Google Speeds Up Travel Searches, Annoys Travel Search Sites

Google
Using Google, we simply typed "IAD to LAX" into the search box and immediately (or, as Google would prefer, in 0.22 seconds) got the results in the familiar Google format -- paid ads on the top, then the results, then more results for other pages related to the topic.

As on the other sites, we simply select the flight we want and hit "Book." Unlike Kayak, Google didn't try to direct us to Expedia.com, Cheaptickets.com or any other third party; it took us right into the United Airlines reservation system and brought up a final purchase screen confirming the itinerary and price.

Like Kayak's pages, Google's pages contain advertising, which remains Big G's primary revenue source.

Consumers complain about advertising, of course, but it is the basis of the free press that is in turn the basis of American democracy, so perhaps the less said about that the better.

The problem?
So what's the problem? Well, the other travel sites say the problem is that Google will in short order put them out of business by "favoring" its own searches. It's what they've been saying since Google bought ITA Software Inc. last year.

ITA is the mother lode of flight data. It supplies the information used not only in Google flight searches but also in nearly all of the competing searches, including Kayak, Expedia, etc.

The Justice Department allowed the purchase to go forward after Google promised that it would "build tools that would drive more traffic to airline and online travel agency sites." The other sites are now complaining loudly that Google isn't doing that.

Proper role
The question comes down to whether Google must forever more be nothing but a passive search engine, combing through data posted on the Internet by others or whether it should try to live up to its mandate to "organize the world's information."

Providing comprehensive, impartial flight data quickly seems to fit into Google's mandate and also, just in passing, would seem to be a benefit to consumers. Google is not obligated to think first of consumers, of course, but publishing has traditionally been a public service business -- providing information that meets consumers' needs in a reasonably impartial manner.

If other businesses are damaged by that, it may be what in other venues is called collateral damage. It wasn't many years ago that the online travel agencies were being vilified for running bricks-and-mortar travel agents out of town.

Some of those traditional travel agents found ways to adapt and survive. The Expedias of the world may have to do the same.

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Air Arabia reports solid performance for 3Q

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today its financial results for the three months ending September 30, 2011, demonstrating sustainable profitability during the third quarter of this year.

Air Arabia’s net profit for the three months ending September 30, 2011, which was in line with analyst forecasts, stood at AED 100 million, a decline of 26 per cent compared to AED 136 million in the corresponding period in 2010. In the third quarter of this year, Air Arabia posted a turnover of AED 691 million, an increase of 22 per cent compared to AED 568 million in the same period of 2010.

The airline served 1,199,973 passengers in the third quarter of 2011, an increase of five per cent compared to 1,147,066 passengers in the same period last year. In the three months ending September 30, 2011, Air Arabia’s average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – stood at an impressive 81 per cent.

“Air Arabia is pleased to announce such solid financial performance despite continued challenging market conditions,” said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia. “Air Arabia’s sustained quarterly profits, high seat load factor and rising passenger traffic reflect the appeal of our services and demonstrates the strength of Air Arabia’s business model.

“The challenging markets conditions we have seen in the second quarter of this year continued in the third quarter, with a further escalation in the political turmoil in several countries and an upward trend in the average fuel bill. Despite these challenging market conditions, Air Arabia’s solid profits and steady growth reflect the airline’s commercial and operational strength.

“After crossing the 20-million passenger mark in the third quarter of 2011, we would like to thank all our customers for choosing to fly with Air Arabia. We look forward to serving many more passengers in the months and years to come.”

In the third quarter of 2011, Air Arabia took delivery of two new A320 aircraft from Airbus. The latest Airbus A320 arrived on schedule from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France, marking the delivery of a total of six out of 44 A320 aircraft ordered in 2007.

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Flybe adding fuel surcharge

Regional airline Flybe is adding a £3 surcharge to bookings for flights departing from the autumn due to increasing fuel costs. The surcharge will apply for bookings made from today for flights departing on or after September 1, but added that the charge would be removed if the price of crude oil dropped below $75 per barrel for a period of 28 consecutive days.

The airline is set to maintain profit levels despite higher fuel costs and a fall in the number of UK leisure travellers in recent months. Flybe admitted that the UK market “remained challenging” with a 4.4 percentage point fall in load factors for the final three months of its financial year which ended in March.

