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SmarterTravel.com reports that airfare shopping could soon include all fees shown up-front, instead of being hit-up during seat selection, or at the airport.   Sabre Travel Network (which hosts and operates reservations systems for over 60 airlines, including American, JetBlue, and Frontier) announced it will launch new technology, called Total Air Pricing, that displays full-fare prices including ancillary fees.  In a statement, the company said, “online travel agencies worldwide (like Travelocity) can now view specific air ancillaries based on their customer’s preferences, provide a summary of ancillary fees and access ancillary charges based on a passenger’s frequent flier status.  This includes an all-inclusive price for air travel, including both the traditional fare as well as the charges for things such as checked baggage, seat selection, and lounge access.”

However, before you let out a collective “bout’ time!”, know this:  It will be quite some time before major online travel agencies will present this “total-cost-of-airfare” pricing to consumers.  There’s lots of engineering required of the online travel agencies before they can deliver upon the new technology.

Here’s some more travel news you can use:

• Here’s one for those who like to island hop in the South Pacific.  Island Air is currently offering a three-day special fall rate on one-way fares. These fares are currently available for either $59 or $72 via the Island Air Website depending on the destination. The one-way $59 fares are for Honolulu-Molokai; Honolulu-Lanai; Honolulu-Kapalua; Molokai-Kahului. The $72 one-way fares are for Kahului-Lihue and Kahului-Kona.

• The USAToday recently published an article that highlights the “top five bargain destinations for fall 2010.”  Here’s the Cliff’s notes: (1) Orlando, (2) Colorado, (3) Fiji, (4) Virginia, (5) Aruba.

• Boeing has won an $89 million government contract to build and fly an unmanned solar-powered plane that can–eventually–stay aloft continuously for up to five years.  Yes, five years.

Spirit Airlines is attempting to cash in on the media frenzy surrounding Tiger Woods by running a 10-second online ad promoting its “Eye of the Tiger Sale” – which features a tiger that crashes an SUV into a fire hydrant.

It seems a little disconcerting (and tasteless) that an airline would be touting a fare sale with the depiction of a crash scene.  However, the ads are drawing some attention online and from a number of media outlets, including The Huffington Post, the Orlando Sentinel and E! Online – so perhaps it’s “mission accomplished” by the airline?

The USA Today reports that, “this is certainly not the first time Spirit has courted controversy with its advertisements.  Just last week, a Spirit press release touted a ‘We’re no Virgin’ fare sale, clearly aimed at rival Virgin America’s new service from Spirit’s Ft. Lauderdale base.”

And in case you’re wondering, the Eye of the Tiger Sale is offering fares from $9 each way.

Here’s some more travel news you can use:

• The first plane designed to fly day and night without fuel, the Solar Impulse HB-SIA, lifted off for the first time today in Switzerland.  Test pilot Markus Scherdel flew 350 meters down an icy runway at an altitude of one meter in a flight lasting 28 seconds.  The Impulse is as wide as a Boeing 747, but weighs only about 1.7 tons.  The 12,000 solar cells mounted on the wing are designed to provide renewal solar power to the plane’s 4 electric motors.

• Just in time for the holiday season, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, an official sponsor of Cirque du Soleil touring shows, today announced exclusive discounts for Wintuk — the seasonal family show performing in New York — as well as stays at its Wyndham hotels in the city.  Wyndham is celebrating the return of the winter adventure to Manhattan with a double discount: 30% off the regular ticket price of any Wintuk show and a special 15% discount when booking at its participating NYC hotels.

BTW – If you’re planning to stay at a NYC hotel (or any hotel) you should be tracking prices with Yapta before you book.  That way you’ll know when prices drop and you can save big!