Rick Seaney, co-founder of FareCompare.com - is a world-class air travel expert.
FareCompare.com presides over a kingdom of sophisticated software that searches out fares and destinations at a billion combinations per query - while keeping track of 500 airlines serving more than 270,000 markets around the globe.
And all of Rick's data is updated continuously - in real-time.
No wonder he's the media's go-to guy for all things air travel. He's got the answers. And he loves to share his knowledge.
That's why Rick and the team created FareCompare.com - to help everyone become an air travel expert, and get the best deals first -- every time they fly.
It’ll introduce you to a fascinating guy who founded a charity called Steak Team Mission; the outfit gets help from all kinds of companies (like American Airlines) to bring steak dinners to America’s men and women in uniform. Even if they’re in Afghanistan. Or Djibouti. Or aboard the Nimitz. Or in Texas (that’s the really heart- tugging vignette).
See the menu (let’s just say it’s meaty and jalapeno-y). Hear what the troops have to say. And enjoy meeting the founder of the mission.
It’s a fun and enlightening read, even if I do say so myself.
Exactly two years ago to this very day - back on March 11, 2009 – I wrote a column for ABCNews.com called “The Next Vacation Hot Spot: Cuba?” Now, it seems, that reality may be just around the corner.
We’ve received word that the United States Customs and Border Protection has now authorized more airports to offer passenger air service to and from Cuba via charter flights.
New York’s John F. Kennedy and Miami International are currently the only ones offering this service, and at the moment, charters are limited to travel for Cuban-Americans visiting relatives, for journalists and for those making authorized religious or educational trips.
But I imagine it won’t be long before we’ll see Cuba opening up to regular tourists like you and me. And why not?
A lot of us are ready for adventure: according to the latest government data, 30% of us have passports (and it would be great if more of us got them) – so why not use them for travel to an international destination in our own backyard that’s both accessible and affordable, especially compared to other popular Caribbean vacation spots? Anyway, it is great to see one of the last remaining icebergs from the Cold War – the ban on travel to Cuba – slowly but surely thawing.
And yes, I can hear all you cigar aficionados out there saying, gracias!
For the record, airports now authorized for charters to Cuba include the following (in no particular order):
Pittsburgh International Airport
Miami International
New York’s John F. Kennedy
Los Angeles International
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International
Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International
Baltimore/Washington International
Dallas/Fort Worth International
New Orleans Louis Armstrong International
Chicago’s O’Hare International
Tampa International Airport
Puerto Rico’s San Juan Louis Munoz Marin International
Coming up later this month, I’ll be doing one of my weekly air travel columns for ABCNews.com on this topic: New Year’s Resolutions for the Airlines.
This is going to be fun since I’ve got a lot of ideas – but – I’d love to hear yours as well. Please share on Facebook.
Feel free to be creative though serious replies are certainly welcome. Some ideas to get you started:
Should the airlines resolve to…
Drop all bag fees?
Institute Happy Hours with free drinks on flights?
Allow cute pets to roam free in the aisles?
Lower those irritating “change fees”?
Maybe a look at the FareCompare Domestic Airline Fee Chart will give you some more ideas, or just let your imagination run wild. I’ll use the best ones in my upcoming column so please stay tuned.
Did you catch my appearance on ABC’s Nightline last night?
I provided the analysis for Ryan Owens’ report, “Breakin’ the Bank to Fly” (also featured: Steven Slater, the one-time angry, fed-up flight attendant).
As I noted, in general airline fees target “unloyal” families of four (non-miles program members), but see for yourself in this very entertaining video – then check out my tips to avoid airline fees, below:
However, you can still avoid the worst of the fees by following these simple tips:
Five Ways to Avoid Airline Fees for Cheaper Flights
1. Check a Bag: Use a carryon and avoid the roundtrip bag fees of up to $50 per bag
2. Fly a Free Bag Airline: Both JetBlue and Southwest will give you free checked-bags and the FareCompare Domestic Airline Fee Chart will show you what others charge
3. Don’t Book until Trip Dates are Firm: This sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised by how many try to change flight dates after purchase only to learn about the $150 “change fee”
4. Bring Your Own Food and Entertainment: There are no more free meals in coach, plus a lot of airlines charge for snacks and WiFi; brown bag it, and don’t forget your book (or Kindle or iPad)
5. Fly Nonstops: If you’re stuck in a middle seat because you didn’t pay the “seat selection” fee, it’s a lot easier to endure cramped conditions on one flight instead of two
I guess you could say an airfare war has broken out in Dallas-Ft. Worth, thanks to Virgin America’s entry into the market. It’s taking on American Airways, and the result (at least so far) is lower airfares in the Los Angeles – DFW market.
I totally enjoyed my ride on VA’s inaugural flight - but even better was talking to Richard Branson, the billionaire behind the Virgin brand. The guy is funny too; here’s his hilarious take on the new “enhancements” at airport security, like the vigorous patdown I underwent recently:
Be sure to look at some of the edgier videos made by FareCompare’s Mike Federico – he was along for the ride, too and had some fun with a video camera.
And tell me via Facebook: will you try Virgin America? Or if you have, what do you think?
Tomorrow – Thursday, April 29 – a new Dept. of Transportation rule called, “Enhancing Airline Passenger Protections” goes into effect.
You know it better as the “3-hour rule” – and it means no more passengers getting trapped-on-the-tarmac in planes going nowhere, after a wait of three hours.
It also means, while you are on that plane, waiting for those three hours, medical attention will be available to anyone who needs it, and after two hours, food and water will be available as well.
Plus, the lavatories will have to be in working order (don’t think this hasn’t happened before).
The airlines don’t like this rule – and some passengers say, three hours is too long. I take a look at this angry debate (and more) in my latest column for ABCNews.com.
Here’s an irony: the new three hour rule could wind up delaying your plane a lot longer than three hours – or at least, that’s what some experts are saying. Is that argument valid? I’d love to hear what you think.
To be more precise, the subject is lifting carryon luggage and who is supposed to do it.
If you read this earlier post of mine – you saw the story about a 29 year old self-described disabled woman with a painful though “hidden” spinal cord injury (no crutches or wheelchair needed for the most part) who couldn’t get help with her bag from a flight attendant.
Should she have? Apparently yes – Dept. of Transportation rules say, flight attendants and others “should assist with stowing and retrieving baggage”.
But you know, something else nagged me about her story, and it was this: none of her fellow passengers helped her out either until she pointedly asked someone. Yeah, I know – sometimes when traveling, we’re oblivious to everything but the upcoming meetings or seeing our families again – and we may not notice someone in distress – or someone who simply needs a hand.
I for one, am going to start paying a little more attention.
It’s the last one that interests me most, since it would affect the most passengers – mostly negatively, in the wallet – as well as airline employees who may have to head to the unemployment line.
But one thing mergers can do: they can keep airlines alive. And that’s good for most everyone, as fans of now defunct airlines like Aloha, ATA, Skybus and more can attest to.
