Virgin Atlantic introduced its new "Upper Class Suite" this past weekend on a flight from London Heathrow to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. They managed to out swank themselves from the previous version of the suite with new features and other cabin comforts.

"We've re-engineered and reinvented our Upper Class Suite, creating a fabulous new onboard experience with great new features," reads the introduction on the company's webpage devoted to highlighting all the new bells and whistles.

As far as the seat itself, recline has increased up to 50 percent in the lounger configuration and it boasts 1.5 inches greater width than the previous version. In lie-flat mode, the new espresso colored leather seats provide an 87-inch bed surface, purported to be longer than any other airline offers in business class. The addition of a window built into the wall of each suite provides more light, but is opaque to allow for privacy from passengers seated in adjacent rows.

Car rental gasoline prices "are almost never a good deal," says John Clymer, a health systems consultant in Burke, Va., who rented cars for 30 days last year.

That's not so, says Kim Hunter, an executive recruiter in Los Angeles who rented vehicles 50 days last year. "My experience is the prepay gas prices are indeed lower than if I filled the gas tank prior to returning the car."

With opinions of frequent car renters mixed, and prices rising to around $4 a gallon nationally at gas stations, USA TODAY launched a survey to determine whether it's economical to buy gasoline from a rental company.

USA TODAY looked at renters' three options: prepaying for a tank of gas at a rental company's fixed price; refueling at a local gas station; or declining to prepay and returning a vehicle without refueling.

The survey found that filling the tank at a local station is usually the most economical choice. The average price at local stations is more often less expensive than rental companies' prepay prices. And motorists who prepay must buy a full tank of gas, even though they may not use all of it.

For business and leisure travelers alike, a frustrating part of flying is lack of access to wireless services for work or entertainment. But that will change soon, as more airlines install equipment that will allow passengers to connect to the Internet, according to a new report.

Only about 80 planes now have access to streaming wireless in-flight entertainment \(IFE\). But that number is forecast to reach nearly 9,000 aircraft by 2021, allowing passengers far more options for entertainment and communication, according to the report by IMS Research , a market research firm. The report was based on interviews with hardware suppliers and communications companies as well as a survey of 50 major airlines, says Alastair Hayfield, research director of IMS Research.

Deployment of such systems will begin in earnest this year, with a steady installation rate ramping up yearly to 2021, Hayfield said. Hundreds of planes in the U.S. already offer in-flight, WiFi connectivity. The plane acts as a hotspot. Wireless IFE is a step beyond, as a server is installed in the aircraft that allows a range of content such as video, games, audio and connectivity to be beamed around the cabin from providers such as Netflix , Hulu, Amazon , Pandora and Spotify.

Complimentary meals in economy class are scarce these days and when they are served, they often bear the brunt of jokes. In premium cabins, however, airlines tend to invest a little bit more and one airline is offering a unique experience for passengers traveling in business or first class.

This past Saturday, I flew Singapore Airlines from New York's John F. Kennedy International

Airport to Frankfurt in business class and was able to test out the airline's "Book the Cook " option.

The service allows you to order your main course before you fly from a list of premium dishes designed by the airline's extensive list of gourmet chefs.

My JFK to Frankfurt flight served dinner and the airline's website offered the following entree selections in advance:

• Baked Chilean bass in XO sauce
• Braised short ribs of beef
• Grilled shrimps and scallops
• Pan-fried chicken in green peppercorn sauce
• Pan-fried fillet of beef in three peppercorn sauce
• Roast rack of lamb with natural jus
• Roasted seabass with wilted spinach
• Stir-fried chicken in Chinese wine

I've been flying for 30 years and this is the first time I was allowed to order a gourmet meal in advance with my premium seat.

Airlines have long had plans for where to send planes when routes are blocked by weather or planes suffer mechanical problems. They face huge fines if they keep passengers waiting on the tarmac for three or four hours.

But after some passengers sat for more than seven hours on Hartford's airport tarmac during an Oct. 29 snowstorm, Congress ordered all the nation's airports to submit plans to the Transportation Department for dealing with diverted planes.

