Kayak and American settle lawsuit
Back in August we reported that American and Kayak have been suing each other regarding displaying American’s fares on Kayak. Now both Travel Weekly and International Business Times (IBT) have reported that the suit has been settled.
God bless Air Canada — they rescind baggage fees
Air Canada announced that it will do away with the C$25 second checked bag fee introduced back in the spring. It also plans to roll its fuel surcharges into airfares. These moves are all in the wake of “moderated” fuel costs, and far different from the actions of US legacy carriers.
Is the cost of airline surcharges worth it? Yes — and no
The airline world is being roiled by an “unbundling” trend. Once the costs of baggage, meals, drinks, pillows and blankets were included in fares. Today, most airlines are beginning to charge for these as extras — add-ons to the basic charge of getting passengers from Point A to Point B. But not all of them.
Surfing the Internet at altitude
Delta just announced the start of in-flight internet access. Prices will range from $9.95 for flights under three hours, to $12.95 on flights of three hours or more (Does this account for ATC holds and other delays?). Delta is promising to roll this service out across their fleet finishing by the middle of 2009.
Are Continental’s “crisis” cuts a harbinger of travel industry implosion?
Continental Airlines has announced deep capacity cuts and personnel cuts for its airline operations. It is slashing 3,000 jobs, 67 aircraft and reducing capacity in the fourth quarter by 11 percent in what it calls a “crisis.” This is serious.
U.S. airlines’ old-aircraft handicap
Airline consultants have sobering words about the age of the U.S. legacy carriers’ fleets. Even if the carriers were to make new orders today, planes would not be delivered until 2012-2015.