American Now Offers Mid-Flight Wi-Fi Access

Since Delta is now offering Wi-Fi during their flights, other airlines have begun to follow suit. JetBlue is testing their in-flight Wi-Fi and Alaska Air has installed Wi-Fi on their flights. Now, American is planning on offering Wi-Fi to their passengers on longer non-stop flights. Just like Delta, American plans on charging $12.95 per passenger, per flight for access to the internet. Currently, American is offering the Wi-Fi service on flights that are flying between New York and Los Angeles and San Fransisco and Miami. 

Now the question becomes will the airlines ban certain sites from being accessed? This would be a good idea since an airplane is a public space, where adult content should not be viewed. Also the concern about confidential e-mails being sent and received while 35,000 feet in the air.  The answer to this could simply be, wait until you land to deal with the confidential information, but if that does not work, then just make sure there are not prying eyes or ears nearby.  

American, BA and Iberia to Sign Agreement

Delta and NWA are not the only airlines that are thinking about a merger. Recently, American, British Airways and Iberia have been in talks about signing a joint business agreement concerning flights between North America and Europe. As stated in a joint press release, this new agreement"will benefit consumers by providing easy seamless and convenient travel to more global destinations with better connections, improved flight schedules, and enhanced frequent flyer benefits." Under this agreements, flights between the USA, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, and throughout the European Union. 

These three airlines just have to deal with U.S. and European regulations; and it has already been pointed out by rival airline carrier, Virgin Atlantic, that this agreement would be anticompetitive. In response to this, the three airlines have applied for immunity from U.S. and European regulators.  Just like the Delta/NWA merger, how will this affect the already floundering airline industry?

 

Luggage Scale to the Rescue!

Since airlines have started to charge a fee to check a second bag- some even charge for checking one bag- passengers have been trying to find ways to keep the number of bags they bring on a trip to a minimum. Some travelers are accomplishing this by trying to turn two suitcases into one; by either packing less or by overpacking their one suitcase. The problem with over packing one's suitcase is that it might result in the suitcase being too heavy. Airlines charge extra money for suitcases that exceed a certain amount of weight; the best way to combat this is to weigh your luggage before heading to the airport. This way, you can be sure that you will not have to pay a fee for your luggage being over the limit. 

The best device to weigh ones luggage, is to use a luggage scale. A luggage scale is a simple gadget that can be used at home, at a hotel, or anywhere one needs to weigh their luggage. The luggage scale pictured above works by hooking the luggage handle to the device and then hold the device up to read how much your luggage weighs. This little device could save you money; it will tell you if your luggage is too heavy or not and because of it's size, it can easily be taken with you. 

Following are how much airlines charge if your luggage is over the weight limit:

• American Airlines~  50-70 lbs: $50 per bag; 71-100 lbs: $100 per bag; 101+; not accepted

• Continental Airlines~ 50-70 lbs: $50 per bag; 71+ lbs: not accepted

• Delta~ 51-70 lbs: $80 per bag; 71-100 lbs: $150 per bag; 101+; not accepted

• Jet Blue~ 51-70 lbs: $50 per bag; 71-99 lbs: $100 per bag; 99+: not accepted

• NWA~ 51-70 lbs: $50 per bag; 71+: not accepted

• Southwest~ 51-70 lbs: $25 per bag; 71-100 lbs: $50 per bag; 101+: shipped as Air Cargo (if classified as a Known Shipper as defined by the TSA)

• US Airways~ 50lbs or less: $15 for first bag, $25 for second bag, $100 for three-nine bags; 51-70lbs: $65, $75, or $150; 71-100 lbs: $115, $125, $200; 101+: not accepted

"Carry-On Cops" To Examine Your Carry-On Luggage

According to Good Morning America, some airlines have started to hire "Carry-On Cops". These cops responsibilities are to check and make sure travelers' carry-on bags are not bulky and to prevent travelers from sneaking extra bags onto the planes. Since more and more airlines have started to charge a fee to check bags, more and more travelers are trying to find ways to avoid checking their bags. Some travelers are accomplishing this by over stuffing their carry-on bags, or using a carry-on bag that is too large. This is not fair to those travelers who have paid the extra money to check their bags or to the ones who have made sure their carry on bag is the appropriate size. 

With these new cops at airports one would hope that their traveling experience would improve. The truth of the matter may be different. Now when going to the airport one will have to check their bag, get through security, and have another officer check their carry on bag to make sure it is not too bulky. It is understandable that airlines (as well as passengers) are tired of having the overhead bins over stuffed, but will having a "Carry-On Cop" solve the problem, or will it just create new ones? 

American Airlines will charge passengers $15, at the gate, if their carry on is discovered to be too large. Whereas U.S. Airways will not charge you extra money. With U.S. Airways not charging their passengers, what is going to stop travelers from bringing the bags that they intended to check and having them get checked for free at the gate?

Each airline has different rules when it comes to the size requirement for their carry on. For United, American Airlines, and Delta the limit is 45 linear inches. For U.S. Airways and Continental the limit is 51 linear inches. To figure out the linear inches for your bag use the following formula: height + width + depth

American Airlines to Charge for Checking Bags

According to ABC News and the Wall Street Journal, American Airlines will be charging $15 to check a bag. This new fee comes on the heels of numerous other airlines announcing that they will be charging $25 to check a second bag. American is hoping that the new fee will help them end up in the black by the end of the fiscal year. With crude oil prices being higher than ever, airlines are having to look for new ways to improve their bottom line. Some airlines are charging for amenities such as a blanket, more leg room or an aisle seat, while other airlines are limiting the number of flights they offer. To some individuals, the implementation of this new fee is not a surprise. One would assume that competitors of American Airlines will get more business since they do not require such a fee. But in order for the competing airlines to make money, they will have to cut costs in other areas, whether it be amenities or the number of available flights.



So what does this new fee mean to passengers? This new fee will probably make the number of carry-on bags increase, which will mean that there will be fighting over the already limited overhead space. What happens if you plan on storing your bag into the overhead bin and there is no room? You'd better be prepared to fork over the extra money to have it checked. How much longer will it be before all the airlines start to implement similar fees?