Airlines Must Include Taxes and Fees in Ads
February 21, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
Anyone who’s booked air travel recently knows the prices are all over the map. And if you’ve ever been lured to an airline’s website by a slick promotion touting insanely low fares, only to find that the fare actually isn’t that low after you’ve already envisioned yourself on that faraway beach while the snow falls outside your window…
You aren’t alone.
Right now, most airlines require that potential customers go at least halfway into the booking process to see the full cost of their flight. Most advertised fares are shown with a tiny asterisk near the fare that connects to a paragraph of fine print with all the taxes and fees the airlines neglected to mention early on.
Image via Wikipedia
Well, comparison shoppers of the world, rejoice! That asterisk is going down.
The government has passed new legislation that requires airlines to add all mandatory taxes and fees to their advertised fares, starting in January 2012.
A New York Times story from late December highlights Spirit Airlines’ recent $9 fare campaign It turns out Spirit was actually fined for that campaign, but not before many would-be travelers were disappointed to find out they’d been pulled in by a too-good-to-be-true ploy to drive traffic to their site and book flights that were actually no cheaper than any others once all the government fees, baggage, and seat-selection costs had been tacked on.
All this boils down to one thing: Airlines now have to be more transparent about the real cost of a plane ticket. All mandatory extra costs will need to be included in any advertising, which will make it easier on consumers to compare prices.
A few airlines have filed appeals, saying the law violates commercial free speech, but until then, this legislation is going to save savvy fare shoppers a lot of time, and perhaps some money, too.
Related articles
- Bill would upend new airfare advertising rule (cnn.com)
- Spirit Airlines Fights New Consumer Pricing Protections (moneyland.time.com)
- Spirit Airlines lashes out against new airfare rule (cnn.com)
- Airline fee rules herald return of honest price tags (redtape.msnbc.msn.com)
Pack Patience for Air Travel Amateurs
February 16, 2012 by Karen Amin · Leave a Comment
We’ve talked in the past about how seasoned travelers can best navigate their airport during their journey to avoid newbie travelers, large families, and other slower paced folks who can make a day in the terminal feel like a life sentence. But today, we’ve got a reminder for the seasoned travelers:
Pack a little patience next time you head to the airport.
Traveling may seem second nature to you at this point, but every day, there are thousands of people who are traveling by plane for the first time in their lives. Whether they were born in a small town with limited access to an airport, or have been financially limited in some way, or there’s a family flying with a newborn baby for the first time, the anticipation of flying alone can be a lot to deal.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
(And that’s without worrying about all the stresses of bag-check fees, the TSA checkpoint or feeling like they’re in the way of other travelers.)
Still other travelers may be getting a bit older and moving naturally slower as they head toward their destination. That’s not their choice; it’s the natural progression of things. Cut the elderly a little slack.
In fact, we’ll go one better and suggest that instead of simply being polite and casting a smile these people’s way when you pass them cordially on the left, you actually make an effort to help them.
If you see a single mother struggling with her Baby Bjorn or stroller as she’s taking her shoes off or loading her laptop into a bin, offer to hold her baby or place the laptop for her. If you see an elderly woman struggling to lift her carry-on into an overhead storage area, help her out and let her relax into her seat.
There are some travel frustrations that are inevitable, but families, the elderly and other slow-moving passengers don’t have to be among them. Remember that you’re all trying to get somewhere and use the expertise you’ve developed from your travels to help everyone get there a little less painfully.
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- Pack patience for air travel amateurs (cnn.com)
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Five Reasons to Have Trip Insurance
February 14, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
A blog post by HCC Medical Insurance Services brought up some interesting points on why companies should invest in corporate travel insurance. But even if you’re just on your own — maybe especially if you’re on your own — getting travel insurance for yourself might not be such a bad idea.
Here are five reasons to consider travel insurance:
Medical Emergency
If you fall ill or have another kind of medical emergency shortly before your trip — whether your anniversary dinner gave you food poisoning or your kid broke a leg at soccer practice — the last thing you’re going to want to do is get on a plane, if that’s even possible.
If you get sick on the way to your destination or while you’re there, some travel insurance even provides medical coverage when you’re away. Be sure to look into this if it’s something you’re interested in!
