Hotels are increasingly tacking on fees to their published rates. Most travelers already know about high phone charges and resort fees as well as fees for the in-room safe and the morning newspaper. But an extra charge for housekeeping? One frequent traveler commented that if a hotel was going to charge extra for housekeeping services, they were going to be sure to get their money’s worth! The best practice is to print out your room rate confirmation and bring it with you to the hotel. If the charge isn’t disclosed on your confirmation, you should be able to get it taken off the bill at check-out… or at least successfully dispute the charge with your credit card company.
It’s not just security screeners
More than 100 air marshalls have been fired or suspended due to recently completed background checks. The TSA wants to arm them but not pilots…
The longest regional jet flight?
It’s long been possible to fly coast to coast on regional jets with only one stop (Continental — Richmond to Houston to Palm Springs). The second leg of that trip is 1269 miles. American Airlines has announced regional jet service from Fayetteville, Arkansas to Los Angeles – a whopping 1371 miles. To the best of my knowledge, this is the longest scheduled regional jet flight. (Readers, please correct me if I’m wrong.) Meanwhile, pilots at regional airline Comair are suing their union, arguing that the Airline Pilots Association has a huge conflict representing pilots at major airlines and arguing that those airlines shouldn’t be allowed to increase the number of regional jets that their regional partners fly.
Almost makes me want to be a TSA screener
The Transportation Security Administration is testing a x-ray device that makes passengers appear naked. Some feel it’s better than being patted down. I think it’ll just make the whole screening job much more appealing. Imagine how many candidates will be attracted to the job! Unless, of course, the TSA decides to implement a software modification that an electronic fig leaf – programming that fuzzes out sensitive body parts or distorts the body so it does not appear so, well, graphic. That’ll sure satisfy any privacy objections. (Thanks to alert reader Jeff for the pointer.)
Orbitz discount
Book a flight on Orbitz by July 15 and get $50 off your mext booking.
Link to my website, fly first class
If you have a website, add a link to View from the Wing. If you have a blog, post about this site or add it to your blogroll. Then drop me a note about it. I will pick a winner at random, from those links received by July 1 at 12pm Eastern time, to receive (2) USAirways space upgrade certificates.(One additional caveat — if I’m already on your blogroll as of this post it doesn’t count. You’ll need to actually post about this site. 🙂
Going once
You have less than a week left to open a British Airways Executive Club account without paying a top-dollar fare. So do it now.
Other People Make Money Off Of What I (And Others) Give You For Free
Keith Rogol will go online and check what folks are paying for hotels via Priceline (using, for instance, Biddingfortravel.com and Betterbidding.com) and then charge you for what he learns. There’s even a current E-Bay auction where someone will sell you a hotel room that they’ll book in your name with Priceline. Or you can just read View from the Wing.
I like your mail
I get a decent amount of mail, and I do my best to answer questions with as much detail as possible. I’d really love to hear from you if you have a question or would like advice on accumulating or redeeming frequent flyer miles (or for that matter anything to do with travel.Drop me a line!
Reader Mail Part Two
Andrew writes: Hi Gary, I wonder if you can give me some advice. I’m a Continental One Pass member but don’t fly very often. Perhaps 3-4 times a year, both domestic and abroad. (I also have United miles, but much fewer.) I don’t currently use a credit card to accumulate miles, but realize that I probably should, especially as I’m about to purchase a $2,000 computer. It seems that the best credit card for me would be a Chase Continental card (not sure which one) or a Starwood Amex which frequent flyers seem to speak of very highly. Do you think one of these two cards are the right ones for me? Or would I be better off with something else? Thanks so much for your help! Andrew, I think you’re already on the right…
