South Flights

As one of the biggest travel companies in the world, consumers expect to be able to find American Airlines tickets on the popular fare comparison website Expedia. Unfortunately, Expedia has decided to cease doing business with American Airlines, effective immediately. When the airline company began to competitively market airline tickets rather than pay Expedia for booking airline tickets, the online travel portal struck back. Flight and ticket information can be found on every other major airline via Expedia, which may lead to trouble in the future.

Expedia has been trying to hang onto the number one spot, however, other online vacation portals are becoming more popular. Airlines such as American Airlines have complained about the virtual monopoly that Expedia had for years, but now the company is working with other airline booking companies. It is likely that American Airlines will be able to offer consumers better discounts when they book their flights directly through their websites. On the other hand, travelers are used to visiting price comparison companies in an effort to get the best prices on vacation packages. Unless American Airlines teams up with car rental companies and major hotel chains, there is a good chance that consumers will opt to go with another airline.

This is the second large price comparison company that has stopped working with American Airlines. Previously, Orbitz dropped American Airlines after the two companies had a dispute. Approximately 33% of US travelers use these services to buy airline tickets, look up schedules and compare fares.

Typically, airports and airlines are well equipped to deal with inclement weather, and passengers are aware of the fact that delays and canceled flights are sometimes unavoidable. However, the snow storm that just hit the east coast has put virtually all air traffic at a standstill. Between Boston and Philadelphia, more than 10 inches of snow has already fallen. Travelers with big plans for New Year’s Eve have been forced to take shelter in nearby hotels.

Airport officials warned of the storm before it hit, but even they were unable to imagine the full extent of beating that the Eastern Seaborg would take. Nearly 1,000 flights have been canceled as the severe snowstorm continues to make its way up the coast. Among the airports hit hardest; Newark Liberty International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport.

In some states a state of emergency has been put into effect. Thousands of travelers have been camping out at airports because road conditions are treacherous. Entire families have taken refuge in airport lobbies with the hopes that flight conditions will soon improve.
Most of the airports that have been impacted expect to be fully operational by Monday. Some flights will resume on a limited basis, however, airways will need to be cleared and planes will have to be de-iced. With the storm on its way to Canada, air travel into this country will be severely impacted. Although the storm is a big inconvenience, most travelers have taken the delays in good stride.

Surprisingly, the number of international travelers has been steadily increasing every year despite the financial crisis. In the US, airlines have no actively been hiring, and close to 7,000 jobs have already been cut. While most passengers have probably not noticed a difference, the move could be problematic during the holiday travel season. With fewer pilots and flight attendants available, existing employees will have to worker longer hours in order to make up for the difference.

Some airline companies are trimming costs wherever they can, but the end result may cause travelers to be further inconvenienced. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, jobs in the airline industry fell by nearly 2% from August of 2009 to August of 2010. On top of there being fewer support staff on board flights, there are also fewer employees working at airports across the US.

For the past two years, the airline industry has been laying off workers in unprecedented amounts. By contrast, Delta Airlines has increased jobs by approximately 6%, but this is the only airline that actively been hiring. Fares are higher and some airlines have stopping flying into select airports. Other international airlines have been using this opportunity to entice American travelers.

Financial analysts are unsure of when the industry will begin to pick up again. Some speculate that the airline job market will begin to improve when summer travel season starts, but most airlines will only be hiring part-time or seasonal workers. If the state of the economy is more promising by the summer, airline companies may have enough confidence to start to hire more full-time employees again.

In order to win back lost customers, British Airlines plans on offering heavily discounted airline tickets. Most major airline companies hold sales during the summer months because it is the busiest time of the year. After British Airlines canceled thousands of flights due to the on again off again threat of a massive strike, travelers began to depend on other airlines. In fact, British Airlines has canceled thousands of flights over the last few months.

As a result, British Airlines lost millions of dollars in revenue. Now, the only questions left are when British Airlines will officially announce the sale and how the company will be able to settle its pay dispute with workers. British Airlines went through similar troubles in 2007 when their staff threatened to strike and then canceled their plans at the last minute.

