Airbnb growing at hotels’ expense
THE strong growth of Airbnb is threatening the profitability of more traditional accommodation.
Travel
Uber is about to get more expensive
DO YOU drive an Uber? We’ve got some very bad news for you. And for customers, rides are about to get more expensive.
Traffic chaos as taxis blockade bridge
TAXIShave begun blockading the Bolte Bridge, bringing peak hour traffic to a standstill in Melbourne.
Airbnb landlord hit with record fine
AMSTERDAM has slapped a record fine of $417,000 on a landlord and agency which broke council rules in renting out 11 apartments via Airbnb.
‘Uber is dead’: Business plummets
DRIVERS on the ride sharing giant Uber have taken a huge hit to their earnings as protesters delete the app in droves.
MP’s awkward elocution lesson for LA
AFTER a flawless speech, the last thing LA Mayor Eric Garcetti was expecting from his Aussie guests was an elocution lesson. But he got one anyway.
Qantas ‘shed’ will bring in big bucks
QANTAS has launched the largest maintenance facility for A380 aircraft at Los Angeles airport, set to earn the airline millions in repair fees.
Hotel to pay $300k for sex attack
A NATIONAL hotel chain has been ordered to pay $313,000 for a “serious and shocking” sexual assault of a 21-year-old worker.
‘People have really bad character’
THIS is why we can’t have nice things. Uber-style bike-sharing services have been touted as the next big thing — but this photo shows the reality.
The social media posts that sold Oz
GEORGE the adorable baby wombat has proven even more effective than a bare-chested Chris Hemsworth in selling Australia to the world on social media.
Women sue Uber over nightmare rides
TWO women are suing Uber, claiming their drivers terrorised them — and that the company tried to cover it up.
This list will get you banned from Uber
UBER is cracking down on naughty behaviour. For the first time, the company has released a list of no-nos that’ll get you banned.
Time when cabs cheaper than Uber
UBER’S always cheaper right? Not necessarily and new research has revealed when you might want to get a taxi to save some cash.
Former employee: ‘Uber is spying on you’
A FORMER forensic investigator for Uber claims people’s personal information is not safe despite assurances people are protected from spying.
Cheaper flights could be on the way
FLIGHT Centre’s High Court smackdown could mean cheaper flights after the travel agency — Australia’s largest — was caught blocking discount fares.
Power fault leaves train passengers in dark
MELBOURNE commuters were stuck in the dark in the City Loop tunnel for almost an hour this morning after a power fault halted trains.
Great Aussie tradition dying out?
THERE’S a new taxi service in town, and it’s killed off the part of catching a cab that’s so frustrating – yet often entertaining.
Banks forced to hand over Uber users’ details
BANKS will be forced to hand over details about Uber drivers under a tax office crackdown targeting an industry worth $500 million a year.
Freak lightning strike derails trams
A DECISION will be made this morning on when Gold Coast trams will resume, after a “world first” lightning event knocked out light rail services.
Don’t get too used to cheap Uber fares
UBER has taken the world by storm with its aggressively cheaper fares. But one expert has warned it’s all a mirage.
Uber’s $1 million plan to get you drunk
THEY may have whacked a delivery fee onto UberEats, but the ride sharing giant is making up for it with the ultimate splurge.
Another official push for fast train
IT’S an idea that seems to be dragged up every few months. But there’s one person who’s throwing everything at trying to get a high-speed train built.
Jetstar forgot to off-load baggage
SYDNEY Airport baggage handlers were surprised to find a container of luggage on a Jetstar flight that shouldn’t have been there. Where did it come from?
Rough skies ahead for Flight Centre
IS FLIGHT Centre doomed for a hard landing, or just going through some turbulence? This graph could spell bad news.
Why we should smile at Chinese tourists
THERE’S been a massive boom in Chinese tourists travelling to Australia, it’s just one of the ways we are benefiting from China’s rise.
Airbnb facing its biggest test yet
AIRBNB, the online lodging service now worth $39 billion, is facing legal challenges that could drastically reduce listings in some of its biggest markets.
Lagerfeld fashioning hotel empire
FOLLOWING in the well-heeled footsteps of Armani and Versace, iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld is checking into the hotel business.
