Sherman's Travel

Around this time of the year, people throw around the word “bundle” a lot. (“It’s nippy, bundle up to the point you can’t put your arms down!”) As the holiday season winds down, some companies are putting together “gift baskets” for customers. Some corporations have begun combining services in the name of costs-savings, and the travel industry is no exception. American Airlines is launching a new program to “bundle” some of its fees intended to save customers, well, bundles.

The airline’s program offers two options – Choice Essential and Choice Plus – but both allow customers to book ancillary fees as a package. There are a few catches, however: the packages are only eligible for flights within the U.S., excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Not to mention, depending on whether or not you expect to make a last-minute flight change, the savings may not be as much as it seems. Though designed as a cost-saving measure, the initiative mostly benefits travelers who anticipate that their itineraries will shift.
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The New York City Wine & Food Festival is drawing to a close, but there’s still time left to bid on the charity auction benefiting Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength, an organization that battles childhood hunger. Though items on the auction block range from high end sunglasses to restaurant gift certificates, we’re most excited about the travel packages and hotel stays. Not only are there a spectacular range of destinations from Long Island to Bali, as of this posting all of the current bids are well below the actual value of the prize. Fancy a Cancun family vacation for four at less than one third the cost? How about a Miami golf getaway at 50 percent off? What could be better than a cut-rate luxury vacation where all the proceeds go to a good cause! Just be sure to hurry to get those bids in – the auction ends Friday, October 14 at 5pm EDT.