Sorry You Need To Get Screened Before Your Flight, But The TSA Has No Females Working Right Now
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 10, 2012 12:00 PM
99 Comments
A woman was trying to fly home to Colorado when she says she wasn't allowed to board her flight because of her gender. Well, not just that she was a woman, but because there were no female Transportation Security Administration agents on duty when she was going through security. More »
Keep Your Shoes On, Please: TSA Rolling Out Speedy Security Pre-Screening Program
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 8, 2012 5:00 PM
58 Comments
Maybe you'll be taking your shoes off, but instead of placing them in a bin on a conveyor belt, you'll be sitting around at home on the computer before heading to the airport. A test program the Transportation Security Administration has been working on called the PreCheck, which will allow passengers to speed through security is now expanding to 28 more airports. More »
(EITB)
Ryanair CEO Needs Police Escort After Gloating In Front Of Laid-Off Workers
By Chris Morran on February 8, 2012 3:30 PM
67 Comments
Michael O'Leary, CEO of bargain-basement European airline Ryanair, is no stranger to stirring up controversy. But this is probably the first time one of his antics has resulted in him requiring police protection. More »
Government Passes A Bill To Let Airplanes Land Faster & Allow Remote-Controlled Drones To Roam The Skies
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 8, 2012 2:00 PM
52 Comments
Five years of fighting and a shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration have finally resulted in Congress passing a bill that could change the experience of flying commercial as we know it. The skies are going to get a lot more tech-y, to put it very simply. More »
Dirty Diaper Grounds Qantas Flight
By Chris Morran on February 3, 2012 3:15 PM
39 Comments
A few years back, I had the unpleasant experience of sitting behind a baby that had vomited all over his row only an hour into a flight from San Francisco to New York. I remember wishing at the time that there would be some non-disastrous reason for the plane to have to make an early landing so I could get away from the smell. Little did I know it would only have taken a single dirty diaper. More »
Thieving TSA Agent Serves As Reminder To Not Carry $5K In Your Coat
By Chris Morran on February 2, 2012 1:41 PM
77 Comments
See, this is why smugglers duct tape their contraband to their chest and groin — so that a rogue TSA agent doesn't simply swipe it from their coat as it goes through the security checkpoint. More »
Spirit Adds $2 "Dept. Of Transportation Unintended Consequences Fee"
By Chris Morran on February 1, 2012 4:15 PM
81 Comments
Fresh off fighting laws that require truth in advertising, Spirit Airlines, which hilariously dubbed itself the "most consumer-friendly airline," is now taking a stand against another government regulation — one that requires airlines to allow passengers to change flights within 24 hours of booking without paying a penalty — by adding two dollars to everyone's ticket. More »
TSA Employee Accused Of Lifting 8 iPads That Were Definitely Not His
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 1, 2012 3:00 PM
102 Comments
A Transportation Security Administration worker at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport stands accused of theft, after cops say he was found with eight iPads he'd boosted from checked luggage. Looting bags has become too popular of a pastime these days, but luckily one owner used his device's tracking system to locate the pilfered pad. More »
Do Your Homework Before Comparing Flight Prices
By Phil Villarreal on January 30, 2012 8:30 AM
17 Comments
New regulations require airlines to post the full price of airfare, taxes included. The changes are meant to give consumers a more accurate idea of what the full costs of their flights will be, but they don't always tell the whole story. More »
TSA Can't Tell The Difference Between A Gun & An Insulin Pump
By Chris Morran on January 27, 2012 4:15 PM
75 Comments
Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport this morning were held back from boarding this morning after the brain trust at the TSA security checkpoint not only managed to mistake a passenger's insulin pump for a gun, but also waited until after she'd passed through the checkpoint to think it might be a good idea to check out the mysterious item. More »
Senator Calls Out Spirit Airlines For Trying To Mislead Public About Airfares
By Chris Morran on January 26, 2012 12:15 PM
53 Comments
You may recall that earlier this week, bottom-dollar carrier Spirit Airlines launched an e-mail campaign to convince customers that the new FAA regulations requiring truth in airfare advertising was really just a ruse by the federal government to hide taxes and tax hikes in airfares. Well, that didn't go over well with Senator Barbara Boxer of California, who threw off the gloves and sent a bare-knuckles letter to Spirit in response. More »
Flight Grounded For 4 Hours After Cat Gets Loose In Cockpit
By Chris Morran on January 25, 2012 3:30 PM
35 Comments
Snakes on a plane, ghosts in the machine, pigs on the wing, dog-fighting... and now cats in the cockpit. Passengers on an Air Canada flight were greatly inconvenienced after curious feline found its way into the pilot's seat. More »
(nvaine)
San Francisco Airport Opens Free Yoga Room For Tense Travelers
By Chris Morran on January 25, 2012 2:30 PM
15 Comments
For many travelers, the idea of just going to the airport — and finding a place to park, checking your bags, picking up your ticket, waiting at security, hoping you don't get the extra-special touchy-feely pat-down, putting all your stuff back together after going through the checkpoint, finding your gate, paying $5 for a bottle of water — is a bit of a stressful situation. So the folks at San Francisco International are opening a yoga room for you to work out all that tension while waiting for your connecting flight. More »
Spirit Airlines Says Posting Full Airfares Is Government's Way Of Hiding Taxes
By Chris Morran on January 24, 2012 4:30 PM
89 Comments
In recent years, the Dept. of Transportation has been cracking down on airlines, especially discount carriers, for advertising airfares that don't actually represent what consumers will end up paying. With the latest round of rule changes having just kicked in, low-budget airline Spirit is fighting back, telling its customers that this is all about the government trying to hide higher taxes in airfares. More »
(Rand Paul)
Ron Paul Says Senator Son Detained By TSA For Refusing Pat-Down
By Chris Morran on January 23, 2012 12:50 PM
115 Comments
Presidential candidate Ron Paul and his son, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, have been very vocal critics of the Transportation Security Administration. And it doesn't look like the two will be thinking any more highly of the TSA as, according to the elder Paul pol, Rand was detained by the TSA this morning after refusing to submit to a pat-down. More »
Study: The Best Time To Score Cheap Airfare Is Six Weeks Before The Flight
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 23, 2012 10:00 AM
12 Comments
Everyone uses their own timing strategies when it comes to buying airfare — too close to the flight and you're bound to pay out the nose, too many months in advance and you'll see that same fare drop in price. A new study puts some science on the issue, coming up with the magic number of six weeks before a flight as the best time to buy. More »
(DFW Airport)
Arrested Traveler Says She Shouldn't Be Held Responsible Because TSA Didn't Spot Her Handgun
By Chris Morran on January 20, 2012 1:15 PM
136 Comments
Over the years, a number of people have been stopped at airport security checkpoints for carrying weapons — guns, knives, box cutters, the occasional M-622 Avalanche — that the passenger claimed they had accidentally stowed in their carry-on bag. But who is responsible once that traveler gets through the checkpoint? More »
Airbus Finds More Cracks In Plane Wings But Assures Travelers They're Safe To Fly
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 19, 2012 12:00 PM
26 Comments
After cracks were reported two weeks ago in the wings of Airbus' A380 superjumbo planes, the company is assuring customers that the 525-seat double-decker behemoths are safe to fly. These models have been in the air for four years. More »
Some Of These Airports Just Aren't Like The Others: List Ranks The Best & Worst
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 17, 2012 10:00 AM
63 Comments
We've never had the pleasure of flying in or out of Hajj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, so we can't agree with or dispute one list's ruling that it is in fact, the best in the world and will just trust the pros. But Chicago Midway Airport as the very worst of the worst in the entire world? More »
A Trio Of Tips To Make Your Frequent Flyer Miles Take Flight
By Phil Villarreal on January 13, 2012 12:15 PM
16 Comments
If you gaze in admiration upon George Clooney's character in Up in the Air, hoping that you too can reap enough frequent flyer miles like a pro, you may need to start over from scratch, ditching ineffective habits and replacing them with more efficient practices. More »
(dooley)
Report: Delta, U.S. Airways Among Those With An Eye To Buy American Airlines Parent Company
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 13, 2012 12:00 PM
16 Comments
As American Airlines parent company AMR tries to sort itself out during bankruptcy proceedings, there are already a few vultures circling it. A report says Delta Air Lines and U.S. Airways are considering buying AMR, along with a buyout firm called TPG Capital. More »
The TSA Cupcake Lady Speaks: I'm Truly Sick Of Talking About Cupcakes
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 12, 2012 11:00 AM
105 Comments
While the "TSA Cupcake Lady" is sick of talking about cupcakes, she's also determined that the dessert in question not be woefully misrepresented by descriptions of it being "packed in icing." To that end, she was kind of enough to write in and explain her side of the story, in response to the TSA's recent blog reaction to the cake kerfuffle. More »
(TSA Blog)
TSA Proclaims That Once A Cupcake Is Inside A Jar, It's Not Okay To Carry On
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 11, 2012 10:00 AM
109 Comments
The Transportation Security Administration wants you to know that it takes "cupcakegate" very seriously, which is why they're reiterating why it was deemed not okay for a woman to take a cupcake through security in a jar, when carrying a regular, non-jarred up dessert with icing is fine. It's the level of frosting, you see, and the 3-1-1 rule. More »
More U.S. Airlines Jumping On The Surcharge Bandwagon After EU Emissions Law
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 6, 2012 3:00 PM
19 Comments
Travelers taking off or landing in countries in the European Union may notice a bump in airline fares, as U.S. Airways and American Airlines have joined Delta and United Continental in adding a $3 surcharge each way to help offset the cost of a new carbon emissions law. More »
US Airways Makes My Family's Travel Experience Far From Friendly
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 5, 2012 2:00 PM
87 Comments
Jeremy already had a lot on his hands, traveling with four children and three car seats. But he didn't expect that US Airways would make his family's trip even more of an ordeal than towing around all the luggage and kids through an airport was in the first place. More »
TSA Agent Confiscates Cupcake On Grounds That Its Delicious Frosting Could Be Explosive
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 3, 2012 1:00 PM
88 Comments
We've known desserts to be so tasty they're downright dangerous, but one TSA agent in Las Vegas took that idea very literally, confiscating a cupcake for the possibility that its icing could be explosive. More »
How To Win At The Airport Pick-Up Game
By Phil Villarreal on January 2, 2012 3:30 PM
59 Comments
Picking someone up at the airport is a true show of care and dedication, because it's such a hassle with so much potential to cause frustration. Here are some tips to make the selfless act a bit easier: More »
(afagen)
Spirit Airlines Decides It's Better To Invent Adverse Weather Conditions Than Admit Equipment Shortage
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 2, 2012 2:00 PM
30 Comments
UPDATE: A corporate communications rep from Spirit Airlines reached out to Consumerist regarding Chandler's story of his mother's delays, and offered to look into the situation. More »
This Year Was A Statistically Fantastic One In Terms Of Staying Alive On Airplanes
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 30, 2011 4:30 PM
32 Comments
The bodily terror some might feel upon having to embark on a journey through the air might be eased a bit by knowing that 2011 was a very good year so far as personal safety. Experts say the number of passengers killed in air accidents this year is down an encouraging amount from last year. More »
You Can't Score A Free Plane Seat For Your Baby By Putting Him On Your 3-Year-Old's Lap
By Chris Morran on December 30, 2011 12:15 PM
148 Comments
As any parents who have flown with little babies probably knows, many airlines will not require a ticket for children under two years of age, so long as the child is seated on an adult's lap. But U.S. Airways had to give the boot to a family of six after the parents figured they could simply seat one of their under-2 children with their ticketed 3-year-old. More »
New Airfare Rule Means The Price Advertised Is The Price You'll Pay
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 30, 2011 10:00 AM
61 Comments
What can seem like a reasonably priced fare can blow up in your face with government fees and taxes by the time you're done clicking through the various windows in online booking. But that will be no more — the Department of Transportation has a new rule going into effect next month requiring advertised fares to be the full price customers pay. More »
(afagen)
Handy Airport Dining Guides Tell Travelers Where To Grab The Best Bite
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 22, 2011 10:00 AM
22 Comments
Attention, holiday travelers: Dining on the go doesn't have to result in an overpriced, soggy chicken Caesar wrap balanced precariously on your knees at the gate or greasy fast food. New handy airport guides for many of the country's airports are doing the heavy lifting for you, so you can get a break from giant hot pretzels (if you want to, that is). More »
(nixter)
British Couple Rewarded For Being 50 Millionth Visitors To New York City In 2011
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 21, 2011 10:00 AM
22 Comments
Tourism can be seen as a reward on its own — you travel somewhere new, see some sights, take home a snow globe (not in your carry-on, of course). But in the case of one couple from England, they were given an actual prize just for being the 50 millionth visitors to New York City. More »
TSA Agent Finds Pot In Rapper's Bag, Leaves Note Rather Than Confiscating It
By Chris Morran on December 16, 2011 12:15 PM
85 Comments
Remember that TSA agent who left a "get your freak on" note inside the bag of a woman who packed a vibrator — and was subsequently fired for doing so? Well it looks like that agent was not the only wannabe quipster among his security-screening kin. More »
(malgaze)
Business Travelers Much More Likely To Fly Economy Internationally
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 15, 2011 10:00 AM
36 Comments
Business travelers are starting to give up their free mini bottles of booze and plush, wide seats in favor of lower prices, says a new report. The shift is especially evident in those flying in Europe, as the recent economic crisis has more choosing economy tickets over business class. More »
Red Roof Inn Listens To Guests & Launches Redesign Based On Feedback
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 13, 2011 1:30 PM
60 Comments
Kudos to those of you who take the time to fill out those surveys after hotel stays, as it seems at least Red Roof Inn was listening. They've announced they're launching a redesign this month after taking in guest feedback from thousands of people. More »
Nintendo 3DS Gets Free WiFi At 42 Airports
By Phil Villarreal on December 13, 2011 8:30 AM
17 Comments
While people-watching, reading and nervously quadruple-checking your boarding pass are perfectly valid ways to pass the time before your flight boards, they pale in comparison to squeezing in a few online rounds of Mario Kart 7. Thanks to a deal between Nintendo and Boingo, 42 airports now have free 3DS WiFi hotspots. More »
Lawmakers Ask TSA To Place Passenger Advocates In Airports
By Chris Morran on December 12, 2011 12:15 PM
38 Comments
Considering all the negative press the Transportation Security Administration has received in recent years over its invasive airport security screening procedures, it couldn't hurt for the TSA to have staffers on hand whose job it is to consider the best interest of the passengers. More »
I Didn't Get Married And Now I'm Out $2,500 On Honeymoon Plane Tickets
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 9, 2011 5:00 PM
182 Comments
Plane tickets are non-refundable, a lesson many of us have learned the hard way. But even though Ian expected he'd have to take a hit on a pair of honeymoon tickets he sadly wasn't going to use, he didn't think he'd end up with nothing. More »
Yes, It Is Possible To Score A Deal On Last-Minute Holiday Travel
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 7, 2011 3:00 PM
16 Comments
So you haven't booked your flights for Christmas or New Year's, and maybe you're freaking out a little bit over traditionally high prices over the holidays. Don't fret, there are still a few ways to nab some travel deals even at this late date. More »
(Ninja M.)
American Airlines Refuses To Provide Proof Of Cancellation Or Existence Of Voucher
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 7, 2011 2:00 PM
65 Comments
There comes a time when we all have to accept defeat and take a loss when our travel plans change. But what Consumerist reader E. has a beef with is that American Airlines would take his money to cancel his flight, but refused to provide proof of that and the fact that the rest of his fare was being held hostage as a "voucher." More »
(opacity)
Baggage Handler Fired For Helping Sick Dog Can Have Her Job Back
By Chris Morran on December 7, 2011 8:45 AM
68 Comments
Last week, a baggage handler at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport made headlines when she said she was fired for refusing to stow a visibly ailing dog onto a plane. As sometimes happens when these stories get pushed into the spotlight, the handler has now been offered her old gig back. More »
Petitioners Collect Signatures For The Right To Use Electronic Devices During Takeoff And Landing
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 6, 2011 10:00 AM
125 Comments
Do you need to play Angry Birds during takeoff? Is the next page in Game of Thrones just begging you to read it right this very moment? If so, there's a new petition on petition on the White House's website demanding that customers be allowed to use their electronic devices, if they're on airplane mode, during takeoff and landing. More »
(dmuth)
Country Star Escorted Off Southwest Flight
By Phil Villarreal on December 6, 2011 8:00 AM
44 Comments
Country music star John Rich — formerly half of the duo Big & Rich — was escorted off a Southwest Airlines flight Sunday from Las Vegas to Nashville before it took off. More »
Baggage Handler: I Was Fired For Helping Sick Dog
By Chris Morran on December 5, 2011 2:30 PM
112 Comments
Usually when you see a Consumerist headline that involves a baggage handler and a pet, it means the furry friend is lost or dead. But here's one that's more uplifting... except for the fact that the handler says she was fired for doing a good deed. More »
TSA Thinks Fake Gun On Your Handbag Is A Security Threat
By Chris Morran on December 2, 2011 3:15 PM
107 Comments
While gun replicas have been outlawed on planes since 2002, should that include miniature designs of pistols that are part of your handbag? This is the question that vexed a teenager who was stopped by TSA agents and told that her weaponized handbag was some sort of illegal security risk. More »
3 Moves To Keep You Comfy While Traveling Abroad
By Phil Villarreal on December 1, 2011 10:15 AM
50 Comments
Those who are leaving the country for the first time or haven't been abroad since college may not know what they're getting into. Overseas travel presents myriad complications for newbies who don't do what seasoned vets do to make things easier. More »
Using A Booking Agency Doesn't Mean You'll Necessarily Get All The Info You Need To Travel
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 30, 2011 10:00 AM
37 Comments
One might think that if one leg of an international trip was routed through a domestic airport, requiring a separate visa for the transfer of planes in that country, that the booking agency would alert travelers. One might think that, but hey! The world is full of surprises. More »
(ashi)
Couple Says United Airlines Employee Used Gay Slur Against Them
By Chris Morran on November 28, 2011 3:15 PM
131 Comments
The folks at United Airlines are looking into a complaint from a gay couple who say that they were not only treated rudely by airline employees but that one actually called them "f****ts" at Denver International Airport. More »
Senator Introduces Two Bills To Curb Checked Bag Fees
By Chris Morran on November 23, 2011 12:38 PM
84 Comments
With so many people lining up at the airport today and tomorrow to fly home to stuff their stomachs with, well... stuffing, one U.S. Senator has introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at reining in the checked bag fees charged by airlines. More »
(Dan4th)
Zappos Gets In The Holiday Spirit, Pays Tolls On Section Of Massachusetts Turnpike
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 23, 2011 12:00 PM
67 Comments
If you're traveling in Massachusetts today on a certain part of the turnpike, you'll have one less toll to pay. Online shoe and clothing retailer Zappos has teamed up with the state's Department of Transportation to pay tolls on a section of road from 5-7 p.m. today. More »
Allay Delayed Holiday Flight Madness With A Few Simple Tips
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 23, 2011 10:00 AM
37 Comments
It's terrible, horrible, no good and very bad when your flight is delayed during the holidays. Whether you're heading home to see Nana or fleeing your in-laws after forced Thanksgiving niceties, there are ways to avoid a stressful meltdown at the airport. More »
Who Knew U.S. Airways Had Standing Room Only Tickets?
By Chris Morran on November 22, 2011 5:15 PM
172 Comments
Okay, so the airline doesn't actually sell standing room only tickets, but they might as well have for one passenger who was forced to stand for most of a seven-hour flight — and who only received a $200 travel voucher for his troubles. More »
U.S. Airways Employee Regarding My Lost iPad: You Know, You're Not Going To Get It Back
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 22, 2011 3:00 PM
119 Comments
As if it's not bad enough to forget a valuable item on a flight, U.S. Airways is showing just how unhelpful it can be in the case of one Consumerist reader who left her iPad in the seat back pocket recently. More »
Are Airport X-Ray Machines Killing Kindles?
By Paul Eng on November 21, 2011 3:30 PM
27 Comments
The Amazon Kindle and other similar e-readers can be quite convenient for frequent air travelers who want to fly without packing heavy or bulky books. But some European jet-setters are reporting that run-ins with airport X-ray machines are killing their Kindles. More »
Greyhound Passengers Stranded 100 Miles From Destination After Driver Flees Bus
By Chris Morran on November 21, 2011 11:30 AM
89 Comments
In the public transportation pecking order, riding the bus is somewhere just above sitting in the back of a yak-drawn cart. But there were several passengers on board a Greyhound bus in Missouri this weekend who would probably have chosen that cart because at least they wouldn't have been stranded and without a driver. More »
Anti-TSA Complaints At All-Time Low
By Chris Morran on November 18, 2011 3:30 PM
57 Comments
Even as there has been growing concern about full-body scanners and grope-y pat downs at airport security checkpoints, the actual number of complaints against the Transportation Security Administration hit an all-time low last month. More »
(balmes)
Passengers Refuse To Leave Delayed Plane Until Airline Pays Up
By Chris Morran on November 18, 2011 11:00 AM
45 Comments
Yesterday, we told you about an Austrian airline that held its passengers for ransom until they paid an additional $31,500 for fuel. But here's a story of passengers leveraging their numbers against the airline in order to be properly compensated. More »
Pilot Accidentally Locks Himself In Bathroom In Flight
By Phil Villarreal on November 18, 2011 8:15 AM
53 Comments
When you've gotta go, you've gotta go, but accidents can happen even if you make it to the bathroom on time. Take it from a Chatauqua Airlines pilot who accidentally locked himself inside a lavatory during a flight, leading to a misunderstanding that sparked fears that terrorism was at work. More »
Airline Forces Passengers To Cough Up $31,500 For Fuel Or Get Off Plane
By Chris Morran on November 17, 2011 2:00 PM
82 Comments
No one likes fuel surcharges and no one likes being stuck on a tarmac for six hours. Now imagine what it must be like to be stuck on that tarmac for six hours because the airline refuses to take off unless you and the other passengers can pool $31,500 to pay for fuel to get to their destination. More »
Some Full-Body Airport Scanners Banned In Europe
By Chris Morran on November 15, 2011 5:00 PM
21 Comments
The full-body scanners being rolled out at security checkpoints in U.S. airports are either of the millimeter-wave type, which uses radio frequency waves, or the backscatter X-ray type, which uses ionizing radiation — and which has effectively been banned from use in European airports. More »
(strobist)
TSA Warns Passengers: Wrapped Gifts May Need To Be Unwrapped
By Chris Morran on November 14, 2011 5:00 PM
69 Comments
If you have to fly this holiday season and you were planning on wrapping any presents before you get on the plane, the folks at the TSA have issued their annual word of caution on the matter: They may need to unwrap those carefully packed gifts. More »
Couples Sues Airtran For $100,000, Alleging Cockroaches Infested Their Flight
By Ben Popken on November 14, 2011 1:00 PM
74 Comments
A couple is suing Airtran for $100,000 after they saw cockroaches on their flight, and they say they have to pictures to prove it. More »
(БРАТСТВО)
Three Unique Hotels That Feature More Than Standard Room And Board
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 14, 2011 10:15 AM
41 Comments
A normal night's sleep in a boring run-of-the-mill hotel room? Why bother, when you can slumber sweetly in a yurt perched on a cliff? If you seek the latest in extreme sleeping, you might want to check out a few of these unique hotels. More »
(Cathy_c)
Packing Valuable Items In Your Luggage? Check Your Bags Before You Leave The Airport
By Chris Morran on November 11, 2011 3:30 PM
34 Comments
If you've got to take something valuable — especially something fragile and valuable — on a plane, it's best to try to carry it on. And as Consumerist reader Cathy learned, if you must check those items, be sure to look at your bags before you leave the baggage claim area, just in case that item has gotten damaged or disappeared. More »
Alamo Sends Me To Collections Over Damages I Had Nothing To Do With
By Chris Morran on November 11, 2011 1:30 PM
56 Comments
Just about everyone knows that you have to give your rental car a thorough inspection — and point out even the smallest dings and scratches — before pulling off the lot. But sometimes, even though you've done your due diligence and the car is given a clean bill of health upon its return, you can still end up being sent to collections. More »
Ryanair's In-Flight Porn App Would Let You Join The Mile-High Club All By Yourself
By Chris Morran on November 9, 2011 3:15 PM
72 Comments
Michael O'Leary, CEO of cheapo European airline Ryanair, is taking a break from his plans to remove toilets from his planes to talk up his idea for an app that would allow passengers to do everything from gamble to watch porn. More »
(Jukk_a)
United Airlines Blasts Into New Territory With First Commercial Biofueled Flight
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 8, 2011 11:00 AM
44 Comments
Getting a leg up on the competition and also doing your part to help the environment is a bit of a coup, so props to you, United Airlines, for launching the first commercial flight in America powered partly by biofuel. Namely, algae jet fuel. More »
All United, Continental Flights Will Have WiFi By 2015
By Phil Villarreal on November 7, 2011 8:30 AM
27 Comments
WiFi access in airplanes is becoming more and more common, and the United-Continental monolith is out to make the feature ubiquitous in its aircraft fleet within the next three years. The airlines, which are owned by United Continental Holdings, are pumping up 300 more planes with WiFi in the middle of 2012, thanks to a partnership with Panasonic Avionics Corporation. More »
Southwest Passenger Uses Craigslist To Track Down Stolen Laptop
By Chris Morran on November 3, 2011 12:30 PM
77 Comments
This story is useful in two ways. First, as an example of how you can utilize freely available online tools to help yourself when others won't. And second, as yet another example of why you should never, ever check your laptop on a flight. More »
Passengers On Plane Didn't Realize They Were Making A Belly Landing
By Chris Morran on November 2, 2011 2:30 PM
90 Comments
You've probably heard by now about the LOT Polish Airlines flight from Newark to Warsaw that was forced to land on its belly after the Boeing 767's landing gear failed. But according to some passengers on the plane, the landing went so smoothly they didn't realize they were skidding down the runway on the jet's belly. More »
NTSB: Cheapo Buses 7 Times More Likely To Kill Passengers
By Chris Morran on November 1, 2011 11:15 AM
27 Comments
The last decade has seen a huge increase in the number of people opting for discount long-distance buses that pick passengers up at curbside over more traditional bus services operating out of terminals. But a new study from the National Transportation Safety Board says you're seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal incident when you go for that lower-cost option. More »
Woman Who Stayed At Hotel For A Decade Finally Checks Out
By Phil Villarreal on October 31, 2011 10:15 AM
96 Comments
A woman who first checked in to a Virginia Marriott more than 10 years ago has finally decided to move on. The company says she was the longest-term customer on record. The 79-year-old woman, who checked out after first moving into the hotel on Aug. 4 2001, chose to stay so long because the rate was cheaper than the $1,500 to $1,700 a month she would have had to dig up to rent an apartment in the nearby Washington, D.C. area. More »
Travelers Would Actually Pay Attention To Pre-Flight Safety Instructions If They Were More Like This
By Ben Popken on October 28, 2011 5:00 PM
34 Comments
Airlines should take a cue from this sketch video and incorporate more dance moves into their pre-flight safety instructions if they really want passengers to start paying attention. More »
TSA Reportedly Firing Agent Who Wrote "Get Your Freak On" Note
By Phil Villarreal on October 28, 2011 9:15 AM
100 Comments
As we noted earlier this week, a Transportation Security Administration agent allegedly scrawled "Get your freak on girl" on an inspection note left with a woman's checked bag that contained a sex toy. More »
New Boeing Plane Promises To Eliminate Ear Popping
By Phil Villarreal on October 27, 2011 1:15 PM
50 Comments
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is designed to do away with some of the downsides of long-distance air travel, including ear popping, stuffy noses and dry skin suffered by passengers. The plane's cabin supports higher levels of pressure, easing the jolts of takeoffs and landings. The overhead bins are said to be the largest on any plane, and the Dreamliner includes wider windows and quieter engines. More »
Hipmunk Now Finds Flights That Fit Into Your Schedule
By Chris Morran on October 26, 2011 2:15 PM
10 Comments
Hey, busy travelers: If you're tired of toggling back and forth between your Google calendar and the website you use for booking your flights, the folks at Hipmunk have come up with a way to integrate your schedule into your flight and hotel searches. More »
Man Arrested After Trying To Bail Out Of Mid-Air Flight
By Phil Villarreal on October 26, 2011 9:15 AM
41 Comments
Although some flights are uncomfortable, that's no excuse to try to bust open an emergency exit and take a leap. Authorities arrested a Delta Airlines passenger who allegedly tried to to just that Sunday. More »
(taiyofj)
Choosing The Right Type Of Travel Insurance
By Phil Villarreal on October 24, 2011 1:30 PM
24 Comments
An effective way to cut travel costs is to schedule trips out far in advance. But the earlier you lock down transportation and accommodations, the less certain you'll be that something won't come along and mess everything up. That's where travel insurance comes in, allowing you to hedge your bets against circumstances beyond your control that scuttle your travel plans. More »
Loaded Gun Falls Out Of Checked Bag; TSA Says, Not Our Problem
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 24, 2011 9:15 AM
126 Comments
Hey, you know how you have to take your shoes off at the airport and it's really annoying? Isn't it more annoying that all those safeguards/hassles in place that are supposed to protect you still let a loaded gun slip come flying out of a bag? Yeah. That happened. More »
(srd515)
Hotel Books Guest Too Young To Check In: Now What?
By Laura Northrup on October 20, 2011 9:00 AM
76 Comments
Alex booked a flight/hotel package on the Allegiant Air that included a stay at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. The problem? He's only 19, and you have to be 21 or older to check in there. So just call and cancel the reservation, right? It's not that simple, because he's afraid that the flight reservation will be canceled too if he nixes the hotel part of the package. More »
DOT Investigates Airlines For Not Disclosing Fees On Their Websites
By Ben Popken on October 19, 2011 5:00 PM
15 Comments
Starting August 23rd, airlines were supposed to start being more upfront on their websites about the fees they charge you. Guess what? They didn't. More »
Is In-Flight Advertising Getting Out Of Control?
