Cringing look year's oddest travel stories

If travel in 2009 is anything like it was in 2008 - and we have every reason to expect it will be - you might want to think about staying home. With a rash of arm-sucking train toilets, Braille-reading air traffic controllers, real mother- snakes on real mother- planes and complimentary mushroom-soup shampoos, it's been one of the stranger years in recent memory. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Southwest Airlines adds cities, courts business travelers

DALLAS — Gary Kelly has a standing offer: a steak dinner to anyone who can prove that Southwest Airlines (LUV) does not carry more domestic business travelers than any U.S. carrier.
It's a sucker's bet, of course.
Southwest Airlines' CEO knows he'll never have to pay up. There's no way to prove him wrong because airlines don't know the purposes of many customers' trips. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

India warns citizens it is unsafe to travel to Pakistan

NEW DELHI - India warned its citizens on Friday that it would be unsafe to travel to Pakistan amid heightened tension between the nuclear-armed rivals over last month's Mumbai attacks. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Airlines leaning on pet owners

Every year, I look forward to heading to Massachusetts to spend Christmas week with my parents, siblings and nieces and nephews. The kids are always happy to see me but are elated to see Sadie Mae, my miniature-schnauzer mix. They —- and I —- are crazy about that dog.
Since adopting Sadie Mae in 2004, I have watched the fee to fly her in-cabin with me climb steadily. But this year, I was shocked to learn that the fee for carrying my dog on board the airplane and placing her beneath the seat in front of me would actually be more expensive than my own fare. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

What the Airlines Did Right in 2008

Last week, I covered some of the airline industry's most outrageous occurrences of the year, and it was very tough to limit myself to just 10 items. But for those of you who think the airlines did nothing right in 2008, that's not so. Sure, there were plenty of bad fees ($2 Coke, anyone?), but the airlines did impose one fee that brought a smile to a lot of faces. Plus, we saw altruism, punctuality and (seemingly) fewer passengers getting kicked off planes for bad behavior. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Living With the Airline Bag Fee

Americans seem to be enamored of change these days. And despite the cries of protests when airlines started charging for checked luggage, it seems baggage fees are a change we can live with after all. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Passengers injured when de-icer sucked into jetliner

SEATTLE, Washington -- At least two people were injured when de-icing fluid was sucked into the ventilation system of an Alaska Airlines jetliner at Sea-Tac International Airport in Washington on Wednesday, airport and airline officials said. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Continental flight skids off runway in Denver

Denver - Continental Airlines Inc. is looking into a weekend accident in which a flight bound for George Bush International Airport from Denver International Airport went off the runway.
The Houston airline’s flight 1404, a Boeing 737-500 aircraft carrying 110 passengers and five crew members, was unable to take off, ran off the runway and caught fire, according to news agencies. About 38 of those on board suffered injuries. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Tips for holiday travelers to fly through airline security

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is expecting more passengers than the average day during the holidays. Holiday travelers should plan to arrive at least 90 minutes before their scheduled departure times at the Barbara Jordan Terminal to allow time for parking, ticketing, and security checkpoints. Save time by calling ahead for ABIA Airport On Site Parking real-time information, (512) 530-3300, as parking conditions change rapidly. A new service this year is the Transportation Security Administration's Family Lanes, designed for improved passenger flow. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Hotel bargains, free upgrades and other reasons to love travel now

It took a couple of airline bankruptcies, a recession and the near collapse of the world economy but, by golly, travelers are feeling loved.
Turn back the clock a year, and you'll find a dramatically different picture. Travelers were unappreciated, even exploited, by unscrupulous travel companies flush with profits.
No longer. With one notable exception, it's difficult to find any part of the travel industry that isn't being extra-nice to customers. Which part? More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Rough weather could make travel dangerous across nation

Forecasters say rough weather is expected this weekend as travelers around the country prepare to make their pilgrimages home for the holidays.
"You're really going to be having a hard time," said James Wilson, a meteorologist at The Weather Channel. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Alaska Airlines donates unused food

