Friday, November 23, 2012

TSA Pre Continues To Be A Favorite for Frequent Flyers

TSA Pre✓™ allows select frequent flyers of participating airlines and members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs to receive expedited screening benefits during domestic travel. Eligible participants use dedicated screening lanes for screening benefits which include leaving on shoes, light outerwear and belts, as well as leaving laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags. Learn more about how you can participate and receive expedited screening. TSA Pre✓™ Expedited Screening TSA Pre✓™ is an expedited screening initiative that is expanding to airports across the country. Implementing a key component of the agency’s intelligence-driven, risk-based approach to security, TSA Pre✓™ enhances aviation security by placing more focus on pre-screening individuals who volunteer to participate to expedite the travel experience. TSA is partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as U.S. air carriers as part of this initiative. Certain frequent travelers from Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways and certain members of CBP's Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS who are U.S. citizens are eligible to participate. Beginning November 15, Canadian citizens traveling domestically in the United States who are members of NEXUS are also qualified to participate in TSA Pre✓™. In addition, passengers 12 and younger are allowed through TSA Pre✓™ lanes with eligible passengers. TSA Pre✓™ is currently available for eligible passengers flying on participating airlines. To see which airports are participating, please click on the map below. For a listing of airports and terminals, please use the map below or download the TSA Pre✓™ location chart.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Flight Attendant Strike looms At USAirways

A possible flight attendant strike became more realistic as 94 percent of attendants voted in favor of a walkout. Contract negotiations have been on-going and protracted without an agreement. USAirways unions are positioning their action prior to a psooble merger with American Airlines. www.premieretravel.com

Thursday, November 15, 2012

The New Low-Down: Higher Baggage Fees Ahead

Some airlines have something new in store for travelers in 2013 and it is not good.  If your clever travel agent splits your ticket to save you money and issues two tickets instead of one to your destination, those savvy airlines now say they will only check your bags to what is listed on the ticket you are traveling on.  This means added fees and/or more inconvenience for the traveler, resulting obviously in higher fees for the airlines.

Here's an example: If you are flying from New York to Madrid via Paris, and you want to take advantage of two discounted fares instead of one more expensive fares, you will not be able to check your luggage all the way through.  This means that you will have to go through Customs and Immigration in Paris, retrieve your luggage, re-check your luggage and will certainly be subject to additional baggage fees for the second leg of your journey.

Airlines have collected record ancillary fees, and baggage fees are the biggest revenue generator for most.  By tacking on fees they don't have to disclose as part of the total airfare cost, airlines are flying under the radar of DOT requirements.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Spirit Airlines Sense of Humor Backfires

Subscribers to Spirit Airlines "$9 fare Club" which costs $59.95 a year, were shocked when they received an email with the heading: "Romney Wins. And So Do Obama and You With These Incredibly Low Fares,". Needless to say, a large number of recipients were not amused. This is not the first (or last) attempt of Spirit to try to be funny. From the folks that brought you deceptively advertised fares and a $100 baggage fee, the last email blast was yet another cynical effort to capture some badly needed attention. www.premieretravel.com

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

United Airlines Advisory: Exception Policy 6-8 November

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2012 Exception Policy for Northeast Winter Storm – November 6-8 Severe winter weather is expected to impact the northeastern United States on Wednesday, November 7 and Thursday, November 8. Customers with travel to, from, or through the cities below between November 6 and November 8, 2012 are permitted to voluntarily change travel plans or refund their ticket within the parameters provided below. In anticipation of the storm, United plans to suspend most service to and from the New York area between 12:00pm ET on Wednesday, November 7 and 12:00pm ET on Thursday, November 8. Weather conditions will likely cause additional delays and cancellations at other northeast airports. Weather permitting, United’s schedule will operate as follows: • New York/Newark (EWR): Between 12:00pm ET Wednesday, November 7 and 12:00pm ET on Thursday, November 8, United intends to operate long-haul international flights and flights to and from United hubs, but will suspend most remaining services. • New York/Kennedy (JFK) and New York/LaGuardia (LGA): United intends to operate most flights through 12:00pm ET on Wednesday, November 7, with all services then suspended through 12:00pm ET on Thursday, November 8. At this time United plans on operating a full schedule out of Washington/Dulles (IAD). Please note that these operational plans are subject to change as the weather event develops, so customers should visit united.com to check the status of their flight prior to departing for the airport. MileagePlus® members are encouraged to enroll in flight status notification updates through the communication preferences on their MileagePlus profile. Impacted Cities Dates Rescheduled Travel • Allentown, PA (ABE) • Hartford, CT (BDL) • Manchester, NH (MHT) • New York/Newark (EWR) • New York/Kennedy (JFK) • New York/LaGuardia (LGA) • Philadelphia, PA (PHL) • White Plains, NY (HPN) Travel Dates: November 6 – November 8 For original scheduled travel occurring to, from, or through impacted cities between November 6, 2012 – November 8, 2012, applicable change fee(s) and add/collects(s) will be waived under the following conditions: When rescheduled travel originates between November 6 – November 15, 2012: • Travel must be to the same cities previously ticketed • Travel may be rescheduled in any booking class within the same cabin • Min/max stay requirements must be met for wholly rescheduled travel