By Chris Morran on October 19, 2011 4:15 PM
47 Comments
Depending on the airline you choose, everything from the exterior of your jet to the overhead compartments to your tray table and the back of your seat to your airplane safety video can be sponsored by an advertiser. And considering the amount of revenue being generated by these ads, they probably aren't going anywhere anytime soon. More »
Grab Discounted Cruise Tickets During "National Cruise Vacation Week"
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 18, 2011 10:30 AM
43 Comments
If floating in a boat is well, what floats your boat, this week would be a good time to check out discounts on cruises. National Cruise Vacation Week will be going on until Oct. 23, with some possible great finds for travelers. More »
Virgin Galactic Brings First Commercial Spaceport To New Mexico
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 18, 2011 8:15 AM
25 Comments
Space! We're all going to space! OMGYAY! Well, maybe not just yet, but the very first commercial spaceport has been opened in New Mexico, thanks to veryrichman Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. More »
Passengers Stuck In Plane For 9 Hours, Only 45 Miles From Destination
By Chris Morran on October 17, 2011 2:33 PM
63 Comments
Yesterday, an Air India flight from Mumbai to London's Heathrow airport got diverted because of bad weather to nearby Gatwick airport. Since the passengers were only 45 miles away from their intended destination, the airline obviously let them off the plane rather than sit in cramped quarters for nine hours. Oh wait — no it didn't. More »
Female-Only Hotel Floors Make A Comeback
By Phil Villarreal on October 14, 2011 10:15 AM
154 Comments
A relic of the mid-20th century, women-only hotel floors seem to be on the rise. Depending on the hotel, the rooms tend to offer upgraded amenities meant to cater to female business travelers. A Washington, D.C. hotel that offers such floors connects guests to female networking events. More »
(grifta67)
Ryanair Now Planning To Remove Toilets From Planes
By Chris Morran on October 12, 2011 3:30 PM
86 Comments
It's been more than a year since we've heard much about cheapy European airline Ryanair's grand plan to charge people to use the toilet. That's because the carrier has apparently ditched the scheme in favor of simply removing two out of three toilets from each of their planes. More »
(delfuego)
AirTran To Require Some Overweight Passengers To Buy Second Seat
By Chris Morran on October 12, 2011 1:15 PM
162 Comments
Now that AirTran is a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, it looks like the carrier will be adopting Southwest's controversial policy of requiring that "customers of size" purchase a second seat. More »
Airlines Looking At Biofuel Options For Environmental Benefits
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 10, 2011 8:30 AM
31 Comments
Load up the garbage truck and head over to the airport: Airlines are looking to pack an environmentally-friendly punch by way of using biofuel to power their jets. More »
TSA Agent Retrieves Cellphone From Locked Car, Hands To You At Gate
By Ben Popken on October 4, 2011 2:00 PM
44 Comments
TSA agents get a bad rap here and elsewhere, so when one of them acts like a human being, nay, a super human being, it is our duty to inform you. Alanna had one such experience this morning when a TSA agent went extremely out of her way to help Alanna get her cellphone from the rental car she had locked it in. This was very helpful because the rental office only opened a half-hour before her plane took off. More »
Bing Airport Maps Help You Find Overpriced Coffee While Waiting For Your Flight To Be Cancelled
By Chris Morran on October 4, 2011 11:36 AM
26 Comments
Some people really enjoy exploring airport terminals. They find a thrill in getting to know every newsstand, bar, food court and sandwich kiosk. For the remaining 99.9% of us, we just go to whatever is closest and hand over a pile of cash for a small bottle of water. But last week, Bing introduced a new feature on its maps search that helps users navigate the concourses of more than 40 U.S. airports. More »
Radisson Offers Up Dirty Room, Dead Moth And Overall Terrible Experience
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 3, 2011 11:30 AM
60 Comments
There's nothing like not being able to check in until six hours after you arrive at a hotel to sour you on the whole deal. That would be bad enough, but as Consumerist reader JL writes, throw in fire hazards, long lines and a dirty room and you've got a pretty terrible stay. More »
T-Mobile Charges $5 For Every Failed Call From Cruise Ship
By Laura Northrup on September 29, 2011 12:30 PM
44 Comments
Kayla left her phone off and safely stowed away during her Caribbean cruise, where it couldn't run up roaming charges high enough to ruin any vacation. When she learned that there had been a minor earthquake and a hurricane back home, she decided to eat the roaming charges and pay the high per-minute prices to check in with her loved ones. Everyone else on the ship evidently had the same idea, and it was difficult to get a call through. When her bill came, Kayla learned the hard way that T-Mobile, at least, imposes that $4.99 per minute roaming charge on calls that don't complete. More »
No Rest For The Weary: Trying To Sleep On Overnight Flights In Coach
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 28, 2011 1:15 PM
100 Comments
If you've ever tried unsuccessfully to sleep on an overnight flight in coach, with barely a bit of recline on your chair and a few spare inches of leg room while that mouthbreather next to you slumbers peacefully, well, you're not alone. More »
The TSA Thinks You Might Be Hiding Weapons In Your Big Hair
By Chris Morran on September 21, 2011 11:15 AM
113 Comments
Here's a warning to the big-haired travelers of the world: Your voluminous 'do might merit a second round of security screening the next time you're traveling through the airport. More »
It Could Now Cost You Over $400 To Check A Bag On Some Flights
By Chris Morran on September 20, 2011 10:30 AM
85 Comments
Fees for checked bags vary wildly, from absolutely nothing to arm-and-a-leg-and-an-ear. And according to a new round-up of fees from the various carriers, you might need to throw another limb in there if you're checking an oversize bag on your international flight. More »
Can You Get Booted From Frequent Flier Program For Being A Frequent Complainer?
By Chris Morran on September 19, 2011 11:15 AM
57 Comments
In 2008, after nine years of membership in Northwest's WorldPerks frequent flier program — three of those years with Platinum Elite status — a Minnesota man was given some bad news from airline: He had been removed from the program and had lost hundreds of thousands of miles. Why? Because his numerous complaints apparently constituted "abuse" of the program. More »
(.sanden.)
TSA Agents Accused Of Being Bribed With Gift Cards To Help Drug Dealers
By Chris Morran on September 14, 2011 1:15 PM
62 Comments
The feds recently arrested 18 individuals accused of being involved in a mult-state drug trafficking ring. But along with the baker's dozen of alleged drug dealers caught up in the scheme were five folks — three TSA officers and two cops — who are usually supposed to stop this sort of behavior. More »
(.sanden.)
Consumer Groups Scold Airlines For Pocketing Tax Money During FAA Shutdown
By Chris Morran on September 14, 2011 12:30 PM
24 Comments
Surely you remember the recent FAA shutdown, during which the government couldn't collect taxes on airfares, leading the airlines to temporarily raise their base prices and pocket an estimated $70 million a day. Now a coalition of consumer groups, including our benevolent benefactors at Consumers Union, are voicing their displeasure for this and other anti-consumer behavior. More »
Google Makes Even More Sites Redundant With Introduction Of Flight Search
By Chris Morran on September 13, 2011 4:15 PM
46 Comments
You no longer need to go to Google to search for a site that will let you search for flights. Instead, the internet titan provides a way to search — and book — flights without ever leaving Google. More »
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against TSA From Man Who Wrote 4th Amendment On Chest
By Chris Morran on September 13, 2011 1:15 PM
144 Comments
Many of you will remember the story from earlier this year about the man with the Fourth Amendment written on his chest who filed a lawsuit against the TSA, alleging that he had been wrongfully detained after he stripped down to his running shorts at an airport security checkpoint. Now comes news that a federal judge has dismissed complaints against almost all defendants in the lawsuit. More »
Drop In Euro Means A Good Time For Fall European Vacations
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 12, 2011 9:45 AM
26 Comments
As the Euro drops to its lowest level against the American dollar in months, you might want to check out deals to head to Europe for a cheaper fall vacation. More »
TSA Will Phase Out Making You Take Your Shoes Off
By Ben Popken on September 8, 2011 10:00 AM
75 Comments
At some currently unspecified point down the road, you'll be able to go through airport security without taking your shoes or belt off. The policy easement was announced by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano during a forum hosted by Politico Playbook in DC. More »
(Xcyclone)
10 Carry-On Essentials For Flying With Babies & Toddlers
By Chris Morran on September 7, 2011 1:42 PM
99 Comments
Traveling anywhere with a very young child can be taxing, and it becomes even more complicated when you're hampered by the limits of air travel. You can only bring so much on to the plane with you, so it helps to know just the essentials. More »
Cheap Flights Are A Lie, Hai-Diddly-Ai
By Ben Popken on September 6, 2011 4:00 PM
27 Comments
This little ditty lampoons the whole dirt-cheap flight industry that attracts flyers with super low fares and then adds on fee after fee. It's sung by the British comedy singing group Fascinating Aïda in the style of an Irish folk song and is clearly a dig at Ryan Air. It's also pretty amusing, and true. More »
VIP Airline Treatment For Sale
By Ben Popken on September 6, 2011 1:00 PM
44 Comments
If you've ever said, man, I would pay good money to go to the front of this airport security line, your time has come. More »
(#96)
Science Tells You How To Book So You Avoid Airport Delays And Missed Flights
By Ben Popken on September 1, 2011 3:00 PM
57 Comments
Harvard and MIT scientists have used statistical modeling techniques and figured out what are the best things you can do to avoid airport delays and missed connections. More »
Swanky Brooklyn Hotel Jacked Up Room Rates To $999 For Irene Shelter Seekers
By Ben Popken on August 30, 2011 2:00 PM
91 Comments
As Hurricane Irene bore down on Brooklyn, the posh Hotel Le Bleu in Park Slope raised up its rates from $250 a night to $999. More »
Particle Physicist Discovers Fastest Way For Airlines To Board Passengers
By Ben Popken on August 30, 2011 1:00 PM
141 Comments
As a scientist at Fermilab, Dr. Jason Steffen normally thinks about smashing particles together at great speeds. Great energy and speed are not usually associated with the airline boarding process, so it might seem odd that an insight into making how we get on planes would occur to someone who works next to a 3.9 mile particle accelerator. But occur it did, and now the first real-world test of his theory shows that it cuts boarding time in half. More »
(Kimaroo)
If You Don't 'Look' Disabled, Expect Shoddy Treatment From Delta
By Laura Northrup on August 30, 2011 10:45 AM
251 Comments
Alauna is disabled, unable to walk or stand for long periods of time. But she's in her 20s and there is nothing obviously physically wrong with her at first glance. This meant that her requests for assistance during her recent Delta flight delay nightmare were met with resistance or eye-rolling. More »
Know Your Rights When Your Flight Is Canceled
By Phil Villarreal on August 29, 2011 10:15 AM
69 Comments
When your flight is canceled, it pays to know what you've got coming. To find travel alternatives and adjust your schedule and accommodations in the most efficient way, you need to know the rules of the game. More »
Airlines Waiving Re-Booking Fees With Hurricane Irene On The Way
By Chris Morran on August 25, 2011 4:15 PM
24 Comments
A really nasty woman named Irene is about to swoop in from the tropics and potentially screw up air travel for everyone. So in advance of the hurricane, many airlines are playing nice with their re-booking fees and policies for flights to and from destinations affected by the storm. More »
British Airways To Start Pumping Signature Scent Into Jet Cabins
By Chris Morran on August 25, 2011 1:30 PM
69 Comments
How many times have you boarded a plane and thought, "You know what would make this flight even more fun? If there was a signature scent being pumped through the cabin!" Well then maybe you should start flying British Airways, which will reportedly be smelling up their jets in the near future. More »
Locked In A Greyhound Bathroom For More Than An Hour
By Laura Northrup on August 25, 2011 12:09 PM
46 Comments
What's worse than using the bathroom on a bus? Getting locked in there for an hour and a half. Barbara's mother decided to use facilities half an hour before her bus was due at its destination, but miscommunication meant that a mechanic was never summoned, and she remained trapped for an hour and fifteen minutes. More »
(elbragon)
"Hacker Fares": Kayak Helps You Book Two One-Way Flights
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 25, 2011 10:45 AM
47 Comments
Here's one of those ideas where you're like, "Why didn't I think of doing that?" Or maybe you already do, in which case, wow you are zoo smart: As it might be cheaper to book two one-way airline tickets, fare aggregating site Kayak is helping you with its new helpful "Hacker Fares." More »
Passenger: United Cabin Crew Thinks Books About Old Airplanes Signify A Security Threat
By Chris Morran on August 24, 2011 10:30 AM
276 Comments
Last week, folk singer and aviation enthusiast Vance Gilbert thought he'd pass the time on his United Airlines flight from Boston to Washington, DC, by perusing some books about old aircraft. This was apparently enough to set off alarm bells among the flight crew, who had the plane return to the gate where Gilbert was met by the authorities. More »
(SA_Steve)
Getting The Hotel Bed You Ask For Is Only For The Elite At Hyatt
By Laura Northrup on August 23, 2011 11:00 AM
86 Comments
When Rosalie and her husband reserved a room at a Hyatt Place hotel, they thought that by requesting two queen-size beds, they were reserving two queen-size beds. This is not so: they were requesting two queen-size beds, and the couple learned this the hard way. This wasn't just a case of travel preferences and first world problems: Rosalie suffers from severe back problems, and needs a nice, immobile bed to herself in order to prevent Even More Pain. More »
(smcgee)
Hotel Gives Away My Room, Hotels.com Won't Give Me My Money Back
By Chris Morran on August 22, 2011 11:30 AM
68 Comments
For all the confirmation e-mails and reservation numbers you receive when booking a room through Hotels.com — and most third-party discount reservation sites — there is still a slim chance that you'll arrive at your destination only to find out your room has been sold off to someone willing to pay more. More »
Annoyed Travel Agents To Obama: We're Not Obsolete
By Chris Morran on August 22, 2011 11:15 AM
98 Comments
There are two reasons we probably don't write very many stories about travel agencies: many of them do a better job of problem-resolution than the airlines, hotels and cruise lines they deal with; and common sense would tell you it's likely that fewer people are using agents because it's just as easy to book travel on your own. President Obama recently expressed a similar sentiment, and the travel agents of America want him to know they haven't exactly gone the way of the dot matrix printer. More »
Latest Round Of Pro-Consumer Airline Regulations To Start This Week
By Chris Morran on August 22, 2011 10:15 AM
21 Comments
The Department of Transportation's newest airline regulations — aiming to cut down even more on tarmac delays, curb passenger-bumping and make ticket fees more transparent — will kick in for air travelers tomorrow. More »
Carnival Cruise Becomes Vacation Nightmare
By Laura Northrup on August 18, 2011 8:00 AM
187 Comments
Jennifer and her husband went on a cruise for their vacation last month, but it wasn't all that relaxing. They ended up less healthy and more stressed at the end of the vacation than at the beginning. It began with an asthma attack-inducing smoke-filled stateroom, and somehow actually got worse from there. Worse how? There was the food poisoning, accidentally being double charged for everything, and a ship employee who was almost comically insensitive to the fact that Jennifer uses a wheelchair. More »
(chloeloe)
Cathay Pacific Delays Ad Campaign Due To Photo Scandal
By Phil Villarreal on August 16, 2011 10:15 AM
22 Comments
There may or may not be such a thing as bad publicity, but there certainly is publicity that can add embarrassing, unintended humor to a planned ad campaign. Such is the fate that befell Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific, which we recently wrote about after photos surfaced showing a flight attendant performing oral sex on a pilot on a company plane. Now the company is grounding an international ad campaign with the slogan "meet the team who go the extra mile." More »
Breastfeeding Delta Passenger: Flight Attendant Publicly Humiliated Me
By Chris Morran on August 16, 2011 9:00 AM
416 Comments
Earlier this week, a traveling mom who had just boarded a Delta flight from Indianapolis to Raleigh, NC, decided it was a good time to nurse her 8-month-old. A flight attendant didn't agree. You can imagine how this one goes from here. More »
Family Fined $300 Over 5 Pieces Of Fruit In Backpack
By Chris Morran on August 12, 2011 4:15 PM
161 Comments
A family of four weren't too pleased when they got off their flight from Israel to New Jersey to find that they had to pay a fine of $300 for five pieces of fruit — three cucumbers, an apple and a tomato — stashed in a backpack, even though the Customs agent could have chosen to just destroy the food. More »
Urinating JetBlue Passenger Booted From U.S. Ski Team
By Chris Morran on August 12, 2011 3:15 PM
77 Comments
So it turns out that the JetBlue passenger who peed on an 11-year-old girl instead of heading to the toilet is a member of the U.S. Ski Team's development squad. Or at least he was until he went #1 in public. More »
(afagen)
American Airlines Looking To Spin Off American Eagle
By Chris Morran on August 12, 2011 1:30 PM
13 Comments
American Airlines is planning to spin off its American Eagle regional carrier later this year in an effort to cut costs. There's a possibility that this divestiture could actually end up offering more options to consumers who travel to destinations served by these smaller airlines. More »
Southwest Leads Airfare Rollback Following Return Of Taxes
By Chris Morran on August 9, 2011 3:31 PM
16 Comments
Late last week, when legislators took a vacation from vacation to hammer out a deal that put FAA employees back to work and millions of tax dollars back into federal coffers, a number of you expressed skepticism about predictions that airlines would lower their fares to where they were before the FAA lost its authority to collect taxes. But it looks like all the major airlines have now rolled back their prices over the last two days. More »
Cathay Pacific Investigates Alleged Sexy Pics Of Flight Attendant & Pilot
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 8, 2011 10:15 AM
37 Comments
As we all know from adult movies, pilots and flight attendants are bound to get it on at some point. But in real life, probably not such a good idea while on the clock. Cathay Pacific is investigating photos allegedly showing a flight attendant performing oral sex on a pilot aboard one of the Hong Kong company's planes. More »
Pregnant Passenger Says TSA Confiscated Her Insulin
By Chris Morran on August 8, 2011 8:30 AM
105 Comments
The ever-vigilant Transportation Security Administration has kept the air safe from harmless fluids by confiscating a pregnant traveler's insulin and ice packs as she tried to board a flight from Denver to Phoenix last week. More »
Will Airlines Roll Back Fare Hikes Now That The FAA Can Collect Taxes Again?
By Chris Morran on August 5, 2011 2:23 PM
31 Comments
Immediately after a standoff in Congress left the FAA without the authority to collect taxes on airfares, almost every major airline moved to jack up their ticket prices. But now that the shutdown has ended — at least temporarily — will the airlines respond by lowering prices to where they were before? More »
Legislators Take Break From Vacation, Hammer Out Deal To Get FAA Back To Work
By Chris Morran on August 4, 2011 4:21 PM
15 Comments
After nearly two weeks of a partial Federal Aviation Administration shutdown that has left 4,000 employees without pay and kept millions of dollars in taxes from being collected, Democrats and Republicans have come up with some sort of deal that could get the agency back up and working as early as tomorrow. More »
(jon gos)
Ryanair Treats Passenger For Cardiac Arrest With A Sandwich
By Ben Popken on August 4, 2011 4:00 PM
64 Comments
A Ryanair passenger's family is angry with the airline because they say their father had a heart attack on the airplane and all the crew gave him was a sandwich. They also made him pay for the sandwich. More »
40 Of 100 Most-Delayed Flights Take Off Or Land In Newark
By Chris Morran on August 4, 2011 1:15 PM
29 Comments
If you're reading this story on your laptop or smartphone while waiting for a flight to or from Newark International Airport, we have some good and bad news. On one hand, there's a decent chance your flight will be delayed. On the other, you'll have plenty of time to file a complaint with the airline, airport and FAA. More »
(gurms)
10.5% Of Spirit's Revenue Comes From Baggage Fees
By Ben Popken on August 4, 2011 12:00 PM
21 Comments
Recently Delta caught attention because in 2010 it earned the most revenue from baggage fees, $952 million, of all the airlines. But when you compare it to their total revenue, they're in the low-middle of the pack, with Spirit coming out on top. Let's look at a chart! More »
Senate Unable To End FAA Shutdown; Inspectors Working Without Pay
By Chris Morran on August 3, 2011 8:15 AM
55 Comments
Around 4,000 Federal Aviation Administration staffers remain on unpaid furlough this morning and dozens of airport inspectors have been asked to continue working without pay while their employer loses out on millions of tax dollars it lacks authority to collect, after the Senate was unable to end the stalemate behind the FAA's partial shutdown. More »
(Photo: Wrap Media Group)
Need Cheap Wheels? Rent A Rolling Ad From Budget In Atlanta
By Paul Eng on August 1, 2011 3:30 PM
36 Comments
If you want cheap car rentals this summer, Budget Rent a Car in Atlanta might have a deal for you. That is, as long as you don't mind driving a rented car that seems more like a rolling billboard. More »
Planes Collide In Alaska For Second Time In A Month, Killing Four
By Phil Villarreal on August 1, 2011 9:45 AM
20 Comments
Alaska's skies seem to be dangerous for private aircraft these days, with the second mid-air collision in a month killing four Saturday. The accidents came less than a year after Alaska senator Ted Stevens perished in a plane crash in the state. More »
(Yo Spiff)
Which Type Of Flier Are You -- And Which Airline Best Fits Your Needs?
By Chris Morran on July 29, 2011 4:30 PM
70 Comments
Customer dissatisfaction with the airline industry continues to sink. It currently ranks last among the 47 industries tracked by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. But that doesn't meant you can't at least try to find the commercial carrier that will least annoy you. More »
(redjar)
TSA Rolling Out Israeli-Style Behavior Detection
By Ben Popken on July 29, 2011 12:00 PM
128 Comments
The TSA might be asking you more questions when you go through security starting in August, and that's a good thing. More »
(afagen)
United Says Photographing Staff Could Get You On 'No Fly' List, Continental Says You Deserve An Apology
By Chris Morran on July 28, 2011 1:30 PM
76 Comments
Though United Airlines and Continental have been married for the better part of a year, the newlyweds haven't begun to see eye-to-eye on everything. Take, for instance, a customer's right to photograph a staffer's name tag. United says it could get you banned from the airline and put on a "no fly" list, while Continental says that's just not so. More »
Which Airlines Give Refunds After Price Drops, And How To Get Them
By Ben Popken on July 27, 2011 5:00 PM
24 Comments
When the price drops on a non-refundable airline ticket after you bought it, you should get a refund on the difference, right? Actually, only a few airlines agree with that and they have varying policies... More »
Senators Blast Airlines For Profiteering During Tax Holiday
By Ben Popken on July 27, 2011 11:00 AM
69 Comments
Naughty, naughty. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Maria Cantwell are wagging the fingesr at airlines for raising airfares during the tax holiday that has resulted from the Federal Aviation Administration's shutdown. The practice could have "long-term negative repercussions for the industry," said the senators in a letter sent to the airlines on Tuesday. More »
Airlines Not Passing On Savings Of Not Having To Pay FAA Taxes
By Ben Popken on July 26, 2011 10:00 AM
51 Comments
When Congress failed Friday to extend a bill that would have kept the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) running, they handed airlines a $25 million a day gift. Without the extension, the FAA doesn't have the authority to collect taxes. But rather than pass on the savings, nearly all airlines actually raised fares to about the same amount as the federal taxes. Most consumers won't notice because prices are the same, even though it's effectively a price hike. More »
(Gregg)
Hyatt Apologizes For Turning Heatlamps On Strikers. Heat Index Was 90 Degrees.
By Ben Popken on July 25, 2011 5:00 PM
159 Comments
The Hyatt hotel chain has issued an apology after heatlamps were turned on above workers who were striking out front of the Park Hyatt Chicago during a day when the heat index was 90 degrees. More »
Delta, Continental, Others Jack Up Fares After Federal Tax Takes Vacation
By Chris Morran on July 25, 2011 7:30 AM
56 Comments
As we reported last week, the inability for Congress to come to terms on a bill that would extend the FAA's operating authority means that airlines are not currently charging federal taxes on airfares. But if you're not seeing any difference in the final price of your ticket, that's because most airlines have increased their fares since Saturday. More »
Lawsuit: JetBlue Kicked Woman Off Flight After Accusing Her Of Going Pantsless
By Chris Morran on July 22, 2011 11:45 AM
167 Comments
A New York City woman has filed a lawsuit against JetBlue, alleging that airline employees not only made a spectacle of her by removing her from a flight to see what she was wearing under her baggy shirt but added insult to injury by refusing to let her back on the plane. More »
Potential FAA Shutdown Could Mean Tax-Free Airfares For Travelers
By Chris Morran on July 22, 2011 11:15 AM
44 Comments
Unless Congress can hammer out their issues over extending the FAA's operating authority by midnight tonight, 4,000 agency employees will be temporarily out of a job, but travelers will be able to but airline tickets without paying federal taxes. More »
TSA Begins Installing Software That Makes Scanners Less R-Rated
By Chris Morran on July 20, 2011 5:50 PM
77 Comments
For travelers whose main concern about the TSA's full-body scanners is the potential of having their naked form displayed or downloaded onto some screener's thumb drive, this may be good news. The agency announced today that it has begun installing software that displays objects hidden beneath passengers' clothes but not show detailed images of their nude bodies. More »
When An Airline Says 'It's Not A Problem,' It Will Be A Problem
By Laura Northrup on July 20, 2011 9:30 AM
39 Comments
Perhaps Simon should have known better than to trust an employee of U.S. Airways. He changed his travel plans, canceling the outbound portion of a round-trip ticket. The person he spoke with on the phone assured him that his original flight home would be just fine. This employee was either misinformed or out to make Simon's life miserable. Either way, his flight home was canceled, and he had to book a more expensive one-way flight that his employer won't pay for. More »
Woman Gets Knife Past TSA Checkpoints Not Once, But Twice!
