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A little about Playa Zipolite, The Beach of the Dead . . .

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.

Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.

A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.

Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.

Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.

I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.

REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.

ivan

Friday, February 5, 2021

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Free Flight Change Policies by Airlines Peter Thornton - January 26, 2021

 

Free Flight Change Policies by Airlines


When it comes to planning travel in 2021, flexibility is in high demand. With so much uncertainty on when borders will reopen and when vaccinations will become widespread, airlines have relaxed, or completely eliminated, one of the most annoying fees in the industry — the change fee.

Change Fee Waivers for U.S. Airlines

Airlines used to rake in hefty fees from travelers who simply wanted to change travel dates — sometimes up to a $750 fee for international flights. And when the major airlines introduced the dreaded “Basic Economy” fare, changes simply weren’t allowed.

The pandemic has changed the game and multiple U.S. airlines have decided to permanently eliminate change fees for flyers that purchase at least a standard Economy or Main Cabin Economy fare. While this is overall great news, the marketing is aimed to make consumers believe change fees are no more, but the truth is that the lowest available fares (Basic Economy) will still have restrictions on changes after the pandemic has passed.

For now, most airlines are allowing free flight changes on all tickets — even Basic Economy — but the exact policies vary by airline and the goal posts keep moving, so you’ll want to always double-check the fine print before you make a booking. Airlines will likely end these blanket free flight changes on all fares once travel picks up again, but if you’re fairly certain you’ll travel with a certain airline at some point in the future, booking a great fare for future travel poses little risk with these great no change fee policies.

Note: Even though change fees may be eliminated, keep in mind that a fare difference may still apply. For example, if the new fare is $100 more than you originally paid, you’ll have to pay $100, but won’t be charged an additional fee on top of that. If the fare is less, some airlines will issue a credit, while others will not.

Don’t Be a No-Show

Most airlines still have no-show policies (so you can’t simply just not show up for your flight and expect to be able to retain a flight credit for future use). Instead, make sure to make any changes to or cancel your itinerary by the day before departure, or at least before the required check-in time. Otherwise, the airline may cancel your trip and all remaining segments without issuing any flight credit.

Last, but certainly not least, if you are traveling to, from, or within the U.S., and the airline cancels your flight or makes a substantial schedule change, you are entitled to a refund.

Alaska Airlines

  • No change fees for all fare types on new bookings made through March 31, 2021.

Permanent Change/Cancellation Fee Policy

Main (or higher fare class): Free changes/cancellations for all destinations.

Saver Fares: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking.

Covid-19 Change Fee Waiver

  • Saver fares purchased through March 31, 2021, for travel through February 28, 2022, can be canceled and a credit will be issued for future travel within one year from the original travel date.

See the full Alaska Airlines change fee policy

American Airlines

  • No change fees for all fare types on new bookings made through March 31, 2021. 

Permanent Change Fee Policy

Main Cabin (or higher fare class): Free changes for all flights starting in North or South America and flying anywhere in the world (except Africa), for tickets issued on or after November 19, 2020.

For flights within North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, there are no change fees for flights issued on or after August 31, 2020.

Basic Economy: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking for flights within North America, Central America, and Caribbean. Basic Economy fares to other regions, such as Africa, Europe, and South America, can be changed for a fee.

Covid-19 Change Fee Waiver

  • All fares, including Basic Economy, can be changed once without a fee for new travel booked by March 31, 2021, or for existing bookings with travel dates through March 31, 2021.
  • The new travel dates or the unused value of your ticket can be used for travel through December 31, 2021.
  • If the new fare is lower than what you originally paid, you’ll receive a travel credit for a future trip.

See the full American Airlines change fee policy.

Delta Airlines

  • No change fees for all fare types on new bookings made through March 30, 2021. 

Permanent Change Fee Policy

Main Cabin (or higher fare class): Free changes for all travel originating in North America and flying anywhere in the world, for tickets purchased on or after December 9, 2020.

For all flights within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), there is no change fee for tickets purchased on or after August 31, 2020.

