Cheapflights Weekly Roundup: Airline News, Five-Star Hotels & Travel Deals

Good news from Boston: The sun finally came out today! For the first time in nearly a month, there were no umbrellas leaning on the walls in the office, no sloshing feet as people came through the front doors, no whimpers of a planned weekend on the beach ruined by the weather forecast. It was a magical moment - everyone was smiling.

Thankfully, the rain hasn't prevented us from finding the best travel deals.

This week was the week of wars: airlines outbid one another, airline ticket prices dropped, and hotels reduced rates one after another. We captured them all and rounded up the best ones for this week's Cheapflights Weekly Round-up.

Flights

Delta Mexico/Latin America Flights: As if Mexico wasn't already one of the cheapest destinations on the planet, Delta made it even cheaper to fly to Mexico with cheap flights from $199

AirTran's $39 Flights: The low-cost carrier took low-cost to another level this week with the $39 flight sale. To sweeten the pot, Delta matched AirTran's $39 routes from Atlanta in a 24-hour fare war.

JetBlue Twitter's Cheep Deals: JetBlue joined the Twitter crusade and launched @JetBlueCheeps - a Monday sale for Twitter followers.

Around the World: A Michael Jackson Travel Tribute

Millions of people will converge on Los Angeles today to pay their respects to Michael Jackson. As the world prepares to mourn the loss of one of the greatest entertainers of all time, some Cheapflights.com staff members took a moment to reflect on their Michael Jackson moments from around the world.

Some caravanned across the country to see him in concert, others traveled the world in search of the Michael Jackson white chocolate statue (on display in Budapest), and still others just remember standing in line at their local record shop for their copy of "Bad." No matter what part of the world you live in, everyone has a Michael Jackson memory to share.

Cheapflights Weekly Roundup: Airline News & Travel Deals

This weekend marks the start of one of our favorite summer holidays. Think: BBQ, outdoor picnics, fireworks, friends and family... if only it would stop raining long enough in Boston for us to actually get outside.

On the bright side, thanks to some celestial magic, July 4 falls on a Saturday this year which means a 3-day weekend for many workers. That also means incredible last-minute airfare and hotel deals for those wanting to get out of town and celebrate their independence in a new city. Bottom line from the travel experts at Cheapflights: These are amazingly low prices for a holiday weekend.

Low-Cost Airlines Top Customer Satisfaction Study

The days of getting dressed up for a flight, enjoying VIP service and arriving to your destination refreshed are long gone. These days, most of us are content to make it through security in a timely manner and get a complimentary in-flight beverage. So, just how satisfied are travelers?

In its 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, J.D. Power & Associates reports that Alaska Airlines was on the top of the list for customer satisfaction among traditional network carriers. This is the second year Alaska has taken the top honor. Continental Airlines also ranked high in overall satisfaction, reservation experience, check-in experience and boarding and deplaning. United Airlines and US Airways were ranked lowest in the traditional network carriers category.

In the low-cost carrier category, JetBlue ranked highest for the fourth straight year, particularly in the aircraft and in-flight service categories.

Standing Room Only Flights? Spring Airlines Packs 'Em In

Think the legroom provided in coach class is too cramped? Fine, then. You can stand during the remainder of your flight.

Travelers on China's Spring Airlines will have that option, maybe: the private airline is considering selling standing-room only airline tickets.

We're pretty sure this conflicts with FAA safety regulations, but Spring Airlines says this idea is 'revolutionary' and hopes to submit the idea for approval within the year, according to CCTV.com.

Cheapflights Weekly Roundup: Airlines Hike Fares, But Cheap Flights Still Remain

If you're feverishly watching the prices of airline tickets and you're waiting to pounce on the first drop in price to your next destination, you might be waiting a while. All five legacy carriers -- American Airlines, United, US Airways, Delta and Continental -- raised prices on domestic fares.

But if you're a follower of this travel news blog, you know that cheap airline tickets still exist.

Despite the $10-$20 fare hike made by airlines over the past week, low-cost carriers are still trending the cheap airline ticket curve. What's this mean? Simply put, just because airline ticket prices have gone up a few dollars doesn't mean they are expensive.

This week, we've welcomed more vacation packages to the Caribbean and Europe, applauded the additional hotel sales in top cities for July 4, and traveled to the other end of the world to partake in ancient dance rituals. 

Boeing's Dreamliner Delay

Boeing announced that it will again delay the flight of its new jet, the Dreamliner 787.

Extra stress where the wings attached to the plane was the cause for the haul in plans, and new arrangements have been made to readjust the plane’s titanium and aluminum to fix the problem by March 2010.

Until then, travelers will have to stick to booking flights on other air crafts.

Expedia Offers Cheap Flights to Hawaii

Picture it: You’ve booked your dream vacation to Hawaii. Then, you realize you want to travel to more than one island before your visit is over. No problem. Mokulele Airlines is offering cheap flights for inter-island travel this summer.

Flights start at $44 each way when you book through Expedia by June 30. Travel is valid through Aug. 31.

Travel Company Shuts Down, Ending Express Airport Security

Frequent fliers who enjoy the speedy service of CLEAR’s “trusted traveler” program will now have to wait in line again. The company, stemming from Verified Identity Pass, is shutting down tonight after being unable to negotiate terms, and therefore is ceasing to continue service.

Since, 2005, travelers have been able to expedite their pre-flight process by getting in a special lane, and having security staff hold the plastic tubs for them. While the TSA has never been enthusiastic about actually trusting travelers, regardless of how frequent they travel, the program, costing fliers $200 a year, helped jet setters bypass long lines and head straight to the front.

Survey Says: Waiting in the Airport for Flights Isn’t So Bad After All

For the most part, the excitement of traveling has more to do with the destination itself, rather than the flight you take to get there. Barring road-trips, getting from one place to another can feel like the most tedious part of a trip, and when all you want to do is get to that beach, city, or cabin of your dreams, one word can dampen any travelers mood: layover.

According to a survey by USA Today, waiting around at the airport isn’t quite as bad watching the clock tick at the DMV. In fact, people like it.

Airports all over the country have bumped up amenities like shops, restaurants, and services to keep their captive audience happy and entertained. Spa services at Denver International Airport (DEN), a book store at Milwaukee’s Airport (MKE), and outstanding concessions at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) are just a few of the goodies that keep frequent fliers satisfied.