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Friday, November 6, 2009
Two major, prominent international airlines are reporting details of how they are sharing in the worldwide pain caused by the recession. Airlines globally are expected to lose close to $11 billion this year. British Airways today reported a record first-half loss. More detail can be found here. And flag-carrier Japan Airlines is looking at cutting pensions for retirees to stave off bankruptcy, a familiar plight many U.S. airline workers have faced. Read more on that at this link.
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 9:13 AM  Permalink | 1 comment
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Rare is the airline or online travel agency thesd that doesn't charge a fee for a traveler to buy a ticket over the phone. Airlines began charging even before adding checked-bag fees. Now one online service, Expedia, eager to try to get or keep business in the recession, has eliminated the $20 fee for phone bookers. A lttile more detail can be found here.
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 2:40 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The latest report from the International Air Transport Association says airlines worldwide have been able to raise capital recently but still face big losses this year and next. Read more here.
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 11:02 AM  Permalink | 1 comment
Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Read this post with a view toward the one just below it on a controversial decision of the National Mediation Board, Pilots at Southwest have approved a new five-year contract that gives them retroactive pay raises but ties the pay increases for this year and next to profitability, which isn't happening at the airline right now.

The new labor pact comes after three years of negotiation between the company and the Southwest Airline Pilots Association in a process described in the previous post that requires the two sides to keep talking, and talking, and talking, until they reach an agreement. The end result at airlines that respect and value their employees is a contract that all can live with.

Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 12:20 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The airline industry, or at least some of its leaders, is apoplectic this morning over a 2-1 vote by the Natiional Mediation Board that would make it easier for airline and rail workers to join a union. This little-known agency, created as a way to prevent labor disputes from shutting down the nation's transportation system, ruled that a majority of all workers at an airline or railroad could determine if they wanted union representation. Previously, a union could be rejected if only a majority of the employees who voted in an election -- not all the workers -- opposed representation

The Air Transport Association and others contend that the NMB overstepped its authority and that only Congress could change rule unionization rules. We will see what happens next. For now, read more details about the decision here. 

Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 12:07 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
Monday, November 2, 2009

Surcharge that surcharge! The five major network airlines have added another $10 each way to the $10 surcharge they already have had in place for travel on the busiest holidays through New Year's. Let's see now, I believe that would be $40 for roundtrip tickets, or just $20 if you've decided to run away and not come back or take the bus home. Read more here.  

Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 5:47 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
Monday, November 2, 2009

The Government Accountability Office (that's the right name, despite what this story says) has found that it can't yet determine the effect on airline safety of raising the mandatory retirement age for pilots from 60 to 65. The FAA changed the rule two years ago, after a long campaign by pilots, saying that it relfected the the fact people are living longer and are generally in better health than when the age 60 rule was adopted decades ago.

The GAO report found there have been no accidents or incidents involving post-60 pilots but that a longer study period is needed to make any definitive conclusions. Read more in this story,  For the full government report, it's the most recent one listed on www.gao.gov, the agency's Web site.

Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 10:56 AM  Permalink | Post a comment
Monday, November 2, 2009
Airline industry officials and consultants gathered in Southern California last week to talk about "a la carte" fees and "ancillary revenue," the hot buzz words in the busines these days. They weren't there to talk about ways to charge you fewer of them, or do away with them if the economy gets better. But they did offer hope that they become more transparent, or perhaps packaged in a way that may make them more palatable. Advice was also offered at the confab about giving fees a new name that doesn't sound so much like what they are -- additional cost to the consumer. Read more about it here. 
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 9:28 AM  Permalink | 1 comment
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Winging It column on Oct. 19 laid down my criteria for a good hotel room, and I asked  you to tell me what you looked for. The response was overwhelming -- roughly 80 e-mails and phone calls, and I am grateful for those who took time to add to my list. Today's column rounds up all of the readers' requirements, starting with those that generated multiple responses. A link to the previous column is included. Read about the importance of a clean iron and ironing board in a hotel room here.
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 9:19 AM  Permalink | 1 comment
Friday, October 30, 2009
The Daily News's Elmer Smith wrote one of those columns I wish I had written, a great take today on those wild and crazy Northwest pilots who missed MSP on the first try. Find the column here.  
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 6:07 PM  Permalink | 1 comment
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About Tom Belden
Tom Belden has been reporting and writing about Philadelphia International Airport and other air travel subjects for nearly 25 years. He has written business travel columns for The Inquirer's Travel and Business sections. His ground-breaking reporting (with colleague Craig McCoy) on baggage handling problems in Philadelphia have been credited with helping improve the system. His previous blog was called Road Warrior. He can reached at tbelden@phillynews.com.