Consumer Traveler Today: Feb 25

Consumer Traveler Today: Hey American Airlines, here’s your $25 — I hope you’re happy
 
 
Hey American Airlines, here’s your $25 — I hope you’re happy
The regional airline code-share fraud — AA and UA play it again
What we’re reading: Kingfisher joins oneworld, cockpit recorders, U.S. passenger revenue rises
“Dude, where’s my upgrade?” Why more fliers with miles and status get stuck in coach
Curling gets no respect!
Hey American Airlines, here’s your $25 — I hope you’re happy
Posted: 25 Feb 2010 06:15 AM PST
After my recent luggage standoff with an American Airlines gate agent in Orlando, which ended with her threatening to charge me $100 to check my regulation-size bags on my return flight, a lot of you have asked me how the journey home went.
       

The regional airline code-share fraud — AA and UA play it again
Posted: 25 Feb 2010 03:05 AM PST
As our government studies the uneven safety standards and differences in pilot training programs between mainline and regional airlines, both American and United airlines announced new code-shared flights that confuse and mislead the flying public. The FAA must say enough! There needs to be a freeze on additional regional airline contracts until the FAA can bring a unified safety structure into place.
       

What we’re reading: Kingfisher joins oneworld, cockpit recorders, U.S. passenger revenue rises
Posted: 25 Feb 2010 03:00 AM PST
Kingfisher joins with oneworld, NTSB asks to monitor pilot conversations, U.S. passenger revenue rose in January
       

“Dude, where’s my upgrade?” Why more fliers with miles and status get stuck in coach
Posted: 24 Feb 2010 08:15 AM PST
While airlines like to promote free tickets with their mileage programs, the award that many even semi-regular clients want is an upgrade. These are the very awards that are getting harder to get.
       

Curling gets no respect!
Posted: 24 Feb 2010 07:15 AM PST
As the Vancouver Winter Olympics were televised, I found that curling had replaced money making on CNBC a few times. Being a creature of habit, I didn't change the channel, but settled in to watch curling. The next day I watched it again, then again. I even cheered when the U.S. women's team beat the U.K. and when the men managed to finally win their first match. So, in the interest of intercultural understanding, I asked Karen Cummings, the only person I know who has actually curled, to write a bit about this poorly-understood sport. Isn't that what travel is all about?