The 2009 Internet Directory: Travel
The Internet has made the world a smaller place—and made travel a whole lot easier. The sites listed in this chapter help you find the best fares and fees, get recommendations from in-the-know travelers, make reservations, and buy tickets online. Whether you’re looking for a cruise, an eco-vacation, a theme park, or a luxury hotel, you’ll find it here. Or if you’re in the mood to take a trip without leaving home, check out some of the videos, social networks, and virtual travel sites, perfect for armchair travelers.
Air Travel
Websites
Federal Aviation Administration
It’s the job of the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure safe air travel in the United States. Learn about what the FAA does, get news and updates, find out about flight delays and airport closings, research aviation data and statistics, get tips for travelers, and so on.
FlightAware
FlightAware is a free, real-time flight tracker that lets you follow the progress of planes in the air. Here you’ll also find airport information—arrivals, departures, and activity.
FlightStats
Frequent flyers (or even occasional ones) will find this site helpful, whether planning a trip or en route. Before you go, check flight availability, published fares, and promotions. When you’re on your way, learn about airport information and delays, parking, and security wait times. Get flight reports and even check ratings of particular flights based on their history. Track flights in progress, get alerts on your cell phone, and download widgets to put FlightStats info on your desktop.
Transportation Security Administration: Air Travel
www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/index.shtm
Here, the TSA gives security-related information and updates related to air travel. To avoid delays while going through security, take a few minutes to read this site before you fly.
Blogs
The Airline Blog
http://theairlineblog.blogspot.com/
An anonymous blog that offers insightful analysis of airline industry news.
Boarding Area
Focusing on business travelers, Boarding Area hosts several travel blogs of interest to frequent flyers, including The Cranky Flyer, Points Wizard, and View from the Wing.
Wikis
FlyerGuide
Create and edit pages in this resource for frequent travelers. Topics include airlines, airline programs, airline alliances, and airport transportation, as well as credit card and hotel programs that offer frequent-flyer points.
Social Networking
FlyerTalk
Billing itself as “the world’s most popular frequent flyer community,” FlyerTalk offers discussion forums on travel-related topics, including frequent-flyer programs, reviews, budget travel, and more. Create a profile, chat in real-time, and upload photos from your travels.