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 19, 2011 12:51 PM
79 Comments
What with reports indicating a plethora of security breaches at U.S. airports, why not check out some of those statistics in action? Two such breaches may have occurred recently, as an Indianapolis woman claims she made it through security twice with a knife in her carry-on. More »
Reader: TSA Agent Cracks Timothy McVeigh Joke That Would Probably Have Gotten Me Detained
By Chris Morran on July 18, 2011 4:15 PM
77 Comments
For all the wise-cracking most of us do about the TSA and airport security procedures, we also know that when it comes time to actually pass through the checkpoint on our way to the gate, it's probably not the best time to be a jokester. But, says a Consumerist reader, there is at least one TSA screener who thinks it's perfectly fine for him to lightheartedly reference Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. More »
(afagen)
Senator: Travelers Should Be Reimbursed Fees For All Lost & Mishandled Bags
By Chris Morran on July 18, 2011 1:15 PM
60 Comments
Even though a new rule is about to kick in that refunds airline baggage fees for any traveler whose luggage vanishes forever, New York Senator Chuck Schumer thinks it's not enough and that airlines should be reimbursing fees even if you get your bags back a day or two later. More »
(karlfrankowski and Alex Barth)
7.5 Sweltering Hours On A Bus: The MegaSauna Rides Again, Gets Lost
By Laura Northrup on July 18, 2011 10:00 AM
54 Comments
When Alexandros set out on a Megabus trip from New York City to Washington, D.C. last week, he had no way to know that he and his fellow passengers were in for seven and a half hours of roasting hot travel mayhem. The travel delay was understandable at first: there was apparently an accident on I-95, the standard Megabus route between the two cities. This might have been bearable if the bus had had functioning air conditioning. Or any air circulation at all. Or if the passengers had been allowed to board the new bus they had promised. Or if the driver had received valid directions to the spot where they were supposed to exchange their rolling sauna for a new bus that never came. More »
(zieak)
Woman Accused Of Groping TSA Agent -- Yeah, You Read That Right
By Phil Villarreal on July 18, 2011 9:15 AM
59 Comments
Accusations of groping involving Transportation Security Administration agents are far from unheard of, but it's rare that it's a security officer who's the one filing the complaint. Yet a Colorado woman stands accused of groping a TSA agent at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport Thursday. More »
Appeals Court: Feds Rushed To Roll Out Controversial TSA Scanners
By Chris Morran on July 15, 2011 3:21 PM
50 Comments
An appeals court panel in Washington, D.C., ruled today that the government jumped the gun by not seeking public feedback before rolling out airport scanners that see through travelers' clothes. Unfortunately for those opposed to these devices, the scanners are not going anywhere. More »
Unorthodox Ways To Rack Up Airline Miles
By Phil Villarreal on July 15, 2011 11:15 AM
45 Comments
Sure, you can rack up airline miles the boring way, by flying or using your credit card. But there are more creative methods to build up miles for free trips down the line. More »
Planes Collide At Boston Airport, Causing Injury
By Phil Villarreal on July 15, 2011 7:45 AM
41 Comments
Boston's Logan Airport was the scene of an airplane accident Thursday. As a Delta 767 taxied for its departure for Amsterdam, its left wing clipped the tail of a small regional jet. One person complained of neck pain and was taken to the hospital. More »
TSA To Test Trusted Traveler Program With Certain Delta & American Airlines Frequent Fliers
By Chris Morran on July 14, 2011 2:41 PM
35 Comments
In May, TSA chief John Pistole said the agency was considering a program that would allow pre-vetted "trusted travelers" to get through airport security faster. Today, the TSA announced actual details of the program it will begin testing on a small group of fliers. More »
Woman Arrested For Being Verbally Abusive To TSA Agents While Refusing To Let Daughter Be Screened Or Patted Down
By Chris Morran on July 13, 2011 12:43 PM
175 Comments
A woman was arrested over the weekend at Nashville International Airport after her refusal to let her daughter be scanned or pat-down turned nasty. More »
Your Dog May Not Be Welcome On Summer Flights
By Laura Northrup on July 13, 2011 9:30 AM
41 Comments
You might have read that you can take your pet on a Continental Airlines flight, but that's no guarantee that your buddy will actually be allowed on the plane. That can depend on weather, but mostly depends on how full the flight is. You're shelling out extra money to travel with a creature you consider a family member, but to the airline, your pet is furry cargo that can be left behind. If you stubbornly insist on traveling together, you're stuck with the flight change fees. That's what happened to Steve when he tried to fly with his dogs down to his new home in Ecuador. His advice: Don't fly with pets during the summer. At all. More »
(penner42)
Stun Gun Found On JetBlue Plane At Newark Airport
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 11, 2011 12:15 PM
46 Comments
If you feel smug when you get away with bringing more than three ounces of shampoo in your carry-on, you ain't seen nothing yet — the FBI is investigating the discovery of a stun gun on a JetBlue flight into Newark Airport yesterday, officials said. More »
How To Beat Theme Park Prices And Still Get In Some Rides
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 11, 2011 10:30 AM
121 Comments
Theme parks and resorts know how badly you want to be having fun, and send admission prices sky-high in the summer because they know they can. But you can still have a blast this summer, without resorting to fishing deep into your pockets. More »
TSA Screener Accused Of Stealing $50K In Electronics From Travelers
By Chris Morran on July 8, 2011 2:15 PM
65 Comments
As if worrying about having your private parts groped — or being scrutinized and mocked — by TSA screeners wasn't enough, yet another airport security staffer has been arrested and accused of using his position to pilfer thousands of dollars worth of travelers' treasures. More »
Complaints Against Airlines Continue To Soar
By Chris Morran on July 7, 2011 2:46 PM
45 Comments
The Dept. of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released its final report on airline customer complaints for the month of May and it isn't pretty. More »
It's Not American Airlines' Problem That Your Mom Died
By Laura Northrup on July 7, 2011 9:30 AM
66 Comments
Rita's mother recently passed away. We offer our condolences to Rita and her family, and our rage to the American Airlines employees who were complete jerks to Rita as she tried to travel from Texas to the distant Canadian city of Halifax, Nova Scotia for the funeral. After her first flight was twice delayed due to "mechanical problems," she wound up stranded in Orlando. Missing her connection due to the two delays wasn't the airline's problem, a supervisor told Rita. More »
The TSA Is All Worried About Surgically Implanted Bombs
By Chris Morran on July 6, 2011 3:29 PM
202 Comments
The threat of drinking water and toothpaste has been securely locked up in a plastic sandwich bag. And those new-fangled scanners can see if you're carrying a huge knife and/or grenade in your crotch. But a new threat has the TSA focusing its interest on something that its fancy electronics and grabby hands can't detect so easily: Surgically implanted bombs. More »
Airlines Can't Convince Court They Are Being Overcharged For TSA Screening
By Chris Morran on July 6, 2011 8:37 AM
47 Comments
Even though the screeners at airport security checkpoints in the U.S. are employees of the Transportation Security Administration and those fancy new see-through-your-clothes machines are technically paid for by the feds, the airlines still have to fork over hundreds of millions of dollars per year for security theater. Several of them claim the TSA is overcharging to the tune of $115 million. An appeals court disagrees. More »
Alaska Airlines Offers Free Tickets & Miles To Passenger Stung By Scorpion
By Chris Morran on June 30, 2011 2:30 PM
53 Comments
There's nothing in the Alaska Airlines contract of carriage about arachnid attacks, so when a passenger on board one of its planes was stung by a scorpion, the airline could have easily shrugged it off as one of those crazy things that happen when you're a world traveler. Instead, someone at Alaska Air realized this was an opportunity to go above and beyond. More »
Man Boards Flight Using Someone Else's Expired Boarding Pass
By Chris Morran on June 30, 2011 1:45 PM
87 Comments
Last week, a Nigerian man was able to board a Virgin America flight from NYC to L.A. without presenting valid ID and a boarding pass that not only didn't belong to him, but was for a flight from the previous day. More »
(matneym)
Turtle Sex Drive Shuts Down JFK Runway
By Phil Villarreal on June 30, 2011 9:15 AM
44 Comments
Some inconsiderate turtles insisted on prioritizing their mating instincts over man's need for timely flights. Traveling diamondback terrapins, looking for a place to lay their eggs, delayed flights as they crossed a John F. Kennedy International Airport runway. More »
(Fujoshi)
Drunk Passenger Uses Jet Aisle As His Own Private Urinal
By Chris Morran on June 29, 2011 10:15 AM
48 Comments
Somewhere around six hours into a recent 11-hour flight from Auckland, New Zealand to Singapore, an intoxicated passenger apparently decided that he didn't feel like making the trek to the plane's lavatory. Instead, the man voided his bladder in the middle of the aisle. More »
TSA: We Didn't Force 95-Year-Old Woman To Remove Diaper
By Phil Villarreal on June 28, 2011 7:30 AM
74 Comments
Transportation Security Administration agents were accused of making a 95-year-old woman take off her diaper before a flight from Florida to Michigan, but the TSA now says it has investigated the incident and found that its agents did no such thing. More »
American Airlines' New Boarding Procedure Causing "Complete Chaos"
By Chris Morran on June 27, 2011 12:15 PM
97 Comments
In May, American Airlines changed its previous boarding procedures. No longer were coach travelers herded onto the plane starting with passengers in the rear rows. Instead, ticketholders were boarded in order of who checked in first. While this was designed to cut back on line-waiting at the gate, American cabin crews say it has done nothing but wreak havoc inside the plane. More »
TSA Defends Forcing Elderly Woman To Remove Adult Diaper (Updated)
By Phil Villarreal on June 27, 2011 8:15 AM
109 Comments
UPDATE: The TSA said in a statement its agents did not require the woman to remove her diaper: More »
(nikozz)
You Can Carry-On More Than 3oz Of Contact Solution
By Ben Popken on June 22, 2011 5:00 PM
86 Comments
If you don't have time to buy a travel-sized version instead of your mondo bottle of saline solution before the next time you fly, don't sweat it. It's totally cool to fly with more than 3oz of contact solution, as it is covered under the TSA "liquid medication" provision. More »
TSA Modifies Screening Of Young Children
By Chris Morran on June 22, 2011 2:37 PM
58 Comments
After incidents like this pat-down of an infant at a Kansas City airport landed the Transportation Security Administration in a public relations mess, the head of the agency said this morning that TSA has changed its policies regarding the screening of small children. More »
(afagen)
Spirit Airlines To Charge $5 To Print Your Boarding Pass For You
By Chris Morran on June 21, 2011 4:43 PM
53 Comments
Bottom-dollar carrier Spirit Airlines is trying very hard to become the Ryanair of the U.S., announcing that it will soon begin charging travelers $5 to have a boarding pass printed by a Spirit staffer at the airport. More »
Delta & McDonald's Are Big Losers In Customer Satisfaction Survey
By Chris Morran on June 21, 2011 9:15 AM
29 Comments
Earlier today, the lovely folks at the American Customer Satisfaction Index released their latest data for airlines and fast food restaurants. And judging by the companies that came in last in each category, being the biggest doesn't make you any better. More »
Pilot Forces Quadriplegic To Get Off Plane
By Phil Villarreal on June 21, 2011 8:30 AM
70 Comments
A Frontier Airlines pilot refused to take off until a 24-year-old quadriplegic exited the plane. A spokesman for the airline said the pilot was concerned about the man's safety, worried that a seatbelt extension might not be able to properly protect him. The man who was told to get off the flight says he felt humiliated. More »
(ajruck)
Hit Up Big Attractions On Your Road Trip And Still Save Cash
By Mary Beth Quirk on June 20, 2011 4:45 PM
90 Comments
Taking a vacation via your vehicle is already one way to save some money, instead of flying your entire family to a destination that will add even more costs. But just because you're saving by driving, there are even more ways you can stretch a buck on a roadtrip and still see the big attractions. More »
False Bomb Threat Causes Scare On D.C.-Bound Flight
By Phil Villarreal on June 20, 2011 11:15 AM
21 Comments
Authorities swept a plane that landed in Washington, D.C. after a flight from Dayton, Ohio, following a threat originating in Ohio that a bomb was on board. The search came up empty and the woman who made the threat is suspected to suffer mental health issues. More »
Here's What You Can Do Overnight In An Airport With Fancy Cameras
By Mary Beth Quirk on June 20, 2011 8:30 AM
39 Comments
If you've ever been stuck overnight in an airport, you know how boring it can be — staring at the same empty Starbucks and listening to that annoying muzak for hours on end can drive a sane traveler crazy. That is, unless you happen to have $30k worth of camera equipment on hand and a taste for mischief. More »
(Nathan Y)
How To Always Get An Exit Row Seat
By Ben Popken on June 17, 2011 5:00 PM
52 Comments
Exit rows are magical areas on airplanes where you'll aways have that most rare and precious commodity known as "legroom." On some airlines you'll have to pay extra for the privilege. On others, it's yours just for asking. Airfarewatchdog breaks down the exit row policies by airline so you can pick the flight that makes it easiest or know what you have to do to get that extra stretch space for your feet. More »
Chef Gets By TSA Screeners At O'Hare With Four Huge Knives In His Bag
By Chris Morran on June 16, 2011 2:29 PM
89 Comments
Another day, another example of the ineptitude of the TSA screeners at American airports. The latest news comes from an award-winning Chicago chef who says that while the screeners were busy worrying about the contents of his pockets, they completely missed an arsenal of knives in his carry-on. More »
Hotel Openly Advertises For Fake TripAdvisor Review Writers
By Ben Popken on June 16, 2011 12:00 PM
31 Comments
It's no secret that hotels put bogus user reviews of themselves on sites like TripAdvisor, but usually they're more discreet than this. TripAdvisorWatch found an example of an owner of several hotels in Hanoi posting on freelancer.com under his real name asking "if anyone can teach me the way to write reviews on this forum in which my reviews can not be found as fake and be removed." More »
JetBlue Goofs On Rewards Points Offer, Decides To Honor It Anyway
By Chris Morran on June 16, 2011 10:45 AM
9 Comments
Regular readers of Consumerist might remember a story from a few weeks back where US Airways sent out an e-mail telling customers they'd received 1,000 free airline miles, only to take them back a couple days later when the airline realized it was a mistake. Yesterday, JetBlue faced a similar problem, but decided to handle the situation slightly better. More »
Man Booted From Flight For Foul-Mouthed Complaint About Delay
By Phil Villarreal on June 15, 2011 8:15 AM
77 Comments
Judging from the experience of a Brooklyn man who was tossed off a flight at the Detroit Metro Airport, it's best to keep your language clean while boarding, just to be safe. The man says he was tossed off an Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight after a flight attendant overheard him saying "What's taking so (expletive) long to close the overhead compartments?" More »
(birdarts)
Newlyweds: TSA Ruined Our Honeymoon Over Bottle Of Contact Lens Solution
By Chris Morran on June 14, 2011 4:42 PM
215 Comments
If the last decade has taught us two things it's that Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio is a prime entry point for terrorists and that a bottle of saline merits a lengthy talking-to from the Transportation Security Administration. Oh, wait... scratch both of those. More »
To Avoid Airport Security Hassle, Don't Flinch From Eye Contact
By Ben Popken on June 7, 2011 2:00 PM
87 Comments
As someone who travels red eyes coast to coast for weeks for business meetings, Jeanniey knows a thing or two about getting through security with the least friction. She tells NYT that one thing she discovered, the hard way, was that you don't want to dodge from eye contact with the security workers. More »
DOT Fines Continental For Not Disclosing Fuel Surcharge On Website
By Chris Morran on June 6, 2011 3:30 PM
40 Comments
Fuel surcharges can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of a flight, a fact that travelers trying to buy tickets on Continental's website weren't finding out until after they had selected their itinerary. That's why the Depart of Transportation has slapped the airline with a $120,000 fine. More »
New Airport Scanner Could Have You Through Security In Only Seconds
By Chris Morran on June 6, 2011 12:15 PM
111 Comments
Air travel authorities have begun showing off a new type of airport security scanner that would allow travelers to walk through a tunnel-like device without having to remove coats, belts, shoes or even hand over their carry-ons for separate screening. More »
Get A Refund After An Airfare Pricedrop
By Ben Popken on June 3, 2011 4:00 PM
15 Comments
It is possible to get a refund for the difference if the airfare drops after you buy your ticket, but you'll usually have to fly one of these three airlines to make it worth your while. More »
Tips For Avoiding In-Flight Fisticuffs
By Chris Morran on June 3, 2011 3:30 PM
80 Comments
Earlier this week, a dispute over a reclined seat on board a United Airlines flight escalated to the point where fighter jets were brought in. But just because you're trapped inside a flying metal tube along with hundreds of other tense, tired passengers doesn't mean you have to give in to air rage. More »
(KFreon)
Delta Discontinues Discount For Paying Bag Fees Online
By Chris Morran on June 2, 2011 4:15 PM
50 Comments
Since Delta began charging fees for checked bags — $25 for the initial piece on domestic flights; $35 for a second — the airline has been offering $2-3 discounts to travelers who prepaid those fees online instead of at the airport. Not anymore. More »
(afagen)
When Is A Free Ticket Not Free? When There Is A $350 Fuel Surcharge
By Chris Morran on May 31, 2011 12:45 PM
43 Comments
Even though it's become increasingly easy to amass rewards travel points on most major airlines, it's not only gotten more difficult to cash in those points for free tickets, those "free" tickets could end up costing you hundreds in taxes and fuel surcharges. More »
Google Turns Its Eyes To The Skies With Flight Tracking Function
By Phil Villarreal on May 31, 2011 9:30 AM
16 Comments
In its ongoing effort to maintain prominence in the search engine wars, Google added a handy feature that lets you search the names of two cities, along with "flights from" and "to" in order to get a quick glance of the selection of regular flights that connect them. More »
5 Awesome Crowd-Free Summer Bargain Trips
By Ben Popken on May 27, 2011 12:00 PM
53 Comments
NYT exposes some gems you might not think of first when planning a summer getaway, which is exactly why they're on sale. But if you can put up with or get over the reason why most people skip them, you can have a great time for less, and with fewer people around. More »
(Evelyn)
Delta Offers Refund, Explanation For Dog Cargo Confusion
By Laura Northrup on May 27, 2011 8:00 AM
40 Comments
This is Scruffy the dog. Last week his human, Evelyn, wrote to us about her problems with Delta shipping Scruffy as cargo instead of baggage, not letting her know where he was, and charging an extra $391 at the airport to fly 50-pound Scruffy from New York to Los Angeles. In her letter to Delta, Evelyn said that she would be informing everyone she knows not to use Delta, since it is "most certainly neither a safe nor convenient carrier for pets." Now, at least, Delta has explained to Evelyn what went wrong, and she'll be receiving a refund for the full $591 in dog-shipping fees. It doesn't sound like Evelyn and Scruffy are in a hurry to fly Delta again soon, though. More »
TSA Forgets To Tell Police It's Running A Bomb Test, Hilarity Ensues
By Chris Morran on May 19, 2011 1:15 PM
61 Comments
One of the keys to running a successful test of a TSA agent's ability to detect a bomb in a traveler's suitcase is to give the heads-up to the authorities that a drill is being run. That way, when — or rather if — the screener finds the device in question, their call to the police won't have the cops drawing their guns in the middle of an airport. More »
(matýsek)
"Bump The Bonus" And Get More Airline Miles For Free
By Ben Popken on May 17, 2011 1:00 PM
23 Comments
One way to build up frequent flyer miles quickly is to apply for several of the credit cards that give bonus miles for signing up. You buy stuff you were going to buy anyway and meet the minimum spend requirement, get the miles and move on. But then a while later you notice that the same credit card is offering even more miles for newer applicants. Curses! Instead of despairing, though, The Frugal Travel Guy Rick Ingersoll says you should call the credit card company and ask them to increase the bonus miles they gave you to the new level. More »
Texas House Passes Bill To Outlaw TSA Pat-Downs That Make Contact With Your Most Personal Parts
By Chris Morran on May 13, 2011 2:15 PM
124 Comments
As we reported in March, a handful of Texas politicians were fed up with being felt-up and were considering a way to ban the TSA's invasive pat-down procedures. Last night, that ban got closer to reality — or at least closer to becoming a courtroom battle — when the Lone Star State's House of Representatives voted to approve legislation that would keep hands off travelers' most personal areas. More »
Cruise Ship Crashes Into Ice In Alaska, Keeps On Cruising
By Phil Villarreal on May 13, 2011 10:15 AM
50 Comments
An obstacle described as a "large piece of ice" wasn't enough to send a Holland America cruise ship in Alaska the way of the Titanic. After the ship barreled into the ice, it just kept chugging along on its schedule with only a small indentation in the hull. More »
via MSNBC
Korean Air Bars Cancer Patient From Flight For Looking Frail
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 11, 2011 11:30 AM
37 Comments
As if suffering from Stage-4 cancer isn't crappy enough, cancer patient Crystal Kim was denied from flying on a Korean Air flight from Seattle to Seoul, South Korea over the weekend because the carrier thought she looked "too frail." Incidentally, she had approval from two doctors and a note clearing her to fly. More »
TSA Tries To Explain Need For Patting Down An Infant
By Chris Morran on May 10, 2011 1:35 AM
131 Comments
Over the weekend, TSA agents at the Kansas City International Airport felt the full furor of the internet when a camera phone image of a baby being patted-down hit the web. The world wanted to know if we'd moved from worrying about dirty bombs to hunting for poopy bombs. In an attempt to diffuse the explosive situation, the folks behind the curtains of Security Theater took to their blog to offer an explanation. More »
Beat High Airfares With The Old "Hidden City" Trick
By Ben Popken on May 9, 2011 5:00 PM
153 Comments
Here's a little secret to saving big on airfare, courtesy of the New York Times Magazine. When you fly into an airport that is mainly controlled by one airline, like Memphis, Newark, or Dallas, it can be pretty pricey. For instance, Des Moines to Dallas is $375. But if you booked it to LA with a stopover in Dallas, the price drops to $186. All you have to do is just not get on the connecting flight. This is the "hidden city" trick. More »
Do Not Try To Open Emergency Door During Flight
By Phil Villarreal on May 9, 2011 9:45 AM
76 Comments
It's rarely a wise idea to try to open the emergency door on an airplane, especially when it's in the air. Passengers on a flight from Houston to Chicago Sunday received a definitive lesson in the subject when someone tried to yank a door open, forcing the pilot to divert the flight to St. Louis. More »
(msmail)
TSA Considers Making Airport Screenings Less Annoying For "Trusted Travelers"
By Chris Morran on May 6, 2011 1:32 PM
110 Comments
You might have heard that some airline passengers haven't exactly been overjoyed with the TSA's recent rollouts of revealing full-body scanners and like-groping-teenagers-in-heat pat-down procedures. But now the agency is reportedly considering the idea of giving "trusted travelers" an express pass through airport security screenings. More »
Delta Passengers Forced To Land & Ride Bus For 5 Hours. Is $100 Coupon Enough?
By Chris Morran on May 5, 2011 3:30 PM
142 Comments
Earlier this week, a Delta flight from Atlanta to West Palm Beach, FL, was forced to land in Tampa after the cabin filled with smoke. Passengers were taken off the plane and put on a bus for the 5-hour trip to their final destination. They were also each given a $100 coupon for use toward a future Delta flight. To some passengers, it's not the size of the compensation that caused offense, but the apparent lack of give-a-damn demonstrated by Delta. More »
(srd515)
Southwest Vacations Lets Deal Expire, Sends You To Phone Sex Line To Complain
By Laura Northrup on May 5, 2011 10:37 AM
17 Comments
Luke learned two interesting things recently while booking his Vegas vacation through Southwest Vacations. First, Southwest Vacations isn't a part of Southwest Airlines, as he had assumed. Second, deals that are available when you first begin your online transaction aren't necessarily available once you finally check out. Not knowing that second bit of information cost him the "free" show tickets that were the reason he chose a more expensive booking through Southwest Vacations in the first place. More »
Not Filling The Tank On Your Rental Car Could Cost You $9 A Gallon
By Chris Morran on May 4, 2011 1:15 PM
60 Comments
Next time you're running close to the deadline for returning a rental car and have to choose between a late fee or being penalized for not having a full gas tank, be sure that you're using the right per-gallon dollar amount when figuring out which will cost less. According to a new USA Today survey, the penalty for having to fill up a rental car's tank can now set you back over $9 per gallon. More »
Ethically Dubious Ways To Make Your Next Flight More Enjoyable
By Laura Northrup on May 4, 2011 9:00 AM
138 Comments
Getting your way as a consumer often requires social awareness and a sense of what's appropriate. But up there in the rough and scary unfriendly skies, it's a whole other game. Sometimes, having a pleasant flight means making others physically uncomfortable and can push the boundaries of your personal moral code. What are these sneaky secrets? More »
Flight Attendants Stage Mini Mutiny, Give Away Free Booze On Flight
By Chris Morran on May 3, 2011 3:30 PM
72 Comments
No one — aside from airline shareholders — is a big fan of the numerous ancillary fees airlines continue to nickel-and-dime travelers with, not even the flight attendants. And at least on one recent flight, some attendants decided they were going to quietly flip the middle finger to their overlords by giving out a bunch of free stuff. More »
6 Ways To Be A Savvier Traveler And Save
A: This is fun. You can start your own miniature bidding ware by calling up several hotel desk clerks and ask them for "the cheapest non-refundable rate." Play them against each other. Using this method, you can save upwards of $20 off the online rate, even though they insist that that's their cheapest available rate. More »
By Ben Popken on May 2, 2011 5:00 PM
70 Comments
Q: I'm taking a vacation, room rates are ridiculous. Any way you can save me some money?A: This is fun. You can start your own miniature bidding ware by calling up several hotel desk clerks and ask them for "the cheapest non-refundable rate." Play them against each other. Using this method, you can save upwards of $20 off the online rate, even though they insist that that's their cheapest available rate. More »
(delfuego)
DOJ Gives Thumbs Up To Southwest's Purchase Of AirTran
By Chris Morran on April 27, 2011 7:45 AM
15 Comments
Seems like it was just seven months ago that we first wrote about the proposed sale of AirTran to Southwest Airlines for $1.4 billion. Now that deal is all but done after it passed the Justice Department's antitrust review yesterday. More »
(afagen)
Allegations Of Photography Cause Plane Evacuation, 2.5-Hour Delay On United Flight
By Chris Morran on April 25, 2011 1:40 PM
149 Comments
When did "taking photographs" become "suspicious behavior" on a plane? Because that's exactly what caused an entire United flight to return to its gate, be evacuated and inspected, leave 2.5 hours late and forced to make an additional stop because of the delay. More »
Delta Introduces Online Tracking For Baggage
By Chris Morran on April 22, 2011 12:45 PM
23 Comments
Next time you're getting off a Delta flight, you should have a better idea of how long you'll be waiting for your checked luggage at baggage claim. The airline has introduced a new tracking system that lets users plug in their luggage tag number for up-to-date tracking info. More »
DHS Ditches Color-Coded Terror Alert System, Joins The Facebook & Twitter Crowd
By Chris Morran on April 21, 2011 2:32 PM
28 Comments
I know all of you have gotten used to checking to see if it was an orange, yellow, or red day according to the Department of Homeland Security's color-coded terror alert system. But now that's all gone, and you can check Facebook or Twitter to see whether or not the world is going to blow up today. More »
(ikkymudd)
Airline Gives Kung Fu Training To New Cabin Crew Members
By Chris Morran on April 19, 2011 1:30 PM
28 Comments
While the TSA keeps rolling out ineffective new scanning and groping techniques to keep our airplanes safe from bottles of water and shampoo, the folks at Hong Kong Airlines have gone an extra step, requiring all new cabin crew members to undergo martial arts training. More »
Air Traffic Controller Suspended For Watching Movie Instead Of Radar
By Chris Morran on April 19, 2011 12:15 PM
73 Comments
The FAA may have enacted changes intended to keep air traffic controllers from falling asleep on the job, but there is still the problem of those conscious controllers who aren't doing the job they were hired to do — like the one in Ohio who was just exiled from the control tower for watching a movie instead of the radar screen. More »
Before Taking That Hotel Towel Home, Check For An RFID Chip
By Ben Popken on April 18, 2011 4:00 PM
108 Comments
If one of your favorite parts about staying in a hotel is loading up on all the free towels, you may want to take a pause before stuffing your suitcase next time. A few hotels, which don't want to be named, have started to use a new washable RFID chip that can be sewn into towels, robes and bedsheets. More »
Nobody Likes You When You're Being A Bad Airline Customer
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 18, 2011 3:30 PM
106 Comments
Sure, we've all gotten annoyed at one time or another while flying, whether it's over the limited overhead space or the crying baby in the next row. But just because we can get ticked off doesn't mean customers have the right to be brats. Take a few of these tips to be the best flier you can be, which can lead to a better experience for everyone. More »
(mrbill)
FAA Makes Changes To Keep Air Traffic Controllers From Falling Asleep On The Job
By Chris Morran on April 18, 2011 6:33 AM
74 Comments
Following a rash of incidents — like this one and this one — where air traffic controllers were caught snoozing on the job, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued some new rules that will hopefully give the controllers more rest and more supervision. More »
Complaining About Airport Security Could Tag You As A Possible Threat
By Chris Morran on April 15, 2011 4:27 PM
74 Comments
Almost anyone who has been stuck in the airport security screening line has at least mumbled to themselves about the process, but a new report from CNN says that such behavior could lead to travelers being singled out for further screening. More »
A Dead Cow & The 5 Other Most Bizarre Things Passengers Have Tried To Check Onto A Virgin Atlantic Flight
By Chris Morran on April 13, 2011 3:30 PM
39 Comments
The folks over that the Virgin Atlantic blog recently sent out a request to the staffers working the check-in desks at the airline's various global destinations. They wanted to know about the strangest items that passengers actually tried to have stowed in the cargo hold, and they compiled a list of bizarre baggage that rivals this one. More »
(afagen)
U.S. Airways Adding First-Class Seats To Some Regional Flights
By Chris Morran on April 8, 2011 3:30 PM
16 Comments
In an attempt to compete with some of it bigger, consolidated rivals, U.S. Airways announced this week that it will be adding first-class seats to 110 of the bigger jets in its regional U.S. Airways Express lineup. More »
Delta Bans Bulldogs After Increase In Dog Deaths
By Chris Morran on April 7, 2011 3:30 PM
83 Comments
Delta Airlines took a lot of heat in 2010 for a string of incidents — like this one, this one or this one — involving dead and/or lost pets on its flights. So in an attempt to cut down on the number of animal deaths, the airline will no longer accept bulldogs in its planes' cargo holds. More »
Let's Talk About Buying Travel Insurance, Shall We?
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 7, 2011 1:30 PM
41 Comments
If you're like us, you usually wave aside the online ticket agent's offer to purchase travel insurance. However it could come in really handy and sometimes you're going to want it. But if you do want to buy travel, when and how should you do it? More »
(msmail)
2nd Air Traffic Controller Could Be Fired For Snoozing On The Job
By Ben Popken on April 7, 2011 11:00 AM
36 Comments
The second air traffic controller in a month could lose his job for catching some z's up in the tower. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told Congress that the controller was "found intentionally sleeping." What defines "intentional sleeping?" He had cushions and a blanket, meaning he brought materials to work with him to help him sleep. More »
U.S. Airways CEO: My Airline Is The Only Viable Candidate For Merger
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 7, 2011 10:15 AM
19 Comments
Doug Parker, CEO of U.S. Airways Group Inc., has a secret. He says he there is one big airline merger left and he knows it could involve a certain airline out there, but guess what it's his own and that is how he knows it could happen. More »
Check Out Your Airline's Safety Records Online Before You Fly
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 6, 2011 12:30 PM
20 Comments
Are you tired of waiting for those scary headlines to hit detailing safety failures to find out about an airline's safety records? For those spooked by Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 forced to make an emergency landing when a hole torn open in its fuselage mid-flight, there are a few things you can do to check things out before booking and boarding. More »
(benh57)
Expedia & Hotwire Kiss, Make Up With American Airlines
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 6, 2011 8:00 AM
9 Comments
Isn't it just so cute when big companies get back together after a breakup? Four months after Expedia expunged American Airlines fare and schedule information from its online listings, the two foes have announced the listings will be restored to Expedia and its affiliate Hotwire. More »
FAA Calls For Mandatory Inspection Of Older Boeing 737s
By Chris Morran on April 5, 2011 3:19 AM
19 Comments
Following this past weekend's incident in which a Southwest Airlines jet suddenly got a sunroof when a hole opened up in the plane's fuselage and the subsequent finding of problematic cracking on at least three other Southwest jets, the FAA is set to require inspections of around 175 older Boeing 737s. More »
Sad In-Flight Meals Are Enough To Make Us Lose Our Appetites
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 4, 2011 3:30 PM
99 Comments
There has been a lot of shouting and complaining in recent years as major airlines like Continental and United have done away with free food on domestic flights. But the folks at Jaunted.com have put together a gallery of craptastic airline meals that will make you glad you don't have the option of chowing down for free. More »
Travel Industry Trying To Beat Complaining Customers To The Punch
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 4, 2011 2:30 PM
109 Comments
The right to complain when your travel experience wasn't what you paid for is being preempted by many airlines and other agencies, but does that mean you have to accept what you're being offered right off the bat when something goes wrong? More »
Horizon Apologizes To Too-Tall Passenger Booted From Flight
By Chris Morran on April 4, 2011 1:30 PM
59 Comments
You may remember last week's story of the 6'9" Horizon Air passenger who was removed from the plane after a flight attendant asked him to move his long legs out of the aisle. Well, over the weekend we received updates from both the airline and the original tipster, and it appears all parties have been able to work things out. More »
(Reuters)
Widespread Cracking Found In Southwest Plane Forced To Make Emergency Landing
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 3, 2011 8:28 PM
14 Comments
Safety inspectors have found what they describe as "widespread cracking" and fatigue on the fuselage of the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 forced to make an emergency landing Friday when a large hole opened in the cabin mid-flight. More »
CNN
Southwest Grounding 79 Planes After Hole Opens In Fuselage Mid-Flight
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 2, 2011 4:35 PM
61 Comments
Southwest Airlines announced today that they are grounding 79 planes after 3- to 4-foot hole opened in the fuselage of one its planes mid-flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. More »
American Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing Because Of Multiple Sick Passengers
By Chris Morran on April 1, 2011 3:30 PM
50 Comments
Earlier today, an American Airlines flight en route to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing at Dayton International Airport after several passengers and flight attendants complained of feeling ill. More »
Ryanair Launches "Child Free Flights"
By Ben Popken on April 1, 2011 2:00 PM
96 Comments
Most proclamations by RyanAir, the Irish "jet strapped to a metal pole" low-cost airline, sound like April Fool's jokes anyway but at least their attempt today is right on message. RyanAir announced they are introducing "child free flights" starting late this year. "When it comes to children we all love our own but would clearly prefer to avoid other people's little monsters when travelling," said RyanAir's head of communications Stephen McNamara in a press release. Staying classy is not what this airline is selling. More »
Horizon Kicked Me Off Plane For Being Too Tall
By Chris Morran on March 31, 2011 4:30 PM
176 Comments
Consumerist reader Laura writes in to share the story of how her stepfather was given the boot from a Horizon Air flight because of his 6'9" frame. More »
(nsub1)
5 Tips For Beating Car Rental Companies At The Claim Game
By Chris Morran on March 31, 2011 1:15 PM
40 Comments
Anyone who has ever had the misfortune of fighting a car rental company on an insurance claim — especially over a ding or scratch that you know was there before you drove off the lot — knows that it's often a losing battle. But travel journalist Christopher Elliott has some tips for putting up a good fight. More »
Study: Airplane Contrails Cause More Climate Change Than Carbon Emissions
By Phil Villarreal on March 31, 2011 10:15 AM
123 Comments
A new study contends airplanes leave behind water vapor skywriting that yields frightening messages about the effects flights have on the environment. More »
(amanjo)
Who Has The Worst Fees In Surcharge-Riddled Travel Industry?
