Frequent flier tips that only the pros know

By George Hobica
August 20, 2011


I don't know how some frequent fliers manage. Travel can be so discombobulating and disruptive, yet some road warriors spend half their lives on planes, sometimes just to collect miles and attain elite frequent flier status. But with the work comes the perks, as that same group knows how to make the best of it, collecting as many frequent flier miles as possible and using the status they earn from traveling so much to their advantage. Here are some of their tricks that any flier can put to good use.

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Do well dressed fliers get more perks?

By George Hobica
August 9, 2011


When a friend of mine checked in for a recent flight from San Francisco to Vancouver, he was surprised that the Air Canada gate agent handed him a first class boarding pass. What was so unusual about this? Several things: He had bought an economy class ticket. He rarely flies on Air Canada and thus has no frequent-flier status on the airline. Even more unusual, the flight was half empty so this wasn't an oversell upgrade situation. So why the extra love?

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More and cheaper ways to access airport lounges

By Harriet Baskas
July 20, 2011


Many travelers have lost or given up their airline club memberships along with their expense accounts, their frequent-flier status and, in many cases, their jobs. And some airline lounges have closed due to airline consolidation and belt-tightening.

But airports are still crowded and many travelers still seek quiet spots to plug in and work, make phone calls, catch a nap or just think.

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Are airport duty-free stores still a bargain?

By Kristin Stoller, USA TODAY
July 5, 2011


Today, folks who enter the shops to buy merchandise that isn't taxed would be wise to be familiar with prices in other retail shops.

"Duty-free is almost never a deal for the casual shopper out to get a bargain," says Jason Clampet, a senior editor for travel guidebook publisher Frommers.com. "You can save significant amounts if you're a smoker who lives in a state with high taxes, but you'll find that electronic goods, beauty products and luxury items such as designer purses usually cost less at home or online."

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No-frills, lo-cost Ryanair to experiment with seat assignments

By Ben Mutzabaugh
April 19, 2011


European low-cost giant Ryanair will begin taking seat reservations, introducing the option for a fee of 10 euros ($14) each way as part of a trial basis on two routes.

With the move, the Financial Times says Ryanair "is breaking with one of the key principles of the low-cost airline model."

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Plane tickets: buy early or wait?

By Michelle Higgins
March 23, 2011


BUYING an airline ticket is always something of a gamble — prices go up and down, and trying to figure out how far in advance to book to get the best fare can be tricky. Recent world events have been causing oil prices — a major factor in ticket prices — to fluctuate, making the calculation of when to buy even more challenging. Earlier this month, the price of a barrel of oil, which had skyrocketed to as high as $104 in response to events in Libya and the Middle East, dropped below $100 a barrel when disaster hit Japan.

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Frommer's picks top 10 airport restaurants

By Gary Stoller, USA TODAY
February 28, 2011


Times have changed. Some airlines are offering nutritious items in the air, and airports are increasingly featuring local restaurants with high-quality, healthy food.

"Airports are trying to improve the experience for travelers, and part of that is bringing in restaurants serving fresher, local foods," says Rick Lundstrom, editor in chief of PAX International, a trade magazine that covers airport dining trends.

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Airlines roll back recent airfare increases

By Roger Yu, USA TODAY
February 17, 2011


Major domestic carriers on Thursday rolled back their most recent fare increase on flights favored by business travelers.

Delta Air Lines (DAL) initiated the increase Monday on its premier class and last-minute fares, with increases up to $120 for a round-trip ticket. Other large network airlines subsequently matched it by raising prices on first-class, business class and seven-day advance-purchase tickets that can cost as much as $900 for a domestic round trip.

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Low-cost carriers get aggressive on fare hikes

By Roger Yu
February 2, 2011


As large airlines raised fares in recent months, their low-cost competitors have been pursuing similarly aggressive pricing strategies as demand continues to rise, according to Bestfares.com.

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Airlines and travel sites tussle over booking flights

By Charisse Jones
January 31, 2011


More than 125 of the nation's biggest travel organizations and agencies, including online travel giant Expedia, have formed a coalition that is taking aim at a new booking system, preferred by American Airlines, that challenges the way most major airlines make their fares available to the public.

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Airfare website disputes spread

By Charisse Jones
January 3, 2010


Expedia, the world's largest online travel company, will no longer list American Airlines flights on its website, lobbing the latest volley in a battle between the airline and some Web-based travel companies that could have a ripple effect on consumers.

Expedia stopped listing American's flights as of Jan. 1, after the two sides failed to resolve a dispute about a booking system that American prefers and that provides more information about services it offers for a fee, such as priority boarding.

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East Coast blizzard cripples travel, strands many at major airports

By Ula Ilnytzky and Glen Johnson, AP
December 27, 2010


New York, NY — A powerful East Coast blizzard menaced would-be travelers by air, rail and highway Monday, leaving thousands without a way to get home after the holidays and shutting down major airports and rail lines for a second day.

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