 |
 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Airlines, Airplanes and Airports
Tips about taking best advantage of the world's airlines, getting on and getting comfortable on the world's airplanes, navigating the world's airports, getting throiiugh US Customs and complaining about services. Airlines Airline Tracking System Now Available to Consumers. Want to know if your flight will be delayed before the airport gate agent knows? Flight Explorer Star Alliance Airlines Set to Double Number of Lounges. Elite status frequent flyers will shortly have access to more than 500 airport lounges around the world. By July, about 250 lounges operated by outside parties for member airlines would be opened to all Star Alliance Gold members. For more information on participating lounges, or on the Star Alliance itself, click on http://www.staralliance.com. Star Alliance Launches a Global Internet Booking Tool. The Star Alliance has launched a global Internet tool that allows travelers to book seats on any of the alliance airline members, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The site has been integrated with a booking engine linked to a system that provides a confirmed reservation as well as a price quote for the ticket in local currency. Ticketing options vary by country and itinerary and include a choice of delivery by mail, electronic tickets or pickup at select city or airport ticket offices. Travelers can also elect to have their air miles credited to the Star Alliance frequent flyer program of their choice. Hotel rooms and rental cars can also be booked through the system. Star Alliance members include Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Ansett Australia, Lufthansa German Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, United Airlines and Varig Brazilian Airlines. For reservations or information, www.star-alliance.com. The Popular Europe By Air Network Adds Another Airline. The network offers a system of $99 one-way flights to destinations to/from 27 countries. AXON, the Greek short-haul carrier, offers daily service from Athens to Paris, Rome, Brussels and Milan. Airline members include Air Greece, Air Liberte, Air One, AlpiEagles Airlines, Augsburg Airways, AXON Airlines, Croatian, European Air Express, Estonian Airlines, Jersey European, LTU, PGA Portugalia, LTU/RAS, Spanair, TTA Trans Travel, Virgin Express and VLM. Currently, The Europe-By-Air tickets are valid only for non-European residents, and they must be purchased outside of Europe. Each pass or ticket costs $99 (plus tax). You must purchase a minimum of three tickets. Tickets are valid for 120 days and are nonrefundable. The company says that it will soon offer discount travel to European residents, and will shortly add flights on Swissair and Sabena. For more information or to buy tickets call (888)387-2479 in North America or visit http://www.europebyair.com. New Flight Option: Seats on Private Charter Flights. Always wanted to fly on a private jet but can't justify the expense? Business travelers now have the chance to book an empty seat on private jets chartered by other business travelers. Flightserve.com has made a partnership with Sabre, the computer reservations system, to provide access to flightserv.com's proprietary Private Seats(TM) product through Sabre Business Travel Solutions, the Internet business-to-business travel purchasing system in use by more than 350 corporations worldwide. If your company doesn't use Sabre BTS, you can still book a seat on a charter flight through a Sabre-connected travel agency or through the Web site On-Time Means Being On Time United is Taking its On-time Efforts Seriously. The airline has advised travelers through signs, newsletters and in-flight videos of various actions that constitute being late. If you are not in your seat with your carry-ons properly stowed 10 minutes before departure, you are late; and if you are not on board 5 minutes before departure you could get locked out. Also, be aware that in case of a "time" dispute, the airline's clock is always right. Some business travelers welcome the new policies. "Anything that can be done to get flights out on time is good," says USA Today Road Warrior Bruce Corson. As another part of its on-time strategy, United also has one of the strictest carry-on enforcement policies. Recently, however, they relented a bit to convenience the traveler; modifying their carryon template so that garment bags can now be placed flat on the conveyor belt rather than rolled or bunched up as they've been since the templates were introduced last November. Other Tactics Being used by Carriers to address the on-time issue: automating gate ticket readers, enlarging overhead bins to accommodate carry-ons, limiting the number and size of carry-ons, and closing plane doors 2 minutes before scheduled departure time. Electronic Tickets are Being Embraced by some corporate travel departments in a big way, despite continued, though fewer limitations in both their availability and capability. Travel managers not only are taking advantage of delivery cost savings from using e-tickets, they also are banking on a number of new services the electronic tickets could make