Stephanie Serino's Travel Blog

Big news: US Airways  and American Airlines  are engaged! Here's the website created to update us on the progress of the new American Airlines .  Love is in the air!   Don't panic: it usually takes a couple years before the complete merger takes place. It will be business as usual at both airlines (which isn't saying that service has been great with either carrier). Your miles are safe. The frequent flier programs will be merged so you won't lose your miles. However, US Airways will transition from the Star Alliance to the OneWorld program. You have a year or so to consider your options. If you have status with either airline, this is a good time to switch loyalty programs (United or Delta may match your status and miles to woo you). Congratulations to them both on their impending union.

US Airways has just announced that it will be adding non-stop flights from Ithaca to Washington DC's Reagan National Airport. This is part of larger deal with Delta where they have swapped  slots: Delta will expand at LaGuardia while US Airways expands in DC. Here's the Press Release .  These changes are subject to government approval, and there's no information about when the service will commence, when the flight times will be or how much the fares will be yet. I will keep you posted as more information becomes available. This is great news for Ithaca,  especially now that winter cruises are sailing from Baltimore. 

A Time Magazine article describing the myriad fees airlines have recently imposed on the public has named US Airways the stingiest airline in the industry. We are not surprised. Not only do they charge for the first and second checked bag, but they also charge you for a soft drink in flight. They've also increased their fees for issuing tickets by phone, change penalties, and escort fees for kids traveling alone.