The latest news from Delta Air Lines is a bit win some, lose some depending on how often you travel. Delta has said that it will charge $15 fee to check a first bag but that it will be cutting certain other fees. USA Today reports that as of December 5, customers flying within the U.S. will be charged $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second checked bag which is consistent with the policies of Northwest Airlines which they recently acquired. Those who purchased Delta tickets on or before Wednesday, and who are traveling on or after Dec. 5, will be charged $50 for a second bag, but can still check their first bag for free Delta's previous policy.
Good news for customers flying in first or business class, including SkyMiles Medallion members and WorldPerks Elite members, you can still check up to three bags, up to 70 pounds each for free. Delta is also eliminating the $25 to $100 fuel surcharges assessed for SkyMiles and WorldPerks award ticket travel now that fuel prices have declined. And if you purchase tickets over the phone versus online (which is free), you'll also save a little, the fee for tickets purchased over the phone from a reservations sales representative has been dropped from $25 to $20. Delta will also drop the $3 curbside check-in fee.
Karma, the elegant California brut-style sparkling wine in modern single-serving bottles, has partnered with Richard Branson's California-based Virgin America airlines on upscale cocktails for high fliers. Created by San Diego native Patrick Wilson, the premium ready-to-drink treat is packaged in a glass bottle resembling a champagne flute.
Virgin America flights feature moodlighting, custom-designed leather seats and the only on-demand, in-flight food ordering system via a video touch-screen at every seat. Karma, made from hand-selected California grapes, is clean, crisp and dry with subtle hints of melon and pear. Wilson decided to package it this way to further the concept that every day should be a celebration. We're with him there.
Back in March I reported on the fact that it seems that shuttle flights between cities on the East Coast like New York, Boston, and Washington haven't been faring too well in recent years. Joe Brancatelli who writes the Seat 2B column for Portfolio says that the recent news that Delta will add first-class cabins to its shuttle flights between New York, Boston, and Washington isn't a positive sign; it proves that the shuttles may well be on their way out. The shuttles have become less profitable and the shuttle aircraft which are equipped with standard first- and coach-class cabins can now be used on any flight path. In the 1980s large shuttles used to run every hour and promised no reservations needed. Now the remaining shuttles use smaller aircraft and fly less frequently especially on weekends and non-peak times.
Is this the last gasp of the shuttle flight? It certainly seems like it, the rise of technology, the high-speed Acela train, private jet charter services and even luxury bus lines have made shuttle flying less and less attractive. Like Joe Brancatelli, I'm a little nostalgic for the shuttles of my youth but in these days when it seems that hardly any flights go smoothly and airlines are struggling to stay afloat it seems like the shuttle is an idea whose time is long gone.
Sir Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, is in talks to acquire London's Gatwick Airport, the second largest and busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow. Gatwick's owner BAA Ltd., which also owns Heathrow, plans to sell the airport, valued at about $5.4 billion, due to antitrust regulations, Bloomberg reports.
The Virgin Group encompasses several companies including Virgin Atlantic airlines and Virgin Mobile. The adventurous Branson's personal fortune is estimated at $2.8 billion. He plans to form a consortium to bid for the airport, which handled 35 million passengers in 2007.
His partners on the potential deal are said to include Dubai's Royal Family, the London Telegraphreports. Obviously competitors would be worried that Branson and Virgin might gain an unfair advantage by controlling the airport, which is the sixth largest in Europe.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' relentless (and so far fairly fruitless) pursuit of an acting career has apparently taken a toll on his finances. In the latest installment of his video blog, the rap mogul complains that the gas price explosion has forced him to forego the use of his private jet on his now frequent trips to Los Angeles to meet with movie people. "Gas prices are too f-ing high!" he complains in the clip. "If I'm flying back and forth to L.A. twice a month, that's like $200,000 - $250,000 round trip. F-k that!"
As a result, Diddy says, he's gone back to flying commercial, and throws in an appeal to his "Saudi Arabian brothers" to "please send me some oil for my jet." He then insists, "This is really happening!", filming himself boarding an American Airlines flight, adding, "and I'm in coach!" We're pretty sure Diddy, who makes $35 million a year, is joking about that last bit.
Flying used to be a fun (or at the very least tolerable) but nowadays it's turned into an outright chore. Lines are long, seats are cramped, there are extra fees for absolutely everything, and forget getting served anything to eat (you're lucky if you get water and a few pretzels). That might be the case for most of us but it's not the case for everybody! There are some airlines (usually those flying overseas) that offer luxuries like champagne, caviar, private cabins, and lie-flat beds. Here's the list of the most luxurious airlines in the world:
It's not on too many products that you find "authentic small dents and scratches" listed as a selling point and a good thing, but the case of these Vintage Airline Food Carts is one of the few exceptions. Available in several fun exterior finishes, the interiors all feature a retractable serving tray and 14 racks to hold drawers and shelves (which you can buy separately). The doors close with standard latches and each has a magnetic catch to help it stay open while you're using the cart, plus of course all the carts come equipped with the handy pedal-locking wheel brakes flight attendants rely on so dearly. $1450
Use SeatGuru to search airplane layout charts before you select your flight seat so you'll never again be stuck with only partial reclining ability or in the back near the stale coffee. SeatGuru calls itself "the ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities and airline information" and it works -- I've used it. Even though the site is intuitive, there are directions right on the home page.
