What's
in the news this week ...
United, US Air to charge fee to check single bag
June 11, 2008 -
Many United Airlines customers buying tickets on or after June 13 will pay a $15 fee to check their first bag, and $25 for second bags.
German airlines raise surcharges
June 12, 2008 - Germany's two biggest airlines, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Air Berlin PLC, said Wednesday that they are increasing passenger fuel surcharges again as oil prices soar.
US Airways to charge for beverages, add fee to frequent-flier awards
June 13, 2008 - A non alcoholic beverage will soon cost you money when flying US Airways. Two more airlines are going to charge for the first piece of checked luggage.
US Airways Accelerates Business Model Transformation
June 12, 2008 - US Airways today announced that it is making additional domestic capacity reductions, reducing headcount and implementing several new revenue initiatives to help expedite the airline’s return to sustained profitability in this new and challenging environment.
American Airlines boosts fuel surcharge
June 11, 2008 - American Airlines raised its fuel surcharge by $20 per round trip on many routes Wednesday, just days after it failed in another attempt to raise fares.
Fare hikes: Airlines will keep trying
June 11, 2008 - American Airlines led a charge over the weekend to raise domestic air fares. It held for a while, as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines and others quickly matched American’s fare hike.
Airlines' changes reshaping travel
June 13, 2008 - A host of major airlines announced fees, cuts in service or both Thursday. The actions, which follows retrenchment at most major carriers in recent weeks, will effectively reshape the American air travel industry.
What's bad for airlines might be good for you
June 12, 2008 - 'Credit crunch" is now vying with "war on terror" as the mantra of the decade; but the impact on travelers is likely to be far less onerous. The post-9/11 "war on terror" has contributed much to the delays, indignities and the misery of air travel - harassment by overzealous immigration and security officials and baggage restrictions.
2008 Business Travel Survey: Domestic Carrier Profits Undercut
June 11, 2008 - In 2007, so much looked so right for domestic airlines: Their planes were the most full in history, passenger demand blossomed to its highest levels and revenues rose throughout the year.
OpenSkies Partners With FlyerTalk To Launch New Service
June 13, 2008 - British Airways subsidiary, OpenSkies, has let it be known that it plans to operate a bit differently than other airlines. And to prove its point, the airline is offering seats on its first flight from New York to some of the biggest VIPs in the industry - FlyerTalkers.
Airline cutbacks mean fewer frequent-flyer seats
June 11, 2008 - Higher fuel costs are forcing airlines to ground some of their planes, causing headaches for people who want to use their frequent-flyer miles.
What You'll See As Airlines Merge
In recent weeks, delta and Northwest Airlines agreed to merge (although there are a lot of hurdles to clear before it's a done deal), Frontier Airlines filed for bankruptcy, and four smaller airlines -- Aloha, ATA, Eos and Skybus -- went out of business entirely.
Passport options: New docs about to debut
Between several new forms of alternative ID and one seldom-publicized loophole, many travelers will be able to cross the border for years to come without that little blue book.
Airports focus on 'security that you can't see'
Nine bulky luggage scanners worth $1 million each wait silently beneath the new terminal, poised to check for explosives at a combined rate of 3,600 bags an hour.
Sofitel announces new frequent flyer partner
June 12, 2008 - Executive Club members will earn quadruple BA Miles when they book a minimum of two nights between now and June 30, 2008 at one of the group’s 170 properties worldwide.
