Spirit Airlines has another tasteless email promotion, this time riffing off the crazy phrases Charlie Sheen has been spewing in his latest media meltdown. Unlike their previous ones that made jokes about the BP oil spill, muff-diving and M.I.L.Fs (“many islands, low fares” – ahem), this one does not make me want to punch them in the face. So kudos on that, guys. [More]
travel
TSA Wants To Increase Airport Fees Because You're Not Checking Your Bags
By 3.4.11
To avoid bag check fees, travelers are routinely opting to carry on their bags, but the TSA says that the cost is just getting shifted to tax payers, to the tune of $260 million a year. That’s because the more bags that don’t get checked, the more bags the TSA has to inspect by hand at security checkpoints. Now the TSA is looking to get a cut of some of the checked baggage fees the airlines collect. [More]
Submit Your Questions For Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood!
By 3.2.11
Hey, Consumerist readers, we got an opportunity to ask United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood 3-5 reader submitted questions in connection with “Distracted Driving Shatters Lives: Helping Parents and Educators Reach Teens,” a Consumers Union event taking place at our headquarters Monday, March 7, 2011, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET. Please ask about any transportation-related issue that interests you! [More]
Resort Owner Shows How He Games TripAdvisor
By 2.25.11
A guy shows TODAY how he posts fake glowing reviews for his own resort and restaurant on TripAdvisor, and trash talks the competition. This doesn’t mean that customer review sites like TripAdvisor aren’t worthwhile, though. Just take his own advice and throw out the best reviews and the worst. The ones in the middle are the most likely to be from real people reflecting their real experience. [More]
Kitten Freezes To Death After Delta Flight, Owner Offered Free Trip And $50
By 2.17.11
Snickers, an 11-week old kitten, is dead after taking a trip on Delta that went horribly awry. The owner said the airline initially offered over $3,000 in compensation. They have now revised that offer to free airfare plus $.50 for every pound the kitten weighed. There’s a $50 minimum payout on that policy, which is a good thing because the feline only weighed 3 pounds. [More]
TSA Body Scanner Tracking Site Gets User-Friendly Makeover
By 2.9.11
The citizen-created site that keeps track of which airports have bodyscanner devices and what their status is just got a big interface makeover. [More]
Would You Pay Extra For An Adult-Only Flight?
By 2.7.11
In a recent survey of business class travelers, when asked what annoys them about first-class travel, 74% of them said “children.” The respondents are clamoring for airlines to start offering children-free or 18+ only flights. So here’s the question: would you pay extra for a seat on a kid-free flight? Take our poll and sound off! [More]
Tuesday And Wednesday Are Best Days To Buy Airfare, Smart Guys Say
By 2.1.11
The best day to buy airfare is often Tuesday, but Wednesday also offers good deals, which are sometimes even better. How come? [More]
Get Your Airline Ticket Changed For Free Because Of Massive Midwest Storm
By 1.31.11
The Superbowl of storms is headed for the Midwest with 20″ snow and 45 mph winds predicted for Chicago. Thankfully, a lot of airlines are waiving their usual ticket change fees for travelers who could be affected. 3,000 flights have already been canceled in advance of the potentially deadly weather. Don’t go to the airport to see if you can make your flight, don’t get stuck in an airport, stay home, stay over at your friend’s house an extra day or two, and take advantage of this leniency. Here are links to the various airlines and their waiver and winter update pages and policies: [More]
Airport Calls 3-Inch Plastic Toy Gun A "Firearm"
By 1.28.11
Overzealous airport security prevented a man and his wife from bringing onboard a 3-inch long plastic toy soldier’s gun. They said it was a “firearm” and forced the couple to mail it home before passing through security. [More]
Know The Jargon To Get A Great Hotel Rate
By 1.24.11
To get into speakeasies of yore, you had to knock and the door, waiting for the big guy to slide back the eye slot, and say the secret password. Likewise, in order to get into a hotel room at a great price, you gotta know the lingo to sling. [More]
The Woots And Groupons Of Travel Bargain Sites
By 1.18.11
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 1.12.11
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 1.11.11
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 1.11.11
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 1.10.11
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 1.10.11
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 1.6.11
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]
