Travel + Leisure Magazine has released its annual "World's Best Awards" where it ranks the best domestic and international airlines - among other travel categories.  For the second consecutive year, Virgin America was named the best domestic airline.  Rounding out the top ten list of domestic carriers were No. 2 JetBlue, No. 3 Midwest, No. 4 WestJet, No. 5 Southwest, No. 6 Sun Country, No. 7 Hawaiian Airlines, No. 8 Frontier, No. 9 Alaska Airlines and No. 10 USA 3000. 

I'm not sure how WestJet made the "domestic" list considering it's a Canadian carrier - but, speaking as a guy who has lived his entire life in the border states of Vermont and Washington, I can see their rationale.

As for the best international airlines, Singapore Airlines again topped the list.  It was followed by two new entrants to the Travel + Leisure rankings, No. 2 Qatar Airways and No. 3 Emirates. Rounding out the "best" international airlines were No. 4 Japan Airlines, No. 5 Virgin Atlantic, No. 6 All Nippon Airways, No. 7 Cathay Pacific, No. 8 Thai Airways, No. 9 Air New Zealand and No. 10 Asiana Airlines.

BTW: You can use Yapta.com to track the airfares offered by most of these domestic and international carriers.  In fact, we just rolled out a new flight search interface that will make it easier (and faster) to find the flights you want to track.  Give it a test drive today.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  Las year Dell computers commissioned a study that found that 12,000 laptops are lost each week at U.S. airports.  Los Angeles leads the pack with 1,200 laptops reported lost or stolen at LAX weekly. Incredibly, most laptops are left behind at security checkpoints, with only 33 percent ever being recovered (17 percent before the flight, 16 percent after).

*  Dozens of randy turtles crawled onto a JFK airport runway Wednesday, delaying flights for over an hour, authorities said.  Port Authority workers rushed to the shell-covered runway about 8:30 a.m. and scooped up 78 diamondback terrapins that had left the waters of Jamaica Bay scouting a spot to breed.

*  The federal government fined Delta Air Lines $375,000 for improperly bumping passengers from oversold flights, and United Airlines $80,000 for not telling consumers which other airlines it has code-share agreements with.

*  Continental Airlines won final U.S. approval to coordinate flights abroad with United Airlines and eight other carriers, clearing the way for the companies to share passengers and boost revenue.  Continental, the fourth-largest U.S. carrier, will be able to jointly plan pricing, schedules and marketing with the carriers without fear of antitrust prosecution.

Yapta has compiled a list of terrific deals on flights and hotels from around the United States.  If you're interested in any of these flights or hotels, just click on them and you can have Yapta continue to track the price for you.

Airfare

Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK)... $299 round-trip (American Airlines)

Chicago (ORD) to New York (LGA)... $224 round-trip (American Airlines)
Chicago (ORD) to San Francisco (SFO)... $356 round-trip (American Airlines)

Boston (BOS) to San Francisco (SFO)... $279 round-trip (United Airlines)
Boston (BOS) to Orlando (MCO)... $234 round-trip (JetBlue)
Boston (BOs) to Aruba (AUA)... $418 round-trip (Continental)

New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO)... $369 round-trip (American Airlines)
New York (JFK) to Orlando (MCO)... $314 round-trip (JetBlue)
New York (LGA) to Chicago (ORD)... $209 round-trip (United Airlines)
New York (LGA) to Atlanta (ATL)... $239 round-trip (AirTran)
New York (LGA) to Dallas / Ft. Worth (DFW)... $240 round-trip (AirTran)
New York (LGA) to Miami (MIA)... $279 round-trip (American Airlines)

Newark (EWR) to Las Vegas (LAS)... $279 round-trip (Continental Airlines)
Newark (EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX)... $339 round-trip (Continental Airlines)
Newark (EWR) to San Francisco (SFO)... $259 round-trip (Continental Airlines)

Houston (IAH) to Chicago (ORD)... $214 round-trip (Continental Airlines)
Houston (IAH) to New York (LGA)... $238 round-trip (Continental Airlines)
Houston (IAH) to New York (LGA)... $258 round-trip (Continental Airlines)
Houston (IAH) to Orlando (MCO)... $283 round-trip (Continental Airlines)
Houston (IAH) to Seattle (SEA)... $278 round-trip (Continental Airlines)

Orlando (MCO) to Seattle (SEA)... $320 round-trip (American Airlines)

Pittsburgh (PIT) to Boston (BOS)... $199 round-trip (JetBlue)

San Francisco (SFO) to New York (JFK)... $289 round-trip (Virgin America)
San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (ORD)... $371 round-trip (United Airlines)
San Francisco (SFO) to Honolulu (HNL)... $401 round-trip (United Airlines)

San Diego (SAN) to Orlando (MCO)... $237 round-trip (Continental Airlines)
San Diego (SAN) to Newark (EWR)... $319 round-trip (Continental Airlines)

Seattle (SEA) to San Francisco (SFO)... $249 round-trip (American Airlines)
Seattle (SEA) to Orlando (MCO)... $317 round-trip (Continental Airlines)

