U.S. Lawmakers travel lavishly on VIP luxury Air Force jets, stay in upscale hotels

WASHINGTON - U.S. lawmakers traveled around the globe during Congress' winter recess on VIP luxury Air Force jets, the U.S. television program Inside Edition says.Using hidden cameras, a reporter and producer from the syndicated show reported that the members of Congress frequently brought their spouses along on the trips to European destinations, where they stayed in upscale hotels. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Congress easing restrictions on Cuba travel

WASHINGTON — Democrats controlling Congress are loosening restrictions on allowing people of Cuban descent to visit their relatives on the island.
A huge bill wrapping up last year's budget would block enforcement of restrictions imposed by President Bush in 2004 on family travel to Cuba. The Bush rules limit family visits to once every three years for no more than 14 days. Travel spending is now capped at $50 per day.
Once signed by Obama, the legislation would allow Cuban-Americans to travel to Cuba once a year to visit relatives, spend up to $170 a day and visit for an unlimited duration. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

US Airways to restore free beverages

After taking considerable heat, US Airways has decided to resume free in-flight beverage service starting March 1.
Last year amid rising fuel costs, airlines piled on new fees for checked luggage, blankets, and other formerly complimentary amenities. US Airways, however, came under particularly tough criticism after it began charging $1 for coffee and tea and $2 for bottled water and soft drinks -- fees that its competitors opted not to match. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Peanuts on Northwest Airlines prompt protests

ATLANTA, Georgia - The return of peanuts to the snack menu at Northwest Airlines this month has prompted a spasm of protests from travelers with allergies. The change comes four months after Northwest merged with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines and in the midst of a national salmonella outbreak involving Peanut Corporation of America. Georgia, where the company has a plant, is the top peanut-producing state in the country. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Southwest Air To Offer In-Flight Wi-Fi

Southwest Airlines is planning to outfit four aircraft with Wi-Fi access for passengers by early March. The airline said the service, which is based on Row 44's satellite technology, will be free during a trial period.
Southwest is the latest airline to offer Wi-Fi service to passengers as airlines throughout the world rush to supply online technology to their customers. Row 44's satellite service is competing with air-to-ground technology offered by Aircell in the US. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Surprising number of companies cut travel spending

Twice as many U.S. companies as previously expected are cutting their travel spending this year in response to economic weakness and uncertainty.
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives says 71% of its member companies now plan to spend less on travel this year than in 2008. That's a huge and unprecedented shift in corporate travel managers' plans from just five months ago, says Susan Gurley, the association's executive director. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

American Airlines forced to repack exit slides

American Airlines crews had to inspect and test the exit slides on about 272 aircraft last week after a mechanic discovered a "potential problem" with the way the work had been done, the carrier said Monday.
The slides were found to be working on all of American's McDonnell Douglas MD-80 jets, but they had been packed and stowed on the planes using the wrong tool, said a spokesman for the airline. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

US Airways to charge for pillows

US Airways passengers soon won't find free pillows and blankets in the overhead bin anymore, unless they're flying first class or to Europe.
Later this month, the Tempe-based airline will replace them with a reusable pillow-and-blanket kit that will sell for $7 in-flight and online.
The kit, which officials had said they were considering, is US Airways' latest move to boost revenue by charging for things that previously were free. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Airlines will carry 41 million fewer passengers this year

The nation’s airlines will carry 41 million fewer passengers this year, according to a new forecast, and the industry won’t begin to rebound until 2010 at the earliest.
The projection from the Boyd Group, an aviation consulting firm in Evergreen, Colo., predicted that the airline industry will take in $25 billion less through 2011, unless ticket prices are increased significantly. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage

Passport applications plunge as recession chokes off foreign travel

With the recession choking foreign travel, passport applications are plunging and the workload at the State Department is easing enough that those applying are getting their documents in three weeks or less.The State Department said last week that it expected to issue 12 million passports this fiscal year, about 25% fewer than last year. In early December, it was forecasting 17 million passports for the year ending Sept. 30. More... Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco - Flight Tracker: Track Any flight - Priority Bags: No More Lost Luggage