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Government/Legislation
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WHTI land/sea rules in effect as of June 1
As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), beginning June 1, citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda will need to show a passport, passport card, or other authorized document to enter or depart the United States via land or sea from within the Western Hemisphere. A passport is also needed to enter the United States by air from any foreign country.
A complete list of acceptable documentation can be found on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Web site. The Web site notes that the WHTI-compliant documents it describes are acceptable for entry or re-entry into the United States—that additional or different travel documents may be required when entering foreign countries and therefore, travelers should know requirements for destination countries as well. The U.S. Department of State Web site provides such information at its “Country Specific Information” link.
The goal of the WHTI is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.
Sources: travel.state.gov, dhs.gov
No legal imperative for missing-bags compensation
According to the Air Transport Users Council (AUC), airlines worldwide are offering too little compensation for missing bags. The limit—up to $1,500 for a missing or damaged bag on international flights—is set by the Montreal Convention, which governs airlines’ liability for passengers and their baggage. Industry data show more than 40 million bags were mishandled worldwide in 2007.
While claims have been made for the upward limits per bag, airlines can make reimbursements of only a fraction of the claim if receipts for the bag’s contents are not available. The AUC says that neither it, nor any other body can force the airlines to change the way they handle these claims.
The AUC does have some suggestions for travelers including pursuing the airline in small claims court if they believe they have a strong case. They also suggest that if a bag is lost, the traveler should ask the airline how much money may be spent to cover the loss and resultant inconvenience.
Other suggestions are:
- Use a secure and accurate identity tag on bag. Some bags go missing when separated from the airline’s sticker tags.
- Leave a little extra space in the bag when packing. Overstuffed bags are more likely to break or become damaged as they move through handling systems.
- Create a bag inventory and costs list. Frequent fliers may want to create a standard form that can be completed easily for each trip.
For additional information regarding lost luggage compensation and rules for domestic and international travel, visit the U.S. Air Consumer Protection Division Web site or the Canadian Transportation Administration Web site.
Source: cnn.com, www.airconsumer.ost.dot.gov
