I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Fairmont Kea Lani Mauiin the island’s Wailea area. As you’d expect from a Fairmont property, the facilities were all quite well done, the grounds beautiful, the staff intent upon accommodating guests. But one area where this hotel surpasses many of similar caliber I’ve visited is with its environmental initiatives. All the rooms have both trash and recycling receptacles - ideal for all the water bottles I was going through each day. Another cool feature I noticed: the air-conditioning in our suite would not run when the sliding glass doors to the balcony were ajar. The closet lights also shut off automatically when you close the door. And like many hotels, the bathrooms are outfitted with little signs suggesting that guests use their towels more than once.

If you’re traveling on Horizon Air between today and Sept. 24, you’ll want to check to see if your flight has been canceled. The airline has reconfigured its schedule during this time period to accommodate mandatory inspections on around 10 percent of its planes. Most passengers affected by the cancellations should have already been contacted by the airline, but anyone who needs to reschedule and hasn’t already can do so free of charge by calling the airline (1-800-547-9308)You can view the list of canceled flights at the link below.

Horizon Air Modified Schedule Information

On the hotels’ own web sites, if you subscribe to the logic in the story linked below:

Marriott Seizes Bookings From Expedia to Boost Shares

While the rest of the world (okay, just a large portion of it) is waiting to see whether OJ Simpson will be formally charged for armed robbery today, we’re thinking about the Palace Station Hotel & Casino, the off-Strip Las Vegas hotel where the whole commando episode took place last Thursday. The burning question on everyone’s minds should not be, is OJ guilty (’cause you should probably know the answer to that one already), but did the former football star confront his memorabilia-selling adversaries in a newly renovated Tower Hotel Room in the property’s 21-story tower or in one of the 430 Value Courtyard Rooms in the hotel’s budget-minded garden courtyard wing? In both rooms, you’ll find basic amenities (hairdryer, coffeemaker, etc), as well as both wired and wireless high-speed Internet access. But what usually puts a twinkle in guests’ eyes are the low rates, which start as low as $39/night.

Finding good food on the cheap is a difficult task anywhere, but head to a popular tourist destination like the Hawaiian island of Oahu, and the challenge increases dramatically. After all, tourist hotspots depend on charging travelers as much as they can possibly get away with. The next time you’re in Oahu looking to fill your belly without emptying your wallet, check out Cheap Places to Eat in Oahu Hawaii. It’s an always-informative, sometimes hilarious and often irreverent look at the island’s eateries. Run by a local foodie and restaurant industry veteran, the blog serves up great images as well as honest, unpretentious commentary. Check check checkitout.

Ask George: Since when have the airlines charged to go standby on the same day, either for a later or earlier flight? I was charged $50 recently on Delta to do this. Do all airlines have the same policy?

Answer: No they do not. Delta has one of the most expensive same day change fees, but many airlines now charge $25. Keep in mind, though, that if it’s in the airline’s best interest to let you go on a different flight (for example, if your original flight is oversold) they will probably waive the fee, and sometimes gate agents are just nice and will let you change for free (especially if you show up a few minutes before the gate is closed and they don’t want to bother doing the paperwork). These fees are just another way for airlines to make money, and have replaced the prior free standby policies, but on the plus side, at least you do get a confirmed seat vs. a standby.

Here are the policies of some of the carriers, with language from their official policies. Note that these policies apply to domestic flights and may be different for international travel.

Airtran

This is the only airline we found that doesn’t charge a same day change fee. “Customers may standby at no charge for flights other than the one for which they have a reservation on the same day of departure” plain and simple.

American

Fee: $25

“You can now get a confirmed seat for same-day flight changes for domestic travel† on all fares for a $25 fee. Passengers can call
Reservations or handle the transaction at the airport ticket counter or Self-Service Check-In machines. If eligible seats are available within 12 hours of departure of alternate flights for your same itinerary, your flight change can be confirmed. American continues to offer the same day option of standing by for an earlier or later domestic flight for eligible fares at no charge.”

Continental

Fee: $25

“You can now get a confirmed seat when changing your flight for travel on the same day for a fee of $25. This new convenience means you no longer have to wait as a stand-by customer if there is an available seat on an alternate flight.

You may take advantage of this same-day change option when traveling on Continental Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. dba Continental Express and/or Continental Micronesia. Changes may be confirmed within three hours of your new desired flight at any airport check-in kiosk or with an airport agent. You may also contact Continental Reservations by phone.”

