Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for airlines
Use Care in Travel Planning
By Linda Tancs
Travel-minded folk often use summertime to plan their end-of-year holiday getaways. But as airlines reduce capacity to grapple with soaring operating costs, travelers should be wary of bookings made too far in advance. With disappearing routes and even less opportunity to get stand-by seats in a shrinking marketplace, you might find yourself holding the proverbial bag.
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Bumping Rules Revised
By Linda Tancs
In follow up to our July 18, 2007 post, the U.S. Department of Transportation has finally issued its revisions to airline bumping rules. As in the past, compensation for involuntary bumps will ensue for delays of at least 2 hours domestically and 4 hours internationally on aircraft holding at least 30 passenger seats. The math in the event of this delay is this: you get the lesser of 100% of your original one-way fare (including fees, taxes and surcharges) or $400. If your delay is even longer (perish the thought!), then your compensation rises to the lesser of 200% of that one-way fare or $800. You also have the right to request your payment in cash or by check in lieu of any vouchers for future travel. That’s a good thing, considering the uncertain future of so many airlines these days.
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Ted, You’re Grounded
By Linda Tancs
In a move surely not surprising, United Airlines is abandoning its low-cost carrier, Ted. Founded in 2003, Ted’s expanding route map and low fare guarantee will meet the executioner’s axe as fuel costs continue to spiral and forecasters predict airline losses in the $2B range. Ted, meet Maxjet, Eos, and Silverjet. Just goes to show that economic tides don’t play favorites.
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The Pretzel’s Demise
By Linda Tancs
After hearing that US Airways is abandoning the pretzel snack on domestic flights, I decided to check out their food offerings online. On “select” flights (suggestion: call ahead for confirmation), here’s a sampling of their mouth-watering options (sans pretzels): fruit and cheese plate, turkey ham on sweet Hawaiian luau bread (aloha!), and a classic chicken Caesar salad.
Readers, I’d like you to rate the meals you’ve had on a domestic flight–from 1(lousy) to 5 (great, or at least pretty darn good). The results, best to worst, will be tallied and posted.
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E-Ticketing Touted as Cost-Saving Measure
By Linda Tancs
You may have noticed that, effective 1 June, paper airline tickets have gone the way of the dinosaur. In a move initiated by IATA about 3 years ago, e-ticketing is now the standard for processing passengers. According to IATA, this move will save the industry over $3 billion per year in expenses. Now the question is: as carriers realize the savings to come through effecting electronic transactions, will we see an elimination of the checked bag charges now being widely introduced by carriers, a reduction in surcharges, and–better snack foods? Stay tuned.
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Airline Combos Read Like a Script
By Linda Tancs
The spate of actual and intended airline combinations reads like a Peyton Place of the transportation industry. Continental breaks it off with United. United begins courting US Air. Continental flirts with OneWorld, perhaps feeling spurned by the impending nuptials of Northwest and Delta. The OneWorld dalliance could portend the greatest development yet in this story. Consider the prospect of a Continental/British Airways merger. Could it happen? Well, continuing open skies negotiations could pave the way for transatlantic marriage. The open skies treaty, after all, opened up markets between the US and EU–allowing, for example, British Airways to fly direct from Paris to New York in lieu of re-routing via the UK. If the well-documented costs of airline operation continue to rise, then suitors will be lining up to cross the borders. Stay tuned….
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Icecapade
By Linda Tancs
Most elementary school students probably learn that Greenland isn’t really green. In fact, the Greenland ice sheet covers nearly 82% of it. So except for seeing icebergs (or not seeing them, as the case may be), is there any reason to go there? Air Greenland would have you answer that question in the affirmative, and they’ve put together a site to make their case. You’ll find out the best time for dog sledding and what to do during the spring, summer and winter tourist seasons. Yes, there really are three seasons in this Arctic island, the world’s largest island by area. And don’t forget about the northern lights (aurora borealis), a popular tourist attraction from November to February.
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Air Barista
By Linda Tancs
Okay, so there’s really not an airline by that name. But Austrian Airlines Group is a strong contender for the title, billing itself as the first Viennese coffee house above the clouds. Business class passengers get to choose from 10 of the finest Austrian coffees such as Kaisermelange and Franziskaner. Business class is also touted for its unparalleled sleep comfort. Seems to me you have a choice: enjoy the fine coffee or get a good night’s rest for, as the saying goes, “Sleep is a symptom of caffeine deprivation.”
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Heathrow Ad Likely to Promote Ire
By Linda Tancs
Following up on our 3 April post, a recent ad by British Airways promoting Heathrow’s new Terminal 5 will likely throw salt into the wound of any traveler who “benefited” from the experience. The ad, entitled “Feel Calm Again,” directs you to “immerse yourself in serenity as you flow effortlessly through your journey.” Yep. Memo to Ad Team: Major media ad placement shall hereafter take place following successful testing of new launches.
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Cell Phones Allowed Limited Use in EU Flights
By Linda Tancs
Following up on our July 19, 2007 post, the EU has, after testing for safety, issued regulations allowing the use of cell phones during flight, not including take-off and landing. Let’s just hope that the resulting conversations don’t devolve into captive attention to the various trials and tribulations of your flight mates. Perhaps a manual on cell phone etiquette should find its way to the seat back in front of you.
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Travelrific® Travel Journal 