Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Those tired old "Mobile Lounges" are history! (Photo: Kumokasumi/Flickr

DULLES AEROTRAIN IS OPEN. R.I.P. “MOBILE LOUNGES.” Finally, those awful, awkward “mobile lounges” that travelers to and from Washington, DC’s Dulles Airport had to endure to get to their gate…are history (for the most part)! The airport’s new underground AeroTrain system commenced service last month. Every two minutes, shiny new trains whisk passengers along a central spine connecting the main terminal with distant concourses. (Sorta similar to train systems at airports in Atlanta and Denver…) Delta and AirTran operate out of the “B” gates at Dulles. Note: For the time being, United passengers traveling to/from the airport’s “D” gates still have to board the mobile lounges. Luckily, most Atlanta-based travelers can choose Washington-Reagan-National airport when their destination is D.C. proper and only choose Dulles when fares are cheaper or when they’ve got business in northern Virginia and the surrounding region,

CREDIT CARD ACT NOW IN EFFECT. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act took effect on Feb 22, will force more consumer-friendly practices on card issuers. But it will also increase competition among banks for lucrative affluent customers with good credit ratings (i.e. TICKET readers!) according to an interesting article in Business Week.  Customers with credit ratings of 750+ should expect to receive more bonus rewards, solicitations and promotional offers. Speaking of affluent customers, here’s a nugget of info from the article that we did not know: “American Express dominates the market for affluent users, with individual card purchases averaging $9,342 in 2008 compared with $2,672 for Visa and $2,300 for MasterCard. Its cardholders have average credit scores of 754 compared with 722 for the rest of the industry.” (Disclosure: Travel Skills Group, the publisher of this blog, engages in occasional consulting work for American Express.)

CAR RENTAL SURPRISES CONTINUE. We keep hearing similar stories from TICKET readers about rapacious car rental rates. Here’s another…”I’m an Avis Preferred First Member.  Last night I tried to make a reservation in Boston in April (not Easter weekend).  The airlines are having a great sale ($128 RT midweek) so I decided to see about visiting kids and grandkids.  The airfare for 2 was about $320 with taxes, etc. but the car (economy) was $375!!!! Fully one third of that was taxes and garbage.  I am aware of this imbalance and realize it’s been going on for a while, but in this economy, it seems bizarre.  I realize, or at least I’ve heard, that the car companies have cut back the number of cars available in order to keep the price high. To get the best deal, I booked it at Orbitz for $100 less.  Here’s the problem or challenge: Avis won’t let me use my Avis Preferred First status with the rental. I really don’t care about the mileage but I was annoyed to think that I’ll be forced to check-in at the counter. No manner of questioning from either Orbitz or Avis produced any answer.  Customer service??  Not!  Anyway, keep up the good work!”–JL

As of today, Canadian authorities have relaxed the onerous ZERO carry-on bag policy enacted after Christmas Day bombing attempt over Detroit. Passengers on flights bound for the U.S. from Canada can now carry on a single bag, plus a personal item like a purse, briefcase or laptop bag.

This is more or less a return to the rules in force before the Dec 25 incident, but a spokesperson at Transport Canada told The TICKET that travelers should expect tighter enforcement of the one-bag rule.

This is VERY good news for Vancouver Winter Olympics-bound travelers headed north in February.

(SEE UPDATE BELOW)

AirTran stopped flying between Atlanta and Savannah in October 2008, leaving Delta as the only carrier offering nonstops between the two Georgia cities.

According to an article in the Savannah Daily News, round trip fares ranged from a low of about $108 in 2002 to a high of about $200 in 2006.

With a monopoly on the nonstop market, Delta’s now charging about $450 for a 21-day advance purchase mid-week fare between ATL and SAV. One-stop roundtrips on US Airways (via Charlotte) are going for about $295 (journey time is 3+ hours).

Compare that to Jacksonville (140 miles south of SAV), where Delta and AirTran compete in the nonstop market to Atlanta, and both offer round trip 21-day advance fares of just $179 (when we checked on Jan 18).

When AirTran announced its 2008 departure, Savannah city leaders braced for fare increases of about 35 percent. Instead, they’ve more than doubled. That’s prompted city leaders, concerned for local tourism and business interests, to send a letter to Delta CEO Richard Anderson asking the carrier requesting a review of the fare structure between Atlanta and Savannah.

While they wait for an answer, more travelers than ever are hitting the roads again for the monotonous 4-5 hour, 200-mile drive.

City leaders are also hoping to convince AirTran to return to the market. But to make it commercially viable, AirTran is asking for a subsidy of $2 million per roundtrip flight, per year.

UPDATE: 1-27-2010: Delta responds to request to review fares but makes no changes. Claims fares are competitive. Local authorities plan try again. Here’s the article.

Hey Folks: Based on our most recent poll (<<LOOK LEFT!<<), most TICKET readers have NOT tried in-flight wi-fi yet. What are you waiting for? If it’s cost, we’ve got a deal for you. TICKET readers can give the new Gogo inflight internet service a go FOR FREE now through January 7, 2010.

Here’s how: When you get on a wi-fi equipped plane (all AirTran jets and most Delta 757’s have it now. It’s also on United and American) fire up your laptop or PDA and log on the internet. You will automatically arrive at the Gogo site. Then enter this code:

2285274562xbf

(copy and paste this into a doc or write it on a slip of paper and put in your wallet to access on the plane)

And Voila! Free internet! Let us know what you think.

UPDATE: Let’s just say that anyone who pays for in-flight wi-fi this winter is a dummy! This just in: Delta and eBay have teamed up, with eBay sponsoring FREE inflight wi-fi on Delta during Thanksgiving.

UC Berkeley Grad Student Gabriel Leigh

Okay all you mileage-obsessed mileage mavens, mileage junkies, travel addicts, road warriors or anyone who has ever held an elite level membership with a frequent flyer program. You know who you are. This video is for you.

This 20-minute documentary (titled “Frequent Flyer”) is actually the master’s thesis of Gabriel Leigh, journalism grad student at UC Berkeley. I don’t normally have 20 minutes to devote to an online video, but this was time well spent. (The video is very professionally made and easy on the eyes…)

So sit back, relax, hit the full-screen button and enjoy this….it will be like looking in the mirror for many of you!

Frequent Flyer from Gabriel Leigh on Vimeo.

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