Washington DC (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX)... $299 round-trip (Alaska Airlines)
Washington DC (DCA) to Chicago (ORD)... $299 round-trip (American Airlines)

Hotels

Bally's (Las Vegas)... $52 per night
Luxor Hotel (Las Vegas)... $50 per night
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas)... $62 per night

Castle Waikiki Grand Hotel (Honolulu)... $74 per night
Royal Garden at Waikiki (Honolulu)... $75 per night
Aqua Bamboo & Spa (Honolulu)... $98 per night

Cathedral Hill Hotel (San Francisco)... $77 per night
The Opal (San Francisco)... $76 per night
Beresford Hotel (San Francisco)... $84 per night
The Baldwin Hotel (San Francisco)... $83 per night

Hyatt Regency Orange County (Anaheim / Disney)... $87 per night
Radisson Suites Hotel Buena Park (Anaheim / Disney)... $90 per night
Hotel Menage Anaheim Boutique Hotel (Anaheim / Disney)... $89 per night

Wilshire Plaza Hotel Los Angeles (Los Angeles)... $86 per night
Ramada Hollywood near Universal Studios (Los Angeles)... $65 per night
Wilshire Grand Los Angeles (Los Angeles)... $99 per night

Congress Plaza Hotel at Grant Park (Chicago)... $89 per night
Tremont Hotel (Chicago)... $94 per night

Legacy Vacation Homes (Orlando / Disney)... $96 per night
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge (Orlando / Disney)... $104 per night
Regal Sun Resort (Orlando / Disney)... $73 per night
The Point Orlando Resort (Orlando / Disney)... $89 per night

Hilton Washington (Washington, DC)... $109 per night

Warwick Melrose Hotel (Dallas, TX)... $89 per night
Hilton Anatole (Dallas, TX)... $106 per night

Le Bourget Aero Suites (Minneapolis, MN)... $77 per night

NOTE: Prices are volatile and may have shifted since this blog was posted.

According to a special report from FlightGlobal.com, the United States is revolutionizing its air traffic management system to make it more efficient, safer and greener. The plan for "NextGen" is under way and the FAA is targeting 2018 as the date when operators will begin to reap its benefits.

The goal is a satellite-based air traffic control system that could cut flight delays as much as 40 percent, reduce fuel use and aircraft noise, and save all parties millions of dollars.

The Dallas Morning News reports that the reality has been two decades of setbacks and false starts as the effort has lacked the required billions of dollars in federal funds and has faced a raft of technical hiccups.

As things stand, the biggest benefits of improved air traffic control won't be seen until at least 2018, and the entire project – costing as much as $40 billion – may not be done until 2025.

Meanwhile, Southwest and other U.S. airlines have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to equip their planes with the right gear to synch up with new technology. They're waiting for the FAA to catch up and do what it's been promising for nearly 20 years.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  AirTran Airways will offer direct flights from Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee to Indianapolis and Pittsburgh beginning Oct. 6, the airline is to announce today.  AirTran also plans to add a daily flight to its Milwaukee-Denver schedule.

*  The founders of Hotels.com have announced the launch of their newest venture, getaroom.com. (Actually, it's a re-branding of the site RoomValues.com.) The site offers non-published rates without keeping consumers in the dark about where they’ll be staying like other similar sites.  The problem with non-published rates is that they're, well, non-published - making them nearly impossible to obtain or leverage.

*  Spanish police briefly detained a drunk British man Wednesday who was handing out money to strangers at the airport at Palma de Mallorca after arriving on a flight from Manchester, police said.  The 50 year-old man laughed constantly as he distributed the bills and did not seem aware of what he was doing. 

The Denver Post reports that Denver International Airport gets the fewest passenger complaints about security screeners among the nation's 10 busiest airports, while Las Vegas gets the most.  According to federal statistics, travelers filed just five complaints about screeners at Denver International over a 45-month period from 2003 to 2006.  McCarren International Airport in Las Vegas has the most with 80.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport had 76 complaints, the second-highest.  Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport had 16, the second-lowest.

The TSA - which screens about 2 million passengers a day - says about 10% of the complaints nationwide are related to the way screeners treated passengers.  So what's generating the other 90% of complaints?  Passengers complained the most about theft or missing items at the checkpoint or out of their checked luggage. The most common valuables lost include jewelry, cash, digital cameras and laptops.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  Reuters reports that a new study published Monday strengthens the evidence that long-distance travel can lead to potentially fatal blood clots in some people - showing that the risk grows in tandem with the length of the trip.

* The Los Angeles Times reports that Southwest Airlines is having a 48-hour sale where they're offering one-way fares at $30 plus tax for flights up to 400 miles, $60 for flights between 400 and 750 miles and $90 for flights over 750 miles. In order to take advantage of the deals, you must book online at the regular Southwest website or its business travel website by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific) Wednesday, July 8, and travel between Sept. 9 and Nov. 18.

