Posted: 09:30 AM ET

Three Cheers for Jamaican Security

(CNN) — Military in Jamaica captured an armed man Monday who had barged onto a Canadian airliner, robbed passengers and held six crew members hostage, Jamaica Information Minister Daryl Vaz said.

The crew members were not harmed, Vaz said.

The hijacking suspect, described as a “mentally challenged” man in his 20s, had demanded that the Boeing 737 be flown to Cuba.

The CanJet flight from Halifax, Canada, had made a scheduled landing at Sangster International Airport in the Jamaican resort city of Montego Bay and was scheduled to continue on to Santa Clara, Cuba.

“The hijacking is that from a mentally challenged youngster and not anything that would be of concern in terms of an international incident,” Vaz said.

The suspect gained access to the plane Sunday night through the terminal in “a breach of security” that “will be investigated,” Deputy Police Commissioner Owen Ellington told CNN.

The gunman fired a shot in the boarding bridge as he entered, said CanJet Airlines Vice President Kent Woodside. No one was hit.

CanJet flight 918 was carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members, Woodside said. All the passengers were Canadian, he said.

CNN News

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Las Vegas is a popular vacation destination. It is the perfect destination for a trip with friends, your romantic partner, and even your family. If you want to visit Las Vegas, you want to save money on the trip planning. After all, you may lose money in the casino, so it is better to start saving now. Luckily, it is easy to save money on a trip to Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is different that many other vacation destinations. For starters, it is one of the most popular in the United States. Then, you have the world readily available. There are many hotels, resorts, casinos, and car rentals to choose from. Also, just about any airline company flying in the United States can get to you Las Vegas. What does this mean? There are always ways for you to save money.

The easiest way to save money on airfare for a Vegas trip is to wisely choose your travel dates. Unlike Florida, New York, Hawaii, and other popular vacation destinations, Las Vegas really doesn’t have an off-season. It is always packed with tourists all year round. So, your best bet is to wisely choose the travel dates. The cheapest day to travel is on Wednesdays. Schedule your departing and returning flights for a Wednesday. Mondays and Fridays are the most expensive. You may save hundreds of dollars just by flying on a Wednesday instead.

Look for special deals and discounts from travel websites and Budget Airlines. You will easily find good deals on these websites. Many have flights to and from Las Vegas from well-known airports, like JFK, for $100 or less each way. Many times, it is cheaper to book a round-trip flight, but not when you find these special one-way travel deals and discounts. Of course, you need to proceed with caution. Some Budget Airlines and third-party websites do not disclose additional fees and taxes until the end. Your low cost flight to Las Vegas might not be so low cost anymore.

Another easy way to save money on a trip to Las Vegas is to book your vacation in the form of a travel package. Popular third-party travel websites, like Orbtiz.com and Priceline.com, have many packages to choose from. You can handpick your vacation package. Do you need airline reservations, a car rental, and a hotel or just airline reservations and a hotel? There is a package available for you. These travel websites also partner with a number of hotels and resorts in the Las Vegas area, meaning your staying options are virtually unlimited. Although there are no firm guarantees, you can easily reduce the cost of your trip by $500 or more just by purchasing a vacation package.

In keeping with reducing your airfare, there are more ways to save money than by getting a discounted ticket. Try to find a cheap one-stop or no-stop flight. This limits the amount of time you spend at the airport, also reducing the money you spend. If you have long flights or layovers, eat before you leave for the airport and pack a snack. If traveling with family, condense luggage to reduce bags and rely on your carryon bag; pack it to capacity. This reduces the extra fees you are charged for your first and second bags of checked luggage. By taking the time to find cheap tickets and implementing a few of these steps, you may be surprised how cheap your trip turns out.

In short, there are many ways that you can reduce the cost of a trip to Las Vegas, especially your airfare. Whether you want to gamble in private, catch a show with a group of friends, get married, or have a fun family vacation, you can do it in Las Vegas without breaking the bank. Remember, price compare to find the best deals, fly on Wednesdays, and consider moneysaving vacation packages.

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Are you a parent who needs to fly with your young children?  If so, you need to look for ways to save money.  Unfortunately, parents often pay full-price, if not more for their children to fly.  Realistically speaking, it should be the other way around.  So, how do you, as a parent, find cheap airfare when traveling with children?

Do not get a seat for a child under the age of two.  Most airlines allow children under the age of two to fly on the lap of a parent.  If you have a child under two, don’t pay full-price for a ticket.  Depending on where and when you are traveling, this seat could cost $400 or more!  Some airlines do charge a fuel charge for lap infants, but it is still cheaper than a single seat.

Why pay more for the same room? Pay less, get more, in over 40 countries.

Right about now, you may be thinking it is too uncomfortable to fly with a child on your lap.  It is best if you are traveling with your spouse or another adult.  You can alternate between holding your child.  This is ideal for long-distance flights, ensuring both parents get to relax on the flight at some point.

Do not let an airline charge you extra for a car seat.  If an infant under the age of two gets their own seat, most airlines require you to have a car seat.  This car seat is for safety purposes.  Although some airlines require infant car seats, they have no problem charging you extra.  Don’t let this happen.  If you must have a separate seat for your infant, contact the airline directly and bargain.  Let them know that if they do not waive the fee for the infant care items, you will opt for a lap arrangement instead.  Once again, this can lose the airline up to $400 or more!

Ask for a discount.  If you have a small child who is over the age of two, you must buy a seat.  As previously stated, that seat could cost $400 or more.  What you need to remember is that your child weighs less than an adult, they have less luggage, and most have few travel needs.  They aren’t calling the attention of a flight attendant every ten minutes.  Technically, it costs less for your child to fly, so try to pay less.

When seeking a child airfare discount, these discounts are rarely offered online.  In fact, they are rarely offered at all.  Parents need to seek them.  Before making your airline reservations, contact the customer service department of your preferred airline.  Outright ask about a discount.  Mention the fact that your child does weighs less and will not have as much luggage.  Be very polite, but clearly state your point.  You should get a discount.

The best way to reduce the cost of flying with kids is to focus on airfare.  However, don’t discount other moneysaving areas.  It is cheaper to fly with layovers than take a direct flight.  Unfortunately, that leaves you and your kids hanging out at the airport.  We all know how expensive airport meals, snacks, and drinks are.  Eliminate this added expense.  Give your kids a full meal before leaving, pack lots of dry snacks, and share drinks bought at airport stores.

If you are traveling with one or two children, they may want their own suitcases.  As cute as they may look dragging this suitcase along, it may cost you at least $30 extra.  Now, many airlines charge for not only second suitcases, but the first one too.  Save money by condensing luggage with your family.  Will your daughter’s clothes fit into your suitcase and your son’s clothes fit into your husband’s suitcase?  If your airline charges you $15 each way for a checked bag, you save $60 total!

As you can see, there are many ways that you can save money when flying with kids.  Whether you have one child or three, don’t let the cost of flying ruin your finances.

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