People often write in and ask us how to use a cellphone abroad without roaming. Roaming can be insanely expensive. We don’t recommend you do it. But what should you do? The answer depends on what type of cellphone you have.
travel
Farecast Deals Searches For Cheap Airline Tickets Using 'Science'
By 3.14.07
How are our deals different than thousands of other travel sites? They’re different because our deals are based on science, not marketing. We apply science to airfare deals in two ways, 1) why it’s a deal and 2) why you should buy now.
These are the questions we find ourselves asking, and now we don’t have to. Very cool. —MEGHANN MARCO
Spirit Air To Charge Extra For Sneezing
By 3.7.07
Spirit Air announced new fees starting June 20, 2007 that will penalize flyers for using extra services. Like having a piece of luggage.
We're Sick of These &%*#! Passengers Getting Stuck On These $#!@* Planes!
By 3.5.07
Last Saturday, a United Airlines flight sat at O’Hare International Airport for more than eight hours during an icy snowstorm. For entertainment, the passengers got to watch the plane get de-iced several times.
Airport Security Devices Of The Future
By 3.3.07
Travel writer Peter Greenberg gives us an insightful look at the creepy future of airport security. Most of us are already familiar with ‘puffer’ scanners, which, ironically, are prominent fixtures at the Statue of Liberty. They are just the beginning. The future holds several new devices, and “many of them are raising new issues regarding privacy.”
Point/Counterpoint: JetBlue's Apology Isn't Enough
By 2.23.07
Consumerist HQ responded positively to jetBlue’s apologies earlier this week. Understandable: Airline CEO David “Mortified” Neeleman’s words felt sincere, and it was good to hear him apologize for the unfortunate imprisonment of hundreds of people inside their airplanes for hours on end last week. It’s tough to apologize, and they did it. Hats off.
Recharge Your Batteries For Free At Airports
By 2.22.07
The folks at BoingBoing are rightly angered by the trend in airports to feature pay-per-use electric charging stations. It’s bad enough that you’re stuck in the terminal, waiting for your delayed flight to finally start boarding, only to sit and wait some more while seated in 25B. Now, more and more airports are renting out their power sockets, so you can’t even recharge that laptop, cellphone, or DVD player while you’re killing time.
United Customers Abandoned in Wyoming As Plane Leaves Without Them
By 2.20.07
Tears filling his eyes, Roger Barbour watched in disbelief as two United Express jets took off without him just before Christmas at the Cheyenne airport in Wyoming. He wasn’t the only one left behind.
JetBlue's CEO is "Mortified"
By 2.19.07
“We had so many people in the company who wanted to help who weren’t trained to help,” he said. “We had an emergency control center full of people who didn’t know what to do. I had flight attendants sitting in hotel rooms for three days who couldn’t get a hold of us. I had pilots e-mailing me saying, ‘I’m available, what do I do?’ “
United Offers Waivers Due To Winter Storms in Several States
By 2.14.07
Thinking of flying today? You may want to think again. United is offering travel waivers for those of you flying in or out of the following states: Colorado; Connecticut; Illinois; Indiana; Massachusetts; Maryland; Michigan; Missouri; New Jersey; New York; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; Virginia; Washington, D.C.; and Wisconsin.
"Code Share": When Your Airline Isn't Your Airline
By 2.12.07
Ever go to check in for the next leg of your flight, only to find that there is no check-in for the airline you’re supposed to be on? That’s what happened to Michael and Joyce Ludmer.
Spirit Charges $110 To Fly With Three Bags
By 2.10.07
Spirit announced increased prices for checked bags, meaning it may soon cost more for your luggage to fly the discount airline than you.
Free U.S. Passports from Nassau Paradise Island?
By 2.9.07
This is weird. The Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board will issue rebates for the cost of new US Passports for your entire family (4 per room), providing you stay for 2 days at one of 19 participating hotels. The deal comes as new regulations are requiring US travelers to show a US passport to travel to and from the Bahamas.
Reader Gets Chargeback For Golden Touch Transportation's Shyster Car Service
By 1.28.07
Thanks to the advice of The Consumerist and its readers, Shonda finally got a refund after Golden Touch Transportation car service ripped her off.
Passport Madness!
By 1.24.07
Way back in December we told you about the new passport requirements and encouraged you to get yourself a passport before the deadline of…yesterday. Now the passport scramble is on, especially for business travelers who need to expedite their passports. According to the NYT, it can be “difficult, if not impossible, to get an appointment in a timely fashion.”
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
