Jaunted - Tag: Delta

Three Airlines Become True Grinches By Raising Holiday Surcharges

JetSetCD — 2009-11-23T13:59:00-05:00

That's right lady, go ahead and type in our checked baggage fees and holiday surcharges; we now know to avoid your airline in future travels. You see, three airlines have become the grinches of the holiday travel season. Not only are they throwing down the baggage fees, but they're already upping recently-announced peak travel surcharges, some of which continue through to 2010.

The offending airlines are: United, Delta and US Airways. Might as well just throw all your spare change and travel coffee money at them now, with all the little additional nicks they're taking at your wallet...

Delta Offers JAL a $1 Billion Bribe to Unfriend American Airlines

Omri — 2009-11-19T13:21:00-05:00

We promised you last week that the playground hair pulling fight between Japan Airlines, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Delta—where JAL may or may not decide to dump American Airlines/oneworld in favor of Delta/SkyTeam—was going to get more interesting. That's exactly what happened this morning, when Delta decided to put an eye-popping $1 billion on the table to entice Delta into switching.

Yowsers! Let's look at what went down...

Random Airline Fees Continue Into 2010, Including Super Bowl Travel

kjb — 2009-11-19T09:44:30-05:00

Remember all those airline fees that were pouring in a few months ago related to this season’s holiday travel? Well the airlines must have really enjoyed what they were seeing, as they are now looking to tack in some additional charges for days well into 2010. Delta, United, and American Airlines are busy adding these presents to our tickets anytime they think travel will be busier than usual.

The website BestFares.com is reporting that Delta and United have added surcharges to as many as 40 days between now and next May. The fees can be as much as $30 each way depending on distance, time, and other factors that appeal to the airlines. Our favorite airline fee has to be the $50 one-way charge that has now been added to some flights on February 8. In case you don’t have the NFL calendar kicking around, that’s the day after the Super Bowl. Not like we could afford tickets anyway, but we can still be angry about it.

What Kind Of Crazy Loot Can You Score With Your Frequent-Flyer Miles?

egw — 2009-11-18T08:54:29-05:00

Earlier this year we were attempting to cash in some miles from Midwest Airlines accumulated over a lifetime of visiting Mom and Dad, when we noticed something weird: Along with gift certificates and logowear, we were presented with the option of using our surplus miles to buy Amtrak tickets. Well, that's weird: Why would an airline that still handles a generous amount of short-hop regional flights want to remind us that for short distances we could get a guaranteed outlet and more legroom?

Common wisdom holds that frequent-flyer miles just aren't what they used to be, thanks to high occupancies and rampant blackout dates. Not to mention, if you have trouble committing to one airline you probably have a few thousand miles sitting unused with a variety of different companies, with whom you will never fly enough to get the elusive free ticket. So why not cash them in for something wacky instead? With our guide, you'll never forget that trip to Acapulco so long as you have the electric doggy-door opener you bought with its mileage.

After the jump, we break it down by airline

Japan Airlines Triggers International Hair-Pulling Fight Among Airlines

Omri — 2009-11-13T17:19:26-05:00

We've been telling you for the last few weeks that the three-way Southwest/Jetblue/AirTran turf war happening at Boston-Logan was the most entertaining insidery airline story on the horizon. Now it looks like we may have called that putt a little too early. The international sniping going on between Japan Airlines, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Delta is beginning to resemble a grade school playground, with back-and-forth insults, foot stomping, and running-to-the-teacher petulance. Awesome.

The background is that JAL is bleeding money and has had to discontinue 8 international and 8 domestic routes. This has put their oneworld alliance with American in a precarious situation. It's obviously not working for JAL and so they've raised the possibility of switching alliances and joining Delta in SkyTeam.

Hand Over Your Plastic For A Mile High Mojito On Delta

JetSetCD — 2009-11-12T09:34:25-05:00

Cashless cabins; they're the popular thing with airlines these days, aside from in-flight WiFi of course. Southwest stopped accepting your Abraham Lincolns for drinks a while ago, and although United and American just jumped on the bandwagon several months ago, we'd have thought that Delta would follow suit faster.

Alack and alas, Delta has just announced that beginning December 1, you'll have to pay by credit card onboard for beverages and more on flights "traveling within North America, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Bermuda and the Caribbean." And since they own Northwest now, that goes for NWA flights as well.

So save your greenbacks for drinks at the airport bar, and break out the gold card for Mile High mojitos...where? You guessed it...a mile high.

Related Stories:
· Purchase onboard with plastic, please [Delta Blog]
· Cashless Cabins coverage [Jaunted]

[Delta flight 78 photo: Jaunted]

Roosevelt: More Airplane Shrapnel Rains Onto Long Island

kjb — 2009-11-09T08:59:24-05:00

Earlier this year we learned all about the potential for disaster when it comes to airplanes flying with loose screws over densely populated areas. Well we’ve got another piece of airplane shrapnel to add to the list.

Over the weekend, Delta Flight 799 was on its way to Tokyo from JFK when it lost a pretty big piece. Thankfully the Boeing 777 made it to Japan without any difficulties, and the issue was actually only discovered when it had landed. Apparently the part wasn’t essential, but we doubt that Boeing felt that way when they designed the airplane.