Despite this fall, the airline increased the total number of seats flown by 4.5% to 2.6 million in the three-month period while revenue per seat went up by 2.2% to £46.14 compared to same quarter last year.

United reinstates fee for last-minute award tickets

United Airlines announced on Thursday that it will reinstate a fee for frequent-flier tickets booked at the last minute. Beginning June 15, the carrier will charge $75 to customers without elite frequent-flier status when they book an award ticket within 21 days of their departure date. Premier-level frequent fliers will be charged $50 while Premier Executive members will face a $25 fee. United's top-level Global Services and 1K members will still be able to book last-minute award tickets at no charge.

United currently does not charge a fee for close-in award-ticket bookings, though the new fee structure mirrors what merger partner Continental currently charges."As we continue the changes under way at United Airlines and Continental Airlines, we're revising certain Mileage Plus and OnePass award fees to make them consistent across both programs," United said in an e-mail to its frequent-flier members on Thursday.

Elsewhere, United says that "for General members, most award fees are going down or staying the same."For example, the fee will drop to $75 from $150 for non-elite fliers changing their origin or destination cities on award tickets that are issued before June 15. The same change applies to non-elite customers who add, change or remove a connecting city from an award ticket issued prior to June 15. Global Services and 1K members will not be charged.

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Indonesia Volcano Continues To Disrupt Air Travel

Indonesia volcano continued to disrupt air travel over the weekend. Indonesia Mount Merapi volcano cancelled 36 flights on Saturday and 8 flights on Sunday.
Even the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta is feeling the effects of volcanic Ash. Several flights to Jakarta were either cancelled of reschedule due to the Mout Merapi volcano eruption. In total 8 flights were cancelled and 42 were forced to reschedule at the Jakarta Airport.

Malaysia Airlines has started morning and afternoon flights to Jakarta but evening flights are still cancelled as for now.

The air travel in nearby destinations to Mount Merapi Volcano is facing even more trouble. Yogyakarta and Solo are facing severe problems which has stranded thousands of passengers.

Ash cloud is also feared to disrupt the visit of US President Barack Obama to Indonesia. There are fears that President may skip Indonesia due to the trouble caused by the ash cloud.

American Airlines to begin daily flights from Los Angeles to Shanghai in April

American Airlines plans to begin daily service from Los Angeles to Shanghai starting April 5.

The carrier announced Thursday that it had received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation. It willl fly 247-seat Boeing 777 aircraft on the new route.

American spokesman Tim Smith said the flights will depart and arrive at Terminal 4 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and that details were still being worked out with federal officials.

The airline also received tentative approval for antitrust immunity that allows American and Japan Airlines to cooperate on flights between Asia and North America under the Open Skies agreement between the two countries. The airlines await a final OK for American to start daily flights from New York to Tokyo on Jan. 20, and Japan Airlines to start flights between San Francisco and Tokyo on Oct. 31.

Allegiant Starts Nonstop Bakersfield-Las Vegas Service

Allegiant announced that, beginning November 17, the travel company will offer nonstop service between Bakersfield, CA, and Las Vegas, with one-way introductory rates of $29.99 when purchased by October 2010 for travel through March 8, 2011. Following the introductory fare period, one-way fares on the route will start from $39.99.

In November, three weekly flights will travel between Meadows Field Airport and McCarran International Airport: Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Flights departing Bakersfield at 6:45 p.m. will arrive in Las Vegas at 7:50 p.m. Flights leaving Las Vegas at 5 p.m. will touch down into Bakersfield at 6:05 p.m. onboard a full-size, 150-seat MD-80 jet aircraft.

The Las-Vegas based company also offers air and hotel vacation packages with more than 40 of Sin City's hotels, including Venetian-Resort-Hotel-Casino, Paris Las Vegas, Caesars Palace and ARIA Resort & Casino, among others.

Travellers furious over hidden airline fees

FED-up travellers have vented their frustrations about hidden airline fees as part of a new campaign hoping to provoke change in the industry.

Three US travel advocacy groups: the Business Travel Coalition, the American Society of Travel Agents and Consumer Travel Alliance have joined together to create a new website, MadAsHellAboutHiddenFees.com.

