More woes for Northwest and some insight into traveling with the iPhone are just two of the great reads for today:

• Gadling: Who Buys This Stuff? - If you fly hungry, you might just find the urge to purchase these food related items from SkyMall. Come on, can you ever pay too much for a double chocolate fountain? (Visit Team Sugar to find more SkyMall food treats.)
• Jaunted: Malaysia Airlines Staff Heart All Passengers - Customer service is alive and well on Malaysia Airlines!
• Global Nerdy: iPhone + Travel = Expensive - Thinking of leaving that old heavy laptop behind in favor of the iPhone next time you travel? Read this first. You might change your mind.
• MSNBC: Northwest hit with more cancellations - In a continued attempt to get on track, Northwest Airlines grounded over 100 flights yesterday, and they were well on their way to do the same today. The union continues to say there aren’t enough pilots on hand, and the airline continues to try to lure back pilots who are on furlough.
• BBC: Brazil air crash runway re-opened - The runway that was the site of Brazil’s worst aviation disaster has reopened. Until changes are made to the surface of the runway, landings will be restricted when there are inclement condiditons.

One of the questions I’m most often asked by readers, friends, and even family is, When is the best time to buy a plane ticket? I wish I could give a simple answer like Tuesday at 3:00 PM, but unfortunately it’s not quite that easy. There are several factors that determine how much a ticket is going to cost you, and ultimately, the airlines maintain control over how much they are going to charge for a particular seat. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to find the best airfares out there. I broke down the airfare pricing process and offered tips on when and how to find the lowest airfares in an article I wrote entitled When is the Best Time to Buy Air Travel? I hope after you give it a read you’ll be better equipped to find the cheapest airfares available. Oh, and I promise I’ll let you know if Tuesday at 3:00 PM ever does become the one and only best time to buy a plane ticket.

I was browsing through one of my favorite blogs gadling.com and reading a post on the auctioning of seats for the maiden voyage of the Airbus A380 on Singapore Airlines via EBay for charity.

I was amused at how aviation (as painful as it has been recently) has captured the hearts and minds of so many — myself included.

I found myself at the Seattle Airport last Friday flying back to Dallas and noticed a t-shirt with 4 “Shamu’s” wearing Ipod head phones in the Puget Sound Discovery Shop and thought this would be a great gift for my 6 year old (as we constantly are trying to one up each other on new music for the 4 Ipods in our family).

Just as I got through mentally checking that the “medium” size shirt would fit a kid in the shop of similar height, my eye caught some model airplanes displayed on the opposite side.

Long story short, I couldn’t resist (even though my backpack was stuffed beyond its capacity) buying a model of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner (pictured above) and of course why not a model 747 to boot.

I was a bit distracted at the checkout register and learned pretty quickly I should have looked at the price of the models before the attendant raked by credit card. $120 dollars lighter for the 2 models (and a shamu t-shirt) .

I wonder if Boeing will let me use that $110 as a credit against buying a a seat on the 787 maiden voyage …

Here are a few good travel stories to check out over the weekend:

• Wired: New X Plane Flies at Calif. Air Base: Light-weight, fuel efficient X plane passes first test. Is it the future of flying or just another UFO spotting waiting to happen?
• Freakonomics Blog: What an Honor, and it Only Costs $3,995 - Want to get interviewed on in-flight radio? Shell out a few grand and you might just get your chance.
• Consumerist: American Airlines Fined - American Airlines could be fined appx. $231,000 for dangerous working conditions at O’Hare.
• MSNBC: Mom pleads not guilty to hitting kids on plane - The saga continues for the woman accused of verbally and physically assaulting her children on a plane. She plead not guilty, but still remains in jail awaiting her court date.

Skybus, the low-cost airline out of good old Columbus, OH will no longer be relegated to the United States. The DOT recently approved Skybus for international travel, and the airline looks to offer flights from Port Columbus International Airport to Nassau, Bahamas and to Cancun. The dates of the maiden international voyages are still a bit in limbo, as approval is needed from the Mexican and Bahamanian governments, but Skybus hopes to be going to Cancun by the end of this year and into Nassau by early next year.

