Three years ago, Sky Marshall O’Leary caused all manner of excitement amongst both the aviation industry and consumers – Ryanair would begin operating long-haul routes to the US for less than a tenner (not including taxes, credit card payments, baggage or online check-in fees) within three to four years. A new brand would be created to operate between Europe and six US cities, and as with its European services, passengers would pay for food and drinks consumed on-board, as well as in-flight entertainment.

For now, alas, the low-cost transatlantic dream is over. The Irish Examiner reports that O’Leary has put the plans on hold for several more years, because of a backlog in orders for long-haul aircraft. As you can imagine, the news has stunned the Bitterwallet team – for months we clung to the hope of coital relations that didn’t cost us money:

With the increase in overbooked flights, lost luggage, surcharges and useless flight attendants, traveling by air is no longer a luxury. So here’s a few tips that the fat cat airlines industry doesn’t expect all passengers to know about, that may help you on your next flight abroad. Bon Voyage!

1. Rule 240: If you’re flying transatlantic and never heard of Rule 240, you want to know it, just in case. As quoted from Aviation.com: “If an airline [can't] get you to your destination on time, it [is] required to put you on a competitor’s flight if it would get you there faster than your original airline’s next flight.” If you don’t remember anything else from us, remember rule 240, and speak up, man!

2. It’s not just about Expedia or Orbitz: You’ve probably used those, and know that you can occasionally get better deals when going via online travel sites instead of directly with airlines.  However, there are other alternatives. Microsoft’s Small Business Center suggests that you should look again at travel agents, or your local newspaper’s Sunday travel section for deals.  For example, I recently booked a flight to Vegas > Seattle > LA > London for just £30 more than the direct cost of a flight from London to Vegas.  Not bad considering it actually stops over in each destination for 2-4 days.  How is this possible? Agents can often negotiate lower rates on the behalf of a large travel company through affiliate agreements.

3. YUPP, you can fly first: Just remember to get your travel agent to help you get onto the YUPP/QUPP/Z code, which automatically award ticket holders with upgrades to first class.  It’s obviously a hit and miss, but according to FareCompare’s president Rick Seaney, “a lot of times the YUPPs are matching some sort of low-cost carrier in a particular market.” (more…)

Editor Vincent is most likely on a transatlantic flight as we speak. But the thought of being jammed in economy like a pack of sardines does no good for his morale.

Over the years, he’s learned that some tricks and tools of the trade from the world’s finest, including how to avoid the unfortunately more than common scenario of spending a 15 hour flight jammed in between two burly men, rather than two gorgeous females.

Here’s a few things Vincent does during his flights right now; he’d love to know of any other tips you have to make the flight more comfortable:

1. Carry a noise canceling headset, like the Bose Quiet Comfort 3s (or these alternative cheaper noise cancelling ones for £4.99 from HUKD).  Remember to charge up the battery ahead of time.  And bring an airplane audio converter, like this one from memorybits for £2.65.  Much better than the plastic earpieces in case something good pops up on the in-flight entertainment.

2. Load a laptop up with some tasks to do. Obviously this needs to be a long life battery like the Samsung NC10 with it 7 hour battery life.  The 10″ screen means when the passenger in front reclines, his laptop won’t die in his arms.  A USB powered external HDD is also a good idea, especially in economy, with the seat in front of you reclined. So get some work done. Save the movies and porno for landing. (more…)