Friday, December 30, 2011

Lower Euro, Stronger Dollar Makes Europe More Affordable

Going into the low travel season of January to mid-March, U.S. travelers will benefit from a favorable exchange rates between the Euro and the dollar as well as seasonal lower pricing on air travel, hotel and other travel related services. It is a relatively good value compared to prior years when the Euro hovered between $1.33 to $1.60. With talks of austerity and recession, travel providers are getting more realistic about pricing, and deals are abound during the low season. Many fares are so low that the taxes and fees amount to triple the base fare. Premiere Travel will be featuring many new booking tools in 2012 designed to take advantage of special pricing opportunities and packages. www.premieretravel.com

Sunday, December 25, 2011

On-time Arrivals "Improving"

You see the headlines in how well airlines are doing in their on-time arrivals, which happens to be one of the performance measurements by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). What many passengers don't know is that airlines build a generous margin of safety to insure a high probability of on-time arrivals. For example, a flight from Reagan National Airport to New York LaGuardia takes about 38-45 minutes of wheels-up to wheels-down, but yet the schedule shows 1 hour and 21 minutes for that flight. In this case, the airline built in a margin of safety of 41 minutes for a 40-minute flight. So even if the flight is 30 minutes late in take-off, the airline can boast an "on-time" arrival as the plane is taxiing to the gate with 10 minutes to spare. Sometimes things don't work out so well. Planes arriving well before their "scheduled" arrival may find themselves stopping short of the gate due to the fact that a departing plane has not left the gate that the arriving plane is supposed to occupy. Weather delays and congestion may also mean that a plane may circle around and queue for landing at busy airports such as Chicago O'Hare and New York LaGuardia. Airlines do post the "probability" factor, usually on a scale of 1-10 for the "timeliness" of their flights. The higher the number, the more likely the flight will be on time. www.premieretravel.com

Friday, December 23, 2011

Advance Seat Assignments Will Be More Difficult in 2012

In continuing the trend of commoditizing every aspect of the flying experience, desirable seats will be harder to score in 2012 and will cost more.

Airlines are holding back on a larger inventory of seats for their premium mileage members and making travelers pay for exit row, extra legroom, and even standard aisle seats towards the front of the plane.

Travelers may be disappointed when they pull up the seat map only to find middle or undesirable seats even when they are booking far in advance.

Premiere Travel implements an automated program that works around the clock in search of better seating for our travelers if and when they become available.

www.premieretravel.com

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Best Airline Mileage Credit Cards

Many airlines are aggressively marketing their versions of major credit card programs that offer a variety of benefits to the traveler.

Before you sign on the dotted line, please consider the following in determining the best program for you:

1) Will you likely fly that airline a few times in the upcoming year?
2) What are the benefits promised and are they relevant to your needs?

Adding 50,000 bonus miles is a big plus that may enrich your mileage balance allowing you to take advantage of free flights and upgrades. 50,000 miles is the usual requirement for two domestic tickets, so that's definitely a good start. Some airlines will double your miles when you use the card for certain purchases and allow you and companions free checked baggage as well as Club Passes and priority boarding.

United Airlines Mileage Plus Explorer and Delta SkyMiles cards are the very best right now. The first year membership fee is waived ($95), and you are likely to recoup the cost of the membership the second year even if you use your card for one flight.

www.premieretravel.com

Monday, December 19, 2011

The New Normal: Sub-Par Airline Service

Flight Attendants moving up and down the aisles with big open trash bags calling out "trash...trash..." is an example of what today's travelers hear on domestic flights.

Surly service at the gate and on board have become quite common particularly on domestic flights.

The past was a glorious time to fly...china settings, real silverware, hot meals on board, full carts of free beverage, and basics like magazines, pillows and blankets were a minimum standard.

The first class cabin, a true past luxury on domestic flights has become a much hyped up offering full of "upgraded" passengers with high status. Airlines have created a sport in scoring an upgrade as passengers compete furiously for limited number of seats. Cold sandwiches and drinks in plastic cups await the lucky ones.

There is no avoiding to this new normal. Airlines through their alliances, joint ventures and code shares have carved out the map and created a false sense of competition that exists in only a handful of markets where the legacies compete with the upstarts.

The new normal is here to stay, at least for the forseeable future.

www.premieretravel.com

Monday, December 12, 2011

Delta Makes a Strong Pitch to Latin America

Delta Airline' tactical move to buy a small percentage of Brazilian carrier Gol revealed the strategy of Delta to gain a stronger presence in Latin America.

Gol is the second largest Brazilian carrier with a strong domestic network and newer fleet of aircraft that is growing at a double-digit pace. Delta's move was intended to keep Gol away from joining another alliance, namely, American's One World. It allows both carriers to market and code-share each other's flights.

Overall, Delta's move is very positive for travelers as the Atlanta gateway will be more relevant to a wider network of South American gateways.


www.premieretravel.com

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Why Baggage Fee Disclosure Is So Complicated

Airlines and associations representing their interests are urging the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) to postpone the January 24, 2012 implementation requirement of baggage fee disclosure.

After already agreeing twice to delay implementation, airlines now need at least an additional year.

In an ominous note that has a tinge of a threat the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Air Transport Association, Regional Airline Association and Air Carrier Association of America in their joint filing said:

“If an extension is not granted, carriers would be forced to adopt error-prone makeshift procedures that would substantially delay passenger check-in, create long lines at airports [and] substantially reduce the availability of automated self-service check-in, including the fast-growing popular remote check-in systems.... Proceeding with the Jan. 24 implementation date also will increase the risk of delayed or lost bags, the associations say, and increase the likelihood that carriers will create “confusion and disenchantment” by applying the wrong carrier’s baggage fees."

So what's the point of deadlines? January 24, 2012 is the date that the airlines themselves had requested after two extensions had already been granted.

www.premieretravel.com

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Rude and Aggressive Flight Attendants

Alec Baldwin was passing time sitting in his seat on a flight at a gate and not going anywhere, playing "Words with friends", when apparently a flight attendant "reamed" him to put away his smart phone. His swift lack of cooperation necessitated removing him from the flight.

Some flight attendants on domestic flights have gotten into the "rhythm" of doing their jobs methodically and harshly. They are overworked, underpaid and unhappy, and they have no hesitation in letting you know it.

If you don't turn off your smart phone, bring your seat to upright position or follow their directions, their voices will remind you of your fourth grade teacher chastising you.

Foreign carriers compete harder for your business, and their flight attendants who are better trained, treated and paid show the travelers the respect, service and smiles that have become so rare in the cattle car conditions on domestic routes.

www.premieretravel.com

Friday, December 2, 2011

The "Sweet Spot"...When Is the Best Time To Book Air Travel

The question is repeatedly asked: What's the "sweet spot" to book air travel to get the best fares, availability, most desirable seats, etc...

The short answer is: It depends!

Not being big on answering question with questions, we will lay it out:

Factors that are considered to answer:

1) What is the origin and destination?
2) What is the season (high/low or shoulder?
3) Is it a high demand resort or business destination?
4) International or domestic?
5) Is it a competitive route?
6) Direct or Connections flight(s)?

The common misconception with travelers is that the earlier you book, the cheaper the fare...not true. For example, booking 10 months in advance may not get you the lowest fare as airlines believe that they have a lot of time to sell the seat.

For international travel 3 weeks-3 months would normally yield a lower fare.
Domestic tickets are more subjective to a variety of airline algorithms that vary due to all above factors...

www.premieretravel.com