Can a company control your personal blogging? Maybe we’ll find out, thanks to Ellen Simonetti, a former Delta Flight attendant who (according to MSNBC) filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against Delta.

Part of the problem? Well, Simonetti is a blogger, on her own time, and she blogged about her job (she and Delta have since parted ways). Anyway, Delta seemed to have problems with some of the photos of Simonetti on her blogsite (including a real tame “leggy” shot, though she is in uniform–see for yourself–the blog is called Diary of a Flight Attendant). Hard to think what the problem is.

One thing that’s got this woman steamed is, Delta hasn’t said anything to male flight attendants who blog. Meanwhile, Delta, as you might imagine, ain’t sayin’ a thing.

Find out in this terrific story in the Wall St. Journal; alright, I’ll tell you. The flight attendants are…well, who did you think? Debbie from Southwest? No. They’re all Air Force enlisted personnel.

Plus, they’re tough guys (I’m talking men and women): all are “trained in survival skills, aircraft emergencies and the culinary arts”. They fly into war zones and stuff, too, but I’d feel pretty safe knowing they’re along for the ride.

Okay, lengthy article on airline food in USA Today telling us that while airline snacks are getting healthier, they still have a long way to go.

But, United can be proud; according to a rating system, UA serves the most nutritious stuff (they got high marks for their “vegetarian-friendly, trans-fat-free” Smartpack, which sells for $5 and contains granola, organic peach applesauce, cheddar cheese and other items. (Yeah, let’s definitely get that…shudder).

Somebody’s missing the point here: I for one, like my airfare cheap. So do you really think I’m going to spend a whole FIVE-DOLLARS on a snack?

That’s why it’s always nice to visit with the folks. You know your mom will pack you a lunch. It’s what they do.

On the one hand, you have the International Air Transport Association (IATA) furiously fighting the European Union on their “Emission Trading Scheme” (scheme = Britspeak for plan) which would force airlines to cutback on their carbon dioxide emissions, or pay for it (this is where those “carbon offsets” come in-isn’t that like bribing your way out of greeness?). But wait, there’s more…

The missus is giving up on Steve Fossett. No, we’re not being snide. And we don’t blame Peggy Fossett, either. She’s asked a court to have her adventure-loving spouse of 38-years declared dead.

Fossett, you will remember, took off in a small plane in early September; just for a short flight, he said, over the rugged Sierra Nevadas.

And no one’s seen him since.

It was only a matter of time before Fred Reid stepped down as Chief Executive of Virgin America (VX). There were rules put in place to ensure that the Virgin America was actually run by Americans. So, Mr. Reid, who has “close ties” to foreign investors, was given a finite time to run things.

That time has passed. Enter C. David Cush, American’s senior vice president of global sales. As reported by the Dallas Morning News, Cush will replace Reid and help lead Virgin America out of its infancy. The Virgin camp believes Cush is the perfect man for the job. That remains to be seen, but the move does solidify Virgin America’s place among US-based carriers, so get used to them, they might just be here to stay.

Dallas radio station KRLD did an interview with Cush (you can listen here); Cush muses about “making travel fun again.” Here, here.

So there you are, sitting on your United flight out of D.C. on Thanksgiving Day, congratulating yourself for cleverly avoiding the crowds the day before. You figure, heck, I’ll still get to Grandma’s in Sacramento in plenty of time for turkey, but NOOOO.

It seems one of your fellow passengers just had to make like a bull and charge the cockpit. So the captain declares an emergency. And you land in…Fargo. As in North Dakota.

Nobody was hurt. Oh, except Grandma. Cuz you were late.

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Time to feast on the ceremonial bird and drift off to sleep in the middle of the day. Ahhh, the holiday season.

If you’re traveling over the next few days, it could be a little crazy out there. So be careful and don’t let the security lines get you down.

Have a great holiday!

Oh, that Matt. What, you’re Stephen King now? Always trying to get us riled up with something (and it works; we read drudgereport.com religiously).

And, yes, he’s right, the weather for Thanksgiving travel is not looking so hot in certain parts of the country but them’s the breaks.