Personal Tragedy
Definitely pick up some travel insurance if you have a family member who’s ill, or even a pet that’s not doing so good… But tragedy is never really timed well, so it’s a good idea more often than not to have insurance in place. This way, if you have to cancel a trip for any reason, your trip is covered, and won’t be a total loss.
Weather
Satellite view of a hurricane. Image via Wikipedia
Remember that bizarre cloud of volcanic ash that settled over Europe back in 2010? Or the freak snowstorm that pummeled the Pacific Northwest earlier this year? Climate change is wreaking all kinds of havoc on our meteorological systems, and having good travel insurance is one way of making sure you won’t be left in the cold because of any crazy weather.
Political Unrest
Travelers who had business of some sort in the Middle East last year may have had their travel plans upset by a little thing called the Arab Spring. Even something as simple as a mass-transit strike in Paris can derail (pardon the pun) the activities of an entire city and really mess up your travel plans. Travel insurance provides security for travelers headed to politically volatile locations, too.
Work-Related Changes
Suppose your project falls through, or gets cut short — or is extended. (Or, heaven forbid, you lose your job before your trip!) Travel insurance provides much-needed flexibility for business travelers with unpredictable situations.
Bottom line: If you can afford to splurge a few extra dollars for that bit of security on your plane ticket and other accommodations, it’s worth it. All it takes is one situation where you need it but don’t have it to realize how valuable it can be.
11 Websites for Travel Savings in 2012
February 7, 2012 by Karen Amin · 1 Comment
There are new sites cropping up everywhere for wired travelers looking for the best deals on getting to their destination, living comfortably while they’re there and enjoying everything their vacation spot has to offer.
The New York Times recently published 19 of the top travel sites. We’ve actually used several of these sites ourselves, and have some of our own favorites. Here are our top picks for the best sites for travel savings in 2012:
Flights
AirfareWatchdog.com: From e-mail promo codes to airlines that many web crawlers can’t display, this is the place for true comparison shoppers to find deals on travel.
Kayak.com: Give Kayak a price, and it’ll spit out a map dotted with travel destinations you can afford. There are plenty of customizations available, too, from climate and activities to flight length and travel region.
Bing Travel: Bing’s “price predictor” can tell you whether the fare to your destination is likely to go up or down in the next seven days, so you can save money on a trip you’re already planning.
Vayama.com: A site the promises cheap international flights, it scours the different airlines for best possible prices, letting you choose between different seat arrangements and favorite airlines.
Places to stay
Priceline.com: One word…Shatner. They may have killed off his character (they did it at the end of January), but his legacy lives on. Name your price and get a great deal…if you’re willing to risk not knowing the name and exact location of your hotel before you book.
Hotels.com: For the less daring, this is a great site to choose from more than 140,000 hotels, resorts and bed-and-breakfasts. If you travel often, you can join Hotels.com’s loyalty program to earn free hotel nights.
B & B Finder: Bed & breakfasts are nice little out of the way places found throughout the world. A great site to use if you’re looking for a quiet weekend out of the city, or want to skip the typical cookie cutter hotels.
LuxuryLink.com: High-end travelers who can still appreciate the thrill of a great deal will be right at home with Luxury Link, where you can bid on luxury travel packages.
Trip Advisor: Trip Advisor is a review site where travelers can rate their favorite hotels, restaurants, and even tourist destinations. Find the hidden gems in a new city and avoid the stinkers with Trip Advisor. They even have a smartphone app.
Other sites
Auto Slash: This car-rental helper scours the web for lower costs and better discounts, and updates the cost of your rental up until the day you travel.
Home Exchange: Have you seen “The Holiday”? For the truly courageous, swap homes with another traveler. Spoiler alert: It probably won’t be Cameron Diaz or Kate Winslet.
