Wi-Fi in the Sky, more airlines have joined forces!

I think this is great news!!!
Here was my previous post:
http://melissasuntimetravel.blogspot.com/2009/07/wi-fi-in-sky.html

Here is the latest article I just read, thank you to Budget Travel .com, this is an informative article to say the least!!!

If you're wondering which airlines, which routes, how to get Wi-Fi in the sky, here is the link to this article for you!!!: http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2009/10/03/AR2009100303214.html#

Here are the highlighted points:
1. Gogo is the go-to network
2. Costs are the same no matter the carrier
3. Monthlong Wi-Fi passes are only valid with one airline
4. The connection is good
5. Hotspots don't extend beyond U.S. borders
6. You can sign up in advance
7. No phone calls; no porn
8. Just because the airline has Wi-Fi doesn't mean your flight will
9. Airline seats aren't made for laptops
10. International access is on the horizon

AIRLINE WI-FI GUIDE
- Airtran Airways 100 percent of planes flying domestic routes have the Gogo service.
- Alaska Airlines All planes flying routes within the U.S. will be outfitted with Row 44.
- American Airlines Has Gogo service on 15 of its 767-200s (primarily used on cross-country flights) and later this fall will have it on 150 MD-80s (the airline's workhorse, used on all kinds of routes).
- Delta Air Lines The entire domestic fleet is expected to be outfitted with Gogo by the end of this year.
- Southwest Airlines Will begin installing Row 44 on all of its planes in early 2010.
- United Airlines Has signed on with Gogo to outfit 13 of its planes—those flying transcontinental routes—beginning late this year (i.e., right about now).
- US Airways Plans to start installing the Gogo network on 50 A321 planes in early 2010.
- Virgin America Gogo service is up and running on all planes flying routes within the U.S.

Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Airlines want you to pay for the privilege of purchasing a ticket

DON'T WE DO THAT ALREADY?

I read a lot of articles in the travel industry, and rarely do the airline 'rules' make any sense in the real world. How is it logical that once you've paid for an airline ticket, you cannot do a name change. In the real world, if you buy a shirt but your friend wears it, the retailer doesn't charge you a fee for this change...... Airlines are goofy. Really goofy!

Here is an article posted by Charlie Leocha with consumertraveler.com, and once again it really makes sense!!!!

http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/airlines-want-you-to-pay-for-the-privilege-of-buying-tickets-dont-we-do-this-already/

United Airlines charging travel agents?!!!!!?!!!!!?!!!!!?

Seriously.........
What is this world coming to, when the airline won't allow travel agents to issue a ticket to the client credit card?
I'm not sure if you have read the many many many many many articles on this recent issue, but PLEASE write to your state senator, and make the airlines understand that ultimately it's the CONSUMER that suffers when changes like this are made.

The consumer always loses, when airlines get greedy!

As quoted in USA Today: "Credit card processing costs are escalating at a high rate," says United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski, noting that United's distribution costs, which include credit card fees, totaled $710 million last year. "We're continuing to explore ways in the current economic environment to reduce our costs and run an efficient airline."

Unbelievable.

Please contact your congressman to REJECT this new policy, and make sure that the other airlines won't follow suit.....
Click here to find your United States Senator; click here to find your U.S. Representative.

To read more click on any of these website articles below:

USA Today article

Eye For Travel article

Breaking News 24/7 article

Another USA Today article

United Breaks Guitars Story

Have you heard about the United Breaks Guitars video?

It's super cheesy, and funny, and yet a little sad at the same time!!!

Hopefully the airlines will take this as a lesson on what 'not' to do with their customers baggage!!!
Here is the link to You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enbcchicago%2Ecom%2Fnews%2Flocal%2FUnited%2DBreaks%2DGuitars%2Da%2DSmash%2DHit%2Don%2DYouTube%2Ehtml%3Fyhp%3D1&feature=player_embedded

Here's the article describing what happened:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/United-Breaks-Guitars-a-Smash-Hit-on-YouTube.html?yhp=1

Swine Flu and Travel, Everyone's Talking!!!

Thank you to Yahoo News for this article: (please read it!)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20090427/ap_tr_ge/us_travel_brief_swine_flu_airlines;_ylt=Ag42NS.ZdLz5koQcgDUbHtQ8sM0F

As of right now, the airlines have not cancelled any flights due to the Swine Flu.
Many are offering a waiver to make changes, but most are to change your ticket by a week or two at most.....

(Yahoo News) U.S. health officials declared a public health emergency Sunday, saying 20 swine flu cases have been reported so far in New York, Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California, primarily linked to recent travel to Mexico. Canada became the third country to confirm human cases of swine flu Sunday and multiple nations including New Zealand and Spain also suspect infection. Some are moving to quarantine travelers from affected regions and advising their citizens to postpone travel to certain areas in Mexico.
U.S. officials said they will begin asking travelers about illness if they're entering the country from regions with confirmed swine flu.

As of right now, Northwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Continental Airlines are all offering some form of waiver. Each are a little different, and none are a full refund that I've seen.....