available. (Aetna Director of Global Travel Teresa) McVickers estimated that Aetna already has saved (since August) $150,000 on prepaids, overnights, cancellations, reissues and general mail delivery. Standing by for Summer Travel With planes packed during heavy summer travel, travelers need to be careful that they don't lose their reservations when they miss a scheduled flight and are forced to fly standby. Most airlines say they will list you as a "no show" if you don't show up for a flightÛ particularly with overbooked flights during peak travel times. That means the airline will automatically cancel your reservations for all scheduled flight segments, including the return trip on a round-trip ticket, not just the part you missed. European Airlines Join Online Forces. Following a similar move by the U.S. airlines that make up the new AOrbitz@ online marketing consortium, 11 European carriers soon will offer their own version of an online travel agency. The as-yet unnamed Web site will offer travel agents and the general public access to up-to-date fare information, including the airlines lowest branded fares. The participating airlines are British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Alitalia, KLM, Iberia, SAS, Aer Lingus, Austrian Airlines, British Midland and Finnair. British Airways CEO Rod Eddington, speaking on behalf of the member airlines, said that the site will offer passengers Athe most comprehensive and competitively priced range of flights to, from and within Europe." Travelers will also be able to book hotels, car rentals, insurance and other travel services through the site. The venture, which is expected to launch towards the end of this year, will be managed independently of the airlines. Fourth Airline Alliance is Born. First there was Star, then OneWorld, then Wings. Now there is SkyTeam, a partnership of Delta, Air France, Aeromexico, and Korean Airlines. Collectively, the alliance will offer 6,402 daily flights and more nonstop service between the United States and Europe than any competing alliance, it claims. Look for merged frequency programs and better connections overseas among partners. A New Incentive to Book Airline Tickets Online. Biztravel.com recently made waves in the e-travel world by launching an ingenious and totally original airline guarantee program. The firm will refund travelers for inconveniences or cancellations occurring on flights booked through Biztravel.com's website. Essentially, the firm is guaranteeing the performance of American Airlines, Continental Airlines, US Airways, British Airways, and Air France in a way that even these carriers do not:
However, any delays due to mechanical problems are not subject to this guarantee. Other caveats: These refunds are only available from biztravel.com and cannot be applied for through the airlines directly. In addition, refunds apply only to flights operated by the airlines listed above. In other words, they do not apply to code share flights operated by partner airlines. Passenger Rights Legislation: Much of the current zeal and heightened legislative activity has been fueled by two recent industry incidents: the New Year's weekend travel mishandling in Detroit during a severe blizzard and the recent pilot "sick-out." Industry response calls the legislation unfair, saying that it will result in "unintended consequences." One issue of particular concern to the industry is that the proposal would back up methods some travelers use to save on fares such as "hidden city tickets" and "back-to-back" ticketing. Elliot Seiden, a Northwest vice president, calls Shuster's proposal to provide penalties that multiply each hour for stranded passengers "ridiculous." He said, "These delays aren't the airlines' fault...they are the fault of the creaking air traffic control system and the weather." He said the airlines prefer the Clinton-Gore proposal. Although the number of complaints has risen, it's important to know about an area of service that is improving. The rate of involuntary bumpings dropped to 0.87 per 10,000 passengers, an 18 percent decrease from 1997. That is the biggest decrease in five years. Airlines are trying to improve this situation further by putting in place software that can better predict passenger demand. While the bills proposed make many passenger-friendly provisions such as provisions for waylaid passengers and more ticketing flexibility, passengers need to be aware that if the bills are passed, the changes may come at a significant price. Airlines will need to raise airfares to compensate for the lack of control these ticketing provisions will place on their current inventory and pricing systems. One airline official has predicted that if the legislation is passed it will mean as much as a $19 increase on one-way tickets. Many predict that these bills will not be passed. Consumers should know rights and airline responsibilities. For the business traveler, company policy usually dictates specific airlines and booking classes, which takes the fare-finding obligation off them. However, this still leaves the traveler with the duty to know what procedures to follow to ensure the fullest compensation is received in the event