After a bit of haggling on both sides, the U.S. and the EU seem to have reached an agreement on a new joint policy involving passenger data sharing. Both sides see the new agreement as a step forward in fighting terrorism. While passenger data sharing agreements have been in place between the U.S. and EU, the new policy (which will replace an interim agreement that expires at the end of this month) calls for less data to be shared, but allows the U.S. to hold onto that data for longer periods of time. Now, the United States can keep information such as passengers’ names, credit card numbers, seat numbers, and addresses for up to 15 years. However, after seven years, strict rules are put in place to limit access to what is considered dormant data.

Both sides report to be pleased, with the EU seeing this as a better compromise between security and privacy than data sharing policies of the past. For instance, any information that might reveal race, religion, political affiliation, or sexual preference would automatically be deleted, unless it was believed that that information could save the passengers life or the lives of others.

I’ll keep you informed as this policy goes into effect.

I was saddened to hear about the explosion yesterday that killed 3 and injured more at a rocket test site out in Californias Mojave Desert. Workers there were running some tests on a system for Spaceship Two, a project backed by Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines. Branson wants to eventually launch several private, manned vehicles to reach space, for his Virgin Galactic enterprise.

For more information regarding the test site explosion and the related press conference, visit the LA Times.

Traveling with children, a new airline, and the power of ebay all made travel news today:

• The Perrin Post: Seeking Kid-Friendly Resort - What do you do when your romantic getaway plans suddenly become family vacation plans? Get some good advice on kid-friendly resorts.
• New York Times: Kids on the Plane? Maybe I’ll Have That Drink - Speaking of kids; A flight attendant recounts her woes of mashed up Cheerios and crayon-scarred tray tables. Don’t worry, she blames the parents.
• sydneysided: Hooray for choice! - While Virgin America is dominating the headlines, Virgin Blue has announced a new airline (V Australia) that will offer flights to the U.S.
• Metro: Superjumbo seats auctioned on ebay - Seats on the maiden voyage of Singapore Air’s Airbus 380 superjumbo are being auctioned on ebay to benefit three charities. It sounds like a really good idea, but you still have to watch out for that guy who always swoops in at the last second to outbid you.
• My Fox Dallas: American Airlines Pilot Penalized for Sticker on Plane - An American Airlines pilot is suspended without pay for 30 days after placing a sticker that was critical of executive bonuses on the exterior of a plane. Yep. There’s no better way to please a union than by docking one of its members about $12,000 for taking a shot at upper management.

Missed out on the travel/airline news today? Take a few minutes to catch up.

• NY Times : Somewhere in the Skies, Fish Ceviche Is Being Served - If you’re flying First Class or Business Class on certain airlines you could be enjoying fine dining at 30,000 ft. If you’re flying coach, you’re just longing for the days when they gave you the chicken or beef option.
• Style Treaty: Travel 2007 - Tired of over stuffing your checked baggage or having your toothpaste and shampoo thrown away at security because of the liquid regulations? Well, it’s not just over here. One fearless traveler from across the Pond teaches you how to get the most out of sample sizes.
• The Happy Hotelier: Qbic Amsterdam - The Qbic hotel opened in Amsterdam. It’s like the capsule hotel’s quasi-futuristic, slightly roomier European cousin. They say it’s hip and efficient, which often means it has oddly shaped furniture and is small.
• The Consumerist: Northwest Airlines Loves Canceling Flights - Beleaguered Northwest Airlines cancels more flights. If any other type of business shut its doors this often wouldn’t that pretty much be it for them?
• MSNBC: Brazilian airline diverts, cancels 90 flights - Do to continuing safety concerns following last week’s crash, TAM airlines diverted or canceled 90 flights at Sao Paulo’s main airport.