Basic Economy: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking.

Covid-19 Change Fee Waiver

  • All fares, including Basic Economy, can be changed without a fee for new travel booked by March 30, 2021, or for existing bookings with travel dates through March 31, 2021.
  • The new travel dates or unused value of your ticket can be used for travel up to one year from the original date of purchase.
  • If you purchased your flight prior to April 17, 2020, your ticket may be rebooked for travel until December 31, 2022.
  • Tickets purchased after April 17, 2020, may only be rebooked for travel up to one year from the date the ticket was issued.

See the full Delta change fee policy

Frontier Airlines

  • No change fees for all fare types on new bookings made through February 28, 2021.

Permanent Change Fee Policy

Fares purchased with the WORKS bundle: No change fees; entire purchase is refundable.

Standard fares without bundle: $0 if change is made 60+ days prior to departure; $39 when made 59 to 7 days prior; and $59 if made 6 days prior or less (including same day).

Covid-19 Change Fee Waiver

  • For bookings made through February 28, 2021, no change fee will apply as long as you change or cancel prior to the required check-in time for your flight.
  • Frontier simply states that “you will retain the value of your itinerary.” In the past, vouchers needed to be redeemed within 90 days of issue and were valid for travel dates through the end of the current booking schedule.
  • The policy varies for existing bookings depending on when you booked.

See the full Frontier Airlines change fee policy

Hawaiian Airlines

  • No change fees for all fare types on new bookings made through March 31, 2021.

Permanent Change Fee Policy

Main Cabin (or higher fare class): Free changes for all destinations.

Main Cabin Basic: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking.

Covid-19 Change Fee Waiver

  • All fares, including Main Cabin Basic, can be changed without a fee for new travel booked by March 31, 2021, or for existing bookings with travel dates through February 28, 2021.
  • If you purchased your flight prior to March 1, 2020, flights can be rebooked for travel that begins on or before May 22, 2022.
  • Tickets purchased between March 1 – December 31, 2020, are valid for up to two years from the original date of purchase.
  • Tickets purchased after January 1, 2021, are valid up to one year from the date of issue.

See the full Hawaiian Airlines change fee policy

JetBlue

  • No change fees for all fare types on new bookings made through February 28, 2021.

Permanent Change Fee Policy

Blue Extra: Free changes for all destinations.

Blue & Blue Plus: $75 - $200 depending on the fare.

Blue Basic: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking.

Covid-19 Change Fee Waiver

  • All fares, including Blue Basic, can be changed without a fee for new travel booked by February 28, 2021, or for existing bookings with travel dates through February 28, 2021.
  • If the new fare is lower, JetBlue will issue a credit valid for one year.

See the full JetBlue change fee policy

Southwest

  • No change fees, ever.

Permanent Change Fee Policy

Southwest has never charged a change fee and you can always change or cancel any Southwest flight up until 10 minutes prior to departure without any fees. If the new fare is lower, you will be issued a flight credit for the difference. Any flight credit will be valid for 12 months from the original date of purchase.

Covid-19 Change Fee Waiver

  • Previously unused credits with an extended expiration date of September 7, 2022, will revert to normal ticketing rules once a flight is booked with the credit, and the new flight value will only be valid for one year after the booking date.

See the full Southwest policy

Spirit Airlines

  • Spirit is waving change/cancellation fees for impacted travelers, but there isn’t a blanket policy for all new bookings. 

Permanent Change Fee Policy

Fares purchased with Flight Flex: One no fee flight change.

Standard fares: $90 - $100

Covid-19 Change Fee Waiver

  • Spirit is waiving change and cancellation fees for guests whose travel plans are impacted by COVID-19.
  • There aren’t any set dates for this waiver published by Spirit Airlines on its website. You should receive a credit voucher if you cancel, which is usually valid to redeem for 60 days from the date of issue.

See the Spirit Airlines COVID-19 Information Center

United Airlines

  • No change fees for all fare types on new bookings made through March 31, 2021.