Alaska Airlines said it’s donated more than 80,000 pounds of unused airline food to food banks in Seattle and Portland this year.
In Portland, the airline and its catering contractor LSG Sky Chefs have donated 18,843 pounds of food to the Oregon Food Bank, which distributes food to 20 regional food banks. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

U.S. airline employment down, Southwest bucks trend

U.S. airlines have 10 percent fewer employees than they did four years ago and 6 percent fewer workers than they did one year ago, according to a government report.
The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics says U.S. carriers had about 394,000 workers in October, down from 418,000 in October 2007 and 439,000 in October 2004. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Couple accuse United Airlines of overserving husband, causing him to beat wife

This is no bar bet, it's a lawsuit. Can you get drunk on a flight, then sue the airline for giving you the booze? A husband and wife are suing United Airlines for "negligently" overserving alcohol during a flight from Osaka, Japan, to San Francisco, saying the carrier's drinks fueled the domestic violence involving the two shortly after their plane landed. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

American Airlines Expanding Logan Leadership With Six New Flights

BOSTON - American Airlines announced today it is strengthening its leadership position at Logan Airport with the addition of six new daily flights this Spring, including the return of service to San Diego, additional flights to London, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, and St. Louis, plus the resumption of seasonal service to Paris. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

AAA sees holiday travel decline

NEW YORK - Fewer Americans will travel for the holidays - especially by air - as the current economic crisis continues to take its toll on spending, motorist group AAA said Wednesday.
Nearly 63.9 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles during the 2008 Christmas-New Year travel period, a decline of 1.4 million travelers, or 2.1%, from the prior year, according its projections. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Scheduled Airline Service Begins Between China, Taiwan

China - First Time Since 1949 Communist Revolution - It's a small victory for freedom... or, at least, capitalism. On Sunday, a China Southern Airlines B737 touched down at Taipei Songshan Airport in Taiwan, marking the first time a scheduled airline flight has operated between mainland China and the 'renegade province' in nearly 60 years. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Delta to offer in-flight Internet on East Coast shuttle flights

Delta Air Lines will be the latest domestic airline to offer in-flight Internet for passengers, launching paid Wi-Fi service on Tuesday on its East Coast shuttle flights.
The Atlanta-based airline will initially introduce GoGo, an Internet service operated by Aircell, on five MD-88s flying the New York LaGuardia-Boston Logan and New York LaGuardia-Washington Reagan routes. A Boeing 757-200 is also equipped with GoGo. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

JetBlue Airways Unveils the JetPaws Pet Program

NEW YORK - Pet fur-iendly JetBlue Airways today unveils JetPaws(TM), an exclusive new in-cabin program designed to provide pet owners with helpful Travel Pettiquette guidelines, which outline the social graces of jetting with small dogs and cats. As part of the new program, customers will also receive two bonus award points for each flight through JetBlue’s TrueBlue customer loyalty program, helping two-legged customers earn free travel faster when traveling with Fido or Fluffy. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Ground crews to picket Southwest Airlines

PHOENIX — Southwest Airlines ground crews say they'll picket at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix on Friday as they push for a resolution to stalled contract talks.
Members of the Transport Workers Union also plan pickets at airports in Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Seattle. The union represents 7,200 ramp, operations, provisioning and freight agents. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Virgin America Wins Best Low Cost Airline in Business Traveler Awards

SAN FRANCISCO - Virgin America, the new airline on a mission to make flying good again, today took the award for "Best Low Cost Airline in North America" among domestic carriers in Business Traveler Magazine's 2008 "Best in Business Travel" Survey. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Nation's Largest Travel Insurance Provider Suggests Tips and Strategies

STEVENS POINT, Wisconsin - Just in time for the holiday season, Travel Guard is offering useful tips to help make your travel safe and less stressful.
"In a typical week during the winter holiday season, we can often get 15,000 to 20,000 calls from anxious travelers," said Dan McGinnity, Vice President of Travel Guard. "Most are looking for confirmation that their flights are on time; help to rebook flights that have been delayed or cancelled; and assistance in tracking down lost luggage. We also help travelers who lose their travel documents, have medical emergencies, or just want a reservation for that 'hard to get into' restaurant while traveling. Our job really is to make our customers travel as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible." More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Continental Airlines Chosen as Best Airline for North American Travel

