The Memorial Day Weekend has once again descended upon the United States, whose citizens mark the unofficial start of summer with cookouts, activities, lazy days relaxing under the sun and — to the detriment of frequent fliers — travel. The fact that many people are off from work and children are out of school for a significant amount of time — some for the summer — fuels the desire to travel. Airports become crowded, flights become full, roads become clogged with traffic, and hotel properties become sold out...and those who are inexperienced with travel are taking to the airways — possibly with you...

If you thought that FlyerTalk members were angry pertaining to the perceived devaluation of the LifeMiles frequent flier loyalty program of Avianca and Taca with the changes to the award redemption chart which occurred last week, then imagine how they now feel about the increased expense with using the cash and miles option...and again, with no advanced warning, announcement or notice. Better yet...

Citing increasing competition, the waning of demand for seats which command a higher airfare, and the reporting of a loss of $260 million for the first quarter of 2013, Calin Rovinescu — chief executive officer of Air Canada — wants to trim $50 million in costs throughout the company by implementing such measures as ending the use of consultants, negotiating lower costs with suppliers, and executing a freeze on hiring new employees. Although the loss for the most recent quarter was...

A Boeing 777-300 aircraft operating as PIA Pakistan International Airlines flight 709 on its way from Lahore to Manchester was diverted to Stansted Airport near London while being escorted by fighter jets from the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom in response to two passengers who allegedly threatened to blow up the airplane. The two men — who were arrested by Essex Police on suspicion of...

Through August 31, 2013, you can earn 1,750 — or eight times — bonus Aeroplan frequent flier loyalty program miles with every qualifying stay at participating Best Western hotel properties. Add that to the 250 Aeroplan frequent flier loyalty program miles you would normally earn when you stay at participating Best Western hotel properties, and that amounts to a total of 2,000 Aeroplan frequent flier loyalty program miles — or eight times the miles — per stay. You must first...

The award redemption chart for the LifeMiles frequent flier loyalty program of Avianca and Taca has changed recently — and it is not the changes in and of themselves that has sparked heated discussion on FlyerTalk, but rather how the changes were implemented. First, no advanced notice was given about...

Until 10:59 in the morning tomorrow, May 24, 2013, if you are one of the first 4,000 Hilton HHonors frequent guest loyalty program members to book a reservation at a Hilton Worldwide hotel property during The Great Getaway promotion, you will earn 2,500 Hilton HHonors frequent guest loyalty program points. Once you book your reservation, you must...

The tornadoes which quickly developed with little warning and touched town in Oklahoma were some of the more powerful ones on record — and some neighborhoods were completely wiped out as a result. Unfortunately, nine of the 24 people who died as a result of the tornadoes were children. Many more people were injured but escaped with literally the shirts on their backs and little else. Hardest hit was the town of Moore...

Because of a law enacted in 2011 which prevents residents of the city of New York from renting out their properties for fewer than 29 days, an administrative judge ruled that Nigel Warren violated what is known as the “illegal hotel law” and fined him $2,400.00 for using Airbnb to lease part of his condominium apartment, arguing that the apartment “may only be used as private residences and may not be rented for transient, hotel, or motel purposes.” FlyerTalk members discuss their experiences with Airbnb, as well as...