..and the fees go on...

[PlatypusMan]

Delta is increasing certain fees as of April 1--and it's no joke.

http://consumerist.com/assets/resour...ses%5B1%5D.pdf

BTW: anyone notice that three airlines have gone Tango Uniform this week?

ATA, Champion Air, and Aloha have all augered in via bankruptcy.

PPM

[Zenagirl]

It seems as though the airlines are choosing to nickel and dime the customer rather than simply raising the base fares for everyone. Guess the slowing economy and fuel prices are hurting us all....one way or another.

[terrillja]

The one i find suspect is how all the airlines announce that they are shutting their operations down the next day. Obviously they knew for a while they were in trouble, it might be a nice bit of courtesy to give a heads up to people who thought they would be able to fly.

Also, if you want your $$ back, you have to go after the airline in bankruptcy court. That'll be a PITA.

[BuzzGA]

My biggest disappointment is ATA, we were able to fly from Phoenix to Hawaii direct for 350-400 bucks round trip. It is going to make hopping over to see friends/dive for a long weekend a lot harder to do

[mitchy]

Air Canada just announced that for $35 per ticket you can get better customer service. It's an option when purchasing a ticket.

[scubasavvy]

Originally Posted by mitchy

Air Canada just announced that for $35 per ticket you can get better customer service. It's an option when purchasing a ticket.

I shouldn't have to pay for good customer service. If airlines and most other businesses weren't so concerned about trying to beat their customers over the head for money and concentrated on better customer service and gaining customer loyalty...they wouldn't have to worry about profits. Scuba Toys is a prime example of a company who treats their customers like gold and in turn, I don't think they worry very much about profits...

[Beaucoupfishies]

Originally Posted by mitchy

Air Canada just announced that for $35 per ticket you can get better customer service. It's an option when purchasing a ticket.

New for 2008- Comfortseats!(tm)

Comfortseats are the new feature for the discriminating flyer. For only $49.99, you get to sit in a chair during the entire length of your flight! Seats are pre-worn in for that at home feel and are all certified antiques from retired aircraft. Now you too can pretend to be flying during the heyday of travel.

And you'll need to pretend to be elsewhere so you can forget that you're crammed like cattle aboard your economy flight!

[EuphoriaII]

Originally Posted by PlatypusMan

BTW: anyone notice that three airlines have gone Tango Uniform this week?

ATA, Champion Air, and Aloha have all augered in via bankruptcy.

PPM

Any links to that story? Are they out of business or just bankruptcy reorganizing? Champions and ATA have always been the low cost charters for us out of Oklahoma City and Dallas.
I think my wife is flying Champion tomorrow morning when she heads to Mexico.

[jtkkym]

High fuel cost hurts everyone. Airlines have to make money somehow but it sucks. Only thing it doesn't go up much is the numbers on my paycheck

[diversteve]

Originally Posted by EuphoriaII

[Any links to that story? Are they out of business or just bankruptcy reorganizing? Champions and ATA have always been the low cost charters for us out of Oklahoma City and Dallas.
I think my wife is flying Champion tomorrow morning when she heads to Mexico.

Bloomington, MN – (March 31, 2008) – Champion Air announced today that it will cease flight operations May 31, 2008.

Champion Air - PressRoom

Skybus also just went down today.
Skybus - Announcement

ATA went down Wednesday.

After filing for Chapter 11 on April 2, 2008 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis, IN, ATA Airlines has discontinued all operations and cancelled all current and future flights. Following the loss of a key contract for our military charter business, it became impossible for ATA to continue operations. Unfortunately, we were not in a position to provide our customers or others with advance notice.

ATA Airlines