Who was tops in Zagat airline survey? originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Imagine what would be pretty much a perfect world, at least for airline CEOs. You're running a reasonable profit - let's say 10 percent, enough to keep the shareholders off their backs. And, they're growing annually at a low double-digit rate, as well. Again, the shareholders are seeing an upside, so there's no pressure on the airline's management. Since the numbers being posted are healthy, the need for cutthroat competition evaporates, and passengers make their choices by destination and service, the latter playing a minor role, because in this perfect world, service is pretty much consistent (and high) from one airline to the next.

Blissful, right? Well, it's just about impossible.

What shatters this fantasy, in which Santa's the pilot and the tooth fairy is pushing the drink cart, is the concept of price. The travel market - like any market - doesn't carve itself up neatly into the best possible outcomes for all involved. Some people make fantastic decisions, while others behave like morons. The leaders of each company think they can find an edge. Even in the perfect world described above, the mere possibility of an advantage can send the whole system into mayhem, but we'll get to that in a moment.

Continue reading Airlines: why it always has to come down to price

Airlines: why it always has to come down to price originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Overweight man barred from flight, misses uncle's funeral originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's been a tough month year decade for the airline industry. In the United States, it's lost $58.5 billion and cut 158,000 jobs. There never seems to be an answer, and news of an industry in jeopardy has become routine. So, .

But, it will be different this time. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says it will not be "just another advisory committee."

On his Department of Transportation blog, LaHood writes, "I am not commissioning some report to fill space on my bookshelf. This committee will make a difference."

He continues:

"Look, without a financially strong aviation industry, we will be unable to compete in domestic and international commerce. We could also fall behind in addressing our own infrastructure needs. So we must begin this important conversation in order to ensure a viable, competitive U.S. aviation industry."

But, he has his work cut out for him, as does the advisory committee. The estimated price tag to fix the most vexing problems the industry faces is $20 billion. And, many of the recommendations from the last two panels were never implemented.

Continue reading Another "blue ribbon" panel to fix the airline industry

Another "blue ribbon" panel to fix the airline industry originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

United Airlines offers a free "try before you buy" Wi-Fi session on all p.s. flights originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

1. Chicago, IL - Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
2. Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles International (LAX)
3. Denver, CO - Denver International (DEN)
4. San Francisco, CA - San Francisco International (SFO)
5. Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Hartsfield International (ATL)
6. Boston, MA - Boston Logan International (BOS)
7. New York, NY - New York LaGuardia (LGA)
8. New York, NY - New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
9. Newark, NJ - Newark Liberty International (EWR)
10. Seattle, WA - Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)

Continue reading Orbitz reveals which airports to avoid this Thanksgiving

Orbitz reveals which airports to avoid this Thanksgiving originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Contract negotiations between American Airlines and its flight attendants have stalled. So, the flight attendants kicked off a fake strike on Wednesday. At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, they picketed, handed out leaflets and wore red badges, showing flights they feel couldn't run without them. So, just think of how strong a real strike would have been! Similar protests were held at 12 other airports, as well.

Because of federal laws that intentionally make it difficult for airline industry employees to strike, the fake alternative was the best that could be summoned, at least on short notice. USA Today reports that gauging public support for a flight attendant strike is difficult, but union officials seem unwilling to roll the dice by disrupting flights, especially with the holiday season coming. Smart move: if fliers have demonstrated anything this year, it's that they don't give a shit about the airlines. They just want to get from Point A to Point B for as low a fare as possible.

And, public sentiment aside, it's hard to draw blood from a stone. In less than two years, American's parent company, AMR, has lost $3.2 billion, and revenue has taken a dive. So, what's left for the flight attendants to demand?

Continue reading Flight attendants fake strike to make point

Flight attendants fake strike to make point originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

U.S. airline passenger revenue fell in October, completing a full year of dismal monthly performances. From October 2008 to October 2008, passenger revenue dropped 15 percent, according to calculations by the Air Transport Association. The study was based on a sample group of more than 24 air carriers. Falling ticket prices are said to be the problem ... which means we can trace it back to household finances, throwing the job market into the mix.

With unemployment now above 10 percent, consumers are being careful with their extra cash (if they have any), and dropping cash on plane tickets is pretty difficult. Hey, that's why more people are driving this year than in the past.

In October, the number of people flying on U.S. airlines fell 3 percent, and the average price to fly one mile dropped 13.5 percent. Basically, the number of people flying hasn't fallen much, but they're demanding much better pricing for their business. Airlines have to take it on the chin in order to bring any revenue in the door at all.

Airlines watch 15% of last year's revenue disappear originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New airport tug puts the pilot in charge, reduces emissions originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Maybe the flight attendants should start talking to the cockpit, too. When a plane overshot Minneapolis last month because the crew was playing around with personal laptops, national attention turned to what actually goes on in the front of the plane. Congress is kicking around the idea of a new bill that would kick personal electronic devices from the cockpit.

Unsurprisingly, the pilots and airlines aren't crazy about the idea. They say that the measure would impede progress by making innovation less accessible. Scott Schleiffer, a cargo pilot who's also thrown some brain time at safety issues for the Air Line Pilots Association, told USA Today, "We would like to have access to tools, and as tools evolve, we would like to have better tools."

