Technical problems, fog, rain and other weather issues are already causing delays at several airports says USAToday.
airlines
130 Diverted American Airlines Flights Tracked On A Legal Pad
By 11.17.07
When a storm forced American Airlines to divert 130 planes from Dallas-Fort Worth last year, the airline tracked the diverted planes not with an advanced computer system, but with a legal pad.
Lacking any automated system for keeping track of all those diverted planes, Mr. Dillman and his colleagues furiously scribbled down details of where they had gone, how long they had sat there, and whether pilots had enough time left on their daily work limits to keep flying when the weather cleared.
New TSA Screening: Empty Out All Your Electronics
By 11.16.07
The TSA is testing a new level of security screening at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and it requires you to take every electronic component out of your carry-on luggage and put it in a separate bin, reader John tells us. He writes:
Missing Slip Of Paper Almost Stopped US Airways/America West Merger
By 11.16.07
We always appreciate the oddly forthcoming US Airways emails they’ve been sending to out to customers to keep them apprised of developments during their merger with America West. Turns out the merger almost didn’t happen:
…on September 26th we officially handed over the America West operating certificate to the FAA and formally merged into one airline. Yes, there really was a handover ceremony, and for a few weeks we couldn’t find the original America West certificate. Turns out it was in use as part of a company heritage display. No certificate, no merger. Wouldn’t that have been embarrassing?
Aw, that’s almost cute. Can’t find the operating certificate…passengers stranded on the tarmac for hours….anyone else seeing a correlation?
Too Sexy For Southwest Airlines Woman Poses Nude
By 11.16.07
Too sexy for Southwest Airlines, Kyla Ebbert is a perfect fit for Playboy.
“Kyla Ebbert appears in a series of pictures — some in lingerie, some nude — under the heading, “Legs in the Air.”
Are Delta And United Talking Mergers? Romantic Dinners? Long Walks On The Beach?
By 11.14.07
The New York Times tells us that Pardus Capital Management, a hedge fund, has sent a letter to the management of Delta Air Lines asking it to seek a merger with UAL, the parent of United Airlines.
By 11.13.07
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These airlines all offer special deals exclusively on their official sites: American, Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, Virgin America, Frontier, SkyBus, Air New Zealand, AirTransat, Alaska, Allegiant, Cathay Pacific, SAS, Singapore, USA3000, and WestJet. [Airfarewatchdog Blog]
By 11.13.07
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Airlines are supposedly going out of their way to avoid the coming PR debacle that is otherwise known as the holiday travel season. Good luck, boys and girls. [Wall Street Journal]
Skybus Executives' Phone Numbers And Email Addresses
By 11.13.07
Travel troubleshooter Chris Elliot published contact info for five top Skybus executives. Skybus is the new zero frills super cheap airline. One of the ways they save money is by having no phone numbers for customers to call. They want you to just send an email. But by the emails that Elliot is getting, it looks like Skybus isn’t even reading those. We’d be happy to loan out one of our email interns if they’re short of manpower. Barring that, the contact info can help you send you Skybus complaint to a real human being.
Protect Yourself From Being Bumped Off A Flight
By 11.12.07
Kiplinger’s “Win the Bumping Game” offers some advice on how to minimize the chances you’ll get left behind when your airline overbooks a flight. The main thing you can do is arrive early—it’s the last-minute arrivals, or worse, those who buy their tickets a half hour before departure, who are most likely to get bumped. The other thing you can do is avoid Delta, Comair, or Atlantic Southeast, which have the worst records of bumping passengers, and stick with JetBlue, which has the best. And make sure you have a seat assignment if at all possible.
Build Your Dream Airline
By 11.10.07
The USA Today tossed three travel experts in a room and asked them to describe their dream airline. An airline that restores the grandeur of flight by focusing on passenger value and convenience. Pay attention airlines, and consider giving us the following:
By 11.9.07
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US Airways had the most consumer complaints of any airline for the month of September, with 2.13 complaints for every 100,000 passengers. [Phoenix Business Journal via Consumerama]
Know Your Passenger Rights When Flying In Europe
By 11.8.07
If you’re flying in Europe, considering printing a copy of this consumer rights document (PDF) and putting it in your wallet. It’s “Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004,” but all you need to know is that it stipulates what airlines have to do when flights are canceled, delayed, or they lose your luggage. Like in America, they don’t have to give you jack if the delays are due to weather. Airfarewatchdog Blog has a good breakdown of what the rules mean.
Get Last Minute Holiday Travel Deals
By 11.8.07
FareCompare found some late-breaking deals good for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel. The deals are on specific routes. If you can be flexible with your dates, there’s savings to be found. You must book at least 7 days in advance, and at least 14 is preferable. Even Johnny-come-latelys can to grandma’s house go.
Southwest Offers Business Travelers Boarding Priority, Free Booze
By 11.7.07
Starting tomorrow, frequent travelers who fly 16 round trip or 32 one-way flights in 12 months with Southwest will receive automatic boarding priority through a new “Rapid Rewards” program called the “A-List.”
Delta's Atlantic Southeast Airlines Is America's Worst Airline
By 11.7.07
The Department of Transportations Air Travel Consumer Report was released Monday and it confirms what we’ve all been thinking: Delta’s Atlantic Southeast Airlines is just stunningly terrible.
US Airways Crew Suffers Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
By 11.7.07
More comforting news from the airline industry: Five crew members were taken to the hospital after complaining of an illness caused by a mysterious smell on US Airways Flight 2022 from Washington to Boston. The smell turned out to be carbon monoxide-filled fumes from a generator that drives the jet’s air conditioning.
Delta Making Frequent Flyer Miles Harder To Redeem
By 11.7.07
Delta is “tweaking” its frequent flyer program to make seats more difficult to reserve. It’s also going to begin charging a fee for booking flights on its partner airlines.
