Are baggage fees spurring a carry-on police crackdown?
Like it or not, travelers are getting used to paying surcharges for checked luggage. And with second bag fees up to $50 on some domestic airlines - more for heavier bags - the new surcharges have become a significant source of revenue. Of course, these fees have also spurred travelers to try harder to get their belongings into a carry-on bag.
Some passengers are more equal than others on Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines, the airline that made one-class open seating and service acceptable and even “cool” in America, is quietly changing its business model. Some passengers are now more equal than others.
Screw Europe! American Airlines moves to “unbundle” air fares
Officials at American Airlines this weekend announced that the airline is planning to move to an “unbundled” fare system in 2009 — even as Europe is about to implement a new rule requiring airlines to quote an all-inclusive price.
Hapless United Airlines loses millions hedging fuel
Anyone following the story of the American airline industry over the past year knows that Southwest Airlines has held an ace in the hole with their successful fuel hedging operations that have saved the company millions of dollars. When United finally decided to hop on the hedging bandwagon, they managed to lose hundreds of millions.
New Orleans airport closed to those without tickets
Currently, only ticketed Passengers will be allowed to enter the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Any Passengers coming to the airport for a flight should have proof of a reservation. This can be a paper ticket, boarding pass, or printed itinerary. Also, please expect to encounter checkpoints as you approach the airport terminal.
Southwest Airlines hopes to shorten waiting time at the ticket counter
Southwest Airlines ticket agents have to go through several different programs just to check in a customer. Agents have to memorize codes, use cheat sheets, and use pen and paper to do the simplest things. Soon, however, all they have to do is point and click.
Astoundingly, some airlines make money
In case anyone has forgotten, Southwest Airlines made a profit once again — they have never lost money — so did Lufthansa and subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines.
And now a Southwest lawsuit
Four Alabama passengers have filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines over its recent missed inspections.
Denver may be Frontier’s last stand
The survival of Frontier Airlines may depend largely on whether or not it can fend off competitors United Airlines and Southwest Airlines in Denver.
FAA official moved over Southwest flap
Thomas Stuckey, criticized last week for the Federal Aviation Administration’s oversight of Southwest Airlines, has been reassigned.