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 30, 2011 4:15 PM
31 Comments
Traveling these days seems to just be a case of a fee here, a fee there, fees everywhere you turn, whether it's by land, sea or air. But which part of the industry is the very worst when it comes to hitting consumers with extraneous charges? More »
(afagen)
Spirit Airlines Adds Fee For Not Paying Your Baggage Fees Far Enough In Advance
By Chris Morran on March 30, 2011 9:30 AM
44 Comments
Perhaps upset that its decision to begin charging fees for carry-on bags was not enough to make into this year's Worst Company In America bracket, the fee-happy folks at Spirit Airlines have begun making their case for next year by adding a surcharge for passengers who wait until 24 hours before departure to pay the airline's base fees for checked and carry-on bags. More »
Well-Heeled Travelers Hate Flying These Days Even More Than Us Poor Folks
By Chris Morran on March 29, 2011 1:30 PM
86 Comments
Lest you think it's just those of us eking out a meager living that are unhappy with the growing trend toward stripped-down flights with a la carte fees, a new survey says that those who can afford to fly are even angrier than we are. More »
Study: Radiation From TSA's Full-Body Scanners Poses "No Significant Threat"
By Chris Morran on March 29, 2011 9:15 AM
104 Comments
In a new study that will surely be argued and dissected by both sides of the full-body scanner debate, researchers claim that the risk from the ionizing radiation to which travelers are exposed in these scanners "would be extremely small, even among frequent flyers" and that there "is no significant threat of radiation from the scans." More »
Woman At LaGuardia Learns TSA Can Still Pat You Down Even After You Pass Security Checkpoint
By Chris Morran on March 28, 2011 12:30 PM
109 Comments
It's pretty safe to say that most, if not all, of us aren't exactly thrilled about having to do the TSA shuffle — remove shoes, take out the laptop, put your keys in the bowl, step on through — at airport security checkpoints. But as one traveler at LaGuardia Airport in NYC learned last week, just because you've made it through the checkpoint doesn't mean you can't get one hell of a pat-down on your way to the gate. More »
Sale Of AirTran To Southwest One Step Closer To Being A Done Deal
By Chris Morran on March 25, 2011 10:15 AM
22 Comments
Overshadowed by last year's relatively rapid merger of United and Continental was the sale of AirTran to Southwest. That sale is now one big step away from completion after AirTran shareholders approved the deal earlier this week. More »
(afagen)
United Had Advance Signs That Plane Would Almost Ignite Olsen Twin
By Chris Morran on March 22, 2011 1:30 PM
27 Comments
You may remember the United Airlines flight from last May that could have resulted in a burnt Olsen twin if the pilots hadn't reacted so quickly to a cockpit fire. Well, newly released documents from the National Transportation Safety Board show that there had been at least two related incidents on that same plane in the days leading up to the fire. More »
Top 5 Mistakes Tourists Make In Lisbon
By Ben Popken on March 21, 2011 5:00 PM
88 Comments
Before you hit Lisbon, the beautiful capital of Portugal, on your next tourist jaunt, be sure to apprise yourself of these 5 common mistakes tourists make, says the Go Lisbon Blog. Besides "Spanish is not the official language, Portuguese is," I think my favorite tip is that you should respect the lines. In Lisbon, people don't just bumrush the doors to board public transit. They queue up in order of arrival and board accordingly. Break this rule and be ready for a grumbly little old lady to accidentally on-purpose whack you with her cane as she walks by you. More »
Unhappy Vegetarian Hurls Tray Of Food At Continental Crew
By Chris Morran on March 21, 2011 10:30 AM
120 Comments
A vegetarian woman aboard a Continental flight from the Dominican Republic to Newark, NJ, was apparently none too pleased when she received a non-vegetarian meal. But rather than file a complaint with the airline, she reportedly opted for the less formal hurl-your-tray-at-the-flight-attendant tactic. More »
Delta Passenger Pretending To Be Air Marshal Is Detained By Actual Air Marshal
By Chris Morran on March 17, 2011 11:45 AM
37 Comments
If you're going to try to impress someone by claiming to be a federal air marshal, be sure the real deal isn't within earshot. More »
You Really Should Be Turning Off Portable Electronic Devices On Planes
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 14, 2011 4:30 PM
174 Comments
Yes! Vindication! You were totally right to give that snooty guy sitting next to you the stinkeye when he refused to turn off his Kindle before takeoff, because you know, for some reason, he thinks the rules don't apply to him. Anyway: A new study cites 75 instances since 2003 where portable electronic devices may have interfered with airplane communication, navigation or surveillance systems. More »
Allegiant: Let's Let Travelers Gamble On Airfare
By Ben Popken on March 14, 2011 11:00 AM
14 Comments
Allegiant Air has come up with an idea for a new kind of airfare whose final price would rise or fall with the price of jet fuel. Passengers could choose between a traditional ticket, or one that has a discounted up-front cost, but whose final price is variable. If gas is cheaper the day you fly, you pay less. If higher, you pay more. It sounds a little crazy, until you realize where Allegiant is based out of: Las Vegas! More »
21 Airlines Fined $1.7 Billion In Price-Fixing Scheme
By Ben Popken on March 11, 2011 1:00 PM
30 Comments
The Justice Department has fined 21 airlines in a massive global price-fixing scheme. British Airways, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic were among the airlines indicted. Even four executives have gone to jail. What did they do? The JD charges that the airlines colluded to artificially inflate fuel surcharges for passengers industry-wide, as well as cargo surcharges. The case probably wouldn't have been broken if Luthansa and Virgin Atlantic hadn't come forward and confessed under the Justice Department's amnesty program that provides leniency for finking. In an interesting turn, the scheme was so codified that various airlines had entire committees and sub-committees devoted to managing it. More »
FAA Orders O2 Masks Removed From Airplane Bathrooms
By Ben Popken on March 11, 2011 11:00 AM
79 Comments
Airlines are removing the emergency oxygen generators from airplane bathrooms by order of FAA directive, reports KPRC. The concern is that someone could go in there, rip the supply out, and rig it into an explosive device. More »
State Dept. Urges Americans To Avoid Travel To Japan For Time Being
By Chris Morran on March 11, 2011 9:01 AM
28 Comments
Even though not all of Japan was hit by today's 8.9 magnitude earthquake, the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel alert, urging U.S. citizens to "to avoid tourism and non-essential travel to Japan at this time." More »
Massive Earthquake In Japan Forces Evacuations In Hawaii, Strands Travelers
By Chris Morran on March 11, 2011 6:52 AM
39 Comments
As you probably know by now, Japan was hit by a 8.9-magnitude earthquake earlier today that sent devastating waves crashing into the island nation, causing hundreds of known fatalities and triggering tsunami warnings in Hawaii and along the Pacific coastline of North and South America. More »
Texas Pols Want To Outlaw Full-Body Scans & Pat-Downs By TSA
By Chris Morran on March 9, 2011 3:35 PM
115 Comments
Politicians in the Texas state legislature have authored a pair of bills they hope would keep the TSA from using full-body scanners and enhanced pat-downs at airports in the Lone Star State. More »
(twicepix)
Eight More Airports Allowed To Operate Flights To Cuba
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 9, 2011 1:30 PM
43 Comments
Good news for those who've always wanted to go to Cuba: Eight more U.S. airports have been granted permission to schedule charter flights to and from the island nation. More »
Flight Attendant Fired For Stowing Baby In Overhead Bin
By Chris Morran on March 7, 2011 4:30 PM
137 Comments
A flight attendant for Virgin Blue, Richard Branson's Australian airline, has been fired over allegations that he placed a passenger's infant child in the overhead bin during a flight from Fiji to Sydney. More »
JetBlue: We Won't Be Stingy On The Free Snacks Anytime Soon
By Chris Morran on March 7, 2011 2:30 PM
23 Comments
Last week, we brought you the sad news that the two-headed beast of United/Continental had decided that coach passengers don't deserve free pretzels. It seems inevitable that this "luxury" is doomed to extinction, but JetBlue says it has no intention of killing off its gratis inflight snacks. More »
(EIZO)
10 Ways To Make The TSA Crotch Grabbers Profitable
By Ben Popken on March 7, 2011 12:00 PM
66 Comments
Last week, the the Director of Homeland Security suggested to Congress that the TSA get a cut of airline baggage fees. The fees encourage travelers to carry on their bags, and this in turn leads to more bags that have to be inspected by hand at security checkpoints. Should taxpayers keep picking up the tab, or should airlines give the TSA a piece of the baggage fees? How about neither? What if instead the TSA looked for more creative ways to offset costs and even increase revenue? Here are 10 modest proposals: More »
Continental Kills Free Snacks In Coach
By Chris Morran on March 4, 2011 4:45 PM
67 Comments
Continental and new spouse United Airlines have begun to decide which of their pre-marriage belongings to keep and which to discard. One thing that has already gone in the dumpster: free snacks in coach. More »
TSA Wants To Increase Airport Fees Because You're Not Checking Your Bags
By Ben Popken on March 4, 2011 2:00 PM
142 Comments
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 »
Could Backscatter Scanners Be Coming To City Streets?
By Chris Morran on March 3, 2011 12:25 PM
127 Comments
The TSA's rollout of full-body backscatter scanners at airports hasn't pleased too many people (other than the manufacturers of said scanners). Now a handful of newly uncovered documents show that the Dept. of Homeland Security has been considering bringing that invasive technology out of the airport and out to the public realm. More »
(Ian.H)
Feds Investigating TSA Agents For Allegedly Failing To Screen Luggage
By Phil Villarreal on March 3, 2011 9:45 AM
40 Comments
According to a federal probe, at least 27 TSA agents in Honolulu took it easy on the job, routinely letting un-screened baggage through on early-morning flights. More »
(afagen)
Are These The 10 Best Airport Restaurants?
By Chris Morran on March 1, 2011 1:30 PM
89 Comments
When we travel, we do our best to avoid eating at the airport, where the cuisine is always overpriced and often overcooked. But the globetrotters at Frommer's say that there are at least 10 quality eateries located inside our nation's airports. More »
(mightyb)
Airline Wants To Offer Fares That Could Change At Last-Minute Based On Fuel Prices
By Chris Morran on February 28, 2011 2:30 PM
46 Comments
Knowing that fares are likely to continue going up as fuel prices rise, some travelers are booking air travel well in advance to lock in an affordable fare that won't change in the coming months. However, Allegiant Air wants to offer travelers the option of buying a ticket that, even after purchase, could go up or down in price depending on the cost of fuel. More »
(http2007)
New Airline Betting On High-Rollers Wanting The Deluxe Vegas Treatment
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 25, 2011 3:15 PM
24 Comments
We're surprised there isn't already a secret underground tunnel with super cool racers between Sin City and the City That Never Sleeps, so the fact that a charter air carrier is launching to more easily shuttle gamblers from New York City to Las Vegas is not shocking. More »
Roaming Charges Are Just Silly; Here's How To Avoid Them Abroad
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 25, 2011 2:15 PM
19 Comments
Some people don't like getting huge roaming charges on cell phone bills when they travel abroad, and some other people might have mothers who also don't like getting emergency collect calls from Italy that cost way too much money. There are ways to stay connected in foreign lands with the monetary bummers. More »
Resort Owner Shows How He Games TripAdvisor
By Ben Popken on February 25, 2011 2:00 PM
22 Comments
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 »
Seattle-Area Restaurant Refuses To Serve TSA Agents
By Chris Morran on February 22, 2011 11:15 AM
217 Comments
Fed up with what he views as crappy treatment from the TSA, the owner of a restaurant near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has decided to put all TSA agents on his No-Eat List. More »
Continental Jets To Get United's "Economy Plus" Seats
By Chris Morran on February 18, 2011 1:15 PM
15 Comments
Delta recently announced that they would be adding roomier "Economy Comfort" seats to its international flights. Competing carrier United Airlines already has something similar with its Economy Plus seats, which will be showing up in planes operated by its new merger partner Continental. More »
The Open Water Beckons: How To Cruise And Not Lose
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 16, 2011 2:15 PM
64 Comments
As the saying goes, "if you don't cruise, you lose." Okay so that is not really a saying but you're missing out if you don't go on a cruise. If you're unsure about doling out the cash to climb aboard a floating wonderland, check out a few tips to ease your sea-loving heart. More »
(johnkit)
TSA Screeners At JFK Admit To Stealing $160K From Passengers
By Chris Morran on February 16, 2011 1:15 PM
86 Comments
It must be tempting to be a TSA screener, seeing bags full of expensive goodies going through your scanner and knowing how easy it would be to make those bags disappear. Two TSA agents at JFK Airport in NYC gave into that temptation, swiping at least $160,000 from travelers. More »
Delta SkyMiles No Longer Have An Expiration Date
By Chris Morran on February 15, 2011 3:15 PM
27 Comments
In the latest move to combat the combined United/Continental Voltron, Delta has announced that the miles accrued on its SkyMiles frequent flier program will no longer vanish when they go unused for too long. More »
Tarmac Regulations May Be Extended To Cover International Flights
By Chris Morran on February 14, 2011 3:42 PM
27 Comments
Less than a year after the Dept. of Transportation introduced controversial regulations limiting the amount of time planes making domestic flights can sit on airport tarmacs, the agency is planning to expand those rules to cover overseas carriers that use American airports. More »
No Electronic Cigarettes Allowed On Flights, Rules The DOT
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 14, 2011 8:00 AM
120 Comments
Looks like cigarette smokers will have to keep furiously chewing nicotine gum on U.S. flights, as the Department of Transportation has said "nope, not gonna do it," to allowing smokeless electronic cigarettes on airplanes. More »
TSA Body Scanner Tracking Site Gets User-Friendly Makeover
By Ben Popken on February 9, 2011 12:00 PM
14 Comments
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 »
Courtesy Delta
Delta Installing More Comfortable (And More Expensive) Economy Seats
By Chris Morran on February 7, 2011 3:38 PM
84 Comments
For those who would be willing to pay a little more for a few inches of legroom but who don't want to pay for business- or first-class seats, Delta may have some good news for you. More »
100 Students Removed From Ryanair Flight Over Baggage Fee Fracas
By Chris Morran on February 7, 2011 2:17 PM
69 Comments
The scene of student revolt on a Ryanair plane was like something out of Berkeley in the '60s... Except it wasn't about the Vietnam war, it was about baggage fees. So okay, it wasn't exactly like Berkeley, but there were a bunch of pissed-off college students. More »
(balmes)
Would You Pay Extra For An Adult-Only Flight?
By Ben Popken on February 7, 2011 10:00 AM
286 Comments
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 »
(jdtornow)
Weather Beleagured Airports Give Priority To Fans Traveling To The Super Bowl
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 5, 2011 5:55 PM
37 Comments
If you've paid out a few grand in Super Bowl XLV tickets, airfare and hotel accommodations, you're probably going to be a bit grumpy if pesky weather conditions get in your way. In the face of snowy, icy conditions in the Dallas area Friday and this weekend, some airlines and airports are giving precedence to Packers and Steelers fans bound for the big game. More »
7 Airlines Offer Free Facebook Access This Month
By Phil Villarreal on February 3, 2011 2:30 PM
13 Comments
February is free Facebook access month for seven airlines, which will let passengers access the social networking site via Gogo Inflight Internet throughout February More »
TSA Testing Less-Revealing Full-Body Scanner Software
By Chris Morran on February 2, 2011 11:15 AM
83 Comments
If you're one of the many travelers who aren't exactly thrilled at the idea of having the intimate details of your anatomy displayed on a monitor at the airport security checkpoint, here's some promising news. The TSA is testing out an upgrade to some of its full-body scanners that could put an end to incidents like this or this. More »
How I Lost 90,000 United Miles
By Phil Villarreal on February 1, 2011 3:30 PM
41 Comments
Marissa says she booked a flight in 2008 before canceling and using the credit to try to buy another flight. But United said she'd waited too long to re-book the flight, so her sunk cost and frequent flyer miles are gone. More »
Tuesday And Wednesday Are Best Days To Buy Airfare, Smart Guys Say
By Ben Popken on February 1, 2011 3:00 PM
10 Comments
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 Ben Popken on January 31, 2011 9:26 PM
37 Comments
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 »
Thai Airline Hires Transsexual Flight Crew
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 31, 2011 10:15 AM
122 Comments
What do you do when you take a big step toward advancing equal rights? Congratulate yourself of course! The president of new Thai airline PC Air is justifiably proud and called himself a "pioneer" after hiring transsexuals as flight attendants. More »
Airline Bumps Us Off Flight, Doesn't Bother To Tell Other Airline
By Phil Villarreal on January 28, 2011 4:33 PM
69 Comments
Danielle said she and her friend were stuck in London without a flight back to Boston after their original flight was canceled. She said American Airlines, on which the original flight was scheduled, told them it booked them on a British Airways flight, but the latter airline said that wasn't the case. Danielle said AA wouldn't listen to her complaint. More »
Airport Introduces Hologram "Staff" Members
By Chris Morran on January 28, 2011 12:15 PM
20 Comments
Rather than just running a plain ol' video or audio loop instructing travelers on liquid restrictions and other topics, Manchester Airport in the UK has unveiled a pair of holograms it hopes will speed up the lines at the security checkpoints. More »
Know The Jargon To Get A Great Hotel Rate
By Ben Popken on January 24, 2011 10:00 AM
27 Comments
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 »
(afagen)
Marriott Bans Pay-Per-View Porn From New Hotels
By Marc Perton on January 21, 2011 11:15 AM
57 Comments
Business travelers looking for an expense-account friendly way to unwind after a hard day on the road may want to skip new Marriott hotels if their tastes turn to "sophisticated" entertainment. The chain has announced that the in-room entertainment systems in those hotels won't offer adult video-on-demand options. More »
(bigpresh)
Judge: It's Illegal For Ryanair To Charge For Printing Boarding Pass
By Chris Morran on January 18, 2011 11:20 AM
92 Comments
Notoriously cheap airline Ryanair currently charges customers €40 ($53) if they show up at the airport without having printed up their boarding pass. But a judge in Spain says this fee crosses the line from thrifty to illegal. More »
Airline Attendants Share How To Fight The Funk On Long-Haul Flights
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 17, 2011 11:00 AM
58 Comments
It's easy to feel a bit funky after a long flight. All that recycled air, lack of legroom and those six glasses of wine you downed to fight fear of flying can really take its toll. So who better to hand out tips on staying fresh on a long-haul flight than Air New Zealand flight attendants? More »
Jet Blue Pilot Misplaces His Bag With Handgun Before Flight
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 17, 2011 8:00 AM
42 Comments
Isn't it just sooo embarrassing when you lose your gun at the airport? It's even more cringe-worthy when you're an airline pilot. JetBlue pilot Michael Connery Jr., who is licensed by the Transportation Security Administration to tote guns on the plane, was in a bit of a jam when someone else picked up his carry-on at JFK. More »
What New Airline Fees Could Be On The Horizon?
By Chris Morran on January 13, 2011 1:30 PM
64 Comments
Parents of young children: Have your wee ones been getting a free ride on domestic flights by sitting on your lap? Well that luxury is just one of several things the airline industry is considering slapping a fee on in the near future. More »
(afagen)
Despite Busy Thanksgiving Holiday, Flights Departed On Time In November
By Chris Morran on January 12, 2011 2:40 PM
14 Comments
The Dept. of Transportation released its Air Travel Consumer Report for November 2010 yesterday, and for the first time since 2008, U.S. airports went two months in a row without a single plane being delayed on the tarmac for more than three hours. More »
Congratulations, Florida, You're The Only US State Without Snow
By Meg Marco on January 12, 2011 12:15 PM
57 Comments
After winter storms dumped a rare blanket of snow on the deep south only Florida managed to stay snow-free. Even Hawaii has some snow on the ground — Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea get snow all winter, says CNN. More »
TSA: Trying To Fool Scanners With Clever Clothes Will Just Lead To A Pat-Down
By Chris Morran on January 11, 2011 2:20 PM
119 Comments
You might remember our story from July on Flying Pasties, the stickers that purported to hide your private bits from airport scanners. Those are just one of many products released in recent months attempting to cash in on travelers' anti-scanner attitudes. However, the TSA has made it pretty clear that all you're really doing when you walk through security carrying or wearing one of these products is asking for a pat-down. More »
Update: Hotels.com Finally Issues Refund To Misinformed Customers
By Chris Morran on January 10, 2011 4:30 PM
21 Comments
You may remember the story from just after Christmas of the two Consumerist readers who weren't told their reservation on Hotels.com was non-refundable until after they'd requested a refund. After the story appeared here, it looks like the site saw the error of its ways and has refunded the money. More »
Cut Your Hotel Bill By Starting A Bidding War
By Meg Marco on January 6, 2011 2:30 PM
37 Comments
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 »
Expedia Pulls American Airlines Listings From Site
By Chris Morran on January 1, 2011 2:56 PM
75 Comments
Expedia.com has wasted no time in picking the first travel industry fight of 2011. Less than two weeks after American Airlines parted ways with Orbitz.com, Expedia has made its stance clear by removing all American listings from its pages. More »
Mom Threatened With Being Booted From Plane For Using Baby Seat
By Chris Morran on December 30, 2010 10:15 AM
135 Comments
The mother of a one-year-old baby girl says she was threatened with being ejected from a SkyWest flight when she tried to convince flight attendants that her child's car seat was acceptable for use on the plane. More »
Hotels.com CSR Doesn't Tell Us Room Is Non-Refundable Until After We Request Refund
By Chris Morran on December 29, 2010 3:20 PM
49 Comments
Kate and her friend Crystal recently tried to book a weekend getaway to New York City. They found cheap airfare on JetBlue and a customer service rep at Hotels.com was nice enough to book their hotel room for them over the phone. All was going well until the women needed to cancel their trip. That's when Hotels.com finally told them what they should have been told in the first place — that their hotel did not offer refunds. More »
Delta Pulls Listings From Three Travel Sites
By Chris Morran on December 29, 2010 11:30 AM
43 Comments
Things are starting to get ugly in the battle between airlines and travel-booking websites. Less than one week after American Airlines pulled its listings from Orbitz.com, Delta has announced its flights will no longer be listed on three other sites. More »
(Alisa)
Delta Lost My Dog, Too
By Phil Villarreal on December 23, 2010 3:45 PM
82 Comments
Alisa tried to fly two dogs from San Diego to Atlanta, with the intent of continuing on to Germany, where she's moving with her husband. She says Nala, a German Shepherd who is pictured here, is on the loose thanks to Delta's mistakes in corralling the pooch. The airline says it's in touch with Alisa and is doing "everything we can" to help her find the dog. More »
Terrorists Beware: Toledo Express Airport Gets A Full-Body Scanner
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 20, 2010 2:00 PM
55 Comments
'Tis the season to give, and it seems Toledo Express Airport in Ohio is the newest recipient of some fancy holiday largess: This week it was announced that the regional airport, boasting five departing flights per day, will receive a full-body scanner. Our tax dollars at work! More »
Eagle-Eyed TSA Screeners Don't Notice Loaded Handgun In Man's Carry-On
By Chris Morran on December 17, 2010 1:00 PM
130 Comments
If you thought the TSA's inability to notice a 6-inch hunting knife was a sign that airport screeners might as well be watching Spongebob instead of X-raying you and your stuff, here's further proof. More »
Is It OK To Give Flight Attendants Gifts On Christmas?
By Phil Villarreal on December 15, 2010 1:20 PM
127 Comments
Anna booked a Christmas flight, and perhaps feeling a little guilty, she wants to show the flight attendants some love by providing some token gifts. More »
Travel The Globe For Less Than $418, Sorta
By Phil Villarreal on December 13, 2010 4:30 PM
35 Comments
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 »
(Ben Zvan)
Oops! I Made It Past The TSA Screeners With A 6-Inch Hunting Knife
By Chris Morran on December 8, 2010 2:20 PM
132 Comments
While the TSA is busy rolling out full-body scanners and grope-y pat-down procedures, the agency still hasn't managed to actually stop people from slipping onto airplanes with deadly weapons. More »
Ways Hotels Try To Bilk You For Extra Money
By Phil Villarreal on December 6, 2010 3:20 PM
92 Comments
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 »
Free iPad Apps To Ease Your Travels
By Phil Villarreal on December 6, 2010 1:20 PM
13 Comments
When you're on the road in unfamiliar surroundings, wouldn't it be nice to have a little travel elf at your side to point you in the right direction and help you get the most out of your sojourn? If you've got an iPad, you own the next best thing to a travel elf, and it won't even object when you shove it into your suitcase. More »
Sen. Schumer Proposes Law Against Saving Full-Body Scans
By Chris Morran on December 6, 2010 11:22 AM
59 Comments
While the Transportation Safety Administration and the makers of the controversial full-body scanners swear up and down that the machines don't save the rather revealing images they snap of screened travelers, New York Senator Chuck Schumer wants to go one step further and make it a crime to distribute or save the images. More »
Hotel Desk Guy Won't Let My Wife Use The Bathroom
By Phil Villarreal on December 1, 2010 11:20 AM
193 Comments
Matt and his wife got into a power struggle with a hotel desk clerk at a Howard Johnson who refused to allow a non-employee to use a hotel bathroom. The couple ended up storming off and HoJo kept their money. More »
Southwest, JetBlue Fly High In Zagat Airline Survey
By Chris Morran on November 30, 2010 1:40 PM
17 Comments
For the 20th year in a row, the people at Zagat have done a survey of passengers on the major domestic and international airlines. And by the looks of it, travelers are much more pleased with the likes of Southwest, JetBlue and Virgin than they are the old-timers like United, Delta and American. More »
How To Survive While Traveling In Packs
By Phil Villarreal on November 29, 2010 1:30 PM
41 Comments
It can seem like a great idea to gather a group of friends and family members for a mass migration during the holidays, but unforeseen complications tend to crop up when you bunch together various groups of people with different routines, financial resources and quirks. More »
Are TSA Scanners Likely To Cause Cancer In Travelers?
By Phil Villarreal on November 24, 2010 9:45 AM
115 Comments
A Columbia University radiation expert says the Transportation Security Administration's airport body scans are "likely" to cause cancer in some passengers. The expert also said Department of Homeland Security-commissioned research, which found that the exposure to radiation is minimal, is suspect because it has not been peer reviewed. More »
(afagen)
Body Found Outside Boston May Have Fallen From Plane
By Meg Marco on November 23, 2010 4:45 PM
54 Comments
Reuters says police are investigating the possibility that the body of a 16-year-old North Carolina high school student fell from a plane approaching Logan Airport. So far, they have been unable to explain why the boy, who ran away from home, would have been found dead in Milton, MA. More »
TSA Head Apologizes To Traveler Whose Bladder Bag Burst During Pat-Down
By Chris Morran on November 23, 2010 1:32 PM
63 Comments
Yesterday, the TSA got yet another public-relations black eye when a man in Michigan said airport screeners in Detroit refused to listen to him about his medical condition and accidentally ruptured a bag full of urine under his clothes. More »
The 10 Busiest & Least Busy Airports This Thanksgiving
By Chris Morran on November 23, 2010 11:54 AM
38 Comments
For many people, Thanksgiving means going to visit your family. If you're lucky, they're within a couple hours' drive or train ride. But for the rest of us, it means trekking to the airport, waiting in line, praying you don't have to deal with a full-body scanner or a pat-down, and then hoping you can still make it to your gate in time. And depending on which airports you're flying in and out of this weekend, you could be in for a very long wait. More »
(e.teel)
Dutch Seek To End 'Drug Tourism'
By Chris Morran on November 19, 2010 4:33 PM
66 Comments
For those of you who thought it might be worth it to be screened and patted-down by the TSA for your trip to the Netherlands, just so long as you could sit in a "coffee shop" and get stoned without threat of a legal hassle, here's some bad news. In an effort to curb so-called "drug tourism," the Dutch government is looking to limit the sale of cannabis to residents only. More »
(JohnKit)
UPDATE: TSA Says Pilots Can Skip Scanners & Pat-Downs
By Chris Morran on November 19, 2010 4:08 PM
95 Comments
Earlier today, TSA chief John Pistole hinted on Good Morning America that airline pilots might soon be able to skirt the agency's stricter screening procedures. Now one of the unions that had recently told pilots to refuse being scanned says a deal has actually been reached. More »
Cancer Survivor Flight Attendant Forced To Show Prosthetic Breast During TSA Pat-Down
By Chris Morran on November 19, 2010 3:20 PM
173 Comments
After 32 years on the job as a flight attendant, not to mention being a breast cancer survivor, a North Carolina woman says airport screeners went too far when they told her to remove her prosthetic breast during a recent pat-down. More »
Pilots Might Soon Get A Pass On Stricter Security Measures
By Chris Morran on November 19, 2010 12:20 PM
82 Comments
As we wrote last week, two of the nation's largest airline pilots unions had recently told their members to refuse full-body scanners at airport security, arguing that pilots have already undergone rigorous background checks before getting their jobs. Now the head of the TSA says their could soon be a rule change that would treat pilots differently than passengers. More »
Airports Looking To Replace TSA Screeners With Contractors
By Chris Morran on November 18, 2010 1:20 PM
130 Comments
In case you hadn't heard, there's been a slight bit of public push-back to the TSA's increased use of full-body scanners and invasive pat-downs at security checkpoints. And at least one airport in Florida is telling the TSA "no thanks," opting to use a private contractor instead. More »
TSA Frisks Screaming 3-Year-Old To Confirm She's Not The Littlest Terrorist
By Phil Villarreal on November 18, 2010 9:15 AM
152 Comments
It's embarrassing and totally politically incorrect, but you have to admit you've done it. You're seated on a flight, start looking around, and your gaze stops at the 3-year-olds you come across, wondering whether or not they're potential hijackers. But fear not, concerned travelers. The Transportation Security Administration has got your back, demonstrating it's fully capable of giving pre-schoolers vigorous pat-downs to ensure they're not packing any WMDs underneath their pull-ups. More »
Group Of Reddit Editors Make Public Stand Against Grabby TSA Pat-Downs & Revealing Full-Body Scanners
By Chris Morran on November 17, 2010 5:18 PM
105 Comments
There are few sites on the internet more tapped into the zeitgeist than the hive mind over at Reddit. So it should come as little surprise to those familiar with Reddit that a group of the site's editors — or Redditors — have banded together to create a forum for those who feel less than enthusiastic about the TSA's roll-out of full-body scanners and its "enhanced" pat-down procedures. More »
TSA Chief Admits The New Pat-Downs Are 'More Invasive'
By Chris Morran on November 17, 2010 12:26 PM
156 Comments
For the second day in a row, TSA head Jon Pistole was testifying before Senate about the recent negative attention that the agency's full-body scanners and 'enhanced' pat-downs have received. And Pistole admitted that the newer, hands-on procedure is more touchy-feely than it had been previously. More »
To Get Booted From Flight, Tell Security Guard 'You Touch My Junk And I'm Going To Have You Arrested'
By Phil Villarreal on November 15, 2010 9:15 AM
300 Comments
A California man was surprised to see full-body scanners at the San Diego airport after checking the TSA's website to make sure he wouldn't be subjected to them. Suspecting there might be trouble if he refused the scanner, the man turned his cellphone's video recorder on and put it on top of his luggage. What happened next was all caught on video... well... audio... More »
Stranded Carnival Cruise Ship Finally Reaches Port
By Chris Morran on November 11, 2010 11:51 AM
52 Comments
After several days without power, phones, air-conditioning or hot water, the 3,300 passengers and more than 1,000 crew members on board the Carnival Splendor finally reached land in San Diego on Thursday morning. More »
Unions Tell Pilots To Just Say No To Full-Body Scanners
By Chris Morran on November 11, 2010 10:53 AM
73 Comments
Only weeks after an ExpressJet pilot refused to submit to either a full-body scan or a pat-down, unions representing the pilots at U.S. Airways and American Airlines have advised their members to not submit to the revealing scans. More »
(afagen)
Stranded Carnival Passengers Won't Reach Land Until Thursday
By Chris Morran on November 10, 2010 10:21 AM
69 Comments
Yesterday we told you about the 3,300 passengers stranded off the coast of Mexico in a Carnival Cruise ship left without power following a fire in the engine room. Originally, the cruise line had hoped to have the boat towed back to port by yesterday afternoon. Well, that plan didn't work out. More »
(afagen)
Carnival Cruise Ship Stranded Off Mexico Coast After Fire
By Chris Morran on November 9, 2010 11:50 AM
82 Comments
Like something from a '70s disaster movie, 3,300 passengers on board the Carnival Splendor found themselves stuck out to sea off the coast of Mexico after a fire in the engine room. More »
(balmes)
U.S. Airways' "Commitment To Excellence" Has Nothing To Do With Your Customer Service Problem
By Chris Morran on November 5, 2010 2:23 PM
51 Comments
Many of us are continually finding ourselves trapped in Byzantine mazes of bad customer service, where we keep ending up in the same dead-ends with the same undesirable options. And if you dare question the company about its public declarations of quality service and the like, you're likely to be told that such claims don't apply to your situation. More »
Two Airlines Ground Airbus A380s After Qantas Engine Explosion
By Chris Morran on November 4, 2010 11:28 AM
49 Comments
After what Australian airline Qantas calls a "significant engine failure" during a flight from Singapore to Sydney, both it and Singapore Airlines have temporarily grounded their fleets of Airbus A380 jumbo jets. More »
(afagen)
Priceline Restores Insanity, Moves Hotel Reservation To Different City
By Laura Northrup on November 4, 2010 10:30 AM
119 Comments
Priceline has a very different understanding of what a "hotel reservation" is than Shane does. He and his wife and children planned to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C. to attend this past weekend's Rally To Restore Sanity And/or Fear put on by comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. They reserved a hotel room in a close suburb, near a Metro station, correctly assuming that traffic would make driving into the city a bad idea. More »
Look Out For Hidden Resort Fees When Booking Rooms
By Phil Villarreal on November 3, 2010 2:40 PM
55 Comments
Kevin is annoyed that Priceline's "Name Your Price" feature fails to take resort fees into account. In his case, such extra charges tacked on $19 a night to the $45 he agreed to pay for his room. More »
American And Delta Too Busy To Tag Your Bags, Want You To Do It Yourself
By Chris Morran on November 3, 2010 11:40 AM
50 Comments
Thought there wasn't much more the airlines could fob off on the customer? You were wrong. Apparently, the employees at American and Delta are so slow at tagging your checked bags that the airlines think you'd do it better yourself. More »
Travel When Others Don't To Save Big
By Phil Villarreal on October 31, 2010 1:30 PM
58 Comments
It pays to be original when dreaming up your vacation plans, because if everyone else has the same idea as you, you're sure to be paying the highest rates possible for travel, accommodations and attractions. More »
(John Kit)
Score Better Seats For Holiday Travel
By Chris Morran on October 28, 2010 2:15 PM
27 Comments
Oftentimes, just booking a flight during the holidays is enough to give you the blues. So why not try to make your trip as comfortable as possible by making sure you get a decent seat? More »
AirTran Forgets To Tell Your Disabled Mom That Her Tickets Are Standby
By Laura Northrup on October 27, 2010 8:00 AM
100 Comments
Kym's disabled mother was going to move in with her a few weeks ago. She purchased tickets for her mother and four nieces to fly to Kym's city from a major hub airport about two hours away from their town. Instead of getting on their flight, the family ended up stuck in the airport for six hours, then had to hire a car service to drive them back home. What happened? Garden-variety airline delay? No, Kym writes: AAA sold her sister standby tickets without letting her know. The stress of the experience has affected Kym's mother so much that she still hasn't been able to make the flight. More »
(SA_Steve)
Why Your Flight Attendant Hates You
By Chris Morran on October 26, 2010 11:30 AM
175 Comments
Ever wonder what could drive a flight attendant to curse passengers out, pop open the emergency slide and go for a ride? Well, even if you hadn't, the good people at Reader's Digest asked a bunch of flight attendants what sort of behaviors really get under their skin. More »
A First-Hand Account Of A TSA Pat-Down
By Chris Morran on October 22, 2010 12:15 PM
72 Comments
While that ExpressJet pilot in Memphis was refusing to be scanned or pat down by TSA screeners, travel writer Julia Buckley was busy detailing her adventures with both security procedures for Jaunted.com. More »
20 People Die In Plane Crash Caused By Loose Crocodile
By Laura Northrup on October 22, 2010 8:00 AM
43 Comments
An August plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo was blamed on a balance in the small aircraft. But what caused that loss of balance? According to the flight's only survivor, the passengers were running away from a stowaway on the flight: a live crocodile. More »
TSA Disputes "No Scanner For Me" Pilot's Description Of Pat-Down
By Chris Morran on October 21, 2010 2:45 PM
54 Comments
Yesterday we brought you the story of the ExpressJet pilot who refused to go through a full-body scanner or submit to a pat-down at Memphis International Airport. Now the TSA is saying that the pilot's characterization of the pat-down isn't accurate. More »
(afagen)
Is Spirit Airlines' Refund Policy Heartless?