Permanent Change Fee Policy

Economy (or higher fare class): Free changes for all travel originating in the U.S. to anywhere in the world, and for flights between the U.S. and Mexico or the Caribbean.

Basic Economy: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking (except in connection with same-day standby).

Covid-19 Change Fee Waiver

  • All fares, including Basic Economy, can be changed without a fee for new travel booked by March 31, 2021, or for existing bookings with travel dates through March 31, 2021.
  • If the new fare is lower, you will not be issued a credit and will not retain any residual value on your ticket. Once you rebook a flight, the value of the ticket will be pegged to the new fare.
  • For tickets issued between March 3 – March 31, 2020, travel can be rebooked up to 24 months from the original date of purchase.
  • For tickets issued after April 1 ,2020, travel can be rebooked up to 12 months from the date of issue.


Mexico News Today Wednesday, February 3, 2021

 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Rights body covers up murder, torture, other violent crimes against migrants: report 

The National Human Rights Commission has covered up acts of violence against undocumented foreigners in Mexico, says a digital newspaper's investigation. FULL STORY

Covid-19 cases are on the decline for first the time since October, says health ministry

New diagnoses have begun to trend downwards, Deputy Health Minister Hugo López-Gatell said Wednesday, with preliminary data showing that case numbers went down 20% in epidemiological week 3 of 2021 compared to the previous week. FULL STORY

Covid vaccination signups overwhelm government site

The site, which is supposed to register seniors for coronavirus inoculations, was overwhelmed by high demand on Tuesday, leaving many unable to access it.  FULL STORY

López-Gatell criticizes testing travelers for Covid: ‘Sick people don’t travel’

The deputy health minister has dismissed the need to require people entering the country to present a negative Covid-19 test result. FULL STORY

Seniors invited to register online for Covid vaccination; regulator approves Sputnik V

The federal government has launched a platform where people 60 and over can sign up to be vaccinated against Covid-19. FULL STORY

Authorities in BCS say no to this year's Baja XL Rally

The annual off-road race is known as an “anything goes” event, with few restrictions. But in Baja California Sur, nothing goes this year. FULL STORY

Travel council says banning flights is not the answer to controlling pandemic

The World Travel and Tourism Council has slammed Canada's decision to temporarily suspend flights to Mexico and Caribbean countries. FULL STORY

Mexico protests another auction in Paris of archaeological artifacts

Christie's has scheduled a February 9 sale of 39 Mesoamerican and Andean works from “a notable European collection” that Mexico has asked the auction house to suspend so that the pieces can be evaluated. FULL STORY

OPINION

Mexico’s speedy approval of Sputnik V raises questions

Should we trust the controversial vaccine as it arrives in Mexico this month? It may be some people's only chance at inoculation, Sarah DeVries writes. FULL STORY

MEXICO LIFE

At these holy processions comes devotion, along with a most joyful noise

At many public religious celebrations throughout Mexico, the tone isn't somber and sober but filled with music, dance and, yes, fireworks, Joseph Sorrentino writes. FULL STORY

12 police arrested over Tamaulipas massacre of 19

The state officers are in custody for homicide, abuse of authority and falsifying information in connection with the killings last month. FULL STORY

Remittances surpass US $40-billion mark; analysts’ outlook brightens for 2021

Mexicans working abroad broke 2019's previous record for money sent home by 11.4%. FULL STORY

Designer offers compensation for use of indigenous designs

Zimmermann has offered to pay the Oaxacan artisans and proposed negotiating an agreement to allow it to sell the culturally “inspired” garments. FULL STORY

CFE forgives more than half a million customer debts

Tabasco Governor Adán López announced an agreement that eliminates the obligations of 607,165 customers in the state, some of whom haven't paid their bills for 25 years. FULL STORY
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Acapulco fishermen rescued in Oaxaca waters after being lost for three weeks at sea

The trio is now safe thanks to fellow fishermen who found them weeks after they left their home port. FULL STORY

Bred for sports and recreation, new type of donkey is bigger, stronger

The Mixtec donkey, which measures between 1.3 and 1.4 meters in height, is taller than most. FULL STORY

