July 28, 2011
This Wall Street Journal article focuses on American Airlines’ efforts to speed up the boarding process. In a two year study, the airline found that randomizing boarding can actually reduce boarding procedures and get you in the air faster.
You’ve been boarded by row numbers from the back of the plane to the front and you’ve waited for your zone to be called (or your lights to blink at Southwest), but have you been boarded by window or aisle? American found that boarding windows seats first, then middle and aisles, can shave a few minutes off of the boarding time.
No more getting stuck behind that one passenger trying to cram their oversized bag in to the first available space they see because they’ll be more likely to easily move forward to their own seat area. When you randomize and spread out the boarding, studies show that the traffic flows better and faster.
Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Current Affairs, Travel |
April 6, 2010
I always thought Ryanair was the airline everyone loved to hate. After all, they are the master of additional fees, including floating the possibility of pay toilets.
But now Spirit Air has lowered the bar, becoming the first airline to charge for carry-on bags. Yes, you heard that right; they are charging passengers for bags that are carried on the plane, not just checked bags.
Perhaps thinking the impact would be minimized, Spirit bundled this announcement in a press release which included some welcome news. Members of their $9 Fare Club will pay less for checked bags, only $15 if reserved online.
Members who pre-reserve their carry-on bags pay “only” $20, compared to non-members who will pay $30. Generally, it is always worthwhile to be a member of loyalty programs. However, Spirit charges $40 to join their $9 Fare Club, a lot of money unless you fly them frequently or maybe travel as a family.
It should be noted this carry-on fee applies only to those bags which can not fit under the seat. If you are one of the rare passengers who can stuff your carry-on under the seat, this will have no impact on you.
At least Spirit was smart enough to exclude certain items from the fee. These include diaper bags, medical devices, outer garments, and car seats. You can bet passengers will be stuffing these excluded items with everything possible.
What happens if you intend to place your bag under the seat but it just won’t fit? What if you are in a bulkhead seat where there is no seat in front of you? What if you don’t have the money to pay the additional fee?
If you wait to pay the carry-on bag fee at the gate, the cost is a whopping $45 for everyone, including members. Presumably, Spirit also intends to charge this $45 fee if the bag is oversized and needs to be checked. Good luck trying to collect these fees from passengers, Spirit.
It seems inevitable this will lead to flight delays as Spirit gate agents attempt to collect the additional fees before takeoff. I won’t be surprised if harsh words fly, leading to more requests by Spirit for additional security. This may get ugly.
That said, you can be sure the other airlines will be watching this closely. If somehow Spirit pulls this off without too much uproar, the other airlines will be drooling at the chance to do it as well.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Current Affairs |
January 21, 2010
With the recent new round of increases for checked luggage fees, I return to a question asked by flight attendants: Why not charge for carry-on bags instead of checked bags?
I have no doubt the airlines would love to also charge for carry-ons rather than one versus the other. Nevertheless, the checked bag fee has been a huge revenue source for the legacy airlines so it will unlikely go anywhere anytime soon.
From the flight attendant’s side, here is the problem: More people than ever are bringing carry-ons aboard the plane. Many passengers max out with two and it is common they want to put both of them in the overhead compartments. Despite pleas that they put smaller bags under the seat, few passengers listen to this part.
Moreover, many of the carry-on bags are oversized, sometimes well beyond the 22″ limit which means going into the bins sideways. At some point, there is simply not enough room to accommodate everything. Usually the last people to board are out of luck and need to have their bags checked. This just adds to the boarding time and the attendant’s headaches as they try to get under way.
Under the present system, passengers still see this as a win. Even if their bag needs to be checked due to no overhead space, there is usually no fee. All they have to do is get to the gate with their oversize bags and they can get their bags checked for free. Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Travel |
This Wall Street Journal article focuses on American Airlines’ efforts to speed up the boarding process. In a two year study, the airline found that randomizing boarding can actually reduce boarding procedures and get you in the air faster.