Why Australia needs a high-speed train
IT’S been knocked back time and time again for the past 50 years, but the latest company to propose high speed rail says it’s a matter of urgency.
Who is right in the bus ticket debate?
IS IT the passenger’s responsibility to have close to or the exact change when buying a ticket on public transport? The issue has ignited a fiery debate.
Kicked off bus for having wrong change
A YOUNG female commuter was left stranded and scared in the city at night — all for having the wrong change.
World’s biggest hotel chain is born
THE $17 billion merger of some of the best-known names in travel has created the largest hotel chain the world has ever seen.
Is this the worst train driver ever?
AND you thought Melbourne was bad. This train driver left more than 100 passengers stranded mid-route when he left his post for a bizarre reason.
Uber asks for government cash
UBER has taken the opportunity to make the case for a government subsidy during hearings at a Victorian parliamentary inquiry into ride-sharing.
Famous people who became Uber drivers
YOU never know who you’ll see behind the wheel of an Uber. Meet the TV, radio and sporting stars who moonlight as drivers for the ride sharing giant.
Famous people who became Uber drivers
YOU never know who you’ll see behind the wheel of an Uber. Meet the TV, radio and sporting stars who moonlight as drivers for the ride sharing giant.
Question taxi drivers should never ask
WHEN a taxi driver asks this question, we all get the same sinking feeling. It’s the feeling that says we’re about to get utterly screwed.
Goodbye sky-high credit card fees
TODAY marks the start of a ban on excessive credit card surcharges, and the consumer watchdog wants people to speak up if they think they’re still getting slugged.
Aussie’s insane work schedule
FIFTY long-haul trips in a year and days that started at 8am and finish at 1am. But it took one really crazy trip to give this businessman a reality check.
Flight Centre is taking over the world
FASTEN your seat belts. Flight Centre is heading for global domination, expanding its online presence and opening flagship stores.
Qantas completes stunning turnaround
BET you wish you worked for Qantas today. The airline just reported soaring profits – and 25,000 of its employees will be thousands of dollars richer.
Qantas rewrites aviation history
QANTAS has posted the best result of its 95-year history and is celebrating with rewards for employees, shareholders and flyers (particularly those who like cricket).
Uber users to be slugged $2 levy each trip
EVERY taxi or Uber car ride in Victoria will soon include a $2 levy per trip to help fund the biggest industry shake-ups in decades.
Uber’s new bid to change our travel
FIRST it changed the way we get from A to B. Now online travel business Uber wants to change who you ride with along the way.
Uber gets green light in Queensland
THE Queensland government will spend $100 million to legally usher in ride-sharing services like Uber, including a “hardship fund” for taxi drivers.
Virgin Australia’s massive loss
VIRGIN Australia has posted a full year net loss of $224.7 million, but says the costs will be outweighed by “significant, ongoing future savings”.
Richard Branson gets his space license
RICHARD Branson is one step closer to lift-off after Virgin Galactic secured its space travel license.
Virgin Australia posts $225 million loss
AUSTRALIA’S second biggest airline is bleeding cash as it struggles to turn its fortunes around, posting a $225 million annual loss statement.
Election wait puts holidays on hold
THE long election campaign followed by a drawn out vote count has left Australian hoteliers counting the cost of the political paralysis.
Uber to be legal in most of Australia
ANOTHER one bites the dust. Uber is about to be legalised in state or territory number five, as ride sharing keeps growing.
Our worst-performing airlines named
THE annual report card into the aviation industry is out, revealing the airlines that received the most complaints from customers in 2015. So who is bottom of the list?
China to control a third of Virgin Australia
CHINA will control at least a third of Virgin Australia as a result of Air New Zealand’s move to sell most of its shares to a Chinese company.
Uber driver’s shock rant
WE’RE not sure how this Uber driver didn’t realise he was crossing the line. His taped rant has gone viral on social media. WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE
The ultimate travel smartcard hack?
HE’S managed to travel more than 1500km for less than $20 due to a travel smartcard loophole but you won’t be able to enjoy the perk for long.
Virgin Galactic: $250k ticket to oblivion?
A PILOT was killed a disastrous test flight crash, but rich wannabe astronauts are still lining up for a spot on Branson’s new space ship.
Credit-card gouge put to an end
THE cost of airfares is set to fall after the Reserve Bank of Australia limited the booking fees and other surcharges companies can slug consumers when using credit cards.
‘We’ll hire a hitman to kill you’
UNPAID work experience is one thing, but in this surprising country, ‘interns’ say they’re overworked, sexually assaulted and even threatened with murder.
Bizarre idea to solve commute congestion
THERE’S a crazy new idea to alleviate the dreaded peak hour congestion and get everyone a seat on the train and bus. All you have to do is play a game.
It’s official: Your free ride is over
THE free-travel perk so many Australian commuters have been using will soon be a thing of the past.
Did this Uber driver cross the line?
AN UBER driver threatened with expulsion from the ride sharing platform for “a disruptive incident” says they were just exercising their rights.
Virgin ups its economy game
THE class divide at altitude continues to fracture into ever-smaller segments, with Virgin Australia offering a new Economy Space Plus category on its 13-hour flight to LA.
Most annoying thing about taxis fixed?
CATCHING a cab may be about to get slightly less frustrating. The taxi industry desperately wants passengers to trust it again.
Free Opal trips to end under new plan
COMMUTERS can kiss goodbye to free travel after eight journeys in a week under a new plan that coulds see you pay a lot more to catch the bus and train.
Fresh Uber price war erupts with rival
UBER is no longer the cheapest way to catch a ride home, with a new rival undercutting the ridesharing giant.
Could new price hike finally kill off taxis?
TAXI drivers struggling to make a buck in a market dominated by Uber could begin charging a “max peak booking” charge on weekends and public holidays.
Restaurant sells $30,000 bottle of cognac
THE 400-year-old restaurant that claims to have debuted the fork and inspired Disney’s Ratatouille is auctioning a slice of culinary history.
Overseas luxury here at home
TRAVELLERS no longer have to head to Asia for five-star luxury under $200 a night. Two of the cheapest destinations in the world are right here in Australia.
Virgin joins Qantas in slashing seats
VIRGIN Australia will take the knife to seats on regional routes as it struggles to turn a profit in a “challenging operating environment”.
The jobs killer is coming
ONE of the most exciting tech advances on the horizon could have dire consequences for Australia, ripping communities apart.
Uber launches ‘the Katter option’
IF YOU log onto the Uber app in Queensland today, you’re in for a nasty surprise.
Icon is ‘ugly’ and full of ‘tossers’
IT ATTRACTS millions of tourists but our iconic beach has been slammed by a promiment radio host as needing a “hose down”.
Europcar fined for dodgy contracts
THINK hire car agreements are confusing and dodgy? You’re not the only one. Europcar has been ordered to cough up $100,000.
Big problems with ‘contactless’ cards
FRAUD, lost cards and something called “card clash”. These are just some of the concerns coming your way, commuters.
UberEats delivery put to the test
THE new UberEats app is live, offering restaurant fare delivered to your door. Here’s what happened when we tried it.
Looming election ends travel boom
THE tourism boom on the back of the weaker Australian dollar has been cut short by election jitters — leading Qantas to cut back on domestic capacity.
Qantas shares plunge over axed flights
QANTAS shares have taken a dramatic plunge after the airline axed its plans to add more flights in the face of weakened demand.
Applicants quizzed on sexual preferences
PEOPLE applying to be train drivers in Melbourne were hit with some very personal questions when they submitted their details online.
Uber to be legalised in South Australia
RIDE-sharing platform Uber is steam rolling ahead with its national legalisation agenda, with South Australia the next state flagging new laws.
Coles’ slap in the face to Woolies
WOOLWORTHS caused customer outrage when it dumped Frequent Flyer — so Coles is getting into the travel business.
The worst types of Uber passengers
WHEN you’re diarising your life as a Uber driver, one thing is certain: there’ll never be a shortage of juicy content.
Filthy vans told to clean up their act
WICKED Campers is under fire again for another offensive slogan, but this time a man has taken direct action.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/page/43