The United States announced a loosening of rules that will make it easier for U.S. travelers to visit Cuba—but don't start making your grand Havana plans just yet. Following President Obama's December call for re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba after a 54-year halt, the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Commerce today announced new specific measures, which take effect Friday, to ease restrictions on travel to the island nation.

While the moves signal more leeway in travel and commerce between the two estranged countries, it's not exactly full-on tourism yet.

U.S. travelers will still have to fall into one of the 12 authorized categories—such as visiting family, conducting U.S. or foreign government business, pursuing journalistic or educational activities—but they will no longer have to obtain a specific license from the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. They can self-report their travel purpose.

Since the new rules will also allow airlines and travel agents to circumvent an OFAC license to provide service to Cuba, U.S. travelers will be...

As more travelers seek out adventure at high elevations, altitude sickness is an often overlooked risk.

At popular destinations far above sea level, from the peaks of Nepal and the Pacific Crest Trail to the tourist attractions of Peru, the air gets thinner the higher you ascend. People often experience headaches, dizziness, and fatigue from a condition called acute mountain sickness before their bodies eventually adapt to lower oxygen levels in the blood. Untreated, it can progress to a potentially fatal swelling of the brain. And when people ascend in altitude too quickly, they can suffer a swelling of the lungs that can also lead to death.

Researchers are still uncovering some of the mysteries of altitude-related health problems. Genetic factors seem to make some people less susceptible to altitude sickness. People over 50 have a slightly lower risk, perhaps because the brain shrinks slightly as it ages. Men and women seem to be equally at risk, although symptoms might be more severe in men. And, interestingly, people’s fitness levels seem to have little to do with...

Imagine how angry you’d be if you filled up at a pump advertising gasoline for $3 a gallon, then found out you’d been charged $3.35.

That sort of bait-and-switch pricing was standard practice in the airline industry until it was outlawed in 2012. Now, when airlines feature a price on an ad or website, the total fare has to be displayed prominently. They no longer can advertise a base fare in large type and bury the mandatory taxes and fees in the fine print.

So, consumers now have the information they need to make travel purchases quickly and confidently. They may be confused by extra fees for baggage or seat reservations, but at least they know the cost of more...

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) has said service on the AirTrain that serves Newark Liberty International Airport will be suspended for approximately 75 days, starting on May 1. The AirTrain station that links to New Jersey Transit and Amtrak will also be closed during this service suspension. The Port Authority says the shutdown is necessary to perform repair work on the system. The Port Authority will provide a free shuttle bus to and from Terminals and Facilities, including Terminals A, B and C, parking lots and rental car facilities. Customers arriving at EWR and renting a vehicle will need to proceed to the shuttle bus from their arriving terminal to take them to the car rental facilities. Conversely, when returning a rental car customers will take the shuttle from the car rental facility to the Terminal. We recommend allowing extra time when renting a vehicle.

Today, Southwest Airlines announced plans to add seven new routes from Washington’s Reagan National Airport.

The new routes are going to start in August of this year:

• Chicago Midway: 6 Daily round-trip flights starting August 10 switching to 9 flights per day on September 30
• New Orleans: 2 Daily round-trip flights starting August 10
• Nashville: 3 Daily round-trip flights starting August 10
• Tampa: 2 Daily round-trip flights starting September 30
• Indianapolis: 1 Daily round-trip flights starting November 2
• Dallas Love Field: 1 Daily round-trip flights starting November 2
• Akron-Canton: 1 Daily round-trip flights starting November 2

St. Louis will now offer travels two nonstop connections to D.C. One daily round-trip flight to Los Angeles starts on June 8 and one round-trip to San Francisco starts on September 30. The new route makes travel easier for workers and commuter coming to and from Washington D.C.

Read our other Southwest Airlines news stories covering their new...

A new major airline is coming in May of this year to Houston. Korean Air will feature daily flights to and from Seoul starting in May of this year.

