CNN has broken down ” the most outrageous” fees levied on consumers and how to avoid them. Unsurprisingly, quite a few have to do with travel, banking, and airlines. Paper ticket fees, flight change fees, ATM fees, etc. Some good travel tips are to be had: Southwest airlines doesn’t charge to change a flight, and JetBlue only charges $25-$30.
airlines
United Airlines Apologizes For Laughing At Traveler’s Plight
By 12.27.06
A reader received an apology and a $100 travel voucher in response to his complaint we cross-posted.
Airlines Hike Fares
By 12.26.06
After Delta and American announced plans to raise fares by up to $40, other airlines are following suit. United announced they’d be adding $10 to most round-tip flights. Northwest and U.S. Airways have matched the increase. —MEGHANN MARCO
Airlines Hike Rates Up To $40
By 12.22.06
American and Delta have rated rates in the face of higher fuel costs, the airlines said yesterday. US Airways and Continental did not match the hike, and United and Northwest said they are studying it.
SeatGuru: Avoid Crappy Airline Seats
By 12.21.06
Commenters mention this site a lot, and BoingBoing wrote it up today, so we thought it would be a good time to link to it. SeatGuru is a site featuring seating charts for aircraft on all major carriers. Their charts tell you important things like, does this seat smell of satanic beer farts and airplane toilet chemicals? The charts also have important information like what sorts of meals will be served on the flight. Nifty, nifty. —MEGHANN MARCO
Travel Prices To Rise in 2007
By 12.21.06
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that travel prices will rise, in some cases dramatically, in the new year. Due to the weak dollar acting as a siren song for European tourists, tourism from the old country will increase 5%, to over 54 million visitors. What does this mean to you? More expensive hotels. American Express is estimating that already pricey New York hotels will raise their rates by 18%, Domestic coach airfares will rise 3 to 5 percent, and across the nation hotel prices will increase 2 to 8 percent. —MEGHANN MARCO
Continental Airlines: Thanks for the 4 oz of Coke
By 12.19.06
We flew to South Carolina this weekend because we heard they have some nice weather there. We flew Continental airlines, which we do not normally do. Drink time came around and we asked for a Coke. We got a glass of ice with some Coke poured around it…and no can.
U.S. Airlines Not Recycling?
By 12.15.06
According to Reuters: “U.S. airlines and airports send more of their trash to the dump than the country as a whole, losing the chance to save emissions through recycling, according to an environmental group’s report.”
Why Are There Taxes On Frequent Flyer Miles?
By 12.14.06
Why are “free” frequent flyer miles taxed, asks Katie.
Airline Rebooks, You Pay
By 12.12.06
Two weeks before our departure, American contacted me and said it needed to rebook me because of a scheduling change. My new itinerary had me flying on SN Brussels Airlines instead of Swiss. I asked if I needed new paper tickets and was told “no.”
Baby Born on Plane Headed for Chicago
By 12.11.06
A 42-year-old woman gave birth to a healthy girl late Wednesday aboard a plane destined for O’Hare International Airport from Mexico, officials said Thursday.
US Airways: A Window Seat is an Upgrade?
By 12.5.06
- “I had a ticket on a United Airlines flight that was the second leg of a trip booked though U.S. Airways, so I couldn’t get a seat assignment until I arrived at the gate. When a gate agent got the podium around 11 p.m., I requested a window seat.
Even Physicists Are Not Smart Enough to Avoid Getting Screwed By Orbitz
By 12.4.06
We’re not saying the rest of you are dumb, but when physicists from CalTech can’t manage to make travel arrangements without getting stuck with hundreds of dollars in “change fees,” there might be a problem with the website. And by problem we might mean “scam.” And by scam, we might mean, “policies designed to increase fees by being deliberately confusing and overly restrictive.” In this case, Sean, a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Physics at the California Institute of Technology, was trying to book a new ticket with money from a credit on a previously canceled ticket, which is much harder than identifying the unified field theory.
Chicago Snow Storm; Rebook Flights Now With No Penalty
By 12.1.06
CBS2 Chicago is reporting that American and United, O’Hare’s biggest carriers, are urging people to rebook flights in and out of Chicago. “Because of the weather both American and United are allowing passengers to rebook their flights without penalty, and some have already taken advantage of that.
Fake Boarding Pass Creator Goes Free
By 11.29.06
Cnet is reporting that the creator of the fake NWA boarding pass generator has been freed and all charges dropped due to lack of criminal intent on his part. “They’ve given me back my passports, my computers, and I’ll be getting the rest of my stuff back shortly. Essentially, I’m a free man–with no charges filed,” Christopher Soghoian wrote on his blog Tuesday, talking about the investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
Breastfeeding Protesters Target Airlines
By 11.22.06
They’re at it again according to USA Today: “Carrying signs with slogans such as “Best in-flight meal ever,” scores of mothers breast-fed their babies at airports around the country Tuesday in a show of support for a woman who was ordered off a plane for nursing her daughter without covering up.”
