At the deli by our office, a turkey sandwich used to be four dollars even. Then, about two years ago, they started adding sales tax on top of that, when it used to be included. Not long after that, a couple slices of tomato suddenly cost an extra fifty cents. Within weeks they came for the lettuce: another fifty cents. What's next, a quarter for a squirt of mustard? The underlying justification here, of course, suggests a redefinition of the sandwich. For the purposes of the JY Deli, a sandwich consists of lunch meat on bread with your choice of butter, mayo, or mustard. Everything else - lettuce, tomato, pickle - is ancillary, and thus, costs extra. It's an à la carte approach, designed to mask the creeping prices under the pretense of giving the customer more control over their order. After all, some people don't like lettuce. Why should they be forced to pay for it?
The airline industry seems to have taken a page from the deli book. Using the same à la carte sales philosophy, they've been tacking on extra fees for luggage, blankets, legroom, and even beverages, which were once seen as the one sacrosanct right of all travelers. An interesting story in the New York Times this weekend has an in-depth analysis of all the extra fees, and why the flying public is more or less okay with paying them. The gist of it is, it's seen as unavoidable, and much too profitable for the airlines to stop now. After all, the definition of a flight these days is little more than a seat on an airplane. In-flight amenities - and even checked luggage - now cost extra.
There are a few holdouts, though. Southwest Airlines advertises "freedom from fees," and Delta doesn't yet charge for the first checked bag. And in a move that could almost be described as Orwellian, there's talk about introducing higher all-inclusive fares that include the things that were, until recently, included in regular fares. But whatever the airlines are charging, the traveling public will likely pay up, given the lack of good transportation alternatives. Just like we keep paying six bucks for a turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and mustard.
Topsy-turvy oil markets have got everybody in a tizzy these days, and the airline industry is no exception. Higher ticket prices are a drag, to be sure, but at least the economic shock is finally causing the major carriers to look into alternative fuels to power their fleets. A recent AP item points out that scientists are experimenting with various types of biodiesel jet fuels, an especially challenging proposition since there's little room for error at 35,000 feet.
Still, a few options look promising. South African carriers have been burning a jet fuel blend that uses "clean coal" as a primary ingredient for a decade already. And in February, Virgin Atlantic airlines flew a 747 that was partially powered by B20, a biodiesel made from babassu (a type of Amazon palm) and coconut oil. I wonder if the exhaust smelled like a piña colada. And there's even talk of harvesting algae to create fuel.
All eyes will be on Boeing and Air New Zealand later this year, though, as the companies prepare to test a fuel made from the oil of the jatropha tree. The homely-looking plant isn't good for food, but it grows easily in warm climates, doesn't require much water, and represents an economic opportunity for many impoverished people. Best of all, fuel made from the oil of jatropha nuts is significantly cheaper than crude oil, which is fortunate, because all the good intentions in the world won't create a market for alternative fuels unless it makes sense on the bottom line.
Oil prices may have eased somewhat in the past couple of weeks, but they're still pretty lofty, causing airlines to do everything they can to keep costs down. Some airline pilots, however, feel that their bosses are going too far, forcing them to fly with less fuel than they'd like to, and possibly compromising customer safety
As the AP points out in a recent news item, pilots are increasingly complaining to government authorities about management scrimping on fuel on certain flights, causing a few white knuckles in the cockpit as the needle drifts perilously near the red. In February, for example, a 747 captain reported burning extra fuel over the Atlantic on his way to JFK due to headwinds, but being rebuffed by his airline overlords when he discussed a refueling stop. The flight landed safely at JFK, but the captain said it was just too close for comfort.
The airlines say that flights always have sufficient fuel, and U.S. authorities are reluctant to get involved. But our own pilot friends have complained of this exact phenomena numerous times: "I didn't have enough fuel to wait in the pattern at JFK so I had to reroute to Philly," or "They're flying smaller jets on transatlantic routes now to save money, and they sometimes have to declare fuel emergencies on approach because they can't afford to wait in line to land."
We're content to leave this to the experts to work out, but would certainly hope our next flight has a few extra gallons to burn, just in case.
Sir Richard Branson, a groovy rich guy from England who owns Virgin Atlantic airlines and enjoys doing fun, crazy stuff, sent a letter to U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama on Sunday warning that the proposed British Airways/American Airlines alliance would stifle competition and hurt consumers.
Not one for understatement, Branson also plans a nearly $6 million advertising and lobbying campaign intended to derail the pending deal.
Even though Branson has his own financial reasons to hope a deal doesn't go down, his complaints may well resonate with the candidates and consumers, as rising fares, disappearing routes, and lackluster service combine to make air travel a much bigger hassle than it ought to be.
British Airways reported an 88% dip in its quarterly profits on Friday, just as it entered talks to broker an alliance with American Airlines and an acquisition of Iberia Airlines. The aggressive moves come in response to soaring oil prices and a global economic downturn that has tamped down demand and left several airlines in bankruptcy.
The upshot here is that consumers will see higher prices and a few canceled routes. It also makes the 2010 delivery of BA's six new Boeing 777-300ERs all the more crucial, as they represent a 23% improvement in fuel efficiency compared with the airline's fleet of 747s. I don't know how much more efficiency you can squeeze out of jet engines, but 23% seems like a good starting point. Let's hope the next generation of jets is even more parsimonious with the juice.
If U.S. carriers are experiencing the same pains that BA suffers from, it looks like airfares will be rising across the board. This isn't good news for travelers, of course, but people who are serious about seeing the world will always find a way.
On one of our flights, the standard passenger ration of two free fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies had been cut... to one cookie. It's an outrage! What's next, no free cookies at all just like every other airline in the country?
Of course, the Milwaukee-based carrier's straits may be too dire to be affected by one concessionary cut, if its recent groundings and layoffs are any indication. Midwest Airlines' website opposing multiple offers from AirTran earlier this year was called, fittingly, Savethecookie.com. Maybe it's time for Save The Cookie Again, with a focus on the actual cookies.
Well, all our speculation came to naught: Don't look for massage chairs or hotel tie-ins on a Virgin Atlantic flight any time soon. But buying expensive hotel rooms and massages is one way to rack up miles on the new Virgin Atlantic AmEx, which also offers a 10 percent discount on Premium Economy fares through the rest of the year.
We don't really care too much for secrets, so we wish Virgin Atlantic would just man up and tell us what's happening already!
We want to know what the heck is up with this cryptic letter sent to loyalty program members means:
Hello Gorgeous!
Have we got something for you, Juliana! It's brand new. It's coming soon. And it's extraordinarily unordinary.
What is IT, you ask?
Well, actually we can't say. But we did want you, our trusted Flying Club member, to know that it's coming and that it's a great new way to enjoy even more of everything you love Virgin Atlantic Airways for.
What more can we say? Not much really. But we do hope that when it's here you'll feel it and love the way it makes you feel!
Is it in-air WiFi? Is it vibrating massage chairs? The last line includes "feel" twice, so is it something tangible--like in-air spa treatments?
