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Pity the U.S. and European carriers who can't compete with the Middle East's geography, labor laws, customer service, on-time rates, clear baggage policies, and all the other elements which mean Qatar and its regional peers will likely stay on top for some time.

In the first big travel IPO of the year, Kayak's 3.5 million shares will begin trading on Friday morning on the NASDAQ under the symbol KYAK.

The future of all air travel in in the Gulf/Middle east region, and at some point a combination of Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Turkish airlines will dominate the world. Only a matter of time.

New Orleans has yet to come up with a compelling, post-Katrina story to tell potential visitors. It's up to Dentsu to come up with one that doesn't use pity or Mardi Gras to bring in the crowds.

Prêt a Manger's parent company has investments in many industries so the purchase of Compagnie du Ponant's three-ship cruise line isn't too far-fetched. No word on whether its all-inclusive price packages includes a sandwich-making station.

Everyone seems confident that thanks to its own merging history and the recent example of United and Continental, US Airways will be able to leap any regulatory hurdles placed in front of it.

Even Lonely Planet's U.S. editor has been bamboozled on the road and he recommends all travelers be aware of these common, kind of obvious, set-ups including hidden fees, fake bags, and greedy Elmos.

He may never inspire you to take a trip to Los Angeles, but Woody Allen is driving tourists to Barcelona, Rome, Paris, and London.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of UNESCO's 936-strong World Heritage List, bring the kids to a site that will hold their attention even longer than Angry Birds.

CEO Doug Parker has done an excellent job lobbying for support for a US Airways/American merger -- even among current rivals and possible future oneworld alliance partners at British Airways.