Well, it was fun while it lasted.
Starting sometime in the fall, Continental will start charging economy passengers for in-flight meals, and they were pretty much the only airline still offering this perk.
The spin is that they are improving meal service with “high quality, healthy food choices for purchase”. They will still offer free food in economy “all intercontinental and certain other international routes, and on long-haul domestic routes over six hours” but for most passengers in the cheap seats, you’ll have to pay.
Continental figures this can net the carrier an extra $35 million a year on cost savings and revenue.
Remember how we used to make jokes about how awful airplane food was? I guess we could laugh, when it was free…
This is interesting: a little earlier today, I told you that JetBlue and Delta were asking for an exemption to the new “no delays longer than 3-hours” rule that’s due to go into effect next month.
As it stands, the rule says violators will be fined $27,500 – and that’s per passenger.
Continental, however, is taking a different approach – but CEO Jeff Smisek says his airline won’t be risking those fines, either:
“Here’s what we’re going to do: We’re going to cancel the flight.” – Continental’s Jeff Smisek, 3-9-10
The Department of Transportation’s response?
“Carriers have it within their power to schedule their flights more realistically, to have spare aircraft and crews available to avoid cancellations.” – DOT’s Bill Mosely, 3-9-10
Oh, it’s on – it is on.
No, they’re not the first to do this (as Continental is quick to point out), but it’s just one more fee – or “option” if you like – but it is a way to get a minimum of 7-extra inches of leg room on your next Continental flight.
Here’s how it works: Beginning March 17, during the regular check-in time (24 hours before departure), you can go online or stop at an airport kiosk and pay up to spread out. We don’t know how much this will cost yet – all we know is, “it will vary” depending on the length of the flight and the type of the aircraft.
Elite miles members can still do this, at no charge.
What do you think?
You already know that 4,000 Lufthansa pilots walked off the job overnight, but did you know at least 800 flights have been canceled today, and including “many long-haul flights to the U.S.” affecting cities like New York and Denver?
Reminder: Lufthansa is a member of the Star Alliance – as is, Continental, United and US Airways. According to CNN, partner airlines were preparing for the strike – and a spokeswoman for Continental Airlines told CNN on Sunday that the airline will offer passengers refunds or rebook their travel if they are affected (note they said “if”).
My advice: Do not assume your flight is canceled – or that it is still on. Contact your airline and find out.
The pilots say they want a raise, but even more important to them is job security. Meantime, they are sending Lufthansa a powerful message – the strike is estimated to be costing the airline in the neighborhood of $33 million a day. The walkout is expected to end late Thursday.
Normally, Continental CEO Jeffrey Smisek would be paid $730,000 in salary this year, notes the Wall St. Journal. But get this: Smisek says he won’t accept his salary — and that goes for his annual bonus, too — until the airline records a full-year net profit.
It’s a wonderful gesture in an industry that has seen so many low level employees forced to take pay cuts to keep their airlines flying (and not so low level — pilots and cabin crew have seen salaries slashed, as well).
Smisek wrote a letter to his employees about this, telling them he wasn’t asking anyone else to reduce their pay — he just wanted their help in “making Continental profitable again.” If nothing else, I can see how this will do good things for morale.
(Idle thought: I trust he consulted the missus before taking this drastic step…)
Starting in about March of this coming year, Continental will install WiFi (via Gogo) on its 21 Boeing 757’s – which fly domestic routes, for the most part.
Prices will start at $4.95 (and go up) depending on the length of the flight. FYI, the fleets of AirTran and Virgin America are totally WiFi-ed.
Continental is getting to be all about amenities: this past summer, the airline began installing satellite TV (though unlike JetBlue and Virgin America, you have to pay for Continental’s service).
I like it – I like to connect to the internet and get some work done on flights – and as for relaxing, I find TV can make a long flight seem shorter. How about you?
There is snow in the forecast for Houston today – it may be snowing as you read this – and the city is expecting a couple of inches.
This is already causing delays and cancellations at George Bush Intercontinental and Houston Hobby, according to FlightStats.
Continental Airlines is offering fliers the opportunity to reschedule flights without the change fee; go to their website for further details or call reservations at 800.525.0280.
In fact, get in touch with whatever airline you’re flying in or out of Houston today, to see if your flight has been disrupted – and what your alternatives are.
Whoa. The Dept. of Transportation means business when it comes to folks being trapped-on-the-tarmac, as demonstrated by a record-breaking fine slapped on Continental and its partner ExpressJet.
The airlines were fined a total of $100,000 for an appalling event that took place in Rochester, Minnesota back in August of this year. A Continental flight, operated by ExpressJet flying from Houston to Minneapolis was diverted to Rochester due to storms. The plane arrived a little after midnight and passengers had to sit there until morning.
Also fined – to the tune of $75,000 – was Mesaba Airlines, the only carrier staffing the airport at that time. A Mesaba employee told ExpressJet it couldn’t let its passengers in the terminal because there were no TSA employees on duty – which made no sense.
I like this comment, from DOT Secretary Ray LaHood: “I hope that this sends a signal to the rest of the airline industry that we expect airlines to respect the rights of air travelers.”