Related articles
- Leveraging The Power Of TripAdvisor And The Internet To Compete In A Global Industry (bajan.wordpress.com)
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Packing Tips for a Business Trip
January 19, 2012 by Scott Applebee · 2 Comments
No matter how often you travel, there’s something about packing that’s always a little more stressful than it ought to be. And there’s always that nagging feeling of forgetting something…
So get into the habit of packing only the bare necessities; you won’t have as many things to forget if you do. Very rarely will anyone remember what pants you were wearing on the first day if you wear them on the third day, and chances are, you won’t be lounging around in your suit after your presentation or big meeting. Just something to consider…
Here are a few guidelines for the size of your luggage, depending on how long you’ll be traveling:
- 18 to 20 inch for two to three day trip.
- 22-inch for something slightly longer, up to five days.
- Anything beyond that, you’ll probably be stuck checking a larger suitcase.
(We’ve discussed other packing tips in the past where some people have been able to manage getting seven days’ worth of clothes into a 20 inch carry-on, but these are good guidelines to start with.)
Wear your heaviest clothes on the plane if you can. Often, that’s your suit and dress shoes. Not only can those items get wrinkled, scuffed, or otherwise damaged in your carry-on luggage — we recommend shoe bags if you must pack them — but they also take up a considerable amount of space, especially footwear.
Not to mention, wearing your business finest to the airport could prove lucky…you never know who you might meet at your gate. Never underestimate the power of on-the-go networking.
Don’t overlook garment bags: Back in December, Peter Kessler, “the voice of golf” and regular business traveler, raved about Travelpro’s Platinum 7 Suiter on his blog. A well-made garment bag with all your shirts, jackets and pants inside will leave your most important clothes kink-free for a big day in the boardroom or presentation room.
If your clothes still need a refresh, you have several in-room options: First, check your closet for an iron, which comes standard with almost every room. You can also shower with your clothes: Hang them in the bathroom while you enjoy a nice, hot one. You can press out small wrinkles with your hands after the steam does its work. Or, if you have the time and wherewithal for it, many hotels also offer dry cleaning and pressing services. Leave them with your housekeeping staff before you leave for the day, and you’ll have them back in no time.
Clothes aren’t the only thing to consider, of course. How about toiletries?
If you’ll be carrying on, size is obviously a concern. Often it’s better not to worry about packing precisely 3 ounces of each of your favorite toiletries. Instead, just use what your hotel provides for your showers. And if you forgot something, many hotels have plenty of supplies behind the front desk in case of emergency, whether it’s a toothbrush, toothpaste, razor or some other essential. This is especially useful if you took a red-eye or arrived late after a long-delayed flight. Even if the provisions are just tiding you over, they’ll ease your stress and get your trip off on a better foot.
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Airlines Urged to Lighten Up on Baggage Fees
January 17, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
Who says there’s no good news in the papers anymore? In late November, the L.A. Times did a story on politicians goingto bat for passengers rights by tackling that hassle of the highest order: baggage fees.
Mary Landrieu, a Democratic senator from Louisiana, introduced proposed legislation just before Thanksgiving that would allow airline passengers — by law — to check one suitcase, gratis, per flight. That allowance is only one part of a larger proposal that would keep carry-on baggage free and guarantee travelers access to water and bathrooms throughout their flights.
If you do choose to check your bags, most airlines charge $25 (or more!) for your first bag and additional charges for second and third bags.
But what if you want to avoid those fees? Carrying bags on is a real source of stress for air travelers. Let’s start at the security line. Those used to checking bags — and therefore not accustomed to TSA restrictions on liquids and other items — can cause real hold-ups in line. (It’s stressful for everyone around, too.)
In the Times article, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said that carry-on bags increase screening costs nationwide by $260 million a year.
If you thought that TSA line was long and slow, wait until you actually start boarding. Passengers now have to be ready to fight tooth and nail for a coveted spot in an overhead bin for their Rollaboards or business briefcases. That jockeying for bin space — and the inevitable scramble to gate check a bag (for free, by the way) when the last passengers to board can’t find space — not only slows down the boarding and deplaning process, but it’s also fostering animosity among already-stressed travelers who have to share a very small space for the next few hours. This has also made flight attendants’ jobs understandably more challenging as they attempt to keep customer’s happy and ensure that the doors of the overflowing overhead bins are closed and secure.
Most airplanes are built with a huge area underneath for storing luggage and other items. As fewer people check bags to avoid checked-bag fees, that space is going largely unused. Meanwhile, people are fighting for on board bag space and hoping they’ll find a place for their feet afterward. The system as it stands now is counterproductive — and it should change.
