How to never get screwed by a cancelled flight again

by Jerry Guo on

This works for all canceled flights except in cases where it’s due to “weather.” And even in those cases, make sure it’s really canceled because of weather, as I’ve written about before. (One easy way to do this is to check if flights to your destination on other airlines are also canceled.)

Anyways, once you’ve told the ticket agent that no, in fact, the weather at your destination is a sunny 85 degrees, here’s how to avoid sleeping over at the airport or standing in a line for the next six hours.

It’s known as Rule 240. Just mentioning this little-known clause to the ticket agent may open doors. But here’s how it really works: Rule 240, a remnant of the days before deregulation, stipulates that your airline must book you on another airline’s flight if that is available and will get you to your destination quicker.

The great news is that most airlines, at least the ones that have been around before deregulation, still honor Rule 240, though it’s not officially valid anymore. Only the new airlines like JetBlue, Southwest, and Air Tran refuse to honor most of these requests. Just remember, make sure to actually say the words “Rule 240” the next time you’re at the counter.

Showering at the airport makes the flight so much easier

by Grant Martin on

Traveling with an airport lounge membership for the past few months, I’ve been struggling to figure out whether or not the investment was actually worth it. Iva’s had some trouble with her Continental Airlines President’s Club membership, but I’m still on the fence. On one hand, I get free wireless internet, free drinks and a comfortable quiet place to work while waiting for my flights. But is the two hundred and fifty dollars really worth it?

Well, yesterday on the way to London, I decided that it is.

First, a little background: it’s about 5 degrees in Detroit, as it usually is around this time of year. I’m on my way to London to take care of a little work on the Focused Ion Beam at Loughborough University then I’m bouncing down to Paris to visit my sister and Eleanor Beardsley. I’ve got my favorite Arc’teryx long weekender pack, am wearing my favorite pair of travel jeans and pretty much the thinnest pair of boots I’ve ever purchased (I had to JB weld the sole to the leather last season).

Needless to say, I was pretty much freezing on my short shuttle ride between the off-airport parking lot and Detroit’s McNamara terminal. On the way in, however, I recalled that the Detroit airport lounge had a couple of showers. Nothing feels better than a hot shower after being out in the cold. And despite my fears that the lounge shower would be akin to the boys high school locker room, it was quite pleasant. Free towels and soap were waiting for me when I showed up, and soft classical music played in the background as I warmed back up to temperature.

Now, sitting in 14J on my way to London I have to admit, I feel a lot better than I did on the way in. On a flight that’s booked with about 50 out of about 250 passengers, I look over at the vacant row of seats next to me and think about the decent night of sleep that I’m about to get. It’s nice to be traveling again.

Sarkozy sues Ryanair over (cheesy) ad

by Iva Skoch on

There is never a dull moment with the current French president, is there. While the ex-French president Francois Mitterrand liked to keep his affairs private, Nicolas Sarkozy likes the spotlight. The only thing stopping him from becoming a total French stud, “le stud”, is a supermodel wrapped around him. Oh wait, he has managed to find one of those, too.

The drama of the week is this. Sarkozy and his ex-supermodel girlfriend Carla Bruni are suing the low-cost carrier Ryanair over a picture of the two of them used in a Ryanair ad in Le Parisien. Bruni is demanding 500,000 Euro (Which is apparently how much she normally charges for a photo. Isn’t she an EX-supermodel?) The modest Sarkozy is willing to settle for 1 Euro. I mean, the president can’t seem greedy. He is, after all, a man of principles.

Ryanair has apologized and offered to donate 5,000 Euro to a charity of Sarkozy’s choice. Let’s see, how about donating some to the Midlife Crisis Helpline?

(Per Reuters, the cartoon bubble above Bruni, the scion of a rich Italian industrial dynasty, says: “With Ryanair, my whole family can come to my wedding.”)

Southwest Airlines announces new baggage policy

by Justin Glow on

Southwest Airlines made some adjustments to their baggage policy. I’m just going to paste what they wrote on their blog since I’d rather not muck up the already-confusing changes:

“The free baggage allowance for each ticketed Customer will change from three to two bags. The first and second bag you check (up to 50lbs) are FREE. The third bag (also up to 50 lbs) will be $25.00. Oversized and overweight bags may be subject to extra charges. The maximum dimensions will remain the same, where the luggage should not exceed sixty-two (62) inches when you add the length + width + height. SWA does not accept items over 100lbs.

“Customers will still be permitted to substitute certain sporting equipment free of charge in place of one of the two free bags. For example, ski equipment can be used for a free bag, SWA allows up to two bags (containing one set of snow skis, ski poles, and ski boots) to count as one item, even if they are packed and tagged separately. (Overweight charges may still apply.)

“Customers may substitute up to two baby items, such as car seats and strollers, in exchange for one checked bag. In real-life terms, a family of four (including two small children over the age of two) may check two sets of golf clubs, two strollers, two car seats, and four pieces of luggage (under 50 pounds each) all for free.”

So in case that isn’t clear: you can now substitute a pair of skis for a baby stroller, which is something you should seriously consider the next time you fly Southwest with your kid. Would you rather have a munchkin that grows up to be a winter Olympic medal winner, or a lazy dolt that’s used to being pushed around all day by his parents? I thought so. Thanks, Southwest!

Southwest Airlines Blog: New Baggage Policy

###

How cool is this plane?

%Gallery-9672%

Wi-Fi and satellite TV coming soon-ish on Continental

by Jerry Guo on

Starting next January (sorry you’ll have to wait ten more months), Continental will have Wi-Fi Internet access and satellite TV on every US flight. The Wi-Fi will be free for all passengers and satellite TV will be free in first-class and $6 in coach.

They’re using the same Internet provider as JetBlue’s, which has already started offering Wi-Fi. Other airlines have also jumped on the bandwagon: WestJet, Frontier, Virgin Blue, and AirTran. As for TV, you’ll be getting CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, ESP, among others.

A part of me can’t wait until next January, but I’m also going to be a bit nostalgic about the chance to get away from it all. If there was Internet offered on the plane, I would definitely jump on it, but then I would miss reading that good book or magazine.