The Flying Critic

United Will Still Give Free Meals on Transatlantic Flights

With no other airlines following United's fee mania plan of dropping free meals to coach passengers on some transatlantic flights, United decided to stop their new program before it even started.  Here is the open letter United just sent out announcing their revised plan:

Policy announcement: meal service on flights to Europe

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your direct, candid feedback on the test we had planned to launch in the fourth quarter for food choices on some of our flights. We heard you and have decided not to move forward with the test of offering customers buy-on-board options in United Economy on certain trans-Atlantic flights. We will continue to offer complimentary hot meals on those flights.

The response from you and many of our corporate customers, even before we launched the test, told us what we would have undoubtedly learned had we proceeded - you value our hot meal service in economy class for international flights.

In this environment, where higher costs driven by volatile fuel prices are now the norm, we must continue to tailor products and services so that we provide you with choices and competitive fares. As such, we will continue to be proactive in testing new ideas.

On October 1, we will proceed with the test of new, complimentary options for United Business customers on three-cabin aircraft used for domestic routes, which represents 16 daily flights. Customers on these flights will receive complimentary fresh sandwiches, salads, breakfast, snack boxes or snacks, depending on the length of flight and time of departure. They will also continue to enjoy complimentary beverages, including beer, wine and cocktails. We will evaluate the results and determine next steps by the end of the year.

It's also important to note that full meals will still be served on our p.s. transcontinental flights.

Thank you again for your feedback. We will continue to listen and make changes that enable us in this environment to provide you with the choices you value.

Sincerely,

Graham Atkinson
Chief Customer Officer

Ted's Revenge (or how United is making a HUGE mistake)

An upcoming major announcement by United leaked yesterday.  It comes from a flight attendant newsletter and details some major changes to United's on-board meal services.

You might think of it as the return of Ted.  Or at least Ted's Revenge.

No more hot meals in 3-cabin business class on domestic routes.  That means if you fly LAX-IAD-FCO-IAD-LAX in business class for ~10 grand you can look forward to the same buy-on-board box that the economy passangers can buy.  But you get your drinks for free.  So it's still good service.  Right?  :(

Speaking of service.  The other major thing you might not notice is that United is dropping their flight attendant staffing levels down to FAA minimums and/or other lower levels because of the reduced meal service because of the buy-on-board services.  Expect frustraited flight attendants and slower service.

They are also dropping free meals in economy on many international routes and charging more for the buy-on-board and other food offerings.

This screams of desperation by United.  And they are desperate.  All of the airlines are.  But this seems like a major tactical error by United.  So much for United's premium international service advertising campaign that they've been spending big bucks on during the Olympics.

I'm not alone.  Cranky Flier posts most of the leak on his blog and he just gave United a Cranky Jackass Award in response.  One Mile at a Time thinks this may be the end of United (at least if they can't get new management).  View from the Wing worries that Mileage Plus might be next.

JetBlue to charge $7 for a pillow & blanket

And the fee mania continues.  This time it's JetBlue

CNN/Money reports that JetBlue will charge $7 for a pillow & blanket:

The carrier has done away with the recycled blankets and pillows used on its flights, and will begin offering an "eco-friendly" travel blanket and pillow that can be purchased for $7 on flights longer than two hours.

Would you pay $7 for a pillow and blanket?

Delta to Charge $50 for Second Checked Bag

Delta announced that it will begin charging $50 for your second checked bag:

For tickets purchased on or after July 31, 2008, for travel on or after August 5, 2008, the baggage fees will be changing.

The new fee for your second checked bag will go from $25 to $50 for travel within the USA, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.  A third bag will now cost $125 and it will be $200 for a fourth bag.

The second bag is still free for other foreign travel.  But the third foreign bag goes to $200 from $150 and bags four and five go to $350 each from $150.

Overweight bag fees are also rising.

Southwest's NO FEES marketing campaign keeps looking better.

Go! Adds $25 Fee For 2nd Checked Bag on Interisland Hawaii Flights

The Star Bulletin reports that Go! Adds $25 Fee For 2nd Checked Bag:

Mesa Air Group Inc., the parent of interisland carrier go!, said yesterday it will charge $25 for a second piece of checked luggage on all flights starting July 15.

