April 26, 2018: Virgin America is no more — Alaska Air, the new owner, fully merged Virgin America’s operations into Alaska Air yesterday — from reservations, to check-in, to onboard — hate to see them go but Alaska/Horizon are a TC favorite and do one of the best all around jobs in the business with service and paying attention to travelers — Thumbs up Alaska!!!
April 25, 2018: According to newly released information from the US government source that monitors airline quality ratings, here’s the latest lineup of good to bad service:
Not sure any of this matters any more as there are really not that many choices when it comes to air travel in the US?
April 24, 2018: Travel on a Budget? Try this epic road trip in Utah and Arizona
April 23, 2018: From the OC to STS — what a grand day to fly above it all! 
April 20, 2018: Airbus, operators of the mammoth uncomfortable A380 (with some models carrying over 550 passengers) is looking at designs that will add small passenger sleeping pods in the lower cargo area of the plane —very tiny and very confining. Another reason to stick with Boeing planes when you travel!!!
April 18, 2018: United has suspended transporting pets (dogs, cats, etc.) until they can figure out how to do so and not kill them — both in the cargo area and onboard flights. Seems a recent passenger placed her small pet dog (in a pet carrier) in the over head bin above her seat and then was not allowed to retrieve the pet during landing — with Fido yelping away. Unfortunately Fido “expired” and didn’t make it — I think some “stupidity” here on both the owner and United! Travelers beware if you’re traveling with your Fido!!!
April 16, 2018: United Airlines continues to “stick it too passengers” with the addition of optional add-ons to its basic “you get nothing but a seat” really basic economy fare — for $9 extra you can line up early to board —so, you purchase the very least expensive ticket — pay extra if you want to check a bag or carry on anything more than a briefcase, most often have to pay even more if you want a seat assignment — but for $9 you can board with the VIP group? The entire “basic economy fare” concept is a SHAM and should be discontinued — how about United just get back to the “basics” and operate — with good service — clean aircraft with on time service?
April 13, 2018: Yup — happened last year — in September — so if you traveled anywhere on Delta during that time period, expect your private information (passport number, frequent flyer number, credit card info, etc.) to now be resting on “open ground” in cyber space. Delta says “sorry” and is going to set up a “secure” website to deal with flyers who get charged for flights and services they never used — Thanks Delta — keep on flying — no matter who pays?
April 12, 2018: Under a new rule, all applicants for a US Visa — estimated to be nearly 15,000,000 a year — will have to include their social media user names for the past five years as part of the application process. The new procedure covers more than 20 social media platforms and is being imposed by the US State Department to enhance border security! Look for the State Department to enhance these background checks with even more information being required — like past passport and visa numbers — some US friendly countries, like Britain, Canada, and France will be exempt from he new rules.
April 11, 2018: Now, not only do you need to remove your shoes when heading through TSA check points, you also need to take off and empty your backpack and any carry-on bags, including those with food! TSA says there is no new security alert requiring this — but is doing so at the request of the airlines who say more and more passengers are putting more into carry-on bags so they don’t have to pay a fee for checking a bag! The new requirement will certainly slow down security checks during these heavy spring and summer travel seasons — the TC’s take — “pack your patience”!
