Archive for December, 2009
Stranded No More
New US legislation has been approved providing a time limit to airlines for how long they can hold you on a flight while on the ground. This new rule states that airlines can no longer hold passengers on grounded jets for longer than a three hour time span. This rule applies only to domestic flights, international flights are subjects to other regulations.
This comes after many incidents involving airline horror stories of such occurrences. Consumer complaints have been growing over being stranded and the media has been giving it more coverage. Continental Airlines was fined along with two regional carriers for stranding passengers on a 50 seat regional jet overnight. The price tag for this mistake was $175,000. This is the first time that airlines have seen repercussions for tarmac delays.
Airlines have fought such legislation from taking place believing that the amount of time should be at their discretion. Putting a time limit at three hours for ground delays could make the airlines’ operations even more congested and cause more misconnections which forms a greater ripple effect in terms of airline operations.
The airlines are given a few provisions concerning this matter and only time will tell how far they will be allowed to stretch them for their benefit. These are exemptions for matters of safety or security. The other exemption comes at the discretion of air traffic controllers. Basically if the air traffic controller says that a return to a gate for deplaning would cause a disruption of airport operations, then the time limit could be waived.
Having rights as a passenger is a great thing, no one wants to be stranded for hours without an end in sight. However, perhaps there is a bit more to be considered. What if the flight could takeoff for it’s destination after three hours and fifteen minutes, but due to the time restriction they are forced to return to the gate. Now, passengers have been deplaned as per regulation and hours are added to their delay that a little more time and the pilot’s discretion might have avoided. Perhaps there is no perfect solution to the issue, but this may not be exactly the victory that airline passengers believe it to be.
Tags: air traffic controller, airline horror stories, airlines, airport operations, Continental Airlines, domestic flights, flight, international flights, jets, legislation, passengers, regulations, Stranded
Orange Juice Terrorist
Terror strikes the skies again! The sinister culprit of this terroristic plot: John Reid. The name sends shivers down your spine it is so diabolic. For those of you weak of heart, you may not want to continue reading. The following are the alleged acts of Mr. Reid’s fateful flight on American Airlines that day.
An ordinary looking man, one Mr. John Reid, boards his flight and takes a seat with the other first class passengers. He blends in perfectly; no one on board would assume the hot irrational behavior housed in his demented mind by just looking at him. After a quiet take off (too quiet) things are put into motion.
Mr. Reid begins struggling with his tray table, the nerves of what he is about to do begins to show transparent, as he wrestles with the simple device. It is obvious he is a mess and his state of mind is to blame, since no piece of airline equipment is ever faulty, raggedy, or non-functional. After he finally has his tray table into position is demeanor quickly resumes to that of calm, cool, and calculating as he waits for his moment.
The Flight Attendant and hero of this sickening tale is Helen. Helen came over to serve breakfast to the passengers as is customary but, as she did so she could tell right away that something was amiss with John Reid . . . something didn’t “feel” right. In an attempt to show him that she was “on” to him and whatever he was up to, she dropped his breakfast tray hard onto the tray table. Unnerved by the act and knowing he had to act now, he sprung his designs into action. He asked if he could have a glass of orange juice! ORANGE JUICE only the most dangerous of the dangerous terrorists would ask for this evil drink with a First Class breakfast.
“This must be your first time in first class,” she allegedly said. Perhaps she could still stop him and gain the upper hand with this retort. It worked, dumbfounded by her cunning Mr. Reid could only stammer out some reply as to the effect that she was being “very condescending.” As her adrenaline began to pump she reacted quickly attempting to rally support from the other passengers.
She found no support and became panicked, the realization sunk in that this was far larger a plot than she had originally surmised. The whole first class cabin, and perhaps many more must be a part of this Orange Juice Terrorist Cell. Again not to be defeated, Helen put her training to use and went to the captain of the flight and got a written letter stating Mr. Reid may have violated federal law for “threatening, intimidating, or interfering with a crew member.” The day was saved and the actions of this heroic flight attendant are under investigation by the airline.
Okay, like I said these are the alleged incidents of that day. What is actually known is that Mr. Reid, who we are pretty sure is no terrorist, did have some problems with his tray table and did ask for a glass of orange juice. The flight attendant made a snarky remark and there was a verbal exchange between the two. The flight attendant attempted to get passengers to corroborate her version of events, which none would.
