This week, the best deals seem to be the package ones - including more than simply airfare. Some of the cheap, discounted, airfare specials on sale this week...

Hawaiian Airlines from $308 Roundtrip - Decent airfare sale for flights to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines Book by February 12. Travel dates vary for the best fares depending on departure city. Sample Airfare - Roundtrip Los Angeles / Honolulu from $344, from San Francisco - $308.

Singapore and Bali Vacation from $1199 - BestTravelDeals found this package deal. Hotel, airfare, guided tours and a few other extras are included in this vacation special. Book by February 26. Travel dates vary with this sale, but packages are available until late December, 2010.

Istanbul Package Deal from $739 - MSNBC found this deal for a package trip to Istanbul, Turkey for late February and March travel dates. Book by February 28. The deal includes 4 nights hotel, airfare, fuel surcharges, and breakfast. Sample Fare - $739 package out of New York City.

Great deal from Southwest Airlines Vacations. Their current promotion offers a stay 7 night, pay for 4 in Orlando deal. The flight and 7 night packages start at $37 per person, per night. Book by March 1.

The Aer Lingus Vacation Store offers several different itineraries and packages to Ireland. One of their offerings is a 6 night package that includes air / car / and 6 nights accomodations in your own private villa at the Adare Manor. Travel before mid-March is the least expensive, but even the summer rates are quite reasonable.
Sample Rate for this Package - $599 out of New York, or $619 our of Boston before March 10 - based on 4 travelers. Read more...

Not too surprising that "snowmageddon" is leaving canceled and delayed flights in its wake.

Virtually all airlines affected have some sort of waiver policy in effect to accommodate passengers. I've compiled links to several airlines and their waiver info.

Waivers tend to extend through the 7th, but some as far as February 9 - meaning if you were booked anytime between the 5th and then, you can check out the travel waiver option for the airline you were traveling with.

You just don't feel the same as you do on the ground - your throat may feel dry, even parched, or you feel the start of a headache - blame it on the air.

Commercial flights have cabins that are pressurized for the comfort and safety of passengers, but it would be misleading to believe that they are set to the air pressure you would feel at most ground levels. Instead they are set at the altitude of a decent sized mountain, which is why people with a cold will often feel worse, alcohol may have a stronger effect, and your feet may swell.

The Air in the Air is written to expose the inflight environment, and why you just might not feel the same way at 35,000 feet as you do on the ground.

In dealing with flights, I have always found it important to have ways to help myself reduce the stresses and anxieties that can come with air travel. From my eyeshades, to my aromatherapy, it is the constant quest to make that economy seat feel much better than being in confined quarters for several hours with hundreds of strangers around.

So, in an effort to come up with a creative way to increase relaxation on flights, I thought why not develop a quick, self massage routine? In addition to working for an airline, I am a massage therapist, so I thought it was time to share the self massage routine I do on my face for a bit of extra relaxation. And yes, you may get stares from fellow passengers, but you can always close your eyes, turn up the soft music, and bliss out.

Self Massage of the Face - Acupressure Points, Massage for Relaxation, Flights - with Illustrations.

Make Your Long Flight More Comfortable

image courtesy of Arlene Fleming