Those plans are due May 14, and must include how the airport will provide for getting passengers off planes after long tarmac delays, how they'll share facilities and make gates available during an emergency, and how they'll provide a secure area for international passengers who haven't cleared immigration and customs.

At Hartford, pilots diverted 28 flights in a massive snowstorm from New York City-area airports. As snow piled up and water ran out, some pilots pleaded to get to the 22 gates that were already occupied and where the staff was overwhelmed.

Some airports have struggled with emergencies and devising plans because they haven't been notified in the past if they're an emergency destination until a flight arrives — and then they often don't control the equipment for towing or unloading planes.

With the busy summer travel season just months away, there’s good news and bad news on the baggage front.

The good news is that fewer checked bags are being damaged, delayed, pilfered, or lost. According to a new report from SITA, a provider of information technology to the airline industry, the total number of mishandled bags dropped 20.3 percent worldwide last year and is down by more than half since 2007.

“Last year was a fantastic year in the world of baggage, probably the best year ever,” said Nick Gates, SITA’s director of baggage solutions. The main reason, he told msnbc.com , was a Baggage Improvement Program developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The program is a multi-year effort to analyze where mishandling occurs and to train employees to share information on best practices for baggage handling. Covering 200 airports around the world, it’s targeted for completion this year and is expected to save the industry $1.9 billion annually.

Speculation about whether American Airlines will merge with another airline has been rampant since the carrier entered bankruptcy late last year. Today, it seems closer to reality, with US Airways reaching an agreement with American's union workers to move ahead.

So what would it mean for the traveling public?

According to Doug Parker, CEO and chairman of US Airways, it's a great idea. "Combining American Airlines and US Airways would create a preeminent airline with the enhanced scale and breadth required to compete more effectively and profitably," he wrote in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Our intention would be to put our two complementary networks together, maintaining both airlines' existing hubs and aircraft, and create an airline that could compete successfully with United , Delta and other carriers within our industry."

For frequent flyers, however, a marriage between the two airlines would bring significant changes.

People Express may fly again.

Investors are seeking government approval for a new People Express Airlines that would carry the same name as the popular 1980s airline.

The original People Express was among the first no-frills carriers. It quickly became one of the biggest airlines in the U.S. before it was folded into Continental in 1987.

"The brand is iconic, and what people know and remember about it is low fares, great service and high frequency into markets that didn't have existing service," says Mike Morisi, the start-up's president and COO. "I think what we've identified is an opportunity to replicate that again."

Morisi, who worked for the original People Express, emphasized the airline will be a new company using the "PEOPLExpress" brand, not a re-start of the original airline.

The goal for the start-up, which is based in Newport News, Va., is to launch service by the end of summer to several cities in the Northeast and Florida, including Pittsburgh, Pa. Providence, R.I. and West Palm Beach, Fla. The start-up may consider a public offering for additional funding, says William Mayer, chairman of the budding airline's board.

Leisure-oriented Spirit Airlines is giving away more than 300 million frequent flyer miles during a road tour of the United States.

The event got underway Wednesday in Dallas, Texas and stops are planned in 25 cities across the country. More than 15,000 people will receive 20,000 "Free Spirit" frequent flyer miles which can be redeemed for a free roundtrip award ticket \(taxes of at least $5 per ticket apply\). Anywhere from 250 to 1,000 certificates will be distributed at each venue.

"We're looking forward to giving away 15,000 award tickets as we say hello and thank our loyal customers, as well as reach out to potential new customers in cities we serve across the United States," says Michael Pewther, Spirit's senior director of sales in a release.

Are you filled with wanderlust, but sticking close to home because you lack a like-minded companion? Solo travel is an extraordinary, accessible opportunity that can involve big or small adventures, easy or difficult as you choose.

You can do what you want, when you want, how you want, where you want. You pick your own pace, budget, itinerary and can always change your mind on a whim, never having to negotiate. The experience can be liberating and thrilling, igniting a rewarding sense of accomplishment, and the detachment from your "real" life is often therapeutic.

When entering a new place on your own, you may notice more than you do when you travel with others. I strike up conversations more easily when I'm solo, something I've done in dozens of countries across six continents. But not all destinations are right for solo travelers. Here are some tips.