travel

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The next time you’re looking at hotels online, try www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com. Our readers recommend both sites for helping you figure out which hotels you’re being offered on Priceline or Hotwire. (Thanks to bohemian and picantel!)

Big Airlines Cramming Even More Seats Into Coach

Big Airlines Cramming Even More Seats Into Coach

If you’re looking for the most legroom, look to the low fare carriers because the big airlines are cramming more and more seats into coach, says the WSJ.

Passenger Spots Handgun Being Smuggled Past Airport Security

Passenger Spots Handgun Being Smuggled Past Airport Security

An eagle-eyed passenger at Philadelphia International Airport spotted another passenger handing a bag directly to an airline employee — skipping airport security. The passenger alerted the TSA, who located the US Airways flight and searched the bag. Guess what was inside? An unloaded handgun.

Ryanair Supposedly Not Kidding About Installing Pay Toilets

Ryanair Supposedly Not Kidding About Installing Pay Toilets

If the NYT is to be believed, the CEO of Ryanair, one Michael O’Leary, was not kidding when he said that the low cost airline would be installing pay toilets on board their aircraft. In fact, it seems that these hypothetical toilets will be accepting credit cards.

Sorry, You Can't Fly Because Your Name Is Hyphenated

Sorry, You Can't Fly Because Your Name Is Hyphenated

Alright everyone, gather round and let me share with you the pain of living with a hyphenated name. Occasionally it’s fun and amusing, a third nipple stapled to your ID. Occasionally, it’s a miserable nightmare, as Yarn Harlot Stephanie Pearl-McPhee learned when she wasn’t allowed to board a flight after an anonymous airline’s computer severed her hyphenated name. Neither passports, a conversation with the booking agent, nor a printed receipt showing the proper hyphenated name could convince the airline gate agent that Pearl-McPhee was anything more than a foolishly named terror.

This Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Is Really Concerned About Your Sugar Intake

This Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Is Really Concerned About Your Sugar Intake

Of all the weird encounters to have on an airplane, we never would have expected to have a flight attendant point out just how bad a full can of soda is for you. That’s what happened to Laura, though.

No More Flight Booking Fees On Expedia.com

No More Flight Booking Fees On Expedia.com

Expedia has finally joined its rival online travel sites in eliminating air travel booking fees. Back in March, the site eliminated the fees on a temporary basis, but now the lack of fees is permanent. They will still charge a $20 fee to book flights over the phone.

Which Credit And Debit Cards Are The Best To Use Overseas?

Which Credit And Debit Cards Are The Best To Use Overseas?

Spending money costs money when you’re abroad, but a list of cards and fees compiled by USA Today can help you decide which card to pack before you leave.

U.S. Airways Gives Away Passenger's Seat, Lies About Her Being Late

U.S. Airways Gives Away Passenger's Seat, Lies About Her Being Late

It sounds like someone at Ronald Reagan National Airport decided to solve an overbooking problem by cheating Frankie’s girlfriend out of her flight, and then someone else there decided to blame her for it. Despite arriving at the airport before 7pm for a 7:35pm flight, they insisted to her that she’d missed the 30-minute cutoff and lost her seat.

JetAmerica, SkyBus Reborn?

*An extremely short-lived, Ryanair-style American airline.

Should A First Officer Make More Than $23,900 A Year?

Should A First Officer Make More Than $23,900 A Year?

BusinessWeek has an interesting article about the economics of regional airlines — the smaller companies that are subcontracted to operate the less profitable routes for major airlines. Some were stunned to find out that first officer on the flight that crashed in Buffalo, NY only made $23,900 a year. Is this too little?

Delta: Not Receiving Any Additional Goods Or Services From Us Is "Free!"

Delta: Not Receiving Any Additional Goods Or Services From Us Is "Free!"

Here’s a little something that sums up the state of air travel in our nation. Reader Drew was checking in to his Delta flight yesterday when he noticed that not checking any bags was described as “free.”

Delta Can't Be Bothered To Sell The Obese Two Adjoining Seats

Delta Can't Be Bothered To Sell The Obese Two Adjoining Seats

Evan’s on the large side and wants to buy two adjoining seats, but Delta doesn’t seem to care whether or not he inconveniences other passengers. The airline won’t assign two seats to the same passenger name, and if he buys a second seat under a different name, it won’t necessarily adjoin the first. Delta also warned that “they will give [his] second seat away if they need it, even if [he] paid for it.” One agent thought he had a solution, but it was going to cost Evan $200 more than Delta’s online fares.

Use Codeshares To Find Cheap Summer Flights Abroad

Use Codeshares To Find Cheap Summer Flights Abroad

Before locking in your summer fare to Europe, see if you can’t find a better deal by searching an airline’s codeshare partners. Airlines use codeshares to sell seats on each other’s planes so they can reach destinations they wouldn’t otherwise serve. Since ticket prices constantly fluctuate, codeshare partners often quote different fares for the exact same flight. Inside, reader Christiana shares how she used codeshares to save almost $300 on a flight to England…

Blind Traveler Asks Too Many Questions On Delayed U.S. Airways Flight, Is Dragged Off, Jailed, Told He's Faking His Blindness

Blind Traveler Asks Too Many Questions On Delayed U.S. Airways Flight, Is Dragged Off, Jailed, Told He's Faking His Blindness

As 61-year-old Belgian interpreter Nicola Cantisani, who is blind, sat for two hours waiting in the Brussels-bound U.S. Airways jet on the tarmac at Philadephia airport in early April, he wondered why no one was telling passengers about the reasons for the take-off delay. When he requested a glass of water he was shooed away by the crew. When he tried to ask the captain exactly why there was a delay, Cantisani was asked to disembark.

Airlines: Thanks For The Extra Billion Dollars In Bag Fees

Airlines: Thanks For The Extra Billion Dollars In Bag Fees

When airlines said that baggage fees were successful, they weren’t kidding. Collectively, they pocketed an extra $1.1 billion in luggage fees in 2008. American and US Airways led the pack — collecting $278 million and $187.1 million in bag fees respectively.

Four Checked Bags On Delta Will Cost You $365 In Fees

Four Checked Bags On Delta Will Cost You $365 In Fees

Most travelers make do with 2 normal-sized pieces of luggage or less, but if you think you might have to travel with more bags, or unusually large or heavy ones, be prepared to shell out a lot of cash for what’s called an “excess baggage fee.”

JetBlue Offers $1 Military Fare Through Today, Although It Comes With A Surprising Number Of Restrictions

JetBlue Offers $1 Military Fare Through Today, Although It Comes With A Surprising Number Of Restrictions

JetBlue is offering an amazing deal to members of our armed forces in honor of National Military Appreciation Month, but once you get past that jaw-dropping $1 fee, it starts to look like they outsourced the fine print to Macy’s. Here are the restrictions: