Publicized over intercoms by flight attendants, stuffed in seat-pocket magazines, painted on napkins, tray tables, and even barf bags . . . the recent barrage of on-board ads plugging products from Coca-Cola to credit cards has been difficult to ignore. As operating costs continue to rise, the money to be made in in-flight advertising (tens of millions of dollars a year) is tempting airlines as of late to offset expenses by plastering promotions into every available cabin cranny, transforming planes into virtual flying billboards. Flyers, feeling the creep, have criticized many of the in-flight blitzes for being too aggressive – cornering “captive customers” at cruising altitude when ad inundation is impossible to avoid. 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 »

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.

Thought that last cup of water the flight attendant served you tasted a tad funny? Well, hopefully you’ll no longer have to question that agua aftertaste, thanks to new rules set into place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this week. Airlines will now be issued schedules for how often the water they serve their passengers (as well as the water supply for the lavatories) must be tested for coliform bacteria, which in itself is not harmful, but is an indicator of disease-causing bacteria. The new tests are affecting 63 airlines and costing $7 million – in our opinion, a small price to pay to wash away in-flight water woes for the traveling masses.

Forget the same-old glass of wine to take the edge off during your next flight – look to super-hip Virgin America for a fun alternative to calm those onboard jitters (or to simply kick off your vacation with a bang), with the introduction of absinthe to all of their onboard menus. The think-outside-the-box airline has long had us “oohing” and “ahhing” over their lounge-like mood lighting, high-tech gadgetry, and recent announcement that WiFi will be offered on all flights, so their recent partnership with French liquor company, Le Tourment Vert (translated into English as “The Green Torment”), predictably speaks to their strive toward drawing a hip clientele.

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Rarely impressed by the airline industry’s food and beverage service, I was recently won over by South African Airways (SAA) in-flight wine selection. En route to Johannesburg I swirled a white that was just too good to be served on a plane–until I learned the history of how it got there. Each year SAA spends two-and-a-half-days hosting an event with an expert team of local and international wine connoisseurs choosing the 80 wines offered on their flights throughout the year. In 2008 alone more than 900 wines were submitted for vigorous tasting and voting. Beyond assembling the team of judges, SAA actually employs the help of independent auditors Deloitte and Touche to monitor the scoring of each top wine in its respective category (Best White, Best Red, Port, among others). The top-flight white that that I enjoyed so much was the Bellingham 2007 Maverick Chenin Blanc–which came across with a strong fruit note followed by a spicy finish. Finally, an amenity worth flying for.

In the ever-growing industry trend towards further cost-cutting, Air Jamaica has announced that as of May 1, they’ll be putting a cork in their free champagne service – an in-flight treat that was a real rarity for economy flyers, and a sparkling signature service for the airline. While they still intend to provide travelers with complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, and juices, somehow celebrating your Jamaican vacation over a cup of decaf or OJ just doesn’t have the same bubbly appeal. Read the rest of this post »

Southwest Airlines has embarked on what’s set to be the next major step in 21st century air travel, with their recent testing of in-flight Wi-Fi. While only one of their aircrafts is currently equipped with the technology, three more are set to be outfitted as early as next month. Once on board, travelers will be able to use high-tech gadgets like laptops, iPhones, and any other devices equipped with personal Wi-Fi capabilities – absolutely free. (Oh, how we love fee-free Southwest!)  Read the rest of this post »