Notice on violence in Mexico

THE U.S. State Department issued a public announcement about “the rising level of brutal violence in areas of Mexico.”

Recent incidents, it said, included hundreds of narcotics-related slayings; random shootings on highways outside Mexico City, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana and other areas; kidnappings of U.S. citizens; and execution-style murders of Mexican and U.S. citizens.

American residents and visitors to Mexico “should exercise extreme caution when in unfamiliar areas,” the State Department advised. It also urged them to “make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours” and to stay in “well-known tourist destinations and tourist areas of the cities with more adequate security.”

The announcement, issued Sept. 15, expires March 15.

Airline decreases

weight limit on

checked bags

CONTINENTAL Airlines no longer lets passengers check bags heavier than 70 pounds. Before the Sept. 1 change, the airline accepted heavier bags and charged excess-baggage fees.

Under current limits, coach passengers can check two bags weighing up to 50 pounds each for free; some high-mileage frequent fliers and those in business or first class can check two or three bags up to 70 pounds each for free. For details, visit www.continental.com.

A Continental spokeswoman said the airline set the 70-pound weight limit to reduce injuries to baggage handlers and to bring its rule in line with its international airline partners.

As of last week Continental’s competitors did not appear to be following suit. Most accept checked bags up to 100 pounds, charging for those more than 50 or 70 pounds.

Thailand reported calm after coup

TOURISM authorities last week sought to assure travelers that Thailand was safe to visit after the country’s army chief seized power, ousting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless military coup.

By Thursday, two days after the coup, the country appeared to be calm, airports were operating and Bangkok road traffic was normal, wire services reported. The Thailand chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Assn., which reported some hotel cancellations, said travelers “should definitely continue with their plans to visit the country.”

The U.S. State Department advised U.S.citizens in Thailand to “avoid government installations and any large public gatherings and to exercise discretion when moving about.” It did not warn against traveling there. For updates, visit www.travel.state.gov.

Staff and wire reports

Marriott puts

out the puffs

BY the middle of next month, you won’t be able to light up in Ritz-Carltons, Marriotts, Fairfield Inns or any of 2,300 hotels operated by Marriott International in the U.S. and Canada.

The company, which in July announced the industry’s most sweeping ban on smoking, expects to complete the conversion by Oct. 16, said spokesman John Wolf.

The ban applies to guest rooms and public areas, such as restaurants and lobbies, in 10 hotel brands. Violators may be asked to pay a $250 “smoking recovery fee” to cover cleaning and loss of revenue from the room while it’s cleaned, Wolf added.

Westin Hotels & Resorts, owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, claimed to be the first big chain to go smoke-free. The policy took effect Jan. 1 at its hotels in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

Briefly

Air entertainment: Delta Air Lines this month began offering seatback TVs with more than 24 live channels, 20 movies, music and video games on its long-haul domestic flights. By November, it expects to have the service on all nonstop flights to the West Coast from New York’s JFK airport and from Atlanta, said spokesman Anthony Black. By the end of 2008, it will be on all flights over four hours. The service is free in first class, but coach passengers pay for some feeds, including video games ($5 for a collection of 11) and movies ($5 per movie).

New route: Frontier Airlines on Dec. 9 will begin daily nonstops between LAX and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Introductory round-trip fares, which must be booked by Oct. 18, start at $198. Double frequent-flier mileage is available for the route until Jan. 12. www.flyfrontier.com.

-- Compiled by Jane Engle

jane.engle@latimes.com