With all the talk of delays, cancellations, poor customer service, and broken toilets on flights, it’s easy to forget just how great flying can be some times. Well, today I was reminded of why I love to take to the sky. On my American flight from Dallas to Seattle, we had a great crew who went out of their way to help all of the young passengers, all of the elderly passengers, and everyone in between. I was proud of them, and I was glad I got to see it up close. It was the best flight I’ve been on in a year!

With the temperatures high and the kids enjoying their time off from school, it can be difficult to look beyond the summer. It’s a great time of year, filled with long days and dips in the pool. However, it’s time for all the travelers out there to start thinking about cooler days, changing leaves, cheaper airfare, and the beauty of autumn in Europe.

Traditionally, airlines offer their seasonal price breaks on flights to Europe in early to mid September. Compared to summer flights to Europe, autumn flights often cost anywhere from $400 to $800 less. This doesn’t mean that every fare is going to be the one you’re looking for. But there are a couple of things you can do to give yourself a better chance of taking that European vacation without breaking the bank.

Low cost transatlantic airlines like Zoom, Globespan, Eurofly, and even Aer Lingus offer everyday low prices (often hundreds of dollars less than legacy carriers) to Europe. You’ll also find that departing from a major gateway city will save considerable amounts of money. That means if you’re willing to make the trek to cities like New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, Denver, and Minneapolis you can save money.

One of the best ways to save money when flying to Europe is to fly into Dublin or London and then hook up with a low cost European carrier like Ryanair or EasyJet. These are airlines that regularly offer free tickets, which means you only have to pay the taxes. Major European carriers like British Airways and Air France often offer similar deals on flights within Europe. And you should be able to find affordable fares for the first leg of the tour during August and September. Here are Tuesday fares in August from JFK to Dublin on Delta:

The dog days will soon be over, and the leaves will start changing. It’ll be a great time to take that trip to Europe you’ve always dreamed about. Just don’t get stuck paying more than you have to.

This evening in the 8pm EDT Domestic U.S./Canada airfare feed, Delta Air Lines filed an airfare sale for departures between August 14, 2007 and October 16, 2007.

The newly filed airfares require a 21 day advance purchase before departure, are good any day of the week. Tickets must be purchased by August 9^th.

The average decrease in price is $73 below the current lowest published Delta airfares in over 6,000 city pairs. The seat inventory for these airfares is in the Delta deep discount T class where seats are usually limited.

Traditionally most airlines file airfare sales for the softer travel time period between late August and mid November. With the highest demand in history this past summer, it was not clear cut that these traditional airfare sales would occur this year.

This airfare sale signifies what should be the first of several airlines matching for fall travel departures after children are back in school and before demand increases for Thanksgiving and the end of year holiday season travel.

Example city pairs with these now low airfares include:

Phoenix to Toronto: $290+tax

Nashville to Raleigh-Durham $118+tax

Here are some of the top travel stories from today and this past weekend:

• Gadling: Tickets to Outerspace Increase Astronomically - Tickets to the Space Station skyrocket (sorry) from $20M to $25M. Meanwhile, Richard Branson’s basically giving away suborbital space travel for a mere $200,000.
• Travel Rants: Mobile Calls on Flights Cause Air Rage - Cell phones might be allowed on certain planes. I don’t want to be a spoil sport or anything, but there actually was an age when you couldn’t be reached anywhere at any time, and the world managed to keep turning.
• The Cranky Flier: United Goes Fully Flat in Business Class - United unveils plans for ultra-comfortable, stretch-out-till-your-heart’s-content seats in business class. Can the Virgin America waterbed be far behind?
• BBC: Tourists stranded as jet grounded - Travelers end up stranded for three days in the Canary Islands when a holiday firm’s only plane is grounded. What are the chances the boss will believe you when you give her the old I can’t come into work because I’m stranded on a distant island routine?
• MSNBC: Mom accused of hitting kids on flight - A mother of two is subdued after reportedly physically and verbally assaulting her children repeatedly on a plane. The outburst could cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars and some serious jail time.

This morning FareCompare.com was highlighted in the Wall Street Journal.