Houston - Continental Airlines outranked all other U.S. carriers to be chosen as the Best Airline for North American Travel in Business Traveler magazine's 2008 Best in Business Travel Survey.
Continental also placed highest among U.S. airlines for Best Flight Attendants in North America. The awards were presented to the airline in Los Angeles on Dec. 11, 2008. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

American Airlines to fly nonstop from D/FW to Madrid

American Airlines Inc. and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport officials on Thursday announced the launch of nonstop service between D/FW and Madrid, Spain.
The new flights, which will begin on May 1, 2009, mark a return to that route by American, which operated daily flights between D/FW Airport and Madrid between May 1988 and November 1993. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

United Airlines will get fliers through lines faster for fee

Airline passengers are willing to pay extra to check a bag or reserve a seat with extra legroom. Now United Airlines is betting some will pay more to join fast-track airport-security lines and qualify for priority boarding on the airplane.
For an extra $25 each way, economy-class passengers can join first- and business-class passengers and elite members of the airline's frequent-flier program in special "premier" lines at select airports, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Airline On-Time Performance Improves in October

Flights operated by the nations largest airlines arrived on time at a higher rate this past October than in either October of last year or in September 2008, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Want To Save $7 to $15 On A Holiday Airline Ticket?

NORWALK, Connecticut - Still need an airline ticket home for the holidays? Book it at priceline.com and, in most cases, you’ll pay less than the same ticket would cost on Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz. That’s because priceline.com is the only one of the “Big Four” online travel services that doesn’t charge booking fees on its published-price domestic and international fares. On the other sites, booking fees can range from approximately $7 for a domestic ticket, to as much as $15 for an international ticket. For a family of four, that can amount to savings of $28 to $60. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

JetBlue Airways Spreads Its Wings in Latin America

ORLANDO, Florida - First-ever Central American destination expands network to 53 cities in nine countries - - Sale fares start at US $99 (a) each way - New York's hometown value airline, today announces plans to broaden its Latin American presence with new daily nonstop service to its 53rd Blue City: San Jose, Costa Rica. Service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) will begin March 26, 2009, subject to receipt of Costa Rican government operating authority. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

More Travelers Redeeming Miles for Merchandise

Frequent travelers may be having a harder time redeeming airline loyalty points for first-class seats, but apparently more travelers are trading miles for holiday gifts.
And travelers who have accumulated a lot of points for hotel stays are apparently doing the same thing. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Virgin America to fly Boston-California routes

The ambitious and expanding airline Virgin America, the only U.S. carrier based here in the Bay Area, said Monday it will begin service from California to Boston in February. There will be two daily round-trip flights between San Francisco and Boston and three round trips between Los Angeles and Boston, the airline said. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Travel Tips in a Tough Economy

HELSINKI, Finland - With holiday tourism dropping below post 9-11 levels due to the economic slowdown, TripSay.com members offer timely cost saving tips and advice to help their fellow travelers explore the world.
'TripSayers' discover the best budget destinations with a little help from their friends. They share tips, ratings, advice and real stories with travelers with similar interests. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Global air travel, hotel occupancy levels sinking

The tourists chatting in multiple languages in the piazzas, bars and shops of Rome belie a more somber mood at the ancient city's hotels. Luigi Rinaldi, concierge of the Grand Hotel de la Minerve next to the Pantheon, said American tourists have disappeared, although demand among German, Spanish and Russian tourists is solid. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Layaway plans gain traction in travel industry

Longing for a vacation but can't quite afford it? Get ready for layaway—and some tough questions to go along with it. This quaint financing strategy, also known as paying on an installment plan, was popular for decades. Later eclipsed by credit cards, layaway was largely abandoned by major retailers about a quarter-century ago, but it's making a splashy comeback. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

US Airways improving, but still leads in gripes

Without question, US Airways has plenty of reasons to brag this year.
Through September, Charlotte's dominant carrier just missed being the best major carrier for on-time arrivals, and it continues to climb the list for fewest mishandled bags. Despite bad weather Sunday, US Airways emerged from Thanksgiving largely unscathed and is running a much smoother operation than last year, when it was the worst airline for on-time flights. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Full-fare air travelers get special treatment, even in coach

