5/13/2008 at 9:00 AM
Tags: Airlines, Technology, Travel Tech (all tags)
It's been a while since we've held a real, paper ticket for a flight, but they do still exist... for the next couple of weeks, anyway. The industry's given themselves until June 1, 2008, to change over to completely paperless tickets.
Estimates are that around 90 percent of plane tickets are issued electronically at the moment, and that might not change too much before the deadline. Routes where they're having trouble changing over include some to China, Vietnam, India, Africa and South America, and bringing a baby along on an e-ticket is also still problematic; some round-the-world routes are also only issued on paper.
All hail the paperless ticket world, we say, not just because we like trees but also because it's much harder to leave an electronic ticket at home. We're gunning for paperless passports and baggage-less baggage, too.
Related Stories:
· Airlines Face Problems Meeting Paperless Tickets Deadline [eTravel]
· Travel Technology coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: zhaffsky]
by amandak
5/12/2008 at 4:03 PM
Tags: HOWTO, Airfares, Airfare Deals, Rick Seaney, Airlines (all tags)
Have you tried to book an airline ticket lately? They're getting expensive! But without a miraculous drop in the price of oil, fares are only gonna go up this summer.
Luckily, airfare obsessive Rick Seaney has a terrific tip for keeping your costs down as prices go up: Hedge. Usually it's detrimental to buy plane tickets more than about six weeks before your departure. But Rick says this summer, you're better off locking in a price now before fuel surcharges--and prices--go up yet again.
We love this tip because it's so insider-y. Airlines do the same thing when buying fuel; it's been helping the bottom lines at Southwest and JetBlue for years. If you're gonna stay within your summer travel budget, better get booking now.
Of course, we should mention that there's always the chance that fares will end up dropping on your particular route, but that's the risk you take when you're playing the oil futures market. Hey, now you know how the airlines feel!
Related Stories:
· Attention Summer Travelers: Hedge [Rick Seaney]
· Airlines Finally Passing Higher Costs on to Passengers [Jaunted]
· Airfares coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Fetchy]
by pbb
5/12/2008 at 2:30 PM
Tags: Southwest Airlines, Airlines (all tags)
Let us present you with Exhibit A, Figure 1: This is a snapshot of boarding passes that we printed out yesterday for our Southwest flight from Oakland to Los Angeles.
Our travel partner, Michael Z, was able to check us in at the same time, since we purchased the tickets together. However, Michael was given the seating group A 57 while we were given B 26. What the heck?
We know that the first 10 rows or so are reserved for Southwest's Business Select passengers who pony up around $15 extra to get in the A group. But those people aside, we always thought your seating group was based on the time that you checked in. (As in, a passenger checking in seven hours before a flight would have a better boarding assignment than a passenger checking in at the airport.)
Here's something that may secretly be in play: We fly way more than Michael Z, especially on Southwest. But he's been a member of Rapid Rewards longer than we have. So is boarding group based on frequent flier status? And is the new boarding process less democratic than we previously thought?
Related Stories:
· Southwest Announces "Business Select" Fares, Priority Boarding [Jaunted]
· First-Person Flight Reviews: Southwest Airlines' New Boarding Policy [Jaunted]
by juliana
5/12/2008 at 10:46 AM
Tags: UK Travel, Airlines, UK Skybus, Regional Airlines, David Beckham (all tags)
Still broken up about the implosion of Skybus? We can't promise you any $10 fares, but if you just need one more 'bus ride, you can get it in the UK.
Yep, the European Skybus flies puddle jumpers between southwest England, Wales and St. Brieuc, France. You can also make like David Beckham and catch a turboprop out to the Isles of Scilly, a swanky tourist spot just off the coast of Cornwall.
A couple of Skybus' routes are new, so you can still get introductory fares of £35 ($69) on some flights before May 31. Otherwise, flights start at £45 per segment. Not $10, but still not bad.
