Passport rule for air travel delayed until Jan. 23

Virtually all air travelers entering the United States will need to show passports beginning Jan. 23 — including U.S. citizens, says the Homeland Security Department. The department had been expected to institute the passport requirement for air travelers in early January.

Before the new rule, U.S. citizens, travelers from Canada and Bermuda, and some travelers from Mexico who have special border-crossing cards for frequent visitors were allowed to show other proofs of identification, such as drivers' licenses and birth certificates.

However, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says the passport requirement, which eventually will be extended to land and sea travelers, is needed for security. "The ability to misuse travel documents to enter this country opens the door for a terrorist to carry out an attack," said Chertoff.

Travelers going by land or sea between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and other countries will need to have a passport by Jan. 1, 2008 (although that date could be delayed somewhat). Get more information at the State Department's Web site: www.travel.state.gov

Air travel

Big airlines get bad marks on customer service

The U.S. airline industry needs to do a better job of providing timely information about flight delays and in handling bumped passengers, says the Transportation Department's inspector general.

In a report to Congress, industrywide shortcomings in customer service were detailed after a review of operations at 14 large U.S. airlines, including American, Northwest and Delta.

The report said improvements are needed in:

• Giving passengers accurate and timely information about delays and cancellations.

• Training employees who assist passengers with disabilities.

• Explaining to frequent fliers the rules and restrictions governing redemptions.

• Compensating passengers who agree to give up seats on overbooked flights.

Travel gear

ExOfficio opens new store in Bellevue for travel gear

Looking for adventure? Or at least adventure travel clothing? ExOfficio, an outdoor/travel retail company, has opened its new flagship store in Lincoln Square in Bellevue.

The 2,600-square-foot store, which opened last week, is the company's third in the Seattle area. As well as ExOfficio-brand clothing and accessories, the store has a travel-resource section where visitors can research trips. More information: 425-454-0914 or www.exofficio.com

New Orleans

More crowds expected for Mardi Gras parades

Although bigger Carnival crowds are expected in New Orleans for 2007, police will still alter traditional parade routes for a second year to avoid blighted neighborhoods and beef up security, the police chief says.

The Mardi Gras celebration will have more parades this year, 31 over 10 days, compared with 28 parades in eight days last year, said Police Superintendent Warren Riley. Parades will start on Feb. 9, 12 days before Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. No parades will be held on Monday and Tuesday after the first weekend.

Modifications have been made to traditional routes and start times so police can ensure the best protection for revelers, Riley said. Last year's Carnival crowds were about 70 percent of those in normal circumstances, and next year's crowds should be even larger, he said.

National parks

Get kids into the outdoors, urges Yellowstone leader

Communities that serve as gateways to the nation's national parks need to launch a "no child left inside" program to make children more comfortable with nature and encourage long-term support of wild places, recommended Suzanne Lewis, the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park.

"Visitation is going down nationwide in the National Park Service," Lewis said. "For Yellowstone in 2006, we'll finish up at about a 1 percent drop" from 2005.

Some observers say kids increasingly feel less comfortable with nature, and Lewis said she sees an ongoing debate about "nature deficit syndrome." She cited "Last Child in the Woods," a book by Richard Louv that postulates that today's Internet generation is less likely to identify with nature.

Lewis said that general lack of interest in the outdoors among today's children could spell bad news for national parks.

"If that is true, then who is going to come to parks in the next 20 years?"

Seattle Times staff and news services