Air Travel News

Courtesy of Bugatti

Dig deep if you want to treat yourself in one of these over-the-top luxuries.

Most Expensive...Coffee: $10,120/200 g

Terra Nerra: Palm civet cats “process” Terra Nera’s O-Grade coffee beans, which are then hand-collected and roasted in the Peruvian Andes. The beans get their rich flavor from the digestive enzymes of the civet. Beans come in 24-carat-gold-plated sacks and are custom-ground to the customer’s preference.

Most Expensive...Cocktail: $12,916

Winston: Australian bartender Joel Heffernan broke the record for the world’s most expensive cocktail with his Winston, concocted with 1858 Croizet cognac (the bottle a $157,000 value), Grand Marnier Quintessence, Chartreuse Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé, a dash of Angostura bitters and chocolate nutmeg dust.

Most Expensive...Car: $2,400,000

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: Don’t race this French sports car down when you pull up next to it at a stoplight. You won’t have a chance. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and top speed is 267 mph. And of course, there’s a price to pay for speed, the most expensive in the world for a street-produced model.

Most Expensive...U.S. Hotel Room: $2,279 a night

The Ranch at Rock Creek: This lodge in Philipsburg, Mont., sits at the base of John Long Mountains. But consider the extras that come with a double, nonsuite room: all meals included, plus a mountain bike provided upon arrival.

Most Expensive...Airline Ticket: $100,380

Singapore to Sydney: Dot-com millionaire Julian Hayward bid on and bought this ticket, an opportunity to be on the launch of Singapore Airlines’ A380 service in 2007. His spot in seat 1A (well, suite 1A, fitted with a double bed) allowed him the distinction of being the first commercial passenger to reach his destination on an A380.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Coolest All-Access Luxury Vacations
ET Luxury Report

© Mark Stay - iStock

In an effort to facilitate sightseeing, China is now making it possible for transiting airline passengers from 45 countries—including the U.S.—to enjoy a 72-hour visa-free stay in both Beijing and Shanghai. Visitors are not, however, permitted to leave either city to visit other Chinese venues during the 72-hour period.

You Might Also Enjoy:
World’s Most Scenic Train Trips
Best New Carry-On Luggage

Courtesy of SteriPEN

Why be nervous about drinking the water overseas? SteriPEN has a small, 2.6-ounce UV water purifier Freedom pen that can be recharged via USB B port to an AC outlet or solar charger. The company claims the germicidal UV light destroys more than 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses and protozoa in 48 seconds. It is small enough to use in cups, mugs, water bottles and canteens. The unit includes an AC adapter, USB cable and neoprene case and is sold by retailers including REI and L.L. Bean for about $120. SteriPEN has earned the Water Quality Association’s Gold Seal.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Best Emergency Gear
Best New Carry-On Luggage

Courtesy of James Emmerson - Superstock

If you can’t wait for your Season Four fix of the popular British series Downton Abbey, consider touring the locations where the Masterpiece Theatre soap opera is filmed. Brit Movie Tours operates a variety of private tours to the Oxfordshire village used as the setting, as well as the houses, mansions and gardens seen in the series (transportation from London is included). You can even wander the tony rooms of the Crawley family home, including ?the bedroom where the Turkish diplomat Mr. Pamuk suffered a premature and suspicious demise.

You Might Also Enjoy:
World’s Most Scenic Train Trips
World’s Best Photo Vacations

In its latest annual survey of North American travelers’ satisfaction with the air travel experience, J.D. Power & Associates turned up a link between the use of modern technology and passenger satisfaction; it also found that outrage over airline checked baggage fees is gradually abating.

Some of the oldest quandaries in air travel involve issues of personal space and courtesy among passengers — for example, what would you do if the person directly in front of you reclined his seat so far that it really inhibited your own activities? It’s something that all of us have faced — and something on which there is no clear consensus, according to a new survey.

In news of U.S. airlines, JetBlue has finally entered into a bilateral code-sharing relationship with a foreign partner; United says more of its aircraft now have live TV capability for passengers; airlines predict big passenger loads this summer; and Delta’s mobile app survives a legal challenge. 

The presence of portable electronic devices among adult airline passengers is almost universal these days, according to a new study; but the kinds of devices  can vary significantly.

May 24 is a big day for Delta Air Lines and its hub at New York Kennedy. That’s when the airline and Port Authority officials will cut the ribbon on a massive overhaul and expansion of Delta’s B Concourse of Terminal 4.

Business travelers dodged a big flight delay bullet last month when Congress passed legislation allowing the Federal Aviation Administration to shift funds around so that it could stop furloughing air traffic controllers. But as the federal budget cuts mandated by sequestration continue to kick in, travelers could be facing a couple of more bullets in the weeks and months ahead: Longer lines for Transportation Security Administration screening at airports, and longer waits to clear Customs and Border Protection inspections for returning international travelers.