One airline, two different customer service experiences
It’s no secret that the major airlines are struggling. And that they need to charge some of the penalties and fees that they do to survive. But sometimes waiving a fee might be the best financial decision an airline can make.
Senator urges airlines to roll back fuel charges
Our own Christopher Elliott posted an entry about how airlines should lower fuel surcharges now that fuel prices have gone down. Apparently, he’s not the only one that feels that way.
Dump this! 7 things airlines should jettison from their planes now
Planes nearly fly themselves these days. Why not remove the pilots to cut weight? Oh, and while they’re at it, here are a few more things they could take away. Christopher Elliott makes a few modest proposals.
Windfall airport and airline riches from nominal fees
Sometimes, obscure fees and taxes instituted by governments and airlines create a surprising windfall when the overall economic milieu changes. These fees and taxes that might have been expected to pull in normal amounts of revenues can grow enormously as in the case of jet fuel taxes and frequent flier fees.
Thanks for nothing! New reservations technology enables surcharges
A la carte. Unbundling. Value pricing. All of these euphemisms refer to the new airline trend of charging passengers for everything they can think of that used to be free. But they’re not doing it alone.
Airline fees confusing passengers
Airline fees, coming fast and furious, haven’t yet settled into the traveling consciousness of the American public. Most of them know there are fees out there, but those who don’t travel regularly have no idea of the extent of the new record-high fees.
Not everyone’s being nickeled and dimed at Continental
Not at the top anyway. When Jeffrey Misner steps down as Continental’s chief financial officer on on Aug. 31, he pockets a bonus of nearly $3 million.
What’ll they think of next? A new genre of travel story is born
You’ve heard of the first-person story, the destination feature and the photo essay. All are well-known genres in travel journalism. After last week, maybe it’s time to coin a new kind of travel story: the “what’ll they think of next?” article.
Have airlines gone too far with new fees? No — not far enough
For a few hopeful hours yesterday, it seemed as if at least one airline was going to acknowledge what air travelers have been saying all along: that the new fees by the likes of American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways have gone too far.
Going to California? Bring your passport
It’s no secret that many of today’s younger generation have difficulty with the subject of geography. It appears some of the companies we depend on during our travels are stymied as well.