By Chris Morran on October 21, 2010 12:45 PM
86 Comments
We recently received two very different stories of people who had booked tickets on discount carrier Spirit Airlines. One involves a terrible family tragedy and the other occurred when a fading formality turned into a red tape nightmare, but in the end they both ended up facing the stone-faced (and possibly stone-hearted) Spirit refund policy. More »
Airlines Want Air Marshals To Stop Flying First Class
By Chris Morran on October 19, 2010 11:34 AM
91 Comments
The airlines are fed up with with seeing armed air marshals taking up free seats in first class. A trade group representing the major U.S. carriers has asked the Federal Air Marshals Service to consider putting their agents in coach. More »
Pilots Confess: We're Tired, Hungry & Just As Confused As You
By Chris Morran on October 18, 2010 2:14 PM
49 Comments
For many of us who travel on planes, believing the pilots are well-fed and rested is a necessity. But according to some of the industry secrets that airline pilots have divulged to the editors of Reader's Digest, the men and women behind the controls are — for better or worse — just like the rest of us. More »
Southwest Damages Suitcase, Not As Awesome As Everyone Claims
By Laura Northrup on October 14, 2010 9:00 AM
75 Comments
Sure, you don't have to pay to check your luggage on Southwest. Tara tells Consumerist that after her new suitcase was stained and broken while in Southwest's hands, and she'd rather pay to check a bag that survives the trip intact. The airline says it's their policy not to repair or replace suitcases damaged in transit. They've offered her a $100 voucher for future flights. Tara, who tried Southwest based on positive comments from Consumerist readers, isn't interested in flying with them again. More »
(Tha_Sco)
For Your Next Vacation, Try Norwegian's Exciting All-Upsell Cruise
By Laura Northrup on October 13, 2010 11:15 AM
88 Comments
Jarrod tells Consumerist that his father-in-law recently traveled to Alaska with Norwegian Cruise Line. His biggest gripe was that everything a passenger could do on board, including purchases in the gift shop, carried an automatic 18% gratuity. This would be acceptable if the service were good enough to justify a tip at all. But Jarrod notes, "[Room stewards] knew they were getting an automatic 18%, so why work for it?" More »
PETA Ad Nixed By Airports & In-Flight Magazines
By Chris Morran on October 12, 2010 1:50 PM
95 Comments
On the heels of Scottevest CEO Scott Jordan's rant about Delta denying his ad in their in-flight literature comes news that PETA is having trouble finding airline magazines and airports that will run the ad seen here. More »
Bob Saget Disapproves Of Your Parenting Techniques
By Chris Morran on October 12, 2010 12:38 PM
141 Comments
Leave it to former sitcom dad Bob Saget to give air travelers even more of a reason to demand a families-only section of the airplane. More »
(afagen)
Carnival Cruise Line Now Charging Fee For Good Steak
By Chris Morran on October 6, 2010 3:15 PM
69 Comments
There once was a time where the price of a ticket on a cruise ship included on-board food. Eventually, cruise operators began adding specialty restaurants, where passengers paid more for foods not on the menu in the main restaurant. And then in 2008 we brought you the story about Royal Caribbean charging passengers a $14.95 surcharge for an "organic" NY strip steak that may not have been organic after all. Now comes a report that Carnival Cruise Line thinks its best steak and lobster dishes merit an $18 fee. More »
(balmes)
U.S. Airways Gives Employees Misinformation About 'Mad As Hell' Petition
By Chris Morran on October 4, 2010 11:53 AM
27 Comments
In September, a combination of advocacy groups banded together to launch the Mad As Hell petition in an effort to alert regulators about consumers' dissatisfaction with the trend of charging fees for just about everything that used to be included in the price of an airline ticket. But if you ask U.S. Airways, they'll say it's the people that they hint may be behind the petition who are really the greedy ones. More »
Passengers Forced To Stand During Flight Because There Weren't Enough Seats
By Chris Morran on October 1, 2010 4:39 PM
50 Comments
While airlines like RyanAir mull over "standing-room seating" and designers create plane seats that will bring tears to your eyes, one airline in Russia figured out how to get passengers to stand up during a flight — just tell them to. More »
Continental & United Make Their Union Official
By Chris Morran on October 1, 2010 11:51 AM
15 Comments
Just two weeks after shareholders for both United and Continental Airlines gave their blessing, the two carriers snuck off to city hall this morning to officially say "I do" so they can get around to screwing... up the airline industry. More »
(Packmatt)
Priceline Promised No "Young Renter Fee," But Avis Says Pay Up
By Chris Walters on September 29, 2010 11:30 AM
43 Comments
When Lauren reserved a car rental through Priceline last week, she checked out the fine print to see if she'd have to pay any age-related extra fees, and according to Priceline what she bid would be the total price. Now Avis is telling her Priceline is wrong and she'll have to come up with more money at the rental counter. More »
How Do Airlines Compare On Fees?
By Chris Walters on September 27, 2010 9:00 AM
7 Comments
It's hard to keep track of all the extra fees airlines have invented to pad a ticket purchase, especially since they keep introducing new ones; USA TODAY says revenue from added fees have jumped nearly 16% from a year ago. The newspaper reviewed fees from 13 airlines in the U.S. and compiled this handy reference chart of current fee schedules, to make comparison shopping a little bit easier. As expected, Southwest continues to be one of the best values. More »
(Marike79)
Continental Sorta-Apologizes For Not Allowing Service Dog On Flight
By Phil Villarreal on September 24, 2010 3:30 PM
47 Comments
Last month, Continental wouldn't let Jessica bring her service dog on a flight because a ticket agent thought she was pulling one over on the airline. Now Continental has finally responded to Jessica's complaint. She said the company is admitting partial fault in the dust-up, writing the agent's "failure to provide you with the correct information would be considered a violation of federal disability law." More »
US Airways: Sorry Your Sister Is Gravely Ill. $30 To Sit Together, Please.
By Laura Northrup on September 24, 2010 9:00 AM
81 Comments
Bernadette writes that when sister-in-law was gravely ill on the other side of the country, her husband booked an expensive last-minute flight to bring her back to the East Coast. He was alarmed to learn that U.S. Airways couldn't guarantee that he and his sister would sit together on the flight from California to New Jersey...unless he paid an extra $15 "choice seating" fee on each ticket. It's a relatively small amount of money, but the family found it heartless under the circumstances. More »
Holiday Inn Manager: If You Book Through Priceline, You're A "Bad Customer"
By Laura Northrup on September 24, 2010 8:00 AM
123 Comments
Discount travel websites can provide amazing discounts, but can also make you a second-class consumer of sorts—particularly in hotels. Jesse learned this the hard way when he booked a stay at a Holiday Inn in a major American city. He tells Consumerist that he reserved his room through Priceline, and called the hotel to make sure that his reservation would include two double beds for the four people traveling. He checked in to find a single queen bed in the room. His mistake? According to the hotel manager, being a "bad customer" who booked through a third-party site. More »
(Yandle)
Executive E-Mail Carpet Bomb Resolves Travelocity Error, Preserves Awesome Price
By Laura Northrup on September 23, 2010 10:30 AM
2 Comments
Gail writes that when things went awry with her hotel and car package reservation on Travelocity, regular customer service wasn't able to resolve the error. Representatives told her to give up and reserve them separately, or to leave Travelocity staff alone and use another service. As a Consumerist reader and loyal Travelocity customer, she knew that she deserved better. She found an e-mail for the company's VP of Sales and Customer Care, which didn't get her the package deal she wanted—she got her hotel stay for free instead.. More »
Couple: Negative TripAdvisor Review Get Us Tossed From Hotel
By Chris Morran on September 21, 2010 10:00 AM
67 Comments
A pair of vacationers in the UK say they recently got the boot from a hotel in the seaside town of Blackpool after the manager accused them of writing a negative review on travel site TripAdvisor.com. More »
Passenger Spews On Greyhound, No One Mops It Up
By Phil Villarreal on September 20, 2010 3:30 PM
83 Comments
Anyone who has taken the bus cross-country has some kind of unsavory story, but Angela's got something that hopefully tops anything you've experienced. While riding on a Greyhound from Atlantic City to the New York Port Authority, someone yacked all over the floor and no one cleaned it up. More »
Advice For Holiday Travelers This Year: Buy Your Tickets Now
By Chris Walters on September 20, 2010 12:30 PM
23 Comments
CNN's Travel Companion suggests you start looking for Thanksgiving and Christmas tickets now, because airlines have cut capacity over last year, and the peak travel times for those two holidays are shorter this year than usual. The article also provide some tips for getting a good price: shop for single seats; aim for Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday flights; and if you can, try to fly on an actual holiday. More »
Updated List Of Airports With Full-Body Scanners
By Chris Morran on September 17, 2010 2:15 PM
93 Comments
Just in case you had thought/hoped/prayed that the use of full-body scanners at airports was going to be a passing fad, you should know that the devices continue to sprout up at security checkpoints everywhere. In just the last few months, seven more airports have joined the roster. More »
I Don't Care Who Screwed Up My Flight Plans, I Just Want My Money Back
By Laura Northrup on September 16, 2010 12:30 PM
48 Comments
Rick writes that he booked flights for a family trip using Expedia. Due to an apparent mistake at Delta Airlines, his ticket and his wife's were canceled out from under them for the first leg of their trip, but their daughter's wasn't. Rick has been pursuing a refund for the last-minute tickets he had to buy, but no one seems to know who should be issuing that refund. More »
(dougtone)
Lost Megabus Driver Crashes Into Bridge While Checking GPS; Four Passengers Killed
By Laura Northrup on September 16, 2010 9:30 AM
92 Comments
Very early Saturday morning, a double-decker Megabus lost on its way to the bus station crashed into a low railroad overpass (pictured) outside of Syracuse, NY. Four passengers were killed, and twenty people injured, including the driver. Now, the public has learned that the driver was looking at his personal GPS unit at the time of the accident—which Megabus drivers are not permitted to use while driving for work. More »
Even Steve Jobs Can't Bring Throwing Stars On Airplanes
By Phil Villarreal on September 15, 2010 9:15 AM
37 Comments
Providing further proof that he's part of an international ninja assassin squad made up of CEOs, Steve Jobs was reportedly detained at a Japanese airport for carrying a throwing star. More »
U.S. Airways Threw Us Out Of Line For Our Flight, Wrongly Says We Were Too Late
By Phil Villarreal on September 14, 2010 1:30 PM
63 Comments
David and his wife weren't allowed to board a connecting flight and had to wait several hours for another flight without compensation. U.S. Airways told them they checked in too late, but David is adamant that they were there in time. More »
(jayRaz)
Homeland Security Wants To Look Deep Into Your Eyes... To Scan Them For Their Records
By Chris Morran on September 13, 2010 10:15 AM
33 Comments
Screw fingerprints. That's so 2009. That's the attitude the Homeland Security Dept. is taking in Mexico, where it will be testing out a new iris-scanning technology that it claims is faster than old-fashioned fingerprinting. More »
Meet The Airline Seat That Will Destroy Your Crotch
By Chris Morran on September 10, 2010 1:45 PM
160 Comments
Though most airline manufacturers and insiders have scoffed at the idea of "standing room" seats on jets, someone has come up with an airplane chair that is simultaneously more feasible and more uncomfortable. Meet the crotch-crushing SkyRider! More »
Pregnant Traveler: TSA Screeners Bullied Me Into Full-Body Scan
By Chris Morran on September 9, 2010 1:15 PM
223 Comments
Pregnant Consumerist reader Mary was recently going through the security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. When she realized that she would be going through a full-body scanner, she told the screeners she wanted to exercise her right to a pat-down — even if it meant experiencing the TSA's new, icky "enhanced" pat-down. But instead of the screeners doing as she requested, Mary claims they proceeded to bully her into the scanner. More »
Hyatt Charges Asthmatic Woman $250 For Smoking, Says It Has Secret Photos
By Chris Walters on September 8, 2010 11:30 AM
114 Comments
A woman who stayed at a Hyatt in Milwaukee last month was hit with an extra $250 charge for smoking in her room. The problem, she says, is that she has severe asthma—she offered to show Hyatt her prescriptions—and is not a smoker. When she complained to Hyatt, the hotel's director of operations told her "the Hyatt had photographic evidence of smoking in the room and would absolutely not refund her money." More »
Airport Body Scanners May Replace Your Naked Body With A Generic Avatar, Eventually
By Chris Walters on September 8, 2010 10:30 AM
35 Comments
Bloomberg reports that one of the big companies behind airport full-body scanners has released a software update that replaces your misshapen nakedness with a generically proportioned, nondescript avatar. The software then indicates on the avatar where you should be searched. More »
Ryanair's Newest Cost Cutting Idea: Remove Second Pilot
By Chris Walters on September 7, 2010 11:30 AM
93 Comments
Did Ryanair's publicity-chasing CEO Michael O'Leary read about that American Airlines flight back in June? In a recent interview, he suggested that one way to reduce costs would be to get rid of the second pilot and just make sure every flight has a flight attendant with a pilot's license. More »
DOT Updates 'Fly Rights' Airline Consumer Guide
By Chris Walters on September 7, 2010 9:00 AM
7 Comments
The Department of Transportation has updated its consumer guide to air travel, which provides a quick summary of what to look for when buying a ticket, and what protections you have during travel. It's also a good starting point when you have an airline-related problem and need more information before deciding what to do next. More »
Dollar Charges Us Twice For Car Rental -- How Do We Get Our Money Back?
By Phil Villarreal on September 3, 2010 2:30 PM
36 Comments
Joe and his girlfriend endured a confusing turn of events at a Dollar rental car kiosk that ended up in them being charged twice what they were quoted on Expedia. Stuck in a corner without other realistic options, they paid the inflated price and are now looking for a way to get their money back. More »
(bigpresh)
Ryanair Flight Forced To Make Emergency Landing Over Spilled Tea
By Chris Morran on September 2, 2010 1:40 PM
27 Comments
Perhaps the flight attendants at cheapo airline Ryanair could take a lesson from that Wendy's training video about how to serve hot beverages; one of their planes was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday after a passenger scalded herself with some spilled tea. More »
Have Travelers Lost Their Manners?
By Chris Morran on September 1, 2010 1:15 PM
163 Comments
One need look no further than the public reaction to slide-jumping JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater to see just how many people sympathize with his reaction to a customer who allegedly cursed him out and hit him with a carry-on. So it brings up the question — have we forgotten how to behave in a civilized manner when it comes to traveling? More »
Man Caught Trying To Sneak 97 M-Fing Snakes On This M-Fing Plane
By Chris Morran on September 1, 2010 11:15 AM
27 Comments
It's been leading up to this all summer... First, there was the idiot caught with 18 monkeys under his shirt at an airport in Mexico. Then, animal smuggling got cute and cuddly when a woman in Thailand was snagged hiding a tiger cub in her suitcase. And now internet meme has become reality as one of the world's most wanted wildlife smugglers gets arrested in Malaysia with nearly 100 endangered snakes in his luggage. More »
JetBlue CEO: Slide-Jumping Flight Attendant 'Not A Hero In My Book'
By Chris Morran on August 31, 2010 12:15 PM
64 Comments
Three weeks after JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater earned his 15 minutes of fame by freaking out and taking an unscheduled trip down the jet's emergency exit slide, the airline's CEO Dave Barger is finally speaking out on the incident. Let's just say he won't be watching Slater's reality show. More »
Calorie Count Rules Coming To Theaters, Airplanes, Convenience Stores, Supermarket Food Courts
By Chris Walters on August 31, 2010 8:00 AM
58 Comments
The FDA says the law that requires restaurant chains with more than 20 locations to post calorie counts also applies to other types of businesses, reports the Wall Street Journal. Specifically, movie theaters, airplanes, trains, food courts in grocery stores, and convenience stores are all considered chains and will soon have to start following the law. The agency hasn't made up its mind yet whether things like salad bars in grocery stores will have to fall in line. The FDA will announce official guidelines in December. More »
TSA's "Enhanced" Pat-Down Procedure Lets Their Fingers Do The Searching
By Chris Morran on August 30, 2010 4:15 PM
187 Comments
In an effort to make air travel safer but less appealing, the TSA has begun using an "enhanced" pat-down procedure for those who would rather not subject themselves to a full-body scan. And if you're a fan of having strangers touch you all over, then you should just get straight in line for this one. More »
(cote)
Be Sure To Confirm Age Requirements Before Buying Airline Tickets For Kids
By Chris Walters on August 30, 2010 9:30 AM
28 Comments
A man in California ended up fighting with Expedia over compensation after his kids, ages 12 and 16, were left stranded overnight in a Virginia airport, because the airline wouldn't let them board the connecting flight without being accompanied by someone 18 or older. The man told Expedia the kids' ages before buying the tickets but the company's system didn't send up any red flags, so he thought the trip would be fine. More »
Justice Dept. Clears Way For Continental-United Merger
By Chris Morran on August 30, 2010 5:24 AM
28 Comments
The marriage between Continental and United Airlines got one huge step closer to happening on Friday when investigators at the Justice Department wrapped up their four-month inquiry into the merger and offered its blessing. More »
Airline: Please Disregard That Last "We're Going To Crash" Announcement
By Chris Morran on August 27, 2010 2:00 PM
56 Comments
So you're flying several thousand feet above the North Sea when you hear a voice over the intercom say, "This is an emergency announcement... We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water." That's what happened to 275 passengers on a British Airways flight from London to Hong Kong earlier this week. But there's a semi-happy ending — the announcement was a mistake. More »
Airport Security Discovers Real Tiger Cub Among Toy Tiger Dolls In Suitcase
By Chris Morran on August 27, 2010 1:15 PM
39 Comments
When security workers at a Bangkok airport thought they'd spotted a real cat hidden among the plush toys of a passenger's suitcase, they were right... in a big way. That feline was more than your garden variety house cat; it was a 2-month-old tiger cub. More »
How Would You Penalize The Airlines For Safety Violations?
By Chris Morran on August 27, 2010 10:15 AM
98 Comments
Yesterday, when we posted about the record-setting $24 million penalty the FAA gave to American Airlines over allegations the carrier flew thousands of flights in planes with potentially dangerous wiring, some Consumerist readers expressed the sentiment that the massive fine was either ineffective in properly punishing AA or that it did little to make air travel better for passengers. More »
(balmes)
JetBlue Passengers Try Out The Emergency Slide After Plane's Tires Catch Fire During Landing
By Chris Morran on August 27, 2010 6:17 AM
45 Comments
The passengers on board a flight from Long Beach, CA, to Sacramento got to live out their irate JetBlue flight attendant fantasies yesterday by taking a ride down a jet's emergency exit slide. But it probably wasn't as fun as one might expect since the plane's tires had just caught fire while making a hard landing. More »
(balmes)
American Airlines Hit With Record-Setting $24 Million Fine
By Chris Morran on August 26, 2010 3:26 PM
57 Comments
Back in February, we wrote that American Airlines could be on the hook for up to $20 million over allegations the airlines made thousands of flights in jets containing potentially dangerous wiring. But the FAA went even farther than that figure, announcing today that it plans to fine American $24.2 million, more than double the amount of the previous record fine. More »
American Airlines: Passengers Are Happier When We Apologize For Screw-Ups Than When Things Go As Planned
By Chris Morran on August 25, 2010 2:15 PM
46 Comments
Think about the all the flights you've taken in your life. Which ones are most memorable — The ones where you took off on time and landed as scheduled, or the ones where you slept at the gate while waiting 10 hours before having to make an unscheduled pit stop in Ireland for refueling? And according to an executive at American Airlines, customers are happier when a bad situation ends well than they are when things go as planned. More »
Should There Be A Families-Only Section On Planes?
By Chris Morran on August 25, 2010 12:15 PM
302 Comments
Who among us hasn't been trapped on an airplane with a howling baby or a loudmouth 4-year-old who thinks the plane is his playground? So maybe it won't come as a surprise to you that a new survey says most travelers would be just fine and/or dandy with having a families-only section on flights. More »
Holiday Inn Will Pay Your Baggage Fees If You Stay With Them
By Chris Morran on August 24, 2010 12:15 PM
20 Comments
In an attempt to alleviate the annoyance of checked baggage fees, all while drumming up some business, Holiday Inn — along with other IHG-brand hotels — will pay up to $50 of your fees if you book a weekend stay with your Visa card. More »
TSA Screeners Check Luggage, Investigate Your Marriage & Personal Finances
By Chris Morran on August 19, 2010 12:45 PM
164 Comments
You have to hand it to the TSA screeners at Philadelphia International Airport. Not only will they look through your stuff to make sure you're not going to go all explosiony on the plane, they'll also bring in the cops to call your husband to double check you haven't embezzled money from him. More »
American Airlines To Charge Extra For Seats Closest To Exit
By Meg Marco on August 18, 2010 2:30 PM
83 Comments
In a move that's sure to screw cast members of The Amazing Race, American Airlines is now charging extra for seats that are closer to the exits. They're calling this money grab "express seating." More »
Southwest Flight Attendant Takes Screaming Baby From Arguing Parents
By Laura Northrup on August 18, 2010 7:17 AM
129 Comments
What, exactly, happened on a recent Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas to Albuquerque? Did a thoughtful flight attendant give a restless baby a change of scenery while her parents argued, or was the airline employee out of line to remove a screaming child from her parents and notify police on the ground of a suspected abuse case? Even those who were on the plane aren't sure. More »
Airport Security Supervisor Pleads Guilty To Stealing $20K Worth Of Stuff From Luggage
By Chris Morran on August 17, 2010 12:15 PM
55 Comments
It's bad enough that airlines are charging exorbitant fees for checked luggage; travelers shouldn't also have to worry about sticky-fingered airport employees swiping stuff from their suitcases. More »
Spirit Airlines Spoofs JetBlue Slide-Jumper With "Don't Be Blue" Coupon
By Chris Morran on August 13, 2010 10:15 AM
24 Comments
We'll give it to Spirit Airlines — they know how to get attention with their e-mail coupons. First their was the MILF Sale, and then the MUFF Diving promo, and of course this summer's Check Out the Oil On Our Beaches deal. Now the yucksters have turned their focus on last Monday's JetBlue flight attendant flip-out. More »
Expedia, Delta, And Bank Of America Team Up, Form Bad Customer Service Voltron
By Laura Northrup on August 13, 2010 8:00 AM
31 Comments
Paul tells Consumerist that he has a few problems. First, Expedia and Delta Airlines failed to correctly undo and reschedule a flight that his family took from Michigan to Florida. Second, his wife and children have gained the ability to bilocate. Or teleport. At least according to Delta and Expedia. Neither company seems fazed that the family flew the same route twice in a row both times. Sure, this trip might be physically possible, but it's also completely insane. More »
Should Kids Under 2 Be Required To Have Their Own Seats On A Plane?
By Chris Morran on August 12, 2010 2:45 PM
198 Comments
Children under 2 years of age are currently allowed to travel in planes on the lap of an adult. However, it's a practice the National Transportation Safety Board hopes the FAA will put an end to. More »
Here's What A Merged United/Continental Plane Will Look Like
By Chris Morran on August 12, 2010 10:15 AM
48 Comments
Continental and United Airlines won't officially join to form their airline Voltron for several months, but yesterday they released this image of how the branding on their planes will work once the merger is complete. More »
Tarmac Delays Down Drastically From Last Year, Cancellations Unchanged
By Chris Morran on August 11, 2010 11:15 AM
13 Comments
In the second month of the recently enacted laws limiting the amount of time a plane can sit on the tarmac without taking off, the Dept. of Transportation says only three flights went over the 3-hour limit; that's down from 268 flights for the same month in 2009. Meanwhile, the rate of canceled flights remained exactly the same as last year. More »
(WexDub)
Flight Attendant Weighs In On Angry Passengers, Job Stress
walk-off slide-down on Monday wouldn't have been anywhere near as cool if he hadn't used that escape slide. Another flight attendant named Bobby Laurie, writing about the stress of the job for The Daily Beast, says popping the slide and stealing alcohol are "the two most taboo things in the industry." He also says he's fantasized about doing something similar after being forced to deal with angry or obnoxious passengers. More »
By Chris Walters on August 11, 2010 10:30 AM
129 Comments
Steven Slater's dramatic job 
After Jacking My Honeymoon Cost, Expedia Makes Good
By Phil Villarreal on August 10, 2010 1:30 PM
26 Comments
Last week we posted a complaint from Shawn, who said his honeymoon was ruined when Expedia sold him a $3,000 all-inclusive trip to Grand Cayman then left him on the hook for an extra $2,160 when it turned out the vacation was about half-inclusive. More »
Flight Attendants Grounded Until They Slim Down
By Chris Morran on August 10, 2010 12:30 PM
42 Comments
Whether it's Kevin Smith being booted from a flight for his girth or a slender passenger being bumped to make room for a larger passenger, the issue of being overweight on a plane has become a hot button issue. And now comes a report that Turkish Airlines has grounded 28 flight attendants for being too heavy. More »
Ritz-Carlton: Sorry, We Meant $580, Not $58
By Meg Marco on August 10, 2010 10:45 AM
60 Comments
Over at Christopher Elliott's blog there's a story of a guy who booked a great deal at Travelocity. A little too great — it was a typo. Someone forgot to add a zero on the end of the room rate. More »
(balmes)
JetBlue Flight Attendant Curses Out Passenger, Uses Emergency Slide To Exit Plane And Run Away
By Chris Morran on August 9, 2010 5:13 PM
93 Comments
Imagine this sight: Your JetBlue flight has just touched down at your destination when a flight attendant takes to the public address system, drops the F-bomb, pops the emergency door and exits the plane via the emergency slide. We're really hoping someone out there has video footage of this incident that went down at JFK Airport today. More »
Flight Cancellations Hold Steady Despite New Tarmac Delay Limit
By Carey Alexander on August 8, 2010 8:00 AM
9 Comments
Remember how airlines threatened to cancel a mess of flights if the Department of Transportation imposed fines for holding planes on the tarmac for more than three hours? Well, the DOT imposed the rule and it looks like airlines are coping just fine. The Wall Street Journal examined recently released data and found that the most probable explanation for the slight jump in cancellations is a combination of weather and shoddy maintenance. More »
10 Tips For First-Time Travelers
By Chris Morran on August 6, 2010 3:15 PM
98 Comments
Over at Jaunted.com, they've been following the journey of the Newbie Traveler, a young man making his first trip abroad. Now that the noob has successfully crossed borders without causing an international incident, he's compiled this list of 10 bits of advice he has for other people making their first trek abroad. More »
(rjivani)
What Do You Do When A Site Fails To Charge Your Credit Card?
By Phil Villarreal on August 5, 2010 3:30 PM
116 Comments
Sarah seems partly jubilant and partly terrified that a travel website failed to make her pay for a round trip flight to Alaska. She wants to protect herself and know whether or not she has to do anything more. More »
(JohnKit)
A Pilot's Perspective On Woman Removed From Plane For Asking If Captain Had Been Drinking
By Chris Morran on August 5, 2010 11:15 AM
464 Comments
Yesterday, we brought you the story of a woman who had been kicked off a Delta flight after asking the flight crew if the flight's captain had been drinking. This story drew the attention of a Consumerist reader who also happens to be a pilot. More »
(tjean314)
Expedia's Mistakes Nearly Doubled The Cost Of My Honeymoon
By Phil Villarreal on August 5, 2010 10:15 AM
83 Comments
Shawn and his new wife booked their honeymoon to Grand Cayman with the understanding that they'd paid $3,000 for an all-inclusive stay at a resort. A week into the 10-day trip, the online travel agency told the couple they'd be on the hook for more than $2,000 because the fee they paid wouldn't cover an all-inclusive stay after all. More »
Courthouse In Florida Has 35,000 Body Scans Of Citizens
By Chris Walters on August 4, 2010 11:30 AM
93 Comments
Like it or not, advanced imaging technology (AIT)—capable of producing highly detailed pics of your naked body—is expanding rapidly throughout U.S. airports. Last month, there were at least 142 AIT units deployed in eleven airports, but by the end of the year that will jump to more than 450 nationwide, spread across at least forty airports (see full list below). The TSA has tried to downplay privacy issues by saying that the units won't save images, but that doesn't mean that they can't. In fact, the U.S. Marshals Service in Florida says they've got over 35,000 AIT scans of people saved. They also say that an AIT unit tested in the Washington, D.C. federal courthouse was sent back to the manufacturer with images still stored on it. More »
Delta Passenger Kicked Off Flight For Asking If Pilot Had Been Drinking
By Chris Morran on August 4, 2010 11:15 AM
158 Comments
Here's a lesson from Delta Airlines: If you think you smell alcohol on a pilot's breath, don't dare ask the flight crew if he'd been drinking; you'll just end up being kicked off the flight. That's what happened to a woman from California, who recently found herself booted from a Delta flight. More »
Spirit Airlines Wants To Charge You For Talking To A Human
By Chris Morran on August 3, 2010 2:15 PM
43 Comments
Yesterday, we wrote about how the CEO of Spirit Airlines thinks he's doing consumers a favor by charging for carry-on bags. Now, Big Ben Baldanza is saying that he wants to start charging passengers for the right to talk to a real human being at the airport. More »
Gift Card Error In Your Favor: When Do You Tell The Hotel?