*  A passenger on Thomas Cook Airlines helped his fellow passengers avoid a long delay by fixing a mechanical problem with the plane.  Passengers had originally been told to expect an 8-hour wait while an engineer was flown out to make the repair - when the one passenger then identified himself as a qualified aircraft engineer and offered to remedy the fault.

The Associated Press reports that some 50 hotels across the country are giving away a free night to guests who can prove that they completed at least eight hours of community service between July 1 and Dec. 20.

To qualify, you must provide a letter on the nonprofit organization's letterhead proving that you've completed the volunteer work at a 501c3 organization such as Meals on Wheels or Habitat for Humanity.

The hotels, all managed by Sage Hospitality, include The Nines in Portland, Ore., The Blackstone in Chicago and the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites in Arizona.

The room must be reserved at least 48 hours before arrival. Guests must pay taxes for the room. Blackout dates apply and there are a limited number of rooms available at each hotel.

The offer runs to Dec. 20.

Details on how to book can be found at http://www.giveadaygetanight.com.

Other participating hotels include the Sheraton Tempe in Arizona; the Courtyard Monrovia, Courtyard San Diego, and Homewood Suites Brisbane in California; the Courtyard Denver, Hilton Garden Inn Denver and Residence Inn Denver; the Hilton Garden Inn, Orlando, Fla.; the Doubletree Atlanta; the Sheraton Chicago NW; the Courtyard Brighton, Detroit; the Fairfield Inn Duluth in Minnesota; the Sheraton Kansas City in Missouri; the Holiday Inn Omaha in Nebraska; the Fairfield Inn Las Vegas; the Marriott Charlotte in North Carolina; the Fairfield Inn Cincinnati North; the Courtyard Portland in Oregon; the Renaissance Pittsburgh; the Renaissance Providence in Rhode Island; and the Residence Inn Milwaukee.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  Last week I blogged about China's Spring Airlines wanting passengers to stand up on flights to accommodate more passengers per plane - and now it appears that the Irish discount airline Ryanair wants its passengers to do the same thing.  The company's CEO wants Boeing to build a special standing room only jet so fliers can perch on stools instead of sitting on chairs.

*  The first direct international flight service from New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina begins Tuesday with AeroMexico's route to Mexico City.

*  The Associated Press reports that a TSA agent was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport after authorities say she avoided a pre-flight screening and boarded a Continental Airlines flight bound for Houston.  Apparently, she was wanted on traffic-related warrants. The incident caused the flight to be delayed for more than an hour as each passenger was taken off the plane and screened again.

*  An electrical fire near the Space Needle shut down the travel section of Bing, Microsoft's new search engine, for 36 hours over the Fourth of July weekend. Bing Travel apparently has no backup servers to handle such an incident.

China's Spring Airlines, in an effort to handle a growing number of passengers, is considering selling standing-room tickets. The private airline operates just 13 planes (not nearly enough to cope with growing demand) so, they've proposed bar-stool-type seating that still requires passengers to wear a seat belt. Standing passengers would be propped against a padded backboard, held in place with a harness - similar to stand-up seats on a roller coaster. 

The standing-room jet could accommodate 40% more passengers compared to a traditional plane. It could also help airlines cut 20% of their costs, while lowering airfares for consumers.

The airline would need government backing to go ahead with the plans. However, the airplane manufacturer, Airbus has told Spring Airlines that the proposals were safe.  In fact, according to an article in The New York Times, Airbus "researched that idea in 2003" and had been "quietly pitching the standing-room-only option to Asian carriers" -.but then "abandoned it."

Hmm... Color me skeptical. I like roller coasters as much as the next person - but not at 30,000 feet.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  The New York Times published the miraculous, yet sad, story of Bahia Bakari, the 14 year-old girl who survived the Yemenia Airlines flight that went down in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday.  Meanwhile, a group of angry Comorans Wednesday blocked the take-off of one of the carrier's aircraft from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.  The demonstrators charged that the airline used unsafe planes on the route to the Comoros Islands, the destination of the Airbus A310 carrying 153 people.

*  Cuba Travel Services Inc., using a Continental Airlines plane, today kicks off non-stop flights from LAX to Havana.  It'll be the first Cuban flight since July 2004, when the Bush administration tightened rules governing travel to Cuba.  Since 1962, travel from the U.S. to Cuba has been banned, but Cuban Americans have been allowed to visit family under various policies.  Obama repealed the 2004 travel restrictions in April. The 5-hour flight will run every Tuesday at 11 a.m. and can accommodate 150 people.

*  Hundreds of passengers lined up today outside the United Airlines terminal at O'Hare International Airport after a computer outage delayed incoming and outgoing flights.  Ya know, there's nothing like digital fireworks at the airport to get the holiday weekend off on the right foot.

Travel Weekly reports that this year's airline capacity cuts are deeper than first anticipated. The nine largest U.S. airlines cut their capacity 8% in May but reported traffic declines of 9% for the month. Then, when the usual June bump in traffic failed to materialize, carrier executives said they knew they would need to do more cutting after the summer traveling season.

