The 787 Dreamliner Debuts This Month

Starting in the New Year, Americans flying to European airports may have to pay roughly €6 to €12 (or about $8 to $16) per transatlantic plane ticket in surcharges. The reason? The European Union has passed a law forcing airlines in the U.S. and other non-EU countries to pay for certificates for permission to emit carbon dioxide in its airspace. The Air Transport Association of America along with United/Continental and American Airlines tried to stop the CO2 control surcharge with a lawsuit, claiming that the proposed system violates international law because it tries to tax businesses outside of E.U. territory. But today a court ruled that the EU regulation is allowed under international law (decision, here). E.U. officials said they plan to go ahead with implementing the charge. In response, support is growing for a bill in the House of Representatives that threatens to ban all flights to Europe from the U.S. unless the E.U. drops the law. That's how mad some Congressional members are about the legislation, which affects any plane that lands at a E.U. airport. It's doubtful such a ban would ever pass, though, and is just an effort at negotiating. Earlier this week, India joined China in condemning the new E.U. law, too. The E.U.'s attitude is “my way or the skyway,” as The Economist puts it. The E.U. claims that it is not creating a tax; it is creating a "pollution ceiling." It says that it is giving airlines an asset that they can trade on a public market, and that the market sets the value of the asset which is based on a right to pollute “a scarce and limited public resource." What do you think? Are you willing to pay a surcharge of up to $16 per ticket to help prevent the environment? Or is the E.U. out of line? MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: 10 Most Useful Travel Websites The Ultimate Guide to Travel Apps Airport Survival Guide—We Want Your Tips!

Food and travel are two great concepts that go together. But have you ever checked out a museum that specializes in cuisine? Here are a few worth a taste. The Frietmuseum in Bruges, Belgium, is only a few years old and is devoted to the history of the fried potato (friet in Dutch and frites in French). The tour of galleries ends with a visit to a kitchen where you can see friet cooked—and judge yourself by sampling some. €6 (or $8), frietmuseum.be. The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, in Yokohama, a suburb of Tokyo, covers the history of Japan's signature noodle, ramen. Visitors can take in multimedia displays demonstrating good cooking technique. But the best part is the two floors that together form a replica of a 1958 Japanese streetscape, with eight neon-lit, steamy noodle shops representing famous branches from Hokkaido to Kyushu. Try a couple of dishes to pick your favorite version. (See a video of the museum below.) 300 yen, or about $4. raumen.co.jp/ramen. The Currywurst Museum opened in 2006 in Berlin and celebrates the German capital's classic dish, Bratwurst sausage, covered in curried ketchup and first introduced into the city after World War II. Exhibitions include a Spice Chamber where you can sniff to test how refined your sense of smell is. €7 to €11, currywurstmuseum.de. For a video of the cool ramen museum, jump to the 2-minute mark for the key part. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: Paris: Macarons at McDonald's? (20 comments) London: Best places for afternoon tea (9 comments) Rome: Snacks for any craving (7 comments)