And other travel news you may have missed.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: South Korea has released a set of guidelines to discourage tourists from defecating in public; a U.S. tourist has gone viral for grabbing an alleged pickpocket by her ponytail in Venice; and Southwest Airlines has updated its policies for plus-size passengers.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
NO.1
DELTA WING PART BREAKS OFF BEFORE LANDING
A Delta flight, operating a Boeing 737 from Orlando, Florida, to Austin, Texas, gave passengers a mid-journey scare when part of the wing broke off. A passenger told CNN that the plane was shaking badly, and a video captured by the passenger showed a partially broken flap swinging in the air. Delta apologized to passengers and confirmed that the plane had been taken out of service. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.
NO.2
AMERICAN TOURIST CATCHES PURSE THIEF BY HER PONYTAIL
A video of a mom catching hold of an alleged pickpocket in Italy has gone viral on TikTok. Karis McElroy posted a video of her mom in Venice, holding onto the ponytail of the alleged thief, a teenage girl. She insisted that the girl had stolen her purse, which contained her passport.
@karismcelroy Venice pickpocketers picked the wrong mom to mess with 😂😭 #jet2holiday #foryoupage #pickpocketing #venice ♬ original sound – NYES | Fashion
The American mom says in the video, “Girl, I’ve got eight kids, you are not getting to me,” while holding the alleged thief’s ponytail after she starts screaming. In a subsequent video, McElroy explained that her mom and stepdad were on a cruise and were getting into their Airbnb when a trio of girls crowded her and stole her water bottle and purse, which had her cash, AirPods, and passport. According to McElroy, the couple used the Find My Phone feature on her AirPods and tracked down the three girls. One of them ran away with the purse, but two stayed; the youngest one’s ponytail was held until the police arrived.
@karismcelroy Replying to @kennedy STORY TIME #pickpocketing #foryoupage ♬ original sound – karis
The police arrived and were going to arrest them when one threw a bag at the mom, causing an injury requiring stitches, after which the three of them were arrested. Eventually, the mom’s passport and credit cards were recovered, but not the cash or the AirPods. One of the girls—who was caught by the mom—was just 14 years old and was later released on bail.
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NO.3
SOUTHWEST CHANGES RULES FOR PLUS-SIZE FLIERS
Southwest Airlines is changing a policy that will affect plus-size travelers. Starting in January, refunds for extra seats will come with new hurdles. The airline will offer a refund only if the request is made within 90 days of travel, both seats are in the same class, and the flight is not full (with at least one open seat). If passengers need extra space on their journey, a refund for the second ticket is no longer guaranteed.
Previously, passengers could book an extra seat for free or would receive refunds without these conditions, which made the airline a favored option. Now, Southwest’s rules will be more in line with other airlines. Recently, Southwest also announced other sweeping changes that set it apart, including updates to its open-seat and free bags policies. Some experts worry that the uncertainty of a refund might become an expensive gamble for travelers who need the extra space—and may deter them from flying.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Flying While Plus Size
NO.4
SOUTH KOREA SHARES GUIDELINES FOR MISBEHAVING TOURISTS
Tourist numbers are rising in South Korea, and the police have released a set of reminders for visitors to encourage proper behavior. Eight thousand copies of these rules will be printed in English, Chinese, and Korean and distributed in response to complaints about tourist conduct. The guidelines warn against minor offenses like littering, smoking in public, urinating or defecating in public, jaywalking, dining and dashing, and trespassing. Those who break these laws may be fined up to 200,000 won (about $143).
NO.5
IRISH RAIL INTRODUCES FINE FOR NUISANCE BEHAVIOR
The Republic of Ireland has had it with people behaving poorly on trains. Its biggest rail operator has introduced fines for those who vape, listen to music without headphones, or put bags or feet on empty seats. Train inspectors now have the authority to fine offenders €100 ($117). The rules are based on existing bylaws, and the railway operator is highlighting them to make journeys pleasant for everyone.
