AIRLINES - new Charges, take that Credit Card!

Airline news - Last Wednesday, American Airlines added a $10 “fuel miscellaneous surcharge” to the vast majority of its fares - but only for travel on three very specific days: the Sunday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 29) and Jan. 2 and 3. United Airlines followed suit, others probably will as well.

You’ll note that the Sunday after Thanksgiving is one of the two busiest travel days of the year (the other is the Wednesday before the holiday) — and of course, Jan. 2 and 3 are also quite popular. So, if you can leave a day or so earlier and come back a day or so later, you won't be paying the extra money.

Some of you may remember that, last year, procrastinators were rewarded with lower fares during the holiday period, but that probably is NOT going to happen this year, all of us would be surprised if it did.

Airlines have changed and cancelled (or re-arranged) many of their flights from certain cities...flights to Mexico are already sold out in many areas (important to remember if you are in an area that has people who typically go home to Mexico for Christmas holidays. Which means that the other flights in to LAX will be harder to get as that is one of the cities that is a focal point for going on to Mexico.

ALSO - VERY IMPORTANT - take along a credit/debit card - cash is no longer being accepted on MOST MAJOR AIRLINES for drinks and snacks. If you don't have one with you, it's liable to be a LONG LONG flight.