The article “Sites to Check Airfares” highlights our flexible destination map pages which let you quickly see the cheapest published airline ticket prices from your departure airport in the U.S. and Canada to destinations around the world. You can set the travel time period as well which will highlight the seasonal prices of most international destinations.

Weekend downtime? Catch up on some interesting travel and airline industry stories.

• That’s Fit: Stress-free travel - Tips on what to pack to enjoy stress-free travel. And no, decent customer service from the airlines won’t fit in your carry-on bag.
• boing boing: TSA head calls lighter ban “security theater” - The TSA will once again allow some types of lighters on planes. Lighters are back, matches never went away. Flames make me a little nervous, but I’ll be fine as long as I have my trusty 4 oz. bottle of water. Oh…right.
• The Chicago Traveler: Pooch Chicago - Man’s best friend enjoys fine dining, massages, milk baths, and plasma TVs in a Chicago luxury dog hotel. I know there’s a joke in there somewhere, but I’m too consumed with jealousy to find it.
• Online Travel Review: Stowaway in Airplane Wheel Dies - A man dies while hiding in the wheel well of a flight from Taiwan to San Francisco. Oddly, this type of thing happens more than you might think.
• BBC: Brazil jet thrust reverser off - The investigation into the crash of the TAM airliner that crashed in Brazil on Tuesday continues. Officials now believe a thrust reverser on the plane had been mistakenly deactivated during maintenance check.

This cartoon caught my eye today in the Los Angeles Times, take a look and tell me what you think.

You know it’s bad when the nations political cartoonist’s start jumping in on Air Travel System Woes.

Here are some interesting travel stories you might have missed today:

• A Somewhat Interesting Blog: The airlines will lose your suitcases - After last week’s news of British Airways losing a Cricket trophy, it’s reported that their lost-luggage numbers are higher than the norm. That’s BA; striving to be above average in everything.
• MSNBC: Live by the Code…of Cordiality - While others worry about a Passengers’ Bill of Rights, one writer calls for passengers to be more polite to each other. It’s a good cause, but I’m pretty sure the guy in front of me is going to keep reclining his seat back all the way just as I’m putting my drink down on the tray table.
• Ambient Thoughts: How tech changes travel - Advances in technology have completely changed the way people prepare for travel. Does seeing the highest mountain peaks on Google Earth before you ever get there take some of the adventure out of the journey? Probably not. The peaks are still really, really high. But it does make you wonder if in a few years there will be such a thing as a hidden getaway.
• The Consumerist: Drunk Nick Nolte - Actor and legendary mug shot Nick Nolte got drunk and started rolling around on the floor during a delay at an airport. There’s really nothing I can add to that. Check out the pictures at The Consumerist.
• Aviation Watch: Airlines worried about ETS-proposal - European airlines speak out against the EU’s plan to include aviation in its emission trading scheme, suggesting that it will have a huge impact on the airline industry.
• BBC: Calls for Brazil airport to close - An update on the investigation surrounding the crash of a Brazilian airliner on Tuesday. Officials are calling for the airport to be shut down until the runways are renovated.

That wiley British billionaire Branson has done it again! His new Virgin America is set to begin flying between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and San Francisco and New York starting August 8. More cities are expected to be announced soon. Meanwhile, tickets are on sale now (well, if you can get through to www.virginamerica.com; traffic to the site must be CRAZY, cuz it’s been difficult getting on and once there, it’s real sloooow).

Tickets for the LAX - SFO run start at $88 round trip, or $298 for First Class. SF to NY tickets start at $278 round trip (or $778 for First Class). Jet Blue, for one, is already lowering its prices…watch for others to follow.

But meeting the price is one thing; can other airlines match the amenities and customer service Richard Branson’s Virgin America can? According to the website, Virgin America’s planes will offer:

• Cabin “mood lighting” (what the…??)
• 110V power plugs at every seat (no more dead laptop batteries!)
• On-screen menus, so you can order “freshly prepared food” whenever you want it
• An entertainment system called Red that offers more than 25-pay per view feature films on demand

It should also be noted that Virgin America is a cashlessairline; everything is done with a credit card (or as Virgin cheerily puts it, just swipe and go!).

