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July 30, 2018 In Air, Airlines

Worst Airlines for Overbooking – And remember: just because you bought a ticket, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a seat.

United Airlines caused itself a PR nightmare by having a passenger violently dragged off a plane after overbooking a flight earlier this week. And while lots of variables coalesced for this disaster, it also sparked a discussion over the industry’s practice of overselling and involuntary denials of boarding (IDBs). Bad for United; good for consumers. Despite all the current negative press, however, United can take solace in one fact: it’s not the worst major U.S. airline when it comes to booting people off planes.

According to the Department of Transporation’s most recent Air Travel Consumer Report, the unfortunate crown goes to Southwest Airlines, with a rate of 0.99 IDBs per 10,000 passengers in 2016. Effectively, that means for every 10,000 people who get on Southwest planes, one is getting kicked off. Hawaiian Airlines had the best rate, at 0.05 IDBs per 10,000 passengers, while United earned fifth place, at 0.43 IDBs per 10,000 passengers. Additionally, United’s rate actually dropped 55 percent from 2015, when it had 0.77 IDBs per 10,000.

Overall, Southwest had the highest total IDBs last year, at 14,979, about a third of the 40,629 passengers across 12 carriers. To be fair, Southwest also had the most domestic passengers of any airline, at 150,655,354, while United had 86,836,527 and Hawaiian had 10,824,495. Still, not the best look for Southwest.

The monthly study from the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings (OAEP) “is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by the airlines,” by tracking statistics such as consumer complaints, flight delays, and, of course, oversales, the topic du jour. Two regional carriers, ExpressJet and SkyWest, were also included in the study.

Here’s the full list of the worst airlines and their rates, in terms of oversale IDBs. And remember: just because you bought a ticket, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a seat.

Southwest Airlines 0.99
JetBlue Airlines 0.92
American Airlines 0.64
Frontier Airlines 0.58
Spirit Airlines 0.58
United Airlines 0.43
Alaska Airlines 0.40
Virgin America 0.12
Delta Air Lines 0.10
Hawaiian Airlines 0.05

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October 24, 2017 In Air, Airlines, Business, Business Travel

Man Sues Airline for Serving Sparkling Wine Instead of Champagne

There are frivolous lawsuits, and then there’s this. Earlier this year, a Quebec man named Daniel Macduff booked an outgoing flight to Cuba on Canadian airline Sunwing. As part of its package, Sunwing promised a complimentary on-board Champagne toast, per the BBC. Like any good connoisseur of bubbly, Daniel Macduff knows that for a sparkling wine to be labeled “Champagne,” it must be produced in Champagne, France. But Champagne from Champagne Daniel Macduff did not receive. Instead, he was served a “sparkling wine” of more humble origins that could not, in good faith, be called Champagne.
And so, he sued.

The class-action lawsuit now has the support of around 1,600 other presumably outraged Champagne purists, who have signed on as potential plaintiffs, the National Post reports. According to the paper, Macduff’s lawyer says the suit is less about the discernible differences in terroir of Champagne versus that of its impostors than it is about false advertising.
“You have to go beyond the pettiness of the [wine cost] per head,” he said Tuesday, according to the Post. “What’s important is you’re trying to lure consumers by marketing something, and you’re not giving them that something… It’s a dishonest practice.”

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July 7, 2016 In Air, Airline Fees, Airlines, airports, travel news, travel trending

TSA Lines: Trying to Get Past Airport Security Faster? Get in Line #IHateTheWait

Officials at the Transportation Security Administration thought they had the solution for long lines at airports: “PreCheck” – It has not worked as planned.

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It has not worked as planned.

Customers who apply for the program, which requires a fee of $85 and a background check, say they continue to face long waits to obtain the PreCheck clearance. Such delays could grow worse because the number of people signing up for PreCheck has more than tripled in the last few months, climbing to 16,000 a day on average in May, agency officials said.

That surge has led to long delays in processing applications. Dozens of passengers who have recently tried to sign up for PreCheck say they have been given appointments for the in-person interviews needed to complete the process that are weeks or even months away.

May 22, 2016 In Air, Airline Fees, Airlines, airports, travel news, travel trending

TSA Lines: Why They’re So Long, and What You Can Do About It #IHateTheWait

TSA Lines: Why They’re So Long, and What You Can Do About It

With travelers increasingly frustrated, the Transportation Security Administration has finally spoken.

Long lines at airports are nothing new. Yet in recent weeks, understaffing, heightened periods of travel, and stricter security measures have created a perfect storm and brought the issue to a boiling point: Port Authority has threatened to replace the TSA with private contractors, and airlines have spoken out on behalf of the traveler. There’s even a designated hashtag—#IHateTheWait—and viral videos of passengers stuck in long lines, and at airports overnight. Now, the TSA is finally addressing the issueREAD MORE

March 27, 2016 In Air, Airlines, airports, Europe, Land, travel finds, travel news

Bordeaux | A great fusion of big city life but contained in a village-like atmosphere – Gordon Ramsay

Bordeaux is the wine capital of the world, renowned for its rich history, generated by 800 years of viticulture, commerce and trade. But these days, there’s much more to this city than lush vineyards and delicious grapes.

It’s a great fusion of big city life but contained in a village-like atmosphere – Gordon RamsayREAD MORE

March 14, 2016 In Air, Airline Fees, Airlines, airports, travel finds, travel news

Senator calls for FAA investigation of runaway fees that can double passenger fares despite plummeting fuel costs.

Consumer Traveler Today: Senator calls for FAA investigation of runaway fees

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) late last month, called on the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate hidden, runaway fuel surcharges and airline fees that can double passenger fares despite plummeting fuel costs.

This is a part of the long-running effort to have airlines be more transparent READ MORE

January 19, 2016 In Air, Airlines, Business Travel, Eats & Drinks

Travel Warning: Zika Virus – What You Should Know

Evidence is growing that there may be a possible relationship between the mosquito-borne virus and a birth defect known as microcephaly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed this week that it is considering a travel warning for countries where the Zika virus is circulating.

“We’re trying to get out some comprehensive travel guidelines that women can follow, with more specific information for pregnant women,” Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the Vector-Born Disease division of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the CDC told CNN. “We expect to have them out in a day or so.”

And while nothing has been confirmed as of yet, a primer on the virus, its symptoms, and why the warning may soon appear can help travelers prepare. Update 1/16: The CDC has issued a travel alert for people traveling to countries and regions where the transmission of the virus is ongoing: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

What is the Zika virus? A virus in the same family as West Nile, chikungunya, and dengue, Zika draws its name from the Zika forest in Uganda, where it was first identified in a monkey in 1947. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through bites from Aedes mosquitos, whose peak biting hours are early mornings and late afternoons. Once a rare disease, Zika has seen sporadic outbreaks over the years—mostly contained to Southeast Asia and Africa—but is now considered an emerging infectious disease due to a deluge of recent cases in Brazil.

Why is this happening now? Typical side effects of someone bitten by the Zika virus are similar to those of dengue fever or even a cold—think mild fever, rash, muscle pain, joint pain, headaches, pain behind the eyes, and pink eye. New statistics, however, show that the virus may have more long-lasting effects. Traces of the Zika virus were found in fetal and newborn tissue of Brazilian babies with a birth defect called microcephaly, which typically comprises small heads, severe brain damage, and developmental issues. Brazil saw some 3,000 cases of microcephaly in 2015—a drastic increase from their average of 200—and doctors believe that given the duration of the usual nine-month pregnancy, there could be more cases on the way.

What countries are risky? Brazil, for one: an official there even advised women not to become pregnant after the virus was linked to an increase in microcephaly. Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Suriname, and Venezuela have also reported local transmission. A traveler from Texas—who recently returned from Latin America—was confirmed to have the virus, but no transmission within the 50 U.S. states has been found. Update 1/19: A baby in Hawaii has been confirmed to have microcephaly, and had also been infected with the Zika virus. The CDC wrote in a statement that “Neither the baby nor the mother are infectious, and there was never a risk of transmission in Hawaii.”

How can I prevent it? Short of avoiding these areas, stick to the old standards: using insect repellant and wearing protective, appropriate clothing. If you can, stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms. There is no vaccine against the virus.

This post was originally published on January 15 at T&L . This the latest updated information.

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