Airfare News

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.

US Airways recently announced a new “pay-as-you-go” program - if you want a beverage on a US Airways flight, be prepared to pay. Passengers on transatlantic flights are exempt from this new charge - beverages are still complimentary if you purchase cheap airline tickets to Europe on US Air.

In addition to the $2 charge for non-alcoholic beverages (be sure to purchase your drink before boarding the plane!), your first checked bag will be assessed a $15 fee, unless you are an unaccompanied minor, active military or a preferred Dividend Miles member. The baggage fee applies to all flights to/from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and all flights within the U.S.

If you want to use your mileage for cheap airline tickets to Europe, be prepared to pay - $25, $35 or $50 depending on your destination to book a ticket. The new fees for calling US Airways to make your reservation will be increased to $25 per ticket for domestic US travel and $35 for international travel.

Use AirBanks’s booking engine to find your low cost airfare and cheap airline tickets to Europe to save these fees! And if you’re planning to stop in at Baltimore, Raleigh, Munich, Rome or Zurich, don’t bother to look for the US Airways Clubs. They will be closed effective August 6, 2008.