Miscellany tips

Self-checkout has become a staple at the grocery store, and now the same concept is about to come to airport security. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to launch a trial of an automated self-service security program called Screening at Speed.

One of my biggest pet peeves when I am flying is people who cannot follow the rules when it comes to boarding (and disembarking, for that matter). I was thrilled to see that American Airlines is on my side and is testing a new boarding process technology that will crack down on people who try to board earlier than their assigned boarding group.

When planning your next trip, there’s one important thing you should do before you buy your plane ticket—check the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory for your destination. The State Department provides important safety and security information about every country in the world so that travelers can make informed decisions about where to visit.

Traveling not only comes with the actual monetary cost, but there are other costs to figure in when planning a vacation, and more and more, travelers are starting to consider the environmental impact of their travels. Whether through eco-tourism, choosing sustainable hotels, or just practicing more environmentally friendly practices, it’s at the forefront of many people’s minds. Transportation can be one of the most damaging environmental factors when traveling, whether by car, train, boat, or airplane. Trains are the most sustainable travel method, and boats are the worst, contrary to what most people believe.

Amazon Prime has partnered with StudentUniverse to offer students $25 flights this holiday season. New and current Prime Student members who sign up for a StudentUniverse account can search for flights at 12AM PST on December 7 to book at this unbelievable price for the holiday season. The catch? If you aren’t one of the lucky ones who snagged one on December 5th and 6th, there are only 1,000 available to book on December 7. Students must be at their computers, ready to book when the flights become available at midnight EST.

Cheaper Amtrak tickets and more time to explore your destination—Amtrak’s Night Owl fares are a win-win. Amtrak recently expanded these ultra-cheap fares (priced as low as $5) to more times and routes, making it even more convenient to travel for less.

Enter the Holland America Line “Choose Your Cruise” sweepstakes by March 31, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a seven-day Holland America Line cruise for two to the winner’s choice of Alaska, Canada and New England, the Caribbean, or Europe, including most onboard meals.

How much will you be charged for that hotel stay? The answer, of course, should be obvious: You’ll pay the published rate, plus government-imposed taxes and fees. Whatever that total turns out to be is your price.

When an airline’s own pilots call its service “outright embarrassing,” and deride the company’s corporate culture as “toxic,” you can safely say that airline has a problem.

WOW Air, the Iceland-based no-frills carrier that raised eyebrows with its $99 fares from Boston and Baltimore to Iceland a year ago, now has something in common with Spirit Airlines, the U.S. carrier notorious for its nickel-and-diming and generally customer-unfriendly ways.

Enter the Budget Travel “Iceland” sweepstakes by February 19, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a trip for two to Iceland, including air, nine nights’ hotel, some meals, and local tours.

If you have a prepaid travel accommodation you find you can’t use, TransferTravel will list it for a possible resale to someone else. Although based in the U.K., TransferTravel is targeting an international market including the U.S. and Canada. The idea sounds great, but the travel industry throws up a lot of roadblocks to any sort of trade.

It’s been almost 15 years since Richard Reid, better known as the shoe bomber, failed in his attempt to bring down an American Airlines flight with an explosive hidden in his shoe. And yet here we are, all these years later, still shuffling through TSA checkpoints in our socks or bare feet. Why, you might ask, are we still forced to do this?

Tired of squeezing your ever-expanding frame into those ever-shrinking coach-class seats? So is Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation. And he wants the government to do something about it.

Travelers heading to or from Washington, D.C., through Reagan/National Airport can expect major ground travel disruptions and delays through July 18. Trains on both the Blue and Yellow lines will suspend operations on two track segments:

Enter the American Airlines “Your Vacation Spot” sweepstakes by April 1, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a $10,000 American Airlines Vacations travel voucher.

In a setback to United’s new management team, led by Oscar Munoz, the airline’s mechanics today voted to reject the company’s “final offer” for a new wage and benefits package and to authorize a strike.

According to the just-released Airline Quality Rating study, Virgin America is the country’s best airline. Of the 13 airlines ranked in the study, Alaska Airlines was rated fifth.

Yesterday, Marriott’s planned acquisition of Starwood, to create the world’s largest hotel company, was assumed to be a foregone conclusion.

Enter the Clos Du Bois “Spring in Sonoma” sweepstakes by April 26, 2016, for a chance to win one of the two grand prizes: trips for two to Sonoma, including air, three nights’ hotel, and $700 spending money.

The pending FAA reauthorization bill has served as a kind of magnifying lens on several weighty issues facing travel suppliers and their customers.