After 20 Years, Direct Flights between Paris and Baghdad May Resume

 
After 20 years without established travel routes, Iraqi Airways and French authorities have begun planning for direct flights between Baghdad and Paris, according to Reuters.

Iraq’s national airline plans to confirm the routes with Paris some time this month, and would like to resume weekly flights between the two cities. A drop in violence in the Middle Eastern city and a rise in investor interest have spurred the change.

Delta and American Vie for Partnership with Japan Airlines

Delta-Northwest and American Airlines are competing for partnership with Japan Airlines. The Asian carrier has had a very public financial struggle this year, and has asked the government for more funding in order to keep afloat.

Currently, a partnership exists between Japan Airlines and American Airlines. The two companies share frequent flier benefits and international routes. In order to save money, Japan Airlines has cut certain routes, and is looking for more ways to gain capital.

American Airlines Flights to Central America, from $119

Yesterday, we told you about flights to Ecuador from LAN Airlines. Today, we’ve found more Central America flights.

American Airlines has put flights to Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama on sale. The fares are good for flights which operate daily, but take note of the black-out dates around the holidays. Book by Dec.12 for travel through Feb. 8, 2010.

Why travel to Central America? Many locations, like Costa Rica, are perfect for the adventure and eco-friendly traveler, with plenty of outdoor excursions. Or, if you want to relax on the beach, there are plenty of places to do that too. 

Lufthansa's Cheap Flights to European Cities from $300

If you’ve traveled to Europe, but skipped the lesser-known cities, now is the perfect time to visit. Lufthansa is offering flights to some of the big-name cities, like London, as well as other unique locations, like Luxembourg and Oslo.

To get these fares, mid-week travel and a Saturday night stay are required. Book a by Nov. 19. Travel to Europe is permitted between Jan. 15 and March 25, 2010, while return trips are available between Jan. 18 and June 28, 2010.

We searched for a flight between Philadelphia and Oslo in January and with taxes, a round-trip flight totaled $976. When the price is broken down, the fare is actually less than advertised ($575 round-trip). We opted for a flight on a Tuesday to get this price.

Continental Airlines Offers Cheap Flights to Texas

Continental Airlines is offering discounted fares to the Lone Star State, which means in this particular instance, you should mess with Texas.

Flights are available to Houston and El Paso and start at $97 round-trip (exclusive of taxes and fees). So, visit Houston and see what the fourth largest U.S. city has to offer. Or, head to El Paso and check out the Rio Grande and experience TexMex.

In a search for flights between Dallas and Houston, the cheapest fare ($98 round-trip) could be found on Thursdays in December. In January, the same fare is available Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for the entire month.  On the other days, fares increase about $26.

Google and Virgin America's Free Holiday WiFi and Photo Contest

It may be the season of giving, but prepare yourself to get a little something from Google and Virgin America this year. A few weeks ago, we told you about the two companies offering free wireless on every flight. The promotion lasts until Jan. 15 2010, and works on any laptop or wireless PDA device.

Now, there’s even more of a reason to book a flight with Virgin America: Yesterday Google announced a photo contest that takes place at all of the 47 participating airports, and flights within the date range. If you take a picture of yourself using wireless at one of these locations and submit it to Google, your photo could be posted online, and you can win prizes.

Hilton Launches Seven New Applications for iPhones

What’s a vacation without convenience? When you get off your flight and walk into your hotel room, you want to be able to toss your luggage and flop down on the bed – not stress about checking in, or quelling your starvation after a long flight. If you’re an iPhone or iPod Touch user, you might want to check out Hilton’s new applications that make all this easier with a touch of a button.

According to USA Today, the hotel chain will unveil seven applications for its brands in approximately two weeks, depending on Apple’s approval. Each one will allow users to find hotels in different cities using a GPS technology, and have the ability to book, cancel and change reservations from their devices.

You can also check Hilton HHonors loyalty points.

This Weekend Away: Cheap Travel to Las Vegas

Got plans this weekend? Even if you do, chances are they aren’t as good as the plans we’ve cooked up for you. No offense, we’re sure your dinner party would have been thrilling – but this is Sin City. So cancel your lovely little gathering, pack the most scandalous pieces of your wardrobe, and get on a flight to Las Vegas. We’re betting it’s far more memorable and quite plainly more fun.

We’re not, however, guaranteeing that you won’t get in trouble while you’re there. Hey, we just make the plans.

Weekend: Friday, Nov. 13 – Sunday, Nov. 15
Destination: Las Vegas

This Day in History: Remembering the Fall of the Berlin Wall

There are moments in history that can still spark silence in a conversation. The fall of the Berlin Wall is one of those moments, and today – the 20th anniversary of the event – ignites memories in both Berliners and people all over the globe, who remember the fall and celebrate its significance.

Speeches, tears, and accounts of personal memories flood newspapers and broadcasts all over the world. When the wall was erected, separating Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc, citizens attempting to cross it were shot at by the Eastern regime, and torn from the barrier. On Nov. 9, 1989, both sides were able to travel freely and gather together as a liberated union.

Although today marks the anniversary, festivities began in May. Government buildings, embassies and public centers proclaim the “Site of the New Berlin: 20 Years of Change” motto, and art projects all over the city display light installations, façade demonstrations and exhibitions that encompass the city’s layout.

JetBlue's New Way to Gain TrueBlue Rewards

Sometimes, you just need a little praise. JetBlue understands, and has given its rewards program a face-lift. In the past, members accumulated TrueBlue Points based on the length of flights they purchased, and certain point totals resulted in free flights. Now, there is another meter in which to gain points.

Today, JetBlue announced that every time you book a flight online, you gain six points per dollar. Once you get 10,000 points, you get a round-trip flight for free.

Other good news is that you don’t have to worry about expiration dates eating up your miles anymore. You can neglect them as long as you want (not that you’d want to) and they’ll still be safe and sound. If, however, you gain 3,000 points in one year, you get 500 bonus points.