She did get a letter from the captain stating that Mr. Reid was possibly “threatening, intimidating, or interfering with a crew member.” and that he could face federal charges. Upon landing the passengers in first class all took time to back up Mr. Reid’s version of events. He has since then received and apology from American Airlines, as have the other passengers who witnessed the event.
Whether the Flight Attendant was just having a bad day, or was not very suited for a position dealing with customers face to face, is up for speculation. The fact that you can be threatened for committing acts of terrorism by asking for a glass of orange juice is ridiculous. Can’t wait for the made for TV movie adaptation of these events. If you are making one let me know I have great script for you (see above). That’s all for today folks . . . I think I’ll go have a glass of apple juice now. Yes, nice un-terroristic good old safe apple juice.
Tags: airline, american airlines, captain, first class, first class passengers, flight, Flight Attendant, Helen, John Reid, Orange Juice, passengers, skies, Terror, Terrorist, tray table
Flying Friendly Skies Again?
Sometimes hard times can bring about good change. For a long time now service in many industries has been declining. Be it the guy bagging your groceries to the airline representative checking you in. It seems that people just don’t care as much about customer service as they used to. The old saying goes: “Good help is hard to find.” I think that it is more likely, “Good help is expensive to train and implement.”
That being said, there are others who recognize this as a way to retain the dwindling amount of passengers flying the skies today. Several major airports around the nation are making their focus a more friendly and helpful staff. Among these airports are LAX, JFK, Miami, and “America’s Friendliest Airport” Phoenix Sky Harbor. These airports will be offering training to employees that will stress the importance of offering more helpful, proactive service to passengers no matter your role at the airport.
The training will also me made available to non-airport employees as well such as the airline representatives, TSA personnel, retail and food service professionals. The object being; a cohesive attitude and level of service across the board at these airports.
We look forward to seeing this implemented, for too long service has been so far gone that finding smiling helpful employees would be a welcome change. Especially if it comes at no extra charge. It’s too bad it took hard times to fall on the industry for this to come about but, good change is good change. Welcome back Friendly Skies . . . we hope.
www.CaptainNowhere.com
Tags: airline representative, America's Friendliest Airport, checking in, customer service, flying, Friendly Skies, Good help is hard to find, industry, JFK, LAX, major airports, Miami, passengers, Phoenix Sky Harbor, proactive service, professionals, training to employees, TSA
Bring Snacks
Few magical places in this life offer us the opportunity to pay two
to three times as much for ordinary items such as snacks and
batteries. The movie theater, the zoo, and the airport. Yes that’s
right this bag of Skittles is going to cost you $2.50 plus tax. Why?
Well, we know you have the munchies and we also know that you
are not going anywhere else anytime soon to find an alternative
price range. So, go ahead just turn your wallet upside down and
shake it out into our greedy little hands. You can have the lint
back.
This like so much else we discuss when preparing for travel can be
avoided with a little planning. While your out buying your travel
size tooth paste and shampoo grab some low fat granola and
maybe a banana or two . . . yeah right, go ahead grab the king
size Reeses, Jelly Bellies, and other sugary salty indulgences.
Don’t wait and do it at the gas station on the way in or really why
bother, that is almost as bad. Unfortunately, they are more than
likely gonna get you with your liquid caffeine fixes. Security as you
know, does not allow liquids or gels through, sorry. But, even this
can be gotten around if you don’t need Starbucks. Bring an empty
water bottle and those individual packets they sell for Kool-Aid,
tea, or Propel. Then once you are past security you can fill up at a
water fountain and mix.
One last thing for you coffee drinkers . . . DO NOT DRINK THE
COFFEE SERVED IN FLIGHT. Just trust me on this one. Seriously.
You are better off paying what they’re charging in the airport for a
Scooters coffee or whatever brand they’re pedaling for five bucks
a cup.
Tags: airport, COFFEE, IN FLIGHT, Kool-Aid, preparing for travel, Propel, Snacks, Starbucks, travel, travel size
Book with an Airline
Airline tickets can be expensive but, they can also be found for
quite a steal. Just about everyone has heard of Orbitz, Cheap
Tickets, Expedia, or some other likewise company. But, be aware,
as the old saying goes : “you get what you pay for.” Now if you are
an easy going person and you don’t really care if you get where you
are going when you planned it or a week later, then these services
might be okay for you. Or, perhaps you are just an extremely lucky
person and things always go your way. Then again, maybe you’ll be
safe using these services.
