RickSeaney.com

Analysis: Some Price Firming Seen in Domestic Airline Tickets

2010-03-13T02:10:52Z

Earlier this week, we saw some significant airfare hiking activity from U.S. domestic airlines: United Airlines, for example, initiated a $40 roundtrip hike in a small number of markets (but mainly in Chicago); that hike, however, is currently falling apart, although it was matched by American Airlines.

In a separate move, United began a laddered hike of $2 to $10 roundtrip, on routes flown by low-cost carriers. This hike is based on mileage: the $2 roundtrip hike was applied to routes under 500 miles; $6 roundtrip hike on routes between 500 and 1,000 miles; and $10 roundtrip hike on routes over 1,000 miles. So far these hikes have been matched by all major airlines, including Southwest Airlines.

It’s also clear that it is important to the airlines to keep sales momentum going for domestic tickets by filling some early summer seats at discount prices except on peak days (and note that “peak travel day” surcharges are in play this summer and please see the surcharge charge for more details), and to that end we saw a 3-day sale from AirTran which included flights through the summer travel period and beyond; this sale, now expired, was widely matched by other carriers.

How to Stay Healthy on Long Flights – Attention Lady Gaga

2010-03-13T00:49:00Z

Gadling’s always-entertaining Galley Gossip notes that popular singer Lady Gaga was on a recent transatlantic flight when her legs started to swell. She allegedly had to be coaxed into changing into a less restrictive outfit.

What was she wearing? Platform shoes – and black and yellow tape. Yes, tape.

Anyway, Gaga changed her “clothes” and a good thing, too, because swelling can be a sign of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT), which according to the Healthy Travel Blog, you don’t ever want to get. You can avoid it by exercise (and United’s website has some good ones, with pictures).

Keep reading for more easy “staying healthy on a long flight” tips (that means you, too, Gaga)…

Here are some other tips for staying healthy on long flights. You know most of them, but it’s always good to review:

Be comfortable: Wear loose-fitting clothing
Move around: Stand and stretch or walk a bit every hour or so (when seatbelt sign is off)
Drink water: Avoid becoming dehyrdrated, which is easy to do on a plane
Use hand-sanitizer or hand-wipes: Most effective kind is at least 50% alcohol
Wear support knee-socks: Good idea for men and women, and the “medical grade” is best

For those of you cringing at the thought of those socks, hey, you’re going to be on a plane – who is going to see you? Well, besides Lady Gaga, that is. And you never know - support socks just might be a featured accessory of her next outfit.

“Kiss that Closed Airport” Guy Fined; What about Security Guy?

2010-03-12T21:42:42Z

We already told you that the graduate student who slipped past security in January for one last kiss with his departing girlfriend at Newark Airport has pleaded guilty and been fined – but what about the security guard who left his post that allowed that to happen?

He is being disciplined, according to the AP – but not fired. He was placed on administrative leave, and we hear he returns to work this weekend.

No word on whether he was paid or not during his leave. As for the grad student, it’ll take more than a guilty plea to kill his romance.

Strike Updates: British Airways and American Airlines

2010-03-12T21:19:57Z

British Airways: The union for BA cabin crew members has set strike dates: a 3-day strike is set to begin March 20 and a 4-day strike will begin March 27.

The airline, naturally, says it is “disappointed”; earlier, it outlined some of its plans in the event of a strike. If you are scheduled to fly during these announced strike periods, contact BA now – they have posted a lot of details and contact info on their website.

American Airlines: Nothing is imminent, but flight attendants will meet with the National Mediation Board next week “to request release from mediation, and plan to take a strike vote in early April” per the Wall St. Journal.

Does that mean there will be a strike? Good question, and the short answer is – nobody knows. Terry Maxon at the Dallas Morning News has been covering the situation closely and said, it all comes down to the members of the government’s National Mediation Board (NMB): “They alone will decide if contract talks have gone as far as they can and that the negotiations have reached an impasse.

The reporter added, “I think one could conclude that this will be a test case for the Obama administration and the current NMB board.”

Watch the news, watch this space – and check American’s website for updates.

Airport Security: Replace Carpet due to Passengers’ Smelly Feet

2010-03-12T03:58:34Z

See? This is what happens when they keep making us take off our shoes:

Security workers at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida “are complaining of odor” – yes, the stench left behind on the carpets from those who remove their shoes for security.

Actually the smelly feet complaints revolve around two separate security checkpoints.

Anyway, airport management is busy “formulating a plan” on this matter; here, you can use my plan: A.) Go to carpet store, and B.) Buy new carpet.