FAA chief Randy Babbit agrees, saying, "We need to be very careful," in regards to the prohibition of personal devices in the cockpit.

Airlines are starting to bring new technology into the cockpit, with laptops and other devices used to improved weather and safety information. The devices aren't all that different from what distracted the Northwest pilots who missed Minneapolis. JetBlue has issued laptops to pilots, which are used to push through calculations during takeoff and landing. But, the airline doesn't allow personal use of them.

Continue reading Only approved electronic devices allowed in the cockpit?

Only approved electronic devices allowed in the cockpit? originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

EasyJet has apologized to everyone who will listen over a fashion shoot that appeared in its inflight magazine.

Did the models wear too little? Did they look like fourteen year-old cokeheads? No, none of the usual stuff; they happened to be posing at the Berlin Holocaust Memorial.

Yes, some fashion photographer decided the concrete blocks known as the "Field of Stelae", properly called the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, would be a cool place for slinky women to show off designer duds. The editor of the magazine at INK Publishing thought it was a pretty neat idea too, and easyJet didn't notice until too late.

Now they've yanked the issue from all their planes and are "reviewing their relationship" with the publisher.

This was probably an honest oversight by easyJet, who acted quickly and appropriately when the issue came to their notice, but what about the magazine's editors? Or the photographer? Or the models? Didn't anyone stop and say , "Hey, millions of Jews died in the concentration camps. Perhaps we should take these photos somewhere else?"

Nope, apparently not.

EasyJet apologizes for Holocaust fashion shoot originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Exclusive video: inside Virgin America's "Stay Golden" launch

Exclusive video: inside Virgin America's "Stay Golden" launch originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Inside Virgin America's "Stay Golden" launch event (photos)

Inside Virgin America's "Stay Golden" launch event (photos) originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Four pieces of great inflight WiFi news from Gogo

Four pieces of great inflight WiFi news from Gogo originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We aren't staying at home, but we're definitely not flying. That's the word out of AAA this year. Thanksgiving, always a travel-heavy holiday, will see more cars in the road than people crammed at the gate, as travelers respond to the recession and recent increases in airfares.

AAA puts the number of people driving 50 miles or more from home for Thanksgiving at 38.4 million -- up 1.4 percent from last year. The number of people traveling by car (regardless of distance) is set to edge 2.1 percent higher. Meanwhile, the number of people taking to the skies is expected to drop a hefty 6.7 percent. The Air Transportation Association sees the passenger count dropping 4 percent, but that's for the "holiday period," which stretches from November 20 to December 1. "Economic headwinds" are the primary reason, the ATA says.

The economic situation's role in the decision to drive versus fly isn't limited to the change in prices. Airlines have been pushing their fares up for the past few weeks, but for consumers, the decision is based on cost relative to their willingness to spend. Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, tells MSNBC, "A leisure traveler might have bought a domestic ticket for $350 last year. Lately, $250 has been the breakpoint; above that, they just weren't going to buy."

Continue reading Passengers to become drivers for Thanksgiving this year

Passengers to become drivers for Thanksgiving this year originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Gadling exclusive - the girls of the VivaAerobus 2009 calendar!

Sneak preview of the girls of the 2010 VivaAerobus calendar! originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If they can't make money taking passengers from one place to another, maybe airlines can harness the power of eyeballs ... you know, the way the web does. If you get enough people passing by a particular spot -- physical or virtual -- it's possible to toss up a few ads and make some money. This is what AirTran has in mind. The airline is putting ads on the bottoms of seat-back tray tables. So, for takeoff and landing, at least, when this device is in its upright and locked position, passengers will be treated to prolonged exposure to the desires of advertisers.

AirTran plans to execute this across 138 planes within the next few weeks -- it's easy to pull the trigger when you stand to make some money by doing very little. The first ad partner, Mother Nature Network, is offering fliers the opportunity to win a cruise on Royal Caribbean. Future advertisers are expected to be travel-related, as well. The ads will be 2 ½ inches by 9 inches and will be easy to swap out, thanks to the plastic in which they will be encased. As planes are brought in for overnight service, they'll be set up for the ads.

Continue reading AirTran tries to make money like an internet company

AirTran tries to make money like an internet company originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Virgin America - SFO to FLL inaugural flight

Virgin America launches SFO/LAX to Ft. Lauderdale! originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

US Airways Flight 728 was forced to land in Boston Monday night, far short of its London destination. John Alexander Murry, of Glasgow, was arrested just after 11 PM, causing the plane to stay on the ground for two hours before resuming its Philly-to-London route.

The 50-year-old Scottish man, according to prosecutors, was being "unruly and disruptive," it seems. The crew continually asked him to stop blocking the aisle, but Murray allegedly wasn't willing to comply. So, he'll be telling his story to a judge in East Boston District Court, where he was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. The charge is interfering with a flight crew.

According to a US Airways spokesman, the pilot chose to land in Boston and have Murray bounced "in the interest of safety."

Unruly Scot forces Boston landing originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Galley Gossip: 5 tips for getting through airport security quickly

Galley Gossip: 5 tips for getting through airport security quickly originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.