No cash, new baggage fees and other flight news

By Joe Brancatelli

NEED TO KNOW

On-the-road intelligence to help you travel smarter:

• Continental Airlines has temporarily shut down its fledgling service that offers live TV service on seatback monitors. The system, the same owned by and offered on all JetBlue Airways flights, still has a few installation glitches.

• Air France is now using an Airbus A380 configured with 538 seats on its Paris/CDG-New York/JFK route. The flights are AF 007 (JFK-CDG) and AF 008 (CDG-JFK).

• Business-class passengers on United Airlines p.s. service flights between San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York are now given lounge access as part of the ticket purchase.

• Continental Airlines switched to a cashless cabin this month, meaning all in-flight purchases must now be made with a credit or debit card.

• Air Canada is joining British Airways and the U.S. legacy carriers in charging for a second bag in coach on international service, including U.S. cross-border flights. The price is C$30 for a second bag on flights to the United States and C$50 on flights to Europe and Israel. Full-fare coach and business-class passengers and elite Air Canada frequent flier members are exempt from the fees, which kick in on January 19.

• Cathay Pacific is now selling exit-row seats in coach to all comers. The price on long-haul flights is $100 or 20,000 Marco Polo miles. Previously, only elite Marco Polo club members could book the seats.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Business travel
• Flights

Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

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