SavvySugar

High-Tech Navigation Soars on Virgin America Planes

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:30:49 PST

The FAA's announcement that American Airlines pilots can use iPads in the cockpit at all times in flight, including takeoff and landing, is just one example of how airlines are evolving with technology. Virgin America, an airline known for tech partnerships like gate-side Chromebook rentals, also makes sure the people flying the planes have the latest gear as well.

During a recent press trip on the airline's inaugural flight to Puerto Vallarta, the staff showed off the geeky details of the Airbus A320 that make it one of the industry's most state-of-the-art birds. The A320 planes all lack the steering wheel, or "yoke" as it's actually called, that most people have come to expect to see when imagining how planes work, with Airbus instead opting to design a joystick steering mechanism reflective of the video games popular in the '80s at the time it was first created. Geek factor aside, the side-stick control is a practical option, as it gives pilots a more comfortable in-flight experience and the option for a pull-out tray just like cabin passengers.

It may not be an iPad, but the gadget of choice for Virgin America pilots is the NavAero tPad, which serves as an Electronic Flight Bag, replacing the heavy and cumbersome paperwork and maps that pilots once carried constantly. The EFBs are the navigation tools for a crew of the 21st Century.

Peep another angle of Virgin America's side-stick and tablet-powered cabin after the break.

Savvy Travel Tip: Hold Your Airplane Seats

Emily Co — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:15:28 PDT

The holidays are coming up, and traveling is definitely in the plans for a lot of people. A handy travel tip is to "hold" the airplane seat once you find a good buy. Many airlines provide you the option of reserving the seat for a full 24 hours before canceling it with no fees incurred. For example, if you buy Continental tickets from continental.com or by calling reservations, you will qualify for their 24-hour booking policy, which will let you make changes to your purchased flight without any penalties. Remember to check the policies of different airlines before you decide to go ahead and hold a seat.

This service is great for comparison shopping. As a consumer, you can reserve your seat and hold it for a day while checking to see if other airlines have better deals.

Got a cost-saving travel tip? Join our Savvy Travel Tips group and share your expertise!

Virgin America to Level Up In-Flight Entertainment System in 2012

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:55:27 PDT

Staying entertained and connected on Virgin America flights will soon be even easier than before. Starting in late 2012, Virgin America will be rolling out a new in-flight entertainment and technology system called BoardConnect, which will feature larger, HD touchscreen seat-back monitors with full WiFi connectivity and the ability for passengers to connect their personal gadgets to the system before takeoff, while in the air, and even postflight.

This means that passengers can get their curated content, games, and connectivity via the seat-back screen, or connect and use their smartphones and tablets instead. Additional details are scarce, but these new features and benefits could soon make other airlines, who are still jumping on the in-flight WiFi trend, much less desirable.

4 Things I Love About PetAirways

PetSugar — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 04:43:34 PDT

Other than being the first fleet of planes dedicated solely to pawsengers, there are more things that set PetAirways apart from other air travel options! Even though it's too pricey for every weekend away, check out some special features that put this flight above the rest.

Trusted Traveler Program: Solution to Stress-Free Customs?

Emily Co — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:17:48 PDT

The TSA announced today that it will be launching a pilot program that aims to reduce the hassle passengers have to experience when going through customs. It's called the Trusted Traveler Program, and it's only being tested on select passengers of American and Delta airlines who are flying out of a couple of airports.

Passengers who are enrolled in the program have to agree to release private details about themselves, in addition to the usual information people provide when going through customs, which includes a full name, date of birth, and gender. This extra information will give security more assurance that you are who you say you are.

If this move lowers the possibility of going through body scanners or invasive searches, would you participate in the program?

You Might Not Be Getting the Airline You Paid For

Emily Co — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:14:18 PDT

Have you ever bought a ticket for an airline, only to step onto a different airline and wonder what's going on? An airline selling other flights by partner airlines as their own is apparently a common occurrence these days and it's called codesharing. Although the disclosure is required, it's often stated in a way that makes it hard to notice. CNN says:

In fact, if you book a ticket on one airline, say United, it's possible you'll never set foot on a United plane. Let's say you want to fly from Philadelphia to Krakow, Poland. You can book United flight 2216 connecting to United 9254 in Newark before finally getting on United 8756 in Munich. But you're never stepping foot on United.

The first flight is actually operated by Piedmont Airlines. Piedmont is a regional affiliate of US Airways, so it will say US Airways Express on the side of the airplane, but it's operated by Piedmont. Since US Airways and United are partners, United sells it with its own flight number. The second flight is operated by United partner Lufthansa. And the last flight is operated by Lufthansa CityLine, a regional subsidiary of Lufthansa. Confused yet?

For those who care about what airline they actually get on, there are several things you can do. Take notice of the flight number, and if it's a "high flight number (like United 9254), it's probably operated by another airline." Codesharing will be revealed before you purchase the ticket, so be sure to keep an eye out for it. If you are concerned about the safety of the partner airline, check out aviation-safety.net to see what accidents have occurred and the reasons behind them. Does it matter what airline you fly on or are you OK with codesharing?

What Other Airlines Can Learn From Virgin America's New Tech-Savvy SFO Terminal

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:54:13 PDT

Sir Richard Branson unveiled the brand new Virgin America T2 terminal at SFO yesterday, after a first-of-its-kind simultaneous flight of the Airbus A320, WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo over the San Francisco coastline. The new eco-friendly terminal is LEED Gold-certified and sustainable, which is a first in the US. Not only earth conscious, the terminal looks pretty sexy, too. Check out images of the new terminal, find out why tech-savvy travelers will love it, and what other airlines can learn from the new addition.

What Airfare Hikes Mean and How It Will Affect You

Diana Nguyen — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:10:07 PDT

With Spring break around the corner and Summer on its heels, frequent jet-setters and seldom fliers alike should know why they're spending bigger bucks on airfare this vacation season. It's not just because the airlines want to capitalize on Summer travelers; airlines need to offset rising oil prices, which account for 40 percent of their costs. Even though there have been several airfare hikes this year, experts and executives believe fliers will keep paying despite increasing prices, according to The New York Times. Well, this should get you savvy readers thinking: where's the limit? To make an informed decision as to if that trip to Disneyland is worth it, here's a roundup of airfare hikes and other interesting tidbits about your go-to carriers.

Jet fuel costs are over $3 a gallon, a 32 percent increase from last year and just under the record high of $3.32 in 2008.
Eight fare increases stuck this year out of 14 attempts.
Delta has led four of those raises in airfare (once one airline ups its fare, others generally follow).

To see how much the airlines will profit despite sky-rocketing oil prices and higher costs to their patrons, read on.

5 Ways Airlines Are Making It Easier to Fly

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:42:53 PDT

Flying can be a major pain in the rear - delays, oversold seats, waiting standby, and canceled flights can really put a damper on vacations and business travel. But the good news is, airlines seem to be getting hip to customers' wants and needs. Check out these five ways airlines are making it even easier to fly.

Surprising Things Frequent Flier Miles Will Get You

Emily Co — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:25:20 PST

As an answer to the frustrations of travelers who can't redeem miles for the flights they want, airlines are becoming more creative with their frequent flier programs. The Wall Street Journal listed some examples that some airlines are offering their customers in exchange for miles:

A face lift, hair transplants or breast augmentations
Driving school vouchers
VIP treatment and access to a Formula One race
A "spring training package that includes dinner with New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi and pitcher Joba Chamberlain."
A Habit for Humanity trip to China
VIP tickets to Saturday Night Live tapings
Dinner with celebrity chefs
Designer bags

Would you want any of these items or would you rather get free flights?