The Frequent Flier

If you’re a frequent flier of the skies than you already know some of the tricks to get around costly airline fees such as paying extra for checked baggage and fees for onboard services such as a pillow or blanket.  But another step airline travelers can take this summer in trying to save money is being aware of a new tactic by major airlines: peak-travel surcharges.

Airlines have been unsuccessful at creating set system wide airfare increases over the past few years which has led most major carriers to search for revenue in other places such as baggage and service fees.  But this summer at least four U.S. airlines are introducing extra fees for flights between June 10 and Aug. 22, depending on the airline.

The average fees are between $10 and $30 each way.  According to a report in the Kansas City Star, the added surcharges are harder to detect in the advertised fare and many passengers are unaware of the hidden costs until they are ready to complete their transaction.

“When people see headlines about the airlines raising fares, they tend to stay away,” said Rick Seaney, chief executive officer of FareCompare.com, in the Kansas City Star. “So the peak-travel surcharge is a smart move in that the airlines are getting a higher price that people are willing to pay to fly without announcing a hike.”

Summer is typically a busy time for airlines as most families are able to take vacations with children out of school.  The airlines believe that travelers are more willing to accept the surcharges in summer months when vacation plans are usually set.  But frequent fliers may be able to save nearly $60 per-person if they can book a flight outside of the peak travel times or chose a day in the middle of the weak instead of the weekend.

The World Airline Awards, issued by Skytrax, were presented this month and it may come as no surprise to American frequent flyers that not a single airline from the United States cracked the top 10.

More than 17.9 million airline travelers from over 100 different nationalities took part in the 10 month survey that measured 38 different items of customer satisfaction. Asiana Airlines was named 2010s airline of the year.
In the North American airline category, Air Canada was the highest finisher followed by Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines

“This is a fantastic achievement for Air Canada,” said Edward Plaisted, Skytrax Chairman. “They are clearly meeting and exceeding their customer’s expectations to have been named the Best Airline North America, amongst such a choice of different airlines across this large continent.”

When it came to frequent-flyer programs, Oneworld Alliance -anchored by American Airline- was named the world’s best frequent-flyer program. Star Alliance, which includes airlines like United, US Airways and Air Canada, was awarded second place.

The World Airline Awards began in 1999 and this year was presented in Hamburg where more than 40 airlines from around the world gathered for the announcement.
Winners of other categories:

• Best low-cost airline: 1. AirAsia; 2. Air Berlin; 3. Virgin Blue
• Best regional airline: 1. Dragonair; 2. Silkair; 3.Bangkok Airways
• Most-improve airline:1. Garuda Indonesia; 2. Hainan Airlines; 3. Oman Air
• Best leisure airline: 1. Thomson Airways; 2. TUIFly; 3. Monarch Airlines
• Best in-flight entertainment: 1. Emirates; 2. Singapore Airlines; 3. Virgin Atlantic
• Best cabin staff: 1. Singapore Airlines; 2. Malaysia Airlines; 3. Asiana Airlines
• Best airline alliance: 1. Oneworld; 2. Star Alliance; 3. SkyTeam
• Best trans-Atlantic airline: 1. Virgin Atlantic; 2. British Airways; 3. Lufthansa
• Best trans-Pacific airline: 1. Cathay Pacific; 2. Singapore Airlines; 3. Asiana
• Best first-class airline: 1. Etihad; 2. Singapore Airlines; 3. Qantas
• Best business-class airline: 1. Qatar Airways; 2 Singapore Airlines; 3. Etihad
• Best premium economy class: 1. Qantas; 2. Air New Zealand; 3. ANA
• Best economy class: 1. Malaysia Airlines; Qatar Airways; 3. Singapore Airlines

On-time rates showed an increase in March but many flights and airlines continue to struggle with getting you to your destination on-time

Things always seem to be changing –often for the worse– in the airline industry, but while frequent fliers have to deal with growing fees for checked baggage and new restrictions related to increased safety measures, on-time rates appear to be changing for the better.

According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the 18 largest airline carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 80 percent in March 2010, an increase of over 5 percent from the month before.

The BTS data, which includes reports on flight cancellations and causes of delayed flights, showed that carriers canceled 1.5 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in March 2010, a significant drop from the 5.5 percent in February 2010 and the cancellation rate of 2.1 percent in March 2009. For those flights that were delayed, the most common cause was weather as close to 40 percent of delayed flights were caused by Mother Nature. However, that was a 10-percent decrease from the same month last year.

While more passengers are arriving at their destination on-time, many still are finding that their luggage wasn’t as lucky. Data from the BTS showed that there were 3.72 reports per 1,000 passengers of mishandled baggage, an improvement over March 2009’s rate of 4.23 and February 2010’s 4.01 rate.

However, improved on-time rates and fewer mishandled baggage did not result in fewer complaints filed with the Department of Transportation. Complaints increased by 35.7-percent in March 2010 when compared to the same month last year. It was also an increase of nearly 25 percent from February 2010.

Passengers of Hawaiian Airlines enjoyed the highest on-time arrival rates with 90.2 percent of flights arriving at their destination on-time. JetBlue Airways reported an on-time arrival rate of 72.1-percent, the lowest of any carrier for the month of March.

While on-time rates showed an increase, many passengers flying to and from New York’s LaGuardia airport may not have noticed. Southwest Airlines flight 1142 from Baltimore to LaGuardia reported experiencing a delayed flight 100 percent of the time in March 2010, making it the nation’s most delayed flight.

Highest On-Time Arrival Rates
1. Hawaiian Airlines – 90.2 percent
2. Alaska Airlines – 87.3 percent
3. Pinnacle Airlines – 84.2 percent

Lowest On-Time Arrival Rates
1. JetBlue Airways – 72.1 percent
2. ExpressJet Airlines – 75.1 percent
3. American Airlines – 76.1 percent

Most Frequently Delayed Flights
1. Southwest Airlines flight 1142 from Baltimore to New York LaGuardia – late 100.0 percent of the time
2. Southwest Airlines flight 1229 from New York LaGuardia to Chicago Midway – late 93.75 percent of the time
2. Southwest Airlines flight 1138 from Denver to Kansas City, MO – late 93.75 percent of the time
4. Southwest Airlines flight 1599 from Baltimore to New York LaGuardia – late 87.50 percent of the time
4. Southwest Airlines flight 1925 from Baltimore to Hartford, CT – late 87.50 percent of the time
4. Southwest Airlines flight 2585 from Houston Hobby to Albuquerque, NM – late 87.50 percent of the time
4. Southwest Airlines flight 3922 from Houston Hobby to Austin, TX – late 87.50 percent of the time

Flights with Longest Tarmac Delays
1. American Airlines flight 160 from San Diego to New York JFK, 3/13/10 – delayed on tarmac 300 minutes
2. SkyWest Airlines flight 6530 from Denver to Birmingham, AL, 3/23/10 – delayed on tarmac 272 minutes
3. American Airlines flight 24 from San Francisco to New York JFK, 3/13/10 – delayed on tarmac 261 minutes
4. SkyWest Airlines flight 6136 from Denver to Appleton, WI, 3/23/10 – delayed on tarmac 241 minutes
(There were only four flights with tarmac delays of four hours or more in March)

Highest Rates of Canceled Flights
1. Comair – 3.4 percent
2. Atlantic Southeast Airlines – 2.9 percent
3. JetBlue Airways – 2.8 percent

Lowest Rates of Canceled Flights
1. Hawaiian Airlines – 0.0 percent
2. Continental Airlines – 0.2 percent
3. Alaska Airlines – 0.5 percent

The photograph, allegedly taken by an American Airlines hostess, was used to show why larger passengers should be made to buy an extra seat.

Most all of us have had at least one horror story of an economy class seating nightmare, stuck between smelly, loud or extremely obese passengers. A picture, allegedly taken by an American Airlines hostess, has been spreading around the internet like wildfire demonstrating that sometimes certain passengers can cause more problems than a little in-flight discomfort.

The photo (left) was taken by a stewardess who wanted to show her boss why she believed that many passengers should be required to purchase an extra seat. While it’s clear from the photo the plane had not taken off yet, it’s uncertain as to whether or not the passenger was asked to move before takeoff.

The internet was abuzz with opinions about the picture, ranging from obvious concerns for passenger safety to debates on whether or not larger passengers should be charged for the additional weight, much like certain airlines charge for additional baggage.

A spokesman for American Airlines, the carrier believed to be shown in the above picture, was unable to confirm whether or not it was taken from one of their flights but did insist that obstructing the aisle would be a safety hazard.

Certainly no passenger would ever be allowed to fly in any way that obstructs the aisles of the aircraft,’ he said. ‘It is very obvious in the photo that the aircraft is not in-flight at the time the photo was taken – other passengers are still boarding and several overhead bins are still open.’

Regardless of whether or not you sympathize with this character, it does bring into question fairness to other passengers, the concept of fuel surcharges and whether or not having extremely obese people are safety hazards to the other crew members and passengers whether they purchased an additional seat or not.

DALLAS, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Southwest Airlines’ (NYSE: LUV) Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.0045 per share to Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2009 on all shares then issued and outstanding. The 133rd consecutive dividend will be paid on January 7, 2010.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines Investor Relations, +1-214-792-4415