Aeromexico is taking a lesson from cell-phone companies by introducing its own version of a “Family Plan.” Buy three or four tickets on select routes between the U.S. and Mexico and receive one ticket – for an adult or a child – for free. Some destinations included in this offer are Los Cabos, Guadalajara, Cancun, Leon, Monterrey, and Mexico City. Fly from major U.S. cities like Las Vegas, Houston, New York, Miami, Seattle, and many more. Read the rest of this post »

The holidays are shaping up to be a bit more merry and bright for flyers this year, now that a number of major airlines have announced free in-flight WiFi deals. While 2009 has seen all the usual suspects (Delta, Virgin America, JetBlue, etc.) rolling out en-route service on most or all flights, the cost of upwards of $10 a pop on longer trips (half the price of my monthly at-home bill) has left only the most email-addicted passengers biting the bait. Thankfully, just in time for air travel’s busiest time of year, discounts seem to literally be falling from the skies, with many airlines offering Internet passes completely free of charge. Read the rest of this post »

I must admit, when I flew LAN Airlines from New York to Lima this past summer, I was paying more attention to the new full-recline seats in business class (i.e. sleeping very soundly) than I was to the rundown of newly offered comforts in neighboring economy class: more on-demand entertainment choices, increased seat pitch, power outlets, oversized overheads, tasty new meals, and complimentary booze. What really awakened me, though, were the surprisingly affordable fares on these retrofitted economy-class seats. Even heading into winter high season, flying LAN remains one of the most affordable ways to get from the U.S. (non-stop from New York, Los Angeles, and Miami) to South America and the Caribbean. See sample fares after the jump. Read the rest of this post »

If you’re one out of the every three Americans who break out in a nervous sweat before take-off, relax. Sir Richard Branson has come to your rescue! Virgin Atlantic’s valiant chief unveiled the company’s first iPhone app, Flying Without Fear, yesterday. Based on Branson’s own course of the same name (which boasts a near-perfect success rate – just ask spokeswoman Whoopi Goldberg), the $5 app is designed to help anxious fliers overcome their fears by providing in-flight video explanations and answers to frequently asked questions about flying, plus relaxation exercises (there’s even a panic button for emergency calming methods if you start to, say, hyperventilate during a bit of turbulence). Since every aerophobe’s nerves vary, a custom “My Program” section allows users to rate their personal fears and offers advice on how best to prepare for your next flight, based on your individual info.

Click here for our list of Essential iPhone Travel Apps.

Looking for a happy medium between coach’s sardine-can accommodations and first class’s hefty price on lengthy flights? Premium economy cabins, featuring cushier seats and more space to stretch your legs (and wallet), are emerging as a less extravagant, more comfortable option on a number of airlines (including jetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, and British Airways, to name a few). Still, said seats on many overseas flights can run upwards of five times the cost of a coach ticket, and transatlantic jaunts in particular see higher fares versus the standard economy class than do their Pacific counterparts. Read the rest of this post »

JetBlue added yet another colorful push-pin to its Caribbean route map earlier this week, when it kicked off service between New York City (JFK) and the island of St. Lucia. With a direct flight time of approximently 4 to 5 hours, this new route is bound to lure travelers on long-weekend retreats to pristine beaches, tropical rainforests, and one of the world’s few drive-in volcanoes. Read the rest of this post »

The holidays are just around the corner, and if you’re anything like us, you’re probably hoping you won’t have to pay an arm and a turkey leg to get home to celebrate. Happily, the travel forecast for 2009 is looking much merrier than that of 2008’s “bah humbug” holiday season, when the cost for airline travel soared in the face of the unfolding economic crisis, sky-high fuel costs, severe capacity cuts, and the introduction of a slew of then unheard-of airline fees. With at least jet-fuel prices presently back down to a digestible level, industry experts have analyzed holiday airfare rates to be anywhere from 7 to 20 percent cheaper than they were last year. Perfect timing for the recession-hit, once-reluctant travelers who are slowly edging their way back into the market. Still, don’t expect bargain-basement fares for this premium travel period and, by all means, leave procrastination to only the most coolheaded of gamblers. Savings are slimming as the holidays near, and with the copious number of routes that have been grounded since last year (in response to the recession), there are fewer seats for sale – and less desperation on behalf of the airlines to fill them.  Read the rest of this post »

The year is almost over and if you’ve yet to sneak in a little vacation, now is the time to do it with Southwest Airlines’ irresistible 72-hour sale. From now until October 29, customers can take advantage of incredibly low one-way fares to all of Southwest Airlines’ destinations.

For travel up to 375 miles, fares are $25 one-way; destinations between 375 and 549 miles from originating city are just $50 one-way; for travel between 550 and 999 miles, fares are $75 one-way; and, just in case you want your dreams of traveling across the country to take flight, destinations more than 1,000 miles from the originating city are only $100 each way. Are your bags packed yet?

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Just because you’re watching those nickels and dimes doesn’t mean you have to stay in the cold this winter. With Air Jamaica’s extension of its Winter Sale to October 26, it’s cheaper than ever to soak up some sand, surf, and sun – without the debt. Catch a plane and not a cold with incredible rates starting at just $188 round-trip. Fares are valid for economy class travel from January 1 through February 11, 2010. Enjoy great rates from major cities across the U.S. – not just from nearby Florida.

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It’s no newsflash that airplanes comprise one of the most polluting means of modern travel: just consider the exorbitant amount of toxic gases jet engines cough into the atmosphere. In light of the drastically fluctuating fuel prices and environmental concerns of late, a desire to curb emissions and find alternative sources for jet fuel has not escaped the airline industry. Just last week, Qatar Airways powered the world’s first commercial flight using fuel made from natural gas – no surprise, given that the country is home to one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves. Believing “environmental decisions aren’t just good business sense, but the right thing to do,” Southwest Airlines is one of the first carriers thinking beyond the fuel-filled box. Yesterday, the airline debuted its first “green” plane, with its inaugural flight having occured last night between Dallas (where Southwest is headquartered) and Seattle. Read the rest of this post »