Sure, we’ve all gotten annoyed at one time or another while flying, whether it’s over the limited overhead space or the crying baby in the next row. But just because we can get ticked off doesn’t mean customers have the right to be brats. Take a few of these tips to be the best flier you can be, which can lead to a better experience for everyone. [More]
travel
Amtrak Charters Sweet Bus When Tracks Are Unsafe
By 4.8.11
An exemplary customer service experience….with Amtrak? It’s possible! Thomas was traveling from Boston to Buffalo, NY, and learned that some of the track in New England was impassible, so passengers would be taking a bus for part of their trip. He expected to be put on a Greyhound bus…not a travel experience to look forward to. But Amtrak had something nicer planned for its passengers. [More]
Let's Talk About Buying Travel Insurance, Shall We?
By 4.7.11
If you’re like us, you usually wave aside the online ticket agent’s offer to purchase travel insurance. However it could come in really handy and sometimes you’re going to want it. But if you do want to buy travel, when and how should you do it? [More]
2nd Air Traffic Controller Could Be Fired For Snoozing On The Job
By 4.7.11
The second air traffic controller in a month could lose his job for catching some z’s up in the tower. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told Congress that the controller was “found intentionally sleeping.” What defines “intentional sleeping?” He had cushions and a blanket, meaning he brought materials to work with him to help him sleep. [More]
Travel Industry Trying To Beat Complaining Customers To The Punch
By 4.4.11
The right to complain when your travel experience wasn’t what you paid for is being preempted by many airlines and other agencies, but does that mean you have to accept what you’re being offered right off the bat when something goes wrong? [More]
Ryanair Launches "Child Free Flights"
By 4.1.11
Most proclamations by RyanAir, the Irish “jet strapped to a metal pole” low-cost airline, sound like April Fool’s jokes anyway but at least their attempt today is right on message. RyanAir announced they are introducing “child free flights” starting late this year. “When it comes to children we all love our own but would clearly prefer to avoid other people’s little monsters when travelling,” said RyanAir’s head of communications Stephen McNamara in a press release. Staying classy is not what this airline is selling. [More]
Who Has The Worst Fees In Surcharge-Riddled Travel Industry?
By 3.30.11
Traveling these days seems to just be a case of a fee here, a fee there, fees everywhere you turn, whether it’s by land, sea or air. But which part of the industry is the very worst when it comes to hitting consumers with extraneous charges? [More]
Top 5 Mistakes Tourists Make In Lisbon
By 3.21.11
Before you hit Lisbon, the beautiful capital of Portugal, on your next tourist jaunt, be sure to apprise yourself of these 5 common mistakes tourists make, says the Go Lisbon Blog. Besides “Spanish is not the official language, Portuguese is,” I think my favorite tip is that you should respect the lines. In Lisbon, people don’t just bumrush the doors to board public transit. They queue up in order of arrival and board accordingly. Break this rule and be ready for a grumbly little old lady to accidentally on-purpose whack you with her cane as she walks by you. [More]
7 Hours Sitting In The Aisle Of An Overbooked Megabus
By 3.15.11
This weekend, Sean spent a miserable seven hours sitting in the aisle of a packed Megabus traveling between two East Coast cities. The company had taken too many reservations for the overnight bus, and had four five more passengers than seats. The last four five passengers had a choice between two incredibly crappy options: be stranded overnight in the city of departure and miss their connections, or crouch in the aisle, cursing Megabus with every mile. Sean and his companions went for the second option. [More]
Jetblue And American Increase Fees, Airlines Dream Up More
By 3.14.11
The airline fees just keep edging up. Jetblue has increased the 2nd checked bag fee to $35 from $30. They have also increased the fee for their “Even More Legroom” seats by $5. Not wanting to be left out, American is increasing the fee for making a reservation by phone to $25 from $20. With fuel costs rising, airlines are looking for ways to increase revenue without increasing airfare, as they’ve already done that six times this year already. They use fuel costs as the reason, but you know if the price of fuel drops, they’re not going to cut back on fees. And according to the Journal, airlines are looking for more ways to add fees, like a surcharge for a chair that reclines more, a champagne brunch fee, or blizzard insurance. [More]
The Nastiest Hotel Of All Time
By 3.14.11
When you’re touring with an indie band, you don’t have the cash to stay in the Four Seasons every night. But if you think you’ve stayed in some nasty places, try the one Lecee Abee stayed in, with a pool where they store box mattresses and broken tvs, a room covered in stains and grime, and blood spattered bedsheets. [More]
Allegiant: Let's Let Travelers Gamble On Airfare
By 3.14.11
Allegiant Air has come up with an idea for a new kind of airfare whose final price would rise or fall with the price of jet fuel. Passengers could choose between a traditional ticket, or one that has a discounted up-front cost, but whose final price is variable. If gas is cheaper the day you fly, you pay less. If higher, you pay more. It sounds a little crazy, until you realize where Allegiant is based out of: Las Vegas! [More]
21 Airlines Fined $1.7 Billion In Price-Fixing Scheme
By 3.11.11
The Justice Department has fined 21 airlines in a massive global price-fixing scheme. British Airways, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic were among the airlines indicted. Even four executives have gone to jail. What did they do? The JD charges that the airlines colluded to artificially inflate fuel surcharges for passengers industry-wide, as well as cargo surcharges. The case probably wouldn’t have been broken if Luthansa and Virgin Atlantic hadn’t come forward and confessed under the Justice Department’s amnesty program that provides leniency for finking. In an interesting turn, the scheme was so codified that various airlines had entire committees and sub-committees devoted to managing it. [More]
FAA Orders O2 Masks Removed From Airplane Bathrooms
By 3.11.11
Airlines are removing the emergency oxygen generators from airplane bathrooms by order of FAA directive, reports KPRC. The concern is that someone could go in there, rip the supply out, and rig it into an explosive device. [More]
Continental Flight Delayed 3 Hours By Broken Toilet In First Class
By 3.7.11
A malfunction in the toilet in first-class caused a Continental flight to leave three hours behind schedule this morning. It was initially reported by that the toilet was backed up and no plunger could be found, but an airline spokeswoman later refuted that. Plungers aren’t used to repair toilets, she said. “It’s not a toilet like you have at your home. It’s a mechanical process to repair the lavatory.” The earlier report had said that no plunger could be found at the airport and someone had to be sent off grounds. [More]
10 Ways To Make The TSA Crotch Grabbers Profitable
By 3.7.11
Last week, the the Director of Homeland Security suggested to Congress that the TSA get a cut of airline baggage fees. The fees encourage travelers to carry on their bags, and this in turn leads to more bags that have to be inspected by hand at security checkpoints. Should taxpayers keep picking up the tab, or should airlines give the TSA a piece of the baggage fees? How about neither? What if instead the TSA looked for more creative ways to offset costs and even increase revenue? Here are 10 modest proposals: [More]
How Delta Made Enemies Of Standup Eugene Mirman
By 3.7.11
I stumbled across this clip of standup comedian Eugene Mirman describing how Delta Airlines became his enemy. It all started when they lost his bag and at the counter they looked at his ticket and asked him if his name was “Barbara Riddle.” He said no and then they proceeded to deliver Ms. Riddle’s bag to his house, twice, before finally giving up and telling him he’d have to file a claim for his luggage. Fast-forward to 5:57 to hear him tell the tale and read aloud the hate letter he wrote them as a result. [More]
