United’s summer into fall sale

While fliers are fixated on summer, it’s not too early to be thinking of traveling this fall, at least that’s United Airlines' take.

The nation’s second-largest carrier is offering some nice discount airfares (some in the $69 range) on flights throughout the country. Travel has to be completed by November 15. Here are some one-way rates. They’re predicated on a round-trip purchase. Here are a few examples of the kind of savings you can expect:

- Baltimore/Washington (BWI) to Chicago (ORD) $99
- Boston (BOS) to Chicago $79
- Boston to Orlando (MCO) $99
- Buffalo (BUF) to Los Angeles (LAX) $159

Shelve the cell-phone plan – Jerry Chandler lets fly

I renew my cry for a bit of peace and quiet in the sky. I’m not alone. I harken back to a line from the film Jurassic Park, where the responsible scientist says something to the effect of “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should”.

He was talking about replicating man-eating dinosaurs at the time. This is worse.

In this case, the “something” is the allowance of cell phone use aloft. It’s a terrible, evil, insidious idea. Airlines are already testing new technology that will allow passengers to employ their phones while hurtling through the heavens at 600 miles per hour.

US Airways unveils third 'throwback' plane

In what is becoming a series of retro-plane design launches, US Airways is continuing to celebrate its heritage with a third aircraft, inaugurated at Pittsburgh and Philadelphia International Airports.

The plane's design pays homage to the VistaJets, which flew under the Allegheny Airlines banner throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s before it was absorbed into the consortium branded USAir in 1979.

Painted in the traditional Allegheny colors of navy and white with the old logo on the tail, the planes' registration will also be changed to include Allegheny's VistaJet designator - N745VJ.

Frontier bridges California with new route

A new route between Los Angeles and San Francisco was inaugurated by Frontier Airlines yesterday (Thursday, June 29).

Frontier (it says it is the only low-cost carrier flying passengers direct between Los Angeles and San Francisco) is operating five nonstop flights a day and is offering a special introductory each-way fare of $59 for purchase through Friday, July 28.

Frontier is also advertising free DirecTV for all passengers through Labor Day, September 4, and double bonus miles for frequent-flier members on its newest route.

Everything’s up-to-date in Kansas City – free Wi-Fi

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) has joined the ranks of enlightened airports by offering free wireless high-speed Internet. Wi-Fi has been a fixture at MCI since 2003, but you’ve had to pay for the privilege. No more.

If you have a laptop with a Wi-Fi compatible Network Interface card, just find a seat and go online. The service permeates the place – terminals, gate hold rooms, concourses, ticket counters, restaurants, and concession areas. First, set your SSID LAN to “KCI” (the official code for the airport is actually MCI). After you do that, a KCI portal page pops up.

Delta now truly nationwide

Delta Air Lines will usher in this Independence Day with flights departing from each one of the 50 states.

A new route from the carrier between its Atlanta hub and Wilmington, Delaware, means Delta becomes the first, and only, airline to have a presence right across the United States.

The new service, which began yesterday (Thursday, June 29), will fly two nonstop flights a day under the banner of Delta subsidiary carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines using 40-seat Bombardier regional jets.

Northwest gets set to sunset DC-10s

Northwest Airlines is preparing to say so long to its venerable DC-10s, airplanes which have been around seemingly forever (actually, only since the early 1970s).

NW just has a dozen DC-10-30s left in its fleet. These international haulers are being replaced over the next seven months by newer, more fuel-efficient A330s, and by four-engine 747-400s. Northwest is accelerating the retirement of the craft so rapidly that by October 31 all of the carrier’s transatlantic flights will be operated by A330s.

Across the Pacific, look for A330s to start plying the Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP)-Honolulu (HNL) route by January 8, 2007.

American offers San Diego sweepstakes

American Airlines is giving people who consider themselves to be "in the know" about the legacy carrier a chance to prove their knowledge, for the opportunity to win a trip for two to southern California.

The five grand prize winners will each receive coach-class air travel and a stay at Harrah's hotel and casino in San Diego, as well as free entry into Harrah's customer loyalty program sweepstakes event this September, where the grand prize is $1 million.

Entry for the AA.com sweepstakes is open through August 24, with participants receiving one entry each for signing up to American's various e-mail communications during the qualifying period.

US Airways' brotherly love deal

Resurgent US Airways is offering a terrific deal from its fast-improving hub at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to the Pacific Northwest, specifically to Portland, Oregon (PDX). The price of near transcontinental passage: $150 one-way. Not bad.

To land this deal between the City of Brotherly Love and the Rose City you’ve got to book at least seven days in advance, and then actually purchase the ticket within 24 hours.

JetBlue, Continental top customer satisfaction survey

At the J. D. Power and Associates awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. yesterday (Thursday, June 29), JetBlue and Continental Airlines emerged as the big winners.

Low-cost carrier JetBlue scooped the award for the highest ranked low-cost airline in the customer satisfaction study, while Continental was named the best network airline in the same index.

The survey was conducted by polling more than 9,000 passengers, who were asked to rate their recent travel experiences over several categories. This year's award marked the sixth such announcement since the J. D. Power and Associates survey began in 1996.