Thousands of Australian residents will have the opportunity to claim back one-third of any fuel surcharges paid on British Airways or Virgin Atlantic flights from August 2004 to March 2006. Members of BA’s Executive Club and Virgin’s Flying Club frequent flyer schemes, of which an estimated 20,000 reside in Australia, were mailed. A settlement claim form from Washington, DC-based class action specialists Epiq Systems, which is pursuing the case through Californian courts.

The letter, from settlement administrator Kenneth Feinburg sets out the terms of any refund. Affected passengers can also lodge a claim online at www.airpassengerrefund.com In a reverse to the Australian fuel surcharge case involving travel agents, individual passengers have the option of opting in or objecting to the settlement. All others forfeit their right to claim refunds.

Feinburg says passengers on BA or Virgin long-haul flights between August 11, 2004 and March 23, 2006 are entitled to claim 33.3 per cent of the fuel surcharge back. The claim forms are the result of a proposed settlement in the US class action on fuel surcharges, and are likely to bolster the cause of the class action claimants here. BA and Virgin could have to refund as much as $US60 million and £73.5 million as a result of the settlement. Neither BA nor Virgin’s Australian offices were able to comment on the letters.

David cracking under tourism strain
Michelangelo’s iconic statue of David in danger of crumbling due to effects of mass tourism, the BBC has reported Italian experts as saying. The main risk, the experts have said, comes from the footfall of the hundreds of daily visitors at the statue’s Galleria dell’Accademia home in Florence. The statue, which depicts a boy-warrior, is reportedly made from weak marble, and has already begun to crack. The warning follows a detailed study of the statue which showed that the cracks filled during a major restoration works four years ago - on the occasion of its 500th anniversary - have already reopened.

Donkey jailed for theft
An Egyptian donkey has been jailed for stealing corn from a fi eld in the Nile Delta, news.com.au reported. The unfortunate ass and its owner were apprehended at a police checkpoint that had been set up after the landowner complained that someone was stealing his crops. The ungulate was found in possession of the stolen corn and sentenced him to 24 hours in prison. The owner got off with a fi ne.

Python found in hotel toilet
A guest got an unexpected shock when going to the toilet at a hotel in Holland, in the form of a 2.5 metre-long live python. News.com.au has reported that the reptile had slithered up a drain from the room below,