) which still don’t make
this issue was not raised for the first time on traveller the chance to put little more than a the first visible fare on their websites one
arrival into the US. pair of pyjamas and a sponge bag inside which you can actually buy, even if travelling
without exceeding the limit and being forced naked with a toothbrush behind your ear.
Kate Burgess-Craddy to check one bag into the hold (£24 for the
chair (designate), return trip). That is not just lunacy but the Colin Murison Small.
The Visit USA Association downright artifice of a barrow boy. Hidden Greece, Salisbury
HOW TO CONTACT US
ART & DESIGN
travel trade gazette
Address TTG, First Floor, Ludgate House, 245 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 9UY
Nick Bartolucci group head of design 020 7921 8014 Email Initial followed by surname@ttglive.com eg lhuxley@ttglive.com
uk & ireland edition
Jasveer Mehay art editor 020 7921 8430 (except for those listed)
Issue 2871
Letters ttgletters@ttglive.com
COMMERCIAL
Website www.ttglive.com
Features and Supplements 2009 List ttgfeatures@ttglive.com
EDITORIAL
Deborah Dewe sales director 020 7921 8025
Jamison Nesbitt sponsorship sales director 020 7921 8457
Fax Editorial 020 7921 8032/8033
Lucy Huxley editor On maternity leave
Sheryl Makin advertising manager 020 7921 8023
Fax Advertising 020 7921 8034
Joint acting editors: Lee Hayhurst 020 7921 8156 Robin Searle 020 7921 8001
Emma Barnes business development manager 020 7921 8508
Eric Findlay senior account manager 020 7921 8022 SUBSCRIPTIONS
NEWS Ricky Wilkes account manager 020 7921 8195 To subscribe, renew or check on non-delivery of your copy of TTG, call
Lee Hayhurst news editor (cruise) 020 7921 8156
Jane Carnall new media sales manager 020 7921 8044 020 8950 9117 or email ttg@alliance-media.co.uk
Chris Gray deputy news editor (aviation) 020 7921 8003
Simon Pilkington sales executive 020 7921 8019
Martin Ferguson reporter (business travel, technology, car rental) 020 7921 8011
Vanessa Powell journal administrator 020 7921 8029 Travel Trade Gazette is registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.
maferguson@ttgbusiness.com
Rupert Murray reporter (agents; operators; hotels) 020 7921 8010 ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION
Printed by Polestar Colchester Ltd. ISSN 0262-4397
Stephen Miller production manager 020 7921 8027 stephen.miller@ubm.com
FEATURES AND SUPPLEMENTS Nicola Hembra production controller 020 7921 8332 nicola.hembra@ubm.com
© UBM Live 2009
Robin Searle features and supplements editor 020 7921 8001
Mark Saunders digital production 020 7921 8386 mark.saunders@ubm.com
Philippa Jacks deputy features editor 020 7921 8038
Olivia Hemmings features reporter 020 7921 8004 EVENTS
Katherine Lawrey supplements and training reporter 020 7921 8018
Katherine Mannix event producer 020 7234 8729 katherine.mannix@ubm.com
April Hutchinson ttgluxury editor 020 7921 8440 alhutchinson@ttgluxury.com
Ellie Spreckley event co-ordinator 020 7955 3751 eleanor.spreckley@ubm.com
TTGLIVE.COM
PUBLISHERS
Charlotte Walsh web editor 020 7921 8006
Paula Martin publisher 020 7921 8026
David Goulthorpe group director
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION
Subscription rate £130 a year in the UK and Ireland, $275 per year overseas. Single copies available at £2.42 in the UK and $6.50 overseas. Unsolicited material cannot
Michael Walsh group production editor 020 7921 8013 be returned. While we take every care of photos and manuscripts submitted to TTG (UK), we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage. The contents of TTG (UK) are
Matthew Parsons deputy chief sub-editor 020 7921 8015 subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. Refunds on cancelled subscriptions will be made at the publisher’s discretion, unless specifically
Paul Revel sub-editor 020 7921 8017
guaranteed in the terms of the subscription offer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical including photocopying, or recorded in information storage or retrieval systems without the prior written consent of the publisher.
26 19.06.2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68