Related Stories:
· UK Skybus [Official Site]
· US Skybus coverage [Jaunted]
by pbb
5/08/2008 at 4:00 PM
Tags: JetBlue, Airlines, LCCs, Low Cost Carriers, Deals, Airfare Deals (all tags)
We're no strangers to weird airfare deals, but the latest offer from JetBlue is quite curious. If you book a ticket for yourself by May 16 for travel before June 11, you'll get a $50 voucher for use later this fall, between September 3 and October 31.
The first catch is that you have to sign up for the airline's loyalty program to get your credit. Also, by giving away a voucher for the future instead of an immediate $50 off, the airline saves itself a bunch of money: You know some people are gonna either forget about their vouchers or not be able to use them when the time comes.
JetBlue has also crafted a rule to protect some of its business travel revenue. You have to book your own tickets in order to claim the $50, so you won't be seeing a voucher if your boss or secretary does your travel planning.
Still, if your travel plans sync up, you'll save some cash if you book by next Friday. Nothing curious about that.
Related Stories:
· JetBlue $50 Off Sale [Official Site]
· JetBlue coverage [Jaunted]
· Airfare Deals coverage [Jaunted]
by pbb
5/07/2008 at 1:45 PM
Tags: David Neeleman, New Airlines, Airlines, Embraer, Azul, Brazil Travel (all tags)
The contest to name David Neeleman's new airline is over, and though Samba was the favorite among Brazilians, the airline mogul is instead going with the second-place name Azul ("Blue"). Of course, his previous venture was JetBlue. Must have a thing for airline names that match his eye color.
Now that the name is out of the way, Neeleman can focus on equipping his 76 new Embraer planes with leather seats and live satellite TV, two of the amenities that helped JetBlue earn so much customer loyalty soon after its first flight in 2000.
The new website for the airline, voeazul.com.br, doesn't offer much just yet, though you can fork over your email address for updates. We've already submitted ours, hoping Neeleman will ping us the second he makes another blue move.
Related Stories:
· Top Secret Airline Watch: Neeleman Hard at Work in Brazil [Jaunted]
· David Neeleman Confirms His Brazilian Airline [Jaunted]
by pbb
5/07/2008 at 9:20 AM
Tags: China Travel, Olympics, 2008 Olympics, Beijing Olympics, Beijing Olympics 2008, Baggage, Carry On Baggage, Airlines, Luggage (all tags)
While most of the world is slowing lifting restrictions on cabin baggage, over in China they're just getting started. Last month the Chinese authorities added matches and lighters to a growing list of banned items. And as of May 1, they've also restricted the amount of cabin baggage you can carry on.
With the Olympics around the corner and plenty of tourists getting ready to make domestic flights across China, it doesn't seem like a great time to start changing the rules. But for the record, the rules now say that you can only take one piece of baggage on board, and it has to weigh less than 5kg (11 pounds); first class passengers get two bags.
This applies to international passengers who get a connecting flight within China, too. If you're Olympics-bound, this might be a good time to repack your bag.
Related Stories:
· China Restricts Flight Cabin Baggage [The Australian]
· Beijing Olympics 2008 coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: kool_skatkat]
by amandak
5/01/2008 at 2:00 PM
Tags: Skybus, Airlines, Low Cost Carriers, LCCs, Airline Bankruptcy, John Weikle (all tags)
A few weeks ago, rumors were swirling that Skybus could come soaring back to life. And the Columbus Dispatch reported that the carrier's assets, including its valuable operating certificate, were being shopped around. But as it turns out, no one wants them.
Airline chief Mike Hodge says nobody's even bid on his company's future aircraft orders, the Skybus name or that operating certificate. And the one guy who might've been interested, John Weikle, was too busy sending conspiracy theory-laden emails to former Skybus employees to pony up an actual offer.
The LCC is still open to selling off its goods, but after so many airline bankruptcies it's hard to imagine who'd want to buy them.
Related Stories:
· No Second Chance Expected for Skybus [Columbus Dispatch]
· Skybus Lives on in Photos [Jaunted]
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: msmail]
by pbb
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