However, if you’ve been planning this vacation for years now, or
your cruise will leave without you if you’re not there that day, or
you’re getting married; you may want to think again. Plan ahead
and book in as far advance as you can for your trip, with the
airline. Why you may ask? Well, if you book through a third party
you’ve kind of anchored yourself down. When an delay, oversell,
or ticketing problem arises you are going to be the problem of
that third party and not the airline you are traveling on. If changes
are made to your flights, be that delays, time changes, or new
flight numbers the airline will notify that third party site, who in
turn should notify you. Why add an extra link in between you and
the information you need.
Know what kind of ticket you are buying. Yes, there is First class,
Business class, and coach but within those there are different
classes of tickets you can purchase. Some are non-refundable and
non-transferable. Others have penalties if you change your
reservation. Just make sure you know what you are getting into.
Maybe, you can’t get that super cheap ticket through the airline
like you could with Orbitz however, with air travel being as
difficult as it is now days it would be well worth it. So when your
flight delays and you want them to put you on another airline to
get you there tonight you will have that as an option. Or, when
your e-ticket is lost and all the airline has is a reservation, they
can fix it. Make yourself the airline’s responsibility or you may end
up lost in limbo with third party sites.
Tags: airline, cheap ticket, delay, different classes of tickets, expedia, flight, flight numbers, non-refundable, non-transferable, Orbitz, oversell, reservation, third party booking sites, ticket, ticketing problem, vacation
Online Check In
Many of us waste precious time waiting in line at ticket counters
for check-in at the airport. Most all major airlines now offer
virtual check-in online at their websites. With this, if you choose
to only carry-on and not check any bags, you can bypass the ticket
counter completely and head straight for the gate once you get to
the airport.
Let’s face it, there is no joy to stand in a long line just to deal with
a possibly very cranky or flat out rude airline representative. (a
note to you airline reps. I know this not all of you out there but,
research shows that most of you really lack the customer service
skills you should have.) If you don’t have to waste time with
standing in line to use a kiosk and you can check -in online at
home, then why not do this? Not to mention, if you are running a
little behind or get caught in traffic this will help you make it on
your flight.
Now for you bag checkers out there, some airlines have an online
option to check bags while you virtual check-in. So, when you get
to the airport you just head to kiosk or counter with your bags, id,
and boarding passes. However, be prepared most airlines out
there now charge for any checked bags at all. If they do, there
should be an option to pay for these fees in advance on-line during
check-in. Good luck!
Tags: airline representative, airlines, airport, carry-on, check bags, check in, check-in online, Online Check In, ticket counter, virtual check-in
Vouchers and Amenities
Sometimes it helps to think of flying as a game. As with any game you have to know the rules or you aren’t going to win. Since we are at that time of year where flights are at or above capacity and weather delays start to wreak havoc on airline operations, I thought we could talk about the rules involving vouchers and amenities.
If you misconnect, that is miss your connection flight, and it wasn’t your fault then you are usually entitled to some form of compensation. The airlines have various implements at there disposal to keep you happy when they are at fault. These include things such as airline miles, overnight kits, food and hotel vouchers. If you are stuck in a connection city for a few hours, they can give you food vouchers so that you can get a bite to eat. If you are stuck there overnight, they can put you up in a hotel and give you and overnight kit. The overnight kits usually include some necessities such as deodorant, a razor, shaving cream, a shirt, and other essentials you might need. They can also offer this to you if you bag is missing when you arrive.
If you find yourself on an oversold flight, then you can stand to profit from it by taking a voluntary “bump” from the flight. If you can fly at a later time, sometimes just a few hours later then the airline can compensate you with vouchers good for a couple hundred dollars. If you are involuntarily removed from a flight due to an oversell of weight restriction on the flight then they have to offer you almost double what the voluntary passenger gets and you are able to get cash or check instead of a voucher. for more specific numbers check out the DOT site.
