Airlines -- especially international carriers (including US carriers that also fly overseas) -- have long cozied up to their "best" customers, with front-cabin comfort, service and amenities. Now, reports Brett Snyder on BNET, a business site, these carriers are "already seeing premium cabin weakness internationally as the economy softens, and now the financial crisis is only going to make things worse. All those rich bankers in New York spend a lot of money sitting up front . . .

or should I say 'spent.' (Can you say New York - London?)-- Travel Babel

I’m wondering — and asking you, the reader — if that’s changed in recent weeks. I had lunch with friends and former coworkers from my previous employer today, and they informed me that belt-tightening was in full effect. On the chopping block: travel. Conferences, conventions, and training were all getting cut.--Upgrade: Travel Better

I’m sure we’ve all seen our share of news about the current economic crisis, and some of us have worried about how it will affect our travel plans. But there are many good reasons why now is not necessarily a bad time to travel.--Bootblog

I had to wonder, if I was planning my trip now, would I still do it? The short answer: absolutely. If you’re starting to get cold feet on your next trip, (whether RTW or two weeks abroad) here are some things to consider.--Almost Fearless

Sadly, our plans are on hold. It's not entirely because of economic angst, but that's got something to do with it. Delay in client projects means our travel plans get delayed too. I'd been planning, hoping to have the confidence really, to walk away from some paying work to do some traveling this fall, but we both agree that the combination of an uncertain economy with the combination of an uncertain method of earning a living, we should scale back our plans and let the universe - and paying work - dictate our schedule a little more than usual.

Things are a little contrarian if you try to find an answer to "should I or shouldn't I?" On the one hand, economic advisers are suggesting we might want to hold on to our cash, pile up a little more in the savings account (or the mattress, depending on the state of your bank) for now. On the other hand, wow, there are some screaming deals to be had for those with wanderlust. And travel deferred is like love deferred - if you've made your plans and budgeted properly, there's no reason you should cancel those tickets and stay home - your trip is paid for so go, already!

Our plans were more of the "when work slows down, we will head out." It's not a huge sacrifice for us to stall our fall road trip. We've been squirrelling away the savings to pay for a grand tour of the American Southwest. It may end up costing us a little more if we delay because the weather will dictate how devoted we are to camping.It would actually be more affordable for us to leave to day, but work won't permit that. I gaze wistfully at the maps and hope for a wierd combination of things - that the economy picks up while my work load slows down.

Are you changing your travel plans because of the economy?

Pam blogs about travel and other adventures at Nerd's Eye View.