For example, Delta, which earlier had said it would cut capacity 6% to 8% this year, said in June that it planned to trim 10%. American, whose previous forecast had called for a 6.5% cut, is now saying it will be closer to 7.5%. Even Southwest (which has announced plans to cut capacity 6% by the end of the year) is cutting back further.

But carriers insist that capacity cuts have to continue because fare increases are long past due, and airlines simply cannot afford to operate if prices drop further. 

Some of the higher pricing is already starting to creep back. US Airways this month brought back a domestic fuel surcharge and increased its fuel surcharge for transatlantic flights.

Starting the second week of June, airlines raised their fares $20 across the entire system. What’s more, they predicted that further capacity cuts were going to quickly push the cost of travel even higher.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  J.D. Power & Associates said Tuesday customer satisfaction with the North American airline industry has fallen for a third-straight year, hitting a four-year low.  The survey, which questioned more than 12,900 business and leisure travelers, found the drop was driven by lower satisfaction with in-flight services, flight crews and costs and fees.

*  The Wall Street Journal reports that air travelers will soon be able to trace their checked luggage at self-service airport kiosks, in a development typical of airlines’ push to use computer technology to boost customer service while cutting costs.

*  A recent survey by Skytrax reveals that an overwhelming majority of air travelers -- 9 in 10 respondents -- feel families with children should be seated in a separate section on flights, presumably not in first class.

*  Orbitz.com blogger, John Banta, reports that he's "pretty impressed" with the in-flight Internet access from Delta.  He blogged about his experience today from 30,000 feet.

Renting a car at the airport might set you back more than you expect.  Travelers picking up cars at the airport are likely to rent at higher rates than those who shop around.

In May, the average weekly rental price for a compact car booked a week in advance went up 73% when compared with a year ago.  In June, the increase was 65%.

Rental car dealerships have cut their fleets creating a shortage and that's jacking up the prices.  Plus, demand is down.

So what can you do to find a deal?

1. Shop early.
2. Rent from locations away from airports. The farther out you go, the better the deal.
3. Upgrade. You might get a deal. Smaller, more fuel efficient cars may set you back more because of their high demand. Instead, opt in for a larger, roomier vehicle.
4. Look for virtual coupons on Fat Wallet and Coupon Winner.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  The Federal Aviation Administration says an American Airlines flight # 1256 landed safely at New York's LaGuardia Airport after reporting a bird strike at 900 feet shortly before 11 a.m. today.  After landing safely, the inbound Boeing 737 was taxiing when it reported trouble with the nose gear and had to be towed to the gate.  A bird strike was responsible for the dramatic landing of a jetliner in the Hudson River last winter. All aboard survived

*  The Adams County commission voted 3-0 Monday to allow a 165-acre dump near Denver International Airport. The vote came despite objections from neighbors and officials at Denver International Airport, who said the landfill could attract birds dangerous to flying planes.  The landfill operator has said it will take enough precautions to prevent dangerous bird flocks at the dump.

*  Many U.S. hotel operators may need 4 years to restore room rates to 2008 levels after slashing prices to spur demand.  Experts predict that it'll be sometime in 2012 or 2013 when we see a rebound in the national average room rate.

*  South Dakota police arrested a man they said tried to rob a hotel around 6 p.m. on Sunday with a butter knife. The clerk refused to give the man any money, and he left the hotel on foot. About an hour they arrested a 34-year-old man with the butter knife and charged him with robbery.

The Chicago Tribune reports that 17 airlines - including 5 U.S.-based carriers - are testing an electronic boarding pass system where all you need is a cell phone with a mobile boarding pass on its screen.

"The Technology, still in the testing phase, has been spearheaded by the International Air Transportation Association, an industry trade group.  Though experts say mobile boarding passes could eventually become standard, for now they are a luxury."

The 5 U.S. carriers that are testing the technology are: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Northwest Airlines - but only in certain airports.  (Alaska Airlines has been testing it at Sea-Tac International Airport.)

Chicago Tribune reporter, Josh Noel, writes about his first-hand experience using the the technology: 

"It worked like this: When checking my flight online the day before, I was given three options. I could print my boarding pass right then, print it later or have a link e-mailed to me that would summon a two-dimensional boarding pass to my cellphone's screen.

When I first tried the mobile boarding pass, the TSA agent waved my cellphone over the scanner, and there was silence.

'Why isn't it working?' she said.

I noticed a fraction of the 2D bar code hovered below the screen, so I scrolled it into full view and handed the phone back over. Success! To board the plane, I handed over my phone again at the gate."

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  It's official: Southwest Airlines is now servicing New York's LaGuardia Airport.  The first SWA departure from LGA arrived at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday - 10 minutes late.  Southwest's new New York service includes eight daily nonstop flights—five to Chicago Midway and three to Baltimore/Washington—and connecting service to more than 45 other destinations, including Las Vegas, Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Diego.

*  Alaska Airlines is picking up where American Airlines left off.  In an earlier post, we noted that American Airlines will end it's "Nerd Bird" flights from Austin to San Jose as of August 25th.  Well, the USA Today reports that Alaska Airlines will launch daily service between San Jose and Austin starting September 2nd.  The carrier will operate the flights with Boeing 737-800s, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the economy cabin.

