Online Travel Companies Accused of Price Fixing

Back in June, Apple made an announcement that sent shock waves through the techie world and shivers down travelers' spines: When they launch their new iOS6 operating system, they'll officially dump Google Maps and replace it with their own mapping app. It's safe to say that a vast majority of travelers have become completely reliant on Google Maps, for everything from driving directions to public transportation to scoping out new neighborhoods with Street View. So what can you expect from the Apple replacement? Flyover: Google offers the undeniably cool Street View feature, which has even recently moved beyond city streets and into national parks. So how can Apple compete? The short answer is, so far, it can't. Their new Flyover feature allows users to explore 3–D renderings of a limited number of cities (the Apple campus in Cupertino, Chicago, Copenhagen, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, and Sydney) in zoomable high resolution. A cool feature to be sure, but it's not particularly useful. Siri: You know her, you love her, you can't get enough of her. Everyone's favorite robot will be fully integrated into Apple's map system. When you ask Siri about a place, you'll get turn–by–turn directions. Perfect for those times when you're too lazy to type in an address. Local Search: Tap on a business on the map and you'll be greeted with a box full of information like Yelp reviews, photos, phone numbers, and deals. if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('1340f3d5-5a98-4d8e-b26c-6b99e4a5d2de'); Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)Do you trust Apple in the cartography department? Will the mapping app be as crisp, user–friendly, and progressive as the rest of their products? Or do you wish Google and Apple could just get along so you could have Google Maps back? MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL The Ultimate Guide to Travel Apps Little Known Travel Tricks With Google Maps Finding A Hotel Is As Easy As Pointing To A [Google] Map

Airline passengers have lots of complaints: lack of legroom, outrageous baggage fees, annoying seatmates. There are great things about flying, of course. There's the incredible view from 35,000 feet, plus the good chance that at the end of the flight you'll either be on vacation or home sweet home. But really, the most important thing to consider with air travel is safety. A new report from the Air Transport Rating Agency (ATRA) determined the 10 safest airlines, and the good news is they are probably all airlines you already fly. The Swiss organization, founded in 2011, determined the top ten safest airlines of 2012 to be (in alphabetical order) Air Canada, Air France/KLM, AMR Corporation (American Airlines and American Eagle), Delta Airlines, International Airlines Group (British Airways), Lufthansa, Qantas, Southwest Airlines, United–Continental Holdings, and US Airways. The Holistic Safety Rating studies are released on a yearly basis, and take a wide variety of factors into account to determine criteria that leads to a safety rating—how many passengers each plane holds, the number of employees and cabin crew, overall condition of aircraft in use by the airlines, the number of aircraft considered to be at risk, and the number of accidents over the last ten years, among other factors. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL 11 Surprisingly Lovable Airlines The Breakdown on 8 Membership Programs 4 Most Common Reasons Airlines Lose Luggage

Americans traveling outside the US often find that their credit and debit cards don't work at many places, such as gas stations and ATMs. That's because most other countries have switched from magnetic stripe, signature-based cards to "chip-and-PIN" technology, which means that their cards come with a microprocessor chip that adds additional security. Last week, Bank of America began issuing credit cards with chips embedded in them, making them easy to use when traveling abroad. Not to worry: These cards still have the magnetic stripe and will be accepted as usual in the US. All new BankAmericard Travel Rewards, BankAmericard Privileges, Virgin Atlantic travel credit cards, and Merrill Lynch credit cards will now come with the travel-friendly technology. Customers who hold the following cards will be able to visit banking centers or call BofA to ask to receive replacement cards with the chip:: BankAmericard Cash Rewards, BankAmericard Power Rewards, BankAmericard, AAA Members Rewards, NEA, Asiana Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Other banks will copy the move, as the production costs for the chips are dropping -- currently down to $3 a chip. Visa has told businesses they have until 2015 to switch to card-reading machines that accept chip-and-PIN cards. After that date, merchants will become liable for any fraud that may result from a fake signature. In related news, the new Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve has a chip. So does the Travelex Chip and Pin Card. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL The Death of the Travelers' Check? (40 comments) The Breakdown on 8 Travel Loyalty Programs in 2012 Citibank and Chase Drop Foreign Exchange Fees on Some Cards

There should be an investigation. Airlines are covertly padding their revenues with fuel surcharges, according to a new study. Since April 2011, US airlines have hiked fuel surcharges by 53 percent on average, says a study by Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the corporate travel management firm. But the cost of jet fuel has only risen by 23 percent, having fallen from highs a year ago, as the LA Times' Hugo Martin was the first to report. The surcharges can add hundreds of dollars to the price of a plane ticket for a long-distance trip. No US airline has lowered its fuel surcharge this year, despite oil prices — which closely reflect jet fuel prices — having dropped 8 percent so far in 2012. Let's assume for a minute that the airlines are being dishonest. What's in it for them? Since January, the US government has stopped airlines from advertising fares without including surcharges along with taxes. One theory is that travel agents earn their commissions off the base fare, not the total ticket price. So airlines can cheat agents of a bit of cash by disguising some of their revenue in the fuel surcharge. Another theory is that fuel surcharges are taxed at a different, lower rate than the base rate, benefiting the airlines. If what the study suggests is true, then the airlines are probably breaking the law. The airlines have broken the law before. Last year, federal prosecutors found that airlines have done it before. Between 2000 and 2006, 21 airlines engaged in price-fixing. They made up for lost profits by artificially inflating fuel surcharges, and they agreed to pay enormous fines as a result. No major US airlines were charged. In April of this year, the British government said British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways engaged in price-fixing of passenger fuel surcharges and fined British airways millions. Maybe it's time to launch a fresh investigation about what's happening now with fuel surcharges by US airlines. Hey, Feds! MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL What's Your Biggest Pet Peeve When You Fly? (50+ comments) Court Ruling Gives Europeans Option to Re-Take Vacations If They Get Sick (14 comments) Why Airlines Should Bring Back Delicious In-Flight Meals (12 comments)