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UK "Departure Tax" May Help Environment, Definitely Annoys Us

December 1, 2008 at 9:15 AM | 3 Comments

Normally we'd let something as dry as a British budget speech coast under our radar, but this year the pollies said something we didn't like: They're making every flight out of Britain more expensive.

The departure tax that they call "air passenger duty" was already doubled last year, but now it's going up again. Low cost carriers like Ryanair are complaining that the last thing the travel industry needs is even higher charges for cost-sensitive customers.

Rather than applying just two taxes--short and long haul--the British government is now dividing destinations up into four zones depending on distance and applying higher charges for further distances. Australians for one are not happy about being on the D-list, which means an extra £85 ($130) for flights longer than 6,000 miles.

And the worst bit: The UK government is pretending it's all a green tax. Which means when we whine about it, we sound like we don't care about the polar bears. But we do!

Related Stories:
· Green Tax Is the End of Low Cost Flights [UK Times]
· Australia on D-List for New Flight Tax [SMH]
· Britain Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Abraham C]

More Airlines Cutting Fuel Surcharges

October 15, 2008 at 8:50 AM | 0 Comments

More carriers are joining the ranks of Air Canada, WestJet and Bangkok Airways, cutting fuel surcharges as the price of oil continues to decline. American, Delta, United and Virgin Atlantic have all trimmed their extra fees in the past few days.

Richard Branson's carrier is lowering the round-trip surcharge by an average of $40 depending on destination, but most tickets will still include a three-figure fee for fuel. A spokesman explains why:

Oil remains our largest cost and now represents about 35 percent of our cost base. Just five years ago it was nearer [to] 10 percent.

American and United both reduced some surcharges on flights to Europe by about 15 percent, but as with Virgin's cuts, the lower fee only applies on certain economy-class tickets.

Delta meanwhile has cut its charge on round trips to Asia by an average of $74 to $305.

Related Stories:
· Virgin Atlantic Cuts Fuel Surcharges [The Telegraph]
· US Airlines Reduce Fuel Fees [Canadian Press]
· Bangkok Airways Cut Fuel Surcharges [Jaunted]

[Photo: striatic]

Virgin America Now Selling Headsets

October 14, 2008 at 3:22 PM | 0 Comments

HotelChatter editor Juliana just bought herself a Virgin America ticket and got an email confirmation back from the carrier with a curious note:

We have new custom-designed Virgin America headsets available for $2 in three hot colors. (We are no longer giving away disposable headsets.)

Get better sound quality and plug into RED where you can watch dozens of movies, or select from on-demand shows like HBO's Entourage. You can also tune in to thousands of MP3s and our music video library.

Honestly we don't have much on a opinion on this because we'd guess about 95 percent of Virgin's target demo already packs a headset--or two--when traveling. And if everyone else is gonna rake in ancillary revenues without passenger revolts, hey, why not?

Related Stories:
· Virgin America Planning Main Cabin Select Service [Jaunted]
· JetBlue To Charge For Headsets [Jaunted]

Airline Travel Today: Still Better than Stagecoach Travel

September 20, 2008 at 1:37 PM | 0 Comments

Oh, airline travel. You used to be so cool. Flights were affordable, on-time, and featured amenities like meals, blankets, and a selection of current magazines and newspapers. Now, despite rising fares, fliers are lucky to get a bag of pretzels to munch on and a SkyMall catalog to read, and when it comes to making connecting flights and getting reunited with luggage, it's a crapshoot. What happened?

A recent AP item reports that as airline satisfaction rates have declined, customers have begun to push back, demanding improved service to justify the wave of extra fees for things that were once included in the ticket price. Airlines are responding with new initiatives to improve punctuality and baggage handling, as well as upgrades for business and first class passengers.

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No Fee Travel: Southwest Advertising Overwhelming Airports

September 16, 2008 at 12:36 PM | 1 Comment

Is Southwest Airlines flying planes anymore or has everybody working there been transferred to the "No Fees" advertising department?

Here's the latest in-airport ad Southwest is bragging about. Kinda funny, yes, but rue the day that the carrier starts charging extra for anything. We're envisioning a passenger backlash fee!

Related Stories:
· Southwest Is Apparently Your No Fee Savior [Jaunted]
· Southwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Southwest Airlines]

Southwest Is Apparently Your No Fee Savior

September 8, 2008 at 4:30 PM | 0 Comments

If there was any doubt Southwest was your savior when it comes to airline fees, the carrier has started using Handel's Hallelujah chorus in its "No Hidden Fees" ad campaign. (You can even download the track as a ringtone!)

Along with a couple TV ads and a chart showing all the things Southwest gives out for free, there's also a word search game on the airline's "No Hidden Fees" microsite, featuring terms like "One checked bag" and "Pillow."

The only problem with all this is that now Southwest will never be able to charge a fee for anything--lest the airline look like a pharisee!

Related Stories:
· Southwest Airlines: No Hidden Fees [Official Microsite]
· Airline Fees coverage [Jaunted]
· Southwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

Midwest Death Watch Trifecta: Cash Infusions, Outsourcing and Bag Fees

September 4, 2008 at 8:30 AM | 1 Comment

Struggling carrier Midwest Airlines has sealed a deal for $60 million in new financing, and has inked another bargain to add 12 regional jets to its fleet, while trimming its 717 holdings. The carrier has already secured $40 million of the promised money--needed for paying off debts to airports, among other things--and it also got a $15 million loan from Republic Airways, the company Midwest has hired to operate those dozen regional jets.

