Budget and save first, travel later

Planning vacations is a family hobby, but this release, from Chicago-based BMO Harris Bank, adds a new dimension to the planning cycle — how to pay for the vacation. These basic saving and planning tips will insure that any vacation is made with least amount of financial stress. Plus, once you return, your trip is paid for and off your savings plate. Budget and save first, travel later — not a bad idea.

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Weekend what we’re reading: Joan of Arc’s birthday, Robotic sex tourism XXX, Darth Vader returns to Reno

This weekend we join the Joan of Arc celebrations in Orleans, France. We peek into the possible future of robotic sex tourism. And, look into the sky to see Darth Vader soaring as a hot-air balloon scheduled for Reno’s Balloon Races.

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Literature adds depth, wonder and understanding to travel

Over vacation week, I took my son on a grand vacation to Ireland. It was a week of castles, forts, churches and a whole lot of green fields and sheep. The trip was also an opportunity to dig deep to pull up those kernels of knowledge gleaned from various books read over the years. My son kept saying, “But how do you know that?” My answer – I read about it once.

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Spirit’s Baldanza: “We don’t force customers to pay for services they don’t want or need”

Spirit Airlines is at it again — first denying a dying war veteran a ticket refund, then announcing it would raise its fee for carrying a bag on its flight to $100. Passengers are outraged. A Facebook petition to boycott the carrier is gaining momentum. Under pressure, I interviewed Spirit Airlines’ CEO.

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Removed from a Royal Caribbean cruise for tobacco? Or for stupidity?

This is one of those stories that originally sounds like crazy corporate overkill — A couple was kept off a Royal Caribbean cruise for trying to bring tobacco on board. But, was it tobacco?

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What we’re reading: Frontier cuts Milwaukee staff, Singapore vs. Las Vegas for gaming, 737 MAX winglet to boost fuel savings

Frontier to cut 11 flights from MKE, Singapore may beat Las Vegas as gaming destination, 737 MAX winglet will boost fuel savings

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Spirit Airlines raising carry-on bag fee to $100 each way

If anyone thought airline baggage fees were reaching a plateau, take a loolk at Spirit Airlines’ new baggage fees coming into effect in November 2012. — $100 for carry-on luggage checked in at the gate! Unbelievable!

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What kind of children are we (is TSA) raising?

Recently, I have been watching passengers moving through TSA lines. They shuffle along, don’t make eye contact, obey all instructions, submit to full-body scanners, have their luggage pawed through and watch others get called out for additional screening. All the while, hoping that they can move through TSA inspections quickly, quietly without being noticed.

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What we’re reading: Boeing buys Airbus jets? China’s airport cheerleaders, loyalty programs evolve with mergers

Boeing to buy Airbus jets to secure order, China airport brings on cheerleaders to uplift passengers’ spirits, loyalty programs evolve with mergers

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Southwest Airlines responds to needy passenger with compassion – why won’t US Airways? And now Spirit?

When you’re in my line of work, you hear your share of sob stories. Few are as tragic as Charley Price’s, and few have as frustrating an outcome. His story starts with the death of his wife’s father last summer, only two months after Price’s mother-in-law had passed away. And, yes, airlines were involved.

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