Airfare News

Continental Airlines recently announced it will join the other major US airlines by charging a fee for the first checked bag for passengers with economy airline tickets.  As of October 7, if you’re traveling within the United States, to Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands or Canada and have to check your luggage, be prepared to pay $15 for the first bag.  Earlier this year, Continental began charging $25 for a second checked bag.

Anyone with international airline tickets to Tokyo, Brazil, Europe or the Middle East will be exempt from these fees - but if you’re going anywhere in Central or South America (other than Brazil) be prepared to pay.

And if you have the misfortune, like me, to find low cost airfare on Continental across the country  after an international flight that returns to Los Angeles, you will soon have to pay the fees to get your luggage - laden with gifts and souveneirs - home.

Make sure when you purchase your cheap international airline tickets on flights that originate from an east or west coast hub like JFK or LAX, that you consider all the costs.  You probably will have to pay additional fees to get your luggage to your international flight.

I recently flew on US Airways from Portland, Maine to Los Angeles to attend the 2008 Aussie Specialist Corroboree (annual meeting). When I booked the ticket, I first tried for a flight on Jet Blue - my ultimate favorite domestic airline, and Southwest - typically a viable alternative for low cost airfare from northern New England. Both, unfortunately, did not have the schedule I needed and/or lowest cost airfare. US Airways had a one-way ticket with the best price that would transport me to the west coast by noon.

Knowing that I would now have to pay an exorbitant price for coffee or water once on-board, I purchased a bottle of water and cup of coffee before boarding the plane. This was a good move as there was little time to make the connection for the west coast upon landing in Philadelphia and absolutely no time to find something to drink and stand in a long line.

Everything was proceeding smoothly - the plane to Los Angeles departed on time, the flight attendants were personable and even offered passengers glasses of cold water (no charge!), and the pilot announced our expected time of arrival in Los Angeles was on schedule - until THE announcement: “If there are any doctors or medical personnel on-board, please notify the flight attendants.”

The next voice announced our emergency landing in Phoenix, and 2 hours later we were back in the air headed to Los Angeles. The passenger who left the airplane in Phoenix had an anxiety attack; US Airways’ personnel determined it was best to be safe and get her to immediate medical attention on the ground.

The plane was full, but most of the passengers were not distressed that their flight arrived almost 3 hours late. Each of us could imagine that in a different situation, we might have necessitated the emergency landing.

As of the June DOT Air Travel Consumer Report, US Airways ranked among the top 3 major airlines for on-time flights for the past 7 months - a significant improvement over their past record. Unfortunately, my flight certainly did not help them maintain their record for August.

It’s reassuring to know that although this airline - now charging for excess baggage, refreshments, snacks and ceasing on-board entertainment (movies) in November - is taking extreme measures to offset rising fuel costs, it does not hesitate to make emergency landings (and no doubt incur unanticipated additional costs) when passengers are in need of medical attention.

Choose your carrier carefully - attention to passenger well-being can still be found with low cost airfare.

Discount air carrier, Zoom, flying from the UK to regional airports in Canada, the Caribbean and New York, left hundreds of passengers stranded and over 600 workers unemployed as it joined the growing list of failed airline carriers last night.

The founders, Scottish millionaires Hugh and John Boyle, issued a statement on Zoom’s website offering their regrets for the situation. They blamed increases in fuel prices of over 50 million (UK pounds) as the source of their insolvency.

The only recourse for passengers who booked their cheap airline tickets to Europe on this discount carrier is to file a claim with their credit card companies. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways stepped to the plate and offered Zoom’s passengers reduced-price tickets for their flights home.

Analysts suggest that Irish airline Aer Lingus and Italian airline Alitalia, both of which are facing heavy losses this year, are also at risk of ceasing operations.

How can we ensure our air travel when we purchase cheap airline tickets to Europe and beyond? One of the best ways is to also purchase travel protection insurance - but make sure the insurance carrier has not listed the airline from which you purchased your tickets as a “non-covered carrier.”

In this time of uncertain fuel prices, it is impossible to guaranty that the flight you purchased will not have delays, schedule changes, or worse, an insolvency.