Nov 3rd, 2009 at 3:30PM: The "sport" of pointing a laser pointer at a plane is not new - many people have been arrested for the stupid stunt.
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Man_Gets_Two_Years_in_Jail_for_Pointing_a_Laser_at_a_Plane'; Last week was a first though - someone caught pointing their laser at two planes was arrested, and sentenced to two and a half years in jail.
His first target was a United ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
United posts
Two years in jail for pointing a laser at a plane
Nov 3rd, 2009 at 3:30PM: The "sport" of pointing a laser pointer at a plane is not new - many people have been arrested for the stupid stunt.
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Man_Gets_Two_Years_in_Jail_for_Pointing_a_Laser_at_a_Plane'; Last week was a first though - someone caught pointing their laser at two planes was arrested, and sentenced to two and a half years in jail.
His first target was a United ...Continental moves to Star Alliance -- your impact as an everyday traveler
Nov 1st, 2009 at 7:00PM: Continental Airlines finally made its big move to the Star Alliance last week, a long awaited, much talked about transition from its former partnership with Delta and Northwest Airlines. It's a move that will affect the way that you earn and spend frequent flyer miles across the board, but what does it mean immediately to the every day traveler?
On the surface, not much. Continental will remain ...Blizzard forces delays and cancelations at Denver airport
Oct 30th, 2009 at 10:30AM: Is it just me or is it a little early for a winter snowstorm? The Denver International Airport (DIA) had to cancel flights yesterday due to blizzard conditions. It was just too difficult to keep runways and taxiways clear, so United canceled about 200 of its 400 flights departures and arrivals, and Frontier canceled 19 of its 155 departures. Passengers on flights that had been delayed find ...Take a walk down memory lane with ten vintage airline commercials
Oct 26th, 2009 at 11:30AM:
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/take-a-walk-down-memory-lane-10-vintage-airline-commercials/'; tweetmeme_source = 'Gadling';
Taking a page out of the "they don't make them like this any longer" book, I've compiled a list of 10 fantastic vintage airlines commercials.
Take a walk down memory lane with me, and see how flying looked back in the 70's, or listen to people tell ...Flying for the rest of the year - fewer seats, higher fares
Sep 13th, 2009 at 2:00PM: As the financial brainiacs of the world slowly start to see some gradual improvement in the global economy, the worlds airlines are pushing through some far reaching changes to their Q4 2009 schedules.
Because the recession hit the airlines so suddenly, none of them were able to make any major cuts to their schedules (these schedules are set in stone in advance).
Overcapacity has meant that ...United rolls out Travel Options promo with giveaways at three US airports
Sep 3rd, 2009 at 4:00PM: Travelers at the Denver, Washington Dulles and San Francisco Airports got a special surprise today. United Airlines opened its Travel Options by United Spin the Wheel booths at the three hubs, offering flyers the chance to win some pretty cool prizes.
Those who spin the wheel receive freebies for use on future flights, like an upgrade to Economy Plus, Premier Line access at the security ...JetBlue, United jump on Twitter for cheap tix
Aug 4th, 2009 at 3:00PM:
JetBlue and United Airlines are pushing the first taste of cheap fares out on Twitter. They hope to use what USA Today calls the "uber-trendy form of messaging" to push seats on flights that may have vacant seats prior to wheels-up. After deals appear, they don't always stick around long. JetBlue's first "Cheep" (a variation on "tweet") offered a $9 one-way fare from JFK to Nantucket. The model ...United reduces cost of mileage tickets
Jul 16th, 2009 at 3:00PM: Amidst all of the increased fees and reduced services plaguing the airlines these days, it's refreshing to actually see a change that goes the customers' way. Albeit temporarily, United just reduced the number of frequent flyer miles necessary to book a free ticket on the airline. Reductions range from 20. Domestic travel, for example, has been reduced from 25K miles to 20K miles, while a ticket ..."United Breaks Guitars," by Sons of Maxwell, whose guitars were broken by (you guessed it) United
New fees aren't new, but airlines keep trying
Jun 23rd, 2009 at 12:00PM: Cheaper fares are being offset by an array of extra fees, as airlines try to bring in some extra revenue in order to keep planes in the sky. And, to a certain extent, it's working. United Airlines forecasts $1 billion in revenue from these fees this year – accounting for more than 5 percent of its revenue. But, as they try to find new ways to dig into your wallet, fewer and fewer new ideas ...Misery works: airlines making money on baggage fees
May 14th, 2009 at 12:00PM: The one thing nobody says about the "nickel and dime" strategy is that it can work. For the airline industry, charging passengers for extra bags translated to more than $1 billion in lifeblood to a struggling business last year, according to the Department of Transportation. As much as you may hate to shell out that extra cash, last year, it went to businesses that desperately needed it.