By Chris Walters on August 3, 2010 11:30 AM
92 Comments
A reader emailed us to ask what he should do about an accounting mistake he discovered with some gift cards. He suspects the different parts of the hotel don't update the card balance in real time, but it could also be that the hotel's employees aren't processing the card correctly. Now he's wondering whether he should have said something. More »
Spirit CEO: Carry-On Fees Are A "Consumer Benefit"
By Chris Morran on August 2, 2010 3:15 PM
65 Comments
In terms of public relations, 2010 hasn't exactly been a banner year for Spirit Airlines. First, they ticked people off by announcing they would begin charging up to $45/bag for carry-on luggage, then they introduced "pre-reclined" seats. They were shut down for about a week because of a strike, and then there was the ill-advised "check out the oil on our beaches" promo. But the company's CEO doesn't understand why travelers aren't lining up to thank him. More »
(emrank)
Rotten Economy Might Mean Big Savings On Airfare This Fall, If You Can Afford To Travel
By Chris Walters on August 2, 2010 12:30 PM
21 Comments
Travel guru Christopher Elliott thinks that airfare prices could drop significantly this fall, thanks to a double-dip recession and general economic misery. So far prices for car rentals and cruise packages are going up, but Elliott says he's hearing from travelers and travel companies about "dramatic, unexpected bargains" and "rates ... on par with last year's record-low prices" when it comes to flights. More »
Spirit Starts Charging Up To $45 For Carry-On Bags
By Carey Alexander on August 1, 2010 2:00 PM
84 Comments
Prepare to shift that carry-on bag to your other hand as you reach for your wallet because today is the day Spirit rolls out their new fee for carry-on bags. Billed as an ostensible solution to gate delays, the worst problem you never experienced, the fee ranges from $20 to $45. More »
US Airways Sold My "Choice Seat," Made Me Sit In Back Of Plane
By Laura Northrup on July 30, 2010 8:00 AM
99 Comments
Justin writes that he booked a flight on US Airways, and decided that his comfort was worth paying $15 extra for the privilege of having the seat of his choice, on an aisle at the front of the plane. When he went to check in, he learned that the same special seat had been sold to someone else. He warns Consumerist readers: don't assume that you will actually get the seat assignment that you pay for. More »
(myravery)
Liquor Could Soon Be Flowing 24/7 At Chicago Airports
By Chris Morran on July 28, 2010 12:15 PM
25 Comments
Last month, we wrote about Chicago mayor Richard Daley's proposal to allow airport restaurants to sell booze from push carts in the terminals. But now, as that edges closer to becoming a reality, the proposal has expanded to also permit 24/7 booze sales at these establishments. More »
(pjmorse)
What's The Best Airline For Your Pet To Travel?
By Laura Northrup on July 28, 2010 9:00 AM
52 Comments
Sometimes you don't have a choice—you have to fly with your pet. In memory of Paco, the dog Delta Airlines lost back in May, here's Petfinder.com's updated list of the best airlines for traveling with kritters. All of the recommended carriers have changed from last year. Spoiler alert: Delta is not on it. More »
Continental Airlines Testing Self-Boarding In Houston
By Chris Morran on July 27, 2010 1:15 PM
41 Comments
While it's been used overseas for years, Continental Airlines has become the first airline to try out self-boarding — i.e., scanning your own boarding pass as you board a plane — at a U.S. airport. More »
(BriYYZ)
Passengers Removed From Orlando-Bound Flight For Watching 9/11 Clips Before Takeoff
By Chris Walters on July 27, 2010 12:30 PM
96 Comments
A father and his son were removed from an Air Canada flight in Toronto last Tuesday after another passenger saw the boy watching footage of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks on his iPod, reports Canoe News. The airline says the pair were determined not to be a security risk, just people with a really bad sense of tact, and it cleared them for a following flight. More »
Don't Give Greyhound Tickets As Gifts
By Chris Walters on July 27, 2010 11:30 AM
48 Comments
If you buy a Greyhound bus ticket for someone else, Greyhound will charge you a flat $18 "gift ticket fee," which must be the worst named fee in the history of transportation. On short rides, like a one-way trip from Cambridge, MA to Hartford, CT, it bumps the price up from $22 to $40. More »
United Airlines Forgets About 9-Year-Old Passenger
By Chris Morran on July 27, 2010 10:15 AM
98 Comments
Next to Disney World, the one place children want to spend the day is the kids lounge at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, right? Just ask the 9-year-old who was left there for eight hours because a United Airlines employee forgot about him. More »
Being Stuck On Tarmac In Phoenix Without Water Makes For Sweatiest YouTube Video Ever
By Chris Morran on July 26, 2010 11:15 AM
87 Comments
If you haven't yet had the pleasure of being trapped — without water — on a delayed Delta flight that's been waiting on the tarmac in 112-degree Arizona heat, one passenger has chronicled his ordeal in a series of quick videos from yesterday. The best — or perhaps worst — part comes at the end of the first clip when he squeegees about a gallon of sweat from his forehead. More »
(Mikelo)
Ryanair Passenger: I Was Detained For Complaining About Food
By Chris Morran on July 26, 2010 10:15 AM
74 Comments
Ryanair, the discount airline known for its dirt cheap prices, headline-making PR stunts and occasionally outrageous ideas for what passengers should pay fees for, is defending itself against allegations from a passenger who says he was detained by police at a Norwegian airport because he'd been vocally displeased with his on-board food service. More »
(jayRaz)
Southwest Forces Standby Flier Off Plane To Free Two Seats For Passenger Of Size
By Laura Northrup on July 25, 2010 4:45 PM
166 Comments
The Sacramento Bee reported yesterday that Southwest Airlines removed a standby passenger from a plane after boarding in order to make room for a late-arriving passenger who required two seats but had only purchased one. So why didn't Southwest follow its own famed "Passenger of Size" policy and make the passenger unable to fit in a single seat wait? It's sort of a reverse of Kevin Smith's famous removal from a flight on Southwest this past February. More »
Unrefunded $25 Checked Bag Fee Turns Into $5 Million Lawsuit For American Airlines
By Chris Morran on July 23, 2010 12:11 PM
82 Comments
American Airlines was the first of the major airlines to start tacking on fees for checked bags, and now its the first airline to face a class action lawsuit over the fees from a ticked-off passenger. And it all started over one piece of lost luggage. More »
Buy These Suitcase Stickers If You Want To Get Frisked
By Phil Villarreal on July 22, 2010 2:30 PM
32 Comments
If you want to get an equal amount of eye-rolls, giggles and terrified looks from those standing around you in airport security lines, affix one of these security-provoking decals to your luggage. More »
(malgaze)
United Airlines Is The King Of Fees
By Chris Morran on July 22, 2010 10:00 AM
48 Comments
A newly released study shows that airlines around the globe are raking in cash from ancillary revenue like baggage fees. Worldwide, carriers collected $13.5 billion in fees last year, an increase of 43% over the previous year. And sitting high atop that pile was United Airlines. More »
DOT Calls BS On "Misleading And Premature" Tarmac Delay Study
By Chris Morran on July 21, 2010 3:10 PM
35 Comments
Remember that study from yesterday that said there had been a significant increase in the number of flight cancellations since the DOT enacted new rules limiting the number of hours a plane can sit on the tarmac? Well, it's not sitting with the folks behind the rule, who say it's a bunch of hogwash. More »
Turbulence Injures Dozens Of Passengers On Diverted United Flight
By Chris Morran on July 21, 2010 9:00 AM
68 Comments
A United Airlines flight from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles hit more than a few bumps in the road Monday night when turbulence not only caused the plane to be diverted to Denver, but also left at least 25 people injured. More »
Are Tarmac Rules Causing More Flight Cancellations?
By Chris Morran on July 20, 2010 1:20 PM
79 Comments
According to a new study, the recently enacted DOT regulations that levy huge fines against airlines for planes that sit on the tarmac for more than three hours have been forcing carriers to cancel flights rather than face possible stiff penalties. More »
If You're Going To Smuggle 18 Monkeys Onto A Plane, Don't Try Hiding Them Under Your Clothes
By Chris Morran on July 20, 2010 12:15 PM
41 Comments
Okay, so it's not exactly the opening scene of Midnight Express, but imagine the sight: You're in line at the airport, waiting to go through the security checkpoint, when you notice a man being pulled out of line in front of you. Authorities pat down the bulge beneath the man's shirt and begin pulling out monkeys... 18 of them. Now that's a vacation memory. More »
Will 'Flying Pasties' Help Hide Your Private Bits From Airport Scanners?
By Chris Morran on July 19, 2010 1:00 PM
90 Comments
From the TSA employee mocked by his co-workers for his teeny weeny to the Heathrow employee harassed for her ample bosom, full-body airport scanners are responsible for their fair share of controversy. Now the travel-writin' folks at Jaunted have stumbled across a new invention that claims to end such troubles by slapping stickers on your most private bits. More »
(Courtesy San Alfonso del Mar)
Hotel Pools That Make Us Want To Weep With Longing
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 17, 2010 12:41 PM
32 Comments
Is it getting hot out there or is it just us? For those trapped in urban jungles with nary a public pool, much less a simple lawn sprinkler, cooling off with water in the summer can seem like an impossibility. So why not torture our overheated senses just a little bit more with a slideshow of amazing hotel pools? More »
Your Complete Big-Ass Guide To Annoying Airline Fees
By Chris Morran on July 14, 2010 4:25 PM
45 Comments
As reported earlier today, the Government Accountability Office thinks airlines could do a lot more to be transparent about the fees they charge. And buried about 45 pages deep in the GAO's report are two very helpful tables detailing fees for checked bags and other items that U.S.-based airlines charge extra for. More »
Free Award Wallet Upgrades
By Ben Popken on July 14, 2010 1:00 PM
13 Comments
Last week we told you about Award Wallet, a site that helps keep track of your airline frequent flyer miles. While a basic account is free, they're giving away free account upgrades to the first 30 people who jump on this coupon code. More »
(formatc1)
Can You Stream Netflix Movies At 30,000 Feet?
By Chris Morran on July 13, 2010 2:15 PM
38 Comments
Not happy with your in-flight entertainment selections? Well, if you have access to onboard WiFi, the folks at HackingNetflix.com say you might be able to stream Netflix films to your iPad or laptop. More »
DC Airports Get Super Cute Pet Bathrooms
By Ben Popken on July 13, 2010 1:00 PM
42 Comments
DC's Dulles and Reagan airports have just opened new "pet relief areas" for your pooch's pooping pleasure prior to plane-boarding. More »
Like Pizza? Maybe You Should Work For The TSA
By Chris Morran on July 13, 2010 12:15 PM
55 Comments
One would think that in these tough economic times, placing a help-wanted ad in the paper or online would be sufficient for netting employers a pile of resumes. But the Transportation Safety Administration has decided to target a very specific demographic in the Washington, D.C., area — pizza eaters. More »
(AComment)
Woman Kicked Off Plane For Unruly Behavior, Goes Back To Airport To Be Even More Disruptive
By Chris Morran on July 12, 2010 3:15 PM
57 Comments
A female passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight threw her name into consideration for Most Aggressively Annoying Person On Earth over the weekend. Not only did she cause her flight to make an unscheduled landing, she later returned to the airport to wreak even more havoc. More »
Presenting Even More Reasons To Hate Airlines!
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 11, 2010 12:25 PM
47 Comments
Do you find yourself feeling too at peace with baggage fees, missed connections and seemingly inane delays at airports? Don't worry, here are 20 more reasons to be irate at airlines! More »
Six Ways Car Rental Companies Can Get Tricky
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 11, 2010 11:44 AM
117 Comments
It's a mad, mad world out there when it comes to traveling (hello, baggage fees and pay as you go bathrooms) and these days it's not just the airlines getting creative with their attempts to increase revenue. Car rental companies are joining in on the fun too! More »
(balmes)
United Could Face Hefty Fines Over Tarmac Delays
By Chris Morran on July 9, 2010 12:15 PM
43 Comments
May was the first full month that the Dept. of Transportation's new regulations regarding planes idling on the tarmac were in effect. And for United Airlines, it could end up being a very expensive few weeks. Of the 5 flights that violated the new rules, 4 were operated by United. More »
(hjl)
Passport Fees Rising On July 13
By Ben Popken on July 7, 2010 2:00 PM
69 Comments
If you have apply or renew passport on your to-do list, better put it on your "done" list this week if you want to save money. Starting July 13, new higher passport fees go into effect. More »
Fly Your Bike For Free On JetBlue In July
By Chris Morran on July 7, 2010 12:15 PM
13 Comments
It's Tour de France time in, well, France. And though JetBlue can't get you to the world-famous bicycle race, they'll help get you in the spirit this month by allowing you to bring your bike with you free of charge. More »
DOT Lacks Power To Ban Peanuts From Flights
By Phil Villarreal on July 7, 2010 9:15 AM
79 Comments
Just when it looked like all the crusaders who want to get peanuts banned from flights were inching closer to epic victory, along comes a federal law to crack their shells. More »
Track Your Frequent Flyer Miles With Award Wallet
By Ben Popken on July 6, 2010 4:00 PM
6 Comments
Keeping track of your frequent flyer miles, when they're about to expire and what special rain dance you have to do to actually use them can be a big hassle. Award Wallet a free site that does a bunch of the dirty work for you, operating like a Mint.com for frequent flyer miles. More »
Boeing Calls BS On Ryanair's Standing Room Seats
By Chris Morran on July 6, 2010 12:15 PM
40 Comments
Last week, cheapo airline Ryanair once again raised hackles and made headlines saying plans to introduce vertical "standing room" seats on its planes. However, it's looking like this may be yet another PR stunt from Ryanair's loudmouth CEO. More »
7 Tips For Saving On Airline Baggage Fees
By Chris Morran on July 2, 2010 3:15 PM
49 Comments
The other day we wrote about the new UPS Luggage Box, which gives users the option of checking, carrying-on or shipping your baggage for your plane trip. But over at MSNBC, they've come up with a whole list of ways to not get beaten down by the baggage fee system. More »
Continental Introduces New, Fancier Cocktails... For A Fee, Of Course
By Chris Morran on July 1, 2010 2:45 PM
31 Comments
A lot of air travelers partake of liquor while flying, whether it's to calm the nerves or just something to make watching the latest Robert Pattinson movie on a 6" screen palatable. But for those passengers who find a gin and tonic lacks the razmatazz to match their personality, Continental will soon have the solution... and be willing to charge you premium for it. More »
Latest Ryanair PR Stunt: Vertical Seats
By Ben Popken on July 1, 2010 12:00 PM
67 Comments
Known for making up crazy cost-cutting moves it has no intention of implementing just to to get headlines, Ryanair's CEO is at it again, saying the budget-airliner plans to introduce vertical seats, of the type Airbus researched but scuttled, next year. More »
Airline Passengers Showered With In-Flight Maggots
By Laura Northrup on July 1, 2010 8:00 AM
85 Comments
A US Airways flight from Atlanta to Charlotte had to return to the airport gate on Monday evening after writhing maggots rained down on passengers in one row while the plane was taxiing. The source of the critters? A container of rotten meat that a passenger somehow brought on the plane and stashed in the overhead bin. More »
UPS Wants To Replace Your Luggage With Their Luggage Box
By Chris Morran on June 30, 2010 4:30 PM
56 Comments
As checked baggage fees continue to rise — and with nickel-and-dime carriers beginning to charge for carry-ons — it's becoming more and more popular for air travelers to ship some of their belongings directly to and from their destinations. Now, UPS has taken it to the next level, introducing a cardboard suitcase that gives you the options of checking, carrying-on or shipping. More »
Passengers Sue To Stop Continental-United Merger
By Chris Morran on June 30, 2010 3:15 PM
18 Comments
With both Continental and United Airlines ready to say "I do," a group of peeved passengers has busted into the church prepared to give their reasons for why these two carriers should not be wed. More »
Mayor Daley Wants Liquor Carts At Chicago Airports
By Chris Morran on June 30, 2010 2:30 PM
48 Comments
Ever been sitting at the airport and wanting some booze, but too bogged down with bags — or pesky kids — to belly up to the bar? Well, for travelers passing through Chicago's two airports, the Windy City's inimitable mayor Richard Daley has the solution — pushcarts full of booze. More »
(geognerd)
Want To Rent A Hybrid? Be Prepared To Pay A Lot More Green
By Chris Morran on June 28, 2010 1:15 PM
47 Comments
When it comes to car rentals, I've rarely cared about the make and model of what I'm driving, so long as it's in my (low) price range, it has a working radio and the driver's side door operates properly. So it's a good thing I've never tried to rent a hybrid, because the New York Times says I'd be paying anywhere from 30-70% more for the thrill of it all. More »
Airline Food Might Not Only Taste Bad, It Might Make You Sick
By Chris Morran on June 28, 2010 12:15 PM
38 Comments
Maybe it's a good thing that more and more airlines are charging to chow down on their mediocre meals. FDA reports uncovered by USA Today reveals the unappetizing conditions at some of the kitchens that prepare the overpriced grub. More »
4 Tips To Not Getting Ripped Off While On Vacation
By Chris Morran on June 28, 2010 10:45 AM
34 Comments
Going on vacation is supposed to be a way to soothe your nerves and forget about the worries of the world. But, in addition to all the hassles of travel, vacations are a prime opportunity for you to be taken advantage of, And don't forget that empty house back home that's now a target for thieves. More »
Pilot Detained After Dropping Pants During Security Screening
By Carey Alexander on June 27, 2010 8:45 AM
48 Comments
Look, pilots, we know that times are tough, but when security asks you to remove your belt and shoes, you probably shouldn't laugh and drop your pants, ok? Because if you do, you're going to end up detained and will have to explain yourself to a judge. Just ask United Airlines pilot Michael Slynn, who forgot this relatively simple advice yesterday in Rio de Janiero. More »
Pilots Bristle As American Airline Tells Them To Fly With Less Fuel
By Carey Alexander on June 26, 2010 12:00 PM
116 Comments
Extra fuel is joining peanuts and magazines on the list of things American Airlines wants to ditch at the gate. The airline announced plans this week to save cash by using "scientifically precise" computer models to load less fuel. If pilots want more, they'll need to submit a request in writing. More »
(denn)
Tiny Turtle Makes AirTran Return To Gate, Girls Forced To Get Rid Of Pet Before Reboarding
By Ben Popken on June 25, 2010 5:00 PM
100 Comments
Maybe it was Michelangelo and they were afraid he would eat up all the in-flight pizza. A 10-year old girl's teensy turtle posed enough of a risk to an AirTran flight that the plane was forced to turn around and return to the gate. The girl and her sisters were told they could not get back on the plane with the turtle. More »
(Aaron)
Delta Randomly Sent Me My Personal Identification Number
By Phil Villarreal on June 25, 2010 3:30 PM
26 Comments
Delta promptly emailed Aaron the PIN from his SkyMiles account. Which is nice and all, except for the fact that Aaron never lost his number and didn't request the email. The announcement showed up with no prompt whatsoever. More »
Book On Tuesdays, Fly On Wednesdays
By Ben Popken on June 23, 2010 12:00 PM
11 Comments
Looking to save money on airfare for that fun summer getaway? The best time to buy an airline ticket is Tuesday around 3pm, and the best time to fly is a Wednesday. Why? More »
The DOT Wants Your Opinion On Proposed In-Flight Peanut Ban
By Chris Morran on June 23, 2010 11:45 AM
131 Comments
A couple weeks back we wrote about how the Dept. of Transportation was considering a possible ban on peanuts on airplanes and what resulted was easily one of the site's more divisive debates. Now, as the DOT and FAA continue to mull over this plan — and consider other options — the regulators say they want to hear from you, the citizens of these United States of America. More »
Southwest Celebrates 39th Birthday With $39 Fares
By Chris Morran on June 22, 2010 2:15 PM
21 Comments
Southwest Airlines, which doesn't look a day over 35, is celebrating its 39th birthday this week with a 3-day sale, offering fares as low as $39 each way for travel between Sept. 8 and Nov. 17. More »
Luggage Emerges From United Airlines Flight Totally Mauled
By Ben Popken on June 22, 2010 12:00 PM
35 Comments
A Gothamist reader's bags didn't show up until three days after she got off the United Airlines flight, and when they did, they looked like they'd been ravaged by the gnashing of an angry monster. The bags and contents were torn, soaked, and moldy, and several items were missing. More »
(kalleboo)
Frequent Flier Miles Easier To Earn, Harder To Use
By Chris Morran on June 21, 2010 4:30 PM
22 Comments
For anyone wanting to earn reward miles on their favorite airline, the options are many. Your credit and debit cards can earn miles, so can taking online surveys or taking part in experimental drug trials (okay, not that last one). But while it's becoming increasingly easy to accrue miles, it's becoming more difficult to actually cash them in. More »
Rent Enterprise Car At Twice The Rate, Get Free Dentures (Check Under Floormat)
By Chris Walters on June 21, 2010 9:43 AM
35 Comments
Timothy rented a car from Enterprise last month when he flew into Newark Airport in New Jersey, and he was forced to pay almost twice the amount quoted in his reservation because of problems with a coupon code and an uncooperative manager. But there's good news: the rental came with a special, stinky surprise that he and his wife didn't find until the second day of the rental. (Warning: there's a big close-up photo below.) More »
(jjsink)
Harry Potter Theme Park Casts Parental Shakedown Spell In Orlando
By Phil Villarreal on June 21, 2010 9:15 AM
77 Comments
Harry Potter's greatest magic trick is his ability to take money from people in infinite ways. The boy wizard's latest venture is the Universal-owned theme park-within-a-themepark The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened in Orlando this weekend. More »
Is The Dominican Republic An International Destination? Airlines Disagree
By Carey Alexander on June 19, 2010 2:00 PM
130 Comments
American Airlines told Bill that he couldn't acces their international lounge because his flight from the Dominican Republic to Houston, which required a passport and a customs form, didn't count as an international flight. Bill's wife had paid $300 to upgrade Bill's ticket to first class expressly so he could access the lounge, and Bill wasn't sure what part of "international" American didn't seem to understand. Yet it turns out American might be right. More »
Spirit Airlines Flights Resume Friday, Offers Everyone $50 Off
could will resume Friday, after the pilots union and the airline reached a tentative agreement following 26 straight hours of negotiation. In its typically tongue-in-cheek fashion, coinciding with the announcement was a "Strikingly Low Fares" promotion offering everyone $50 off new tickets plus 5,000 bonus miles. More »
By Ben Popken on June 16, 2010 4:42 PM
14 Comments
Spirit Airline flights, grounded since the beginning of a 5-day pilot strike, 
Spirit Airlines Pulls Plug On Thursday's Flights
By Chris Morran on June 15, 2010 3:00 PM
17 Comments
The Spirit Airlines pilot strike continues on with no immediate end in sight. It's only early Tuesday afternoon and the airline has already opted to cancel all flights scheduled for Thursday. More »
My Friend's Great Dane Died On A Continental Flight
By Phil Villarreal on June 15, 2010 10:50 AM
164 Comments
Laine says his friend's Great Dane suffered a fatal Continental flight from Hawaii to Seattle. He says Continental has been less than sympathetic and wants people to know what happened. More »
(prayitno)
Cruise Line Employee Used Reservation List To Determine When To Rob Vacationers
By Chris Walters on June 14, 2010 2:22 PM
26 Comments
I guess you could try to prepare your robbery schedule based on Foursquare and Twitter updates, but a former Royal Caribbean Cruise Line employee found a much easier way: she accessed the cruise line's reservations list, wrote down the addresses of passengers and the dates they'd be on the cruise, and handed the list off to her husband. She's being charged with 24 counts of burglary, while her husband will be charged soon. More »
Continental To Open Its First Nonstop Route To Africa
By Chris Morran on June 14, 2010 2:10 PM
31 Comments
Despite its name, Continental Airlines Inc. had always omitted one continent from its destinations — Africa. But that's going to chance in November 2011 when the airline will begin flying nonstop from its Houston hub to Nigeria. More »
Top 10 Tips For Making Air Travel Less Of A Pain In The Butt
By Chris Morran on June 13, 2010 12:00 PM
68 Comments
Let's face it: While flying in a plane is pretty cool, for most people the reality of air travel is a mammoth pain in the butt. Regardless, we can't all be John Madden, tooling around in a tricked-out bus so as to avoid getting on a plane. That's why Lifehacker compiled their top 10 tips for surviving your flight. More »
(PhillipC)
Spirit Airlines Grounded By Pilot Strike
By Marc Perton on June 13, 2010 5:19 AM
63 Comments
If you've got a reservation for a flight on Spirit Airlines, you'd better start looking into other alternatives. The airline's pilots have gone on strike after contract talks with management broke down yesterday morning. Apparently, the pilots were upset that they'd have to pay extra fees to carry baggage onto flights. Nah, just kidding. It's just you getting stuck with those fees, not the cockpit crew. More »
Want Airplane Food? Go to Turkey
By Marc Perton on June 12, 2010 2:12 PM
38 Comments
While many fliers may mourn the death of surcharge-free baggage hauling, some passengers actually miss the trays of "food" that airlines once handed out on nearly all flights. For anyone nostalgic for that golden age of rubber chicken, mystery sauces and reheated frozen veggies, The New York Times has a message: Come to Turkey. More »
10 Flights That Rarely Arrive On Time
By Ben Popken on June 11, 2010 3:17 PM
36 Comments
If you're on any one of these 10 flights, better time budget in for delays. According to Department of Transportation stats, they're almost never on time. [ABC]
New Rules About Getting Paid When Airlines Bump You
By Ben Popken on June 11, 2010 10:14 AM
21 Comments
Airlines routinely overbook passengers, resulting in passengers getting bumped and having their travel plans disrupted. Currently, you can get the full ticket price if you are bumped, or 2x the ticket if you're not provided alternative transportation within a certain time frame to the next stop, up to a certain cap level. Newly proposed regulations would increase the amount passengers could get, but it's not as simple as that. Airline expert Elliott has delved into the report to find out what's being proposed: More »
(dooley)
How To Tell If You Should Give Up Your Seat On Public Transportation
By Phil Villarreal on June 10, 2010 5:37 PM
239 Comments
If you're someone who is willing to give up your seat on a train or bus for a pregnant woman but not just any female, the BBC has you covered with a rule-of-thumb guide that helps you identify an expecting mother. The excuse for this sort of potentially-offensive story is that if you offer a seat to a non-pregnant woman she may take it as an insult. More »
U.S. Airways CEO Says His Company Is Happy Being Single
By Chris Morran on June 10, 2010 3:14 PM
14 Comments
While merger and consolidation is the name of the game for many in the airline industry these days, the CEO of U.S. Airways says he's happy with having dinner for one right now. More »
Delta Sends Boston-Bound Child to Cleveland And Vice-Versa
By Laura Northrup on June 10, 2010 10:06 AM
102 Comments
Not content to just lose business clothes and cute little dogs and smash bikes, Delta took two children flying as unaccompanied minors and put them on the wrong planes, according to Cleveland's WOIO. More »
(TheeErin)
IATA Creating Central Database For All Airline Fees & Rules
By Chris Morran on June 8, 2010 4:33 PM
12 Comments
It's not just air travelers who get confused by the variety of charges, weight limits and size regulations placed on baggage by all the airlines. The carriers themselves are often befuddled by their own byzantine systems, especially when it comes to travelers transferring between airlines over the course of a long flight. That's why the the International Air Transport Association announced today the creation of a central database that will provide carriers, travel agents and passengers with all the info they need about their bags. More »
(Kfreon)
Should Peanuts Be Banned From Airplanes?
By Chris Morran on June 8, 2010 3:45 PM
363 Comments
Among the new regulations under consideration by the FAA, there's one that hasn't gotten much press, but which we have a feeling might be something that will get at least a few travelers' blood up — banning peanuts from airplanes. More »
Airlines' Approval Ratings Rise
By Chris Walters on June 8, 2010 12:56 PM
10 Comments
You love the airlines now! Or at least, you don't hate them any worse than you did back in 2007, according to a new survey released by J.D. Power & Associates. More »
Science Behind 'Lie To Me' May Be Questionable Even For TV Show Premise
By Meg Marco on June 7, 2010 3:00 PM
60 Comments
Screening Passengers by Observation Technique or (SPOT) is a real, but apparently pseudo-scientific program run by the TSA that claims to train security personnel to detect tiny facial cues that will identify terrorists and other criminals as they pass through the airport. The trouble, it seems, is that the likelihood that all of this is a bunch of bs is rather high. More »
Delta Made Me Miss My Flight, Only Refunded $18
By Phil Villarreal on June 7, 2010 9:00 AM
71 Comments
A layover on a three-leg flight forced Jon to rent a car in order to get to his destination on time. Delta promised him a refund on the part of his itinerary it botched, but it only gave him $18 because it based the refund on mileage rather than the cost of his ticket. More »
Enjoy Every National Park This Weekend For Free
By Chris Morran on June 5, 2010 1:10 PM
16 Comments
Have you been wanting to get out and see the beauty at a national park, but didn't have the scratch to pay the entry fees? Then you're in luck this weekend, because they've all opened up their doors and gates to all visitors — for free. More »
Hotels Are Enticing You With Perks, Just Not Ones You Want
By Phil Villarreal on June 4, 2010 11:00 AM
59 Comments
In order to scare up some vacation business in a rough economy, hotels are falling all over themselves to outdo one another with perks, such as free breakfast buffets, video game console access, daycare and late checkouts. The problem is that the offers seem a bit tone deaf and aren't quite giving travelers reasons enough to ante up. More »
5 Best Airports For Good Fast Food
By Chris Morran on June 2, 2010 4:43 PM
86 Comments
For the most part, airport eating options are pretty similar. There's the eat-in "restaurant" which is more of a bar. There's the quickie place with the pre-made sandwich/salad selection. And you're likely to stumble upon a food court with a couple of recognizable brands of fast food. But the folks at Jaunted.com know that there are a handful of airports providing more intriguing offers for the traveler's taste buds and have put together this list of the top five airports for scoring better eats. More »
(frippy)
10 Tips For More Fuel-Efficient Summer Driving
By Chris Morran on June 1, 2010 3:34 PM
112 Comments
It's the summer holiday season, which for many people means long hours on the road headed to the beach, the countryside, the mountains, the lake, amusement parks... and of course back home again. With gas prices still putting a crimp in many drivers' wallets, the grease monkeys at AutoMD.com have come up 10 things you can do to enjoy your warm-weather ride with a few less worries. More »
Getting Bumped From A Flight May Soon Cost Airlines More Money
By Chris Morran on June 1, 2010 2:57 PM
69 Comments
With the number of air travelers being bumped from overbooked flights having increased in three of the last four years — and with 2009's number of 762,422 bumped travelers being the highest since 2002 — a new report claims that regulators will soon be bumping up the amount of cash airlines are required to pay travelers. More »
(ABC News)
British Airways Locates Osama Bin Laden... In First Class
By Chris Morran on June 1, 2010 1:28 PM
34 Comments
While the world continues its nearly decade-long hunt for terrorist Osama Bin Laden, the folks at British Airways have him located comfortably in first class — seat7-C to be precise. More »
Sleeping Passenger Left On Plane Wakes Up, Sues United
By Phil Villarreal on May 31, 2010 10:57 AM
52 Comments
The woman United left sleeping on the plane for four hours after touchdown in Philadelphia is suing the airline, AIRwise reports, citing the Detroit Free Press. More »
Stop Luggage Thieves
By Ben Popken on May 28, 2010 5:53 PM
81 Comments
Frugal for Life has some suggestions for avoiding your baggage getting stolen, the most surefire one being to not check a bag in the first place. You can also use a cheap, neon bag, as thieves prefer more nondescript bags and tend to target those fancy "LV" emblazoned bags. Also, you can insure your bag, usually as part of trip insurance, which usually costs 5-8% of the total trip price. Do you use any special tactics to thwart luggage thieves? Leave your thoughts in the comments. More »
Travel: Is That Online Deal For Real?
