Evening star., 1949-06-12
Transatlantic
Return Space
Tightens Up
Reservation Can
Prevent DELAY
By MichoeI Frome
international Trovsi Speeiolist
Amevicon AufomobjIe Association

AH1eFtcdn Aut0mopHe A3Sott0fon
The many thousands of Amer
leans bound for Europe this sum-
mer will do well to complete all
their transportation and hotel ar
rangements before they leave
home. Those who do not may
find themselves stranded abroad
without a place to stay. or per-
haps without transportation ac-
commodations for recrossing the
Atlantic at the summers end.
This serious note OF caution has
been introduced into the other
wise bright overseas vacation pic
ture by the State Department,
which has grown fearful that
some United States citizens do not
fully appreciate all the factors In
postwar foreign travel.
While conditions In Europe
have improved considerably. they
remain far below levels in this
country. For example: scattered
across the North American conti-
nent are some 10000 tourist courts
and motels. enabling the traveller
to journey where he will and
stop where he pleases. At major
centers of interest in Europe, how
ever, hotel space Is In great de-
mand and almost impossible to
obtain without confirmed advance
reservations.
Ships Virtually Filled.
There lis. in addition, the vital
element of transatlantic trans
portation. Most Americans going
by steamship have already booked
their round-trip passage. 1t is
practically impossible. except in
first class. to get space to Europe
before mid-August, or to return
before October.
With airlines, the prospect is
more promising, although space
is still not as free and easy as in
other seasons. The seven trans
Atlantic airlines currently are
handling their greatest volume Of
passenger traffic in history and
space from now until the end of
September will be tight"
The peak to Europe will be dur
ing the first weeks Of July. while
the high point in return traffic
will begin with the last week Of
August and continue through Sep
tember.
The State Departments pass
port division. as well as the air.
lines themselves, is particularly
anxious that air travellers possess
return bookings on definite flights
before departing from the United
States. Space on many Of the
flights originating in Europe is
controlled by airline offices In
this country. Travellers who try
to arrange their transportation
abroad face the prospect of wait
ing lists and disappointment.
The airlines, however, are not
discouraging applications for
space. If they cannot meet a re-
quest of a Europe-bouAd traveller
for July 4, they can offer, say,
July 3 or July S. Pan American
World Airways already has placed
in service a fleet of giant new
Boeing Stratocruisers and Ameri-
can Overseas Airlines will follow
suit in August.
Cities Crowded.
But with hotels abroad there is
no such solution in the immediate
ofing. Space in Paris and Rome
already is tight. with similar
situation rapidly developing in
London, Brussels and The Hague.
This is the basis on which the
passport division urges travellers to
have their reservations made in
advance.
When wartime restrictions on
foreign travel were lifted in 1947.
the State Department insisted that
any pleasure traveller produce
proof of round-trip passage as
requisite for receiving a passport.
Mindful of the plight Of Ameri-
cans stranded abroad. Mrs. Ruth
B. Shipley, chief of the division.
and her associates recently have
given serious consideration to re-
instituting this regulation at this
time. It was decided. however,
to let an admonition suffice.
TD IVTTT