The lowdown on air travel

The prime winter travel season is almost upon us and we’re all beginning to think of a holiday getaway. Unfortunately, the biggest headache or shall I say, the most time consuming, in planning a trip is figuring out and securing “reasonable” air travel. I probably spent more time in planning a recent trip to the Bahamas in securing the airfare than in arranging for the accommodations. Not a day goes by without reading or hearing about a fare hike, extra charges, cancellation of routes and flight cutbacks, etc.

Since the common goal is to get “there” at a reasonable price and either directly or with minimal stops, a recent rundown on air travel in Travel and Leisure caught my eye. It reported that financial uncertainties and volatile oil prices have led to a major reordering of priorities by the airlines. They have been focusing on routes that provide the highest revenue especially those that feed into the growing number of domestic hubs that also yield high international business travel. At the same time, brand name airlines are increasingly partnering with global alliance partners. For example, more American Airlines flights, say, between New York and London are operated by Oneworld American alliance partner British Airways. As a result, regional air service that isn’t departing from a local airport reliably full of passengers is vulnerable to be cut.

However, on the bright side, in the first half of 2012, late arrivals were at 16.3 percent, the lowest level in 18 years. Also, the biggest “gateway” airports are undergoing major makeovers and expansions. Miami International and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airports have both just completed major renovations and expansions of their passenger airports. I can personally attest to Atlanta’s expansion as we connected there going to and returning from the Bahamas. I thought an hour between planes was enough time but I was greatly mistaken. We barely made our connection as we did an Olympic run from one end of the airport to the other! On the downside, other airports who have relied on the airlines as their major tenant, such as Pittsburgh since US Airways closed its hub, are struggling. This also means that choices for passengers for domestic flights are diminishing. Therefore, it is a good idea to track the airports and on-time departure performance. Figures are available from the Bureau of Transportation statistics.

If this doesn’t cause enough confusion, they also mention that airlines are looking to possibly add more fees to even mundane things like using the lavatory but some may be nice conveniences that might be worth paying for. For instance, American Airlines just started a bag delivery service. For $29.95 in addition to the $25 checked bag fee, passengers can have their luggage dropped off anywhere in a 40-mile radius of the airport within four hours of landing. Southwest has started equipping a handful of planes with live television (including CNBC and NFL network) and is testing a $3 to $8 charge for this service. Korean Air has a clever service for winter travelers headed to tropical climates: free coat storage for five days and $2.25 a day thereafter.

On maybe a less expensive note, there are some good suggestions about getting a better seat without paying extra or a fortune. First, book early. Get your tickets between 30 and 60 days prior to departure (except if you’re traveling during the holidays). Booking earlier may get you better seats but you may miss out on last minute fare sales. Two, use seatguru.com to obtain detailed cabin maps to uncover any idiosyncrasies, such as unmovable armrest, window with obstructed view, etc. Third, sign up for alerts if the seats you want aren’t available when you book. Expertflyer.com lets you create custom alerts to let you know if your preferred seat is freed up. Four, look for abandoned seats. Airlines often grant upgrades 100 hours prior to takeoff and then again at the 48 and 24 hour marks. Check the airline website to find any newly opened economy seats. Fifth, and last but not least, spend your miles on upgrades. If your route is on sale, you may squeeze better value out of your miles by paying for the fare and using your points to upgrade to business class where you’ll also be spared baggage fees and get complimentary food.

Also a positive, getting through the airport is getting faster and a little easier thanks to two programs that let passengers skip the lines. One is the TSA precheck. This lets passengers use a dedicated security line without needing to remove shoes, jackets, laptops or liquids. To join, you need to take part in one of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler programs (Global Entry, Sentr, Nexus or Fast) or to be invited via an airline as a frequent flier. So far, Alaska, American, Delta, US Airways offer this program. Global Entry allows U.S. citizens who have submitted a background check to bypass customs lines and swipe their passports at a kiosk.

Explore all your options before booking. Check all travel and airline websites and contact your local travel professional.

Copyright by Marcia Abramson

Email: mascribe@aol.com