A study has found the most likely candidate for bad plane etiquette is a man who seldom flies. In a new paper that surveyed 750 adults in the US, a researcher aimed to see if he could paint a portrait of the bad passenger. Participants were asked how likely they would be to exhibit certain behaviours in-flight. The list of offences included not waiting to recline their seat back until the plane reached cruising altitude, not washing hands after using the lavatory and cursing at fellow flyers. The findings suggest that the more seasoned the flyer, the less boorish their in-flight manners. ÒWhat this suggests is that being a pleasant airline passenger depends, in part, on how many times you have flown. There appears to be a learning curve,Ó the researcher said. <br/>
general
Looking for the best deal on a flight? A new Google Flights feature might be able to help. The new feature will predict fare changes and notify users about price changes for flights they're interested in. "After selecting a specific flight, a notification may appear letting you know when the current fare is expected to expire and how much you can save if you book now," a Google Flights product manager said. The feature uses historical flight data to make predictions. The traveler can choose to track a flight or route and receive notifications via email with updates of prices changes and expected price changes. Google has said the new feature will be available "in the coming weeks." <br/>
The US Transportation Dept is proposing that airlines refund fees on bags that arrive very late, own up to more mistakes and follow other new rules to promote competition. Govt officials are soliciting comment on changes that would build on consumer-protection guidelines released in 2009 and 2011. It isnÕt clear when rules will be completed, officials said. Several rules will oblige airlines to report more mistakes. For instance, airlines will have to report incidents of mishandled wheelchairs so that travelers with disabilities can compare the service they might receive on different carriers. The transportation secretary said the new rules will give travelers better information about how their airlines are performing and save them from paying for services they donÕt receive. <br/>
The UK govt will announce next week its decision on where it will approve airport expansion in the south-east of the country. Heathrow and Gatwick are the candidates for additional runway capacity in a process that is coming to a conclusion after over 20 years of debate. The decision will be taken by a sub-committee of cabinet which will meet next week to select the winning bid. There will then be a period of public consultation before parliament votes on it. The vote is not expected for another year. <br/>