Thirsty fliers must buck up

AMERICAN Eagle, the regional sister carrier of American Airlines, next month will begin charging passengers $1 for a can of soda or juice on flights within California.

It’s a test “to see what the market will bear” as American Eagle searches for ways to cut costs and increase revenue, said spokesman Dave Jackson in Dallas-Fort Worth. “If the test goes negatively, we’ll reconsider,” he added.

American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith in Dallas-Fort Worth said the carrier had “no plans for the foreseeable future to implement anything like this.”

The American Eagle test will affect flights between LAX and Fresno, Monterey, San Diego, San Jose, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.

Coffee and water will continue to be free, Jackson said. But in another change, American Eagle on the test flights will sell $5 pillow-and-blanket kits that passengers can take home, instead of providing blankets for free. The airline previously had eliminated pillow service.

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A Poppy for park-goers

CALIFORNIA state parks are offering a cheaper annual pass that covers parking and day use at 95 less-visited locations.

The Golden Poppy Pass costs $90, compared with $125 for the Annual Day Use Parking Pass, which covers more than 200 parks. The new pass, available for purchase at www.parks.ca.gov, is good for visits starting Jan. 1. It does not cover admission to museums or overnight stays at camp sites.

Many parks covered by the Golden Poppy Pass are inland, but the list includes a few coastal locations, such as Morro Bay and Tomales Bay. For a full list, visit the park website.

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More flights to Las Vegas

ALLEGIANT AIR this month began flying nonstop twice a week between Palm Springs and Las Vegas. On Jan. 27, it plans to start flying twice a week between Santa Maria, Calif., and Las Vegas. Information: (800) 432-3810, www.allegiantair.com.

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So long, so-long tram

THIS is the last winter season to ride the aerial tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming.

The tram, which opened 39 years ago and spans one of the longest continuous vertical rises of any U.S. ski resort, will close Oct. 1.

Spokeswoman Anna Olson said Jackson Hole owners are shutting the tram rather than spend $10 million to $15 million to resolve “maintenance issues that could compromise safety” in future years. She said the tram is currently safe.

The resort is seeking funds to build a replacement. In the interim, after the Oct. 1 shutdown, skiers with lift tickets can ride a gondola two-thirds of the way up the mountain, then transfer to a surface lift to the top.

-- Compiled by

Jane Engle