xpect to fly greener and set your sights eastbound this year, as air travel trends and top destinations are changing once again. Read on for some of the big movements that will affect the jet set this year.

China and India and Dubai, Oh My!

If you want to go where the action is, then head East – Far East. Countries in Eastern Asia, particularly China, are number one destination spots for 2008. China’s natural beauty and its role as host for the 2008 Olympics means that there will be more travelers heading to the Land of the Rising Sun than ever. Fliers don’t need to worry about excessive queues or overcapacity, as China is building two new airports. One is located in Beijing and will help with the influx of tourists there for the Olympics, while the other is being built in Ngari and will take the record as the world’s highest airport (at 4,334 metres).

Looking to head even further East? Then check out India. Indian low-cost airliners are increasing in popularity by the minute, meaning that travel within the country is easy and affordable. Popular attractions –other than the Taj Mahal, of course –include yoga retreat centres and meditation classes offered by many of the esteemed Indian temples.

Last but not least, those who like to get in on the ground floor should head to Dubai in ’08. This city-in-the-making offers something for everyone (so long as you’re rich) and makes Vegas look like a joke. It’s the fastest growing aviation hub in the Persian Gulf and the city itself will wow you with its larger than life skyscrapers, man-made islands and world-class shopping malls. Everything in this city is over the top, including the Dubai World Central Airport City, which is currently under construction. When completed, it will be the world’s largest airport complex, housing hospitals, residential condos, malls and schools. Picture Walt Disney’s EPCOT Centre idea manifested. Perhaps they can unfreeze him so he can revel in its glory. What? Nothing.

Flying Goes Green

Apologies to the Benjamins, but these days it’s all about carbon emissions and ecological footprints. Consequently, folks are looking to ease their guilt about the vast amount of fossil fuels that are burned during a flight. Programs now allow passengers to pay an additional cost in order to offset their CO2 emissions. While these were slow to start in 2007, more and more companies are unveiling special programs that will allow eco-friendly jet setters to obtain peace of mind and keep the planet from getting hotter. Meanwhile, the aviation industry is trying to reduce emissions on their end of the spectrum by increasing their reliance on biofuels and adding more fuel-efficient planes to their fleets.

Apologies to the Benjamins, but these days it’s all about carbon emissions and ecological footprints. Programs now allow passengers to pay an additional cost in order to offset their CO2 emissions

Open Skies May Bring Cheap Transatlantic Flights

The much-talked about Open Skies Agreement was signed into law last April. Under this treaty, any European or U.S. airline is now able to fly between any city in Europe and the United States. This means that the big-name, old-money airliners that once had exclusive rights to those precious runways at Heathrow (British Airways and United Airlines, for example) are now prone to increased competition from a plethora of companies trying to get their hands on the coveted tarmacs at airports like JFK and Heathrow.

For fliers, this is potentially great news. With a larger number of companies flying across the pond, it means that there will be greater choice for customers and more pressure on airlines to lower their prices in order to stand out from the crowd. The old institutions of air travel –such as American Airlines and BA– will undoubtedly have to change the way they charge right now if they want to keep customers from flocking to low-fare budget airlines, which appeal to those traveling on a shoestring. One potential way many pundits say they will do this is by offering à la carte ticketing.

À la carte ticketing: Can I Get Some More of Those Pretzels...and a Pillow?

It might sound impressive, but the E! True Hollywood Story behind this concept is as sordid as Hugh Grant's sexual history (but that's a whole other article). The downside to this fancy, French moniker? Simply put, think of it as unbundling every service and inclusion you’ve come to know and expect while flying – from that free soft drink to those wafer-thin pillows. As of now, most airlines still include conveniences like these in the price of their ticket, but many plan to take them out so that they can sell tickets that are (deceptively) cheap. This will be great news for bargain hunters who don’t mind flying across the ocean parched, cold and tired. However, most people won’t be able to forgo a snack or blanket on a flight that is upwards of six hours long.

So, if you want to still enjoy the creature comforts you've become accustomed to - be it pillows, drinks or toiletry kits - plan to fess up some dolla dolla bills y'all. Even checking luggage and reserving a specific spot on the plane will become "premium services." While ticket fares may initially seem lower, this won't be the case by the time all the additional costs are added in. And, of course, those airlines are always looking to make a buck, so expect luxury treatments and services, like in-flight facials and massages, to be proffered alongside that rubbery-chicken-and-cold-roll meal of yours.