ON THE RADIO!

I spoke about Virgin Americas debut on CBS Marketwatch with host John Wordock today; you can go directly to the Marketwatch Audio Player page, to hear the interview.

Get caught up on the airline and travel news you may have missed:

• Gadling: Ultra Cheap Airfares May be a Thing of the Past in Europe - Gone may be the days of the 1p or free rides on discount European airlines. Well, they never really existed, but now carriers might have to admit to the fact that Free and ¤60 really aren’t the same thing.
• BBC: Ryanair’s green claims criticised - Speaking of discount European airlines, Ryanair put out an ad that downplayed commercial aviation’s effect on the environment and possibly used misleading numbers to back up its claims. The public complained, and the ad will no longer be run.
• Forbes: Back-in-Time Trips - Time Travel might still be out of our grasp, but Forbes is showing off some vacation spots that make you feel like you’re in another age.
• The Airline Hub: Southwest Airlines 2nd Quarter Results Slump - Southwest reports 2nd Quarter losses, and they have begun to offer buyout packages to some of their employees. It’s nothing new in the airline industry, but many thought Southwest could avoid the fate of other carriers.
• Washington Post: All 155 Feared Dead in Brazil Jet Crash - A plane crash in Brazil is believed to have killed close to 200 people. The plane landed during the rain on a runway that is said to be too short and often too slick. In fact, a judge banned certain aircraft from using the runway earlier this year, but his ruling was overturned in an appeals court. An investigation is underway, and I will keep you informed as I learn more.

It’s a memory most of us share: Our first time on an airplane. 8-year old Bryan Moore will never forget HIS first time.

He moved toward the gate, excited and more than a little bit nervous. He handed over his boarding pass, no doubt imagining what it must feel like to fly. Then, the airline rep tells him hes on the No Fly List. And they don’t allow him to board.

As Fox Kansas City reports, by the time the paperwork got cleared up and the airline acknowledged Bryan wasn’t a threat, his plane had already departed and the boy had to wait until the next day to make that first flight.

According to TSA, NO children are on the No Fly List and Brian’s airline SHOULD have let the child get on the plane. But Bryan’s experience is not a singular one. There have been reports of 4 year olds, toddlers, and even infants being hassled at the gate!

Poor Brian. But it makes for a pretty good story. There’s only one thing missing from it: common sense!

Just put your questions in the comments of this posting and I’ll try to answer as many as I can.

Comments link just below

Today’s travel news covers everything from Senate hearings to perfect destinations. Here are a few of the most interesting stories of the lot.

• The Consumerist: Woman Sues Spirit Airlines in Small Claims Court and Wins - Spirit Airlines stranded a passenger and refused to rebook her canceled flights. The passenger sued the airline and won. Is it a one-time deal or will thousands of angry travelers follow suit?
• MSNBC: FAA chief should get the ax, senator says - Senators call for the head of the head of the FAA. In response, the FAA calls for Congress to shell out billions of dollars for air traffic control upgrades. Isn’t it nice when two governmental agencies can get together and really talk things out?
• Gadling: What’s an Exit Row Seat Worth? - Virgin offers exit row seats for an extra $75. Many see that as a small price to pay for guaranteed leg room.
• Travel and Leisure: World’s Best - “Travel and Leisure” lists the World’s Best Cities. Once again, bias is shown towards stunning scenery, incredible food, and rich cultural history.
• The FAA Follies: Welcome to the 21st Century - This is an older story, but if you haven’t seen Seven Hours on the Tarmac you have to watch it. Sadly, I’m pretty sure a sequel will be out soon.
• Marketing Vox: In-Flight WiFi Being Mulled Over by Southwest - Rumors are circulating that Southwest may offer in-flight WiFi. Will perks like this determine which airlines can keep up? (Find more on the subject at Endgadget.)
• WPR - On a personal note, I’ll be talking about airfare, airlines, and whatever else might come up on Larry Meillers Ideas Network show, on WHA (AM) 970 at about 11:45 AM (CDT). It’s a show out of Madison, WI, but anyone can listen by visiting the station’s main page and clicking on Listen Live Online. So tune in, if you have the chance.