One of the more vexing problems for airlines has been the $800 business traveler sitting in coach next to the $75 leisure traveler – same seats, same service and vastly different fares. But the recent spate of new charges and fees is giving airlines a chance to better differentiate what that high-dollar traveler enjoys from what the bottom-dollar traveler gets. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Extra airline fees add up for travelers

Holiday fliers, take heed. You may find the familiar phrase, “My, how you’ve grown,” doesn’t apply just to your towheaded nephew this year.
That same phrase, uttered with more alarm and less wonderment, easily describes the fat package of fees most of the nation’s airlines are imposing on their customers. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

When to call a travel agent

Even though I'm a travel writer, I sometimes use a travel agent. His savvy advice and careful research save me time and money. Like any professional, he charges fees. It makes sense. "You wouldn't walk into a lawyer's office and expect them to give you free advice," said Chris Russo, president of the American Society of Travel Agents, or ASTA, a trade group based in Alexandria, Virginia. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

New Boeing 787 Jetliner Faces Another Delay

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is facing yet another delay, and the first plane will not be delivered until 2010 at the earliest, nearly two years behind the original schedule, according to senior airline executives. The completion date of the Dreamliner, an innovative and high-profile project, has already been pushed back three times. All Nippon Airways, the Japanese airline, will receive its planes first, with other customers not able to take delivery until 2011 or beyond. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Make-A-Wish Foundation seeking donations of unused airline miles

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is accepting donations of unused airline miles to help fulfill wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.More than half of the organization’s wishes wishes involve airline travel, which adds up to more than 2.5 billion miles every year, according to a news release.The use of donated airline miles can greatly reduce the cost of those wishes. Most major airlines take part in the program, including American, United, Delta, Northwest, US Airways, Continental, and AirTran. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Some travel news you might have missed

Because our attention was focused on the presidential election and its immediate aftermath, a great many of us have overlooked some fairly significant recent events in travel that will affect our plans. Here is news of travel that you may have missed: -- Alitalia was saved. In early November, the Italian government formally approved the acquisition of the Italian flag carrier by a group of rich private investors. People with Alitalia tickets can relax. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Southwest Airline reaches tentative deal with mechanics

Southwest Airlines and its mechanics union reached a tentative contract agreement that would boost wages in exchange for more productivity and flexibility.
The agreement, which the Dallas-based airline said was "cost neutral," must be approved by members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Organization. If approved, it will last four years. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Airline fees are here to stay - Even as fuel costs sink

You had better get used to all those new airline fees. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes "although airlines are enjoying lower fuel costs, it doesn't mean the end of extra fees for travelers. That's because the airline industry has made fees for everything from seat assignments to checked bags part of a new strategy which appears to be here to stay. Tacking on fees makes it easier to charge passengers more, even if competition makes it difficult to raise fares." More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Holiday air travel falling - And so are ticket prices

Economic woes, low gas prices and new fees for luggage have led to a decrease in airline travel in the last few months, said officials at Bestfares.com, a Web site that keeps tabs on airline prices. In response, airlines are gradually decreasing their fares. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

'India's tourism concerns - More warnings

India - The bullet-ridden Leopold Cafe, one of Mumbai, India's most iconic tourist draws, reopened for business this week — just days after a wave of terrorist attacks killed at least 170 people in the city, including five Americans.
But how quickly tourism will recover from what some pundits are calling "India's 9/11" — and in the face of new warnings of possible attacks on three major airports — is much less certain. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Sing away the travel blues - Airport karaoke a hit

Houston - Frustrated travelers can belt out their favorite notes at a Texas airport.The Bush International Airport in Houston has set up karaoke booths to help ease the madness that comes along with the holiday travel rush. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Deal-Seeking Travelers Should Not Overlook Need for Travel Insurance

STEVENS POINT, Wisconsin - Recent surveys conducted by Travel Guard and the Travel Industry Association (TIA) indicate that despite the faltering U.S. economy, a large core of consumers are taking advantage of the growing array of rate decreases and last-minute travel "deals." Although travelers are seeking deals and jumping on last-minute travel offers, Travel Guard reminds consumers that travel insurance remains essential no matter where you are traveling and what your trip costs. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

