Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air has announced it will be adding six new Boeing 757’s to its relatively small fleet of 46 M-80 jets in order to launch direct domestic service to and from Hawaii later this year. The airline, which currently services over 60 U.S. cities, became popular over the last decade for providing affordable nonstop flights between both large metropolises (like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Detroit) and smaller, regional ports (like Fresno, Chattanooga, and Mesa). It plans to have the first of the 757’s in service this November, the second in January, and remaining four by 2012. No word yet on which six cities will receive the Hawaii routes, though those chosen will likely be smaller locales with no existing nonstop service to the islands. Also last week, Continental Airlines added several new direct flights between Honolulu/Maui and Los Angeles to help fill the gap left by recently defunct Aloha Airlines.

Search for flights using our own Quicksearch tool!

Mired in debt, Jamaica is handing over its national carrier, Air Jamaica, to Caribbean Airlines on April 12 to offset the former’s $500 million deficit. Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Airlines will lease and operate the current Air Jamaica fleet for up to a year on the latter’s “most profitable routes” (aka those to/from North America and Europe). No changes in booking procedures or schedules will take place for now, and Air Jamaica tickets already purchased for flights after April 12 are still valid.

As part of its 10-year anniversary celebration, JetBlue has launched a one-day sale on flights from New York’s JFK airport to its first 10 destinations from just $10 one-way. These include Fort Lauderdale, Oakland, Tampa, Orlando, Rochester, Buffalo, West Palm Beach, Burlington, Salt Lake City, and Fort Myers. So what’s the catch? You must travel by Wednesday, March 10 and additional taxes and fees apply. If that’s a bit too soon to travel, stay tuned – the airline has hinted that there are similar sales on the way in the coming months.

Last week, a Ryanair passenger on a flight from Poland to England became so enraged that he couldn’t collect his $13,550 prize money from a winning lottery ticket in cash immediately (aka while still on board the flight) that he swallowed the evidence as the shocked crew looked on. Ryanair, the popular low-budget European carrier, is famous for holding in-flight contests and promotional giveaways . . . handing over 10 cars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash prizes, and 100,000 flight vouchers to lucky participants in just the last two years. With the prize thus unclaimed, the airline joked about the man’s “expensive taste” and is donating the money to charity. 

But guess what? There are winning tickets out there you might accidentally take a bite out of. The Wonka candy company is finally launching a real-life “Golden Ticket” contest (based on its namesake Charlie and the Chocolate Factory films). Secretly wrapped within 10 random chocolate bars from its new Exceptionals line are grand-prize Golden Tickets, which promise a free trip around the world for each winner, three of their friends, and $12,500 in spending money. Other prizes include airline vouchers, and winning tickets claims must be received by September 27. Pretty sweet — just don’t eat the whole ticket!

Frontier Airlines has launched a new fare sale on winter and spring flights from as little as $74 each way. Fly to Denver, Seattle, Boston, Las Vegas, and more through June 9. This sale includes both short-haul flights and coast-to-coast jaunts; however blackout dates during major holidays apply (including Memorial Day weekend). Tickets must be purchased by March 4.

Sample Fares (One-Way, Excluding Taxes):

•    Indianapolis−Des Moines: $74
•    Denver−Milwaukee: $74
•    Philadelphia−St. Louis: $79
•    Columbus−Seattle: $79
•    New York−Columbus: $79
•    Pittsburgh−Denver: $84
•    Dallas−Pittsburg: $84
•    Boston−Las Vegas: $89
•    Los Angeles−Boston: $89
•    Atlanta−Minneapolis: $89
•    St. Louis−Tampa:$94
•    Chicago−Wichita: $94
•    And more!

For more information, visit www.flyfrontier.com.

To pump up the buzz on its new upcoming reality TV series “Fly Girls,” which follows the lives of five camera-loving V.A. flight attendants on the ground and in the air, Virgin America has launched a “Primetime” flash fare sale on cross-country and west coast flights. Now through March 1 only, nonstop, one-way tickets can be booked for as low as $49 (San Francisco-L.A.) or $119 (New York-L.A.), with travel between March 10-June 20, 2010. The show’s premiere, airing March 24 at 9:30 p.m. EST on The CW, is being filmed today on a Las Vegas-bound flight.

Sample Fares (each way) include:
•  San Francisco-Las Vegas: $49
•  New York/Boston-Los Angeles: $119
•  Washington D.C.-San Francisco: $119
•  Los Angeles-San Francisco: $49
•  Seattle-Los Angeles: $89
•  Ft. Lauderdale-San Diego: $129
•  And more!

