What's in the news this week ...

United, US Airways Merger Reportedly Off Again
May 29, 2008 - Despite conflicting rumors that talks were moving forward, the negotiations between UAL Corp.'s United Airlines and U.S. Airways are now said to be off - again. The New York Times reported Friday that officials from United decided not to continue the negotiations Thursday, citing people with direct knowledge of the situation.

United is changing a frequent flyer policy
May 15, 2008 - United says it will no longer award a minimum of 500 frequent-flier miles on each flight starting with its July 1 flights no matter when they were ticketed.

American Airlines cutting flight to London
May 29, 2008 - American Airlines is eliminating its nonstop service between John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and London's Stansted Airport, effective July 2.

Airlines Scrambling for Survival
May 29, 2008 - American Airlines is markedly cutting capacity, reducing its workforce, matching or initiating airfare hikes and raising fees--including a $15 charge for a passenger's first checked bag. Such moves no longer are surprising as airlines all year have been attempting to mitigate the skyrocketing cost of jet fuel.

Trying to save on fares? Look at alternative airports
May 27, 2008 - There aren't any 100% effective ways to avoid paying today's sharply higher airfares, but old tactics largely abandoned in the post-9/11 era of low fares are making a comeback.

E-tickets only from Sunday
May 28, 2008 - Around 240 airlines around the world will stop issuing paper tickets. From June 1st no travel agent will issue paper tickets for air travel, says a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA has estimated that by dropping paper tickets, 50,000 trees will be saved anually.

Brand-new bags for flying light
May 29, 2008 - American Airlines' announcement that it will charge for checked bags on domestic flights may have sparked outrage among travelers who aren't into packing light.

Skepticism surrounds FAA 'customer' initiative for airlines
May 29, 2008 - Over the past two months, hundreds of thousands of airline passengers were stranded in airports nationwide as more than 3,500 flights were canceled because carriers failed to perform required maintenance.

Travel Industry Seeks Relief at the Airport
May 29, 2008 - With no end in sight to high gasoline prices, the travel industry is calling for new measures to ease another hindrance to summer-vacation plans: the frustrating experience of air travel.

Airline Consolidation Is A Long Process
May 29, 2008 - Airlines have to join forces, but it might take months of talks and even more months of anti-trust hearings to make any consolidation happen. This means continued losses for airlines as fuel costs continue to stick around record highs and passengers begin to find alternatives to air travel.

Business Travelers, Beware the Customs Desk
May 29, 2008 - Business travelers coming into the U.S. need to be careful what information they keep on their computers.

Better Business Bureau warns of 'travel clubs'
May 30, 2008 - With the cost of travel skyrocketing, consumers are increasingly susceptible to fraudulent offers for special deals on vacations, and Better Business Bureau is warning vacationers to be wary of joining "travel clubs."

Trips and traps of credit card rewards programs
May 25, 2008 - Credit cards that provide rewards ranging from frequent flier miles to cash can offer rich benefits to those who hold them. However, using the wrong reward card -- or not clearly understanding all of its conditions -- can cost more than it gives. Reward cards can have all kinds of pitfalls, from complicated restrictions listed only in fine print to frequent flyer miles that expire before you can use them.