United to lay off more than 1,000 as job cuts continue

United will furlough more than 1,000 workers from positions across the country The Associated Press reports, citing "layoff notices and the unions that represent the workers." The Chicago Tribune says "the latest furloughs are among the 7,000 jobs that the Chicago-based carrier had said it would eliminate as it reduces its workforce to match its shrinking airline operations amid the tough economy. United is in the process of grounding 100 airplanes, about 20% of its fleet." More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Some airlines slashing fares but only for a limited time

Airlines are slashing prices on some flights, hoping to lure some travelers this holiday season and into the New Year. But like all things with airlines, the situation is changing rapidly.
For instance, the clock is ticking on JetBlue Airways' four-day online fare sale. So if you want airfares as low as $109 each-way from the Bay Area to New York you've got until Thursday to book it at http://www.jetblue.com/. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

15 airline scales fail state inspection

Three state investigators with the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures went to the Tucson International Airport Tuesday to check the scales. All 15 scales investigators checked failed at TIA.
Fees for overweight bag range from $25 to $125 and sometimes the difference could be a scale that's out of whack.
To check the scales the inspectors load them with specifically measured weights and check if they read the exact amount. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

BA in talks with Qantas to create 'global airline'

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh signalled the creation of a "truly global" airline yesterday as the carrier announced £3.5bn merger talks with Australian rival Qantas.
BA is already in talks to combine its services with American Airlines and Spain's Iberia but it took shareholders unawares yesterday with the bold announcement that it had also turned its attention to the Asia-Pacific market as industry consolidation gathers pace. A combined BA and Qantas would create a unique business with 71 million passengers a year, 474 aircraft flying to more than 230 destinations from hub airports in London and Sydney. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Airline Passengers Held for Nine Hours on Tarmac

NAPA, California - Two Years after American Airlines and JetBlue - Still No Laws Protecting Airline Passengers
Yesterday, 191 airline passengers were stranded on a tarmac in Southern California for over nine hours, begging to be let off the plane and provided only water and crackers. According to the Associated Press, "El Salvador-based Taca [Airlines] released a statement saying local authorities did not give permission for passengers to go through customs and enter the country. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Mike Fleming said the airline did not ask for permission to let the passengers disembark." More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Delta’s cutbacks signal airline industry troubles

The nation’s airlines are battling slumping demand amid a widening recession, and newly enlarged Delta Air Lines said Tuesday it will cut flying by 6 percent to 8 percent in 2009.
Delta’s announcement also raised the specter of more industry job cuts.
Most carriers cut flights and jobs earlier this year when fuel prices soared to record levels. Since peaking in July, a barrel of oil has shed about $100 to under $50 as the economic slowdown spread and cut demand. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

American Airlines Named Best Airline For Domestic First Class

FORT WORTH, Texas - For the third consecutive year, the readers of Global Traveler magazine have bestowed the honor of "Best Airline for Domestic First Class" upon American Airlines, a founding member of the oneworld Alliance. Global Traveler's annual GT Tested Awards program surveyed more than 31,400 business and leisure travelers to determine the best in business and luxury travel for 2008. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Merger could spark major airline

A giant new airline could be formed following news that British Airways is in talks about a possible merger with Australian carrier Qantas.
The news sent BA shares leaping by more than 14% at one stage as BA said it was looking to achieve a tie-up through a dual-listed company structure. Should a merger come about, both airlines - which already jointly market, or codeshare, on some routes - would retain their identities. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Southwest Airlines won't increase fleet next year

NEW YORK - The chief executive of Southwest Airlines Co. said Tuesday that travel demand slumped sharply in November and the growth-happy carrier won't expand its fleet next year.
Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly also said Southwest plans to cut capacity early next year, although not quite as sharply as the airline had previously said. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

