Heat waves threaten flights; travel deals

Rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves could force up to 30 percent of airplanes to delay takeoffs in the coming decades, causing cancellations, missed connections and other hassles for passengers, according to a new study. The wings of a plane moving down the runway on a hot day generate less lift. If it's hot enough, the plane won't be able to take off at all, according to the study, published in the journal Climatic Change. In June, American Airlines canceled more than 40 flights out of Phoenix, when daytime highs of nearly 120 degrees made it unsafe for smaller regional planes to take off.

New York Times

G Adventures is discounting more than 40 itineraries around the world. The Summer Escape Sale applies to last-minute travel departing before Sept. 30. For example, the nine-day Northern Thailand Explorer on Aug. 8 or Aug. 29 costs $849 per person, down from $999. The trip travels from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and includes seven nights in hotels and guesthouses, plus one night in a home-stay; eight breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners; special activities, such as a cooking class in Chiang Mai and a bike tour in Sukhothai; and taxes (1-888-800-4100; gadventures.com).

Washington Post

Sun Country Airlines is offering $400 off seven-night hotel/flight packages to the Pacific beach city of Mazatlan, Mexico, between Nov. 18 and Dec. 23. For example, a mountain view room at the three-star Oceano Palace Beach Hotel from Dec. 2-9 costs $773 per person, including airfare, the $400 credit and ground transportation. Priced separately, the flight alone is $490 per person. Sun Country is also running an additional promotion with savings of $50 to $200 on Mazatlan packages from Nov. 18 to April 14. Book by Aug. 31 at suncountry.com.

Simon Peter Groebner

San Diego's storied Hotel del Coronado (hoteldel.com) will soon become a Hilton hotel, joining the huge hospitality company's smaller Curio Collection of unique, upscale properties. While Hilton's physical presence will be understated, the company's marketing muscle and its 64 million honors program members will significantly broaden the reach of the well-known 757-room oceanfront resort. "It's been truly an independent hotel and we're not looking to change it in any way," stressed Mark Nogal, global head of Curio for Hilton Worldwide.

Delta Air Lines pushed back at Ann Coulter after the conservative commentator berated the carrier on Twitter over a changed seat assignment. Coulter tweeted about the episode in which she said the airline gave away an "extra room seat" she reserved for a flight from New York to Florida. She joked that Delta hires people who seek to be prison guards, animal handlers or East German police. She also tweeted a photo of a woman she said took the seat she booked and labeled her "dachshund-legged." Delta responded to Coulter on Twitter that it was refunding her the extra $30 she paid for her preferred seat. It added that "your insults about our other customers and employees are unacceptable and unnecessary."

Associated Press