Before ...March airline plunge softens in April
May 9th, 2009 at 3:00PM: Passenger traffic is still falling. That's not going to change for a while. But, the decline slowed in April, signaling that the prolonged sharp dips may be behind us. Some optimists even believe that the worst is over – though I maintain a healthy skepticism.
Note the metric being used: passenger traffic. There's a lot of mileage between asses in seats and money in the bank. On a positive ...Extra seat charges: big bias or svelte snobbery?
Apr 28th, 2009 at 8:00AM: As airlines are scrambling for any shred of extra revenue they can find, some policies are getting more attention than others. The so-called "fat passenger policies," which govern the accommodation of passengers who require more than one seat, have attracted the ire of the NAAFA. Never heard of it? It's a new one on me, too: the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. On the other hand, ...Daily Travel Deal: United launches mega fare sale
Apr 17th, 2009 at 3:30PM: United Airlines just launched an outstanding fare sale to the American Southwest, with fares starting as low as $39 plus tax. Texas is one of the focal points, with destinations such as El Paso, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas boasting the great prices, but other locales like Albuquerque and Oklahoma City are also a steal. Check out United's promotional site to see a full list of fares and ...United crew - it's time to serve drinks to the idiots in coach
Feb 24th, 2009 at 12:30PM: There is not much I like about United Airlines, but their Channel 9 in-flight audio is one perk you won't find on any other carrier. Channel 9 is the audio channel that lets you listen in on the cockpit communications with Air Traffic Control. I've always found it a great way to pass the time, and get a better idea what is going on when the plane is delayed. A reader on The Consumerist apparently ...United Airlines bringing 165 call center jobs back home
Feb 11th, 2009 at 10:00AM: Here is a bit of feel good news from the travel world - hidden between all the bad news was an announcement from United Airlines that they were going to move 165 call center positions from their International Call Center back to the USA. The new jobs will be added to their existing centers in Chicago and Honolulu. This news is great for several reasons - it creates new (and badly needed) jobs ...Man sues United, claiming alcohol service caused him to beat his wife
Dec 18th, 2008 at 11:00AM: A man on a flight from Osaka to San Francisco had too much to drink. Soon after landing, he started beating his wife. After he ended up in police custody and sobered up, he didn't sheepishly apologize to his wife. Nope. He decided to sue United for serving him too much alcohol, which, he alleges, caused him become violent. The man, Yoichi Shimamoto, was arrested by police at a customs checkpoint ...United Airlines getting downright silly with their "Travel Options"
Dec 9th, 2008 at 9:30AM: Look, I understand that the airlines are in a pretty bad shape. But United Airlines is taking things a little too far. The Chicago based airline started offering "a la carte" options to their flights last year. What started with basic upgrades to First/Business, has now morphed into a ridiculous array of nickel-and-diming. Their newest tactic to squeeze that last bit of cash out of you is called ...A handy guide to help you wade through airline rules and restrictions
Dec 2nd, 2008 at 9:30AM: While I was packing yesterday for my daughter's and my trip to Denmark, I asked her if she wanted to take a lightweight shawl to use as a blanket on the airplane.
"Don't they give you blankets?" she asked.
Maybe. Some airlines charge extra for a blanket and pillow. Jet Blue already does. U.S. Airways is going to start soon.
In another conversation yesterday, this one on the phone, my father ...
