Tag Archive
Fewer Flights Mean Fewer Delays
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More than 30,000 fewer flights were canceled in the first half of 2009 than in the same period last year. Fewer planes were delayed more than fifteen minutes as well. But, instead of applauding the air traffic controllers, or the airline operations people for their coup, the real reason is that there...
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Despite Recent Events – Air Travel is Safe
In the aftermath of the most recent tragedy, Air France Flight 447, and a year that included a crash in Buffalo and a miraculous crash-landing on the Hudson, we may start to think that 2009 is an unlucky year for air travel, or that it is somehow unsafe.
Those of you who are nervous, let’s...
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Fares and Fees
Joe Sharkey of the New York Times wrote earlier this week on the current glut of seat sales, maintaining it won’t last. The sales are breaking out mostly on routes where the competition is heavy or business travel has significantly decreased…but this has often been the case.
The future, according to Sharkey, is as...
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Is Airline Service a Sham?
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Michael Russnow over at the Huffington Post commented today that airline service is a sham. He maintains that first was a fee for a second bag, then a first, then for drinks on US Airways(which they recently reversed), then blankets and pillows, and movies. We’re not sure we agree...
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Tales of Woe – Airline Service
Mr. T, we’re sure, would say, “I pity the fool airline who mistreats their passengers.” Once again, here are some recent tales we’ve noticed of travel experiences.
When a man tried to check in for his flight on Spirit, he was told the flight was oversold. When he tried to fly the next day, Spirit...
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Pilot Offloads Luggage to Take Employees
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Two weeks ago, a captain of an El Al flight flying to Israel from an undisclosed city in Europe ordered the removal of a number of suitcases to allow two El Al employees to get on. Airline employees and their families are allowed to travel for a discounted or even free rate,...
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Roundup – What’s New
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Best Western International has partnered with Southwest Airlines as a loyalty partner. Beginning February 15th, members of their reward program will be able to earn Rapid Reward credits.
Portland-based SeaPort Airlines will serve the Oregon communities of Astoria and Newport beginning March 15th with service to Portland International Airport and...
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How the Airlines Have Betrayed Us
We stole the title for this post from Chris Elliott, whom we admire as the champion of fair disclosure and fees, although we admit to disagreeing with him at times.
USA Today reported that while jet fuel is down, fuel surcharges have stuck. And this is true, although many European carriers, which often trendset fuel...
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JetBlue Terminal 5 at JFK to Open Next Month
Well, October is nearly here, and JetBlue will be opening its new state of the art terminal at its JFK home hub. The airline issued a series of press releases last week about this momentous occasion.
Terminal 5 has 50 percent more concession space than its current Terminal 6 operation. It will include nine full-serve...
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Air Canada Reverses Fees On Fuel Drop, United Can’t
Air Canada has announced it will roll back some previously imposed fees. It is nice for an airline actually repeal something it claimed to impose due to high fuel costs. Air Canada announced last week it would stop charging the $25 second bag fee it established in May. It also announced fuel surcharges would...
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Spirit to Put Ads on Everything
The Cranky Flier brought to our attention a new push by Spirit Airlines to sell more ad space on their aircraft. They will now sell ads on overhead bins, seat backs, tray tables, the area above the windows, bulkheads, napkins, cups, menus, boarding passes, soap dispensers, and trash bags.
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