Other News Highlights

Delta and Continental Raise Baggage Fees
Delta Air Lines has added a $5 surcharge for paying checked baggage fees at the airport instead of online, matching moves by some other airlines. Atlanta-based Delta already charges $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second checked bag on domestic flights.

Continental increased by $5 the fees for flight reservations taken over the phone and checking bags on domestic flights. Beginning Aug. 19, it will cost $20 for the first bag and $30 for a second when passengers check them at the airport instead of online.

How to Avoid Useless Trip Expenses
Take a wild guess: Which of these will end up costing you the most money?
a) The road less traveled
b) The lost highway
c) The scenic route
The answer, of course, is that this is sort of an insane question. But since you were already willing to take the travel quiz, permit me to suggest that the correct response is actually:
d) the path of least resistance.

NBTA Report Puts Global Business Travel Spending At Nearly $1 Trillion
A new National Business Travel Association report estimates total global business travel spending volume at $929 billion, including air, car, hotel and food and beverage spending and managed and unmanaged business travel volume.

US Airlines Stung By Biz Travel Drop; More Cuts Coming
Steep declines in business travel amid the economic downturn are taking a heavy toll on U.S. airlines, offsetting the benefits of lower fuel prices and forcing them to take fresh steps to control costs and boost revenue.

Grab Airfare Deals Now, or Wait?
SUMMER is half over and you still haven’t found that cheap airfare to paradise that everyone seems to be talking about. Should you book now, and take advantage of a recent spate of midsummer sales from the airlines? Or hold out in the hopes of even better deals when the leaves start to fall?

Still traveling for business, but carefully
Airfare wars and room-rate promotions are usually aimed at vacationers, but airlines and hotels are resorting to similar tactics to regain their traditional cash cow — the business traveler.

Airline tests mobile bag check-in
If you’re in need of assistance from an American Airlines agent at Logan Airport in the next six weeks, you won’t necessarily have to stand in line at the counter to get it. Starting Monday, the airline plans to test 20 mobile devices that allow employees to check bags and provide gate information, flight times, and boarding status from anywhere in the building.

Airbags for airliners: Will they cost travelers?
You may never need them at 35,000 feet, but you'll be glad they're around if you do. Defibrillators, medical kits and life vests are a few examples of the safety equipment the government requires airlines to put on passenger jets.

For some fliers, trading miles is the way to go
Scott Hintz needed more miles with American Airlines to book a free trip to Morocco this spring, and he had several thousand miles from another carrier that he thought might be just the ticket.

Hotels Slash Costs, To Guest Dissatisfaction: Financial Woes Prompt Chiseling Of Services
Hotels are struggling to implement cost cuts without disrupting the service levels to which their guests are accustomed, but some clients are taking notice.

U.S. hotel adds electric vehicle charging station
The Element hotel in Lexington, Massachusetts has become the first in the hotel chain to install an electric vehicle charging station for guests and travellers in the area.

New opportunities open up for buyers negotiating rates with hotels for 2010
If travel buyers have not done so already, they may want to consider reopening negotiations with hotels for rates travelers will pay for the remainder of 2009. Due to the economy, more companies are traveling smarter, room rates are softening and hotel programs buyers negotiated in 2008 for 2009 for properties in certain cities have become out of date.