People are getting sick and tired of the ever-increasing issues they're having at airports

If you've flown in the last couple of years, you probably already know that I'm about to tell you people are NOT happy. Over one quarter of all flights in the US are late. The number of people bumped due to overbooked flights is up. Lost baggage is up, as is stolen or damaged luggage.

ATA, Aloha Airlines and Skybus stopped flights last week because of money issues. Jobs have been slashed, passenger amenities have been reduced or eliminated. Fees for things like a second bag, pets or even booking by phone are being added, as well as overall ticket prices going up.

And it's not getting any better! Experts warn that this list of complaints will get bigger before it gets smaller.

Travelers' dissatisfaction grows
Rate of consumer complaints per 100,000 passengers. The study is based on Transportation Department statistics covering complaints in 11 areas, including fares, ticketing, customer service, flight problems and animals.

Airline	2006	2007
Air Tran	0.62	0.83
Alaska	0.52	0.76
American	1.09	1.65
American Eagle	1.03	1.17
Atlantic Southeast	0.74	1.21
Comair	0.63	1.44
Continental	0.88	1.09
Delta	1.03	1.81
Frontier	0.49	0.66
JetBlue	0.40	0.78
Mesa	1.26	0.83
Northwest	0.88	1.43
SkyWest	0.68	0.71
Southwest	0.18	0.26
United	1.36	2.25
US Airways	1.36	3.16

Source: Airline Quality Rating survey

On Monday, a 14-year old girl delivered a stillborn fetus in the bathroom of an airplane. The stillborn baby was discovered by the cleaning crew of the airplane shortly after the it landed at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport. According to an article on MSNBC, the unidentified girl did not know she was pregnant.

"We're dealing with a scared child at this point," investigator Keith Lovelace said.

Police were called to Bush Intercontinental Airport after a cleaning crew found the fetus in a wastebasket in the bathroom about 15 minutes after the Continental Airlines plane landed Sunday afternoon.

The Boeing 737 had come from New York's LaGuardia Airport. The plane, which was about 30 minutes late, carried 144 passengers and six crew members.

Police Sgt. Ryan Chandler said results of the investigation would be turned over to prosecutors "to decide whether or not they're going to file any criminal charges."

Houston police are involved because the fetus was discovered within the city limits. A report from the medical examiner's office was not expected before Tuesday.

Julie King, a spokeswoman for Houston-based Continental Airlines, declined to comment Monday.

Yes, airfares are rising and the dollar is at an all low against the Euro. But, there are some deals to be had if you know where to look. Cathay Pacific Airways has introduced an All Asia Pass that gives travelers an opportunity to visit Hong Kong and up to four more cities in Asia. Begins between now and May 15 and August 20 through December. As expected the deal goes not include the summer months.

Prices range from $1,099 with two additional cities, $1,399 for three cities, plus Hong Kong to $1,699 for the four cities and Hong Kong. With San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York as departure cities, you could probably snag an inexpensive flight to any of those cities if you plan early enough.

With rising airlines fares and troubles at airports, you may wonder why fly at all? However, if you have a few dollars to spare, consider flying private. An interesting article on Forbes, lists eight reasons travelers need to fly private. Surprising, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), more than 166 million people use general aviation annually, which includes private or corporate jets.

4. Wireless Internet
Executives on the go can't afford to be without Internet access. That's why most private planes are equipped with varying speeds of wi-fi that can enable surfing or video conferencing. It may also be the priciest perk of all: According to Duncan Aviation, a Lincoln, Neb., company that specializes in retrofitting older jets, the cost of installing wireless can reach $500,000.

6. State-of-the-Art Entertainment
Commercial airlines may be adding greater in-flight entertainment options, but they still can't compare with the amenities onboard a private plane. According to Duncan Aviation, a Lincoln, Neb., company that specializes in retrofitting older jets, popular upgrades include XM or Sirius radio, the capability to broadcast live television, LCD screens and DVD players at every seat.

5. Luxury Accommodations
Reclining leather seats are standard on business and luxury charters, and privacy can be had quickly with built-in dividers. A Boeing Business Jet, one of which costs $45.5 million dollars, takes posh accommodations to a new level. The basic model provides 807 square feet, while the BBJ3 offers 1,120. In these planes, passengers don't sleep in a reclining chair, but in a bed.

Preparing for an early spring getaway? Well, watch what you pack. Due to rising gas costs, airlines are finding new ways to offset costs. And one of the ways to do that is to charge for extra luggage. According to an article on MSNBC, Northwest Airlines says it will begin charging $25 for a second piece of luggage for flights within North America.

The charge goes into effect May 5 and applies each-way on a two-way trip. Several other carriers are adding an extra charge for a second checked bag including US Airways and United Airlines.

Northwest's high-end frequent fliers and full-fare passengers can still check two bags without paying extra. First-class passengers get three bags for free.

Northwest is also going to start charging $50 for bags over 50 pounds. The old fee was $25.

In an unexpected move, Aloha Airlines announced today that it will be halting all interisland and transpacific passenger flight operations. The last day of operations will be Monday, March 31, 2008. This comes on the heels of the airline filing for bankruptcy and will affect over 1,900 employees. Passengers who are booked on flights should contact United Airlines who will assist those inconvenienced.

Passengers who do not wish to be re-accommodated by another airline should contact their travel agent or credit card company to request a refund. Effective immediately, Aloha will stop selling tickets for travel beyond March 31, 2008.

Aloha also announced that its air cargo and aviation services units will continue to operate as usual while the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeks bids from potential buyers. On March 27, 2008, Saltchuk Resources, Inc., announced its intention to buy Aloha�'s air cargo business.

"This is an incredibly dark day for Hawaii," said David A. Banmiller, Aloha�'s president and chief executive officer. "Despite the groundswell of support from the community and our elected officials, we simply ran out of time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger business. We had no choice but to take this action.

"We deeply regret the impact this will have on our dedicated employees who have made Aloha one of the best operating airlines in the country. "Aloha Airlines was founded in 1946 to give Hawaii�'s people a choice in inter-island air transportation.