The outsourcing of the Midwest Connect service starts on October 1, which means another couple hundred employees will be furloughed--on top of the 1,200 jobs already cut this summer. The airline says that's to train its people on the new Embraer 170s that Republic flies; the Midwest pilots' union has its doubts:

Management [has] restated its continued intent to wring drastic, draconian concessions from our pilots, holding our very jobs hostage as part of its deal with Republic.

But the airline simply doesn't need as many pilots working because it's also renegotiated a lease with Boeing. Midwest will return 16 of its 25 717s to their manufacturer. That means just nine planes will be kitted out with the new seats announced in August.

Oh, and one last thing: Midwest will start charging $15 for your first checked bag on flights October 21 and later.

Related Stories:
· Midwest Airlines Announces Progress on Restructuring Plan [Official Site]
· Midwest Pilots Express Outrage at Airline's Deal [PRNewswire]
· Midwest Makes More Cuts [WTMJ]
· Midwest Death Watch coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: phantom kitty]

United Decides Not to Charge for Airplane Food

September 3, 2008 at 8:45 AM | 0 Comments

Turns out United doesn't have the heart to charge passengers for food on transatlantic flights. The carrier, which was planning to start asking for $9 a sandwich next month on a limited number of flights, recanted on its plan in an "open letter" sent to customers:

Thank you for your direct, candid feedback on the test we had planned to launch in the fourth quarter for food choices on some of our flights. We heard you and have decided not to move forward with the test of offering customers buy-on-board options in United Economy on certain trans-Atlantic flights. We will continue to offer complimentary hot meals on those flights.

So score one for the pro-consumer crowd--and the aviation blogs that made a racket when United first announced the new charges. Now we can look forward to more free pasta like this!

Related Stories:
· United Airlines Loses Food Fight [Elliott]
· United to Start Charging for Food on Some International Flights [Jaunted]

[Photo: OndraSoukup]

Airline Travel: Fares and Fees Just Keep on Rising

September 2, 2008 at 10:45 AM | 0 Comments

It's now the day after Labor Day, which means flights are set to get more expensive and harder to find. Right? Pretty much.

The Boston Herald recently reported that yep, things are about to get wrose. This year alone, fares from major cities have risen about 16 percent and fares between smaller cities have risen by almost 37 percent, says industry watcher Rick Seaney. Even Southwest, which continues to turn a profit, is trimming flights. It recently announced that it would cut approximately 200 flights by early next year.

As the industry moves into the fall, analysts predict much of the same, as the airlines will begin to see what they can get away with and how much the market will allow for fare increases. Expect even fewer freebies, and more fees for what used to be included in your ticket. For now, the best way for consumers to beat this trend is to book as early as possible and jump on good fares when they fit your schedule.

Related Stories:
· Flyers Brace for Big Airline Changes [Boston Herald]
· Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: sanjoyg]

Midwest Death Watch: Struggling Airline Now Yanking Legroom

August 26, 2008 at 9:33 AM | 3 Comments

Midwest Airlines, once the classiest coach ride out there, will add 11 new seats to its remaining planes by October 21, a move that will no doubt result in middle seat armrest battles at the back of the carrier's 717s.

Along with the added seats comes a fee for the good ones, a move other struggling airlines have already instituted. But it's not as bad as it sounds, says the Midwest spin machine:

40 wide, two-across Signature seats will feature even more legroom than today and will be complemented by 59 newly designed Recaro Saver seats, uniquely engineered to provide maximum space between your knees and the row in front....

Travelers paying higher-value refundable fares will be assigned a Signature seat, if available, at no additional charge. Or, find the lowest available fare and secure your Signature seat for a modest fee at time of booking.

Related Stories:
· Introducing Midwest Class [Official Site]
· Midwest Death Watch: Systemwide Cuts Starting to Hurt [Jaunted]
· Airline Death Watch: Are Midwest's Cookies Endangered? [Jaunted]

Airline Fees: Frontier Airlines Sneakily Selling You Travel Insurance

August 21, 2008 at 3:30 PM | 0 Comments

At least other airlines admit they're hiking fees. But it seems Frontier will slip a travel insurance charge onto your ticket unless you deliberately opt out of it. Travel troubleshooter Chris Elliott has the scoop:

After finishing [a] transaction, [customer Angela Gross] discovered she had also signed up for a $10.95 insurance policy. How did that happen? A small box at the bottom of the booking screen was pre-checked, indicating she also wanted to buy the policy.

Seems pretty slimy, which is why we weren't surprised to find out that Spirit has been known to do something similar. Check those check boxes before booking, people!

Related Stories:
· Like It or Not, Airline Adds Travel Insurance [Elliott]
· Frontier Airlines: Another Fee-Friendly Carrier [Jaunted]
· Airline Fees coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Cubbie_n_Vegas]

United to Start Charging for Food on Some International Flights

August 20, 2008 at 11:20 AM | 1 Comment

United will start charging for meals on flights leaving Dulles International for Europe starting October 1. If there is any good news in that announcement, it's that a $39 meal doesn't seem to be on the menu.

United is also doing away with its free snacks on domestic flights, which we're not really too sad about. (Do people actually like those airline pretzels?) Instead, "Buy on Board" offerings will be expanded, and prices will go up from $5 and $7 to $6 and $9, depending on the particular snack pack.

The carrier will still provide free meals on flights to Asia. But might we suggest a website update? As of now, United still lists complimentary meal service as an international amenity.

Related Stories:
· United Will Charge for International Meals [Columbus Dispatch]
· United Eliminates Free Meals on Transatlantic Flights [UTB]
· United May Start Charging for Food on International Flights [Jaunted]