Being informed is very important with flying these days. The airlines are out to save a buck anywhere they can. They pull in charges with things like baggage fees but are not nearly as faithful in handing out the vouchers an amenities that are owed when they make mistakes. If you know your rights you can speak up and get what’s owed to you. If the airline still doesn’t do what’s right, document it and report them to the DOT, Department of Transportation, let them know you intend to do this. They get severe fines for not following the rules and would rather take care of it with you than deal with the DOT for non-compliance.
Tags: airline, airline miles, Amenities, bump, compensate, connection, flights, flying, hotel vouchers, misconnect, operations, Vouchers
December’s Hot Spot: Tasmania
Each month we bring you a new travel hot spot, this month we bring you
“down under” to Tasmania. This is just the place to escape civilization
and enjoy the rugged beauty and natural landscapes. Tasmania is an
island and state off the coastline of Australia. It has all the natural
beauties one looks for in a getaway: beaches, rain forests, mountain
plains, and more.
The natural wildlife is also a big draw for visitors including the infamous
feral Tasmanian Devil. Other wildlife draws include Wallabies, Tasmanian
Tigers, various species of frogs and other exotic wildlife. Almost 37% of
Tasmania lies in unspoiled natural reserves.
Hastings Caves is one of it’s more popular attractions. These spacious
caves are well light and have no narrow spaces or passages. The caves
are formed of Dolomite which is heavier than limestone and has a pinkish
white crystal look to it. This attraction also features thermal pools, a
picnic area surrounded by a lush forest, change rooms, electric
barbeques, and other amenities.
Want to sample a bit of the local culture? Salamanca Place is a great little
cove tucked away for you to come explore. It has an Arts Center, arts and
crafts, shopping, funky music scene, and the Salamanca Market every
Saturday. You can buy anything from handmade toys to fifty year old
china. The trees are lit at night and you can relax on benches and people
watch while you listen to local music.
Now is the time to visit Tasmania because the value of the Tasmanian
dollar is at a five year low and will presumably fall in value more in the
coming months. This gives you the opportunity for more bang for your
travel buck. Worried about the long flight? Qantas has a fleet of A380s,
the largest commercial jet in the world, making the trip easier than ever.
The best routing to Tasmania is through Melbourne. Visit
discovertasmania.com for more information.
Tags: Arts Center, Australia, beaches, Dolomite, down under, exotic wildlife, flight, Hastings Caves, Hot Spot, Melbourne, Qantas, rain forests, Salamanca Place, Tasmania, Tasmanian Devil, Tasmanian Tigers, thermal pools, travel, Wallabies
United’s New Large Jet Order
The largest new jet order by an American airline since the start of the recession has been placed by United Airlines. The order valued at more than 10 billion dollars is split between two of the world’s major aircraft manufactures, American based Boeing and it’s European rival Airbus. Letters of intent state that United wants to purchase 25 Boeing Dreamliners and 25 A350 jets from Airbus. It also has the option to purchase up to 50 more aircraft from each manufacturer.
United’s current fleet of aircraft consists of Boeing 767 and 747s will be retired and replaced by the new order. The new jets are smaller and built of a more lightweight yet tough composite material that make them more cost effective to fly. The next generation jets will save on fuel costs and have lower carbon emissions, about 33 percent less emissions. The new jets will also cut lifetime maintenance costs by 40 percent per available seat mile.
United Airlines states that now was the right time to make the purchases. Both Boeing and Airbus are struggling with current economic conditions that have led many of the airlines cutting flights, and orders with the companies, in some cases even cancellations of orders. United Airlines President John Tague told Reuters, “We resisted the pressure during the up cycle to buy during the ‘while supplies last’ market environment and had the patience to wait until we saw this opportunity.”
United Airlines was not very specific on the financing of the purchases but did state that they received financing from both Boeing and Airbus. United will take delivery on the orders between 2016 and 2019. Analysts of the purchase range in opinion from positive to negative. Aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia says, “A decision to continue treading water is hardly inspirational, All this is signs of an airline that is doing the bare minimum necessary to continue flying international routes in 10 years,”.
Jesup & Lamont analyst Helane Becker had a more favorable view on the matter and upgraded the UAL shares to “buy” from it’s current state of “hold”. The order has also positively affected Boeing’s shares.
Tags: A350, airbus, aircraft, airline, American airline, available seat, Boeing, Boeing Dreamliners, cost effective, economic conditions, fleet, jet order, jets, manufacturer, President John Tague, recession, United Airlines