How to Cut Travel Costs

Just about the time that Lehman Brothers tanked, business travelers blew right past the issue of whether we would have to cut back. Two months on, the only issues now are how much we'll have to slash and whether we can do it with a modicum of style and dignity. Some companies have told their business travelers to double up in hotel rooms and switch to coach even for the longest-haul international flights. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Airlines Fly Empty Planes Out of Bangkok

BANGKOK, Thailand — Airlines were flying dozens of empty planes out of Bangkok's international airport Monday as authorities struggled to clear it of protesters to reopen international links and move 100,000 travelers stranded by the crisis, the airport said. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Frequent-flier fees on upswing

Travelers are being nickeled-and-dimed when it comes to flying, and the same is happening with frequent-flier tickets. Fees associated with redeeming miles are taking off.
In the past, travelers have been subject to taxes and fees when they redeemed miles for tickets, but now we also have processing fees, rush fees, change fees, cancellation fees and more. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

State Dept. Issues Travel Alert for India

Terrorist attacks killed almost two-hundred people this week, including six Americans. The situation has many wondering whether travel to India is safe.
The Department of State issued a travel alert for India, which means the government thinks the country poses a risk to U.S. citizens traveling there. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Preparation can enable you to fly through airport security

The Transportation Security Administration, the guardian agency of the nation's air and sea lanes established in the wake of 9/11 "to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce," wants you to be aware Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Air New Zealand Says ‘No Prospect’ for Four Missing After Crash

Air New Zealand Ltd. said there was “no prospect” for four staff missing after a test flight crashed into the sea off the south of France two days ago.
“There is no prospect for our colleagues,” Group General Manager International Airline Ed Sims told reporters in Auckland today. “The search has continued through the night for the recovery of bodies and flight recorders.” More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Another glitch for Australian airline Qantas

Sydney - A Qantas Airways jet aborted a flight to Singapore and returned to the Australian west coast city of Perth after one of its two engines was shut down, news reports said Saturday.
The Airbus A330 with 168 passengers aboard turned back Friday when an engine oil warning light flashed in the cockpit. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Airline temporarily shifts flight operations to U-Tapao airport

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has activated a contingency plan to cater for its passengers stranded in Bangkok due to the closure of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. In a statement, MAS director of operations Datuk Tajuden Abu Bakar said, "We are activating this contingency plan to provide an alternative for our passengers in Bangkok who are keen to go to their final destinations. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Airlines cancel flights to Bangkok anew

LOCAL AIRLINES have once again canceled flights to Bangkok due to the on-going political situation in the Thai capital. In a statement, budget carrier Cebu Pacific said flights bound for Bangkok scheduled until Dec. 3 have been canceled due to the closure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport in the city. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Three Americans Among Injured In India Terrorist Attack, Travel Alert Issued

Washington, D.C. - Two women from Tennessee and another American were among the more than 300 people injured during Wednesday's terrorist attack in Mumbai, India.
Andi Varagon of Nashville was recuperating from an Indian hospital after getting shot in arm and leg while eating dinner at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, her mother, Celeste Varagon, told U.S. media. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

U.S. Advises Citizens to Defer Travel to Mumbai After Attacks

The U.S. advised its citizens to defer travel to Mumbai for ``at least the next 48 to 72 hours'' because of the fluid situation in the city following terrorist attacks that left 119 people dead.
``Americans throughout India should be vigilant about security at all times,'' the U.S. embassy in New Delhi said in a travel advisory on its Web site yesterday. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

On-time flights, service ease pain of travel

SINGAPORE - Good service, edible food and on-time departures were on a list of what business travelers in Asia like about air travel although the whole experience was voted as being less pleasant this year in a survey. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Mumbai terror attacks - Travel advice

Tour operators to India are currently diverting travellers away from Mumbai and repatriating those caught up in the terrorist attacks last night, which targeted British and American nationals. The two hotels that were attacked - the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi Trident - are popular with tourist and businesses travellers to the city. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

American Airlines slowly improves customer service

For much of 2008, travelers flying American Airlines have grappled with some of the poorest service in the airline industry.
The Fort Worth-based carrier has been at or near the bottom of a variety of quality rankings, including on-time performance, cancellations, lost luggage and overall customer service. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

