10 Ways to Game the Airlines

Carriers must advertise full price starting next month

(NEWSER) - Airlines will soon be forced to advertise the full price of tickets—including government taxes and fees—instead of a stripped-down price with an asterisk. The rule scheduled to go into effect in late January is designed to keep prospective fliers from getting a nasty surprise several steps into the buying process when mandatory taxes and fees raise the fares up to 20%, reports CNN . Baggage fees won't be included in the new rule. More»

(NEWSER) - Nobody likes the middle seat on an airplane, and a recent study shows fliers would rather endure some novel discomforts than sit squeezed between two seatmates. BlackBook runs down a few—as well as what's particularly unpleasant about the middle seat.

• 56% of respondents would rather have their teeth drilled at the dentist's.
• 54% would prefer a doctor's visit to the middle seat.
• 20% of fliers would spend the night at an airport hotel for a chance at an aisle seat the next day.

Nine tips for finding a great deal in a tough market

(NEWSER) - Airfares are skyrocketing, but deals are still out there. The New York Times offers some pointers:

1. Book directly with the airline.
2. Sign up for private price cuts.
3. Buy one ticket at a time.
4. Make your computer do the work.

Find tickets, new flights, even lounges

(NEWSER) - Every air traveler armed with a smartphone should load up on these five apps, says the Travel section of USA Today:

• SkyScanner (Free): This app will hunt down the best price for your ticket. It scans not only all of the airlines' websites but all of the online travel agencies (Expedia, Priceline) as well.
• Next Flight ($2.99): Yeah, it's relatively pricey, but worth the cost when needed. If your flight is canceled or delayed, or you just plain miss it, the app provides a list of all available flights from all carriers over the next two days. If none are there, it searches for hotels and car rentals.
• Priority Pass (Free): This app supplies a list of all the lounges at your airport. You can look through photos and amenities before deciding whether to shell out money for a pass.

... because of obese person next to him

(NEWSER) - Another dismal travel tale from the world of packed airplanes: A US Airways passenger flying from Anchorage to Philadelphia had to stand for nearly all of the seven-hour flight, reports the consumer advocacy blog Elliott.org . The problem? The airline booked a late-boarding passenger who weighed in the neighborhood of 400 pounds without requiring that he buy a second seat. More»