Flights in the U.S. that have been delayed three hours or more have declined dramatically over the last year, according to an article in the LA Times. The article reports that the latest findings show a drop from 82 delayed flights in April 2009 to only four this past April 2010. Airline representatives comment that the industry has been working to reduce delays for a long time, but many critics think the new fines appointed by the Obama administration are the reason for the decline. The fines went into effect on April 29, 2010 and they consist of up to $27,000 per passenger who is left sitting for three hours or more waiting for a flight to take off.

Clearly this is good news for travelers going on family beach vacations or business trips this summer. More good news also stated in the recent LA Times article is that hotels are beginning to test a faster check-in technology. The InterContinental Hotels Group, one of the world’s largest hotel companies will begin testing a digital application this month that can turn your cell phone into your room key. Guests staying at a hotel in Chicago and in Houston will be able to download an app to their smart phones that allows them to receive a code from the front desk and play a tone that opens the sound-activated locks on the room door. A second phase of the program will allow guests to get the code sent right to their phone which will remove the process of stopping at the front desk to check in.

With all the new technology emerging, the process of taking a large family or a family with younger children on vacation to Florida will become much less of a hassle. It looks like airlines and hotels are working hard to ensure that travelers have a stress-free, fast and easy experience and that seems like something to celebrate about, perhaps with a vacation to South Carolina.

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