for February 18, 2008
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Hot Topic: Two Rants And A Second Thought
Rant Uno - United Airlines Second Bag Charge!
Having
heard the US domestic flights on United will cost customers $25 for each
checked bag beyond one-per-person each way, we have a suggestion for the
"Friendly Skies". Since about a quarter of flying domestic US passengers
have a second bag, this will result in an estimated $100 million in revenue
for the airline (If this includes cost reductions based on less bags and
cost improvements due to the ability to carry more cargo, we don't know).
OK, you guys can charge your passengers $50 bucks for the privilege of a
second bag, but if we have to gamble on the possibility of it showing up
late or not at all, then how about a sporting gamble? United, you pay each
passenger whose bag goes astray, say a modest $50 wager penalty if it does
not show up... right at the baggage terminal (No vouchers, please just cash).
No bag, no second charge either way. If the bag is forever lost, existing
laws cover that screw-up. If our math is correct, of the two million second
bags "Friendly" carries, air transport statistics claim 5.3 per thousand
will be lost. That means 10,600 total bags times $50 will reduce the $100
million, by a little over a half a million dollars. This baggage lottery may
have the twofold effect of increasing revenue and reducing lost baggage - or
not!
Bag Blogs
- http://blog.washingtonpost.com/travellog/2008/02/monday_rant_extra_uniteds_25_c.html
- http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2006/08/dd.html
Rant Duo - Airport Wi-Fi Should Be Free!
Not exactly in-flight entertainment, our second rant could be considered in-flight gambling! While the title is self explanatory, however, there seems to be no limit to airport greed. There are some good guys in the mix though. For example, Jet Blue offers free Wi-Fi at Long Beach, CA and at New York's JFK. There may be other airlines that also provide the service. The tussle over the airport airwaves took center stage with Boston's Logan airport and the courts finally had to rule in favor of the passenger. Lest we damn all airports, there are plenty that do offer free Internet though, and the links below give some idea as to the size of this universe. Finally, our rant would not be complete without a couple of warnings as a result of a few airport net rats! We ran into one in Las Vegas... read the scams carefully.
Jet Blue Airport Free Wi-Fi
Boston Logan Airport Wi-Fi Stories
- http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/02/fcc-rules-to-reinstate-free-wifi-at-boston-logan-international-a/
- http://wifinetnews.com/archives/007814.html
- http://www.wireless-weblog.com/50226711/victory_for_free_wifi_at_bostons_logan_airport.php
Airport Free Wi-Fi Scams
- http://www.bettnet.com/blog/index.php/weblog/travel_tip_beware_of_airport_wi_fi_honeypots/
- http://www.lockergnome.com/windows/2007/02/09/free-airport-wi-fi-scam/
International Airports - Free Wi-Fi
Domestic US Free Airport Wi-Fi Articles
- http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/12/10/Denver-airport-goes-on-Wi-Fi_1.html
- http://www.openwifispots.com/guide_free_wireless_airports.aspx
Travel Wi-Fi Tips
Second Thought: IFE Suppliers who
provide news releases in digital form to conference attendees and show-goers
deserve a pat on the back. With baggage limitations becoming a way of life
for some airlines, we need more digital takeaway's to keep the baggage size
intact. For that matter, when is someone going to invent a RFID device that
transmits and downloads news releases and digital brochures at the touch of
a button from a show booth to your memory device when you pass booth and
approve the transaction?
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Rockwell Collins to open
engineering center in India
2/18/2008 8:27:56 PM
Final Assembly Begins on
Another Boeing 787 Dreamliner
2/18/2008 8:26:09 PM
US Airways and Swiss
International Air Lines opt for Thales
2/18/2008 8:24:54 PM
Thales inaugurates its new
facility and celebrates 10 years of aerospace activities in Canada
2/18/2008 8:22:30 PM
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Former
Boeing engineer charged with espionage
Seattle Times
Air India
will be compensated for Dreamliner delay
Domain-B
Aerospace
Notebook: Airbus faces risk in airline mergers
Seattle P-I
Iraq to buy
40 Boeing passenger aircrafts
IDP
Flying
casino on cards for Airbus
FT.com
Airbus has
best start to a year with 238 orders in January
Flight Global
Airbus tests
noise-reducing technology on A340-600 development aircraft
Flight Global
United
phasing out cockpit chatter on channel 9?
Chicago Tribune
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Aircraft Interiors Expo - Hamburg
4/1/2008 - 4/3/2008
WAEA
Week in Dubai
4/21/2008 - 4/24/2008
8th
Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2008)
5/20/2008 - 5/22/2008
WAEA
29th Annual Conference and Exhibition
9/8/2008 - 9/11/2008
Aircraft Interiors Expo - Americas
9/9/2008 - 9/11/2008
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