*  Today a new company, Oyster Hotel Reviews, opened its doors online, with a stated goal of becoming the premier source for independent, professionally produced and in-depth hotel reviews.  What differentiates Oyster from most of the others is that doesn't simply regurgitate a hotel's own marketing description, as many other sites do.  The company has a base of 13 reporters who travel the world and review hotels.  Right now Oyster launched with 450 hotel reviews in Aruba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Miami, with New York and Las Vegas coming soon.

The Associated Press suggests that if you've been waiting for the lowest possible airfare for a trip this summer, it may be time to get off the fence.

"Fares have dropped for months while travelers held off buying tickets because they were afraid of losing a job or worried about affording even a scaled-back vacation. But with July 4th fast approaching and jet fuel prices rising, some fares could be set to climb again."

The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and various network TV reports are also indicating that prices are on the rise.

The WSJ notes that, "U.S. airlines on Thursday appeared to be on the verge of a second successful domestic airfare hike for this year, as sharp cuts to the industry's seat capacity balances the loss in passenger demand."

The report also noted that, "Delta Air Lines matched an attempted airfare hike made late Wednesday by American Airlines and followed quickly by United and Continental.

That leaves just US Airways, the country's largest domestic carrier, to follow suit. Rivals have managed to raise their prices $10 to $20 a round-trip for most of their domestic routes."

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  The New York Times reports that while the global recession has sent prices plummeting on airfares, hotels and cruises, it is having the opposite effect on rental cars.  In May the average rate for a weekly airport rental of a compact car booked 7 days in advance was $345.99, up a whopping 73% compared with $199.65 for the same month last year.

*  The New York Times also spotlights some rental car deals currently running on airline Web sites under mileage partner offers. For example, Delta is offering up to 20 percent off Hertz with the discount code CDP 165385. 

*  Fees have mounted from U.S. airline companies over the past few months. CNN.com has listed some of the most common charges - for one-way flights - passengers can expect to pay.

*  WalletPop.com offers some "Roadtrip travel tips" that will help you save cash on hotels. Cheggit out!

Minneapolis Airlines / Airport Examiner, Mark Friedman, reports that, "there is an exciting new option for air travelers who typically drive to MSP from western Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. Starting November 1, 2009, Southwest Airlines will be serving Milwaukee’s Mitchell Field with non-stop service to Baltimore/Washington, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Las Vegas, Orlando and Phoenix.

While Minneapolis/St. Paul offers many more non-stop opportunities than does Milwaukee, being a fortress hub for Delta Air Lines sometimes makes MSP’s airfares less attractive. So, beginning this fall, if you reside between the Twin Cities and Milwaukee in areas such as La Crosse, Wausau, Winona and northeastern Iowa, Milwaukee may be an attractive alternative for you to save money on an upcoming trip."

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  Verified Identity Pass (a.k.a. Clear Pass), a company that promised to speed passengers through airport security checkpoints for an annual fee, has shut down, leaving some frequent fliers looking for options to avoid long screening lines.  The company said it wasn't able to negotiate a deal with its creditors, and its Clear fast-lane security check service stopped operations abruptly late Monday. More than a quarter million customers (including Yapta - which had been issuing the Clear Pass as part of its sweepstakes prize packages) won't get refunds of membership fees that ranged from $178 to $199 per year.  Yapta will now source an alternative prize (of comparable value) for its sweepstakes.

*  Frontier Airlines appears to have found a way out of bankruptcy protection: Republic Airways Holdings says it will sponsor the bankruptcy exit plan of the Denver-based carrier. Indianapolis-based Republic says that if creditors and the bankruptcy judge approve, then Frontier would become one of its subsidiaries. Republic also operates a regional airline under its own name as well as Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America.

*  A traveler is suing the TSA after being detained and questioned for 30 minutes for carrying too much cash through the security checkpoint at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.  The passenger actually recorded the conversation. 

The Boston Globe recently reported that US Representative Dan Lipinski introduced a plan that would standardize the size of allowable carry-on bags.

The Illinois Democrat’s bill would require the Transportation Security Administration to set up templates on luggage conveyor belts that would block pieces larger than 22 inches x 18 inches x 10 inches. Pieces that exceed the limit would have to be checked in.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  Virgin Atlantic is celebrating its 25th Anniversary today by offering a 24-hour sale on flights to London for $181 each way from Boston (BOS), Newark (EWR) , DC (IAD) and Chicago (ORD).  It being the airline's 25th anniversary - shouldn't it be a 25-hour sale? 

*  Comparing airline baggage fees and other extra charges can be difficult, time consuming and frustrating.  It took a week for a USA TODAY reporter — who, unlike most consumers, was assisted by airline public relations staff — to compile 28 different types of fees charged by 14 major airlines.

*  US Airways announced this weekend that it will begin non-stop flights from Charlotte to Honolulu.  The daily, year-round service will begin Dec. 17th. It will be the only direct flight from Charlotte to Hawaii.  Brett Snyder (a.k.a. "The Cranky Flier") explains why, "there are a million reasons why this is a bad idea, but it may actually end up being kind of smart."

