     |
 |
 |
|
Archive"Full fare" or "full fare-plus"? Do you want legroom with that?
At hearings in Washington last week Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn. said the public will push back "and then Congress will act" if the industry does not show restraint with the fees. "That's not a threat," he said. "That's history." Here's what the Airlines say - Fees benefit passengers because they allow airlines to keep ticket prices down and consumers pay only for services they use. "This is a deregulated industry and this is an industry that should be able to charge whatever it opts to charge for services," said David Castelveter, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association, which represents major airlines. The Transportation Department is considering requiring airlines to disclose two ticket prices to passengers: a "full fare" with all mandatory charges like taxes, and "full fare-plus" with the extras. Here's the runway rundown on fees, according to Kayak and WRW observations: American, Continental, Delta, US Airways and United all charge $25 for the first checked bag, and $35 for the second. Note: Virgin does as well, unless you upgrade to extra legroom and then your first bag is free. JetBlue charges $10 and up for additional legroom. Southwest still doesn't charge for bags but you can pay for early boarding. AirTran charges $6 for passengers to get seat assignments in advance, and sells exit row seats for $20 extra.
Alliance of JetBlue and American Airlines
For example, if you would want to go New Orleans-New York-Rome you can do so with this new interline service. You won't be able to do it from the airline websites right away but it will be available through most major online travel agency websites in North America as well as American Airlines ticket counters and phone service, and through traditional travel agencies. Members of AAdvantage and TrueBlue would be able to earn miles or points in the respective programs when they fly on the carriers' interline routes.
Bright Spots
Thanks to Southwest Airlines for their musical flight attendants who sing to their passengers in everything from country to rap. Go to YouTube and type in "singing flight attendant southwest." And thanks to the folks at the Las Vegas airport for engaging comedians such as Penn & Teller and Rita Rudner to give their video spin on how to get through airport security. Makes you laugh while reminding you of all those things you need to know. And here's to Virgin America for their animated in-flight information that tells the "point oh, oh, oh percent of you" how to fasten a seat belt. There even an animated Richard Branson who obviously knows not to take himself too seriously.
Like a Virgin...In Toronto and Cancun and Cabo.
Clear Again
Global Communicating: When in RoamLisa Strong Technology Reporter
First, if you plan on taking your US phone out of the country, be sure to upgrade your service to include international calling (data) - to/from that country at least. Second, let your friends know you are going to be out of the country. Incoming calls can add up fast and email (incoming and outgoing) can be absurdly expensive. We’ve heard of people getting bills for thousands of dollars. Most suppliers offer quite a menu of international services. Some are country specific, some are phone specific, while other packages are related to voice or data needs. If you'll be in a city, and mostly need to communicate with locals, it may be more affordable to rent or buy a phone when you arrive. Or, if you own an unlocked GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) multi-band phone (dual, tri, or quad), you can buy a prepaid SIM [Subscriber Identification Module] card to pop into your phone and be on a local network with a local phone number. Other choices rely on Internet connectivity. Skype is popular and works with both Macs and PCs. You must sign up, but it’s free for computer to computer calling and if your computer has a built in camera you get video calling as well. You can use Skype to call a regular phone - landline or cell from your computer for a small per minute charge (e.g. Egypt from California was 10 cents/minute), though you have to purchase Skype minutes ahead of time for this. If you are going to a really really remote area (say a meeting on Mt. Everest) you can rent a satellite phone (sat phone). BGAN and Iridium are two name brands. They generally aren't cheap, and data rates are pretty steep. But calling home – priceless.
