Feeling lighter in the wallet when you travel? It’s no wonder — in 2012, U.S. airlines raked in a record $6 billion in baggage and change fees from passengers. That’s higher than any other year since such fees became de rigueur five years ago. Oh, and it’s going to keep piling up, because airlines are having fun swimming around in the piles of money they’ve made off such fees. [More]
Airlines Raked In A Record $6 Billion In Baggage & Change Fees Last Year
By May 14, 2013
We Are Shocked, Simply Shocked That Summer Airfares Have Dropped In Price This Year
By May 2, 2013
Usually the prospect of booking flights in the summer months means one thing: trying to finagle a not extremely expensive flight but ultimately giving up and just paying whatever high price you have to, because you need to get to the beach/wedding/vacation destination. But because so many fellow travelers booked early this year or decided to go abroad, domestic summer travel fares are actually down right now. Yep, down. [More]
Survey: 40% Of Travelers Would Get Weighed At Airport, Other 60% Just Laugh In Response
By April 22, 2013
As Americans continue to grapple with growing waistlines and burgeoning bellies, airlines are increasing trying to figure out how to reduce the cost of flying full flights. Jet fuel is expensive, prompting at least one carrier to institute the controversial “pay what you weigh” rule. But could that happen in our country? [More]
Airlines Suing FAA In Attempt To Prevent Delays Caused By Air-Traffic Control Furloughs
By April 19, 2013
Know who hates flight delays possibly more than frustrated travelers? The airlines, because all those disgruntled fliers will take out their travel woes on the carriers. That’s a group representing U.S. airlines as well as pilot unions are suing the Federal Aviation Administration in an attempt to stop furloughs of air-traffic controllers. The FAA warned fliers that fewer staff on duty means major flight delays could start next week. [More]
Buckle Up: Researchers Say Trans-Atlantic Flights Could Get A Lot More Turbulent
By April 16, 2013
I’ll be the first admit that when a flight gets bumpy, my insides do a flip-flop and my brain scrambles to focus on anything it possibly can (cheese/bearded men/song lyrics/chicken vs. egg question) to stop thinking “Whatifwhatifwhatif?” on a crazy loop. And if you’re like me, well, a new study that says turbulence over the Atlantic could get stronger and more frequent is probably not going to help ease your mind.* [More]
All Major U.S. Airlines Waiving Change Fees For Boston Travelers After Bombings At Marathon
By April 16, 2013
Airlines are responding to yesterday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon by offering to waive change fees for any fliers affected by the explosions. That includes all the major domestic airlines, as Boston Logan International Airport is staying open despite heightened security in the city as well as elsewhere in large cities. [More]
Flying The Friendly Skies Friday: Traveling With Heroes; Mile-High Celebrations
By April 12, 2013
Around these parts, we hear our share of the frustrating, the woeful and the all-out angry. But when we catch hold of an idea that brings out the happy and rewarding stories of customers, we like to celebrate it. This week in Flying The Friendly Skies Friday: Honoring the best among us, celebrating in mile-high style. [More]
Even If You’re Not A Celebrity, You Can Pay To Be Treated Like One At The Airport
By April 11, 2013
Times used to be, breezing through airport security in front of everyone else and skipping lines during the boarding process was just for the hoity-toity types — the wealthy and celebrities, mainly. But now that regular passengers can pay for fast-track access, airlines are scrambling to provide an even hoity-toitier (new word, deal with it) experience for anyone willing to pay a hefty price. [More]
Virgin America Soars Above The Rest In Annual Airline Survey While United Sinks To The Bottom
By April 8, 2013
Every day, airlines shuttle passengers from here to there, through friendly (and not so friendly) skies, ferrying bags and losing luggage and touching down at airports all around the country. Some of those airlines are consistently a cut above the rest, while others just can’t seem to do anything right. According to this year’s Airline Quality Rating Survey, Virgin America is the cream of the crop while United Airlines is a long, long way from the top. [More]
