It’s all well and good when airlines institute their own price hikes, but when someone else does it, suddenly they’re all concerned about consumers? Not buying it. New proposed legislation wants to charge airlines a higher security tax, a fee which would then be passed on to the customer. [More]
airlines
FAA: There Are Less Flights To Be Had & They're Getting More Expensive
By 3.9.12
The rising cost of fuel isn’t just a concern for airlines who need to get their planes from here to there, but it’s having a direct, somewhat uncomfortable consequence for consumers. The Federal Aviation Administration says airlines are cutting less-profitable routes in order to fill every seat on plane. [More]
Airlines Hike Up Fares Yet Again, Blaming Higher Fuel Costs
By 2.27.12
Airlines aren’t just good at lifting planes into the air, but with yet another hike on round-trip fares, they’re showing how great they are at sending prices skyward as well. Zing! This latest increase is the third already this year. [More]
35 Pets Died On Airplanes Last Year, Over Half On Delta
By 2.17.12
Animal lovers were justifiably critical of Delta Airlines after sixteen pets died in 2010 during or after flights in the cargo hold. But even after banning frequently-overheating short-muzzled breeds like bulldogs from the skies, nineteen pets passed away during or shortly after Delta flights in 2011. That’s out of a total of 35 pets that died on U.S. carriers last year. In addition, nine pets sustained major or minor injuries, and two were lost. [More]
Study: The Best Time To Score Cheap Airfare Is Six Weeks Before The Flight
By 1.23.12
Everyone uses their own timing strategies when it comes to buying airfare — too close to the flight and you’re bound to pay out the nose, too many months in advance and you’ll see that same fare drop in price. A new study puts some science on the issue, coming up with the magic number of six weeks before a flight as the best time to buy. [More]
Business Travelers Much More Likely To Fly Economy Internationally
By 12.15.11
Business travelers are starting to give up their free mini bottles of booze and plush, wide seats in favor of lower prices, says a new report. The shift is especially evident in those flying in Europe, as the recent economic crisis has more choosing economy tickets over business class. [More]
Couples Sues Airtran For $100,000, Alleging Cockroaches Infested Their Flight
By 11.14.11
A couple is suing Airtran for $100,000 after they saw cockroaches on their flight, and they say they have to pictures to prove it. [More]
Virgin America Is Pleased With Their New Reservation System
By 11.2.11
Despite experiencing some of the inevitable hiccups from transferring a legacy system to a new one, Virgin America tells me that they’re overall “pleased” with how the reservation system transition they started on Saturday is going. [More]
Virgin America's Brand New Sabre Reservation System Hits Turbulence
By 11.2.11
Virgin America has hit some extreme turbulence ever since they switched to a new Sabre Airline Solutions reservation system on Saturday. Travelers are lighting up the inter-boards with complaints that they can’t make or change their reservations, and call centers are swamped, with customers having to wait over four hours on hold. [More]
JetBlue Giving Refunds To Customers Trapped For 7 Hours On Tarmac
By 10.31.11
JetBlue is giving refunds to the passengers who were stranded on the tarmac in Hartford Connecticut for seven hours. [More]
Travelers Would Actually Pay Attention To Pre-Flight Safety Instructions If They Were More Like This
By 10.28.11
Airlines should take a cue from this sketch video and incorporate more dance moves into their pre-flight safety instructions if they really want passengers to start paying attention. [More]
Hotel Books Guest Too Young To Check In: Now What?
By 10.20.11
Alex booked a flight/hotel package on the Allegiant Air that included a stay at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. The problem? He’s only 19, and you have to be 21 or older to check in there. So just call and cancel the reservation, right? It’s not that simple, because he’s afraid that the flight reservation will be canceled too if he nixes the hotel part of the package. [More]
DOT Investigates Airlines For Not Disclosing Fees On Their Websites
By 10.19.11
Starting August 23rd, airlines were supposed to start being more upfront on their websites about the fees they charge you. Guess what? They didn’t. [More]
How Cancer, A Tornado, And American Airlines Took Away Our Honeymoon
By 10.14.11
Roxanne and her husband got married last year, and had to delay their honeymoon until April due to her illness. They spent the night before their rescheduled trip huddled in a hotel bathtub near the airport. It was clear that the universe did not want them to vacation in Cabo San Lucas. An American Airlines rep put their rescheduled tickets on hold, and they had until February 2012 to use them for another trip. Or so they thought. [More]
Flying Relatives Home On United For The Holidays? Better Just Send Them A Check
By 10.7.11
When Cindy purchased her adult daughter’s plane tickets to visit for the holidays, she didn’t realize that United would rather have her just send her daughter the cash. At least, that’s the only logical explanation for the rule she learned about only after the purchase was complete: the credit card used to buy the tickets must be available at check-in. How is Cindy’s daughter supposed to present her credit card? [More]
Cat Lost In JFK Airport On August 24 Still Missing, Internet Swarms In To Help
By 9.22.11
Have you seen Jack the cat? According to his Facebook page, he’s been on his own in Queens for more than four weeks now. He allegedly disappeared from his carrier in the baggage area of New York’s JFK airport on August 24th, as he, his feline brother, and their human were flying to their new home in California. Employees searched for him. Then Hurricane Irene happened. [More]
Despite Their Protests, Airlines Are Indeed Liable For Lost Luggage
By 9.20.11
Many airlines have inserted “checked baggage limitations of liability” into their contracts which try to act like it’s not their fault if jewelry or gadgets somehow go missing during transit from your luggage. They’re bunkum. [More]
How A Travel Hacker Buys An Airplane Ticket
By 9.14.11
Nomadic Matt is essentially a professional world traveler, having quit his job in 2006 to pursue his love of trekking all around the globe. He shares his tips and the pricematching steps he takes before he books any ticket. [More]
