The New York Times has a round-up of money-saving travel hints for 2011 — and there are a few interesting ideas, like searching student travel agencies for trips with no age restrictions, and negotiating with the reservation agents at multiple hotels. [More]
travel
Delta Auctions Off Flight Bumps To Lowest Bidders
By 1.5.11
A reader over at Marginal Revolution spotted Delta’s new system where when you check in at the kiosk it asks you to bid on what it would cost to get you to volunteer your seat. Below the entry box it says, “Delta accepts lower bids first.” Genius! [More]
Pack A Suit Coat Without Wrinkles
By 1.3.11
Here’s how to perform that heretofore impossible trick of packing a suit coat without a garment bag or putting up with wrinkles. This soundless video shows how you turn the coat inside out and perform the necessary suit origami so you can pack light and not look like a schlump. Just pay more attention to the moves than to the actor’s shirt. [More]
Alaska Airlines Delivers Your Bags In 20 Minutes Or You Get 2,000 Free Miles
By 12.30.10
Reader Andrew is happy to report that taking advantage of Alaska Airline’s guarantee that you’ll have your bags within 20 minutes of landing is pretty painless. His bags didn’t show up after 35 minutes and when he called in they gave him a choice of two different “we’re sorry” options. [More]
Hotel Washes Every Coin They Get As Courtesy For Guests
By 12.30.10
As a favor to guests, one hotel washes every coin it receives, just like it’s done since 1938. [More]
68-Year Old Punches Teen For Not Turning Off iPhone On Flight
By 12.29.10
A 68-year old man was arrested for punching a teenager after the kid wouldn’t turn off his iPhone during the final approach for landing. [More]
Disney World Deploys Massive Underground Lair To Combat Lines
By 12.28.10
Disney has developed a new subterranean nerve center to combat lines as they happen. Pirates of the Caribbean too slow? Launch more boats and deploy a Jack Sparrow actor to distract customers. Fantasyland overflowing but Tomorrowland bare? Send out a mini-parade to lure guests over. Sounds like the basis for a fun new real-time strategy game. [More]
Which Airports Actually Use Their Body Scanners?
By 12.28.10
Lists of which airports have installed the controversial backscatter screening devices are one thing, but they’re not actually super-useful. An airport might have the screener on site, but that doesn’t mean they’re actually “backscatting” with it. It could be gathering dust or just for hanging coats on. [More]
American Airlines Yanks Fares From Orbitz
By 12.23.10
In a contract tussle, American Airlines has removed all of its fares from Orbitz. [More]
Virgin Passengers Not Named Madonna Wait 3 Hours To Get Off Plane
By 12.22.10
When bad weather forced a London-bound Virgin flight to reroute from Heathrow Airport to Stansted, passengers had to wait three hours on the tarmac before they could disembark. A select group did, however, get to leave the plane after about an hour. No, they weren’t disabled, sick or parents with small, noisy children. The group making an early exit consisted of once-popular singer Madonna and her entourage of about 15 people. [More]
$568 To Change A US Airways Flight? Complain And Get Transferred To Little Caesar's Pizza
By 12.14.10
Kyle was annoyed that when he had to change his US Airways tickets, he not only was charged a ticket change fee, he also didn’t get any refund, even though the new tickets were cheaper than his old ones. When he complained and asked for a supervisor, he found himself transferred instead to a purveyor of doughy circular objects, covered in cheese, and ruled over by a diminutive dictator. [More]
Travel The Globe For Less Than $418, Sorta
By 12.13.10
Travel isn’t as much about resources as it is persistence, planning and problem-solving ability. A particularly skillful globe-hopper named Steve reveals how, starting next month, he plans to hit four continents and 15 cities while spending just $418. [More]
FAA Missing Info On 119,000 Planes
By 12.10.10
The FAA says its records are in such disarray that its afraid that criminals could buy planes “without the government’s knowledge” or use the registration numbers of other planes. The agency has ordered all aircraft owners to re-register. [More]
If You Want Unbiased Hotel Reviews, Don't Trust Expedia
By 12.10.10
What’s the purpose of hotel reviews on Expedia.com? Based on the recent experiences of two customers who wrote to Consumerist this week, it’s not to provide a balanced overview of customers’ experiences. Two unrelated readers stayed in different hotel chains in different cities, had bad experiences, and wanted to warn other travelers. Expedia posted neither of their reviews. Why not? [More]
Actor Josh Duhamel Kicked Off Flight For Refusing To Turn Off Blackberry
By 12.8.10
Actor Josh Duhamel, who plays Captain William Lennox in the Transformers series, was kicked off a flight last week after he refused to stop texting on his Blackberry while it was taxiing. The Air Wisconsin plane was forced to return to the gate and disgorge the actor. Now he says he’s learned his lesson. [More]
Ways Hotels Try To Bilk You For Extra Money
By 12.6.10
A hotel’s room rate is only the base price of your stay. The industry pulses with ways to stick you with a bevy of fees you may not see coming. [More]
5 Weeks As A Container Ship Passenger
By 12.2.10
For years, adventurous travelers have been able to sail around the world in a luxury cabin for not that much money by renting one onboard container ships. The rise of piracy has made it so a bunch of shipping companies have dropped that option, but you can experience the same thrill vicariously by checking out the dispatches from a Slate reporter who has taken the plunge and got herself in one of these sweet cabins. All is not beauty and mystery, there’s work to be done. Like watching for pirates. [More]
Handy Guide To Major Airlines' Voucher Policies
By 12.1.10
Airlines might give you a travel voucher when if you’re bumped from a flight or there was a fare reduction, but not all vouchers are created equal. The fine print can vary from airline to airline, with different expiration dates and fees. Airfarewatchdog has a got a cheat-sheet table for you breaking down all the vouchers so you can save your eyes from bleeding. [More]
