Thursday, July 31, 2014

The Business World is Flat


Airlines continue to scramble outdoing each other for the better business class seat.  Demand for lie-flat seats is high and discerning business class passengers are questioning why many airlines are slow in converting their business class cabins to lie-flat seats.  What we are seeing are business class passengers not only asking for the type of aircraft they will be flying on but also the seating configuration, access to aisle and the pitch of the seat.  180 degrees with luxurious amenities are musts.  However, many U.S. and European carriers have been caught flat-footed (no pun intended) by the sudden preference to the roomier and more comfortable lie-flat bed and cannot convert fast enough.  Gulf carriers with spiffy newer aircraft and luxury amenities have taken the lead and the race is on by the laggards to catch up.  www.premieretravel.com

Monday, July 14, 2014

Premiere Travel Services: Congress Gives TSA a 224% Fee Increase

Premiere Travel Services: Congress Gives TSA a 224% Fee Increase: Congress granted the TSA the authority to increase its fees from $2.50 per travel segment with $10 cap to $5.60 per segment uncapped.  T...

Congress Gives TSA a 224% Fee Increase


Congress granted the TSA the authority to increase its fees from $2.50 per travel segment with $10 cap to $5.60 per segment uncapped.  This represents a minimum of 224% increase.  Of course, TSA thinks that it needs the higher fees.  This increase is effective on all ticketed purchased starting July 21.

From the TSA website: "The revenue generated from these security fees is utilized to help ensure the safe and efficient flow of people and commerce."

With this type of bump in added air travel costs, base fare of tickets is increasingly becoming a smaller percentage of the actual total cost of an airline ticket.  Once taxes, fees, baggage, seat assignments and other ancillaries are added, costs are higher. www.premieretravel.com