Consumer Traveler Today: April 8

Consumer Traveler Today: Ray LaHood: “There has to be truth in the purchase of a ticket”
 
 
Ray LaHood: “There has to be truth in the purchase of a ticket”
Not an April Fool’s joke – Ryanair moving ahead with pay toilets
What we’re reading: New overhead bins hold more, Dreamliner aims for November delivery, 2010 hotel outlook improves
News I thought was a joke — Paying for carry-ons, corpse smuggled aboard plane, running of the Peeps
If airlines sold paint
Spirit Airlines actually might be onto something with this carry-on charge
Ray LaHood: “There has to be truth in the purchase of a ticket”
Posted: 08 Apr 2010 04:02 AM PDT
Spirit Airlines' decision to begin charging passengers for carry-on luggage -- and lowering some fares to a penny -- has caught the attention of the federal government, as many predicted it would. In part one of our exclusive interview with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, we talk about fees, consumer protection and the future of airline service
       

Not an April Fool’s joke – Ryanair moving ahead with pay toilets
Posted: 08 Apr 2010 03:10 AM PDT
Spirit Airlines really is charging for carry-ons starting August first, and according to the London Daily Mail Ryanair is going ahead with their plan to charge for on-board toilets.
       

What we’re reading: New overhead bins hold more, Dreamliner aims for November delivery, 2010 hotel outlook improves
Posted: 08 Apr 2010 03:00 AM PDT
Boeing's new overhead bins in demand, Dreamliner on track for November delivery, hotel 2010 outlook has improved
       

News I thought was a joke — Paying for carry-ons, corpse smuggled aboard plane, running of the Peeps
Posted: 07 Apr 2010 08:30 AM PDT
Yesterday had two headlines that I was certain were jokes — stories that someone perhaps picked up by mistake from The Onion, a satirical newspaper based in our nation's capital. But I was wrong. Here are the headlines: "Spirit Air to charge for carry-ons," "Women arrested for smuggling corpse" and "Today's Running of the Peeps trades horns for marshmallow."
       

If airlines sold paint
Posted: 07 Apr 2010 07:30 AM PDT
This humorous look at airline ticket pricing is an oldie but goodie. I'm resurrecting it from the old days because it fits the theme these days, especially with Spirit Airlines' announcement that they will start charging for carry-on bags.
       

Spirit Airlines actually might be onto something with this carry-on charge
Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:30 AM PDT
There may be a way to make Spirit Airlines' carry-on charge good news rather than another shock to the airline passenger's system.