The frugal among us may be wondering why they don’t just clean the carpets, but – the problem is that the security check-points open at 4:30am, and may not close until 1:00am or so (if flights are late), so there’s not a lot of time for shampooing and drying.

A Tale of Cheap Flights: When Airlines Play Dirty

2010-03-12T02:45:46Z

Nope, this wasn’t a U.S. airline playing dirty – it was a Danish carrier – but it’s still a good story (courtesy AirlineReporter). Here’s what happened:

Norwegian Air Shuttle was celebrating a new route with an incredible sale – seats were going for just 19-cents each. Except, hardly anyone got those seats.

And that’s because the employees of Norwegian’s competitor – a Danish airline called Sterling – bought most of the tickets. These employees used phony names like Donald Duck to buy literally hundreds of tickets. Climber’s CEO eventually publicly apologized.

But in the meantime, there were ultimately a bunch of cancelations for these cheap flights – perhaps because the fake buyers knew the cancelation process would cost Norwegian time and money, and it did. Other fake buyers simply didn’t bother to show up. Either way, the competition deprived Norwegian of the chance to bond with new customers – which is ultimately what this incredible sale was all about.

In my book, this stinks.

Air Traffic Control Strike in Iceland Messing with Flights

2010-03-12T00:51:06Z

If you’re flying with Icelandair, beware of Iceland’s ongoing air traffic control “mini-strikes” – there was one four-hour strike yesterday, and the next is expected tomorrow morning.

There are supposed to be scattered four-hour strikes for the next few weeks – which appear to be creating some scheduling havoc for the national carrier.

I checked with Icelandair’s website, and saw a page of flights followed by the words, “no departures available” or “no arrivals available”. Not much help, huh? But here’s some email and fax contact information and you can find Icelandair phone numbers here.

Pilot: Expect “Freeway Back-up” Delays for Flights at JFK

2010-03-12T00:14:38Z

An insightful story on CNN by Daniel Fahl, who is described as a “captain for a major U.S. airline” – he writes about the expected delays at JFK that I blogged about last week.

“Just like freeways get backed up during rush hour and the holidays,” says Capt. Fahl, “so do the runways and airborne highways that aircraft navigate.”

He added that, with JFK’s main runway out of action for the next few months, the delays will be magnifed – especially because Kennedy is a prime departure/destination airport for the big planes traveling long-haul routes. The can present special problems due to “wake turbulence”:

“Wake turbulence, similar to the wake a boat creates, poses a safety threat to trailing aircraft. Because of this, there is a longer delay between departing and arriving aircraft when one of these large, or as we say “heavy,” aircraft enters the picture. With only three runways available, this adds to the headache of keeping traffic flowing.” – Daniel Fahl for CNN, 3-11-10

If you’ll be heading to JFK this Spring, watch for delays – especially if you’ll be traveling during “rush hour”.

Cell Phone Dispute Boots “Unruly Passenger” from Flight

2010-03-11T22:25:22Z

Sheer stupidity.

Police responded to reports of an “unruly passenger” aboard American Airlines Flight 683 yesterday, as it sat at the gate in Miami.

It seems one of the Dominican Republic-bound passengers would not turn off his cell phone. I think by now we all know that a crew member’s word is law on a plane, but not this individual – who also reportedly “traded words” with a crew member – another no-no.

What I thought interesting is that, according to news reports, after the fellow was kicked off the plane (and met by Miami-Dade’s finest) he was questioned and released. No charges were filed. And yet, his behavior delayed and inconvenienced a plane-load of people.

American spokesman Tim Smith wouldn’t comment on the law enforcement angle, or on what if anything American is going to do (they can ban passengers for a period of time up to and including “life”); Smith did note, however, that “We just know it is always better, and safer, to deal with such a problem on the ground rather than in-flight.”

I agree. But should Cell Phone Man have received further punishment? Or was getting kicked off his flight a fair exchange?

Keep Taking Your Shoes Off at Security – For Now, Anyway

2010-03-11T01:01:10Z

Darn. They’ve been teasing us for almost two years now, telling us about tests underway that could mean we get to keep our Jimmy Choo’s on – or your sneakers.

But it never quite happens.

And Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano threw more cold water on the idea of staying shod in the security line during an online chat with travelers Tuesday. She said current technology just isn’t good enough to allow screeners to see what might be in our shoes, while we’re wearing them.

My advice? Lace-less shoes – you know, something you can get-in-and-out-of quickly and easily.