January is usually a decent month for cheap tickets on the airline, and this January follows that trend...

Kayak found a nice air / hotel package for those who yen for Europe. Starting at $599 for 6 nights in Rome, and with travel dates into the summer, seems like a pretty sweet deal.

For more European options, American Airlines has a sale that ends tonight, with roundtrip airfares such as just under $400 for New York / Barcelona before taxes, it's a sale with lots of inexpensive airfares.

If you are a student between 18 and 22 years of age, then AirTran U may work for you. AirTran Airways has renewed their popular student standby airfares for another year which range in price from $69 to $99. There are a few blackout dates, but standby travel is flexible when it works.

Don't forget to check the Air Travel Forum - lots of airfare specials/airline promotions are listed - this week includes specials on BMI - British Midland, Cathay Pacific, JetBlue ($39 and up), and lots on Travelocity, just to name a few of the specials this week!

image by Arlene Fleming

The green-ing of air travel is becoming a more permanent idea with the airlines. There are carbon offsets, some airlines have various recycling projects, you may be on a flight that flies at a lower speed or a higher altitude to save on fuel use, an aircraft may be cleaned or de-iced with less-polluting liquids - but now, biofuels seem to be the next green thing to hit the industry.

Air New Zealand has been one of the leaders so far in both biofuel use, and other initiatives that can reduce the environmental impact of their planes. Jatropha oil, which is derived from a poisonous shrub, was used to partly fuel one of the airline's flights on December 30.

Virgin Atlantic has also tested out biofuels, and Boeing and Continental Airlines are also looking to do so as well. Back in November, Green Flight International completed the first US cross-country flight with an aircraft that was fuelled mostly by biofuel.

Some of the carbon offset programs offered by the airlines - Air Travel and the Environment - Climate Crisis, Climate Change and Carbon Taxes

Virgin America, Southwest Airlines, and AirTran Airways are not only low cost airlines, but are among the airlines to add more flights to and from the Washington DC area to meet the rise in demand for travel to the presidential inaugural activities the week of January 20, 2009.

Virgin America Adds Flights to Meet Demand for Inaugural Travel
Southwest Airlines Adds Extra Flights for Presidential Inauguration
AirTran Airways responds to Obama fervor: Airline adds D.C. flights for inauguration

You can even buy a Barack Obama Model Airplane if you can't be there in person.

Joe Crimmings Photography / flickr

A happy 2009 to everyone - let's see what the new year brings in terms of airfare deals...

Southwest Airlines is ringing in the new year with a nationwide airfare special. Book by January 19 for travel until the end of April. Sample one way airfares include - $59 one-way between Chicago Midway and Long Island/Islip. Washington Dulles, Florida, and Orange County CA are not included in the sale.

Midwest Airlines is having a good airfare special that ends on Saturday, January 3. Roundtrips start at $178. $178 roundtrip sample airfares include Milwaukee - Nashville, and Milwaukee - Toronto. Travel dates until the end of February, and a Friday or Saturday night minimum stay is required.

Europe's Ryanair is having a big seat sale to ring in the new year, with travel dates until the end of March. Seats start at £15 one way, and must be booked by January 5.

Don't forget to check the Air Travel Forum - lots of airfare specials/airline promotions are listed, as are plenty of opinions!

image by Arlene Fleming

This one ends at midnight Pacific Standard Time. It's a two day sale that I posted in the Air Travel Forum, but it ends tonight. Southwest Airlines is putting its most popular destination on sale - Las Vegas. Travel dates are January 13 to March 11.

You can read about the special and sample airfares in the press release posted in the Air Travel Forum.

It's the end of the year, and a time to look back at some of the biggest stories in air travel in 2008. From fees, and then more fees, to a new, mammoth, merged Delta Airlines - 2008 was full of change.

So at the end of the year, I've compiled my list of some of the biggest air travel stories of 2008 - Biggest Airline Stories of the Year, 2008's Top Air Travel Stories.

Happy New Year and some Airfare Specials of the Week to come.

It's a busy time of year at the airport, and you are likely to see more families boarding flights. Traveling with a really young one? Currently, you do have the choice between carrying a child under two years old as a lap baby (no seat) on almost every airline, or purchasing a seat for your child. If you choose to purchase a seat, or chance it and try for an unoccupied seat for your child, the question then becomes whether you can bring the car seat you already own on board.

Having traveled with the under 2 set, I can tell you that it really can be confusing. And airlines are starting to restrict what you can check in for free, the types of strollers you can bring to the gate - and more. So let's look at what makes an infant car seat allow-able or not.

Bringing Car Seats on a Flight for Infants and Toddlers Under Two

image courtesy of Arlene Fleming

It may be Christmas day, but that doesn't mean that airfare specials take a holiday. So here are some that are on offer this week...

Southwest Airlines has a special on right now - no rest for the holidays - starting at $49 one way (Fridays and Sundays cost more). Book by December 29, for travel dates January 6 through March 11.

American Airlines is offering a similar special to Southwest Airlines with the same book-by date, and travel dates of January 6 through March 11. So what's different? Round trip purchase is required. But the specials do start at $49 per direction, based on round trip purchase.

Okay, it's not an airfare special per se., but Hotwire sent along some hotel deals for parts of the United States that have suffered from delays and cancellations due to inclement weather. So for the stranded passenger looking for a hotel, here are a few of the sample prices for airport area hotels - Boston: 3-star hotel from $64 or a 4-star hotel from $82 in Logan Intl Airport BOS, Cleveland: 3-star hotel in Hopkins Intl Airport CLE from $49 per night, New York: 3-star hotel from $55 or a 3.5-star hotel from $83 in Newark Intl Airport.

Don't forget to check the Air Travel Forum - lots of airfare specials/airline promotions are listed, including Las Vegas vacation specials, and trips to Quito, Ecuador.

image by Arlene Fleming

Ah, the busiest travel days of the year. Even in a slow economy, airports are still pretty full. Given a lot of inclement weather already, they may feel even more full.

There are tactics, strategies, tips - call them what you will - to deal with the inevitable airport congestion. The following list of articles is aimed at facing the challenges of traveling during holiday periods:

Help prevent lost luggage that you've checked in: Baggage from Departure to Arrival
Deal with airport security: What You Can Bring through Airport Screening Points
In addition, the TSA has come up with a few more brief, and helpful videos about airport screening including basic steps for getting through security, laptops, and travel with children.
Arm yourself with strategies to contend with all the people at the airport: Navigating the Airport During Peak Times
Bring lists and copies of important documents, information, etc. : Travel Tips for a Safe Air Travel Trip

image by Arlene Fleming

I do maintain a discussion board about weather and the airlines and update it as I receive information. Basically where foul weather is affecting air travel, and policies for changing tickets (even if your airline isn't posted, most airlines are similar).

Also, a list of airline phone numbers for contacting the airlines - when there are weather delays and cancellations, expect a lengthy wait.