Note: A 14-day advance purchase is required. For more information, or to book a flight visit www.virginamerica.com.

Few things are more rewarding than receiving a “surprise upgrade” to business-class on an international flight (that’s a solid 6-10 hours of pampering and bliss). However, times are tough, and with airlines charging extra for in-flight comforts, these coveted seats are more expensive than ever, and complimentary upgrades have become a distant memory. Before shelling out top-dollar for first-class fares to Europe, consider flying OpenSkies, the business-class carrier that provides direct service from New York to Paris. This spring, the upscale airline (owned by British Airways) is offering tempting rates on Biz-class seats from just $655 each way for travel through May 30 (when purchasing tickets by February 28).

Even after taxes are factored in, the total comes out to $1,428 round-trip – half the cost of the average first-class ticket on other carriers, and only $500 more than most economy fares (which aren’t always non-stop). In addition to these low fares, OpenSkies is launching a second route to Paris from Washington D.C. beginning May 3 with competitive rates starting from $815 each way.

For more information, or to book at ticket visit www.openskies.com.

American, Continental, and United have been in locked in a heated fare-war all week, and now AirTran has finally fired back with its latest sale starting from $44 each way. Take off to sun-filled domestic locales like Key West, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, and San Diego or try your luck in Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Plus, there are a handful of international destinations available at reduced rates including Aruba, Cancun, San Juan, Nassau, and more. Travel is valid through June 9 (blackout dates apply), but tickets must be purchased by March 4.

Sample Fares (Each Way) Include:
•    Orlando−Nassau: $44
•    Charlotte−Orlando: $64
•    Indianapolis−Atlanta: $69
•    Detroit−Fort Lauderdale: $69
•    Minneapolis−Fort Myers: $70
•    Philadelphia−Tampa: $77
•    Portland−New Orleans: $83
•    Boston−Cancun:$84
•    Seattle−Fort Lauderdale: $89
•    New York−Las Vegas: $89
•    Washington D.C. –Cancun: $99
•    Boston−San Juan: $105
•    And more!

For more information, or to book a flight visit www.airtran.com. 

Sacrebleu! Looks like travelers to and from France this week will have to forego the notion of a bon voyage, as air traffic controllers nationwide commenced a planned four-day strike this morning (coinciding with a national school holiday), leaving hundreds of planes grounded across the country. The staged walkout has translated to the cancellation of one in four flights at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle, and as many as half of the flights in and out of Paris’s Orly airport – several airports in smaller cities were shut down entirely. The union-led strikes are being staged in response to fears that a planned integration of European air traffic control would lead to job losses and cutbacks in employee benefits. Like-minded fears led to a similar strike in Germany yesterday, with Lufthansa pilots returning to work today after 24 hours on the fritz, in a demonstration of their fears that cheaper labor from budget carriers in the country could replace them (still, a normal flight schedule on Lufthansa routes is not expected to fully resume before Friday). Luckily, the French strikes are not presently targeted towards transatlantic routes and American travelers, with only routes within France and Europe currently affected. (Or perhaps, “unluckily” for American vacationers in the country, who might not have necessarily minded being forced into four extra days of wine, cheese, and cafés in the likes of Paris or the French Riviera!)

American Airlines is slashing rates on fares to islands in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda from select cities nationwide. This spring, jet off to Nassau, Montego Bay, Hamilton, and more starting from $171 round-trip – with taxes included. This fare sale is valid for travel now through May 28, however blackout dates apply from March 28 through April 12. Tickets must be purchased no later than February 28.

Sample Round-Trip Fares (with taxes) Include:
•    Miami−Nassau, Bahamas: $171
•    Boston−San Juan, Puerto Rico: $251
•    New York−San Juan, Puerto Rico: $256
•    Miami−Montego Bay, Jamaica: $261
•    Miami−Kingston, Jamaica: $265
•    Washington, D.C. –Montego Bay, Jamaica: $291
•    Chicago−St. Thomas, Virgin Islands: $308
•    New York−St. Thomas, Virgin Islands: $327
•    Chicago−Hamilton, Bermuda: $346
•    Washington D.C. –Kingston, Jamaica: $348
•    Orlando−George Town, Grand Cayman: $353
•    Washington D.C. –La Romana, Dominican Republic: $385
•    New York−Antigua: $418
•    And more!

For more information, visit www.aa.com.