The site encourages travellers to vent about situations where they feel they’ve been ripped off or surprised by extra fees as part of a push to make airline pricing more transparent.

“(Travellers) are tired of arriving at the airport and finding huge unexpected costs for travel services they thought were part of the ticket price,” Kevin Mitchell, Chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, said.

Common passenger gripes include being hit up for advanced seating, extra baggage and wanting more legroom.

Traveller Paul, from New York, said he was shocked when he was hit with extra charges while booking discounted airline tickets online.

"I first joined the $9 fee club from Spirit Airlines for the cost of $39 in order to receive a discounted fare," Paul said.

"Just as I was about to submit my payment information I was prompted to the seat selection screen and to my dismay I discovered there was a hidden charge of $85 and 10 minutes to choose a seat.

"Needless to say I am miffed and I think this is an unfair practice."

Passengers aren't the only ones frustrated by the fees, with travel agents complaining airlines are making it difficult for them to compare ticket prices.

“For a travel agent, comparing air travel costs without fee transparency is like trying to read a book with half the pages torn out,” Paul Ruden, Senior Vice President of Legal and Industry Affairs for the American Society of Travel Agents, said.

To coincide with the launch of their website the groups conducted a survey of nearly 1400 travellers, finding that two-thirds of respondents had been surprised at the airport by unexpected fees and 99 per cent want airline to disclose all of their fees on all sites selling their tickets.

Queens Airports Provide Many Travel Options

Queens holds two major airports: LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, known as LGA and JFK, respectively. Both airports are run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and fly millions of travelers to their destinations every year.

LaGuardia was the first to open, in 1939 at the site of the old Gala Amusement Park originally owned by the Steinway family. It began as Glen H. Curtiss Airport and its name was changed to North Beach Airport shortly after. New York City bought the airport and expanded it, and it was reopened in 1939 as New York Municipal Airport-LaGuardia Field. The Authority took over the airport in 1947; it still operates the airport and plans to continue until 2050.

LaGuardia now consists of 680 acres and 72 gates and is home to more than 20 national airlines, including airlines to Puerto Rico, Canada, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. Last year it flew 22,142,336 passengers in a total of 354,048 plane movements.

John F. Kennedy Airport is the top pick for international flights, with more than twice as many passengers as LaGuardia and 414,928 plane movements last year, as well as serving as the takeoff and landing site for more than 70 airlines with destinations around the world.

The airport was built on the site of Idlewild Golf Course in 1942 and given the name Idlewild Airport. Six years later, commercial flights began, and in 1963 the 4,930-acre airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport, after Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated on November 22 of that year.

EADS takes hit for A400M in fourth quarter

Airbus parent company EADS NV says it lost over euro1 billion in the fourth quarter after necessities for the A400M military transport plane and its A380 superjumbo passenger airliner weighed on pay

Paris-based European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. said Tuesday that it had a net loss of euro1.05 billion the three months to December compare to a euro490 million net income a year earlier.

That led to a full year net loss of euro763 million compared to a net profit of euro1.57 billion in 2008.Revenue fell 1 percent in 2009 to euro42.82 billion and EADS said it expects approximately stable revenues in 2010.EADS reach an agreement with customer nations on who pays for the cost overruns of the A400M on Friday.

Sun Country Passengers Endure 6-Hour Wait

Minneapolis, MN - Two weeks after 47 passengers were stranded on a Minnesota tarmac for almost six hours, more than 100 Sun Country passengers waited that long for a Twin Cities-bound plane to leave New York. Flight 242 was supposed to take off from New York City on Friday about 11 a.m. local time. But passengers say the plane didn't start boarding until about noon, and didn't take off until after 6 p.m.The flight lasted 2 1/2 hours.

Passenger Gary Kurth says travelers were told a weather system over Iowa was causing the delay. Fellow passenger John Nides says "the crew brought out the food cart after three hours, but the items had to be purchased and quickly ran out. Sun County chief executive Stand Gadek says the airline regrets the delay and will issue refunds."

Source: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/Sun_Country_Passengers_Enddure_6hr_Wait_August_22_2009