Not Good: Tourists Attacked and Accosted as Taxi and Uber Drivers Feud in Mexico

If you think Uber Drivers and taxi drivers don’t like each other here in the United States, just wait until you see how ugly it gets in Mexico.

Plus, a family detailed its flight’s unexpected diversion to Pago Pago in an excellent trip review.

Those are some of the travel-related headlines and stories I thought, you, too, may be interested in reading today.

Taxi-Uber War Sparks US Travel Security Alert for Cancun

Planning to visit Cancun anytime soon? Will you take Uber or a taxi to your resort or other destination?

Here’s why I ask. Taxi drivers and Uber drivers are beefing big time in Cancun. And innocent people are getting physically attacked as a result.

The Associated Press reports taxi “drivers even blocked one of the main roads leading to the hotel district in the resort of Cancun Monday. That forced some tourists to walk or catch rides in police pickups to get their flights out, or check in.” That apparently ended on Tuesday, said Reuters.

Heading to #Cancun? Be careful, there’s a conflict between taxi cabs and Uber, fighting for passengers. The cab drivers have been violent, attacking not only the Uber drivers but their passengers as well. The government and authorities are useless, as usual in #Mexico. pic.twitter.com/Qd8EeN14rZ

— David Wolf (@DavidWolf777) January 24, 2023

An apparent taxi driver threatened an Uber driver with, according to Google Translate, “If I see you around my site again, I’m going to break your mother.” (Source tweet below.)

“Si te vuelvo a ver alrededor de mi sitio, te voy a romper tu madre”, taxistas continúan amenazando a conductores de #Uber, reteniendo a turistas y bloqueando avenidas en #Cancún. Tras las constantes agresiones, EU lanzó una alerta de viaje para sus ciudadanos: pic.twitter.com/St8yXOFkIZ

— Ciro Gómez Leyva (@CiroGomezL) January 24, 2023

Indeed, the US Embassy & Consulates in Mexico issued a security alert for the Quintana Roo state (where Cancun is located).

As of press time, Uber hasn’t addressed the issue either on its newsroom or blog.

Frankly, I’m surprised the whole thing hasn’t turned bloodier yet, given Mexico’s history of cartels and corrupt governments.

A Great Trip Report: Diverted to Pago Pago

United Airlines flight 839 from LAX to Sydney, Australia, diverted to Pago Pago in American Samoa just before New Year’s Day 2023. An oil leak forced the pilots to shut down one of the Boeing 787-9’s engines over the Pacific Ocean.

A Live and Let’s Fly reader on the flight provided this trip report that is very much worth checking out. It includes a written account of the diversion, several photos, and videos.

United and the folks in American Samoa seemed to do a great job taking care of passengers — though this is just one account. Although, if I were flying to Sydney specifically for the New Year celebration (as it seems several people were), I’d still be rather unhappy with United for its maintenance problem.

Don’t Tease Me: Prices are (Kind of) Dropping at Two Disney Parks?

Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro details on the official Disney Parks blog several changes on the way to Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

The more noteworthy ones are:

At Disneyland Resort:

• significantly increasing the number of days – nearly two months’ worth over the coming year – that we’ll offer our lowest-priced one-day, one-park ticket at $104
• offering more flexibility with our Park Hopper ticket, giving Guests the ability to begin crossing over earlier (starting at 11 a.m.), beginning February 4
• providing complimentary Disney PhotoPass digital downloads of attraction photos for all ticketed park guests, beginning February 4 throughout the Disney100 celebration

Additionally, we’ve announced several new offers over the past few weeks, including at Walt Disney World, 2-, 3- and 4-day Florida Resident Disney Weekday Magic tickets and a special package offer that includes a Disney Dining Promo Card for guests staying at select Disney Resort hotels. We are also offering a 3-day SoCal Resident weekday ticket for $73 per day through late May at Disneyland Resort.

H/T Fatherly

Elsewhere

“The ‘Detroit of Japan’ will no longer be just a nonstop flight away from the Detroit in Michigan.” Zach Griff explains at TPG.

Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Resorts announced a new location where you can get wasted again and search for your lost shaker of salt: Belize.