Delta isn’t great about letting passengers volunteer to be bumped off an oversold flight instead of just bumping them by force. The company just doesn’t have enough CEOs to go around and offer seats to people who need to get home. Don’t take our word for it: the U.S. Department of Transportation gave them a public reprimand and ordered the airline to pay a penalty of $750,000. [More]
airlines
GAO: American-U.S. Airways Merger Will Reduce Competition
By 6.20.13
We’ve been following the proposed hook-up/merger of American Airlines and U.S. Airways for what seems like forever, but those two crazy kids aren’t out of the woods yet, so far as approvals go. And a new report by congressional watchdogs over at the Government Accountability Office could play a part in the Justice Department’s review of that marriage. It says if the companies smush themselves together, it’ll reduce competition in a whole lot of airports. [More]
Air Canada Rouge Flight Attendants: Hipsters Of The Skies
By 5.31.13
Air Canada’s new discount carrier, Air Canada Rouge, bills itself as a “new stylishly affordable leisure airline.” Rouge introduced its new uniforms to the flying public this week, and they’re very versatile. Flight attendants can wear them from work to a concert to picking out artisanal marshmallows at the local farmer’s market. They make the flight attendants look like hipsters, is what I’m saying. [More]
Sen. Schumer Would Really Appreciate It If Airlines Could Reverse Hike In Flight Change Fees
By 5.20.13
Grumpy over those recently change fee hikes Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, U.S. Aiways and United Airlines instituted? You’re not the only one — New York Sen. Charles Schumer is in your corner. He’s asking, well, kind of demanding, that the airline industry take back those hikes so families can afford to travel together. [More]
Airlines Raked In A Record $6 Billion In Baggage & Change Fees Last Year
By 5.14.13
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]
Woman Booted From Flight Because No One Asked For Her Best Whitney Houston Impression
By 5.13.13
Just because the song “I Will Always Love” you (as written by Dolly Parton and sung by the late Whitney Houston) implies an unflagging dedication, belting it out on an airplane didn’t bring one passenger any love from an American Airlines flight crew. She was ejected from the plane for disrupting the flight, in part because she was warbling her karaoke-night best. [More]
We Are Shocked, Simply Shocked That Summer Airfares Have Dropped In Price This Year
By 5.2.13
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 4.22.13
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 4.19.13
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 4.16.13
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 4.16.13
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 4.12.13
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 4.11.13
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 4.8.13
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 4.1.13
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 3.29.13 — Updated: 4.5.13
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 3.22.13
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 3.6.13
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]