Because other major airlines are expected to sell airline tickets at a discount this summer, British Airlines has not choice but to beat their prices. From the consumer’s perspective, buying low priced airline tickets from British Airlines is a bit of a gamble. Their flights can be canceled at a moment’s notice, which would cause travelers to have to scramble to find alternative airline carriers.
All in all, this year’s summer season just may be British Airlines’ worst. The company will have to give in their at least some of their employees demands, and they will take another hit when they put fares on sale. Travelers also suffer because they are left with fewer transportation options.

When buying airline tickets online, call the airline to get seat assignment immediately if no seat assignment is given. If you arrive at the ticket counter without seat assignment on an overbooked flight, you probably will get bumped off the flight and forced to take a later flight – which can be several hours or even a full day later. Due to overbooking, getting seat assignment in advance can reduce the risk of getting ‘bumped’!

Avoid booking flight segments close together. Major airlines consider a connection as tight as 35 minutes to be a valid connection, but this is often not enough time if there are long lines at security! If travel time is not critical, consider allowing at least 2 hours to make each connection. If you are not delayed, you can use this slack time to eat at the airport, where the food is likely many times better than what you may get in the air.

For those travelling with backpacks, bring along several large orange garbage bags to protect the pack from luggage carousels and machinery; prior to checking your pack in, write in large letters across the garbage bag your itinerary and flight numbers, then slip it over the backpack and tie tightly. Your pack is now immune to the gnashing teeth of the luggage carousels, and you’ll have no trouble identifying the pack on the carousel.

When you claim your bag at the airport, check it over before you leave the bag claim area. Look for any new damage on the bag, and to be sure that it was not opened and something taken. The baggage service desk for the airline is normally right in the claim area, this is also true for customs arrivals. It is especially important to fill out the misplaced baggage information before leaving customs, as customs will have special forms that may help the baggage clear without your presence at the airport. If you have combination locks or keys for the baggage, these should be left with the paperwork for your baggage, as it will prevent delays in getting your bag or possible bag damage from customs opening the bag.

Airline passengers have long complained of being held on airplanes because of delays. Sometimes the communication is so poor that passengers become enraged, fatigued and frightened. On a recent JetBlue flight to Cancun, passengers were stuck for several hours without any type of refreshments. The Obama administration has decided to fine airlines to the tune of $27,000 per passengers if it is found that they were held on board airplanes without food or water for more than two hours.

Of course, both passengers and the federal government understand that delays are unavoidable. The main problem stems from the fact that travel during the winter months and inclement weather can ground airplanes for several hours at a time. Many airlines would rather delay takeoff than cancel flights altogether, and if a plane has already boarded then the passengers are just stuck.

Airlines are not happy about the new rules. According to some airline representatives, the fines are so steep that the entire industry would have to go through a change. On the other hand, airline passenger
rights advocates couldn’t be more pleased. For years, passengers have forced to sit on airplanes and suffer in poor conditions. Some passengers on board these flights have had their medical conditions exasperated by lengthy delays.

Although airlines try to do everything within their power to avoid delays, they will need to work even harder to keep their passengers safe and comfortable. As several airline companies are already struggling to stay afloat, a series of delayed flights could cause them to fall into dire straights.

With more than 180 pilots continuing to strike in India, the government is now working to help displaced passengers. A major airlines in India has canceled nearly 50 pre-booked flights in the last few days. As a result, hundreds of vacationers, business professionals and local residents have been forced to cancel their plans. As travelers in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi have been unable to get to their destinations because of the Air India pilot strike, Civil Aviation Secretary Madhavan Nambiar has asked officials from Air India not to raise airline ticket prices.

The strike occurred as a result of Air India’s decision to end a pay incentive program. Pilots were incensed and negotiations between the two sides have gone nowhere. As a result, the largest airline in India has suspended all flights and refused to refund fares. Government officials are urging Air India to make concessions so that air travel can commence again. In addition, members of the government have asked top officials at Air India to assist displaced passengers.

The stalemate has effected thousands of travelers and it seems that there is no end to the strike in sight. For now, Air India has vowed not to increase raise fares, but the company has announced no plans to help displaced passengers to their destinations. With striking pilots and Air India unable to come to an agreement, the Indian government may eventually have to intervene. Air India has currently suspended all future and upcoming flights for the foreseeable future.