Justin Bieber Schooled by Qantas!

It's silly, it's stupid, it's barely travel-related, but nonetheless it is making news that Justin Bieber has joined the ranks of celebrities who behave like jerks on airplanes.

The normally squeaky-clean teen heartthrob was told by a Qantas flight attendant that she was treating him like a child because he was acting like one.

Read the full story here.

Snakes on a Plane... really.

According to news sources, a passenger was arrested in Abu Dhabi carrying a bag filled with snakes and other animals. Authorities have been unable to explain how the man was able to smuggle the animals onto a flight from Indonesia. The bag contained four pythons, two parrots and a squirrel.

Samuel L. Jackson was unavailable for comment.

Read the full story here.

TSA Full-Body Scanners

The TSA's Full-Body Scanners have been dominating travel news lately as they're rolled out to an increasing number of airports. Now in use in the US at 65 airports nationwide, as more people encounter them we're seeing strong reactions.

Many are opposed to the scanners as a violation of their privacy, and opt for the alternative 'enhanced pat-down'. However, there are also a number of complaints from travellers who find the search invasive and inappropriate, likening it to sexual assault. (For an account of the experience by magician Penn Jillette, click here, and for a video of software programmer John Tyner's refusal, click here.)

The TSA claims that the majority of Americans support the new security procedures, but many travellers are expressing negative feelings about them. What do you think? Is it a violation of privacy, or a necessary evil? Would you submit to the body scan or a pat-down? Many of us flying in the US over the holiday season will soon be forced to make these decisions.

Here's a complete list of airports that now use full-body scanners:

Albuquerque International Sunport Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Boise Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, Bradley International Airport, Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Cleveland International Airport, Corpus Christi International Airport, Denver International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Detroit Metro Airport, El Paso International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fort Wayne International Airport, Fresno Air Terminal, Gerald R. Ford Grand Rapids International Airport, General Mitchell Milwaukee International Airport, Greater Rochester International Airport, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Harlingen/Valley International Airport, Harrisburg International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Honolulu International Airport, Houston William P. Hobby Airport, Indianapolis International Airport, Jacksonville International Airport, Kansas City International Airport, Lambert/St. Louis International Airport, Laredo International Airport, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Lihue Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, McAllen Miller Airport, Memphis International Airport, Miami International Airport, Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, Nashville International Airport, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York La Guardia International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Omaha Eppley Airfield Airport, Orlando International Airport, Palm Beach International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, Port Columbus International Airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Richmond International Airport, Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport, Saipan International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, San Antonio International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, San Jose International Airport, San José Mineta International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Spokane International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Tulsa International Airport, Warwick T. F. Green International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport

Three Airlines Offer Free Holiday Wi-Fi!

Google has partnered with three airlines to offer free wi fi service over the holidays. AirTran, Delta and Virgin America will offer free wireless internet to their passengers on flights between November 20th and January 2nd.

(photo by nerissa's ring)

Free Entry to US National Parks!

National parks in the US will waive their admission fees on November 11th in honour of Veterans Day. Many shops, lodges, and other businesses associated with the parks are also offering special deals.

Why not take this opportunity to explore Yellowstone, Yosemite, or any other of the dozens of beautiful national parks in the US? To locate the parks closest you, use the National Park Service's Park Finder.

(photos by kevincole and rengber)