Lessons Learned at the Point of a GunSafety First: Tips for Women Travelers
The Wall Street Journal recently spoke with Kathleen Ameche, author of "The Woman Road Warrior: An Expert's Guide to Domestic and International Business Travel," about staying safe and comfortable when traveling. WSJ: Is there really a difference in safety concerns between men and women? Ms. Ameche: That's an ongoing debate. ... There are differences between men and women. And every other sector has gotten and understands that. You have different clothing, luggage. ... If you play into those differences a little bit more, you'd possibly get more healthy travelers. We're not fragile individuals that can't go out and do anything a male can do, because I think we can. We think differently, we act differently, we dress differently and at times we are smaller, more petite and we need to be more concerned our safety. WSJ: Do you have any specific examples of concerns from your own experiences? Ms. Ameche: What really prompted things for me was I had a gun pulled on me after about three years on the road at six in the morning on the way to O'Hare International Airport. And I was in the cab by myself, it was before cellphones and the cab driver knew my name, address and phone number because I had set up the cab the night before, which is the typical process that road warriors do. We're on our way out, it was still dark, and my luggage was in the trunk and all of a sudden I see a flash of silver. I obviously woke up pretty quickly, and turned around and there was a gun pointed to my head. ... I remember going through the process: Is it going to be safer to get out of a moving cab at 60 miles per hour in the dark on a major expressway in a big city, or am I going to be safer to try to get to the airport? I ended up getting to the airport and finally told the police and the individual was arrested. Now what I teach people to do is that whenever you get into a cab, put your luggage in the back seat with you and text somebody the taxi number, where you are going and what time you left. And that way somebody will know if something happens to you, where to start looking. WSJ: How did you manage to get out of that situation? Ms. Ameche: I started to talk about everything else except the gun in his hands. He was ranting and raving about something the night before. He was obviously unstable. I got lucky, where I could calm him down enough. WSJ: What are some other safety concerns? Ms. Ameche: I always talk to [business travelers] about doing a room search as soon as they walk into a hotel room. When you go into a hotel room, it's a five point search. It's the closet, the bathroom, under the bed, make sure the landline telephone works. If there should be a situation where you need to get to outside authorities, they will ask where you are and if you're calling from your cellphone, nine out of 10 times you will not remember the address where you're calling from. Make sure the locks are working as well. I've had my jewelry stolen out of my hotel room before. Never stay on the first floor of a hotel. Another tip for women, based on a true story. When you're sitting at a hotel bar and signing the room tab, always remember to hand it back to the server. Don't leave it on your table and walk away. A colleague of mine... was having dinner one night and a gentleman came up to her and said, "Can I buy you a drink?" She says, "No, thank you." And he left without incident. So she finished her meal, the tab came, signed it to her room and left it on the table, and went back to her room. Ten minutes later, the guy is beating on her door trying to get in because she had left the charge on the table. WSJ: Should you leave valuables in your hotel room safe? Ms. Ameche: I would always recommend don't take anything that you'd be really upset about losing. If you really want to take something and you want the maximum protection, the hotel behind the desk has a safe. If something should happen and the goods are in a hotel-room safe, and not behind the desk safe, the hotel does not take responsibility for the loss. WSJ:In terms of preplanning a trip, do you have any other tips? Ms. Ameche: Take one or two credit cards when you're outside of the country, and that's it. Don't bring your whole wallet. Also alert your companies that you're going out of the country. I can't tell you how many times people go out of the country and don't tell their card companies, and everything is denied. WSJ:What do you do with your passport? Ms. Ameche: If I'm abroad, I keep it with me. ... If you keep copies at home, make sure it's with someone that can get it to you ... if you should lose it because you'll need to go to the consulate, and you'll get a replacement passport quicker if you have a copy. Write to Willa Plank at willa.plank@dowjones.com
Exit Row Rules
On a recent Southwest flight our Airport Reporter was sitting in the exit row. She had just gotten comfortable with Kindle in hand and slipped one foot out of her clogs to cross legs and enjoy the extra foot or so of legroom, when the flight attendant prepping for take-off told her that she had to put her shoes on since she was in the exit row. Never having heard of this rule, we decided to investigate. Most frequent flyers know that the essence of being an exit row traveler is that you must be able to assist in opening the emergency exit door and subsequent evacuation if necessary. For this reason children under 12 (sometimes up to 15 years) are barred form the emergency exit row as are unaccompanied minors, infants and passengers with any physical or mental limitations. Also ineligible are passengers traveling with a pet or service animal, people who have requested special assistance or those who do not speak the language of the cabin crew. All this sounds quite logical, but what about shoes? One clue came from a similar story in which a person was told to put their book in the overhead bin during take-off. The rationale seems to be that the book could be a projectile or you could slip on it while performing an evacuation. This seems quite logical for a bulkhead exit row without a seat in front to provide a pocket or block a flying object, but it seems that books and shoes could fly up from any seat on the plane. Maybe it's that clogs are particularly heavy. I'm not with them Another restriction for would-be exit row occupiers - you are not eligible if you are flying on the same plane with relatives who are under 15 or who is elderly. A friend was recently booted out of her extra legroom seat because she had a grandchild on the plane (traveling with his parents). Here's why - when the exit row rules went into effect at the end of 1990, the Federal Aviation Administration cited studies of crashes in which some passengers died during plane evacuation. ''The reports show rather dramatically that certain factors generally impede rapid evacuation - advanced age or extreme youth, parental responsibilities for minors, physical disabilities, obesity, injury or ill health.'' So if you are traveling with family, be advised. In addition to the FAA requirements, each airline seems to have it's own policies governing emergency exit rows that have evolved over the last twenty years. We'll be working on collecting more details. Meanwhile, share with us your exit row stories, email: kameche@womanroadwarrior.com
ScanDallas, ScanFrancisco: A short course on whole-body scanners.
