Airline Services that might Sweeten the Deal

In recent years, airlines have cut services such as meals and free on-board entertainment. They've also raised booking fees, and started charging for baggage. But what, if anything, have they added to their service list that might make flying more affordable and/or enjoyable?

WiFi
American Airlines, Delta, Virgin, Southwest, and Jet Blue airlines offer, or have plans to offer, WiFi access on many fleets. Unfortunately, access isn't offered for free. On American Airlines, for example, laptop users will pay $9.95 for flights under 3 hours, and $12.95 for longer flights. Other device users will be charged a flat fee of $7.95.

Frequent Flyer Programs
Nearly all major airlines offer frequent flyer programs, but some claim to be better than others. Check out this article from Smarter Travel, and pick the program that's right for you.

Non-Stop Flights
It's often hard to get a non-stop flight between destinations, but as the travel industry continues to struggle, airlines are adding more non-stop flights to try and lure travelers their way. Many of these non-stop offers are seasonal, however, such as Alaska Airlines service between Seattle or Portland to Cancun, Mexico. Check airlines for specific details.