Baggage fees look like they're here to stay - so let's familiarize ourselves with them, shall we?  The AP offered up the following rundown today:

*  American Airlines, AirTran Airways, Continental Airlines: $15 for the first checked piece of luggage, $25 for the second.

*  Alaska Air: Passengers traveling on tickets purchased before May 1, or for travel before July 7, can check one bag for free. The second bag is $25. Beginning July 7, Alaska is adding a $15 charge for the first bag.

*  Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines: $15 for the first, $25 for the second. For international tickets, the first two checked bags are still free. But for flights to Europe, Delta and Northwest are adding a $50 charge for the second checked bag beginning with tickets bought May 23 for travel beginning July 1.

*  JetBlue Airways: First bag is free, $20 for the second.

*  Southwest Airlines: First two bags are free.

*  United Airlines: $15 for the first, $25 for the second, if paid online. If paid at the airport, United adds an extra $5 for tickets purchased beginning May 14.

*  US Airways: $15 for the first, $25 for the second. Beginning with flights on July 9, US Airways will add $5 if the fee is paid at the airport for tickets purchased beginning April 23.

Note: All charges are for domestic flights, except where noted for Delta. The charges generally don't apply to first-class or business-class travelers, high-level frequent fliers and some other categories of passengers, such as active-duty military personnel.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  As if charging $15 to check a bag weren't enough, two airlines are asking for $5 more beginning this summer if you pay at the check-in counter — a fee on top of a fee.

*  The Chicago Tribune reports that the worst airline food is served by carriers American Airlines, United Airlines and U.S. Airways, while travelers can find the best in-flight meals on such carriers as Singapore Airlines and Air France.

*  Stuckattheairport.com reported that Lambert-St.Louis International Airport has joined the growing list of airports that have opened “rest areas” for pets and service animals.  St.Louis' two gated pet parks are each 400 square feet, with park benches, trash cans, plastic clean-up mitts and fire hydrants. 

The Houston Chronicle reported some good news for both eco-minded and economic-minded travelers.  "A Continental Airlines test flight earlier this year using biofuel intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions achieved fuel efficiency slightly higher than traditional jet fuel, the airline said today.

During the 90-minute flight Jan. 7, test pilots put a Boeing 737-800 through various maneuvers, powered by one CFM International CFM56TB engine using 100 percent traditional fuel and one using a 50-50 mix of traditional and biofuel. The flight did not carry passengers and the airline did not set a timetable for using the fuel on regular flights.

Fuel efficiency from the 50-50 mix was about 1.1 percent higher, the airline said.

The biofuel blend included components derived from algae and jatropha rather than food crops.

Greenhouse gas emissions for production and consumption of the biofuel tested are estimated at 60 percent to 80 percent less than for traditional jet fuel, according to a statement from Continental." 

Here's my analysis: With airfare prices so closely tied to oil prices, I'm just guessing that the introduction of an alternative jet fuel source may ultimately translate into lower fares.  Also, I don't get the impression that algae and jatropha will make the cabin smell like french fries.  Bummer.

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  A Continental Airlines flight, carrying 247 passengers safely landed this morning in Newark N.J.'s Liberty Airport after its pilot died en route from natural causes.  The Newark-based pilot was identified as 61 years old with 21 years of service with Continental.

*  Bloomberg News reports (via The Seattle Times) that Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and other major U.S. carriers raised fares $20 round trip in the first successful price increase for most domestic routes this year.

*  The committee that oversees Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is expected to approve high-speed, paid security lanes today, but it's not clear when the new checkpoints will begin operating.  A contract for the lanes are aimed at business travelers and are already being used at more than a dozen U.S. airports.

*  Authorities snagged 45 pounds of cocaine during a routine bag inspection at Newark Liberty International Airport. Officials say the drugs, worth more than $2 million on the street, arrived aboard a flight from the Dominican Republic in an untagged duffel bag June 11. No one attempted to claim the bag and no one was arrested.

The AP reports that Continental Airlines is blaming "miscommunication among staff" for two different unaccompanied girls being placed on wrong Continental Express flights over the weekend.  On Saturday, an 8 year-old Houston girl mistakenly ended up in Fayetteville, Ark., instead of Charlotte, NC.  Then on Sunday, a 10-year old girl from Boston flew to Newark, NJ, instead of Cleveland.  One of the parents said that for 45 minutes no one could tell him where his daughter was.  Those 45 minutes must have seemed like 45 days.  ABC News poses this legitimate question: Are unaccompanied minors on airplanes safe?

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  The USAToday reports that, "many travelers, particularly business people who amass tens of thousands of reward points and miles because of hotel stays and frequent flights, are cashing them in more often in the midst of a deep, national recession that is straining corporate and personal budgets."  I'm one of these travelers as I just booked my July trip to Boston by burning 40,000 miles on Alaska Airlines.  I paid a grand total of $7.50 in taxes.