Just the facts, ma'am. These have been in testing since 2007 in some places. They are currently used for primary screening in 6 airports and secondary screening in another 13 (including Dallas and San Francisco). Such screening is optional though so far less than 3% of people opt out. Is it safe? If you believe the reports, the radiation put out by the Millimeter Wave technology is described as being less than that of a cell phone. Does it work? The technology picks up metallic and non-metallic items, like a credit card or even a plastic button. Would it have spotted the hidden pouch on the UB? Maybe, maybe not. A British defense-research firm found the machines unreliable in detecting "low-density" materials like chemicals, and liquids—pretty much what the UB was carrying. What about privacy? Images are viewed in a private area and are not recorded. One concern that was voiced was that some enterprising TSA employee might try to sell scans of celebrities traveling through LAX. (Does not apply to most of us and remember the scans are optional). Benefits: Improved screening, less invasive than a pat down and potentially faster. If it keeps me, my family, friends, colleagues and travelers safe – I'm in.
The Flight Before ChristmasTwas the flight before Christmas and all through the hub The passengers were crowded all snug in their seats Then lights dimmed and power fell, all came to a stop Emergency lighting reflected the glare We'll be trapped at this airport and miss our connection And what to my wondering eyes should appear but a He stroked his beard twice and his eyes caught the light The reindeer who recently had been to-ers and fro-ers Connie and Cupid all made the snow fly Snow and ice was dispatched with a speed that was frightening The air was alive with holiday cheer And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight May the Holiday Spirit Give You Wings and Special thanks to our Director of Marketing, author Deborah Harter-Williams
Holiday High Spirits - Airports as Cocktails
For example, San Francisco (SFO) - An organic Pomegranate martini made with sake Denver (DIA) is a thin-air highball on the rocks. Los Angeles (LAX) - a smoke martini with cocktail onions. Chicago (ORD) - Green beer. In a frosty schooner. Detroit (DTW) is a Sidecar, And JFK obviously is a Manhattan... Happy Landings! Feel free to make up your own and send them to us.
Reading on the Road - A Few Words in Praise of Airport Bookstores
Others troll the airport bookstores and newsstands in hopes of finding compatible reading. For those here are a few hints. The Detroit Airport (aka DTW was recently shown to good effect in the movie "Up in the Air") has an almost full-sized Borders in the Northwest Terminal. It is a particularly nice one with great service. This could be because Borders headquarters is in Ann Arbor not too many miles away. DTW also has a Paradies bookstore aka DTW Press Express, which is part of a chain that offers a discount if you return the book you bought to the same or related store within six months. Paradies can also be found under the brands NY Times (LGA), Aunties (SeaTac) and Heritage Books. Another great bookstore at an airport is Book People at Bergstrom airport (AUS), a long time independent bookseller that also has a great downtown location. SFO has its Compass Books (part of Books Inc.), which has foreign newspapers, a huge selection of magazines and trade paperbacks with recommendations by staff. Pet peeve, those tiny little places that sell books by advertising "best sellers", or "best known authors" – this is not the "best" way to pick a book. Go for an intriguing cover, a title that speaks to you, a location or a character – not some group favorite. Books have a great Return on Indulgence and can make a delay seem like bonus.
Global Warning –
Skirts Attract Scrutiny? Holiday Gift Guidance – It's in the Bag
Free Holiday WiFi and Frequent Flyer Miles ProtectionFree Wifi Save My Miles
What's Up with Airlines?Fuel costs are up, passenger traffic is down, so if you are an airline executive, what do you do? Here are a few telling news tidbits about airlines activities. American Airlines is polishing up its' image by co-starring in George Clooney's new film "Up in the Air," about a man pushing to reach the ultimate frequent flyer achievement. Product placement teamed with a sweepstakes and ad campaign should gain a few eyeballs. Needless to say the Admirals Club will be looking good for its' close-up. United is trying to look good in another way, having hired designer Cynthia Rowley to give a fresh look to uniforms for flight attendants, pilots, customer service representatives, ramp service and maintenance employees. Maybe new outfits will cheer them up and they make them less cranky. The new look is scheduled for 2011. She is probably the right woman for the job. After all she was a judge on "Project Runway". Virgin Atlantic is definitely the social networking airline. Two of its' latest are PitchTV – an opportunity to upload your 2 minute pitch video for your company or product and a taxi sharing service. www.taxi.to is being beta tested in London and New York and is not limited to Virgin customers. And yes you can choose to ride with another woman if you don't want to take your chances with any Tom, Dick or Harry. Southwest continues to offer free baggage check in the face of every other airline choosing to charge. They claim it actually gets them customers.
