Upgrade: Travel Better has good some ideas on how you can avoid those excessive airport rental car fees (you know, the ones like “facility fee.” What is that, you have to pay a fee for the rental place having a roof? Can I choose the place without a roof then?) One idea is to rent at the airport, then drop the car off the next day downtown. This way you only pay extra airport fees on the first day. Just make sure the place isn’t going to tack on a one-way dropoff fee. This is even better in Europe, which isn’t as into one-way fees as America is.
travel
Late For A Flight? Try The "Flat Tire Rule" And Rebook Without Fee
By 12.9.08
Here’s a tip the AirFareWatchDog blog stumbled across: If you’re late for a flight by no more than two hours because of a mitigating circumstance, like the eponymous flat-tire, and pitch your legitimate woe to the airline they will sometimes, at their discretion, let you rebook without paying an extra fee. [AirFareWatchDog] (Photo: madmolecule)
What Would $40 A Barrel Oil Mean For Travelers?
By 12.4.08
Oil is now nearing a 4-year low as the world’s economic crisis keeps on truckin’, says the Wall Street Journal. Light, sweet crude (don’t you just love that term?) is now trading at 44.56 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. “The price was the lowest since January 2005 and more than $100 below oil’s record close July 3,” says the WSJ. So, what does that mean for travelers?
US Airways Says $15 First Checked Bag Fee Is A Huge Success
By 12.2.08
US Airways CEO Doug “OK To Drive” Parker says that US Airways new $15 fee for the first checked bag is a huge success. It’s caused a 20% drop in checked luggage — which has improved baggage handling performance — all while adding revenue during a tough time for airlines.
American Airlines Charges Fees To Non-Passengers
By 12.1.08
In an attempt to improve margins during tough times, American Airlines will now charge fees to non-passengers, The Onion reports. (Thanks to ubermex!) (Photo: joyosity)
Airfares Sinking Due To Lack Of Demand
By 11.26.08
The crappy economy is taking its toll on airfares. Demand is sinking taking airfares with it, says USAToday.
Bolt Bus Is Cool But WiFi Is Slow
By 11.25.08
I’m riding a Bolt Bus right now. It’s a good cheap way for a car-less person like myself to get from New York to DC for the holidays. A big selling point was the free onboard wifi. Hooray, I thought, I can blog from the road. But I’m finding the connection to be slow and spotty. Tried with both my computer and my gal’s. Scenery sure is nice, though.
By 11.18.08
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Over on Elliott.org, a woman describes how her $29 Days Inn room ballooned to a $180 charge when the hotel’s owner refused to honor the deal, and what she did to get the difference refunded. [Elliott.org]
United Adds $800 In Fees To $560 Trip, Loses Customer For Life
By 11.14.08
And let’s not forget the exorbitant booking fee for using miles for one of our tickets. The actual FLIGHT was only $280 round trip per ticket, but with the booking fee TO USE THE MILES TO PURCHASE A TICKET, we wound up paying over $500.
By 11.10.08
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United Airlines is offering 20% off the 1st checked bag fee if you check-in online and pay the fee at United’s Web site (www.united.com) before January 31, 2009. They’ve also decided not to double the 2nd check bag fee as previously planned. [Cheapflights]
By 11.10.08
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Flying somewhere to welcome home a family member in the military? Hope that the military doesn’t change the date, because as one mom found out — Travelocity’s insurance policy is only covers changes due to “death, illness and jury duty.” Don’t worry, there’s a happy ending. [MomLogic]
Meet United Airlines' Less-Valued Customers!
By 11.10.08
We understand that airlines have to bend over backwards to attract and retain lucrative business travelers. We get it. Sadly, it seems that some airlines are running out of obsequious language that manages not to be insulting to the “rest of us.”
5 Sites For Finding Cheap Travel Tickets
By 11.7.08
Lifehacker’s readers voted on their 5 favorite, and sometimes, unsung, travel deal websites. Here’s what they came up with:
United Airlines Duct Taped Unruly Passenger To Her Seat
By 11.6.08
A United Airlines crew was apparently forced to use duct tape to restrain an unruly passenger after the normal ankle cuffs kept slipping off. The passenger, who was apparently quite intoxicated after having several drinks at the airport (she also brought alcohol onto the plane), is accused of slapping a flight attendant on the behind, and grabbing and pulling the hair of a passenger whom she’d fallen on.
Southwest Reduces Airfare On 56 Destinations From Minneapolis
By 11.6.08
Last night, Southwest reduced airfare on 56 destination going to and from Minneapolis, starting March 9, 2009. Look for this to set off a nice pricewar that will benefit travelers’ pocketbooks. For instance, their new one-way between Minneapolis and Chicago will be $69. Farecompare’s Rick Seaney predicts that the legacy airlines will react by slashing prices, adding flights, and possibly dropping those dread 2 night minimum stay round trip fares in favor of straight one-ways. Rick says he’ll be posting a total airfare schedule rundown later today on his blog, rickseaney.com.
More Changes To United Airlines Frequent Flier Program
By 11.5.08
Could this be a sign of thawing in the hearts of United Airlines? They announced yesterday that after four months of crediting Mileage Plus members with actual miles flown instead of a minimum of 500, the airline will reinstate the old program for “elite” members.
Delta To Add $15 First Checked Bag Fee
By 11.5.08
The AP says that the new mergeriffic Delta will be adding a $15 fee for the first checked bag and $25 for the second checked bag when traveling domestically, which is consistent with Northwest’s existing policies.
