You May Soon No Longer Pay Fees For Hand Luggage

Oct 2 2023

TAG AN AVID TRAVELLER

The European Union is poised to revolutionise air travel pricing by potentially eliminating carry-on baggage fees.

The Committee on Petitions in the European Parliament has unanimously endorsed a resolution, urging airlines to provide complimentary cabin baggage for passengers.

This move seeks to enforce a 2014 ruling by the European Court of Justice that emphasised the importance of free cabin baggage meeting “reasonable” size and weight criteria. Although the ruling was issued, it was never fully implemented.

The resolution aims to abolish extra charges for carry-on bags and demands greater transparency regarding what constitutes “reasonable” size and weight.

Inconsistent baggage policies among airlines have often confused passengers, particularly those with connecting flights on different carriers with varying standards. The EU is also pushing for enhanced disclosure from airlines regarding additional costs such as seat allocation and flight timing.

This initiative aligns with broader efforts within the EU to streamline ticketing and fees for air travel. Earlier this year, Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs initiated an investigation into several low-cost airlines over hand luggage fees.

They argued that separating these charges from ticket prices could mislead consumers into thinking they were getting a better deal than they actually were. Spanish MEP Jordi Cañas emphasised the need to halt this practice, asserting that low-cost airlines currently obscure the true cost of tickets until the final stages of purchase.

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President’s Wife In Hospital For Investigations

Oct 2 2023

It was revealed on Sunday 1st October’s morning that wife of the President of the Republic Miriam Pace was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital for investigations.

These investigations are expected to take place over a period of two days.

On behalf of MaltaDaily, we would like to wish Miriam Vella a speedy recovery.

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Maltese Bar Serving Last Cases of USA’s Oldest Craft Brewery, Now Shut Down

Oct 1 2023

After building a 100-year legacy and establishing itself as the ‘Grandfather of American craft brewing’, Anchor Brewing Co shut down earlier this year and one Maltese bar is keeping the dream alive, serving some of the last few cases.

Valletta bar Sailors Paradise is considered a time machine into Strada Stretta’s days of old, with visitors coming from all across to world being taken on a journey through time.

Offering a rich, curated selection of food and drinks, Sailors Paradise recently announced that they have procured a few of Anchor Brewing’s last cases, which are currently on offer until stocks last.

Anchor Brewing started in San Francisco in 1896, and was the US’s first and oldest craft brewery, shutting down earlier this year after falling victim to an increasingly competitive market, declining sales and inflation.

“You know that old saying about a band who only had maybe 50 people at its first show… but every one of those people went and started a band? That was Anchor Brewing Company. And all their people were the best”, Anchor Brewing brewmaster Garrett Oliver told The Guardian in a recent interview.

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Crowds March in Valletta Calling for ‘Safe, Legal Abortion’

Oct 1 2023

On Saturday, hundreds headed to Valletta to join a ‘pro-choice, pro-mother’ rally calling for safe and legal access to abortion in Malta.

Protestors marched across Republic Street to the local courts with dozens of placards in hand as they chanted “not the church, not the state, women will decide their fate.” Placards included messages like “Against Abortion? Don’t Get One”, “My body belongs to nobody but me”, “No Forced Pregnancy” and “Abortion is common, abortion is normal”, amongst others.

Upon arrival at the law courts, four speakers made their message known, with Doctors for Choice Malta’s Prof. Stabile and Dr. Psaila informing those in attendance about their Abortion Doula Support Service whilst standing by their call for safe, legal abortion in Malta.

“The cry for safe, legal abortion in Malta keeps growing! Another rally for choice, another success. The number of organisations and people they represent keep increasing. Change is inevitable”, a post by Doctors for Choice on Facebook read.

This rally comes two months after Malta’s abortion laws were changed for the first time ever, with the government allowing doctors to terminate a pregnancy if it puts a woman’s life in immediate risk or health in such jeopardy that it may lead to her death.

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