Ads that Get our AttentionEven if you are not in the market for a Rolex you can appreciate their ad campaign that features a woman in flying cap and goggles, scarf flying in the wind, in front of a small plane. It conjures up images of Beryl Markham and Amelia Earhart, though they flew in the 30s not the 1947 referenced in the ad. And I'm sure it's no accident that the movie "Amelia" is currently in theatres. Quibbles aside there's something inspiring about it. Also in the inspirational/aspirational category, an ad that speaks to the cosmic traveler, is Louis Vuitton's Journey campaign. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the moon landing LV had Annie Leibovitz go out to the high desert and photograph Sally Ride, Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin. The three astronauts and a Louis Vuitton Icare bag (named after Icarus) watch the moon from an old pick-up truck. The tagline "Some journeys change mankind forever." Last year's ad with Sean Connery in rolled up pants waiting on a dock was also a winner. Lastly, an ad that's both more down to earth and more up in the air. Southwest Airlines "Go Back In" ad shows a woman business traveler walking out of the airport, roller bag in tow and talking on a cell phone. She gets almost to the sidewalk when she does a take, says "I'll be there" then turns around and heads back into the airport and gets on another plane. She is clearly one of us. Do you have a travel-related ad that inspires or offends you. Let us know by email or by posting on the community forum.
Survey Report - What's in a Bag?When we travel we are of necessity bag ladies. The choice of bag is carefully thought out and the criteria are personal, practical and situational. Rolling is good - rolling briefcases, rolling backpacks and the ubiquitous roller bags that fit in overhead compartments. Those little wheels have freed us up and have virtually become the icon of the business traveler. Duffles are dandy. Many women opt for the versatility of a duffle. We vacillate between the small and stow able and the big but totable. Generally we need our purses to be big and our luggage to be small though we know one road warrior who had a duffle so big she could transport folding chairs in it. To satisfy "the other carry-on" bag requirement we are endlessly inventive - a diaper bag becomes a laptop bag, a backpack converts to a handbag, a large tote conceals a purse in case an airline becomes persnickety about bag count. Which is better? Over –the-shoulder for easy access or the hands-free luxury of a backpack? Can one ever have too many pockets? Outside pockets, side pockets and inside pockets. Now if one could only remember which pocket the boarding pass is in. We have affection for old bags, worn leather is particularly comforting, as well as those of surprising color – shocking pink, mustard yellow, even polka dots. From LeSportSac to Michael Kors, from Prada to Target the quest for the ultimate bag knows no bounds.
Survey Report - PerksIn our Woman Road Warrior Day Survey we plumbed the psyche of our women business travelers to find out what special benefits of travel made us perk up. The answer, as you may have guessed is Perks. Fringe benefits, perquisites or perks – call them what you will, they are the frosting on the cake of travel. First and foremost we are all about the upgrades. Oh, how we long for that upgrade to first class to make us a princess, if only for one flight. Some only dream of it, while others have found a way to make it a common occurrence. Continental seems to have a way with free upgrades particularly if you are a Platinum level flyer. Airport lounges are a close second on the favorites list. An Airline Club membership or an American Express Platinum card with club privileges - – priceless Basically, the getting is good. First of all getting away is it's own reward. Getting away from stress, getting to go new places, getting points, getting to the airport early and getting to eat at different restaurants. We like what we get. Yes, loyalty programs work. We are pleased with Crown Room Privileges, the Concierge floor and Chairman's Preferred status at Avis. Free Wi-Fi at the airport and hotel is noted and valued. It's not just about the money but the hassle of signing up each time. And the greatest perk of all – Time. "Time to be by myself and think." "Two hours on the plane where no one can reach me." "As a working mom, my biggest travel benefit is a little peace and quiet."
