The cost of Flying

Quite a few developments in the past weeks.

AA will charge $15 for the FIRST bag checked.
AA will charge $1 more for their yummy sandwiches onboard
US will join AA and stop serving even the measly bag of pretzels onboard

WN (Southwest) has made a raft of very amusing commercials satirizing the nickel and diming of passengers by the legacy carriers.

Airlines Going Green

KLM is joining the rush to test alternative fuels and will test kerosene fuel made from algae in the fall. The airline has signed an exclusive contract with AlgaeLink to provide the airline with fuel for the pilot project. This would be better for everyone if it works as it won't use food products such as corn and soybeans.

But will they clean my fish tank to get the algae? That's the question.....

Easier Exit from New Zealand

New Zealand is eliminating the international departure fee of NZ$25 from Auckland and replacing it with a Passenger Service Charge levied by the airport on the airlines. This will be based on the number of international arrivals and departures. The new procedure will save passenger time going through Customs and improve the departure process.

But what are they going to do with all those machines that dispensed the departure fee tickie that let you out?

Bali caution (finally) lifted

The US has lifted its Bali travel advisory, saying security improvements made by the Indonesian government have made travel to the island safer. Bali instituted security precautions that include sweeping cars for bombs and using metal detectors at hotels, shopping malls and other public buildings.

Dogs Sniffing for.....

Bedbugs. Yes, it's true. Bedbugs have become epidemic in some cities across the US. That old rhyme "good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite" is no longer a fairly tale. Carl Massicott is an exterminator in New York City who uses highly trained dogs to sniff out bedbugs. The dogs have all been acquired from dogs' homes and have to like to hunt. Each dog is trained for an average of 18 months by learning to identify a bedbug's scent. Each dog can check out 150 hotel rooms a day.