Need to know: Parking lot changes at LAX

LAX parking lot changes

Heads up, LAX fliers: From here on out, you’ll need to use Parking Lot C for economy, long-term parking. That’s because Lot B, the airport’s other economy lot, has been converted to employee parking. As a result, the cheapest parking at the airport now costs $12 per day, the Lot C rate, up from $10 at Lot B. The shifts are part of an effort to consolidate public and employee parking into fewer lots, which allows the giant Los Angeles airport to run fewer shuttles from the terminal area. If you recently parked in Lot B and flew out and will return to LAX later, you can still retrieve your car, of course, even though the lot will be closed for new parking. You have until Jan. 31 to do so.

-- Jane Engle

Just for fliers

What are your rights if you get bumped from an overbooked flight? Which airline has the worst on-time record? Which one just got its hand slapped for deceptive advertising? The answers have always been somewhere on a government website. Often, though, you could hardly find them. Now, thanks to a redesign, you often can. And in Spanish too. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s revamped Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement website (air

consumer.dot.gov) is divided into six sections. The information includes how to file a consumer complaint and stats about mishandled baggage, late flights, overbooking, volume of customer complaints and more.

-- Jane Engle

Winery cruise

Washington State vineyard Château Ste. Michelle is to set sail with its premiere wine cruise on June 5, as it takes a party of wine club members and others on a 12-day cruise around the eastern Mediterranean. The cruise, on Oceania Cruises’ Insignia, begins at $4,093 per person, including round-trip air fare to Europe and all taxes. “We consider this cruise to be a value-add for our brand ambassadors -- our wine club members and members of our mailing list,” says the vineyard’s Jennifer Kang. The cruise will include tastings, seminars and shore excursions. Info: (800) 367-5348, www.foodandwinetrails.com.

-- James Graham

Private potty

For campers who want a bit more comfort and privacy, there’s the Restop Personal Lavatory System. First and foremost is a collapsible tent (4 feet square by 6 1/2 feet high), with a zippered flap door and shoulder carry bag. A big bucket, used as the commode, comes with a flexible rubber seat that fits onto the rim of the bucket. Also included are 10 biodegradable leak-proof restroom kits for solid and liquid waste. These self-sealing bags contain a gel and chemicals that deodorize and solidify contents for disposal in a trash can. Personal Lavatory System (RS2000) is $215. Info: (800) 366-3941, www.restop.com.

-- Judi Dash