A number of travel sites have cropped up offering “Woot-like” and “Grouponesque” deals for getaway bargains that are available only for a limited time before a new deal goes up, and/or gives you a price-break the more people who jump onboard. Here’s a few to peruse: [More]
Southwest Pilot Holds Plane For Murdered Child's Family
By January 12, 2011
Elliott.org has the incredible story of a grandfather who was trying to race through the airport to get to the hospital to say goodbye to his 3-year old grandson who being taken off life support after being body-slammed by his daughter’s live-in boyfriend. Despite getting to the airport early, long lines were going to make him late for the plane and all the TSA drones couldn’t give a damn. Finally through security, he ran through the airport in his socks, clutching his shoes, before arriving, gasping at the Southwest gate—12 minutes late. [More]
Man Arrested For Bringing Suspicious Bagel Onboard
By January 11, 2011
Travelers onboard a US Airways flight from Boston to Washington DC reported hearing “strange noises” from the plastic bag a fellow passenger had stored in the overhead compartment. He was arrested and charged with interfering with the operation of an aircraft. Subsequent inspection revealed the plastic bag to contain a bagel with cream cream cheese and a hat. [More]
Arianna Huffington Escorted Off Plane For Crackberry Abuse
By January 11, 2011
Arianna Huffington, who runs the news aggregation site bearing her last name, was hustled off a plane over the weekend after she continued to tap at her Blackberry after the flight was airborne. The New York Post, following up on a Valleywag story, reports that a guy from Long Island a few rows behind her got really huffy and started yelling at her and the flight attendants. [More]
Purse-Dial On The Other Side Of The World, Pay Verizon $1,800
By January 10, 2011
Travel tip: If you haven’t arranged for international phone service while traveling abroad, take the battery out of your phone so you can’t accidentally turn it on and dial. [More]
Southwest's New Frequent Flier Program Rewards Biz Travelers Over Hoi Polloi
By January 10, 2011
If air travel was a multi-player video-game, you would call Southwest’s new “Rapid Rewards” frequent flier program “adjusting the game balance.” In this case, the “Pinstripe” class is getting favorably tweaked at “Joe Sixpack” class’s expense. [More]
Southwest Overhauls Frequent Flyer Mile Program
By January 6, 2011
Southwest today announced a major revamp of its frequent flyer mile program. Under the new system, travelers will get points based on their airfare amount. There will also be no blackout dates or seat restrictions (existing members will get grandfathered in). The airline also introduced three new fare buckets, “wanna get away,” “anytime,” and “business select” with increasing points per dollar to redeem and total points required for a free flight. So not only are you getting from point A to point B, you’re also polishing valuable math skills. Southwest came out with 3 videos to explain it all: [More]
Cut Your Hotel Bill By Starting A Bidding War
By January 6, 2011
The New York Times has a round-up of money-saving travel hints for 2011 — and there are a few interesting ideas, like searching student travel agencies for trips with no age restrictions, and negotiating with the reservation agents at multiple hotels. [More]
Delta Auctions Off Flight Bumps To Lowest Bidders
By January 5, 2011
A reader over at Marginal Revolution spotted Delta’s new system where when you check in at the kiosk it asks you to bid on what it would cost to get you to volunteer your seat. Below the entry box it says, “Delta accepts lower bids first.” Genius! [More]
Pack A Suit Coat Without Wrinkles
By January 3, 2011
Here’s how to perform that heretofore impossible trick of packing a suit coat without a garment bag or putting up with wrinkles. This soundless video shows how you turn the coat inside out and perform the necessary suit origami so you can pack light and not look like a schlump. Just pay more attention to the moves than to the actor’s shirt. [More]
Alaska Airlines Delivers Your Bags In 20 Minutes Or You Get 2,000 Free Miles
By December 30, 2010
Reader Andrew is happy to report that taking advantage of Alaska Airline’s guarantee that you’ll have your bags within 20 minutes of landing is pretty painless. His bags didn’t show up after 35 minutes and when he called in they gave him a choice of two different “we’re sorry” options. [More]
Hotel Washes Every Coin They Get As Courtesy For Guests
By December 30, 2010
As a favor to guests, one hotel washes every coin it receives, just like it’s done since 1938. [More]
68-Year Old Punches Teen For Not Turning Off iPhone On Flight
By December 29, 2010
A 68-year old man was arrested for punching a teenager after the kid wouldn’t turn off his iPhone during the final approach for landing. [More]
Disney World Deploys Massive Underground Lair To Combat Lines
By December 28, 2010
Disney has developed a new subterranean nerve center to combat lines as they happen. Pirates of the Caribbean too slow? Launch more boats and deploy a Jack Sparrow actor to distract customers. Fantasyland overflowing but Tomorrowland bare? Send out a mini-parade to lure guests over. Sounds like the basis for a fun new real-time strategy game. [More]
Which Airports Actually Use Their Body Scanners?
By December 28, 2010
Lists of which airports have installed the controversial backscatter screening devices are one thing, but they’re not actually super-useful. An airport might have the screener on site, but that doesn’t mean they’re actually “backscatting” with it. It could be gathering dust or just for hanging coats on. [More]
American Airlines Yanks Fares From Orbitz
By December 23, 2010
In a contract tussle, American Airlines has removed all of its fares from Orbitz. [More]
Virgin Passengers Not Named Madonna Wait 3 Hours To Get Off Plane
By December 22, 2010
When bad weather forced a London-bound Virgin flight to reroute from Heathrow Airport to Stansted, passengers had to wait three hours on the tarmac before they could disembark. A select group did, however, get to leave the plane after about an hour. No, they weren’t disabled, sick or parents with small, noisy children. The group making an early exit consisted of once-popular singer Madonna and her entourage of about 15 people. [More]
$568 To Change A US Airways Flight? Complain And Get Transferred To Little Caesar's Pizza
By December 14, 2010
Kyle was annoyed that when he had to change his US Airways tickets, he not only was charged a ticket change fee, he also didn’t get any refund, even though the new tickets were cheaper than his old ones. When he complained and asked for a supervisor, he found himself transferred instead to a purveyor of doughy circular objects, covered in cheese, and ruled over by a diminutive dictator. [More]
