Tagged: air-travel

Polar Vortex Grounds 18,000 Flights! Here's Why That's a Good Thing

It's very cold in America right now. The average temperature in the Lower 48 is lower than 48—it's just north of 23 degrees.As weather reports of the Polar Vortex came out,…

Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest Will Not Allow In-Flight Phone Calls

The people are speaking—and the people don't want the people to speak.Both Delta and JetBlue have stepped forward to tell customers they despite loosened federal restrictions,…

In Just a Few More Months, Americans Wanting to Avoid the Discomfort of a Standard, T.S.A. Security Check, will be Able to Do So

At a time marked by all sorts of confusing promises from both government and private enterprise, an announcement several weeks ago by the Transportation Security Administration…

Scrimp vs. Splurge: When Does Spending More Actually Improve a Vacation?

Several years ago, an author I’d hired to do a chapter in a guidebook returned it to me with a major tourist sight missing from the text. He explained that he’d left this particular…

Miles and Money Now Needed to Reach "Elite" Status on United Airlines

Delta did it first, back in January, when it sent a note to its loyalty program members stating that now it would not just award "Silver" status based on the amount of miles flown,…

Good Luck Chuck! Senator Schumer of New York Takes The Airlines To Task For Change Fees

In 2012, the major American airlines made $2.6 billion in change fees.And that's quite enough, says Senator Chuck Schumer of New York State.On Sunday, the Senator called out…

Maybe Alec Baldwin Was In the Wrong: There Seems to Be Solid Evidence That Cellphones and Other Hand-Held Devices Interfere with Airplane Navigation Systems

The first sentences in a recent Bloomberg News article on cellphones on planes is chilling. "The regional airliner was climbing past 9,000 feet when its compasses went haywire,…

The Bad News About Flights That Arrive Early

Did your latest flight arrive early? Mine did and that's not necessarily a good thing. As a recent analysis in USAToday showed, airlines are padding their flight times to improve…

It's Going to Be A Bumpy Ride: The Effect of Global Climate Change on Airplane Turbulence

Here's an odd, and disturbing, bit of news. Scientists are predicting that as carbon dioxide levels rise, so will air turbulence for transatlantic flights. The bumpiness will…

Restore the Jersey Shore, One Night at a Time

In keeping with the holiday season and the idea of looking out for our neighbors, both near and far (see last week's story on Passports with Purpose), this week's column brings you to…

Three Nights in Los Cabos, from $739 with Air

Apple Vacations (tel. 800/517-2000; www.applevacations.com) is offering a sale on winter 2013 vacations to warm destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico, including this air-inclusive,…

That's Ridiculous! Whatever Happened to the Journey?

What's more important to you -- the journey or the destination? This is as good a time as any to ask the question (with apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson). Change is in the air,…

Peru with Kids: Appreciating Machu Picchu & Much More

"The most desirable human sacrifice," Rudy says with a grin, "would have been a teenage girl about your age." He casts a mischievous glance at my 14-year-old daughter, who cracks a…

The Best Extra Batteries For Travel Gadgets

This is the first in a series of travel technology stories developed by PCMag.com, the independent guide to technology, for Frommers.com Cell phones, tablets, and other mobile gadgets…

How to Research and Book a Hotel Online

If you've never been to a certain city, what are some good online tools available to research and book your hotel? Besides this site, of course.There are so many online options out…

London Riots: What Visitors Need to Know

Advice for VisitorsVisitors to the UK will be understandably nervous right now. There have been riots and looting in many parts of London during the past week, sparked by the shooting…

Headed to Europe This Summer? It's Going to Be a Riot

If you're looking for a little adventure this summer -- a strike, a riot or maybe even a revolution -- skip the Middle East and head to Europe. Traditionally quiet and predictable…

10 Reasons to Visit London in the Spring

It's the time of year when the green and pleasant land becomes green and pleasant once more -- everything's bluebells, crocuses, daffodils and Easter bunnies -- this year, a royal…

How to Stay Safe During Spring Break Escapes

For weeks now, there's been nothing but bad news for people planning spring break getaways.First, the clamor of warnings against going to Mexico rose when the Texas Department of…

Travel Troubleshooter: Who's Gonna Pay These Overdraft Fees?

When a Hampton Inn hotel charges Alia Naffouj twice for the same room, there are two surprise overdraft fees on Naffouj's credit card. Hampton is dragging its feet on a refund. Is…

Travel Troubleshooter: Help! They Upgraded My Hotel Bill

Olivia Suarez books a hotel room for her husband in Valencia, Spain, through a travel agent. But when he's sent to another hotel, his bill also gets an upgrade -- to the tune of more…

Park of the Week: Lackawanna Heritage Valley, Pennsylvania

The National Park Service has many different kinds of attractions -- there are parks, of course, and then you will find historical sites, national monuments, and even heritage…

Park of the Week: Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

Back in 1926, Congress passed an act authorizing parks to preserve forests and natural scenery. Today, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is one of those parks that show visitors…

Travel Complaints That Fail: 5 Kinds of E-mails You Should Never Write

What kind of a complainer are you?Maybe you're the squeaky wheel -- the guest who keeps writing back over and over, even after you've been told "no" in a dozen different ways. Or…

Free New York City Sightseeing Tours: By Bike, Bus, Boat & More

To get the most out of your vacation dollar, take advantage of all the free events (www.nycgo.com/free) that take place in New York City all year long. Here's a sampling of some free…