(MONEY Magazine) – AIRLINE FEE UPDATE

Travelers can claim one small victory over airline fees. American, Continental and United have scrapped the $100 fee to fly standby that was scheduled to kick in on Jan. 1. Delta and US Airways will charge just $25 for most domestic flights. (Northwest and Southwest had never imposed the fee.) Airlines haven't backed off the tough new policies on changing a nonrefundable ticket (which still costs $100). At Northwest and United, you must rebook before your scheduled departure. If you don't, your only option is same-day standby. American, Continental, Delta and US Airways give you until the end of the day to rebook. In all cases, if you miss the deadline your ticket is worthless the next day. --MAYA JACKSON

NEW BOOKING TOOLS

Thanks to fierce competition among travel websites, finding a low air fare online keeps getting easier. Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) is rolling out a handy tool that helps travelers with flexible schedules. Click on "My Dates Are Flexible" and you can find the least expensive weekends in a month for a quick getaway or the best fare for any trip within a 30-day period. --MEGAN JOHNSTON