It's simple: Look up your airline. There's all kinds of info that you can navigate using the tabs that pop up, such as baggage rules, traveling with infants, policies regarding unaccompanied minors and travel with pets. Amenity info is listed, along with phone numbers that may be of use, all specific to your airline.
To get to the good part, the seating chart, break it down further by type of plane. A cool, color-coded chart assists you in picking the best seats for your needs (long legs, near the bathroom, not near the bathroom, etc.). First-class is included. Here's an example.
Thanks to my experienced travel buddy Laura for this tip.
Well folks, she's at it again. 37 yr old supermodel Naomi Campbell was arrested at the airport last week in London and has been banned from ever again flying British Airways. Apparently she became aggressive and abusive with some of the airline staff and eventually ended up assaulting a police officer -- all before the plane had even taken off. What could have possibly been so wrong as to warrant all that anger? Was somebody sitting in her window seat?
British Airlines wouldn't comment on the specific incident, but they did say that they take all incidents of violence and disruptive behavior "very seriously" and that "it will not be tolerated."
For millions of travelers every year who fly coach it's hard to walk past the spacious first class seats and through the little curtain to the cramped rows in the rear, but what do those first class passengers look up to? Those traveling better than first class, of course.
Many airlines offer "extra special" treatment to celebrities and other big names, and although the services vary from airline to airline some things are consistent across the board: little to no waiting in airport lines, extreme efforts to protect privacy, and extra security. Plus, of course, VIP lounges and premium food/drink. Not a celebrity? You can buy the services yourself and feel like one for only about $100.
Most of the airlines who offer special upgrades don't advertise their services, and many don't even post them on websites and flyers. Airport Assistance Worldwide, though, is one that isn't so secretive. On their website you can check out services and even make a reservation. Happy travels!
Want an education on wine while flying to your next business trip? If you are aboard American Airlines then tune into GrapeRadio -- a podcast for oenophiles. Featuring prominent members of the wine business as well as tasting and buying tips, etiquette and varietal reminders, it will be the first wine-specific programming available on an airline. Apparently, GrapeRadio has been broadcasting online for a few years and already has a healthy following of 20,000 listeners nationwide. So here's to learning something they don't teach you in business school that may help further your career just by flying and listening along.
Last week I mentioned the fact that MAXJet was ceasing operations this week also brought news that Big Sky Airlines, which has had a partnership with Delta Airlines, plans to close up shop and sell their planes. With the price of oil shooting up to the magic $100-a-barrel mark, airlines are on a frantic quest to either reduce costs or risk going out of business. Some are raising fares or put more passengers on each flight but others are trying to lighten the load anyway they can. The changes sound minor, like using less paint or beverage carts that weigh less but little changes can make a big difference.
And it may be that planes in the U.S. need it most. A recent report from the International Air Transport Association said that profit probably would fall from $5.6 billion in 2007 to $5 billion in 2008 worldwide, with most of the decline coming in North America. Why? Because many planes used here are older gas guzzlers. But there is hope, Alaska Airlines plans to replace 16 MD-80 planes with more fuel-efficient 737-800s and American is modifying the tail cones on their MD-80 planes to be more aerodynamic. US Airways is carrying less extra fuel on flights and ordering new aircraft and Delta is retrofitting planes with wingtip extensions that improve fuel efficiency. Delta is also trying to fly less half-empty planes.
Unfortunately it seems that airlines are in a difficult predicament, one that, if you check out this WaPo article, they've been fretting about since 2005. They can't raise airfares too much unless everyone does it and they can't buy new, more fuel-efficient planes unless they are making a profit. It does make me think though that the days of lucking into a flight where you have an empty seat next to you, or even the infinitely desirable row to yourself may be a thing of the past. Given the global warming factor, I might even find myself feeling a bit guilty if the seat next to me isn't filled.
No matter how rich you are and no matter what kind of perks the airlines may offer you in first class to make your flight more comfortable, there's one thing that they've never offered no matter who you are: mid-flight wi-fi internet access.
JetBlue is changing that. They aren't offering enough bandwidth to surf the net necessarily, but just enough to make checking and sending emails through Blackberries and other devices, even laptops, possible. The new perk is now being offered on select flights only, on a trial basis. But JetBlue expects within about six months to be rolling out internet access company-wide.
There are many people in the world who fly frequently and as such are often subject to airline food, despite it's nasty reputation of being nothing but reheated cardboard. Some airlines, however, are seeking to change that in a major way for their first class passengers -- even to the extent for some of having a chef on board (Gulf Airlines) and serving exotic gourmet dishes.
I've often written about the luxurious Emirates Airlines which operates out of Dubai, now they are expanding at a rapid rate with the announcement of the largest aircraft commitment made by any airline at one time. Fueled by high oil prices and a rapidly booming tourism industries, Emirates has been booming which shows in a $34.9 billion deal that includes orders from both Airbus and Boeing. The deal was announced at the Dubai Airshow and will include 120 Airbus A350s, 11 A380s, and 12 Boeing 777-300Ers. Emirates also comfirmed that they still want the eight A380s they ordered earlier this year and ordered three more bringing their total order of A380s to 58. Their total orders now number 246 aircraft worth a total of over $60 billion dollars.
