Today's travel intel
Virgin's new low-cost U.S. airline will take to the skies next month. Tickets will go on sale shortly. The new airline's hub will be in San Francisco. Expected destinations are New York City, San Diego, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. [This Associated Press story via USAToday.com]
JetBlue may allow passengers to send emails and text-messages for free from their own phones while airborne, starting within the next several months, according to this story in the Financial Times.
Hotwire is waiving its $6 fee for booking airfares this summer.
Cruise news: Carnival has debuted a new website, FunShipIsland.com, which shows videos and illustrations of shipboard activities and on-land excursions. The videos include cute shots of passengers playing with dolphins.
Rail travel in Europe is getting easier. Starting this summer, Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland will make it easier to hop from the high-speed rail line of one country to another. For example, from now on, if you miss a connection between the major high-speed trains of any of these two countries, you can hop on the next train, regardless of the type of ticket you have. For info on buying tickets, see RailEurope.com.