Airlines have tacked on more and more fees over the years as a way to recoup costs without having to raise their base fares as much, but Frontier has broke with these seemingly relentless upward tradition and actually reduced some fees this week. Thunderclap! [More]
How Can I Prepare In Advance In Case My Flights Are Canceled?
By April 26, 2011
Mrgrammarperson has an upcoming airline trip planned, and he’s nervous that one of his flights will be canceled and throw his entire travel itinerary off. He asks the seasoned travelers of the Consumerist Hive Mind: what should he do if his flights are canceled to reach his destination on time? [More]
Car Seats Fly Free, So Pack Other Stuff In There To Avoid Bag Fees
By April 25, 2011
It’s sort of sneaky, but you can take advantage of the fact that a few items, like strollers, car seats and some medical items, never get a fee for getting checked in order to avoid checked bag fees on your other stuff, writes the Money Crashers blog. [More]
Travel: Choosing The Best Credit Card
By April 25, 2011
Like deciding whether to tap your Fountain of Youth or send in your Force of Nature in Magic: The Gathering, deciding which credit to play in the travel game depends on your situation and strategy. [More]
Delta Warned About Mice Feces On Plane
By April 21, 2011
Most people are worried about a seatmate that takes up more than their fair share of the seats, but on one Delta plane they should be more concerned about a far tinier co-passenger. CNN reports the FDA has sent Delta a warning letter (read it here) about mouse droppings “too numerous to count” onboard one of its planes. [More]
Airlines Now Actually Have To Return Bag Fees If They Lose Your Bag
By April 20, 2011
It’s sort of sad that the Department of Transportation actually had to force airlines to refund bag fees if they lose your baggage — but whatever, let’s not dwell. [More]
Before Taking That Hotel Towel Home, Check For An RFID Chip
By April 18, 2011
If one of your favorite parts about staying in a hotel is loading up on all the free towels, you may want to take a pause before stuffing your suitcase next time. A few hotels, which don’t want to be named, have started to use a new washable RFID chip that can be sewn into towels, robes and bedsheets. [More]
Nobody Likes You When You're Being A Bad Airline Customer
By April 18, 2011
Sure, we’ve all gotten annoyed at one time or another while flying, whether it’s over the limited overhead space or the crying baby in the next row. But just because we can get ticked off doesn’t mean customers have the right to be brats. Take a few of these tips to be the best flier you can be, which can lead to a better experience for everyone. [More]
Amtrak Charters Sweet Bus When Tracks Are Unsafe
By April 8, 2011
An exemplary customer service experience….with Amtrak? It’s possible! Thomas was traveling from Boston to Buffalo, NY, and learned that some of the track in New England was impassible, so passengers would be taking a bus for part of their trip. He expected to be put on a Greyhound bus…not a travel experience to look forward to. But Amtrak had something nicer planned for its passengers. [More]
Let's Talk About Buying Travel Insurance, Shall We?
By April 7, 2011
If you’re like us, you usually wave aside the online ticket agent’s offer to purchase travel insurance. However it could come in really handy and sometimes you’re going to want it. But if you do want to buy travel, when and how should you do it? [More]
2nd Air Traffic Controller Could Be Fired For Snoozing On The Job
By April 7, 2011
The second air traffic controller in a month could lose his job for catching some z’s up in the tower. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told Congress that the controller was “found intentionally sleeping.” What defines “intentional sleeping?” He had cushions and a blanket, meaning he brought materials to work with him to help him sleep. [More]
Travel Industry Trying To Beat Complaining Customers To The Punch
By April 4, 2011
The right to complain when your travel experience wasn’t what you paid for is being preempted by many airlines and other agencies, but does that mean you have to accept what you’re being offered right off the bat when something goes wrong? [More]
Ryanair Launches "Child Free Flights"
By April 1, 2011
Most proclamations by RyanAir, the Irish “jet strapped to a metal pole” low-cost airline, sound like April Fool’s jokes anyway but at least their attempt today is right on message. RyanAir announced they are introducing “child free flights” starting late this year. “When it comes to children we all love our own but would clearly prefer to avoid other people’s little monsters when travelling,” said RyanAir’s head of communications Stephen McNamara in a press release. Staying classy is not what this airline is selling. [More]
Who Has The Worst Fees In Surcharge-Riddled Travel Industry?
By March 30, 2011
Traveling these days seems to just be a case of a fee here, a fee there, fees everywhere you turn, whether it’s by land, sea or air. But which part of the industry is the very worst when it comes to hitting consumers with extraneous charges? [More]
Top 5 Mistakes Tourists Make In Lisbon
By March 21, 2011
Before you hit Lisbon, the beautiful capital of Portugal, on your next tourist jaunt, be sure to apprise yourself of these 5 common mistakes tourists make, says the Go Lisbon Blog. Besides “Spanish is not the official language, Portuguese is,” I think my favorite tip is that you should respect the lines. In Lisbon, people don’t just bumrush the doors to board public transit. They queue up in order of arrival and board accordingly. Break this rule and be ready for a grumbly little old lady to accidentally on-purpose whack you with her cane as she walks by you. [More]
7 Hours Sitting In The Aisle Of An Overbooked Megabus
By March 15, 2011
This weekend, Sean spent a miserable seven hours sitting in the aisle of a packed Megabus traveling between two East Coast cities. The company had taken too many reservations for the overnight bus, and had four five more passengers than seats. The last four five passengers had a choice between two incredibly crappy options: be stranded overnight in the city of departure and miss their connections, or crouch in the aisle, cursing Megabus with every mile. Sean and his companions went for the second option. [More]
Jetblue And American Increase Fees, Airlines Dream Up More
By March 14, 2011
The airline fees just keep edging up. Jetblue has increased the 2nd checked bag fee to $35 from $30. They have also increased the fee for their “Even More Legroom” seats by $5. Not wanting to be left out, American is increasing the fee for making a reservation by phone to $25 from $20. With fuel costs rising, airlines are looking for ways to increase revenue without increasing airfare, as they’ve already done that six times this year already. They use fuel costs as the reason, but you know if the price of fuel drops, they’re not going to cut back on fees. And according to the Journal, airlines are looking for more ways to add fees, like a surcharge for a chair that reclines more, a champagne brunch fee, or blizzard insurance. [More]
