Suppose you had 1500 frequent flyer miles. Which would you rather spend them on: air fare or a digital music download? With today's introduction of the MileagePlus Digital Media Store, United Airlines is betting that some of you will say music. Or a movie.

You can spend 1,375 miles and get Blown Away. That's the name of an album by Carrie Underwood. Or how about a movie called God Save My Shoes? You can rent it for 460 miles, or buy it for 2,545 miles.

"United and Continental airlines are raising fares on many U.S. routes by $10 per round trip." Read more from the Associated Press, via the Washington Post.

United Airlines is the latest carrier to announce it's cutting back on 2011 expansion plans...

"United Continental Holdings, Inc. formerly UAL Corporation, announced today that a wholly owned subsidiary has merged with Continental Airlines, Inc., and that Continental Airlines and United Air Lines, Inc. are now wholly owned subsidiaries of United Continental Holdings, Inc., creating a world-class global airline. Today, the common stock of United Continental Holdings, Inc.

United Airlines says it plans to fly between Washington, DC and Accra, the capital of Ghana. The service begins June 20 with once-a-day service.

There are special fares for travel between June 20 and August 29, 2010:

The arrival of the new year means time is almost up for Northwest Airlines (NWA). While the airline was bought out by Delta more than a year ago, it’s been pretty tough for the average customer to tell any difference: you can still find a NWA Web site. You still see airplanes and tickets branded with the NWA logo. It’s all about to fade away…

The "M" word has been out of fashion lately, but the CEO of United Airlines is uttering it again: merger.

The Financial Times reports: "Glenn Tilton told the Financial Times that consolidation should still play a role in shaping the US aviation industry's future, adding that balance sheets had "probably" improved enough to help finance prospective merger plans. "There is still too much capacity in the US market," he said."

Several things to mention today...they've been piling up all week! Our passenger growth streak continues:  September total passenger numbers were up 13%, compared to the same month last year. Up 5% year to year, and up 19 percent since December 31. Our air service consultant summed it up best: "Your numbers are running completely counter to the national trend."

No items in seat back pocket? Say what? Yes, it's true. New York Times columinst Joe Sharkey provides an entertaining read on his encounter with a Skywest flight attendant:

...when I flew Skywest Airlines from Denver to Tucson, a grouchy flight attendant announced before takeoff that “according to F.A.A. safety regulations” passengers could place nothing at all in the seat-back pockets. Not a newspaper, a book or a pair of reading glasses.