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Delta Aims To Increase Appeal To Business Travelers
Delta Air Lines is enhancing its
regional jets by adding first-class seats. "As business travel
returns, it's important for airlines to feel they have a quality product
for that business traffic," said Hunter Keay,
an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus.
"Airlines are really competing heavily for that high-yield
traffic."
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· Continental Postpones Onboard Internet
Access
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Continental
is postponing the installation of onboard Internet because the airline
wants to "determine in-flight Internet connectivity solutions in the
context of a merged carrier." In December, Continental said it
planned a second-quarter launch of Aircell's
Internet service on the airline's Boeing 757-300 aircraft. That
announcement occurred before United and Continental unveiled merger plans
in May. United offers Aircell's service on
transcontinental flights from New York
to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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· Column: Rental-Car Firms Follow Airlines'
Lead On Fees
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Columnist
Bill McGee says that while airlines have raised billions of dollars from
ancillary fees in recent years, rental-car companies also have been
charging their customers a range of fees, albeit more quietly. Avis, for
example, has reported a 12% increase in domestic ancillary revenues. It's
becoming increasingly difficult for travelers to determine the total rate
of a rental car and the trend is expected to continue.
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· DHS: U.S.
Provides More Privacy Than Europe In
Full-Body Scans
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Despite
European criticism over alleged privacy concerns posed by full-body
scanners, the U.S. has
built-in protections while Europe does not, according to a U.S.
official. "There is more privacy protection in place in the U.S. than in Europe,
because we embedded those provisions before rolling out the system,"
says Mary Ellen Callahan, supervisor of privacy and data protection at
the Department of Homeland Security. Callahan says scanners are optional
in the U.S.
and that screeners are located in a separate room where they cannot see
the person being scanned. In the U.K., Callahan points out,
there is no choice to opt out of the scan and there is no separation
between the subject and the screener.
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· Longest Runway At JFK Reopens; Philadelphia Airport Offers Wi-Fi; JetBlue Adds
$6 Snack Boxes
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The
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
said that the $348.1 million runway project at John F.
Kennedy International
Airport was
completed ahead of schedule and within budget. The runway is open again
after the four-month construction project aimed at reducing flight
delays. Philadelphia
International Airport has started offering free
Wi-Fi Internet service. JetBlue is joining other carriers offering
onboard food for sale. Five new snack boxes will go for $6 each. The
snack boxes will be available on flights longer than 3 hours and 45
minutes. They range from a "Wake Up" box that includes a croissant,
jam, almond butter, crackers, fruit and milk to a "Cheer Up"
box that features three cheeses, dried fruit and crackers.
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· New Passport Fees Imposed By U.S.
State Department
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Effective
July 13, the U.S. State Department imposed new fees for many of its
passport-related products and services. The total cost of a new passport
will increase from $100 to $135 for adults (age 16 and older) and from
$85 to $105 for minors. Renewals will increase from $75 to $110 for
adults and from $60 to $80 for minors. Travelers needing extra visa pages
will pay $82. Previously, this service has been offered free. The
complete rules and fee chart can be found on the Passport page of the
State Department's website.
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· Airlines See Multiple Advantages To
Hand-Held Technology
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At
airports around the country, U.S. airlines are increasing
their use of mobile technology to shorten passenger waiting times -- and,
potentially, to increase sales of ancillary offerings. Hand-held devices
allow roving agents to confirm gate changes, issue baggage tags and more.
The devices are seen as a way to personalize customer service, but the
investment could pay off in other ways, making it more convenient for
passengers to upgrade their seats, pay for oversized bags and so forth.
"A number of airlines are looking at not just queue-busting, but
maximizing opportunities for up-sale," says Gregory Ouillon of aviation technology firm SITA.
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· Reminder: Secure Flight Passenger Program
Data (Known As SFPD)
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SFPD
program requires airlines to collect full name (first, middle (if
existent) and last name), birth date, gender, and redress number (where
applicable for travelers whose name previously had appeared on the
"do not fly" list). A few airlines have warned that tickets
could be cancelled if travelers have failed to provide required data.
While the ultimate responsibility for complying with TSA rules falls to airlines
and travelers, please reiterate to all travelers that failure to provide
SFPD likely will result in inconveniences, including ineligibility for
advance check-in, required ticket counter check-in at the airport and
possible ticket cancelation for travel after November 1, 2010. Some
airlines are going so far as to say they will not allow ticketing without
SFPD in the record.
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· Questions Remain About Proposed Airline
Merger's Affect On Travelers
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Some
airline industry analysts and other observers are convinced a proposed
merger of United and Continental airlines will result in higher airfares.
But today's air travel market has evolved, with low-cost airlines raising
the stakes for legacy airlines. Plus, after years of consolidation in the
industry, today's airfares are inexpensive when measured on a historical
basis.
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· Looking to take a vacation?
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