I was intrigued by a news blurb from Dow Jones stating that today (Monday July 16^th) was the last day for U.S. domestic airlines to apply for new non-stop routes to China.

The government is going to award ONE new non-stop route in 2007 and one in 2008 to one of the lucky applicant airlines (American, United, Delta, Continental & US Airways).

The Olympics had been on my mind for a few weeks since I got a question from a Wall Street Journal reporter the other day about the prices to travel to the Olympics in 2008 compared to historic prices to travel to other Olympic Games in the past 20 years.

In a completely different conversation; I had chatted with a international airline expert at lunch a month or so ago about the new Airbus A380 and how that would effect future long haul routes to China. He casually stated that most of the traffic to China transited through Tokyo and the new planes would completely change this particular routing.

I figured it was worth a quick look at the worldwide airline flight schedules we process at FareCompare.com to actually see how many non-stop flights there are from the U.S. to Beijing.

(more…)

Of course you do!

Sometimes it’s called “Denied Boarding” or its popular translation “We sold 10 more seats than were on the plane just to make sure it was really full!”.

If you’ve ever been “bumped” you know it’s a real pain.

And you don’t get much: up to $200 bucks if they can put you on a flight that gets you to your destination within an hour of when you were supposed to arrive, or, $400 maximum if it’s any later. 400-bucks–hey, don’t spend it all in one place!

But now, the Dept. of Transportation is accepting public comment on whether they should raise this compensation (duh).

Want to make YOUR voice heard? It may be one of your last chances … they just now are opening comments from this original request by the Air Transport Association in April of 2001 (it always takes me 6 years to sign-off to get anything done at my office).

Go to http://dms.dot.gov/ and hit the Comment/Submissions button; Press “Continue”; then fill in the Docket ID as OST-01-9325, also set Operating Administrator to OST and you’re good to go … It’s pretty easy…I know, I tried it.

Don’t miss this chance, because the last time they asked for comment on this issue was all the way back in 1968!

Update:

Ioannis Georgiou posted a comomment with a link to the current EU bumping rights (PDF document) which I think is quite useful, Thanks Ioannis

Here are some the most intriguing stories coming out of the airline and travel industries today:

• NY Times: Eventful Opening for ‘Capsule Hotel’ at London Airport - A bit of Japan comes to London as the city’s first capsule hotel opens in Gatwick Airport. Stranded passengers, business travelers, and those who fear square footage can now relax in style.
• Budget Travel Online: Containermania - If you caught my recent post, Knit 1 Purl 2, TSA Loves You, you know a little about the absurdity of the TSA’s rules regarding liquids and sharp objects (note: sharp objects are easier to get on board). In order to deal with TSA’s ongoing battle against water, some retailers have created containers specifically designed for use on airplanes.
• Daily Aviator: Travolta gets in the middle of legal dispute - Legal battles over a Florida runway might interfere with actor/pilot John Travolta’s flight plans. Can’t he just strut to his destination?
• Airline Biz: Speaking of Love Field and American Airlines - As Southwest takes advantage of changes in the good old Wright Amendment, American alters its carriers’ schedules out of Love Field.
• The Airline Hub: Passengers Aboard Flight to Australia Exposed to Polio Patient - Following on the heels of the air travel TB scare, a man who flew from Bangkok to Australia is diagnosed with Polio.
• The Perrin Post: Increase Your Comfort in Coach - Get tips on how to make international travel as painless as possible this summer.
• MSNBC: Pilot forgets to lower landing gear - The pilot of a small aircraft forgot to lower his landing gear when landing. Pilot chalks the mistake up to “pilot error.”