medallion

Delta Economy Comfort, Airline fares up, Free Facebook

February 9, 2011 By Jack Kennard

Delta International Economy Confort
More comfort is coming to an international flight near you. Starting this summer, you'll experience more space, legroom, and recline on our long-haul international flights as we introduce "Economy Comfort"—a new section of seats located at the front of the Economy cabin that will feature up to four more inches of extra legroom and 50 percent more recline.

SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallion level members who purchase an International Economy ticket on Delta will receive free access to Economy Comfort seats. Gold and Silver Medallions, International Economy ticket on Delta receive a 50% and 25% discount, respectively, on applicable Economy Comfort seat fee.

Airlines Do Better in 2010, But Weather Hurts Them
You can’t win for losing in the airline industry. Business last year was the best it’s been since before the 2008 recession, according to a just-released International Air Transport Association report on 2010. But severe weather in the U.S. and Europe put a dent in that recovery, with storms on both sides of the Atlantic shaving an estimated one percent off traffic numbers in December alone.

As a result passenger demand grew just 4.9 percent over December 2009 , significantly lower than the 8.2 percent growth recorded in November. Hardest hit was Europe, which saw December growth slow to 3.3 percent. However, demand for passenger business was up 8.2 percent and load factors were up 2.7 percent. What regions of the world saw the most growth? The Middle East, where business grew 17.2 percent. (Source: IATA press release).

Airfares Go Up
Airfares in the U.S. increased 10.7 percent to $340 in the third quarter, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Newark-Liberty, NJ, had the highest average fare, $469, while Atlantic City, NJ, had the lowest, $153.

That sounds like a healthy jump until you compare today’s fares to those in 2000. When adjusted for inflation, third-quarter 2010 fares in 1995 dollars were $238, down 19.8 percent from the average fare of $297 in the third quarter of 2000, the inflation-adjusted high for any third-quarter since 1995. (Source: DOT press release).

Airlines Expected to Reap Highest Profits in a Decade
AirlineFinancials.com is estimating the eight largest U.S. airlines will report $3.95 billion in profits from $122.2 billion in revenues for year 2010, with their average net profit margin projected at 3.3 percent.

Assuming these projections are accurate, this would be the highest annual profit in more than 10 years and the second highest annual revenue ever reported. It will also be the first time in a decade that the airline industry will have a fourth quarter profit and a profit over three consecutive quarters. All the airlines reported a profit for 2010 and the fourth quarter, except American. The carriers covered include Delta, American, United (including Continental), US Airways, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska and Air Tran. (Source: AirlineFinancials.com.)

GoGo and Ford Offer You Free Facebook Inflight in February
GoGo Inflight Internet and Ford Motor Company are offering travelers flying on GoGo-equipped aircraft free access to Facebook for February. Participating airlines include AirTran, Alaska, American, Delta, United, USAirways and Virgin America.

To use it, turn on your device (after the aircraft is above 10,000 feet), select the GoGo wireless network, open your browser and click on the Ford/Facebook banner. (Source: GoGo press release).

The Front of the Plane is Filling Up
The front of the plane is filling up again, according to the International Air Transport Association. Premium class seats are up 16 percent in the Far East, up 10 percent between Europe and the Far East and up 9 percent on the North Atlantic.

Despite the improvement, premium business is still below late 2007 levels. Mexicana’s bankruptcy continues to have an impact in Central America, where premium travel is down 63 percent. (Source: IATA press release).

Filed Under: Airline News Tagged With: Delta, gogo, medallion, skymiles

Business travel & Delta Northwest Merger News

April 8, 2009 By Jack Kennard

Delta Airlines

North American Carriers Are Single Bright Spot in Dismal Global Aviation Market
The International Air Transport Association revised its outlook for global aviation last month, forecasting $4.7 billion loss for 2009, a bigger loss than the $2.5 billion it projected in December. But it said that North American carriers were doing the best and forecasting a $100 million combined profit for the year for them.

IATA said they had matched a 7.5 percent fall in demand with 7.5 percent in capacity cuts. It also said they benefited management and lower spot fuel prices. The current economic turmoil is hitting Asia Pacific carriers the hardest.

The Middle East is the only region to see demand grow, and capacity grew more. European carriers are expected to lose $1 billion. An expected 2.9 percent drop in the Europe’s GDP probably will cause demand to drop 6.5 percent. (Source: IATA press release).

Delta Phases Out Northwest Signs
Delta Air Lines absorption of Northwest has moved to the frontline. Nearly 40,000 flight attendants, pilots, airport lounge representatives, ticket counter and gate agents now are wearing Delta livery.

New Delta signs are now up at more than 400 ticket counters, gates and baggage claim areas at three hub airports in Detroit, Memphis and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Delta has already rebranded 119 other airports worldwide.

By the end of next year, all Northwest planes will be painted Delta colors.
The two carriers have already synchronized flight schedules and route maps. (Source: Delta press release).

Delta Offers Up To Triple Miles through June 15
Delta Air Lines is offering SkyMiles and Northwest WorldPerks members up to triple flown miles toward elite status on select fares purchased for travel through June 15.

Travelers will earn triple miles on first, business and premium economy fares; double miles on discounted economy fares. Travelers will earn actual miles on deeply discounted fares.

The bonus applies only to miles counting towards Medallion or Elite status. Medallion and Elite Qualification Segments—another way to qualify for elite status—are not included.

To qualify for Medallion status, fliers must earn 25,000 qualified
miles. (Source: Delta press release).

American to Install Wi-Fi on 300 more Planes over Next Two Years
It’s getting easier to stay connected in flight. American Airlines will install Gogo Inflight Internet on more than 300 domestic aircraft over the next two years.

It already has Wi-Fi on 15 of its 767-200s, which are primarily used on nonstops between New York’s JFK and San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami.

It will install the service on 150 MD-80 aircraft this year and then move on to its Boeing 737-800 fleet. The cost is $12.95 for flights more than three hours, $9.95 for flights three hours or less and $7.95 for a pass for customers using a handheld device on flights of any length (Source: American press release).

Southwest Continues Adding Priority Security Access for Business Select, Rapid Rewards Customers
Southwest Airlines has introduced priority security lane access for its Business Select and Rapid Reward A-list customer at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

It’s already in place at several other Southwest airports, including Baltimore/Washington International, Dallas Love Field, Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Orange County John Wayne, Denver International, San Francisco International, and Los Angeles International. It will continue to add it as needed. (Source: Southwest press release).

Amtrak Offers Lower Acela Fares
Amtrak is offering new low fares on Acela Express trains, saving passengers up to 25 percent on previous lowest fares. Acela Business class tickets start at $99 between Washington, DC (WAS) and New York (NYP), and $79 between New York and Boston (BOS).

A 14-day advance purchase policy applies, and availability is limited. Fares are available through June 26. The tickets are one-way and nonrefundable, but can be exchanged. (Source: Amtrak press release).

Filed Under: Airline News Tagged With: Delta, Elite, iata, medallion, northwest, skymiles, wifi, Worldperks

Airline Updates for August 2008

January 20, 2009 By Jack Kennard

Air Mexico

After Month-Long Hiatus, Airlines Try Another Fare Hike
The airfare monitoring website FareCompare.com reported that Northwest Airlines upped its domestic fares by nearly $80 roundtrip in over 4,000 city pairs for both business and leisure travelers.

The increase came after nearly a month of no airfare hikes. Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare, said that fares may be topping out, due to a sluggish economy and the fact that oil is down, relatively speaking, to the mid $120s per barrel.

He said revenue from added fees is also kicking in. (Source: FareCompare.com).

Delta Doubles Fee for Second Bag, Northwest Charges for First Bag FF Ticket Delta Air Lines upped its charge for a second bag to $50 from $25. It also said it would increase fees for specialty items that require special handling such as surfboards or ski equipment on domestic and international flights.

The new fees apply to tickets bought after July 31 for travel on or after Aug. 5. First Class, BusinessElite and Medallion customers will continue to be able to check up to three bags at no charge.

Customers checking bags on international flights may continue checking a first and second bag at no charge.

Northwest Airlines instituted a $15 charge for the first checked bagged, following American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways’ lead; this applied to tickets sold after July 10 for travel starting Aug. 28.

Frequent flier elites are exempt from the policy, along with full-fare coach passengers. As of Sept. 15, it will also begin charging service fees for frequent flyer tickets: $25 for domestic, $50 for transatlantic and $100 for transpacific travel. (Source: Delta, Northwest press releases).

Hawaiian Charges for First Bag, Phone Bookings
Hawaiian Airlines began charging $15 for the first piece of checked luggage on flights between the mainland U.S. and Hawaii; the first bag remains free on interisland flights.

Hawaiian will also begin charging a $10 ticketing fee for telephone bookings for interisland flights, $20 for all other routes and $25 for ticketing at the airport. (Source: Hawaiian Airlines press release).

Flight Attendants Decry Turning Planes into Flying Vending Machines
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), lamented the fact that US Airways is now charging for soft drinks in flight, saying it was turning aircraft into “flying vending machines.”

The group said the airline is nickel and diming passengers and turning flight attendants, who are safety pros, into cashiers. (Source: AFA-CWA press release).

Delta Restructures Loyalty Program, Upping Some Mileage Requirements

Delta Air Lines said it was restructuring its SkyMiles frequent flyer program, saying it wanted to give its members greater flexibility and more options when redeeming miles, including the ability to again book the last seat on a flight using miles and three redemption tiers for Award Travel within the continental United States, Alaska and Canada..

Tiers will start at 25,000, 40,000 and 60,000 miles round-trip rather than the two current Award levels starting at 25,000 and 50,000 miles for travel within the continental United States, Alaska and Canada. (Source: Delta press release).

Northwest Ads Nonstop Milwaukee-Los Angeles Service
Northwest Airlines is beginning daily nonstop service between Milwaukee and Los Angeles beginning Sept. 6, using the 148-seat Airbus 320. (Source: Northwest press release).