Open Skies are just a few days away, and airports around the US are planning celebrations and gearing up for some first-time arrivals from Europe.

The Open Skies agreements has greatly reduced restrictions on airlines flying between the US and the EU, so some larger airports in the US are getting new direct flights to destinations in Europe and offering flights to airports like London Heathrow for the first time. So, what does this all mean for you?

An AP article that ran on CNN yesterday suggests that only business class travelers will see any real benefits from Open Skies. Well, FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney disagrees. Check out Rick’s thoughts on Open Skies, and see find out how new regulations can make it easier for travelers on both sides of the Pond.

With new Open Skies agreements in place, we will start to see more routes and flights open up between the US and Europe on a range of airlines at the end of March. While all of these new flights will be touted by the airlines, none get them more excited than new flights to London Heathrow. London Heathrow continues to be the hub for international business travelers, and US-based carriers want as strong a presence their as possible.

American Airlines and Continental Airlines have both announced major changes involving Heathrow. Keep reading to see how they might affect you…