By Ben Popken on May 27, 2010 3:41 PM
10 Comments
Our inboxes and search results are filled with great-sounding travel deals, $35 airline tickets, $399 three-day all-inclusives and the like, but have you ever actually tried to snag one? Oftentimes it seems a low "landing prices" shoots up after all the fees are added, or if you try to get a date other than a very narrow set, or you want to do something crazy like return home afterwards. NYT took a look and found that while that's true, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of getting a price close to the advertised one. More »
Sorry Your Flight Was Diverted, But Have Some Pizza
By Phil Villarreal on May 27, 2010 10:44 AM
52 Comments
When a Southwest flight from Fort Lauderdale to Denver was diverted last week, stranding passengers in Pueblo, Colo. for a couple hours, the pilot ordered pizza for all the passengers. True, it was Little Caesar's, but it's the thought that counts, right? More »
(benh57)
Is American Airlines Cramming More Rows Into Its 737?
By Phil Villarreal on May 27, 2010 9:31 AM
56 Comments
Airlines hear complaints from customers all the time that planes offer too much darn leg space. Paul brings promising news on that front. He noticed a discrepancy in the seating charts in his returning and departing American Airlines flights that indicates the airline is adding two rows to its 737s around June 14. More »
Huff Post Ranks Airlines On Safety Records
By Chris Walters on May 25, 2010 12:07 PM
21 Comments
Even the Huffington Post admits that their Safest U.S. Airlines list is a bit unnecessary, considering the excellent safety records of everyone on the list. Still, it's fun to rank things, so that's what they did. U.S. Airways and JetBlue came in near the top, while Delta, United and Continental came in at the bottom. Regardless, you're likely to remain alive after a flight on any of them. More »
(soundog)
Australia Customs Guys Live The Dream, Search Computers For Porn
By Phil Villarreal on May 21, 2010 10:44 AM
37 Comments
People are up in arms that Australian customs officials have taken it upon themselves to go porn-hunting on travelers' computers, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. If they find anything, they'll confiscate the dirty stuff in order to prevent you from exporting it to the untainted island. More »
What Should I Do With My Stacks Of Chinese Currency?
By Laura Northrup on May 21, 2010 10:00 AM
66 Comments
Greg has a question for the world travelers and expats who are part of the Consumerist hive mind. He writes that he has about $2,000 worth of Chinese yuan, in cash, from his first year as a teacher in China. He's back visiting the US for a few weeks, and can't figure out what to do with his giant pile o'yuan. More »
(Pantone Hotel)
Pantone Hotel Lets You View World Through Rose (15-1626)-Colored Glasses
By Marc Perton on May 19, 2010 4:10 PM
20 Comments
We know how it is. You get to the hotel, turn on the lights in your room, and — gasp — instead of the soothing Rose Dust (14-1307) you expected, the walls are painted a hideous shade of Butternut (18-0830). And those sheets — are they really Fuchsia Red (18-2328)? If this has happened to you, there's now an alternative, where every aspect of your lodging experience will be perfectly color-matched: The Pantone Hotel in Brussels, designed to "suit your savvy palette and colorful imagination." More »
Airfare From Atlanta To Vegas Is ... Sorry, Too Late
By Marc Perton on May 18, 2010 5:24 PM
34 Comments
How much will it cost you to fly from Atlanta to Las Vegas? Don't bother checking; by the time you do, the price will have already changed. According to a new study from Yapta, the fare for flights between those two cities has changed 2,472,916 times so far this year, or once every six seconds. Better practice hitting that refresh button if you want to get a deal. More »
Watch Out For These Travel Scams
By Chris Walters on May 17, 2010 3:54 PM
14 Comments
Kiplinger has posted six travel scams you should be aware of, including "Be your own travel agent!" and "Join our travel club!" The key thing to remember is to stay away from unfamiliar travel agencies or websites, or at least do some research and try to find evidence that they're legit before handing over your money. You should also make sure that any travel insurance you buy comes from a licensed insurer. More »
(name)
Check And See If Your City Is One Of America's Dirtiest
By Phil Villarreal on May 14, 2010 10:34 AM
72 Comments
In most cases you can't put much stock in travel magazines' lists of the greatest cities for this or that because the selectees may well have been chosen based on what sort of advertising the publications sold at each locale. More »
JetBlue Offers $10 Last-Minute Fares
By Chris Morran on May 10, 2010 12:38 PM
23 Comments
Still celebrating its 10th anniversary, JetBlue announced this morning that it's offering $10 fares on a number of its domestic routes for May 11 and May 12. As an added bonus, the first checked bag will be free of charge. More »
America's 20 Least-Visited National Monuments
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 9, 2010 3:53 PM
42 Comments
We've all heard of Mount Rushmore, the Washington Monument and other big-name tourist attractions. But if you want to hit the road this summer and get away from huge crowds, there are some monuments off the beaten path you might want to look into. The L.A. Times highlights 20 such places for the adventurous traveler into a new experience. More »
Google Looks Into Expanding Into Online Travel Services
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 9, 2010 1:34 PM
7 Comments
Google just loves being helpful - and being the go-to source for anything and everything you could ever wish or desire. Which is why it’s not surprising that new reports are saying Google is extending its long arm into the online travel business, and could be in talks to acquire fare-shopping developers ITA Software. More »
Delta Waives Fee For First Checked Bag If You Use Their AmEx Card
By Chris Morran on May 7, 2010 2:16 PM
32 Comments
In a world where fees for checked baggage top the list of annoying things about air travel, it's a small victory to learn that Delta has decided to offer an incentive to travelers with the airline's co-branded American Express card — no fees for the first checked bag for you and up to eight other members of your party. More »
(miamism)
Do Not Mock Your Co-Worker's Tiny Penis While Testing Full-Body Scanners
By Laura Northrup on May 7, 2010 11:10 AM
92 Comments
If you've been wondering how much of your body airport full-body scanners actually do reveal, a recent TSA training session in Miami shows the answer: enough for your co-workers to mock the size of your genitals. The target of the mockery eventually found it unbearable, and police say that he "could not take the jokes anymore and lost his mind," attacking one of his colleagues in the parking lot. He was arrested for aggravated battery. More »
Top 12 Most Annoying Things About Air Travel
By Chris Morran on May 6, 2010 2:53 PM
155 Comments
Our cousins by marriage over at Consumer Reports recently published the results of a survey where air travelers were asked to rate, on a scale of 1-10, those aspects of air travel that most get under their skin. More »
Airlines Made Nearly $8 Billion From Fees In 2009
By Chris Morran on May 6, 2010 12:14 PM
34 Comments
All those little surcharges to your airline tickets sure do add up. A recently released DOT report states that U.S. air carriers raked in $7.8 billion in fees last year, a 42% increase over 2008. More »
Whoops: Megabus Driver Doesn't Know Route From D.C. To New York
By Laura Northrup on May 6, 2010 10:01 AM
64 Comments
David tells Consumerist that he took a nightmarish Megabus trip where the driver did not, strictly speaking, now how to get to New York City from Washington D.C. After it took the driver an extra three hours to get there, he worked hard to find out how to complain to someone with actual power to give him a refund on. If you find yourself on a similar epic trek, or riding inside a MegaSauna, David sent along the contact information that he found. More »
(Dan)
JetBlue Employee Shops While Pretending To Help Stranded Passengers?
By Phil Villarreal on May 6, 2010 8:45 AM
73 Comments
Dan thought something was funny going on when a woman behind a JetBlue counter seemed less than capable when helping passengers stranded at JFK due to weather delays. He snuck around the back and photographed her shopping at Babies R Us rather than doing her job. More »
What Happens If I Refuse The Full-Body Scan At The Airport?
By Chris Morran on May 4, 2010 12:24 PM
156 Comments
Even as some question their effectiveness, the TSA continues to install controversial full-body scanners at airports. And while travelers have a legal right to opt for a pat-down instead of the scan, some say that option may not be any better. More »
Tips For Taking Toto On A Trip
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 1, 2010 1:20 PM
16 Comments
If you're like us, you occasionally get a yearning to escape the concrete jungle or that suburban enclave and head for less familiar surroundings. But what what about your furry friend? The Chicago Tribune takes a look at a few tips and tricks to help get Rover on the open road with you. More »
(balmes)
U.S. Airways CEO On Tarmac Rule: "We Did This To Ourselves"
By Chris Morran on April 30, 2010 3:40 PM
39 Comments
Speaking to the press earlier this week about the new FAA rule that fines airlines for every plane that stays on the tarmac for longer than three hours without returning to the gate to let the passengers off, U.S. Airways CEO Doug Parker expressed his disappointment with the regulation, but he also made it clear that the airline industry had no one to blame but itself. More »
What Do You Think Of A Continental/United Merger?
By Chris Morran on April 30, 2010 2:07 PM
55 Comments
It's being widely reported that Continental Airlines and United Airlines, who have flirted with the idea in the past, could announce merger plans as early as Monday. If so, the deal would make the combined entity the largest airline in the world. But is that a good thing for travelers? More »
(nfarley)
How Often Will The New Tarmac Delay Rule Come Into Play?
By Chris Morran on April 29, 2010 3:43 PM
33 Comments
Today, the FAA's new rule that will penalize airlines for planes stranded on the tarmac for three or more hours goes into effect. While the regulation has some up in arms, the big question is: How big of a hassle is this going to be for the airlines? More »
(zonaphoto; NOT the actual plane)
Continental Flight Diverted Over Threatening Message
By Chris Morran on April 28, 2010 1:22 PM
53 Comments
A flight from Houston to Washington, D.C., was diverted to an airport in North Carolina earlier today after what is being described as a threatening message was discovered on the jet's bathroom mirror. More »
FAA To Airlines: No More Minesweeper Or Solitaire In Cockpit
By Chris Morran on April 27, 2010 2:23 PM
37 Comments
Tiring of pilots overshooting their destination by over 100 miles because they were busy fiddling with their laptop, the FAA has asked all airlines to create and enforce policies to minimize distractions in the cockpit. More »
(nfarley)
DOT: No Exemptions For New Tarmac Rules
By Chris Morran on April 22, 2010 5:00 PM
38 Comments
Remember a few weeks back when a bunch of airlines asked the FAA for a temporary exemption to the new rules about how long planes can wait on a tarmac? Earlier today DOT secretary Ray LaHood told them to go take a flying leap. More »
U.S. Airways Opts To Stay Single, Ends Merger Talks With United
By Chris Morran on April 22, 2010 12:34 PM
15 Comments
Looks like you should return that toaster oven you were going to give U.S. Airways and United Airlines for their merger, because the two carriers have stopped talking to each other after four months of heavy flirting. More »
Spirit Airlines Introduces "Pre-Reclined" Seats
By Chris Morran on April 21, 2010 1:00 PM
84 Comments
While everyone's been raising a hoot and a holler about Spirit Airlines' recent decision to begin charging for carry-on bags, the budget carrier has quietly been rolling out planes with "pre-reclined" seats. At least you don't have to worry about being chided by a flight attendant to sit up while the plane prepares to land. More »
(karlfrankowski and Alex Barth)
Megabus Offers Complimentary Megasauna On NYC To DC Trip
By Laura Northrup on April 21, 2010 12:05 PM
81 Comments
Megabus is a bus service that goes from city to city, and is meant to compete with Amtrak and Greyhound. They offer decent prices, occasional great specials, and free wi-fi. On a trip during Easter weekend, Mark learned that the service offers another perk he didn't exactly want: a 4-hour complimentary Megasauna. The air conditioning on his bus failed, and the passengers roasted down the East Coast. More »
Travel Insurance Won't Cover Newly Insured Trips Foiled By Icelandic Volcano Ash
By Phil Villarreal on April 20, 2010 9:30 AM
89 Comments
That wacky Icelandic volcano ash is not only mucking up Europes skies and screwed up travel plans worldwide, it's also clouding the morals of travel insurance policy issuers, which are refusing to cover new claims brought on by the disaster, the Wall Street Journal reports. More »
4 Times You Should Just Say No To Super-Low Airfares
By Chris Morran on April 19, 2010 1:20 PM
25 Comments
It's hard to say no to something that seems like a good deal, especially on something that's normally as expensive as air travel. But travel journalist Christopher Elliott recently put together a list of four situations in which you shouldn't give into temptation when it comes to booking airline tickets. More »
Senator Schumer: 5 Airlines Commit To No Carry-On Fees
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 18, 2010 2:56 PM
46 Comments
In the aftermath of Spirit Airlines' announcement that they'll be charging up to $45 for carry-on bags, five airlines have pledged that they won't jump on the fee bandwagon. New York Sen. Charles Schumer said today that American, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways and JetBlue have told him they won't start charging for carry-ons. More »
Jason Cochran
W Hotel In Hollywood Rescinds Too Uncool For Pool Policy
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 17, 2010 2:42 PM
19 Comments
It seems the too-cool-for-school policy at The W in Hollywood of barring its own guests from its swanky rooftop parties has gone the way of other bad ideas in hotel management. After Jason Cochran, blogger for The Gadling, called them out for their super douchey policy, management has done some quality backpedaling. More »
(JohnKit)
10 Common Mistakes Made When Booking Airline Tickets
By Chris Morran on April 16, 2010 12:22 PM
51 Comments
Long gone is the era of the all-powerful travel agent, in whom you could trust to get you the best deal on your travel plans and to make sure nothing huge was overlooked. Now we're almost all booking our own flights, and the manifold options for booking can cause even the most fastidious among us to make a mistake. That's why the good people at USA Today put together this list of the 10 most common travel booking mistakes. More »
Volcanic Ash Strands Thousands Of Air Travelers
By Chris Morran on April 15, 2010 12:22 PM
25 Comments
Tens of thousands of air travelers around the world are stuck today, as a mammoth cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano has shut down all air traffic over Britain, Ireland and the Nordic countries. More »
(grifta67)
Ryanair CEO: "We'll Give Pay Toilet Money To Charity"
By Chris Morran on April 14, 2010 2:43 PM
132 Comments
Ryanair's much-maligned plan to charge passengers to use the toilet on their flights has been completely misunderstood, says the cheapy airline's CEO. In fact, he says he's willing to give all the money from the pay toilets to charity to prove his point. More »
(opacity)
Hawaiian Airlines Tops Quality Study, American Eagle Falls Flat
By Chris Morran on April 13, 2010 5:28 PM
39 Comments
For the second year in a row, Hawaiian Airlines has topped a study that ranks 18 commercial carriers according to a formula that accounts for everything from on-time arrivals/departures to baggage handling to customer complaints. On the bottom end of the rankings was American Eagle. More »
Midwest Airlines To Take Frontier Name, Still Offer Cookies
By Chris Morran on April 13, 2010 1:00 PM
17 Comments
Since they both were acquired by the same holding company last year, it's been an inevitability that both Midwest Airlines and Frontier would eventually end up flying under the same brand, but it remained to be seen whether one would fold into the other or there would be a completely new name. That mystery ended this morning with Republic announcing that, as of today, Midwest will now be part of the Frontier family. More »
Spirit CEO Justifies Carry-On Bag Fees
By Chris Walters on April 13, 2010 10:36 AM
91 Comments
Executives love to justify price increases or staff reductions by hauling out the customer service argument, because then any complaint you make can be framed as self-defeating. ("Don't you want better service?") On that note, Spirit's CEO Ben Baldanza told travel blogger Christopher Elliott last week that the new carry-on bag fee is really intended to reduce gate delays. Remember to send a thank-you card to Baldanza. More »
United Flight Attendant Refuses To Help Disabled Woman With Bags
By Phil Villarreal on April 12, 2010 1:00 PM
272 Comments
Evilpuppy, who says she's disabled, blogs that a United flight attendant refused to help her hoist her bags into the overhead compartment. More »
(PhillipC)
Senator Joins DOT Secretary In Blasting Spirit's New Carry-On Bag Fees
By Chris Walters on April 12, 2010 10:25 AM
67 Comments
Spirit Airline's ballsy new $20-45 fee for carry-on bags has already caught the attention of the Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, and now New York Senator Charles Schumer is rattling his sword. More »
(bigpresh)
Ryanair's Pay To Potty Policy Could Violate Laws
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 11, 2010 12:53 PM
96 Comments
If you’re still angry over airline Ryanair's announcement last week that they’ll begin charging to use the bathroom on flights, as well as reducing the number of lavatories, you’re not alone — and the law might be on your side. One critic of the policy says he thinks the airline could be violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by limiting access to restrooms. More »
DOT Secretary: Spirit Airlines Doesn't Care About Their Customers
By Chris Morran on April 9, 2010 9:07 AM
68 Comments
If you found yourself getting all riled up by Spirit Airlines' announcement on Tuesday that they are now charging for carry-on bags, you were not alone. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has taken aim the move, calling it "outrageous" and "ridiculous." More »
Survey: Which Airline Fees Are The Most Evil?
By Chris Morran on April 8, 2010 11:53 AM
71 Comments
Between Spirit Airlines deciding to charge for carry-on bags and Ryanair installing pay toilets on their planes, it hasn't been a good PR week for air travel. But not all airline surcharges are created equal, so we want to get your feedback on which extras — from food to headphones to legroom — get your blood boiling the most. More »
(jon goss)
Ryanair Going Ahead With Pay-To-Potty Plan
By Chris Morran on April 7, 2010 12:04 PM
186 Comments
Almost a year after announcing their plans to charge passengers for using toilets on their planes, discount airline Ryanair is finally pushing ahead with not only installing the pay potties on their jets, but cutting down the number of toilets available to passengers. More »
W Hotel In Hollywood Won't Let Guests Use Its Pool
By Chris Walters on April 6, 2010 6:44 PM
60 Comments
If you plan to visit Los Angeles and want to stay at the W Hollywood, don't expect to get to see the rooftop pool. The hotel contracted the running and maintenance of its pool out to a Las Vegas promotion company, and now it's been turned into an exclusive club and is off-limits to paying customers of the hotel. More »
(balmes)
Don't Fall Asleep On A Plane; You Might Wake Up In The Hangar
By Chris Morran on April 6, 2010 4:58 PM
57 Comments
Just about anyone who has taken a long flight has fallen asleep in their seat for at least a few minutes. But most of us wake up when the plane lands. And in only the rarest situation do we wake up in an otherwise empty jet... inside the airplane hangar. But that's exactly what a passenger on an Air Canada flight says happened to him. More »
(balmes)
U.S. Airways & Continental Get Head Start On Observing New Tarmac Delay Rules
By Chris Morran on April 6, 2010 1:30 PM
17 Comments
Even though the new FAA rules regarding tarmac delays don't kick in until April 29, both U.S. Airways and Continental say they have already begun observing the regulations. More »
Spirit Airlines Now Charging Up To $45 For Carry On Bags
By Chris Morran on April 6, 2010 11:55 AM
126 Comments
Welcome to the slippery slope of air travel fees. Today, discount flier Spirit Airlines announced that they will begin charging anywhere from $20 to $45 for you to carry on your own bag. More »
If An Airline Loses Your Luggage, Get Compensation
By Chris Walters on April 5, 2010 12:45 PM
13 Comments
The U.S. Department of Transportation says that despite what the airline tells you, there are certain regulations it must follow when it loses a passenger's luggage. Here are the things to remember if you're in this unfortunate situation. More »
No One Has The Power To Cancel Your Hotel Reservation Made Through An Airline Web Site
By Laura Northrup on April 3, 2010 4:55 PM
27 Comments
Booking a hotel room through an airline's web site can lead to a roach-infested, unacceptable hotel experience, as reader Bruce learned recently. Nick tells Consumerist that he had a similar Kafkaesque hotel booking experience booking a Super 8 reservation through Continental Airlines. He learned that no one at either the airline or the hotel had the power to change his reservation—even though he was trying to cancel the reservation months in advance. More »
New Security Measures Halt Mandatory Screening Of Travelers From 14 Countries
By Chris Morran on April 2, 2010 2:50 PM
45 Comments
New security measures announced today by the Department of Homeland Security will eliminate the mandatory screening of air travelers from 14 countries, including Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan and Iran. Instead, only travelers matching the most current threat information will be put under the microscope. More »
Unpaid Flight Attendants Bare It All For Cash & Publicity
By Chris Morran on April 1, 2010 4:29 PM
19 Comments
Former flight attendants for defunct Spanish airline Air Comet say they're owed around €7 million (about $9.5 million) in unpaid wages. So as a combination fundraiser/PR stunt, the women decided to re-enact every '80s party movie and release a racy calendar. More »
(KFreon)
Amtrak Decides To Continue Discounted Fares In Northeast
By Chris Morran on April 1, 2010 10:00 AM
24 Comments
Over a year ago, Amtrak began offering discount fares of around 25% on several of its Northeast Regional lines. And after extending them last November they've decided to keep them indefinitely. More »
Worst Company In America: United VS Continental
By Chris Morran on March 31, 2010 1:59 PM
39 Comments
Another battle in the skies, it's United, which breaks guitars, vs Continental, which leaves you stranded on the tarmac for so long the DOT actually starts to care. More »
VIDEO: How I Booked My JetBlue Flight For The Wrong Month
By Chris Morran on March 31, 2010 1:30 PM
105 Comments
A reader wrote into Consumerist because he recently booked a flight on JetBlue, only to discover when attempting to check in at the airport that he'd somehow booked the return flight for a full month later than it should have been. More »
AirTran Makes Fun Of Southwest Seating In Commercial
By Chris Walters on March 31, 2010 12:20 PM
56 Comments
If you've ever been part of the mad dash for seats on a Southwest Airlines flight, you might find this video from AirTran funny. In it, mooing passengers race down the jetway while a Southwest employee makes ridiculous jokes. Meanwhile, AirTran serves its assigned-seat passengers Kool-Aid. Wait, now I'm confused about who's being mocked here. More »
JetBlue & American Trade Landing Rights To Expand Routes
By Chris Morran on March 31, 2010 11:22 AM
18 Comments
American Airlines announced a deal with JetBlue today that would significantly increase their presence at JFK Airport in New York. Meanwhile, JetBlue will now have the ability to offer service to and from Washington D.C.'s Reagan National Airport. More »
Someone Actually Wanted To Book A Vacation At Schrute Farms
By Chris Morran on March 30, 2010 2:00 PM
38 Comments
The folks at travel site TripAdvisor.com recently had to put a warning on their listing for Schrute Farms, the "number one beet-related agrotourism destination in Northeastern Pennsylvania," not because of bad reviews or because the innkeepers would regale them with detailed descriptions of the various bears found in the region. No, it's because Schrute Farms only exists in the magical world of TV. More »
(Pylon757)
Delta Apologizes For Threatening To Cancel Flight
By Phil Villarreal on March 30, 2010 8:30 AM
60 Comments
Coincidentally, Delta emailed Teresa an apology the same day we posted her complaint that the airline threatened to cancel its flight if enough passengers didn't take its offer to bump them to a later flight. This after Delta had changed her itinerary without notice. More »
Delta Threatens Flight Cancellation If Passengers Refuse Bumpage
By Phil Villarreal on March 29, 2010 10:10 AM
79 Comments
Teresa says Delta did an excellent job of driving her into the arms of other airlines by not only changing her itinerary without notice, but overbooking the changed flight and demanding passengers take their bump offer, otherwise they'd cancel the flight. More »
(saaby)
Always Keep Your Boarding Pass
By Chris Walters on March 29, 2010 6:13 AM
16 Comments
Over on his travel blog, Christopher Elliott writes that if you want to ensure you'll get the reward program miles you deserve, you should hold on to your boarding pass. In his example, a frequent flyer with Air France couldn't get his Delta miles credited even though the airlines codeshare, because Air France demanded the original Delta boarding pass, which the customer had thrown away. Elliot managed to get the airline to cave on this instance, but he points out that it's easier (and better in case of an IRS audit) to hold on to them "just in case." More »
Rent Cars For $3-10 A Day... Just Get Them Out Of Florida
By Chris Morran on March 26, 2010 12:02 PM
24 Comments
For some reason, there are a lot of rental car lots in Florida bursting at the seams with cars they need to distribute to the rest of the country. That's why several national rental companies are offering dirt-cheap — as little as $3/day — one-way rentals, just so long as you get those cars out of Florida. More »
(cote)
Your Gigantic Carry-On Bags Are A Hazard To Flight Attendants
By Laura Northrup on March 25, 2010 3:39 PM
137 Comments
It's logical that as airlines charge customers fees to check their luggage, passengers will carry on as much of their belongings as they possibly can. The logical consequence of that? Passengers and crew getting bonked on the head by bottles of liquor and carry-on toilets. More »
Delta Erroneously Charged My Credit Card, Won't Give Me Refund
By Phil Villarreal on March 25, 2010 9:31 AM
45 Comments
John tried to use travel vouchers to pay for a flight, but the airline only accepted one of them and charged the rest to his credit card. Now he can't get his money back no matter what he tries. More »
14 Ways Hotels Slash Costs
By Phil Villarreal on March 25, 2010 8:51 AM
64 Comments
Coupon Sherpa came up with a list of ways hotels get sneaky to cut down on overhead. More »
Crappy Food, Flimsy Headphones & 5 Other Things That Used To Be Free On Flights
By Chris Morran on March 24, 2010 4:06 PM
65 Comments
Somewhere in the last two decades, airplane food went from comedy punchline to premium purchase (though the quality is still often laughable), airline headphones went from "crappy but they'll do in a pinch" to "crappy but I have to pay up to $5 for them," and you may soon need to pay to join the mile-high club on some airlines. It was enough to make the folks at KIVI TV nostalgiac enough to look back at 7 former freebies we no longer enjoy. More »
(silas216)
Airport Guard Accused Of Using Scanner To Harass Female Co-Worker
By Chris Morran on March 24, 2010 2:21 PM
99 Comments
You knew this had to happen eventually. A security guard at Heathrow Airport is now facing harassment allegations after using a full-body scanner to snap a revealing pic of a female co-worker... Oh, and telling her how much he loves her boobs. More »
Miami-Bound American Airlines Flight Diverted To Phoenix Due To Generator Problem
By Chris Morran on March 24, 2010 10:29 AM
14 Comments
Two days after an American Airlines flight from Chicago to Colorado had to make an emergency landing because of "pressurization problems," the airline had to divert a Miami-bound plane to Phoenix because of a generator problem. More »
JetBlue Throws 2-Day Sample Sale
By Chris Morran on March 23, 2010 4:58 PM
21 Comments
Through tomorrow night, JetBlue is offering deep discounts on dozens of flights as part of their 2-Day Sample Sale, with some flights starting as low as $29 each way. More »
American Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing Due To "Pressurization Problem"
By Chris Morran on March 22, 2010 2:00 AM
10 Comments
A rep for the Chicago Dept. of Aviation said a "pressurization problem" was to blame for the American Airlines flight that made an emergency landing at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Sunday morning. More »
FAA Proposes Over $1 Million In Fines Against American Airlines
By Chris Morran on March 19, 2010 12:04 PM
27 Comments
It's been a bad week for American Airlines. Not only are their flight attendants and ground crew edging closer to a strike, the FAA has proposed over $1 million in fines for alleged safety violations. More »
United Forgets That You Had Reserved Seats, Shrugs
By Laura Northrup on March 18, 2010 12:35 PM
95 Comments
Silly Mike. He thought that by booking seats in the bulkhead row next to each other on well ahead of time for his flights to and from Tokyo on United later this week, he would actually get to sit in those seats. Instead, he writes, United's customer service changed the plane type for their flight long after he reserved his tickets. Yet the airline somehow managed to not re-book seats for Mike and his wife at all. When he called to straighten things out, the airline put them on a different flight not sitting together and took away their precious bulkhead seats. United's representatives don't see why Mike has a problem with any of this. More »
(afagen)
United Offers Sale On Checked Bags If You FedEx Them
By Chris Morran on March 18, 2010 10:25 AM
45 Comments
If you're planning on flying on United Airlines between now and March 29, the airline is offering to help you save a bit of cash on your checked luggage... if you ship it via FedEx. More »
Universal Studios Gift Shop Guy Wrongly Told Me It Was OK To Bring Snow Globe On Flight
By Phil Villarreal on March 18, 2010 9:28 AM
91 Comments
Back in November we learned the TSA suspected snow globes of being possible terrorist devices, possibly because of their overpoweringly wintry and hypnotic nature. Apparently the Universal Studios gift shop doesn't have us on RSS, because an employee told John it was OK to bring on his globe on a flight. More »
(JohnKit)
Stink On U.S. Airways Plane Caused By Exhaust Fumes
By Chris Morran on March 18, 2010 9:25 AM
40 Comments
Remember that funny-smelling U.S. Airways plane that sent passengers and crew to the hospital for the third time in less than three months? Well, the FAA thinks they know what was behind the most recent incident — exhaust fumes. More »
(balmes)
American Airlines Flight Attendants Moving Closer To Strike
By Chris Morran on March 18, 2010 1:13 AM
35 Comments
The flight attendants at American Airlines say that contract negotiations have hit a wall, so they've asked for permission call an end to the talks. If granted, this would move the union one step closer to what could be the largest airline strike in the U.S. since 2005. More »
(Meghann)
5 Survival Tips For When Your Plane Is Stranded
By Chris Morran on March 17, 2010 12:15 PM
84 Comments
Because it happens way too frequently, we're often posting horror stories of air travelers being cooped up in a plane for hours on the tarmac waiting for weather to clear, a runway to open or the stars to align. And even though there will soon be penalties for planes that make passengers idle too long on the tarmac, it's still going to happen. And just in case it happens to you, the folks over at Jaunted have prepared these 5 tips for surving the ordeal with a minimum of pain. More »
(Photo: Abeeeer)
American Airlines, Jet Blue, Delta Seek To Delay Tarmac Imprisonment Rule
By Chris Walters on March 17, 2010 10:37 AM
30 Comments
You know that new rule that says airlines have to let passengers off the plane if it's stuck on the tarmac for more than 3 hours? It's supposed to go into effect in April, but at least three airlines are hoping to delay it because they say runway repairs at JFK Airport will interfere with schedules. More »
When It's Time To Start Running Out The Clock On Life, Tucson Is The Place
By Phil Villarreal on March 17, 2010 8:43 AM
37 Comments
BusinessWeek came out with a list of the most affordable places to retire, and my hometown of Tucson topped the rankings. This is a big deal for Tucson, given it normally doesn't top any national statistical categories other than impoverished education systems and cholla stings. More »
Same U.S. Airways Plane Makes Passengers Sick For Third Time In 3 Months
By Chris Morran on March 17, 2010 8:42 AM
26 Comments
For the third time in just three months, the same U.S. Airways plane has reportedly made passengers and crew members ill and complaining of an odd odor. This time, the seemingly cursed jet had 9 people, including 2 pilots, heading to the hospital. More »
VIDEO: Inside The 16-Hour Flight From Hell
By Chris Morran on March 16, 2010 12:55 PM
55 Comments
This weekend's torrential downpours in the New York City area wreaked havoc on air travel, as flights were canceled, airports closed and planes rerouted. One such flight was Virgin America Flight 404, where passengers were kept cooped up in the plane, nibbling on rationed Pringles and sipping water, while it sat on the tarmac for nearly 7 hours. More »
(jimg944)
CDC And Celebrity Cruises Can't Figure Out Why Passengers Keep Getting Sick
By Chris Walters on March 16, 2010 10:44 AM
49 Comments
Remember the diarrhea nightmare vessel that sickened 450 passengers a few weeks back? Once it got back home, Celebrity Cruises delayed the next trip by a day so that it could perform a "full cleaning." It didn't help much, though: CNN says that about 10% of passengers on the next sailing got sick, and about 19% of passengers on the current sailing are now sick. More »
Update: Armed Guards Fail To Squash US Air 1922 Passenger Revolt
By Ben Popken on March 16, 2010 7:36 AM
72 Comments
Armed guards tried to quell an uprising yesterday among the passengers of US Airways flight 1922, who have been stuck in Costa Rica since their flight got canceled Saturday afternoon. The guards failed. More »
Pilots Who Missed Minnesota Will Not Appeal License Revocation
By Chris Morran on March 15, 2010 5:33 PM
40 Comments
Remember those Northwest Airlines pilots who were too busy looking at their laptops to bother landing in Minneapolis? They have made a deal with the FAA to drop their appeal to have their licenses reinstated. More »
Continental "Improves" Coach Meals By Making You Pay For Them
By Chris Morran on March 15, 2010 1:41 PM
88 Comments
Hungry Continental frequent fliers take note: The airline announced today that it's going to stop serving free meals for coach passengers on all domestic flights. More »
JetBlue Loses My Luggage, Doesn't Care
By Phil Villarreal on March 15, 2010 9:04 AM
20 Comments
Justin says JetBlue lost his family's luggage, and ever since he's been locked in a long, losing battle in which he's tried unsuccesfully to get the airline to give a damn. He says he's been met with indifference at every stage of the arduous complaint process. More »
United Airlines Begins Offering Digital Boarding Passes
By Chris Morran on March 12, 2010 5:08 PM
52 Comments
In a move to cut down on paper and ID fraud, United Airlines has announced passengers can now opt out of paper boarding passes and have digital boarding passes sent to their Internet-ready phones. More »
Man Sues Airline For Not Looking At His Scrotum
By Chris Morran on March 11, 2010 6:05 PM
84 Comments
A man recently filed suit against Canadian airline Air Transat because the flight attendants refused to give proper medical attention... to his scrotum. More »
Survivor Star Jerri Manthey Gets Mad At U.S. Airways, Writes 3,300-Word Complaint Letter
By Chris Morran on March 10, 2010 3:23 PM
111 Comments
Whenever readers ask for advice on writing a good complaint letter, we always suggest that they keep the letter on-point, even-keeled and as direct and brief as possible. That is not exactly what 3-time "Survivor" contestant Jerri Manthey has done. Displeased with her experience on a recent U.S. Airways flight, the reality star might have gone a little too far in penning a 3.300-word, three chapter epistle to the airline. More »
(Credit Card Outlaw)
Expedia Baited And Switched Me On Vegas Vacation
By Phil Villarreal on March 10, 2010 10:30 AM
37 Comments
Credit Card Oultaw posts about an Expedia Las Vegas vacation ad for airfare and a stay at a 4-star hotel starting at $39, but clicked on it, went through the process and discovered the total cost of the cheapest trip was $2,000. More »
U.S. Airways Fined $40K For Not Properly Revealing Prices Online
By Chris Morran on March 9, 2010 10:01 AM
15 Comments
For anyone who has ever been put off by an airline's overly complicated explanation of their already cryptic fare schedule, there might be a slight, sweet taste of vengeance in this news: The Dept. of Transportation just slapped US Airways with a $40,000 fine for not disclosing their full ticket prices on their Web site. More »
Crazy Cruise Line Telemarketer Pulls Out Every Trick In The Book
By Chris Walters on March 8, 2010 5:18 PM
46 Comments
John Tedesco of the San Antonio Express-News was badgered last week by a telemarketer who wouldn't take no for an answer. He decided to keep her talking for a while to see how many ways she'd try to get him to hand over his credit card number for a "free" cruise. Here were all the tricks she used during her sales pitch. More »
Jet Blue Celebrates 10th Birthday With $10 Fares
By Chris Morran on March 8, 2010 11:58 AM
26 Comments
Looking to book a cheap flight in the next few hours? Then check out JetBlue. The airline is saying "Happy 10th birthday" to itself with $10 fares from NYC to 10 other destinations — but only until 11:59pm CST tonight. More »
New Airport Screening Machines To Launch Monday
By Chris Morran on March 5, 2010 5:02 PM
83 Comments
Starting Monday, some passengers at Boston's Logan Airport will have the honor and privilege of being the first to be scanned by a new machine that probably costs more than their house. And this is just the beginning of the Dept. of Homeland Security's plan to install 450 of the sparkly new terrorist detectors in airports across the nation over the next year. More »
What's The Best Airline For Bringing My Bike?
