There is an increasing number of websites that can help travelers to find the best of cheap flight deals available. Momondo and Sidestep.com are the sites that recently joined the many websites that offer automatic, constant searches of booking engines.
Most of us are aware of the new passport rules which have made it harder to obtain a passport. What many people may not be aware of is how these new rules will effect the US government?
The new passport hassle has actually generated some good but according to the federal paperwork filed recently, these new travel rules will cost the government an estimated $944-million during three years which is triple of the original amount estimated.
Initially the amount figured was $289-million between budget years 2006 and 2008 to handle the boost in demand for passports created by post-9/11 security measures. But calculations done recently showed that, the passport rules are expected to cost $944-million in budget years 2008 to 2010.
The new travel rules have not only caught government officials flat-footed with the astounding amount but have also inflicted high costs and personal anguish on consumers.
Source: Globe And Mail
The boarding process and seating strategies of Dallas-based airline, Southwest has long been a hot-button issue. Southwest Airlines plans not to ditch its cattle-call boarding for assigned seating but announced to switch to a more orderly system throughout the country this fall. It is anticipated that already quick boarding will become speedier and frustrating campouts at the gate will be eliminated.
Google has already been slapped the federal suit by companies like Geico and American Blinds. Yet again, it is facing the similar situation as American Airlines has sued Google claiming giant’s ad system infringes trademark laws by selling search terms such as American Airlines or AA.com to other companies for promotional means.
The company alleges that Google doesn’t have the right to sell its name to any other company and this practice could divert customers away from American’s own site. Also, the company wants Google to award unspecified monetary damages to the airline and pay any money it has made by selling its trademarks.
However, American, a unit of AMR Corp, tried to confer a settlement with Google before going to the court. Google, on the other hand, deems that its trademark policy strikes a proper balance between trademark owners’ interests and consumer choice.
Source: USA Today
With more and more airports around world opening shopping malls and restaurants, I wonder what we would call airport in the coming years. Shopping malls? If you haven’t done any traveling lately you might not know that many airports around the world have turned up more like malls.
To heighten the security, British Airways plans to introduce a new biometric security system at Heathrow Terminal 5 when it opens in March next year. Terminal 5 is the biggest aviation project in Europe that will host British Airway’s entire Heathrow operation and extra checks on passengers have been introduced following the recent security threats.
The passengers will have their fingerprints checked and faces scanned when they pass through the regular security check, and they’ll have to undergo a security check again before they board the plane.
Domestic passengers departing through Terminal 5 will have to undergo the biometric security check but International passengers will be subject to the normal checks and controls and will not undergo these biometric checks.
British Airways spokesman said:
The biometric system basically adds another level of security and ensures that people can’t swap tickets or go on flights they weren’t supposed to go on or whatever else they may be up to.
The biometric security check has been introduced after a successful trial of the biometric technology at Heathrow Terminal 3.
Source: Telegraph
You can experience the power of art at the airport while you wait for your flight. Yes, you’ve read it correctly...Several airports are using art to boost the tourism and soothe the travelers. Including small airports like Atlanta’s, several international airports are opening the art galleries.
The Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina opened an art gallery this June. The gallery features 47 paintings and sculptures from local artists, including the ocean-like Swell. There are plans to expand the gallery. Dayton International Airport in Ohio plans to hang paintings, display sculptures, stage musical performances this fall. The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is under renovation and will be completed this September. Pottery, paintings, wall-wrap art of pelicans and other local waterfowl are on tap.
Including a large display of stone sculptures from Zimbabwe, Atlanta airport has about 300 pieces of art. Giant lifelike ants appear to emerge from a hole in the ceiling and crawl over the ductwork in the baggage area of the airport.
Indianapolis’ new airport that will boasts $3.9 million worth of art is scheduled to open in 2008. The airport will feature hand-blown glass wall painting etched with the poetry of local artists, an aviation-themed sculpture with more than 100 pieces of perforated metal and silver beaded chains.
A splashy montage of artistically arranged color photos showing off city attractions will be displayed at Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio. Advertising messages will scroll among the photos.
No doubt, the art galleries will create the calming environment for the travelers. So, next time you plan to travel by air, reach few hours prior o your flight time so that you are able to enjoy the relaxing benefits. This will greatly enhance your traveling sensation. But, make sure you don’t miss your flight while you take a stroll through these art galleries.
Source: MSNBC
With new custom leather seats, mood lighting, the entertainment system, seat-to-seat chat service and more luxuries aboard the plane, Virgin America is expected to become the best pick of Americans. All these facilities will be available to the passengers in much cheaper price, with one-way introductory fares starting at $44 and round-trip tickets ranging to $310.
Earlier this summer, Skybus entered the market promising $10 seats, but it’s a-la-carte airline because passengers have to pay extra for services. No doubt, virgin is the discount carrier, but there are many other potential turbulence that could stand in Virgin’s way. Such turbulence could be its launching time and high fuel prices.
High fuel prices have led to higher airfares even among discount airlines and Virgin launched its new carrier in summers when many travelers have purchased tickets well in advance.
It is believed that billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson is taking a risk by entering an American market filled with carriers that offer decent service at decent prices. Despite the criticism from experts Richard Branson is confident that Virgin is going to be the best bet for Americans.
Source: ABC News
In the last five-years, many top airlines have restructured and begun investing heavily in various in-flight amenities in order to incite well-heeled business travelers. United Airlines and American Airlines are two such airlines that have devoted resources to improve their first-class and business-class cabins on international flights.
Now, Unite Airlines plans to upgrade in-flight entertainment on domestic flights and increase deep-clean services. VCRs will be replaced with digital servers on narrow-body aircraft. The digital video systems will be added to 269 Airbus A320s and Boeing 757s by the second quarter of 2009.
Source: IHT
It seems chaos at London’s Heathrow Airport has no end. The airport has already been the focus of a storm of complaints about overcrowding, lost bags and now its expansion has raised many questions. As British officials struggle to attract visitors and improve efficiency at Heathrow Airport, residents and environmentalists have set up a camp in protest to the expansion of the airport on the grounds that expansion would mean more flights which would lead to more CO2 emissions that will add to global warming.
Activists have pitched tents in a field outside the airport to protest the proposed addition of a runway at the airport and demand a reduction in carbon emissions released by aircraft.
Besides a third runway, there are plans to open a new terminal at Heathrow airport by March, 2008. Handling about 40 percent of passengers now flowing through other terminals, the fifth terminal will help improving the airport operations.
The third runway is proposed for 2020 and will be the subject of meetings in the fall between British Airport Authorities and the government. Only time will show if the Heathrow protest can do the trick and force stonehearted leaders backed by corporate world to think over the issue and sort out the problem. I personally think that Heathrow protestors deserve praise for their monumental service which is highlighting C02 emissions and drawing attention to global warming.
Source: USA Today