If you had done everything my boss over at FareCompare has been telling you to do for the past 6-months, you wouldn’t have any worries. Well, you wouldn’t have so many. Besides, Mr. Drudge…turkey doesn’t spoil that quickly.

Folks show up late, a day, couple days, big deal. Leftovers. Mmmm.

Was looking up a friend’s flight on Southwest Airlines, checking to see if there were any delays, and saw these Words ‘O Wisdom from the management (and I quote):

“A flight currently shown as delayed may, depending on the circumstances, depart on-time. Therefore, we strongly advise you to check in for the flight one hour prior to its originally scheduled departure time.”

It is a wee bit Alice-in-Wonderland, but the point is, just because a website SEZ your flight’s delayed, dont start dawdling.

Our CEO took this question on a few months ago from a reader and had some pretty darn good advice.

If they get the problem fixed before they thought they could, the plane WILL take off…with you, or without you.

And I suspect this is true for ALL airlines. What do they say, better safe than sorry? Or is it, a stitch in time save nine? Just obey all cliches.

Remember Kyla Ebbert? She was the young woman who was hassled by Southwest Airlines because her miniskirt and tank-top were deemed inappropriate for flight.

It all worked out, and Kyla “Too Sexy for Southwest” Ebbert hit the talk show circuit, helped launch Virgin America’s maiden flight to Vegas, and became the poster-child for miniskirt rights the world over.

Well, her 15 minutes aren’t up quite yet. According to AP, Ms. Ebbert will pose in lingerie and in the nude for Playboy, in a feature titled “Legs in the Air.” Ms. Ebbert assures us, as many have before her, that the photos are “very tastefully done.”

Delta has been in talks with United regarding a potential merger. It is a step that many major airlines have considered over the past several years in order to remain competitive.

However, as air travelers, we can see reduced competition and higher airfares if mergers of this magnitude take place. Visit RickSeaney.com to get an in depth view of the Delta/United talks and the effect airline mergers can have on us all.

Tired of lugging around unwieldy blankets and cumbersome pillows? Looking for that special travel gadget that gives you all the comfort you need rolled up into one handy-dandy product.

Well, my friends, the Cabin Cuddler 6-in-1 Travel Blanket and Pillow might just be what you’re looking for. It’s a contour-cut blanket, an inflatable pillow, a foot warmer, and more. At least that’s what I am led to believe.

Give the Cabin Cuddler 6-in-1 Travel Blanket and Pillow a look, and decide if it’s worth the $29.95 they’re asking.

What would you do if you saw one of the engines of the plane you were on plummet through the sky towards the ground below?

Perhaps you would turn to a fellow passenger to see if you were imagining things:

Virgin America continues to add routes to its system. Along with it’s transcontinental flights and jaunts between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Virgin America will be touching down and taking off from San Diego.

As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, three daily flights between San Francisco and San Diego’s Lindbergh Field will be introduced early next year with one-way fares starting as low as $39. Eventually five daily flights will be offered along the route. No news on where Branson will take his world domination tour next, but we’ll let you know when we hear something.

As reported by The Consumerist, a US Airways flight departing from Washington and bound for Boston had to return to Washington when crew members started complaining about an unusual smell.

Turns out, the smell was coming from fumes riddled with carbon monoxide. Upon returning to Washington, passengers and crew boarded a new plane, but the few unlucky crew members who had been exposed to the fumes, did become ill. Do you think Airborne protects you from this kind of thing?

Virgin America is having what it calls a “Victorias Secret Supermodel PJ Party“ on their Nov. 28^th flight from JFK to LAX. I know what you’re thinking: flannel.

Anyway, you can be there too, if you win the tickets Virgin is giving away. Check the link above for more info, and join in on all the family fun!

For shame! But it’s not too late to save money…IF you buy your tickets before Nov. 7. That’s assuming you want to fly in on the Wednesday before. If you want to get there Tuesday, well, YOU do the math. I’m no rocket scientist.

And, if you want a good read, go to the boss’ blog, RickSeany.com; he’s got a great post called, the “Top 5 List for Turkey Day Procrastinators”. Read it. Learn from it. You don’t want your Mom mad at you for missing Thanksgiving, do you?