All airline flights to Bangkok canceled

Jakarta - All airline flights on the Jakarta-Bangkok route have been canceled following the closing of Thailand`s Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok as the airport was stormed by Thai protesters.Three airlines canceled their flights to Bangkok on Wednesday, head of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Administration Office Herry Bakti said in Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

What it costs an airline to fly your luggage

As you head off on your Thanksgiving travels this week and prepare to pay airline baggage fees, you may wonder what it actually costs the airline to fly your 40-pound suitcase.
Based on our own estimate derived from consultations with industry executives and other sources, the cost to carry checked luggage comes to roughly $15 a bag. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Tough Times for Thanksgiving Travel

Americans will be heading out today, over the rivers and through the woods, to homes of relatives from coast to coast. But thanks to a struggling economy, not as many people will be traveling this year. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

For free food it's Continental or nothing

WEST PALM BEACH — It's the last free sandwich flying in coach. But to get your smoked turkey, ham and cheese or tuna salad on a french roll, you have to be aboard a Continental Airlines flight from Palm Beach International Airport at the right time.
In airline parlance that means from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for dinner. Continental also serves a muffin or other breakfast bread from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Obese Airline Passengers Get A Break

Canada - Passengers who need more than one airline seat because of obesity or a disability won't have to pay for the additional seat in Canada.
The Canadian Supreme Court has rejected an appeal of the rule by the airlines, so Air Canada and WestJet will have to change their policies.
The obesity provision is certainly the most contentious aspect of the case. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Continental Airlines Named Best Large Domestic Airline

Houston - The Best Large Domestic Airline for Premium Class in Zagat's 2008 Airline Survey - Continental. In addition, Continental was named the Best Value for the Money (International) among all airlines.
Of the U.S. network airlines, Continental led in most categories, including Best Frequent Flier Programs and Best Airline Websites.
"Continental Airlines is honored to receive this award because it was determined by frequent fliers and travel professionals," said Jim Compton, Continental's executive vice president of marketing. "We are committed to continuing to bring the best value to our customers." More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Travel deals sprouting as airlines, hotels face hard times

The economic slump helped Sylvia Flores of Milwaukee find a deal last week on an inexpensive Christmas gift for her son and granddaughter.
It's a flight to Las Vegas.
Tickets for a mid-December trip from Appleton to Sin City cost her $29 to go and $89 to come back. She also found a room at the hotel Circus Circus for $29 a night. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

High-tech Travel - Paperless Boarding

Travelers rejoice! In a week where many of us will be stuck in the annual American holiday ritual known as “stand-in-airport-security-lines-trying-to-get-to-Grandma’s-house,” remind yourself of this: Someday, and someday soon, you’ll be able to zip through security… using your cell phone! For some, that day is now. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Travel agent booked for fraud

New York - A Western New York travel company owner has been arrested for selling excursions to nonprofit entities and then failing to book those trips.
The state Attorney General’s office said Tuesday it has placed numerous fraud and larceny counts against Joseph Ehrenreich, 40, owner of Destination Management Group of Buffalo.
Investigators allege Ehrenreich, of Oakwood Drive in Pendleton, Niagara County, allegedly stole more than $90,000 in payments from more than 20 consumers, businesses and nonprofits for cruises he never booked. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Flight-Change Roulette

So you booked your flight early to get a good fare. Good for you. But now, a couple of weeks before you are scheduled to fly, some important meetings at work have come up and you have to change that flight. You have two choices: You can immediately alert the airline, which would improve your chances of getting a seat on a particular flight, or you could wait until the day of your scheduled flight to notify the airline. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Wi-Fi coming to your airline soon

Virgin America recently conducted a beta flight featuring their GoGo Wi-Fi internet service. The service will support the ubiquitous 802.11 a/b/g wireless protocol. Virgin plans to have the service available on most flights by the end of 2009. They will also be offering the service to other airlines like American, Delta, and more in the near future. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Thanksgiving Travelers Face New Airline Fees

A lot of Thanksgiving travelers might be in for a rude surprise this week. If you haven't flown in a while get ready to face a slew of new fees.
The Wright family just checked their bags to grandma's house. Beverly Wright says "three bags, $15 each, $45 total."That's now the going rate at almost every major U.S. airline but the fees don't end there. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Paying for an overweight bag? Is that Airline Scale Accurate?

