Traveling in tragedy's wake

We had intended this to be the Sunday Travel edition that celebrates the glories of fall color. After considerable discussion, we decided to stick to that schedule, but like the black-and-white photo of a leafy glade on today's cover, our colors have been muted by the cloud of destruction that has wafted across the nation's skies.

The incomprehensible, volcanic chain of events that began Tuesday morning have already echoed around the world. Unthinkable terrorism has caused unimaginable destruction, with disruption and loss beyond anyone's calculation.

The anguish of those who mourn lost and injured loved ones is felt even by those of us for whom daily life proceeds with some semblance of normalcy.

But as we're all likely to learn in the coming months, normalcy is a term we will need to redefine.

The three-day lock-down of America's transportation system stranded millions of travelers in unexpected places and kept many millions more from going somewhere they'd planned. With no planes or buses, conventions, business meetings, sporting events and vacations across the country were canceled.

The financial ramifications of this are enormous. Estimates are that domestic airlines lost $300 million a day while planes were grounded. Midway Air, which has already ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy, is likely only the first of the casualties among start-up carriers.

Even the major airlines will feel the pain, not to mention the many other segments of the travel industry, both here and abroad. For example, Britain, plagued by hoof and mouth disease, has already had a disastrous season; this latest development won't help.

The short-term situation for travelers is also confusing.

America's major airlines, hotels and cruise companies claim they'll allow trips to be rescheduled or refunded at no cost.

US Airways passengers who had tickets for travel between Sept. 11 and 16, may choose one of the following options :

Reschedule travel up to seven days from the original trip date.

Apply the ticket value toward the purchase of a future flight up to one year from the original first date of travel.

Take a refund for unused travel segments.

Tickets for travel tomorrow and beyond may be refunded per applicable fare rule.

Other airlines and hotel chains have similar policies in place. Most also provide up-to-date flight status reports on their Internet sites and toll-free numbers for inquiries. But be warned: the heavy volume of calls is creating lengthy delays.

Refund and rebook policies notwithstanding, a confusion over claims on deposits on unused travel arrangements and other losses are likely to accrue. And how many travelers will discover, to their chagrin, that travel insurance policies carry exclusions against acts of terrorism?

Eventually, of course, all these financial matters will be straightened out. But as air travelers have discovered since Thursday afternoon, myriad delays from unprecedented security measures will continue to play havoc with schedules, not to mention passenger convenience, confidence or comfort.

America's systems of mass transportation, which often ran poorly on good days, will have to adapt to more stringent realities, just as its passengers will have to develop new reservoirs of patience.

There remains the possibility of fresh attacks, both here and abroad, especially in the wake of any military response we make.

The State Department has reaffirmed its world wide caution for Americans living or traveling overseas, advising them to exercise and increase their acts of personal security.

Whether for fear of flying, respect for the dead or an instinct to stay at home, many trips have already been canceled, even though almost everywhere, things aren't much different from a week ago.

Fall's leaves will flare as brightly as always. Only our attitudes have changed.

Last Tuesday's tragedy will only be compounded if we lose our will and ability to do and pursue the things we love. Increased caution and circumspection are clearly called for, but there are still few places wise travelers dare not tread. Vigorously exercising our cherished freedoms in the face of fear and terrorism remains an individual act of bravery, one each of us can make.

Recommended consumer-information Web sites include www.faa.gov (Federal Aviation Administration), www.dot.gov/airconsumer

(Department of Transportation) and www.astanet.com

(American Society of Travel Agents). Also, any travelers scheduled for or considering an international trip can access State Department warnings and advisories at www.travel.state.gov.

Catching up on geocaching

Cassandra Vivian's article on Global Positioning Satellites in Sunday Travel on Aug. 26

		A related article With GPS, even when you're lost, you'll know where you are

has generated considerable response, especially the GPS Challenge. We asked readers to identify a GPS waypoint for a location in Pittsburgh: N 40 26 26 W 79 59 46.

Of the 47 entries we received, 14 correctly identified the waypoint as representing the Omni William Penn hotel, on the Downtown block bordered by Grant Street, Sixth Avenue, Mellon Square and Oliver Street. From that list, we randomly selected two winners, Chris McNally of Upper St. Clair and Thomas Monahan of Plum, who will each receive a leather-bound Expedition Journal from the National Geographic Society.

As promised, we also list the names of the others who submitted correct entries. They include: Charles Auth, Eli Hoyek and Bob Stock of Mt. Lebanon; Bernard Halpern of Shadyside; Cliff Neal of Kittanning; Jeff Lange of Bridgeville; John Maloy and Dave Wilton of Scott; and Jim Reilly of Fort Wayne, Ind. One other entrant, Reid Joyce, neglected to tell us where he lives. Another winner was only identified by an e-mail address.

Ten other entrants came very close, either identifying the Allegheny Courthouse or USX Tower.

Thanks to all for taking part. We hope everyone enjoyed the exercise.