Consumer Traveler Today: Jan 27

Consumer Traveler Today

Now I know what a tefillin is
What we’re reading: Delta plans $1B fleet upgrade, seeking a place at airports, BA prepares for strike
How long will hotels keep charging for Internet connections?
Airline merchandising on the increase
American Airlines jumps on the increased-baggage-fee carousel
Now I know what a tefillin is
Posted: 27 Jan 2010 03:15 AM PST
Sometimes you learn things the darnedest ways. Until a USAirways LaGuardia to Louisville commuter flight was diverted to Philadelphia for an emergency, possible terrorism landing I had never heard of this word — tefillin. Evidently the flight attendant on US 3079 had never seen one either.
       

What we’re reading: Delta plans $1B fleet upgrade, seeking a place at airports, BA prepares for strike
Posted: 27 Jan 2010 03:00 AM PST
Delta plans $1B fleet upgrade, Virgin America seeking a place at airports, British Airways prepares for strike
       

How long will hotels keep charging for Internet connections?
Posted: 26 Jan 2010 09:01 AM PST
While many of the lower-cost and mid-cost hotels do not charge for Internet connections, the most expensive still are charging for connections to the Web. But the days of Internet access are numbered. The only question is when will the charges be totally eliminated.
       

Airline merchandising on the increase
Posted: 26 Jan 2010 07:48 AM PST
Once upon a time, the only airline merchandising was via the airline magazines and the SkyMall catalogs. But today the airlines with their unbundling are beginning more and more merchandising.
       

American Airlines jumps on the increased-baggage-fee carousel
Posted: 26 Jan 2010 06:15 AM PST
As predicted, American Airlines has matched the other legacy carriers with increased fees for checked baggage. Now, AA, Continental, Delta, United and USAirways all are charging $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag.