Air Travel News 7.31.12

Air, Air Travel News, Food & Wine — By Nancy Y on July 31, 2012 at 6:00 am

by Nancy Yeomans

LG Air Travel Editor

Look up in the sky! It’s a bird….it’s a plane! No….it’s your weekly air travel news! Here’s what’s happening in the world of aviation, from the ground up.

Ghost Planes On Radar?

Ok, knowing the business some, I’m not sure if this is a true threat or just someone’s idea of scare tactics. Apparently there is some form of computer hacking out there that enables the hacker to break into the air traffic control computers and create millions of ghost targets to confuse the controllers. Surely, that many more targets on the radar scope would gum up the works, but it just doesn’t seem feasible. Source: Yahoo

Good Karma From Major Airlines

In the aftermath of the horrific Colorado shootings, the airlines serving the Denver International Airport are doing a very good deed. United Airlines, Southwest and Frontier are extending the offer of free travel to Denver to families of the shooting victims. This kind of goodwill doesn’t go unnoticed. Source: MSNBC

Families On Flights

Congress is getting involved in the seating dilemma some families are facing when figuring out their airline seating. In some cases, in order for a family to be seated together they are being forced to purchase premium seating to make that happen. Congress is trying to pass legislation making that illegal. Good for the families, but what about the rest of us who will more than likely be paying extra for their flights to cover the cost of the lost premium seating revenue? Source: Jaunted

Something For Nothing?

Despite having to pay for everything from an upfront seat to a set of lousy earphones, some airlines do actually give stuff away for free. It’s mostly international airlines and flights and it’s mostly alcohol, but still. Meals on longer flights and free glass of wine or even champagne goes a long way to making an unbearably long flight a bit more comfortable for some. Bonus points to Air China for access to the Airport Express hotel in Beijing to freshen up. Source: Chicago Tribune

Photo credit: mrbill,schoschie/flickr