that an airline does not fulfill certain promises inherent in the purchase of a ticket. A booklet detailing airline consumers' rights, Fly-rights: A Consumer Guide to Air Travel, has been created by the Department of Transportation. For $1.75, which includes postage, the 58-page pocket-size booklet can be ordered from the Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009. The document is also available from the DOT Web site: http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/ flyrights.htm Overbooking: Most airlines make it standard practice to overbook flights to compensate for "no-shows." In the situation of an overbooked flight, the DOT and most European governments have mandated that an airline must first ask for volunteers before involuntarily bumping passengers. Compensation differs between those passengers voluntarily bumped and those who are involuntarily bumped. For those who are voluntarily bumped, no DOT mandated compensation exists, so airlines will often negotiate with travelers and bump those with the lowest demands. If an airline ticket is offered in compensation, the traveler should be sure to check for restrictions and length of validity. For those who are involuntarily bumped, there are DOT mandates. All passengers who are involuntarily bumped must be provided with a written statement describing their rights and explaining how the carrier determines the order in which passengers will be bumped. If the airline arranges substitute transportation scheduled to get to the final destination, including later connections, within one hour of the original scheduled time of arrival, there is no compensation due. If the substitute transportation is scheduled to arrive between one and two hours after the original arrival time (between one and four hours on international flights) the airline must pay an amount equal to the one-way fare to the final destination, with a maximum of $200. If it is more than two hours (four internationally), or if the airline does not make any substitute travel arrangements the compensations double (200 percent of the fare with a $400 maximum.) The traveler is always entitled to keep the original ticket and use it on another flight. The denied boarding compensation is essentially a payment for the inconvenience experienced. These regulations do not apply to charter flights or to scheduled flights operated with planes that hold 60 or fewer passengers. International flights inbound to the United States are also now mandated to follow these guidelines. A booklet detailing airline consumers' rights, Fly-rights: A Consumer Guide to Air Travel, has been created by the DOT. For $1.75, which includes postage, the 58-page pocket-size booklet can be ordered from the Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009. The document is also available from the DOT Web site: www.dot.gov/airconsumer/flyrights.htm An e-mail address has been established for airline-related problems (airconsumer@ost.gov). Coping with the carryon crackdown It's been nearly one year since airlines began rewriting their carryon policies. New policies allow fewer items aboard and have more stringent measurement regulations for those items. Many business travelers favored some changes so as to improve on-time arrivals and provide passenger safety. Today many travelers are feeling the frustration of these new and varied policies, and the wide-range of attitudes regarding enforcement. Dave Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association, uses the term "combat situation" to describe what is happening at some airports. "Confrontations between travelers and ticket agents it can get very ugly," he says. Depending on the carrier, the biggest changes include the demise of the full-size garment bag as a usual carryon; and counting briefcases, laptops, and even purses as a carryon Flying first or business class may or may not alter the requirements. And most carriers are requiring smaller roller bags, a switch that has sent the $6 billion luggage industry back to the drawing board to redesign their bags to meet the new codes. The director of design at Samsonite says, "It's the biggest change to happen since wheels." Carryon Tips. Find out the model type and age of the plane for your scheduled flight. New planes have up to 30 percent more usable space in the overhead bins. And some airlines, Continental and United among them, are expanding overhead bins on many of the planes in their fleets so that overhead space is actually doubled. Ask your travel manager/agent which model you are booked on: Continental had bigger bins installed on its MD80s and some of its 757-200s, 737-300s and 500s. United plans to be finished with its installation of larger bins on all 737 and 757 planes by year end. A new international guide to airports available. Looking for an office during a long airport layover or a place to get slides made for a last-minute presentation? Air Travel Card has published a new worldwide edition of The Business Travel Airport Directory -- A Practical Guide to Airport Business Centers and Airport Clubs. The directory provides the terminal locations of all business centers and airline clubs at the 100 airports it