Supreme Court Denies Airline Industry Challenge To Price Advertising Rules
By April 1, 2013
Ever since the Transportation Department told U.S. airlines they’d have to advertise the total cost of a ticket when touting their fares, the industry has been fighting back. Back in July a U.S. Appeals Court sided with consumers and ruled that airlines must stick to the new rules, and now the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the industry’s challenge once again, in refusing to hear the case. [More]
Flying The Friendly Skies Friday: The Happiest of Birthdays; Upgrades For Everybody
By March 29, 2013
Around these parts, we hear our share of the frustrating, the woeful and the all-out angry. But when we catch hold of an idea that brings out the happy and rewarding stories of customers, we like to celebrate it. This week in Flying The Friendly Skies Friday: The best birthday in the air and upgrades for everybody. [More]
And Now: “Flying The Friendly Skies Fridays” Because Traveling Can Actually Be Fun
By March 22, 2013
Around these parts, we hear our share of the frustrating, the woeful and the all-out angry. But when we catch hold of an idea that brings out the happy and rewarding stories of customers, we like to celebrate it. Herewith, then, the first of a few “Flying The Friendly Skies Fridays.” Or FTFSF, if you will. [More]
Southwest Airlines Mails Lost Phone, Provides Outstanding Service And Terrible Poetry
By March 6, 2013
Jane’s husband left his mobile phone behind on a Southwest Airlines plane. Oh, no! How sad! He had every reason to expect not to see it again, but someone turned it in to Lost and Found. The kind souls at Southwest mailed it back to him, enclosing a poem. We’re not saying that it was a good poem, but it’s certainly a thoughtful one. [More]
DOT Head Ray LaHood Paints Nightmarish Travel Picture If Sequestration Hits March 1
By February 22, 2013
Maybe you haven’t been paying much attention to all the hullabaloo surrounding automatic government spending cuts that could go into effect next week, known as sequestration. It’s a lot to take in, as those cuts will be across-the-board and could be a problem for a wide variety of government agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration. As such, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is painting a potentially annoying picture for air travel in the future. [More]
Should Airlines Do Away With Reclining Seats Once & For All?
By February 19, 2013
There it is, right in front of your face. Sure, it looks innocent enough but any second its controller could decide to hit the lever and WHOMP! the seat in front of you thwacks into reclining position, punishing your knees, spilling your club soda and eliciting a grumpy huff from your lips. What choice do you have but to follow suit and recline your seat as well? [More]
Yes, There’s A Study About Passing Gas On Planes: Let It Rip, Unless You’re The Pilot
By February 15, 2013
There are studies these days about everything — whether your right hand ever gets mad at your left, if the grass really is greener on the other side, etc. — so of course there’s one about farting on airplanes. Our apologies if we’ve offended your sense of delicacy, but hey, we all do it. Anyway, if you’re a passenger, the study says you should let it rip. But pilots might be better off holding it in, lest their malodorous emissions pose a safety risk. [More]
Would You Pay $30 An Hour To Nap In A 7-By-8-Foot Room At The Airport?
By February 14, 2013
You’ve been up since the crack of dawn and have arrived bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived at the airport, only to find your connecting flight is delayed. Like, way delayed. Your options are limited and probably include camping out near a wall so you can at least lean your head against it and catch a few z’s while you wait. Or would you be willing to pay $30 an hour to take a nap in a tiny room of your own? [More]
Airlines Mishandled Fewer Bags Last Year Maybe Because We Hate Paying To Check Them
By February 12, 2013
The good news is that the Department of Transportation says airlines are mishandling fewer bags than before, with a nice little 8% drop in the amount of “lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered” pieces of luggage from 2011 to 2012. But before we go slapping airlines on the back with a hearty “good job!” pat, perhaps it’s just because passengers are keeping their personal effects out of the hands of baggage handlers. [More]
