Photo: Southwest Airlines

For the third time in two years, the FAA is looking into Southwest's maintenance and safety record, this time focusing on repair work to aircraft fuselages....read more»

Airline fees chart (Photo: SmarterTravel.com)

Two dollars for a soda? Ten bucks for an aisle seat? If you're confused about which airlines are charging for which "perks," our Ultimate Guide to Airline Fees can help. We've put every major fee from every major airline in one place....read more»

Route Map PDF

Several low-cost carriers have new routes to the Caribbean and Latin America, which may mean big savings for travelers. Download our PDF chart to see what destinations are being added....read more»

American plane taxiing down the runway (Photo:  Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport)

The New York Times reports (via Joe Brancatelli's subscription-only site, joesentme.com), that American Airlines "quietly announced last week that it would eliminate free blankets in coach and sell an $8 packet that includes a pillow and blanket starting May 1."

According to American, the charge is effective on all domestic flights two hours or longer, including flights to/from Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Central America. The set comes with a Bed Bath & Beyond coupon worth $10 off a purchase of $30.

First- and business-class cabins on all flights and all cabins on international flights and South America flights will not be affected....read more»

Air: Arrival and Departure Screen (Photo: iStockphoto/Silvrshootr)

Airlines pad their schedules with extra time to absorb the delays that will inevitably strike. Big deal? Some say it's cheating, but others say the airlines are just being realistic....read more»

Photo: JetBlue

JetBlue is pleased with its new reservations system, but the switch, which included a planned outage of its website, is not quite complete, and passengers are not out of the woods yet....read more»

Woman in orange using laptop (Photo: Index Open)

File this under: Amazing Adventures in Virtual Travel. A woman watching a sunset via webcam ended up saving a man lost on the dark, frozen sea ... hundreds of miles away....read more»

While you're unlikely to get an all-expenses-paid trip unless you win a game show, you can still get portions your trip for free if you book certain promotions or take advantage of some alternative modes of travel. Here are my picks for top limited-time and long-term "free" travel deals worth checking out.

<h2>Kids Fly Free to French Polynesia</h2>

Never considered French Polynesia for family vacation? Maybe Air Tahiti Nui's kids-fly-free deal will persuade you. From now through the end of the year, when you book two adult Air Tahiti Nui fares from Los Angeles to French Polynesia, you'll get two free fares for kids ages 11 or younger. The deal is valid for flights to Papeete, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Manihi, Tikehau, and Fakarava departing through December 10, 2008, or from January 12 to May 31, 2009. Adult fares start at $1,428, including all taxes. You'll still be responsible for paying taxes on the free children's fares.

 (Photo: iStockPhoto/Christine Balderas)

Tahiti is generally a pretty expensive place to visit, but every once in a while, a flurry of deals put this tropical paradise within reach of sun seekers on a budget....read more»

Snow plow in the city (Photo: IndexOpen)

Airlines are already waiving change fees and even canceling flights in advance of a storm that's expected to drop up to two feet of snow on the mid-Atlantic region....read more»

Couple Figuring Out the Tip (Photo: iStockphoto/asiseeit)

Ever walk into a hotel and wonder if you should have tipped the doorman? Or been perplexed by the automatic gratuity on your spa treatment? Travelers encounter a lot of new people, from tour guides to cruise ship stewards, and it’s not always clear if you should hand them a tip or just offer a hearty handshake.

Our new pocket Tipping Guide is perfect for all travelers. Whether you’re a seasoned jetsetter or a casual tourist, this handy reference covers just about everyone you might meet out on the road. With guides for tipping people in the hotel, transportation, leisure, dining, and cruising industries, you’ll always feel confident when you run into a new situation. We’ve also included a quick reference for gratuity percentages. And best of all, the Tipping Guide is downloadable and folds into a pocket size, to fit easily in your wallet....read more»