covers. Each listing offers detailed information about a wide range of business services, including the availability and size of conference rooms, inbound and outbound facsimile services, computer and secretarial services, photocopy services, currency exchange, Delivery Services and notary public services. For information, click on www.air-travel-card.com. DOT's Airport Review The Department of Transportation review of airport practices and how they affect competition is underway. Officials said they have chosen 13 airports for closer "case study" scrutiny: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Denver, Dallas, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Houston, Baltimore, Phoenix and San Jose. These airports were chosen because they reflect a cross-section of regions, airlines and circumstances, including both fortress hubs and airports that are dominated by one or two carriers but still manage to attract new entrants. Two- or three-person teams will visit the airports to learn what they've been doing to either discourage or encourage new entry. According to the DOT, "This is not an investigation...it is a way for us to understand airport decision-making." The DOT hopes to finish its study by mid-February and issue its final report this spring. The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is commissioning its own expert analyses to define barriers to competition and quantify the benefits of a hub. The airport says existing studies by airlines, trade groups, and government groups are conflicting. Airport officials have called on travelers to "support other airlines" (airlines other than Northwest) in Minneapolis if they want them to stay. MSP says it will also monitor service changes and communicate choices to the public, and is accelerating the construction of 12 new gates that can be used by other airlines. Northwest's position? "Anything that educates the public on the benefits of a hub and the nature of a competitive business is a good thing. Look to Airport Web Sites. Several of the airports are developing web sites to offer traffic updates, ground transportation options, airport restaurant offerings and more. Among them are:
Chewing Gum is a Popular Item to bring on a flight for flyers who want to keep their ears from popping during air pressure changes. But Greensboro and Orlando, Fla. Airports have become gum-free zones. The reason? Filthy carpets! Customs Uncustomary Speed Through Customs. The last thing you want to face after a long flight from abroad is a long line at passport control at your U.S. gateway. More and more business travelers to the U.S. - Americans and non-Americans alike - have found a better, faster way to clear customs. The INSPASS (Immigration and Naturalization Service Passenger Accelerated Service System) card uses a Ïhand geometry readerÓ to compare the bone structure of the passenger's hand with the scan on file. The process takes about 20 seconds compared with a 20-minute average wait at regular immigration controlÓ, said a spokesperson for the INS. Sometimes the computer asks for a flight number to be keyed in as well. Six international airports - Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, JFK, San Francisco and Washington Dulles - provide the INSPASS service, as well as the U.S. preclearance sites at Vancouver and Toronto in Canada. The international airports in Seattle and Honolulu will get the service this year, and 13 additional airports will get them as budgets permit. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Bermuda and the 29 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program (see list below) are eligible to apply for the pass. Applicants must travel to the United States on business at least three times a year. The 29 nations participating in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program are: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. For further details and to apply, visit www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/howdoi/inspass.htm, the INS web site. Complaints New Ways to Complain More Effectively. Got a gripe with an airline, hotel, or car rental company? You're certainly not alone. Now there's a quick and efficient way to get your dissatisfaction across. The National Business Travel Association recently launched www.biztraveler.org, a Web site with an electronic complaint form where respondents can tick off specific complaints and with which company they occurred: airline, hotel, or car-rental. The site also asks whether the complainant is seeking a monetary settlement, and if so, how much. All complaints are forwarded to the U.S. Department of Tansportation, which tracks complaints about service, and the Federal Aviation Administration, which collects complaints about safety on all airlines flying to and from the U.S. www.PassengerRights.com, a second web site started last April,also allows travelers to fill out an electronic complaint form that is forwarded to airlines and government authorities. Feel like complaining some more? Try www.ticked.com and www.airtravelcomplaints.com, two places where air travelers can vent grievances. |
| |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