Related articles
- Airlines hold fast on luggage fees (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
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Proposed Air Travel Tax Could Hurt Smaller Cities, Airports
January 5, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
Just as the holiday travel season was getting under way, CNN published an article by Brett Snyder, the blogger at “The Cranky Flier.” Snyder discussed the new plan just set forth by the federal government to help shore up some revenue losses from the economic dip we’ve experienced these past few years.
It’s a two-pronged plan. The first part would simply increase the security fees levied on travelers when they fly. (And those costs would likely be passed directly on to passengers when they book flights.) But the second part is a bigger tax that would have pretty major implications for certain parts of the country: a $100 tax on every flight that takes off from any airport in any US city.
For big cities already served by a major airport — or sometimes even more than one — this proposed tax likely wouldn’t have much of an effect. The volume of travelers coming through and the sizes of the planes that take off from and land at these airports would allow these costs to be fanned out to the point where nobody has to feel too much pain. As little as $.50 per passenger.
But for smaller cities with smaller airports, which are often served by smaller aircraft, a $100 fee per plane is steep. Snyder points out in his article that for airports served by small, 19-seat aircrafts, the tax would add more than $5 per seat for a completely full flight. (That number obviously goes up when loads are lighter.)
This proposed tax could actually squeeze smaller metropolitan areas out of the airport business altogether because they either can’t afford the fees based on their volume — or they just won’t be able to justify staying open for reduced passenger loads when air travel plummets because travelers can’t afford to fly anymore.
There are a number of groups that are against these proposed taxes, including StopAirTaxNow.com (an airline industry group) and the American Aviation Institute. Only time will tell what happens here, but this year’s projected travel numbers paint a pretty clear picture that travelers know they still have options: of the 42.5 million travelers who traveled at least 50 miles this year for Thanksgiving, 38.2 million of them (that’s 90 percent!) chose to drive — up 4 percent from last year’s numbers.
A $100 tax could have a further slowing of airline travel, which could not only put small city airports out of business, but could have an opposite effect of the one the government is hoping to achieve.
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Travel Tips for the First 40 Minutes In Country
December 29, 2011 by Karen Amin · 1 Comment
Our friend and travel-writing hero, Mark Eveleigh, has been doling out some pretty great travel advice on a number of different blogs, and his latest one — The First 40 Minutes on RoundTheWorldFlights.com — really caught our eye.
In it, Eveleigh details some of the different traps and pitfalls that international travelers, especially backpackers, can fall into if they’re not careful.
We found a few of our favorite tips, and think they’re especially important, whether you’re an adventure traveler on a backpacking trip around the Far East, or a business traveler landing in Mexico City, or even Chicago.
1) Don’t arrive late at night when security is lax, taxis are expensive, and you’re too sleepy to be fully alert. This is true whether you’re landing in London or touching down in Thailand. You need to be alert, even if it’s just to make sure you get the right airport shuttle, and don’t inadvertently leave something behind.
2) Know in advance what the exchange rate is, and if possible, try to arrive with enough local currency to get you through the first night. We’ve talked before about how credit cards are going to be your best bet to finding the best exchange rate. But also, the worst places to exchange money are right there in the airport — exchange rates are not in your favor in most places, but especially in the place where people are in a rush to change their money. Find a bank away from the airport to make exchanges the next day.
5) If there’s a domestic terminal in the same airport, head there and take a (often cheaper) taxi from the same stand where you see locals waiting. Some taxi services see international travelers as a way to make a little extra cash, especially if you show up wearing a suit, but that doesn’t mean you have to fall victim to it. Walk over to the domestic terminal, step outside there, and catch your cab on that end. The prices may be a little cheaper, and you are less likely to be taken advantage of. And, be sure to take only an official taxi, don’t get a ride with someone who says they’re “just as good.”
7) Don’t let yourself be rushed into anything — it can be a benefit in a particularly hassled airport simply to grab a seat at a cafe and ‘people-watch’ for half an hour. We know from personal experience that it’s easy to get caught up in the stampede of people all rushing to get off the plane, get out of the airport, and get to your destination. If you’re in a brand new country and a brand new culture, don’t get caught up in the rush and miss something important. Take a few minutes, sit down, relax, and soak up some of the atmosphere. Get an idea of what’s going on, plan out your next step (probably the hotel), and then move to the taxi stand or shuttle station at your own pace.
