Delta Goes Cashless on North American Flights Starting Dec. 1
Technology, regulation weighed to keep pilots alert
United may be trend setter with annual fee for checked bags
Should you pay United $249 to check bags?
Your Rights if Your Bags are Delayed
TSA offers tips for flying with lost ID
ASTA offers suggestions for solo female travelers
5 reasons to double-check e-tickets before you fly
A la carte the way it's supposed to be - Hotel chain offers free food to guests
6 ways to get your way when you travel
Secure Flight program "should" go smoothly
Airlines work on smart, practical innovations
The Transition®- a street-legal airplane

Delta Goes Cashless on North American Flights Starting Dec. 1
(November 10, 2009) - Delta Air Lines is switching to “plastic only” to expedite our onboard payment process. Beginning December 1, 2009, Delta will only accept credit cards – no cash – on Delta and Northwest flights in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
 
Customers may swipe their cards to purchase selections from our EATS menu, a refreshing signature cocktail, premium Delta on Demand entertainment and other in-flight amenities.
 
Delta will continue to accept cash and credit on all trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific and South American flights as well as for all duty-free items. 

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Technology, regulation weighed to keep pilots alert
As technological advances allow aircraft to fly themselves for long periods of time, airlines and regulators are looking for ways to ensure that bored pilots don't doze off or lose their focus. Some carriers have protocols that require pilots to perform certain inputs every 15 minutes; failure to do so sets off an alarm in the cockpit. Meanwhile, regulators are discussing a federal ban on personal electronic devices for pilots, along with cockpit cameras to detect violations of the policy. But Bill Voss, CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, says such steps could be more symbolic than substantive.  (The New York Times)  Read more

United may be trend setter with annual fee for checked bags
United has found a way to increase ancillary revenue while developing a loyal base of passengers. The United Premier Baggage program costs passengers an annual fee of $249 and allows the purchaser and as many as eight companions booked under the same confirmation number to each check two bags. Analysts predict that other airlines will soon follow. Additionally, they say, carriers may try to repackage other services into annual programs to encourage loyalty.  (Travel Weekly)  Read more

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Should you pay United $249 to check bags?
United Airlines just announced a variation on the fee theme — the Premier Baggage program with an annual fee of $249 rather than flight-by-flight fees. As with every commercial question, making this decision requires a simple calculator and plenty of travel plans. Some passengers will like it and some will find this arrangement useless.  (Consumer Traveler)  Read more

Your Rights if Your Bags are Delayed
The DOT has chastised airlines for not complying with their obligations to inform and compensate passengers with delayed bags.  So what are your rights?  Read David Rowell's column to understand what to expect and what to do if (when) your bags are delayed.  (The Travel Insider)  Read more

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TSA offers tips for flying with lost ID
A lost or stolen driver's license may mean delays at the airport, but passengers should still be able to travel, according to the TSA. An agency spokeswoman says other forms of ID, including a letter with a home address, should be enough to get through security, although additional searches may be required. "Anything this person might have to help identify themselves would be very helpful," said TSA's Lara Uselding.  (Chicago Tribune/Tribune Newspapers)  Read more

ASTA offers suggestions for solo female travelers
The American Society of Travel Agents says that although female travelers often are traveling alone for reasons similar to their male counterparts, their concerns are different. "ASTA travel agents understand that both men and women need to be educated travelers, but women, especially, need to plan every step of their trip -- from packing a suitcase to choosing a hotel room -- to ensure a safe return," said Chris Russo, president and chair of ASTA. The group offers its members tips on how to help women who will be traveling alone to prepare for their trip.  (Travel Agent)  Read more

5 reasons to double-check e-tickets before you fly
These days, even the most hard-core fans of airline paper tickets have largely gotten used to the idea of e-tickets. Many don't even bother bringing the receipts or itineraries with them to the airport.  (Consumer Traveler)  Read more

A la carte the way it’s supposed to be - Hotel chain offers free food to guests
Turns out there is such a thing as a free lunch. Or in this case, dinner.  (Consumer Traveler)  Read more

6 ways to get your way when you travel
The thought of spending 11 hours in a locked and upright position didn’t put Elyse Weiner in a good mood. But you wouldn’t have known it.  (Consumer Traveler)  Read more

Secure Flight program "should" go smoothly
New York Times travel columnist Joe Sharkey says the airlines are doing fine with the initial phase-in of the Transportation Security Administration's Secure Flight program, but questions still loom once airport screeners start matching names on IDs and boarding passes, which often truncate long names because of space limitations. TSA says screeners will use their judgment when they find "slight variations" in names, which "should not delay the passenger's travel" -- hardly an ironclad guarantee, according to Sharkey. (The New York Times)  Read more

Airlines work on smart, practical innovations
Although criticizing air travel has become part of many travelers' regular conversations, several airlines and airports are working on smart, interesting, noteworthy initiatives. For example, driverless pods may someday transport passengers between the airport and its various parking lots. London's Heathrow airport is currently testing such pods.  (CNN/Budget Travel)  Read more

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The Transition®- a street-legal airplane
A new airplane is about to be released by a new airplane manufacturer.  The Terrafugia Transition is the latest attempt at a flying car.  Deliveries are expected to start in less than two years, and the car/plane is priced at just under $200,000.  The vehicle promises 30 mpg on the road and 23 mpg in the air.  Read more

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