Airport Tax Increase

METROPOLITAN PIER AND EXPOSITION AUTHORITY AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX RATE INCREASE

Effective September 1, an ordinance passed by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) will raise the departure tax* paid by limousines and sedans from the current $2.00 to $4.00 per trip.

*This tax is applied to ALL TRIPS leaving O'Hare and Midway Airports with fare paying passengers.

Van and bus taxes will also double. A vehicle with capacity of (up to) 12 passengers will now pay $18.00 per departure; 13-24 passengers goes to $36.00; and a bus or van with capacity over 24 passengers will pay $54.00 per departure.

Spring Break 2010

The annual ritual of fleeing the snow covered tundra of the north to warmer destinations in Florida, California, Mexico, and the Caribbean will begin soon. Verrrrry soon. Here are a few tips to make your life a little less stressful as you head into the travel buzz saw that awaits you.

• BOOK NOW! This is one of the only times of the year when EVERY REPUTABLE SERVICE will book up.


• Leave plenty of time. There is no reason to cut yourself short. On getaway days (typically the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday leading in to Spring Break and the weekend at the end), traffic in and around the airport is unusually heavy. Add tighter security, inexperienced travelers, and possible weather issues and guess what? Not the way you want to start off a vacation.


• Pack smart. Know what the rules are regarding luggage and only bring what you need. Remember, it cost money to check bags. There is now a price for bringing "the kitchen sink" on your trip.


• Bring a jacket. It may be eighty degrees in Mexico, but when you get back to Illinois, it won't be.


• Expect delays. Returning to O'Hare at the end of Spring Break ranks up there with the running of the bulls - orchestrated chaos. Too many people packed into too small a space only begins to describe what goes on. Until someone finds a way to alter time and space, it is likely you will experience some lengthy delays when you arrive.


• Be patient. This is a very stressful time of year for everyone. It helps to remember that tens of thousands of other people had the same great idea you did, and are now in the same boat. Limousine services do their best to minimize your pain, but their employees are human. They can not make traffic go away, chauffeurs can't "hurry up" when stuck in traffic, and no one can make vehicles appear out of thin air.