Nourishments and Libations
Number 1 answer: Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks – whether it's coffee, a latte, a hot cocoa, a bagel or a vegetarian snack. Starbucks is a perennial favorite that you can count on. Dunkin Donuts also scores high in areas where available. Places to sit down and have a drink (wine and margaritas please) are sought after. According to Woman Road Warriors, there's a wine and cheese place in Philly, a wine bar at DFW and live music in the bar at the Austin airport. We like local cuisine: Legal Seafood at Logan, Chicago Dog at O'Hare, Tex-Mex in Dallas and Maui Tacos. The Paradise Bakery in the Phoenix Airport is worth checking out and that there's a good Greek restaurant in the Detroit airport. Some of the chains like Wolfgang Puck's, Houlihan's and Auntie Anne's were mentioned as well. "Applebee's in the airport for an appetizer," and The Great American Bagel Company were singled out for recognition. Many of us struggle with how to find healthy food on the road and we carry Luna Bars, bananas and nuts. More fresh fruit, light meals, and vegetarian options would be welcome. Subway gets points because you can always get a vegetarian sandwich; Au Bon Pain and Nature's Table both provide healthy and varied menus. On the other hand, more than a few confessed to stopping off at McDonalds.
Oh, the places we go and the things we take with us.
Standard Travel Garb: Black pants that go with everything and/or Black jacket that goes with everything. Clean underwear and cozy socks. Protective Travel Gear: Eye mask to block out the sun on the plane. Sleep mask that says "Leave me alone." Earplugs to block out screaming children on the plane. Make-up and Meds: "My own" moisturizer, night crème, etc. We are loyal to our brands. Lipgloss and balm. Advil, allergy pills, and antibacterial gels...Pepto Bismal, ibuprofen, and Tylenol. Keeping it clean: Febreze, Lysol, baby wipes and hand sanitizer For comfort: Cashmere wrap, fleece blanket, fleece jacket, Pashmina and Neck pillow. Also candles and CDs. Emergency Supplies: Coffee, chocolate, nuts and granola bars...Sun block and band-aids. For entertaining the mind and spirit: Magazines, e-Readers, Kindles and the Bible... Handheld Sudoku games...plus books, books and more books. And... for whatever adventure may come: Swiss Army knife, bungee cord and flashlight. Women Road Warriors are prepared.
Women Road Warriors Vote with Their Feet...and the Survey Says!Keene's, Keds, Clogs and Crocs -Flip flops, Flats and Running Shoes Our recent survey (thanks for participating) got us a wide range of responses demonstrating that Women Road Warriors come in all varieties. But here's a brief summary. From high-heel gals to flip flop chicks, women road warriors need shoes that enable them to move fast, be comfortable, be stylish and slip on and off easily through security. Here are a few quotes from our walking women road warriors about the shoes they pick to travel in - "athletic shoes for working out & walking sandals that dress up and dress down, MicciMicci for the plane"..."flat and comfortable Merrils"... "slides, definitely. Need to be able to kick them off in the plane, not be too hot anywhere. I recommend the Cole Hahn version with Nike sole--I just walked through Italy on these."..."A good pair of slip-on penny loafers gets me through security checks quickly, but still looking polished and professional."..."A great pair of flip flops, with a back up pair of sexy heels to impress." ...more to follow |
||
 |
 |
|
In the last budget year, 10 U.S. airlines collected $7.8 billion in additional fees, congressional accountants say.
In difficult times there can be strength in numbers. For JetBlue and American it looked like a good time to partner up. This one may actually benefit the customers. Soon you can book American Airlines flights on 
Travel can certainly be grim these
days but there are a few bright spots.
These are 3 of the 5 new destinations for Virgin America (based in San Francisco) coming up this year. They are still negotiating with Chicago on gate space and hoping to appear at O’Hare in 2011. Quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, Virgin America CEO David Cush said the new airline is doing well with "a pretty even mix of business and leisure travelers...the trend we have seen is a lot more business travelers converting to us given our "office in the sky" features like Wi-Fi, power outlets, in-flight TV with live CNN, CNBC, and our premium cabins [First and Main Cabin Select services].
Read more: 
Traveling overseas presents challenges to maintaining communications
with clients and home base. Here are some things to consider. 
Safety is a concern for anyone who is frequently on the road. And female
business travelers, in particular, have unique needs, leading some hotels
to create women-only floors.
There has been much publicity about the use of scanning machines in the wake of the latest “Underwear Bomber” (how about that nickname for the rest of your life?). 
As our thoughts turn to holiday celebrations and libations and our minds anticipate the chore of holiday travel, visions of cocktails appropriate to certain airports dance in our heads.
Based on our Woman Road Warrior survey, for many travelers reading is an integral part of the travel experience. Like our rules for eating on the road, rules for reading on the road vary. Some buy magazines they would never read at home – going either lowbrow "People" or highbrow – "The Economist." Some allow pulp reading (romance, trashy) as an indulgence that might make one feel guilty at home. 
Given
the nature of today's travel you can't go very long without having
to figure out where your next meal is coming from. Our Woman Road
Warrior Day Survey gave us insights into what food women on the
road look for.
|
Ameche Group, LLC |