*  The San Jose Mercury News offers these tips for a "hassle-free travel experience".  My wife has a real issue with tip # 2.

*  The Globe and Mail (Canada's national daily paper) today featured an article entitled, "Fasten your seatbelts, fares are ready for takeoff,"  which illustrates exactly why it pays to track airfares with Yapta.  Sure wish Douglas McArthur, the writer, would have made this recommendation to his readers.  Douglas, be looking for an email from me at an inbox near you.  You should know that we're tracking airfares on a large number of Air Canada and WestJet flights.

Want to save cash on airfares? Well, you better start your diet now. Bloomberg News reports that sometime soon the cost of your flights will depend on your weight.

Although this is bad news for yours truly, I guess this makes sense, right? The more you weigh, the more fuel is needed to get to your destination.

Robert Mann, head of R.W. Mann & Co., an aviation consultant based in Port Washington, NY, sums it up best:

"If you look at the air-freight business, that's the way they've always done it," he said. "We're getting treated like air freight when we travel by airlines, anyway."

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  American Airlines has announced that as part of its cost-cutting it will end its "Nerd Bird" flights from Austin to San Jose as of August 25th.  AA has been flying this route for the past 17 years, servicing many tech workers from both cities - hence the nickname "Nerd Bird".

*  The New York Times reports that the airline on-time statistics that the government furnishes account for only two-thirds of the flights that take off or land in the United States.  The latest government statistics show that the airlines had a 79% on-time record in April, an improvement over the typical 75% rate.  However, that gain now seems more of an estimate than an accurate measure of the industry's overall performance.

*  The Georgia Supreme Court ruled against Expedia in a lawsuit over hotel sales tax collections that could have repercussions for other online travel companies and for hoteliers around the country.  Expedia had been charging customers a higher “room rate” than it pays to hotels, but hotels remit occupancy taxes based on the wholesale rate of the room. Expedia - and other online travel providers - had been pocketing the difference.  If other states follow Georgia’s lead, consumers will face the reality that rates on online travel sites may reflect the increased taxes.

A debate is raging on Capital Hill over full-body imaging technology at airport security points around the country.  Read this article posted today on HSToday.us (Homeland Security Insight & Analysis):

"The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lamented the potential loss of whole body imaging technology as a security measure in US airports during a House hearing on the fiscal 2010 budget Thursday.

The House June 4 passed a TSA authorization bill (HR 2200) that included an amendment from Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) to prohibit the use of whole body imaging at security checkpoints except in cases of secondary screening where an air passenger already triggered a metal detector.

Chaffetz protested the use of the technology, which enables TSA screeners to see X-ray images of the naked bodies of travelers, as inappropriate as a security measure.

"You don't have to look at my wife and 8-year-old daughter naked to secure an airplane," Chaffetz said on the House floor in support of his amendment, which was adopted in a 310-118 vote.

But Rep. Charles Dent (R-Pa.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, objected to the inclusion of the amendment during a hearing of his subcommittee Thursday, asking Acting TSA Administrator Gale Rossides to weigh in.

"With respect to the privacy issues, TSA took really great measures to protect the privacy concerns," Rossides replied. "We have a privacy impact assessment study that was published and reflects those measures. Very specifically, first of all, the passengers have a choice as to whether or not they go through the WBI or the walk-through metal detectors.

"Secondly, the images that are viewed are viewed in a remote location. The officer that is reviewing the image never sees the passenger and the officer assisting the passenger never sees the image," she added.

In addition, the face of a passenger is blurred and the whole body imager cannot save, print or transmit images, Rossides noted. Once a screener deletes an image from the device, it cannot be retrieved.

TSA surveys of the traveling public in areas where the technology is in use indicate a 95 percent satisfaction rate with it, the TSA chief said.

"Based on the intel that I and the leadership team at TSA see every single day, if we do not have the ability to deploy this technology and utilize it to the best of the abilities of the system, it will represent a severe limitation of our detection capability," Rossides asserted.

The whole body imaging technology is necessary because terrorist have moved way beyond using metal items that they know will trigger a metal detector, she said. Whole body imaging, however, reveals any item concealed on a traveler's body.

TSA has received funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Public Law 111-5) that it currently plans to use for the purchase of more whole body imagers.

The Senate has not taken up the TSA Authorization bill so far, however. And if it does so, Senators could strip the prohibition on whole body imaging out of their version of the bill."

Scott McCartney, the Middle Seat columnist for the Wall Street Journal, reported today that airlines are trying to squeeze more seats into their planes in an effort to "boost the economics of flying."

"New Boeing 737-800s now being delivered to American Airlines have the same-size cabins as the existing 737-800s in American's fleet. But the new planes have 12 more coach seats, pushing the total number of seats to 160. Delta Air Lines Inc. has also added 10 seats to its 737-800s, raising the total to 160. So has Continental Airlines Inc.

The seat squeeze shows how airlines are aggressively cramming more seats into jets. The trend has been going on for years, but has picked up momentum of late as airlines take food galleys out of airplanes since they've stopped serving free meals. Some carriers also are replacing seats with new ones made with slimmer frames and cushions, creating additional rows.