By Chris Morran on March 5, 2010 4:18 PM
19 Comments
After yesterday's story about cyclists being unhappy with United's exorbitant fee to check bikes on their planes, the folks over at Bicycling wrote to share their breakdown of the best and worst airlines for when you're taking your wheels with you. More »
(alan5o5)
Lawyer Loses Coat, Threatens To Sue City Of Houston & Continental Airlines
By Chris Morran on March 5, 2010 12:10 PM
122 Comments
If you've traveled enough in your life, you've probably made the mistake of leaving something in the airport or on a plane. But have you ever thought of filing a lawsuit against the airline? Or better yet the city in which the airport is located? Well, just like a middle-age, upper-class male version of Norma Rae, there's a Texas lawyer willing to put his neck on the line for us all. More »
Former Head Of Security At O'Hare Says The Airport's Security Sucks
By Meg Marco on March 4, 2010 4:20 PM
32 Comments
According WBEZ, the former head of security at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport says security at the airport is "extremely weak" and "easily defeatable." We suppose he would know. More »
Cyclists Take Their Beef With United Airlines To Facebook
By Chris Morran on March 4, 2010 11:11 AM
29 Comments
You'd think United Airlines would have learned a lesson from the whole "United Broke My Guitar" thing. But they've once again let a passenger's problem go global. This time, it's almost 6,000 Facebook users who think the airline charges too much to check your bike on their planes. More »
(kalleboo)
Continental Realizes Exit Row Seats Have More Legroom, Charges More For Them
By Chris Morran on March 3, 2010 3:38 PM
125 Comments
In an announcement this morning, Continental Airlines said that, starting March 17, they will be offering passengers "a new option allowing you to purchase seat assignments for unreserved, Economy Class seats that feature extra legroom." But instead of readjusting the seats on their planes to allow for more space, they're really just charging for sitting in an exit row. More »
United Breaks Guitars Song 3: The Grand Finale
By Ben Popken on March 3, 2010 1:10 PM
25 Comments
The final leg of Dave Carrol's anti-United Airlines musical trifecta is here. He's not mad anymore. He's got his big break and two new Taylor guitars. What about all the customers who write David every day with their own United horror stories? More »
British Airways Gets Trashy, Plans To Start Using Garbage For Fuel
By Chris Morran on March 3, 2010 11:24 AM
15 Comments
Because we'll always make garbage and we may not always be able to make jet fuel, British Airways announced today that they've partnered with biofuel company Solena Group to begin using fuel converted from waste materials in 2014. More »
Delta Sent My Kid Off Plane With A Stranger, Gave Me $300 To Make Up For It
By Phil Villarreal on March 3, 2010 10:30 AM
167 Comments
Christina says she paid $200 for Delta to keep an eye on her son on a round trip flight, but inexplicably allowed him to walk off the flight with a man the flight attendants thought was his uncle. She spotted her son with the man, but worries about what might have happened had she not been there at the right time. More »
Slate's 10 Ways To Fix Airline Seating
By Chris Walters on March 2, 2010 11:20 AM
62 Comments
Yesterday we covered Slate's look at what's wrong with airline seating—it's not just overweight people who feel cramped on flights these days. Slate asked its readers to come up with some practical solutions to the problem, and today they printed the top ten suggestions. More »
United Lost My $900 Camera, Says Policy Absolves Them
By Phil Villarreal on March 2, 2010 10:30 AM
111 Comments
Harold says he paid $40 to check luggage with valuable camera equipment on a multi-leg United flight from Hawaii to Tucson, only to discover his camera had been lost. When he complained, United would have none of it, claiming it's airline policy not to assume liability for camera equipment. More »
New Song Tonight From "United Breaks Guitars" Guy
By Ben Popken on March 2, 2010 9:22 AM
20 Comments
Tonight at 7:30 Eastern the third and final installment in the "United Breaks Guitars" music trilogy hits the streets in a live webcast release party. As you wait for that latest hot joint, relive the magic and catch up on the story of the country singer who watched in horror from their airplane as baggage handlers tossed around his Taylor guitar on the tarmac and broke it, by watching the first two videos: More »
Slate Looks At What's Wrong With Airline Seating
By Chris Walters on March 1, 2010 1:51 PM
158 Comments
Although we've discussed it here plenty of times, the recent twitstorm caused by Kevin Smith after he was booted from a Southwest flight has brought more mainstream coverage to the issue of airline seating. Slate asked its readers for input, and today it published the most consistent arguments, like it's not just a problem for overweight people, and we might have to buy our way out of it. More »
(as737700)
JFK Runway Work Forces 20% Cut In Flights For Next Four Months
By Chris Morran on March 1, 2010 8:49 AM
14 Comments
Today marks the beginning of what could be an ugly four months at JFK International Airport, as the NYC-area travel hub loses its busiest runway for renovation work. This move has forced the airport to reduce the number of flights going in and out by 20% during this time. More »
(boeke)
US Airways Won't Get Me Where I Want To Go, Won't Refund My Return Flight
By Phil Villarreal on March 1, 2010 8:30 AM
43 Comments
Craig at BudgetPulse thought he'd fly down to Miami for the weekend, but ran into trouble when his US Airways flight was canceled due to mechanical problems. Because he had purchased his departing and returning flights separately, he said the airline wouldn't refund that now useless return flight. He writes: More »
Airline Declares "No Boys Allowed" In The Bathroom
By Chris Morran on February 26, 2010 11:51 AM
104 Comments
After decades of having to share airplane bathrooms with messy fellow travelers of the male persuasion, female passengers on one airline are about to get a new perk — female-only restrooms. More »
Delta Won't Let Me Use The $55 Change On My Travel Voucher
By Phil Villarreal on February 25, 2010 8:45 AM
43 Comments
Delta Airlines gave Treat a $400 voucher when it bumped him from a flight, but it turned out to be something of a trick. When he used $345 of that to buy another flight, Delta's computer system wouldn't let him access that final $55. More »
(Moody75)
America's Best Airports: Detroit, Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul
By Chris Walters on February 24, 2010 8:29 PM
74 Comments
J.D. Power and Associates has released rankings of U.S. airports based on a survey of 12,000 travelers last year, and Detroit's decision to mesmerize travelers with colored light really paid off. You can check out the list here and sort the airports by overall satisfaction or by factors like the quality of check-in or baggage claim. More »
DMV Staffers Made $1 Million Selling Fake IDs To Criminals, Sex Offenders, Undercover Cop
By Chris Morran on February 24, 2010 8:27 AM
44 Comments
It's bad enough that so many of the people at the Department of Motor Vehicles treat you like so much gum stuck to the bottom of their shoe, now comes a report that a handful of DMV employees in New York have been getting rich selling fake ID — not to minors trying to score beer or get into R-rated movies — to convicted felons, sex offenders and just about anyone who could come up with the cash. More »
Traveler Makes Better Movie Than Avatar While Stranded In Airport
By Chris Morran on February 24, 2010 8:20 AM
50 Comments
You're stuck in a almost-vacant airport overnight during a blizzard — What are you going to do to entertain yourself? The answer was simple for one young potential victim of boredom... Turn the empty gate into her own personal playground and capture it all on video. More »
Caribbean Cruise Ship Turns Into Diarrhea Nightmare Vessel
By Chris Walters on February 23, 2010 6:41 PM
96 Comments
When gastrointestinal illness hits a cruise ship, there's nowhere to run or hide, as nearly 450 passengers and crewmembers aboard the Celebrity Cruises ship Mercury have discovered. Celebrity Cruises says they they're still investigating what caused the outbreak, but the symptoms include "upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea," according to their spokeswoman. More »
2009 Second Safest Year For Western-Built Jets In Aviation History
By Chris Walters on February 22, 2010 4:39 PM
30 Comments
According to a new report by the trade group International Air Transport Association, 2009 comes in just behind 2006 as the safest year on record (kept since 1964), with an average of 1 accident for every 1.4 million flights on a Western-built jet. CNN notes, "If you were to take a flight every day, odds are you could go 3,859 years without an accident." With delays and cancellations it would actually take nearly 6,000 years to complete all those flights, but it's still a good statistic to tell yourself the next time you get nervous about flying. More »
(:mainfr1me)
When Are You Too Sick To Fly?
By Meg Marco on February 22, 2010 4:03 PM
62 Comments
Southwest Airlines will let you know if you're too fat to fly, but what about too sick to fly? Well, it's your call. As the recent H1N1 epidemic taught us — your sense of altruism better be awesome because you're probably going to be paying a fee to stay home. More »
Lufthansa Pilots Put Strike On Hold For Now
By Chris Morran on February 22, 2010 3:17 PM
7 Comments
Less than 24 hours after 4,000 pilots for German airline Lufthansa walked off the job, the strike was suspended as talks resumed between the flyboys and girls and the company. More »
TSA Makes Disabled Child Remove Leg Braces, Walk Through Metal Detector
Another case of TSA overkill [philly] More »
By Ben Popken on February 18, 2010 4:00 PM
161 Comments
The TSA forced a disabled 4-year old to get out of his stroller and remove his leg braces and walk unassisted through the metal director. After the humiliating and frightening incident, the boy's father, a cop, told the supervisor, "This is overkill. He's 4 years old. I don't think he's a terrorist." It turns out that this didn't even follow TSA policy, which would have allowed for the boy to be privately screened and swabbed for explosive material traces, without having to remove his braces.Another case of TSA overkill [philly] More »
TSA Wants To Swab Your Hands For Bomb Juice
By Meg Marco on February 18, 2010 1:36 PM
90 Comments
The new cool development in security technology is a portable bomb juice scanner that the TSA plans to begin using to detect traces of explosives on your hands. More »
Don't Tweet The Identity Of Your Plane's Air Marshal
By Chris Walters on February 17, 2010 3:04 PM
78 Comments
On a flight yesterday, minor celebrity Kim Kardashian figured out that the guy next to her was the air marshal, at which point she excitedly announced it to her followers on Twitter. "Jim the air marshall makes me feel safe!" she tweeted. But it's okay, she understands how security protocols are supposed to work; after some of her followers complained about what she'd done, she responded, "[I] highly doubt anyone is twittering like me on this flight! shhh." More »
Why Is Delta's "Bereavement Fare" $290 More Than A Regular One?
By Chris Morran on February 16, 2010 3:27 PM
31 Comments
Consumerist reader Brian recently had a death in his family and needed to fly from Rochester, NY, to Boston.When he attempted to book a flight with a bereavement discount with Delta, he was told that there was a direct, non-bereavement fare available for almost half the cost. Brian's complaint is a common one among air travelers, and it springs from a general misconception of exactly what the airlines mean by "bereavement fare." More »
Kevin Smith Says He Is Not Too Fat To Fly Southwest
By Phil Villarreal on February 16, 2010 9:00 AM
99 Comments
Filmmaker Kevin Smith was thrown off a Southwest flight for taking up too much space, according to the airline, which has admitted communication errors led to the incident. Smith says he fit in his seat easily and was unfairly singled out. After telling his side of the story via Twitter in piecemeal fashion over the past couple days, Smith finally channeled his story into a cohesive blog post. More »
Pesky Birds Ruin Spirit Airlines Flight To NYC
By Chris Morran on February 15, 2010 5:50 PM
25 Comments
Tippi Hedren beware — the birds are at it again. Another passenger flight was the victim of a unprovoked "bird strike" by our fine-feathered foes on Monday. More »
Fake Boob Sets Off Fancy Schmancy Airport Security Scanner
By Chris Morran on February 11, 2010 6:40 PM
96 Comments
We live in a brave new world, people. Cars park themselves. Two-year-olds are Twittering. And now the TSA's latest and greatest security technology has become sentient enough to let us all know that it does not approve of breast implants. More »
Buying Tix For Overbooked Flights Got Me Bumped, Well-Rewarded
By Phil Villarreal on February 10, 2010 10:15 AM
38 Comments
A clever testimonial on Money Crashers explains how the writer procured four free flights by buying tickets for potentially overbooked flights, then getting bumped and paid off in travel vouchers. More »
American Airlines To Charge $8 For Blanket And Pillow, If You're Lucky
By Chris Walters on February 9, 2010 11:12 AM
50 Comments
Starting in May, American Airlines will sell blanket-and-inflatable-pillow packs for $8 each on domestic flights longer than 2 hours. If your flight is under 2 hours and you tend to get cold on a plane, relax: you can't shiver to death in under 2 hours, and by then you'll be at your destination. Or, okay, still on the runway at your departure spot, raiding your carry-on for snacks. You might want to bring a light jacket. More »
(Photo: Save vs Death)
United Stewards' "TMI" Session Nets Traveler $250 Coupon
By Ben Popken on February 1, 2010 11:00 AM
71 Comments
Bucky Turco got a $250 credit for his next United Express flight after he complained about the two-hour gab fest between two United stewards he endured on a recent trip from SLC to ORD. In that time he learned from the two women such factoids as: Hispanics, Blacks and Asians shouldn't go blonde, a type of birth control gave one of the stewards' sister menstrual spots, how getting spit on is the ultimate disrespect, right up there with getting a shoe thrown at you like George Bush did, and more. Too much information! More »
WiFi Taking Flight At Southwest Later This Year
By Phil Villarreal on February 1, 2010 8:30 AM
27 Comments
Southwest Airlines plans to add WiFi in the second quarter of this year, the Chicago Tribune reports: More »
(noizyboy)
10 Of The Strangest Unclaimed Airline Baggage Items Ever Found
By Laura Northrup on January 31, 2010 10:00 AM
87 Comments
You've probably heard of the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Alabama. It's where all lost suitcases that are never reunited with their owners end up. This makes it both the world's most amazing thrift store and a collection of pretty weird stuff. A recent mental_floss article rounded up ten of the strangest (and most valuable) things they've found. More »
Check Out The Department Of Transportation's New Site For Airline Passengers
By Chris Walters on January 29, 2010 5:54 PM
10 Comments
If you've got a complaint about an airline, or you want to find out more about whether your complaint is valid, oh boy is there a treat in store for you! Earlier this month, the DOT launched a redesigned consumer aviation website at airconsumer.dot.gov. The goal of the site is "to make it as easy as possible for consumers to find the information they need to make their air travel experience as smooth and hassle-free as possible." More »
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This Contact Lens Solution Bottle Is A Little Misleading
By Laura Northrup on January 28, 2010 11:01 AM
85 Comments
Noah found a bottle of contact lens solution that proclaimed on its package that it's small enough to comply with the TSA's liquid rules. This would be great if the bottle were small enough to comply with the TSA's liquid rules. More »
(Photo: ineffable_pulchritude)
Passenger And Steward Fight Over Cup Of Ice
By Ben Popken on January 26, 2010 11:00 AM
152 Comments
There's dark clouds brewing in the friendly skies and sometimes it's the passengers fault. George Hobica writes, "I was on a plane recently, first class, on American, where the guy sitting next to me shook his glass as the flight attendant was passing by and said "More ice"—the FA said, "What's the magic word" and the guy said, "Oh, you mean I'm supposed to say please? I just want more ice" ... and she said, "You want more ice, it's up in the galley. Go get it yourself."
(Photo: Bucky Turco)
TSA Takes A Nap
By Ben Popken on January 25, 2010 5:19 PM
76 Comments
Being ineffectual is hard work. TSA nappy time! To sleep, perchance to dream of more hilarious pranks. ANIMAL's Bucky Turco snapped this at New York's LaGuardia airport.
(Photo: WexDub)
Can A Large Person Fly Comfortably Anywhere?
By Laura Northrup on January 22, 2010 3:00 PM
261 Comments
Deb has an interesting question. She and her husband openly admit that they're too large to fit in a single seat, so they purchase three seats when they travel by air. The problem, she writes, is that is that even when airline customers are happy to buy more than one seat, they are not actually granted access to multiple seats. Unmovable armrests and other barriers keep passengers of size from actually using the extra seat they have paid for. So, Deb wants to know: what's a fat frequent flier to do? More »
(Photo: opacity)
A Chart Of The Myriad Airline Baggage Fees
By Phil Villarreal on January 20, 2010 10:15 AM
20 Comments
DansDeals put together this massive chart of baggage fees from 21 American and Canadian airlines. More »
A Priceline Email Address That Humans Sometimes Read
By Ben Popken on January 15, 2010 12:00 PM
13 Comments
Priceline hates hates hates giving refunds. But if you need one, or some other aspect of their non-existent customer service fixed, you can email executive.services@priceline.com or OriginatesES@service.priceline.com. You will probably end up going to your bank to get the refund, but at least you know where to shove the cc. This information is also useful in case your 2-year old daughter is in the burn ward and you need to cancel a trip.
(Photo: hanapbuhay)
U.S. Airways Flight 401 Had Passenger Infected WIth Tuberculosis
By Phil Villarreal on January 15, 2010 10:15 AM
89 Comments
A tuberculosis-infected passenger flew on U.S. Airways 401 Saturday from Philadelphia to San Francisco, CNN reports. This despite the fact that the contagious and unidentified passenger was listed on a federal "do not board" list. More »
(Photo: frankieleon)
Sheraton Package Deal Costs Less A La Carte
By Phil Villarreal on January 15, 2010 8:45 AM
21 Comments
The travel review site Oyster Blog breaks down a Sheraton Nassau vacation deal that actually costs more than it would if you purchased the flight and hotel stay separately. More »
Flight Delays Jump
By Ben Popken on January 14, 2010 11:00 AM
41 Comments
"Whether or not the new security is making us safer, it seems to be making us slower." So says a pretty graph over at GOOD magazine shows the dramatic increase in sluggishness 10 major airports. Percentage of departures canceled or delayed has jumped up from last year. The worst offenders? Forth Worth, Dallas, and Kennedy, at 70%, 55% and 51%, respectively. We eke ever closer to a Soviet Russia model of air travel. Eventually we'll have to bribe the pilots to take off. More »
Debate Airport Security In The Playmobil Security Check Point Amazon Review Section
By Ben Popken on January 13, 2010 1:54 PM
26 Comments
After more knuckleheads tried to kill us, debate over airport security procedures has spilled over into all facets of lite, from the news to the diner counter to the the Amazon.com review section for the Playmobil Security Check Point. "I was a little disappointed when I first bought this item, because the functionality is limited. My 5 year old son pointed out that the passenger's shoes cannot be removed," quips one. There are dozens more. [Amazon] (Thanks to GitEmSteveDave!)
(Photo: Marike79)
Dollar Messed Up My Contract, Charged Me For An Extra Day For Being 40 Minutes Late
By Phil Villarreal on January 13, 2010 8:45 AM
66 Comments
Natraj rushed through the contract signing process when renting a car from Dollar, and his failure to confirm the car return time on the paperwork ended up costing him an extra day's rental fee. More »
Palm Coast Travel Sues Customer And A Blogger
By Ben Popken on January 11, 2010 12:56 PM
28 Comments
Travel blogger Elliott is not having a good year. First Homeland Security showed up on his doorstep with a subpoena demanding he name his sources, and now a travel agency is suing him for his reporting about their unauthorized sale of travel insurance. More »
(Photo: Omar Omar)
Greyhound Leaves 88-Year-Old Outside Of Locked Station In 38°F Weather
By Chris Walters on January 7, 2010 9:39 AM
93 Comments
Greyhound left an 88-year-old woman, along with around 30 other passengers, standing outside a locked bus station on Thanksgiving Day on a trip from Chicago to Detroit. Roxanne, who was one of the abandoned passengers on the sidewalk that morning, says that was just the final insult after an entire day of failure on Greyhound's part. She sent a complaint to Greyhound's executives on December 5th, but it was returned. Here is her summary of what happened. More »
(Photo: afagen)
When In Disney World, Skip The Meal Plan Unless You Really Love Dessert
By Phil Villarreal on December 31, 2009 8:45 AM
80 Comments
Blogger Well-Heeled reviews Disney World's $40-per-person-per-day meal plan. She semi-convincingly endorses it with a notable dose of buyer's remorse. More »
(Photo: kanegen)
TSA Gets Some Damned Sense, Eases Flight Restrictions
By Chris Walters on December 28, 2009 4:38 PM
90 Comments
Good news, people who are in the unfortunate position of having to do business with an airline in the near future: the TSA's embarrassingly reactionary new "security rules" have been eased as of this afternoon. Now it is up to the captain whether they're enforced on each flight, reports CBS News. More »
(Photo: james_jhs)
If Wall Street Ran The Airlines
By Chris Walters on December 23, 2009 10:35 AM
16 Comments
The Baseline Scenario has written a pitch-perfect article that pretends financial industry types are now speaking for the airline industry. It's filled with appeals to the free market, and lots of threats about how the American Way of Life will collapse if we can't let passengers sit for more than three hours on tarmacs. More »
(Photo: KFreon)
Greyhound Refunds Would-Be Traveler It Stood Up
By Phil Villarreal on December 23, 2009 8:45 AM
21 Comments
Miriam wanted to take the Greyhound bus on a trip, but it was Greyhound that took her for a ride, refusing for several weeks to refund her ticket, offering only a voucher. More »
(Photo: Omar Omar)
Man In Wheelchair Unimpressed With Greyhound
By Chris Walters on December 21, 2009 2:14 PM
115 Comments
According to Richard, Greyhound has some real work to do when it comes to making people in wheelchairs not feel like second-class citizens. Even in snowy weather and with delays, you don't really want a driver telling a passenger that he should have brought an attendant if he wanted to get on the bus. More »
Master Chart Of Airlines Fees
By Ben Popken on December 21, 2009 12:52 PM
30 Comments
Before you travel through the sky in the belly of a silver tube at hundreds of miles per hour, wouldn't it be nice to know which extra fees you might be charged for doing so? Kayak has a great chart for doing just that. More »
(Photo: SanFranAnnie)
Tarmac Imprisonment Limited To 3 Hours
By Ben Popken on December 21, 2009 11:20 AM
89 Comments
Airlines must let passengers stuck in airplanes stranded on the tarmac get off after 3 hours, the Transportation Department today ordered. They're also now only allowed to starve you for 2 hours, after which they must serve pizza or a reasonable facsimile. Toilets must be functional during the entire time as well. More »
(Photo: So Cal Metro)
UPDATED: Greyhound Stood Me Up And Won't Refund My Ticket
By Phil Villarreal on December 21, 2009 9:30 AM
86 Comments
Miriam says she bought a Greyhound ticket in November, but the bus skipped her stop without notifying her. She couldn't get the company to cough up anything more than a voucher for a future trip. She writes: More »
(Photo: tjriley82)
10 Things To Know To Keep Your Luggage From Getting Lost
By Ben Popken on December 18, 2009 12:31 PM
84 Comments
It's late night at the airport and you're the only one left standing at the baggage couresel, waiting for your luggage to arrive. The same blue duffel passes you like a broken record. Reality sinks in. Your baggage is lost. Tears form. Then, a rustling of rubber flaps. A form begins to emerge from the wall. Could it be, your lost bag? No, it is a man, a baggage handler man, covered in dust. He pats himself off and plants himself before you and begins a soliloquy. He is here to tell you you the 10 ten things you need to know to keep your bags from getting lost:
(Photo: The Joy Of The Mundane)
Southwest: Here's $150, Forgive Us For Suspecting Your Baby Was 2
By Phil Villarreal on December 18, 2009 8:00 AM
137 Comments
Southwest sent out a peace offering to Kris, the woman who was reduced to tears when a Southwest check-in agent stopped her from bringing her 7-month infant onto the plane because she couldn't prove his age. More »
(Photo: Paramount Pictures)
He Gets 'Up In The Air' Like Clooney
By Phil Villarreal on December 17, 2009 10:00 AM
45 Comments
Automobile sales consultant Tom Stuker is the real-life equivalent of George Clooney in the Oscar-contending film Up in the Air, well, except for the whole having hot, dirty airport hotel sex with Vera Farmiga thing. More »
(Photo: primadonna926)
UPDATED: Bumped From A Hotel, Promised A Refund That Hasn't Come
By Phil Villarreal on December 15, 2009 8:00 AM
22 Comments
Personal finance blogger Krystalatwork traveled to Las Vegas, booking a prepaid stay at Harrah's. But along with a number of other travelers, she found no room at the inn and was forced to stay at the considerably less posh Flamingo, then promised a full refund. More »
Videodrome #3: Paper Puppet Reenactments Of Removed YouTubes
By Ben Popken on December 14, 2009 11:32 AM
22 Comments
Faster! Leaner! Meaner! Ben Popken rounds up Consumerist.com's top stories of the week, from psychotic stewardesses to deadly foreclosures. This week we introduce a new feature: printing out the internet and turning it into a puppet show.
(Photo: Mzelle Biscotte)
Delta Offers Gold Status To Victims Of Pyschotic American Airlines Stewardess
By Ben Popken on December 14, 2009 10:35 AM
81 Comments
Delta has offered Gold status to anyone who was on the ill-fated American Airlines flight where a stewardess screamed at a first class passenger who had the gall to ask for orange juice, and had him given a written warning by the captain. More »
Check Luggage Limits Online And Dodge Baggage Fees
By Ben Popken on November 30, 2009 10:22 AM
11 Comments
How fat a bag can I bring? The ad-supported LuggageLimits compiles the carry-on and checked baggage rules for 90 airlines. Just enter your airline, ticket type, departure and arrival city and it will tell you if you're likely to hit any fee turbulence with your luggage. [LuggageLimits via Lifehacker]
Prepare Your Delta Air Lines EECB For Takeoff
By Laura Northrup on November 29, 2009 9:00 AM
11 Comments
After reading Martin's unaccompanied minor air travel horror story yesterday, Aaron sent us this updated list of Delta Air Lines executive contact information from Elliott.org. More »
Math Skills Not Required To Bake Pie Chart Ad
By Phil Villarreal on November 25, 2009 11:20 AM
46 Comments
Anonymous Math Geek sent us this ad for the Stratosphere, a Las Vegas casino. The wizards are using tricky geometry to convince you that the casino gives you more bang for your Benjamin. AMG writes: More »
Family Kicked Off Flight For Misbehaving Kids, No Refund
By Meg Marco on November 13, 2009 6:47 PM
530 Comments
—>An Arizona mom says she was flying to Billings, Montana for her birthday — but never got off the ground because the airline kicked her — and her unruly kids off the flight. They were told they could take another flight — if they paid for it. The airline says it's their policy not to offer refunds. More »
Contact Starwood Founder Barry Sternlicht
By Ben Popken on August 7, 2008 4:58 PM
8 Comments
—>Having trouble with your Starwood hotels experience and regular customer service not helping? This guy might. After all, he founded the place. More »
