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

Here are some of the airfare deals available now...

United Airlines' mileage special ends on Tuesday night. It's a good one - use 8,000 less miles for a reward ticket. United Airlines - Less Miles for Hawaii - Get your reward ticket for less miles this week. United's latest special for using Mileage Plus miles is a good one - instead of 40,000 miles for an economy ticket to Hawaii, use just 32,000. Must book by February 2, and travel by May 10.

AirTran Airways - from $44 - Several airlines are matching this sale. One way airfares start as low as $44. Book by February 9. Travel by May 26.

Sample Airfare - One way Baltimore - Rochester $49.

American Airlines from $49 - Another one of the airlines with an airfare special similar to the AirTran Airways airfare sale above. Book by February 9, for travel dates until the end of May.

Sample Airfare - one way airfare between Chicago and Fort Lauderdale from $69.

The airport, and air travel can be intimidating for passengers. When you think then of the sensory sensitivities that a child with autism has, air travel can be an incredible challenge - the scanners, the bright lights, the loud announcements and the unfamiliarity of it all.

So many families are touched by autism, and sadly there have been stories in the past where a child with autism was denied boarding, or mistreated, or stared at because of behavior that may have been misunderstood. And so it was with great interest that I heard about the Airport Awareness program developed by Manchester Airport (UK) for children with autism. Practical and free, it could really be used for any airport experience.

The guide goes step by step from getting to the airport, check in, boarding, etc., and provides checklists such as "Did you see or hear? ...The walk-through metal detectors...The machines beeping". It also has lots of pictures to accompany each section, and space to write down worries that the young traveler may have.

The guide is provided for free at Manchester Airport, but they've also placed the entire guide online for free, and printable.

Airport Awareness - Travel advice for parents and carers of children on the Autistic Spectrum.

Tips for travel with children.

It's a nice position to be in - having more airfare specials to share for this week. The newest specials I've posted in Airfare Specials this Week include using less miles to fly, and a seat sale that all the airlines seem to be matching. Here are some of the new deals available now...

AirTran Airways - from $44 - Several airlines are matching this sale. One way airfares start as low as $44.  Book by February 9. Travel by May 26.

Sample Airfare - One way Baltimore - Rochester $49.

United Airlines - Less Miles for Hawaii - Get your reward ticket for less miles this week. United's latest special for using Mileage Plus miles is a good one - instead of 40,000 miles for an economy ticket to Hawaii, use just 32,000. Must book by February 2, and travel by May 10.

American Airlines from $49 - Another one of the airlines with an airfare special similar to the AirTran Airways airfare sale above. Book by February 9, for travel dates until the end of May.

Sample Airfare - one way airfare between Chicago and Fort Lauderdale from $69.

What can you do if an airline cancels your flight due to weather? As someone who has worked at the gates and announced the bad news on countless occasions, here is my guide to what to do when a flight cancels due to inclement weather conditions.

An Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed soon after take-off from Beirut, Lebanon. Flight 409 was leaving Beirut en route to Addis Ababa.

Recovery efforts are in progress, and so far no survivors have been found. 8 crew and 82 passengers were on board.

Ethiopian Airlines has released a statement with phone contact information. In the same statement, Ethiopian Airlines insists the downed airplane was well maintained, and that the captain had over 20 years of experience.

Some of the cheap, discounted, airfare specials on sale this week...

British Airways has put Europe on sale. What is particularly good about this deal is the super low prices for flights from the west coast of the US to several European destinations. Book by January 28. Travel by March 28.
Sample Airfare - Roundtrip Los Angeles / Madrid from $438.

Kayak found a hugely discounted vacation package with Apple Vacations at the upscale Gran Bahia Principe Tulum, near Cancun, Mexico. Valid for most January and February departures.
Sample Package Deal - from Boston - 3 nights all-inclusive from $499 (regularly $1099 for this resort).

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...