According to Go!'s Baggage FAQ:

A $25 second-checked-bag fee takes effect for travel that begins on July 15, 2008. go!Express         customers exempt from paying the fee are:

• Corporate members;
• Customers traveling on government fares;
• Customers traveling on or after July 15, 2008 who purchased their tickets prior to June 25, 2008;
• go!Express passengers traveling from Kapalua, Maui; Kona, Big Island, Lana`i City, Lana`i and Ho`olehua, Moloka`i; and
• Customers flying on the same reservation as someone with exempt status (except for group bookings of 8 or more).

Customer checked-in items exempt from the bag fee are:

• Child car seats, carriers and strollers; and
• Wheelchairs, walkers and other personal assistive devices.

Customers are able to pay the second-checked-bag fee via the go! Reservations Department or at go! ticket counters.     Second-checked-bag fees paid via the go! Reservations Center are non-refundable.     Ticketed customers calling the go! Reservations Department to pay in advance for a second-checked-bag fee     will not be charged the $5 reservations call center fee.    

                      

 

How to Standby For an Earlier Flight on US Airways - Travel Tip

Do you want to take an earlier flight on your day of travel on US Airways without paying a rebooking fee or paying the fare difference for a walk-up ticket?

US Airways allows you to confirm a seat on an earlier flight for $25 if the flight is within the 48 US States and for $50 if the flight is from the 48 US States to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Alaska. You can't confirm an earlier flight to Hawaii or Europe.

To confirm a seat on an earlier flight you must go to the airport.  You can't do it over the phone.

You can confirm any earlier flight on the same day - so even if you booked the last flight in the evening you can show up in the morning at the airport and try to confirm an earlier flight.

If they can't confirm you on the earlier flight you want (because it is sold out) they will let you try and standby on the flight for free.  But if there is an open seat you will have to pay the fee and get confirmed on the new flight. 

American Airlines Info About New 1st Checked Bag Fee

I've wondered what American Airlines is doing to handle their new $15 fee for checking your first bag that starts for tickets issued on or after today. Here are answers from an American Airlines PR person about what they are doing to make sure the implementation of the baggage fee goes smoothly for passengers.

Q: Are customers upset about the new fees?

A: It's no secret that introducing the first checked baggage fee has customers upset, and it's definitely understandable.  Mainly, we want to let people know what American is doing ahead of June 15 to make sure the implementation of the baggage fee goes smoothly for passengers.

The majority of American’s passengers have already purchased their summer travel tickets and shouldn't need to worry about the fee. For those who purchase tickets on/after June 15, this information should answer some of the big questions as to what they can expect when they arrive.

Q: What is being done to prevent delays during boarding?

A: To keep the boarding process moving without delay, gate agents will make announcements and actively monitor the gate area for excess and oversize baggage so that they can be checked before boarding begins.

Q: Will customers have to pay a fee if their approved carry-on is gate checked because there is no space on the plane?

A: No. Forced bag checks WILL NOT be charged the fee.  Flight attendants will monitor carry-on items and notify the gate agent when overhead bins are almost full on the aircraft. This will allow any additional bags to be checked before a passenger gets on the plane to keep the boarding process moving forward.

Q: Tickets issued before June 15 are exempt from the new baggage fees.  But what happens if a customer makes a change now that it is June 15?

A:  If a passenger makes a voluntary change on or after June 15 to an itinerary ticketed before that date, and the ticket is reissued on June 15, the bag fee will apply. Voluntary changes are subject to the rules in effect at the time the current ticket was issued. The date of reissue is considered a new purchase date.

Q: Will a customer become subject to the fee if they bought a ticket before June 15 and were exempt from the first bag fee but is involuntarily rerouted or there is a schedule change after June 15?

A: No.  If the ticket was purchased prior to June 15 it would continue to be exempt.

Q: How is American Airlines providing additional notification to customers about the new baggage fees?

A: A checked baggage fee alert has been added to the point of purchase section on AA.com, and to the e-ticket sent to an email inbox to alert customers of new fee implementation. 

There will be a new screen on Self-Service Check-In machines explaining the new checked baggage fee, with a banner for customers who are exempt. 

There will also be increased signage stating the carry-on policy at the first three touch points: Curbside Check-In, American’s ticketing counters, and at the security checkpoint.

Q: Will American Airlines charge people trying to carry-on extra bags or bags that are too large?

A: Yes. Carry-on luggage that is not in compliance with American’s carry-on baggage policy is subject to the first checked baggage fee at any point. 

In response to concern that overhead bins will be full, American and non-American employees will be assigned to ensure that all customers are complying with the carry-on policy (see: http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/travelInformation/baggage/carryOnAllowance.jsp).

