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About Rick Seaney, CEO FareCompare

Rick Seaney

Rick Seaney, co-founder of FareCompare.com - is a world-class air travel expert.

FareCompare.com presides over a kingdom of sophisticated software that searches out fares and destinations at a billion combinations per query - while keeping track of 500 airlines serving more than 270,000 markets around the globe.

And all of Rick's data is updated continuously - in real-time.

No wonder he's the media's go-to guy for all things air travel. He's got the answers. And he loves to share his knowledge.

That's why Rick and the team created FareCompare.com - to help everyone become an air travel expert, and get the best deals first -- every time they fly.

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The Madness of Rising Bag Fees – Sort of Like a $37 Cocktail

August 27, 2009 | Posted in: Airline News | 5 comments

The airlines have gotten positively fee-rocious when it comes to checked-bags – so, when is this madness going to end?

I don’t mean, when will these fees be rescinded – they won’t. Bag fees are here to stay because the airlines simply make too much money off them: for example, Continental just announced it’ll charge $50 for a second checked-bag to Europe, while US Airways just raised domestic bag fees – again. But-they-just-keep-going-up.

My question: Where’s the ceiling?

Look, airlines, we can get used to anything, but not when you keep raising the prices – people are tired of getting gob-smacked again and again, mostly at the airport where the fees really sizzle.

If the airlines raised the price of a gin and tonic as they do for baggage, an onboard cocktail might cost $37 today (if it’s your second drink, and you didn’t order it ahead of time, online!). Give us a break, please.

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Fee Alert: US Airways Hikes Checked-Bag Fees – No Surprise

August 26, 2009 | Posted in: Airline News,US Airways | 0 comments

This is getting sort of tedious, isn’t it? Every time you turn around, it seems, one airline or another is raising its checked-bag fees.

US Airways is the latest: online bag check-in jumps to $20 for the first bag, $30 for the second. But that’s still cheaper than doing it at the airport – where it will cost you $25 for the first, $35 for the second.

See all the details here.

And remember – if I can spend nearly two weeks in Italy with one carryon, you can too.

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ABC Column: Are Carry-On Bag Fees Next?

August 26, 2009 | Posted in: ABC Column | 0 comments


Carry-on bags are about all we have left at this point as far as airline freebies go. Well, carry-on bags and sodas (in most cases). However, there’s a good chance that could all change in the not-too-distant future. The “carry-on system” is overdue for some changes, and it makes sense that the airlines would want to make some money off of it.

We’ve seen the rise of the second checked bag fee and the first checked bag fee. Can the carry-on fee be far off? Read my latest ABCNews.com column for more on the carry-on subject. Who knows, some travelers might actually like a carry-on fee if it keeps fellow passengers from taking up all the overhead space.

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Sorry – No iPods in the Seat Pocket – Or Anything Else, Either!

August 25, 2009 | Posted in: Ask Rick,DOT,Passengers,Travel Safety | 1 comment

“Keep your stuff outta that seat pocket!”

These words of wisdom above (not verbatim) are courtesy of Joe Sharkey, writing about “guidance” from the FAA: no personal items of any kind allowed in seat pockets.

Hilarity ensues when Joe seeks confirmation from an FAA spokesman, who responds with, this is news to me! However, the flack quickly recovered and shot back an email saying, it’s true – only airline stuff like safety reminders and the carrier’s magazine are allowed.

It appears to be a safety issue – having to do with safe stowage of carryon items before take-off, and I guess that now applies to my tasty bag of trail mix and my latest issue of Martha Stewart Living (or is that my wife’s?).

Anyway, just wanted to alert you – and also let you know that numerous airlines say they have no intention of enforcing the “guidance” – so there!

Hey, it could be worse: The seats on Europe’s Ryanair don’t even have pockets.

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Do the Math: Carryons vs. Checked-Bags — Are We Winning?

August 25, 2009 | Posted in: Airfare News,Ask Rick,DOT | 0 comments

It’s not easy to find hard figures about the decline of checked-bags, even though we know it’s happening (due to bag fees, fear of losing luggage, etc.) – but, take a look at this from USA Today, especially this little a nugget of news from American Airlines:

“There has been a slight dip in the amount of checked luggage, dropping from an average per customer of 1.1 bags to 0.8 bags.” -American Airlines

Slight dip? Well, I did the math, and that “slight dip” comes out to a little more than 27%. Now, if you got a pay cut of 27%, I don’t think you’d call that a slight dip do you?

So what does this mean for all you passengers out there? A lot, potentially – including everything from chaos in the cabin – to more chances to hear, “Sorry, we lost your luggage”. Keep reading!
Do the Math: Carryons vs. Checked-Bags — Are We Winning?

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Boomer Nostalgia Tip: Pack Paper Clothes

August 25, 2009 | Posted in: Tips and Tricks | 0 comments

A fashionista of my acquaintance recently reminded me of the brief vogue for “paper dresses” back in the 60′s.

Okay, to be honest, I’d never heard of such a fad, but then she showed me a 1967 Time Magazine article about it – and apparently numerous companies and even artists like Andy Warhol were coming out with paper dresses (and other items of clothing) – for as little as a buck a piece. The point being, these dresses were cheap, chic, and disposable.

One sentence in particular caught my eye:

“Sterling Paper believes in paper resort wear, the idea being that vacationers could buy paper clothes at the hotel when they arrive, throw them away when they depart, thus eliminating packing and carrying heavy luggage.” -Time Magazine, 3/17/67

Wow. Could that work today – if say, you could buy such clothing at a hotel – or even an airport? Okay, it might not work in Seattle…but it sure it would make packing a carryon a whole lot easier.

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One Airline Gets It: Sun Country to Limit “Time on Tarmac”

August 25, 2009 | Posted in: Airline News,Ask Rick,Delays | 1 comment

The CEO of the Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines believes his airline is the first to do this: setting a limit on how much time passengers will spend sitting on a plane, when the plane isn’t going anywhere.

The new limit is four hours maximum – then the plane and passengers have to return to the terminal (and of course, can do so sooner).

Bet that sounds real good to the travelers who were stuck on the tarmac earlier this month in Rochester, Minn. – stuck for nine hours – even as their pilot pleaded that the passengers be allowed into the airport.

Sun Country’s Stan Gadek was quoted in the Star Tribune as saying, “I think it’s high time that airlines stand up and commit. It’s a common-sense thing.” I think so too.

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Monday Quiz Question for Savvy Travelers

August 24, 2009 | Posted in: Airline News,Tips and Tricks | 2 comments

Every week, I plan to toss out a “travel quiz question” – take a look, see how smart you are – and keep up with my FareCompare Labs blog for answers to future quizzes

Question: You’re flying cross-country in economy, and checking a 60 lb. bag – what’s the cheapest method?

A. Checking it with Virgin America

B. Checking it online with Delta

C. Sending it via UPS ground service

The answer is coming up, right after the jump – so please keep on reading…
Monday Quiz Question for Savvy Travelers

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updated: 2009-08-24T11:29:29+00:00