Delta

Fee: $50

“The same-day confirmed option allows you to change your flight time on the same day of travel for a fee of $50. To use the same-day confirmed option, you must confirm your new flight within 3 hours of the scheduled departure time. If you have a flexible fare (usually a refundable ticket), you may be able to change your itinerary without a fee.

You can use the same-day confirmed option for travel within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Delta and Delta Connection(r) flights.

No changes between origin, destination, or co-terminals (such as New York’s LaGuardia and JFK airports).”

JetBlue

Fee: $25-$45

“For travel to the same destination, reservations can be changed to standby travel only on the flight immediately prior to the original departure without an additional charge. Standby travel is not available in markets that only have one flight a day or if there are no flights prior to the original departure. Confirmed seats are available for $25 on an earlier or later flight on their same day of departure. Confirmed $45 changes can be made via 1-800-JETBLUE or at the airport on the same day of the originally booked flight prior to the original departure.”

Northwest

Fee: $25

“Northwest Airlines today expanded its popular FlyNow option, which permits confirmed flight changes within three hours of scheduled travel for a $25 fee, to now include flights throughout the entire day of departure. Previously, customers wishing to confirm day of departure changes for flights departing outside of the three hour window were assessed a $100 change fee.”

Southwest

Fee: None, but you may end up paying more than on any other airline

This airline is a whole different animal. While most customers love the fact that if you change your travel dates on a non-refundable fare and decide to travel within a year from the original flight (even on a different route), you’ll be able to do so without a fee, it’s a whole other situation if you want to fly same day on a different flight. Although they don’t state this anywhere on their site (that we can see anyway), if you’re on, say, a $99 one-way fare leaving at 5 PM and you want to leave now on the 2 PM flight, while there’s no “fee” as such, you will have to pay the difference between your $99 fare and whatever the current “walk up” (no advance purchase) fare is on that route, which could be hundreds more. As with other airlines, Southwest sometimes looks the other way, but if the gate agent isn’t in a generous mood that day, prepare to pay.

United

Fee: $50

“You can confirm a seat on an alternate flight on the same day of travel anywhere United flies within the United States and within four hours of the time of your request. If eligible seats are available on an alternate flight, your change will be confirmed and you will be charged a $50.00 fee.

To request a same-day travel change, please check-in at an EasyCheck-in kiosk at the airport or at EasyCheck-in Online. You may also contact a customer service representative at the airport check-in counter or call 1-800-United-1 (1-800-864-8331).

* Discounted economy class ticket holders may confirm an available seat for a $50.00 fee instead of traveling standby

* Business and full-fare economy class customers can make changes without paying the $50.

* Same-day travel changes are available within the 50 United States.

* Alternate flights must be scheduled to depart within four hours of your request; flights outside of four hours do not qualify and the existing change fee policy applies.

* Flight changes can be made during check-in at EasyCheck-in Online, at the airport at an EasyCheck-in(r) kiosk, with a United
customer service representative at the airport or by phone at 1-800-United-1 (1-800-864-8331)

* The $50.00 fee is nonrefundable and will be collected at the time the change request is made.”

US Airways

Fee: $25

“We allow you to ‘move up’ to any earlier flight on the same day of your originally scheduled departure time at the airport (with the exception of flights to Hawaii and Europe). You can only make day-of-departure changes at the airport (and not by calling
Reservations).

If there is an open seat available on any earlier flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may change to that flight and we will automatically confirm your reservation for $25 for flights within the 48 contiguous United States and $50 for flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Alaska. This lower confirmation fee replaces the usual $100 change fee, plus any differences between your old fare and new fare, for non-refundable tickets.

If there is not an open seat on an earlier flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may stand by for that flight at no charge. Standing by at no charge is not permitted if we can confirm that there is an open seat available for that flight. Seats on completely booked flights may become available if passengers with confirmed reservations don’t show up for the flight. Please note: Unlike a confirmed reservation, flying standby does not guarantee that you will get on the particular flight that you want and may involve waiting for two or more flights before a seat is available to you.”

George Hobica is a travel writer living in New York City.

Do you have a question to ask George? Send us your question, and George may feature it in an upcoming column.