Slimmer seats free up space. But instead of giving it to customers, airlines are using it to try to make their fleets more profitable, taking all those inches and adding more seats to jets. A few extra passengers on each trip can spell the difference for tight-margin airlines between losing money and making money."

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  Ryanair, a European budget airline, has confirmed that it will now charge passengers who need to use the toilet while in flight.  The Guardian reports that the airline will ask Boeing to put credit card machines on toilet locks.  They will also remove two toilets from each of its 737-800 planes to add 6 extra seats.  The extra cost-saving measures come in the midst an announcement that the airline posted an annual loss for the first time in 20 years.

*  United reportedly will replace many of its 747 and 767 wide-body aircraft, as well as some of its single-aisle 757s, which average 17 years of service.  Experts praised the airline's decision to buy now.  "If you're going to buy 150 planes, then you're going to get a very good price, particularly for near-term deliveries," said Chris Tarry, an analyst in London.

*  The disappearance of Air France Flight 477 and its 228 passengers over the Atlantic Ocean this week has critics of radar-based air traffic control calling on the U.S. and other countries to hasten the move to GPS-based networks that promise to precisely track all planes. Current radars are obsolete more than 200 miles from land.

Yapta is proud to announce the "Nine Months of Paradise by Marriott" Sweepstakes where we're giving away 15 prizes every month for 9 months, including Grand Prize packages from Marriott & Renaissance Caribbean and Mexico Resorts, a 1-year Clear Pass, the fast pass for airport security, and Starbucks gift cards. Becoming eligible for the Sweepstakes is easy.  All you have to do is visit Yapta.com during each month and track the airfare on any flight and Yapta will present you with the opportunity to participate in each monthly drawing.  You can increase your chances of winning by tracking up to 25 flights each month to receive the maximum 25 entries into the sweepstakes.

Don't think you can actually win?  Well, that's what Emily Lakin from San Francisco, CA and Jan Walker from Springfield, MO thought before they each took home a grand prize in our previous sweepstakes contests.

Here's some other travel news you can use:

*  The Wall Street Journal reports that, "CheapTickets.com will permanently remove booking fees on flights, becoming the latest online travel seller to do so as the industry tries to capture more business from airlines' Web sites amid a prolonged slump in the travel sector." 

*  Benjamin O'Dell, the Central Pennsylvania Travel Examiner, writes that JetAmerica's $9 flights are indeed too good to be true. "Many critics have pointed out that JetAmerica’s $9 airfare only applies to the first wave of tickets sold for each flight, typically the first dozen.  Most fares will cost somewhere between $49 and $79 and all will carry the ubiquitous fees that airlines have grown increasingly fond of initiating for services that were once considered standard on American flights.  In this sense, while still affordable, JetAmerica’s rates are not a radical departure from the fares set by other industry players such as Northwest Airlines and Delta."

*  Mark Malkoff, a comedian often appearing on "The Colbert Report", is living on an AirTran plane for an entire month in order to get over his fear of flying.  This is the same dude who lived at IKEA for a week and visited all 171 Starbucks in Manhattan in 24 hours.  You can peek in on his experience here: http://www.markonairtran.com/Public/Main.aspx

*  The Daily Beauty Reporter blog from Allure magazine (a must-read for Aaron here at Yapta) poses the following question: "Is the TSA Getting Gorgeous on Your Dime?"  Well, apparently they are whenever you dispose of your expensive cosmetics at TSA check-points.  It ain't easy traveling pretty.

In a similar announcement made by Expedia last week, Orbitz.com today said it has permanently removed airline ticket booking fees on domestic and international flights. Travelocity.com also said today it would continue to waive its flight booking fees.

Reuters reports that, "while the new fee waivers could stimulate travel bookings, they also threaten to erode revenue for the companies, which have been suffering as the recession takes its toll on spending for business and leisure trips.

'To be honest, when they say permanent, I don't know how truthful that really is,' said Morningstar analyst Warren Miller.

'I can't see them not coming back at some point. That's how they make money,' he said.

Miller noted that online travel agencies typically make about 15 percent of their total bookings value in fees."

Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  First, our thoughts & prayers go out to the crew and more than 220 passengers aboard Air France flight 447 and their families.  The Air France passenger jet has gone missing and is feared to have crashed off the coast of Brazil, after flying into strong thunderstorms and probable lightning.

*  The Associated Press reports that today, "the city-state Dubai plans to launch its second government-run airline — the third major carrier this decade to spring from the United Arab Emirates, a country of less than a million people."  Also, "a second Dubai airport, slated to eventually become the world's busiest, is due to receive its first flights next year — even as expansion at the original airport moves ahead."

*  Beginning July 1st, Denver International Airport is raising rates at its least expensive parking lots by $1 a day.

*  The USA Today travel blog, "Today in the Sky", reports that a US Airways Express flight in Lynchburg, Va., was delayed Sunday afternoon after a man who claimed to be God was overheard saying the plane would crash.

*  Here's "10 Things You Didn't Know About NASA" from U.S. News & World Report