Houston is home to over six million people and is a connection hub for San Antonio and Austin as well. In April of last year, Turkish Airlines launched daily service from Houston to Istanbul.

Shortly after that in July 2013, Air China offered daily flight service from Houston to Beijing. It took Air China more than 10 years to establish itself in Houston and originally offered four flights a week but within eight months, it was offering daily flight service. This was the quickest expansion for a U.S. market serviced by Air China.

Houston is the 14th gateway in America for Korean Air showing that Houston is growing rapidly. “Houston’s vibrant and diverse economy is presenting some extraordinary business opportunities for international air carriers based in markets around the world,” says Houston Aviation Director Mario C. Diaz. “Korean Air obviously recognizes these opportunities and is fully invested in...

Delta Airlines is making travel easier to Los Angeles for people living in Austin by providing nonstop flights. Starting June 16 of this year passengers can take a morning or afternoon flight directly to L.A. Delta will join Southwest and American Airlines who already provide direct flights to Los Angeles from Austin.

Delta wants to connect Los Angeles growing tech and start-up community with all major tech cities in the United States. Currently Delta flies from L.A. to tech-centered destinations such as Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York to name a few. Boston will have direct flights to Los Angeles starting in April of this year.

"With direct access to all of the key U.S. tech markets as well as additional Latin service through our gateway at LAX, we can continue to provide business and leisure customers with the best service options to meet their travel needs," said Bob Cortelyou, Delta's senior Vice President. "Los Angeles is a key market for Delta as we continue growing our presence on the U.S. West Coast."

Additionally, customers will have...

Good news for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users who are flying on United Airlines as you now will have access to 150 movies and roughly 200 TV shows free of charge!

Starting next month passengers simply must download the United Airlines app on their device for free in order to have access to all this entertainment. The technology is only available on iOS 7 or later devices and those with Mac computers are also able to download the software. Unfortunately, the service is not available yet on Android or other platforms and it is uncertain if it ever will be.

As of now the airline is rolling out the service on the Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, and select 777-200 planes. Over time, additional aircrafts will have the service and United Airlines plans to have the majority of the domestic aircrafts equipped by the end of 2014.

Lufthansa Airlines, Germany’s national carrier, plans to offer a cross-platform entertainment service for smartphone and tablet owners later this year. This service will allow passengers to not only watch TV and movies but also...

Starting August, 2014 Southwest Airlines will offer customers new flights to both the Caribbean and Pacific Coasts of Mexico.

On August 10, 2014, Southwest Airlines will operate daily nonstop flights between:

• Cancun, Mexico and Atlanta
• Cancun, Mexico and Baltimore,/Washington
• Cancun, Mexico and Milwaukee on Saturdays Only
• San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabo, Mexico and Santa Ana/Orange County
• Nassau, Bahamas and Atlanta and on Saturdays Only

Southwest Airlines announced earlier this year new flight routes to Aruba, Nassau, and Montego Bay out of several cities starting on July 1, 2014.

Towards the end of the year, in October 2014 Southwest Airlines will offer nonstop daily service between Denver and Cancun. Denver will also offer customers directly flights to San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabo on Saturdays only at this time as well.

To keep up to date with all the new flight routes offered by Southwest Airlines make sure to follow their blog, “...

British Airways Airbus 380 premiered at LAX last September and now exciting new destinations are available in addition to the current routes. Airbus 380 is the world’s largest passenger airliner, has two decks, and four classes of seats.

The latest destination will be from London’s Heathrow Airport to Singapore Changi starting on October 28.

The flight will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and return to London the following day. In February of 2015, British Airways will operate the route on a daily basis.

Now with the addition of Singapore to the route British Airways can connect you from Los Angeles to London, Honk Kong, Johannesburg, Singapore, and starting in September 2014 Washington Dulles Airport.

Don’t forget Austin, Texas is offering direct flights to London on British Airways 787 Dreamliner and now you can easily connect in London to these new routes! British Airways will offer direct flights to London in Philadelphia starting in June 2014. So stay tuned for more...