Discounted International Airfares!

How to Avoid Credit Card Problems Abroad

LIKE many Americans who have tried to use their credit cards in Europe, Elliot E. Porter, a historian from San Francisco, has encountered his share of payment headaches. Perhaps the most aggravating occurred a few months ago at Amsterdam Centraal Station, where he learned only after waiting in line to purchase train tickets that none of his credit cards, which include a MasterCard, Visa and American Express, would be accepted. The problem? They rely on magnetic-strip technology rather than embedded microprocessor chips, which are becoming increasingly common outside the United States.

“This is a big deal when traveling,” said Mr. Porter, who trekked back to his hotel to get cash, which he then had to exchange for local currency before returning to the train station to wait in a long line to pay for his tickets. He encountered similar problems at train stations in Belgium and Britain. “It just got super frustrating,” he said.

Uniteds "Customer Day One" does not see much changes

via the Crankyflier.com

I’m not quite sure how this was decided, but yesterday was “Customer Day One” for the combined Continental and United.. That doesn’t really make sense to me, because not much actually seemed to change and there’s plenty of work left to do. Let’s review where we stand.

Better Website Integration
Work has apparently been done which will allow customers on either the Continental or United website to shop for flights and check flight status on each other’s website. This, of course, is a temporary fix until there is only one website. I would think the day that one website is used is closer to being “day one” of the merged airline than this.

Renaming Elite Benefits to Premier Access
Just as Delta has done with Sky Priority, United is putting its suite of elite/premium cabin benefits under the name Premier Access. I suppose that means the new United will be keeping the “Premier” terminology used by the old United for its elite program, but the offerings don’t seem to be much different than what elites got before – just a different name. They’ll still get priority check-in, priority security, priority boarding, and priority baggage handling. I’m not sure if the last one is a new benefit, but in general, this is mostly a branding move. But there’s a catch.

All this is BS baby! New Rule, Go back to calling your travel agent !

How to find hidden airfare deals

By Amy ChenApril 14, 2011: 2:36 PM ET

(MONEY Magazine) -- If you're looking to get away this summer, brace yourself: Airfares are likely to be 10% to 15% higher than last year, warns Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com.Airlines have been hiking prices in response to escalating fuel costs and seat demand.Making matters worse, a few carriers have been withdrawing flights from popular online ticketing sites.

So the old rules of fare shopping are out the window just when you need them most.

The Long & short of 'premium economy'

 

  Picture of Air new Zealands new Skycouch 'premium economy' seats

(CNN) -- "Premium" is a pretty hazy concept in the airline industry.

A flat bed is obviously a premium experience, but some airlines are putting just a couple of extra inches of legroom into that category as well. That seemingly un-premium experience refers to the increasing number of "premium economy" seats that airlines have introduced over the last several years.

Return of the road warrior & we dont mean Mad Max

Business travel rebounds as economy improves Return of road warriors giving a boost to airlines, hotels and rental-car companies

NEW YORK — Business travel is bouncing back.

U.S. companies are forecast to spend 5 percent more on travel in 2011 than they did last year — a sign of confidence in the economy that is giving a boost to airlines, hotels and rental-car companies. That's double the growth rate from 2010, which followed two years of decline.