Holiday Reading, Happy & Otherwise

Shifting into holiday mode, and keeping with the feast aspect of Thanksgiving, we're departing from our normal single-minded focus on miles and points to serve up a more varied menu of travel-related reading this week.

Following are an even dozen blog posts by myself (Tim Winship) and some of my colleagues at SmarterTravel.com. They run the gamut, from cashless cabin follies to fining airlines for tarmac delays to American Express's new credit card fees.

Recommended accompaniment: a California Zinfandel.

Happy Thanksgiving.

• From Delta: More Frequent Flyer Miles for Shopping
  New promotion adds 50 percent more miles for purchases at many SkyMiles partners, through January 15, 2010. Holiday shopping, anyone?
• New York Senator Wants Frequent Flyer Regulation
  Senator Chuck Schumer has asked the DOT to look into airlines' "deceptive business practices." Legislation regulating mileage programs could result.
• New From AmEx: Frequent Flyer Fees
  Pay your credit card bill late and American Express will withhold your points in the programs of Delta, JetBlue, Hilton, and Starwood. Miles can be reinstated for a $29 fee.
• Southwest Is Mostly Mum on New Rapid Rewards Program
  The architect of Southwest's new program provides some perspective on the current and future Rapid Rewards. But details of the new program, to be launched next year, remain scarce.
• What to Do When Cashless Cabins Go Awry
  In response to news that Delta will switch to credit-card-only purchases onboard, several readers wrote in with questions about how the new system will work.
• DOT Doles Out $175K Fine for Overnight Tarmac Delay
  The DOT announced it will hand out a combined $175,000 in fines following this past August's overnight tarmac delay fiasco. But are heavy fines fair, or even the best solution?
• Man Misses Funeral After Southwest Kicks Him Off
  Southwest removed a passenger deemed too large to fit into only one seat. Trouble is, he was heading to his uncle's funeral, and didn't make it. Did Southwest cross the line?
• How to Get Kicked Off a Plane
  Believe it or not, there are numerous ways to be removed from a plane. Learn what they are, and what your rights are if you find yourself doing the walk of shame back to the gate.
• Travelocity Provides Live Airport Updates
  Starting tomorrow, Travelocity will have live spotters at a dozen major airports sending delay information via Twitter and Travelocity's blog.
• More Travelers Will Drive This Thanksgiving
  Overall travel will rise, but air travel will drop, as more and more travelers take to the road this Thanksgiving. Is Turkey Day still the big travel day it once was?
• Have You Ever Gotten Sick on a Plane?
  Ever boarded a plane feeling great, only to arrive at your destination sick as a dog? If you've ever gotten sick on a plane, we want to hear your story.
• Longest Layover Ever? The 10-Minute Cure
  You can prepare for a delay In less than 10 minutes, even before you leave the house. So if you get stuck at the airport, you can make your time on the ground fly by.