Aloha Airlines announced Sunday that it would cease operations effective March 31, 2008. According to a news release from the airline, Aloha will run a normal schedule on March 31 with the exception of flights from Hawaii to the West Coast and flights from Orange County to Reno and Sacramento, and Oakland to Las Vegas.

Travelocity customers with plans to travel on Aloha should visit the FAQ page for more information. Travelocity agents will assist you in rebooking your flight and making adjustments to your travel plans.

United Airlines, a code-share partner of Aloha, will assist affected passengers. Customers flying on an United ticket will be rebooked on an alternate flight where space is available, for no additional charge. For customers traveling on an Aloha Airlines ticket, United offers a discounted one-way fare through the end of April.

Hawaiian Airlines has added capacity on key routes to help accommodate stranded Aloha passengers and will allow them to fly standby for no charge on the day of original travel on some flights on March 31 and on all flights April 1-3, 2008. In addition, all inter-island seats are $49 through Monday, April 7, 2008 on Hawaiian Airlines.

If you are headed to the airport and hope to fly on United or Hawaiian, bring your original ticket with you. For passengers with a future reservation on Aloha who do not wish to travel, call your credit card company and request a refund.

Aloha Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 20, in part blaming what it called "predatory pricing" by competitor go! that forced Aloha to lower fares. The Associated Press (via USA Today) also cited high fuel costs as a factor in the airline's inability to generate revenue.

"This is an incredibly dark day for Hawaii," said David A. Banmiller, Aloha's president and chief executive officer. "Despite the groundswell of support from the community and our elected officials, we simply ran out of time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger business. We had no choice but to take this action. "

The shutdown of operations will affect about 1,900 employees. Aloha Airlines has served the Hawaiian islands for 61 years.

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New York State's new air passenger bill of rights law has been overturned by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to the Associated Press (via CNNMoney.com). The appeals court ruled that the law " . . . interferes with federal law governing the price, route or service of an air carrier."

The law went into effect on January 1, 2008 and required, among other things, that airlines provide food, water, clean toilets and fresh air to passengers trapped in a plane delayed on the ground. The law had not yet been enforced, and was contested by the Air Transport Association of America, the industry trade group representing leading U.S. airlines. Several other states have modeled passenger's bill of rights plans after the New York State plan; no word on how this new ruling will impact those bills.

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You may be thinking -- that's news? Aren't the airlines always posting poor on-time performance? If you were an air traveler in 2007, the second-worst year on record, it certainly may seem that way. After all, one-quarter of all flights were delayed last year. If you were hoping for an improvement in 2008, early indicators aren't encouraging.

According to the Associated Press (via USA Today), "Nearly one-third of commercial flights in the U.S. arrived late or were canceled in January, up slightly from the same month last year . . . " This was, however, an improvement over December stats, when nearly 40% of flights were delayed or canceled by the major US carriers.

United Airlines had the worst on-time performance, with just 62% of its flights arriving on schedule. However, if you are headed for Hawaii, there's good news -- Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time arrival rate at 94.1%, followed by Aloha Airlines at 93.2%.

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A winter storm expected to hit the Northeast over the weekend will likely cause flight disruptions throughout the region, according to reports issued Friday. Several states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont are likely to get hit.

Passengers with plans to travel to, from, or through destinations impacted by the storm are advised to check the status of their flight before leaving their home and to prepare for delays at the airport. Dress comfortably, bring a fully charged cell phone, and have access to the phone number of an airport hotel should you experience overnight delays. As always, Travelocity customers should visit the Customer Care page for information on receiving assitance with their travel plans.

Airlines have begun issuing waivers for customers who wish to postpone thier travel. See below for a list of airlines that have instituted flexible travel policies. Visit your carrier's web site for details and restrictions.
United Airlines
US Airways

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The Associated Press (via USA Today) reports that US Airways announced Tuesday they would begin charging travelers $25 to check a second piece of luggage. This follows a near-identical move by United Airlines earlier this month. Southwest Airlines began charging customers $25 to charge a third bag in late January.

The additional charges come at a time when airlines are struggling to turn a profit. On Tuesday, the price of oil again topped $100 a barrel. The price of oil is closely tied to that of jet fuel.

The new charge will be effective immediately for tickets purchased starting Wednesday, March 27 for travel on or after May 5.

US Airways already charged customers who checked between two and nine bags $80 per extra bag, and they are now boosting that charge to $100.

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Have you heard about the latest reduction in Frequent Flier miles at USAirways? That's today's news. Yesterday's news was the fact that so many carriers were shortening the timeframe for using your miles. Note to self: Fly a lot or lose all those precious points I've been working hard to accrue!

The business people say the airlines are doing this because airlines miles are bad for their books. But c'mon. What's a flier to do in order to keep their miles in this day and age?

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United Airlines announced Monday that it would charge domestic passengers $25 each way to check a second piece of luggage. According to the airline web site, United will charge travelers with non-refundable economy-class tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. Customers who have attained Premier status or higher in Mileage Plus or who have Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner, are exempt from this policy change.

Checking a third bag would cost $100 each way. Previously, passengers were permitted to check two bags free of charge. According to USA Today, Southwest Airlines implemented a $25 fee for checking a third bag last week.

The New York Times reports that the fee also applies to passengers traveling to and from Canada.

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Breaking News: A fire broke out at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino at 11am this morning in Las Vegas. No serious injuries have been reported. Please check CNN.com for continued updates, or Travelocity’s FAQ page for travel-related information.

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In the latest move to alleviate the delays that plague the nation’s busiest airports, the Department of Transportation announced yesterday that airports could charge fees for flights landing during the busiest part of the day. According to The New York Times, this might encourage airlines to fly fewer planes or schedule landing at slower times or even slower airports. The proposal is open to public comment for 45 days before it is finalized.

