Budget Travel Magazine honors affordable travel innovations

Associated Press
Published: Friday, Oct. 10, 2008 12:31 a.m. MDT
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NEW YORK — A government agency, an airline, a bus company and several Web sites were among the recipients of Budget Travel Magazine's annual Extra Mile Awards, honoring "noteworthy innovations, large and small, that make travel easier, more enjoyable, and/or more affordable across all aspects of the industry."

The winning innovations, listed in the magazine's October issue, are:

• The Transportation Security Administration's color-coded, self-select security checkpoint lanes that allow passengers to choose their lane based on their travel expertise.

• InsideTrip.com's system of rating flights on a scale of 1 to 100 by compiling statistics on factors that contribute to a good trip.

• Orbitz's new Traveler Update system, which allows anyone to use computers, PDAs or text messages to share insider secrets on flight delays, security wait times, taxi lines, and other observations while traveling.

• Megabus, which the magazine said "is reinventing bus travel for new generations with service to 25 cities, high-tech amenities, and extremely low fares."

• Cathay Pacific's revamped economy class, with new seats that slide forward as they recline, more leg room, 9-inch TV screens and a diverse entertainment library.

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• Hotels.com's loyalty program, which allows you to earn a free room after 10 nights in any of 35,000 hotels.

• Hertz's promise to get you from the rental car desk to the road in 10 minutes or you get $50 off.

• Southwest Airlines, for "still holding firm against fees."

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