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And other travel news that you may have missed.
This week in travel, several stories may have flown under your radar. Among them: an 18-year-old died while on a cruise ship; a South Korean cab driver has been sentenced to jail for scamming passengers with “fake vomit”; and Thanksgiving travel may be disrupted even if the government shutdown ends.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
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Ryanair Ends Physical Boarding Passes
Starting November 12, Ryanair will discontinue physical boarding passes. Passengers will need to access their boarding pass on their smartphone through the airline’s app. Travelers will no longer be able to download and print boarding passes.
The airline said the move is meant to provide a faster and greener travel experience. Passengers can also use the app for a variety of other services, including ordering food and receiving real-time flight updates. “While over 80% of passengers already use digital boarding passes, and therefore won’t be affected by this progressive change, we remind the small number of passengers who still print boarding passes to download the myRyanair app ahead of the move to 100% digital boarding passes from Wednesday, 12 November.”
If a passenger cannot access their boarding pass, they can ask the airline for assistance at check-in desks. The boarding pass will be offered at no charge if the passenger has already checked in.
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U.S. Secretary Warns Flights Might Reduce to a Trickle
Travelers faced a nightmare this weekend. More than 2,800 flights were canceled on Sunday, and over 10,000 delayed, marking it as the worst travel day since the shutdown began. New York and Chicago were particularly affected, and the headaches may get worse.
The United States faces a massive shortage of air traffic controllers, and the federal shutdown has added more pressure. Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 busy airports in the country. He said the situation will extend into the holiday season and “you’re going to see air travel being reduced to a trickle.”
The Senate is working on a deal to reopen the government, but even if the shutdown ends soon, the impact on travel could be felt through Thanksgiving and beyond.
Related: There’s an Excellent Chance That Thanksgiving Travel Will Be a Total Disaster
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Cab Driver Faces Jail Time for Extorting Passengers With Fake Money Scheme
A taxi driver in South Korea extorted more than 150 million won ($103,000) from passengers who fell asleep in his cab. The 68-year-old man was sentenced to five years in jail for the offenses.
The driver targeted those dozing off during rides. He would smear a mix of soda, coffee, and rice porridge on himself and the taxi, and accuse passengers of getting sick in the car. He sometimes claimed they assaulted him and demanded substantial compensation. He was discovered after trying to scam an undercover police officer.
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A Qantas business class lounge at Melbourne Airport was evacuated on Thursday after a man’s power bank exploded. At the international terminal, the passenger’s overheated power bank caught fire while in his pocket, burning his leg and fingers. About 150 people were evacuated as a precaution, and the passenger was taken to the hospital. The lounge reopened after being cleaned.
Lithium-ion batteries have become a problem on flights, with many power banks causing fires onboard. Airlines have responded to the risk, and many have restricted their use.
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18-Year-Old Dies Aboard Carnival Cruise
An 18-year-old woman from Titusville, Florida, died aboard a Carnival cruise ship. Anna Kepner was traveling on the Carnival Horizon from Miami to the Caribbean when she passed away. The ship, which can carry 4,000 guests, returned to Miami on Saturday as planned.
It is not known what happened. The FBI is investigating, and the cruise company has confirmed that it is cooperating with authorities.
Her family described her as happy and generous. She was an athlete and active in her community. She was set to graduate from high school in May, and she had taken the test to join the military. “We’ll always remember her for who she was,” her family said.