Mexico doubles down on its oil bet as the road ahead remains challenging

The annual oil hedge — insurance the government takes out every year to protect against price falls — raised US $2.38 billion last year, Jude Webber writes. FULL STORY

OPINION

Corporate deep-sea mining dreams threaten marine life

Dredging the ocean floor for resources could end up disrupting and poisoning sea habitats off the Pacific west coast, Shannon Collins writes. FULL STORY

TSA SECURITY SCREENERS JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE POWER February 2, 2021

 

TSA SECURITY SCREENERS JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE POWER

February 2, 2021

TSA SECURITY SCREENERS JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE POWER

February 2, 2021

The screeners at airports’ TSA security checkpoints don’t have a stellar reputation. On the whole, they tend to be unfriendly and more than a little bossy. Of course, every once in a while you’ll come across a TSA worker who’s a joy, like this one, or who did something super nice, like what this one did for me. But the overall appearance? Yeah, they’re crabby, irritable and more than a little bit authoritarian. Of course, there seems to be a good reason for that, but it still doesn’t make anyone feel any better when they’re yelling at some 85-year-old because they forgot to take their belt off.

Well, I’ll tell you – the whole COVID thing has not been good for TSA security. According to the TSA, over 6,400 TSA employees have tested positive for COVID and 14 have died as of this writing. Things have been better since that whole whistleblower situation over the summer, but some airports are only NOW getting enhanced protection such as acrylic shields at their respective checkpoints.

For a long time, TSA officers really couldn’t even enforce passengers wearing masks. They could ask them to, and if the locality had a mask mandate, there might be enforcement that way. But under the administration of former president Trump, federal entities were not given any power of enforcement. With that, there were no mandates and rarely any consequences for not wearing a mask at the TSA checkpoint.

That’s all changed.

President Biden made COVID safety one of the first things on his agenda and he recently signed an executive order on, “…Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel by requiring travelers to wear face masks when they are in airports, bus and rail stations, as well as while on passenger aircraft, public transportation, passenger railroads, and over-the-road buses operating on scheduled fixed-routes.”

As a federal agency, the TSA will, of course, follow those orders. With that, effective February 2, 2021, TSA requires individuals to wear a mask at TSA airport screening checkpoints and throughout the commercial and public transportation systems.

Said Darby LaJoye, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the TSA Administrator”

TSA will fully comply with the President’s Executive Orders, CDC guidance and the DHS National Emergency determination to ensure healthy and secure travel across all transportation sectors. This will help prevent further spread of COVID-19 and encourage a unified government response. As we continue to experience impacts from this pandemic, we are committed to this measure as the right thing to do for the TSA workforce, for our industry stakeholders and for passengers.

With a federal mandate in place, there can be consequences. As per the TSA’s press release:

“Whether beginning the security screening process at the airport Travel Document Checker (TDC) or submitting checked baggage for screening, all passengers who appear to be over the age of 2 must properly wear a face mask throughout the security screening process. The officer at the TDC will request that travelers temporarily lower the mask to verify their identity. Those who approach the TDC without a mask will be asked to wear or obtain one to proceed. Passengers who refuse to wear a mask will not be permitted to enter the airport’s secure area, which includes the terminal and gate area. Depending on the circumstance, those who refuse to wear a mask may be subject to a civil penalty for attempting to circumvent screening requirements, interfering with screening personnel, or a combination of those offenses.”

So yeah…I know that most people were already going through the TSA checkpoint with masks on (albeit some begrudgingly) anyway. But for those who chose to give the officers problems because of reasons, there are now consequences to their actions.

Update: Annual Nudist Festival Did Not Happen After All - Your Mileage May Vary Your Mileage May Vary Located on the Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca, Playa Zipolite (which means “Beach of The Dead”) is Mexico's first and only legal nudist beach.

 


Update: Annual Nudist Festival Did Not Happen After All - Your Mileage May Vary
Located on the Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca, Playa Zipolite (which means “Beach of The Dead”) is Mexico's first and only legal nudist beach.