On Course: New runway for O'Hare

New runway for O'Hare On average, flights to O'Hare arrive 24 minutes late. But things may improve as of Nov. 20. That's the official opening date for something called 9L/27R, better known as O'Hare's first new runway since 1971. 9L/27R, which initially will be a "bad-weather arrival runway," could find itself being tested almost immediately. That's because the Federal Aviation Administration has lifted its limit on the number of flights that can arrive at the airport each hour. Thanks to the new runway and a new air-traffic tower to control it, O'Hare soon could accommodate 70 more flights daily. For details, visit www.ohare modernization.org.

WASHINGTON POST

Delta adjusts fees Delta Air Lines Inc., which recently acquired Northwest Airlines, will impose a $15 fee to check a first bag for coach passengers, becoming the last of the six legacy airlines to impose such a fee. The first-bag fee took effect Wednesday, for tickets purchased for travel on or after Dec. 5 (the second-bag fee will be $25). Customers who purchased Delta tickets on or before Wednesday, and who are traveling on or after Dec. 5, will be charged $50 for a second bag, but will be permitted to check their first bag without charge based on Delta's previous policy. Delta also eliminated the $25 to $100 fuel surcharges assessed for SkyMiles and WorldPerks award ticket travel originating from the United States and Canada.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Holiday airfare tips Still haven't made travel plans for the holidays? The online travel website Kayak.com has some advice: Don't wait; as planes fill up, remaining seats will quickly become more expensive. Fly off-peak days around the holidays; avoid returning over the weekend; take Monday and Tuesday flights if you can. See if you can save money by flying on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. A search tool at www.kayak.com lets you to compare prices up to three days before and three days after your desired date.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Road trip tales Some roads get all the press, such as the legendary Route 66, while others are barely known outside their own communities. In "Twenty West: The Great Road Across America," author Mac Nelson offers a look at U.S. Hwy. 20 that combines biography, history and narrative travel. Route 20 stretches 3,300 miles and crosses 12 states, from Massachusetts to Oregon.

Miami art fair Art Basel Miami Beach, the annual art show and sister event of Switzerland's Art Basel, takes place Dec. 4 through 7 in the city's Art Deco district. Art Basel Miami Beach showcases selections from 220 galleries worldwide and includes public art projects, video art, performance art, live music, movie screenings and other contemporary art events. Details at www.artbaselmiamibeach.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hotels looking for guests For travelers wary about the cost of taking a vacation this winter, some economic relief may be in the offing. In addition to a flurry of discounts from hotels and resorts, many companies are rolling back cancellation penalties, slashing booking deposits and promoting money-back guarantees to encourage hesitant clients to put something on the books. Grupo Posadas, the Mexican hotel operator, has extended a 25 percent off sale at its Aqua and Fiesta Americana resorts through Dec. 21 for bookings made by Dec. 15. In the Bahamas, Nassau Paradise Island is offering a $500 cash-back rebate to guests who book an air and hotel package at participating resorts for seven consecutive nights or longer by Nov. 30 for travel through February. Guests who stay for three to six nights can receive a $250 rebate. And ResortQuest Hawaii properties are offering discounts of up to 20 percent to guests who book by Dec. 1 for travel between Jan. 2 and Dec. 21, 2009.

NEW YORK TIMES

Busing to the birds Bird-watchers can relax, and recline if they like, while watching tundra swans resting along the Mississippi River banks in Winona, Minn., Saturday during the annual Swan Watch Bus Tour. The guided tour spotlights thousands of swans that stop each year in the area while migrating to the mid-Atlantic coast. Visitors can also see native waterfowl in area lakes. Buses will leave at 9 a.m. and noon from the Huff Street Visitors Center in Winona and travel to Rieck's Lake near Alma, Wis., and Brownsville, Minn. Cost is $20 and includes a box lunch. Prepayment and reservations are due today (1-507-454-4232).