A week after landing in the news for playing fashion police with passengers, Southwest Airlines has launched a MiniFares Nationwide sale that pokes fun at its own poor handling of the situation. Fares range from $49 to $109 (one-way) for off-peak travel on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday between Sept. 28 and Nov. 15, 2007. A 14-day advance purchase is required. Sale ends Sept. 24, 2007.

Imagine a bar that tells the bartender when your drink is empty? A place where video-screen walls morph from rainforest views to models stomping down a catwalk according to your whims. A party destination for up to 400 that features over 1,000 different mood lighting colors. London’s recently opened TwentyFour just might be the most high-tech place you’ll ever get sloshed. Billed as the world’s first interactive bar, TwentyFour is located in W1 (central London) near the Oxford Circus tube station on Kingly Street. It’s open Thursday through Saturday until 3am.

Great airline in many respects, but should you fly Aloha Airlines as I did today, you needn’t worry about getting trapped in a seat next to a chatterbox stranger. The airline’s announcement system is going to be that person whether you like it or not. For what must have approached a half hour at the beginning and the end of the five-and-change-flight, blaring (so loud it woke me up from a dead sleep while I was wearing Bose noise canceling headphones) messages ranging from advertisements to general missives on the islands and their many splendors poured from an overhead speaker, while images played on drop-down televisions.

This was no ordinary main cabin programming. It went on longer and at a louder volume than I have ever experienced. I probably sound like a cranky old man kept up past his bedtime, but seriously, this goes down as the single time in my life I have actively wished I were wearing a hearing aid. Because I would have turned it off. (I mean, lei off already)

At least they handed out warm chocolate chip cookies and milk during the second programming session. Screw pretzels and those nasty snack mix things. Travelers should start a chocolate chip cookie revolution.

Ask George: I was bumped off a flight recently and the airline said I wasn’t due any compensation because of the size of the plane (it was a small regional carrier). Is this accurate? What exactly are the rules, and any advice on preventing this from happening again? Are all passengers treated equally in an “oversell” situation?

Answer: For starters, if you’re involuntarily bumped off your flight and the airline can’t get you to your destination within an hour of the original arrival time, federal law requires that you be paid the equivalent of your one-way fare up to $200 or $400, depending on the length of the delay.

According to David Stempler of the Air Travelers Association, passengers should insist on a check instead of a travel voucher since they come with restrictions and can be difficult to redeem.

Instead of waiting in line with other disgruntled bumpees for a gate agent, try sneaking off to call the airline 800 number directly (or call while you’re waiting in line). Speaking immediately to an agent on the phone can help you skirt any airport computer systems that give priority to frequent fliers or those who paid top dollar for their fare. So it’s a good idea to call in for first crack at seats.

One way to avoid getting bumped altogether is to fly JetBlue Airways, which refuses to overbook and consequently has the best track bumping record among all major US carriers, followed by Airtran. And flying to or within the Hawaiian Islands should be a breeze, since both Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines always score in the top five carriers with the least involuntary denied boardings. And if you really can’t afford to take any chances, you should know that Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Comair, and Delta Airlines consistently score the worst. You can find these and other rankings on the Department of Transportation website at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov.

And you should also know that the folks in the cheap seats have lower priority on some airlines than the ones who paid full fare. If you’re a very frequent flyer at the highest tier of your airline’s program and/or paid a full fare (or are a business or first class passenger) you’re more likely to get on board than the poor chap who paid next to nothing for his coach ticket.

Of course, the easiest thing you can do to prevent getting bumped is arrive early. On overbooked flights, the last passengers to check in are among the first to get kicked off. And for those days when time is most definitely not on your side, call the airline in advance to let them know you’ll be late and reserve a seat on the next flight.

There are, however, a few exceptions to the bumping rule, as you discovered. For example, if the airline must substitute a smaller plane for the one it originally planned to use, the carrier isn’t required to compensate people who are bumped as a result. Compensation also does not apply to charter flights, or scheduled flights with 60 or fewer passengers. Also remember that these rules vary for international flights, even if they’re on US-based carriers. Not sure where you stand with your airline? Check their contract of carriage. In fact, it’s a good idea to print this out and have it with you for reference incase of such an emergency. Sure, it may sound unnecessarily nerdy now, but hey, it just may save you from sleeping on the airport floor.

George Hobica is a travel writer living in New York City.

Do you have a question to ask George? Send us your question, and George may feature it in an upcoming column.