At present, landing fees are, for the most part, determined by weight. The revenue collected by a new pricing structure would allow operators of multiple airports, such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, to distribute landing-fee revenue among facilities, according to the Washington Post.

What does this mean for the consumer? Fewer flight choices during peak hours and higher airfares seem likely, especially at New York City airports, where flight caps during peak travel hours are set to take effect in March. Business travelers in particular will feel the impact of these new regulations because they’re often forced to fly during the busiest times of day because of meetings. David Stempler, who runs the Air Travelers Association, told the Wall Street Journal, “This is just going to add further to the cost of passengers that want to go out to a meeting in the morning and come back at the end of the day."

The Wall Street Journal reported in December that the airlines, vehemently opposed to congestion pricing, thought they had won the battle. Yesterday’s announcement came as a surprise.

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The passport requirements for land and sea travelers returning to the United States from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean have been extended to a yet-to-be-determined date. USA Today reports that land and sea travelers must have their passports by sometime in 2009. The new restrictions were expected to take effect in the summer of 2008.

As of January 31, 2007, an oral declaration of citizenship will no longer be enough to re-enter the country. U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Examples of WHTI-compliant documents are a U.S. passport, passport card, or the SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST and U.S. Coast Guard Mariner Document.

For more information, visit the State Department Web site.

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Effective January 1, 2008, passengers carrying lithium batteries on airplanes -- in both checked on carry-on luggage -- must adhere to new regulations, according to Travel Weekly.

Loose lithium batteries can no longer be placed in checked baggage. Passengers may have up to two loose lithium batteries in their carry-on baggage, but the batteries must be in their original packaging OR in two separate, resalable plastic bags.

Items that commonly use lithium batteries, such as cell phones and cameras, can still be carried on or checked as long as the lithium battery is inside them.

Loose lithium batteries are considered hazardous because they can overheat and ignite, causing fires. Read the news release in its entirety from the Department of Transportation here.

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A winter ice storm affecting the Midwest may be the first glimpse of what's in store for the busy weeks ahead. Officials in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma have declared states of emergency, according to the Associated Press. Travelers to Denver and the Colorado Rockies may also be affected. In response to today's storm, the following airlines have waived change fees to re-accommodate passengers; please check individual airline websites for more details.
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta
Frontier Airlines
Midwest Airlines
United Airlines
US Airways

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Tropical Storm Noel has claimed 101 lives and has hit the Bahamas, according to USA Today. The Miami Herald says, "the center of Noel curved directly over Andros Island and Nassau and the rest of New Providence Island."

The storm has forced several cruise lines to alter itineraries and airlines to cancel flights. The Nassau Airport is closed and is scheduled to resume operations on November 1st at 4:00pm.

Travelers with immediate plans to visit the Bahamas should contact thier hotel to inquire about cancellation policies. Travelers to South Florida, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic should contact their air carrier, hotel, and / or cruise line for status updates.

Travelocity customers should visit the Customer Care page for more information.

Several airlines have adjusted policies as a result of Tropical Storm Noel. Visit the web sites of the following airlines for specific details:

American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Airlines
JetBlue
US Airways

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According to the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, all major San Diego attractions – SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND California, the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park - are open to the public. San Diego International Airport has been in operation throughout the wildfires, and all major freeways are open and flowing well.

Though the San Diego International Airport and John Wayne Airport (Orange County) remain open, travelers with immediate plans to visit Southern California can take advantage of airline policies to waive change fees to these and other area airports. Keep in mind policies vary, and in some cases travelers must commence their trips by November 1. Here, a list of airlines that have adjusted policies in the wake of the fires:

Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
ATA
Continental Airlines
Delta
Frontier Airlines
JetBlue
United Airlines
Northwest Airlines
US Airways
Qantas

Travelocity customers should check the Customer Care page for more information related to their trips.

Travelocity has received information on closures at the following hotels in Southern California, but we advise travelers to check with individual properties to confirm status.

Lake Arrowhead Resort
Pala Mesa Resort
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
Morgan Run

Travelers to Southern California may run into issues at hotel check in, as some evacuees have chosen hotels over area shelters. Road closures may complicate getting to your destination from the airport; the California Department of Transportation has up-to-date information regarding road closures.

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After pounding several Caribbean islands over the weekend, Hurricane Dean hit Mexico's Caribbean coast Tuesday as a Category 5 storm, according to USA Today. The hurricane was downgraded to Category 2, but is expected to regain strength as it heads towards central Mexico.

Travelers with plans to visit Mexico, especially the Yucatan Peninsula, should check with their hotel for information on rebooking. Most hotels and tour operators in impacted destinations will waive cancellation fees and allow travelers to rebook for a later date, based on availability. Customers with cruise itineraries that include Mexico ports will experience itinerary changes; check with your cruise line for updates and schedule changes. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Carnival Cruise Lines shifted the itineraries of six ships, while Royal Caribbean International changed at least two.

Island by Island Conditions
On Grand Cayman, Owen Roberts International Airport is open and the visitor restriction has been lifted. Visitors should check with individual properties for inofrmation on hotel opening status.

Jamaica was spared a direct hit by the hurricane and hotel damage was limited. Many hotels, particularly in western Jamaica, are fully operational. Montego Bay Airport is now open and ready to receive flights. Norman Manley Airport in Kingston is expected to open on Tuesday.

On Martinique, Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport is open. All island hotels are open, though some have suffered landscaping damage. No structural damage was reported.

On St. Lucia, both airports are open and hurricane damage was minimal.

On St. Kitts, airline service remains normal and all hotels are open. The island suffered very little impact from the storm.

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