Q: Where can customers find more information about the new bag fees and learn who is exempt from the new fees?

A: AA.com has set up a page to explain the fee process.

US Airways to Charge for FIRST Checked Bag

US Airways to Charge $15 for your FIRST Checked Bag:

The new fee goes into effect for tickets booked on or after July 9, 2008, and will apply to all flights within the U.S., to/from Canada, Latin America,and the Caribbean.

The airline will waive the fee for its most frequent customers including:

• all Dividend Miles Preferred members (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Chairman's Preferred),             
• confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers at time of check in;
• and Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members.

The following customers will also be exempt from paying the fee:

• military personnel on active duty,
• unaccompanied minors;
• and passengers checking assistive devices.

US Airways also announced today that they will charge $2 for water, soda, coffee and juice starting in August. 

US Airways to Charge $2 for Water, Soda, Coffee, and Juice

US Airways just announced the end of free beverages on their flights:

After August 1, 2008, non-alcoholic beverages will cost $2 and alcoholic beverages will cost $7. Non-alcoholic beverages will be provided free of charge for unaccompanied minors. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be complimentary for all passengers on US Airways Shuttle and transatlantic flights.

Someone needs to remind US Airways that the reason people are okay with the European low cost carriers charging for water and soda is that they actually sell their tickets for a low cost. 

 

United to Charge $15 for FIRST Checked Bag

Fee for First Checked Bag on United

Today United Airlines announced that it will begin charging $15 for your FIRST checked bag. 

The fee will apply to travel starting on August 18, 2008 for tickets purchased on or after June 13, 2008.  So if you purchased your ticket before June 13, 2008 or if your travel is before August 18, 2008 you will not be subject to the fee.

Who Is Exempt?

The following people are exempt from the new baggage fee:

• traveling in United First or United Business;
• a Global Services, Mileage Plus 1K, Premier Executive, Premier or Premier Associate member;
• a Star Alliance Gold or Silver member; or
• military personnel traveling on orders.

Carry-on Rules

This new fee is likely to encourage people to carry-on bags (at least until they try to charge fees for carry-on bags).  United has a simple carry-on policy:

• For travel worldwide on United, you may carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop computer.
• A carry-on bag must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin.
• Carry-on bag dimensions should not be more than 9 x 14 x 22 in/22 x 35 x 55 cm (length + width + height) or 45 linear in/112 linear cm (the length, height and width added together
• Coats, medical devices, and child safety seats are exempt.

How to Board Earlier and Get Overhead Bin Space on United

Pick a window seat on United to increase your chance of finding overhead bin space.  United boards the plane by seating groups in this order:

1. Global Services / First Class / 1Ks / Business Class
2. Seating Group 1 (United and Star Alliance Elites)
3. Seating Group 2 (Window Seats)
4. Seating Group 3 (Middle Seats)
5. Seating Group 4 (Aisle Seats)

By picking a window seat instead of an aisle you will get to board in seating group 2 before the non-elites with aisle and middle seats in seating groups 3 and 4.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air adds $25 fee for 2nd checked bag

Starting July 1, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air will start charging $25 to check a 2nd bag.  Follow the link to their website for a list of exceptions (first class, elites, international, etc.). 

Southwest's Response to Fee Mania

Southwest Airlines is a savvy marketer. They have a new advertising campaign that highlights their lack of most fees.  I think the ad nails the feeling of many travelers.  Thanks to Tim Leffel's Cheapest Destinations Blog for pointing out the ad.

How to Avoid American Airlines New Baggage Fees

This hilarious idea comes from J. Peder Zane of the Raleigh News & Observer:

$3 for a soft drink coming soon to US Airways?

According to an Arizona Republic story posted at usatoday.com:

On the revenue side, US Airways is said to be seriously considering charging for soft drinks ($3) and pillows and blankets ($5 apiece.)

American Airlines Raises Mileage for Awards and Adds Online Booking Fee

American Airlines will increase the number of miles required for several awards booked on or after October 1st.  See the new AAdvantage Award Changes at American Airlines' website.

American also announced that starting June 21 they will charge customers $5 to book a mileage award on their website.  Only Executive Platinums (EXPs) and those customers who already have to pay a booking fee will be exempt.  So even Platinums and Golds will have to pay $5 to use their miles.  There is no way around this new fee.  It's $20 to book an award on the phone.