Going to a new country can be frightening for some people. But if you plan in advance, move at your own pace, and — this is especially important — look like you know what you’re doing, you can get to where you need to be without any hassle or problems.
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Winter Packing Tips
December 27, 2011 by Scott Applebee · 2 Comments
Whether you’re heading out on a ski trip, jetting off to see relatives up north, squeezing in some last-minute chilly business travel, or pursuing any other cold-weather activities during a trip this holiday season, you’ll need to pack for the frosty weather.
When you’re staring into your closet and trying to decide what to pack for the cold — all while taking into consideration what will actually fit into your luggage! — it can be a bit daunting. But don’t despair. Here are some tips that should make your frigid travels much less shivery.
Image via Wikipedia
Consider where you’re headed.
If you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors — like on the ski slopes or at an ice-skating rink — of course you’ll need to bring along several pairs of insulated socks, a warm coat, toasty boots, a warm hat, gloves, and so on. But if your exposure to cold weather will mostly be the brief times between the car and the mall or on the short trips from one family member’s house to another, you may want to save yourself some space and hassle by leaving your heaviest, most cumbersome coats and boots behind.
Bring along thin layers.
One of the most essential principles of clothing yourself for cold weather is wearing plenty of thin layers. Bring along lightweight shirts to layer under sweaters and thin jackets. Don’t forget tights, leggings, thermal underwear, or leg warmers. Pack some garments made of fleece for a toasty option that will resist wrinkling. Also consider toting along items made from Thinsulate and Gore-Tex.
Get creative.
Ladies, bring along a pashmina shawl that can also serve as a blanket on the plane, a wrap or a shawl, as well as a scarf. Pashmina shawls are available in a wide variety of prints, colors, and designs and are quite fashionable in addition to their practicality.
Envision how you can layer your individual clothing items differently so you can re-wear each piece multiple times. Mix and match colors, and have fun with your look!
And if you’re running short on luggage space, wear your bulkiest items onto the plane. You’ll always be able to take off a layer or two once you’ve boarded if you get too warm. Travelpro® Rollaboards have extra large front pockets that are ideal for storing hats, scarves and sweaters.
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Finding the Best Seats on the Airplane
December 22, 2011 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
These days, as flights are more crowded and more in demand, it’s hard enough just to score yourself a seat at an affordable price, let alone a great seat. It’s especially worse if you’re on a tight budget. So how can you avoid the bummer experience of being trapped with no legroom next to the lavatory and get one of the better seats instead?
First off, plan ahead. The more time in advance you book your flight, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to nab one of the nicer seats on the airplane, simply because more seats are available earlier. And while booking, seek out the seat you want, if possible, and choose it from the get-go. This will save you a lot of hassle and discomfort later.
If you book online, you can use the airline’s seat selector. Or if you book on a third-party site like Orbitz or PriceLine, log into the airline website and use the same seat selection process.
SeatGuru.com is also a powerful tool to use during the flight-planning process. Check out this site to get details on everything from seat maps to in-flight amenities to detailed ratings of individual seats on planes. The site uses helpful color-coded diagrams and incredible depth of detail in its descriptions. You can even submit your own comments on particular seats or airplanes, if you’d like.
Pick a seat near the very front of the plane to get on and off your flights more quickly. This is great if you’ve got a tight connection to make, or you simply want to get home or to your hotel as quickly as possible.
Tall passengers may want to choose seats in the bulkhead or exit-row seats. These seats typically have much more generous legroom than those on other parts of the plane. Take advantage of this if possible.
If you do, however, find yourself without your desired seat on the day of the flight, you may get lucky and land a better seat if you just ask airline employees nicely. This won’t, however, work for flights that are packed to the brim. (Hint: If there are standby passengers, count yourself lucky that you have a seat at all.) And for flights that have plenty of empty seats, it never hurts to ask if you can change seats. If possible, the folks with your airline will often accommodate you.
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