If you're already cheesed off about all the extra charges you encounter when flying these days, how ticked off would you be if you found out you got charged extra for checking an "overweight" bag because the airline's scale was inaccurate? The Today Show had an interesting segment yesterday about all the inaccurate airline scales they spotted at four different airports. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

TSA Expands Airport Family Lanes for Holiday Travel

Families, and individuals traveling with medically necessary liquids this holiday season will be able to take advantage of the Transportation Security Administration's family lanes, regardless of which airport they use.
The lanes, part of TSA's Diamond Self-Select program currently available at 48 airports, allow families, individuals unfamiliar with air travel procedures, and travelers with special needs to go through security at their own pace. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Surviving the holiday travel crush with kids

I wasn't sure my sister would ever forgive me that Thanksgiving. We'd inadvertently left my son's medicine on the bathroom counter where his younger cousin got into it and drank whatever didn't spill on his shirt. My sister and brother-in-law spent much of that night in the ER with their toddler. (Memo to grandmas: Keep all those pill bottles out of reach.) More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Travel Deals Peak in Time for Black Friday

NEW YORK - Even though the day after Thanksgiving is known mostly for its retail sales, consumers searching for deals on an early December getaway may also want to start shopping on Black Friday. According to historical data from lastminute.com, availability for last second deals packages, which can be purchased from 21-days to several hours before departure, typically spike to an annual high during the two weeks after Thanksgiving while prices simultaneously drop, making it the perfect time to escape the holiday stress without spending a bundle. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Waiting pays off for some fliers

For the first time in memory, airfares are falling rather than rising as the holiday travel season approaches. Prices for flights from Chicago to other U.S. cities during the year-end holidays have plunged 25 percent, to an average of $264 round trip, during the past six weeks, according to BestFares.com. The phenomenon, a byproduct of the deteriorating economy, means many procrastinators are paying about $90 less per trip than early birds who locked in pricey tickets months ago when airfares seemed certain to rise in advance of the holidays, as they typically do. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Talking Turkey Day Travel Safety

ARLINGTON, Virginia - The National Crime Prevention Council says travel safety has taken on a new meaning during these tough economic times. The organization best known for its icon, McGruff the Crime Dog, says opportunistic thieves may be looking for unprotected homes or pre-occupied travelers during the Thanksgiving holiday. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Thanksgiving tips for airline and train travel

— Be patient. The three busiest travel days of the year will be Wednesday, Sunday and Monday, Dec. 1.— Carry valid photo ID.— Allow plenty of time for check-in and security screening.
— Be familiar with items permitted and prohibited by the Transportation Security Administration.
— Pack light because carry-on space is limited and some airlines charge fees for extra/oversized checked bags. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Southwest seeks to trim gates, not flights

Amid a flagging economy, Southwest Airlines wants to give up nearly a quarter of its gates at Maryland's flagship airport, company officials said yesterday. The low-cost carrier, which operates more than half the flights at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, is seeking to shrink its footprint without reducing the number of flights offered. The move comes just months after state officials granted millions in concessions to persuade Southwest to maintain its investment here. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

When Fido has to fly

When my husband's company offered to transfer him to its office in the United Kingdom, my main concern was our Airedale terriers, Abbey and Grace. "We can't leave the girls behind," I said, "but we're not putting them into quarantine." Like many other pet owners, we were clueless about flying a dog overseas. It turns out that under rules launched in 2002 called the Pets Travel Scheme, vaccinated, microchipped pets can fly to European Union countries from the United States and Canada without spending six months in quarantine. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

U.S. strike in Pakistan may have killed airline plot suspect

Islamabad, Pakistan - A U.S. missile strike may have killed a Pakistani British man who was implicated in an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic airliners, Pakistani intelligence officials said Saturday. Rashid Rauf, who has been a fugitive since escaping from Pakistani custody last December, was believed to be one of five militants killed in the strike near the border with Afghanistan, the officials said. Pakistani media also reported the death, citing security sources. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage