WSJ: Global Premium Air Travel Keeps Declining

With a 27.3% drop, the Pacific region experienced the worst decline in premium passenger numbers, while of the larger markets, Asia was the weakest, said IATA. Only Africa saw more passengers buying first and business-class tickets, but the 2.8% increase in that market is less significant due to its small size. Across the North Atlantic, premium travel fell 22.5%, following a 14.5% drop in January.

The number of passengers traveling on economy-class tickets fell 8.3% in February, following a 4.7% fall in January. Overall passenger numbers were down 9.6%, or 6% if adjusted for the extra day in February 2008.

Now is the time to do some international travel if you’ve been socking away some funds for a “trip of a lifetime”.  The article goes on to say that the market is about to bottom out, and that means we may not see prices again this low for decades.  Add to this the struggling  global economy and you’re sure to find amazing deals on lodging and other services.  Travel Agent Central is reporting a huge decrease in hotel rates both here and abroad.

Just make sure you check the State Department’s interactive guide for travel advisories before you make your plans.

It takes a brave, brave soul to come through a bad experience with a company and still be able to have a sense of humor.  This is a letter sent by a customer of Continental Airlines detailing his terrible experience on one of their flights.  He even drew illustrations to help him make his point!  Next time you’re on a flight, stuck behind a crying baby consider that it could be oh, so much worse:

It’s what we call nickle and diming.  Airlines have been competing with low fares for years, and with outlets like Expedia and Priceline, people have become accustomed to paying drastically reduced fares.  But the cost of fuel and labor keeps going up–so what is an airline to do?

Obviously they don’t want to respond in knee-jerk fashion and raise fares.  That will mean an immediate and drastic shift in consumer spending on air travel.  So they have opted to start charging fees…small, sometimes barely noticeable fees…which add up to a heft sum.

What are some of these fees?

How about charging you between $5-25 just to make a reservation in person or on the phone?  Yep, that’s right.  If you want to talk to a live person, many airlines (including American, Jet Blue and Southwest) will charge you a fee.  Along those same lines, if you actually want to get a seat assignment prior to your flight, it can cost you between $5-20.

And as for those ‘perks’ of airtravel, like frequent flier miles, it turns out they can be as much of a liability as they are a benefit.  Some airlines are charging up to $100 just to re-bank your frequent flier miles, and others are charging the same amount if you want to cash your miles in without advance notice.  Delta airlines now requires 22 days notice to use your frequent flier miles without an additional penalty of $75!

The fees for transporting pets have gone up drastically in the past year, as have the fees for lap children–or kids too small to have their own seat.  But perhaps the most ludicrous fees are those that charge you to check your luggage.  Even if you check one bag, and it is within the size and weight limits, you can be charged between $3-25 EACH WAY.

Finally–airlines have reduced or completely eliminated food and beverage service on many flights.  Don’t get me wrong–if I’m taking a 1.5 hour flight, I don’t necessarily need a snack.  But I’ve been on 3 hours flights with only so much as a package of stale pretzels and a dixie cup of soda pop to sustain me.

Do airlines really think that we haven’t noticed these changes?