In Bora Bora right now.

What a perfect place to relax!

Scheduled commercial air service returns to Salem Oregon

Salem City Council approved an agreement Monday night that will re-start commercial air service to its newly upgraded airport.

SeaPort Airlines will operate two flights a day from Salem to Seattle, with a stop in Portland. The morning and afternoon flights on nine-passenger aircraft will start April 27, one week after a grand opening of the airport’s newly expanded terminal. A recent airport upgrade featured a 4,000-square-foot addition to the terminal building and remodeling of 1,600 square foot of the existing terminal.

“We are excited to be entering into this partnership with the city,” said Rob McKinney, the president of SeaPort Airlines. “Salem can no longer be the answer to the trivia question of which state capital does not have air service.”

Delta Airlines check-in procedures

It appears that Delta Airlines may be enforcing a seldom used rule for passengers checking in for flights.  That is, Delta may require you to present the Credit Card used for the purchase of the airline ticket when checking in.  There have been reports of passengers being denied boarding if they cannot produce the credit card and matching ID used for booking the flight.

Here is the specific rule:

Credit Card Presentation

To safeguard against credit card fraud, the purchaser may have to show us the credit card along with a valid photo ID. The time varies based on the billing address of the credit card or the country of travel. If the purchaser is not traveling, they can show us their credit card and ID at an airport ticket counter or another ticket office location, whichever is most convenient.

It has always been my recommendation to my clients that they travel with the credit card used to purchase the tickets, especially for international travel, this is just a reminder.

Think your airline ticket was a good deal?

You may get a good ticket price, but don't forget to factor in the hidden costs, like checked baggage fee's.  Here is a good posting from AirFareWatchDog.com:

Airline	First checked bag	Second checked bag	Additional bags	Overweight bags	Oversized bags
Airtran	$0 $15 ($20 effective Sept 1 2010)	$10 paid online, $20 at airport $25	$50	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $29 $39 71 to 99 lbs: $69 $79	62-70 total linear inches: $29 $39; 71-80 inches $69 $79
Alaska	$15; $20	$0 $20	3rd, $20; 4th or more $50 each	51-100 lbs: $50	63-80 inches: $50; 81-115 inches: $75
Allegiant	At flight check in, $35; gate checked bag: $35; purchased online: $14.99-$29.99	At flight check in, $35; gate checked bag: $35; purchased online: $14.99-$29.99	"Subject to additional fees"	"Subject to additional fees"	"Subject to additional fees"
American	$25 ($15 $25 to/from Canada; free for travel to/from US to Caribbean, Europe and India)	$35 ($30 $35 to/from Canada; $30 to/from Caribbean; $50 $60 for travel to/from US and Europe and India)	Bags 3-5: $100; 6th or more: $200 $150	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $50 $60; 71-100 lbs: $100 (bags over 70lbs not accepted on some international routes)	63 inches and over: $150 (to/from UK max size is 80 linear inches)
Continental	$23 ($2 more if not paid online)	$32 ($3 more if not paid online) $30 to/from Mexico, South America (exc. Brazil), $50 to/from Europe and India	3 or more bags each: $100 to/from US, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgins; $150 to/from Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America; $200 other routes.	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $50 $100 to/from US, Canada and Puerto Rico; $200 other routes; Over 70 lbs not accepted.	63 inches and over: $100 $200
Delta	$23 ($2 more if not paid online)	$32 ($3 more if not paid online) $50 for European travel	For travel within the US and Canada: Third bag: $125; Bags 4 to 10 $200 each; For travel to/from Europe: no charge for first or second; $200 for 3-10 extra bags see Delta additional, overweight and oversized fees	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $90 ($150 for travel outside US; bags over 70 lbs not allowed on some international routes)	63-80 total linear inches: $150 $175
Frontier	$0 $15 $20	$25 $30 $20	$50	51-100 lbs: $75	63-80 inches: $75
JetBlue	$0	$20 $30 $35	$75	51-70 lbs: $50; 71-99 lbs: $100	63-80 inches: $75
Spirit	Note: if you change planes, you may be charged for each leg for all these fees. Checked bags: $28 paid online ($38 if paid at airport); $5 international. Carry on bag $30 online, $40-45 at airport; $20 for $9 Club members (one "personal item" free)	$35 online or $45 at airport; $5 more for international	Bags 3-5: $95 at airport; $85 online; $5 for international flights.	41-50 lbs $25; 51-70 lbs $50; 71 to 99 lbs: $100	62-79 inches: $100; 80 inches and over: $150
Southwest	$0	$0	3-9: $50; 10 and more: $110	51 -100 lbs: $50	62-80 inches: $50
United	$25 ($2 discount if paid online)	$35 ($3 discount if paid online); to/from US and Canada or South/Central America $30 (effective Mar 9 2011)	Within and between US, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgins: $100 (effective Mar 9, 2011); 5th or more: $250	Within and between US, Canada, Puerto Rico and US Virgins: 51-70 lbs $100 each; 71-99.9 lbs $200 each; other routes: $400	Within and between US, Canada, Puerto Rico and US Virgins: more than 62 linear inches: $100; Other routes: $200
US Airways	$25 at airport, $23 online	$35 at airport, $32 online, $50, online, to Europe ($55 at airport)	Bags 3-9: $125	51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $70 $90 71 to 99 lbs: $120 $175	62-80 total linear inches: $100 $175
USA 3000	$15 if bought online, $25 otherwise	$25	Extra bags "subject to availability"	Over 50 lbs $25 extra; Over 70 lbs. Not accepted
Virgin America	$25 (up to 70 pounds)	$25 (up to 50 lbs)	Bags 3-10 $25	51-70 lbs $50; 71-100 lbs $100	$50 (63-80 linear inches)