Now that the worst seems to be over re: Vacationers verses the Volcano, I have collected a few reports on what happened. I would imagine everyone has read/heard  about Iceland’s erupting Eyjafjallajokull volcano. No matter how you say it, it was a disaster for many vacationers and business travellers.

I have been reading:

• Glass build-up found in NATO F-16 engine: U.S. official
  BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Glass build-up from Iceland’s volcanic eruption has been found in an engine of a NATO F-16 fighter plane, a U.S. official said on Monday, underlining the dangers to aircraft of flying through the ash cloud.
  The official did not say which nation’s aircraft had been affected, where it happened or when, but it was the second air force to report problems from the ash cloud — Finland, not a NATO member, reported similar problems on Friday. Read full report here
• Aircraft enginemakers, regulators study ash impact
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) – General Electric Co (GE.N) and other aircraft engine makers and regulators are studying the possibility of formulating limits for safely operating jet engines in volcanic ash, industry and regulatory officials said on Monday. Read full report here
• Beyond airlines – winners and losers with volcanic ash
  At this point, even armchair travelers are familiar with Europe’s volcanic ash saga and the fact that the cloud has basically grounded all flights in the European airspace. News stories on the situation also talk about how much money — perhaps $200 million dollars a day — airlines are losing. Read full report here
• E.U. works on Europe-wide volcanic ash policy, until now, decisions were country-by-country
  Until today, the European decisions forced because of the volcanic ash cloud that has put an end to air traffic over the continent have been on a country-by-country basis. Now that the ash has closed most of Europe’s airspace, the E.U. is debating how to coordinate an emergency European-wide response.
  Read full report here
• European flights remain grounded; airlines question ‘proportionality’ of response
  Volcanic ash from last week’s eruption in Iceland continues to cause dramatic disruption to air traffic in Europe, with many airlines cancelling services for a fifth consecutive day Monday owing to airspace closures but questioning whether EU governments and ATC providers are overreacting.
  Read full report here
• European officials to ease ash-related flight restrictions
  Under growing pressure from industry leaders and stranded travelers, European transportation ministers decided Monday to open more of the continent’s airspace to commercial air traffic despite concern over a lingering cloud of ash from a volcano in Iceland. Read full report here
• Flight ban lifted – and now the recriminations begin
  • BA chief attacks government and air safety watchdog
  • Manufacturers change advice on flying in ash clouds
  • Days more of delays to come but end to chaos in sight
  Read full report here
• Week Without Revenue Cost Airines $1.7 Billion
  IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that the Icelandic volcano crisis has cost airlines more than $1.7 billion in lost revenue through Tuesday April 20th – six days after the initial eruption. For a three-day period (17-19 April), when disruptions were greatest, lost revenues reached $400 million per day. Read full report here
• Ash Cloud Reaches North American Coast
  “Up to this point there is no indication that the airspace will be affected (by the ash cloud),” — Randy Mahon, — St John’s airport, Newfoundland.
  The ash cloud from Iceland’s volcanic eruption brushed up against Canada’s Eastern seaboard on Monday, but airlines said domestic flight cancellations were mostly because of fog. Read full report here
• Heathrow Airport finally reopens
  Plans to unclog the skies over Europe by this weekend are getting a boost as London’s Heathrow Airport finally reopens, though the airline industry is complaining bitterly that European Union authorities responded much too slowly to the crisis over volcanic ash. Read full report here
• Volcanic Situation – Behind The Scenes Of A Global Travel Meltdown
  Air Canada V.P. Sales Claude Morin sums up the situation in one succinct line: “Just when we thought we’d seen it all.”
  A volcanic eruption in Iceland has spawned a travel crisis the likes of which the world has never experienced. Airline emergency task forces, flight operations, airport management and governments have been in a group huddle for the last week without much effect. Mother Nature is in charge and the rest of us have to wait. Read full report here
• Fuming airlines demand compensation
  Industry blames European authorities for overreacting to ash threat, costing airlines more than $1-billion; Officials begin to open airspace, but global backlog could take weeks to clear Read full report here
• First leg of Celebrity launch replaced by mercy mission
  The first leg of Celebrity Eclipse’s launch celebrations has been cancelled to allow the ship to pick up 2,000 Brits stranded in Spain.
  Lavish celebrations aboard Celebrity Cruises’ newest vessel had been due to begin on Thursday April 22 following the ship’s arrival in Southampton at 9am today, Tuesday. Read full report here
• Volcano
  Wiki general information on volcanoes. Read full entry here
• Iceland Volcanoes
  More background details on the Iceland situation. Read full entry here

I hope this list will be helpful. It’s probably more than you really wanted to know, but…

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• Airlines lose $1.7 billion, Germany opens airspace (ctv.ca)
• Iceland volcano: Q&A (telegraph.co.uk)
• More Images of Volcanic Ash Plume Captured by NASA Satellites as Flights Resume in European Airspace (laist.com)
• ‘Black Swan’ Volcano Offers Us Lessons: Matthew Lynn (Update1) (businessweek.com)

Airlines around the world are gradually developing and expanding upon the concept that a ticket is solely for the limited seat space between points “A” and “B”. Nothing more and nothing less. Luggage, including first checked bag on some airlines, is an added feature that must be arbitrarily paid for. Using a credit card is an added convenience to be paid for separately. Food if offered at all is an extra charge. The latest to be added is an extra fee for carry-ons. Being considered by Ryan Air is “pay as you go” restroom privileges. The list goes on and changes almost weekly.

The fees are “mathematically” arrived at and are being applied to almost any form of alleged optional, or not so optional, services. The airlines then can offer ridiculous air ticket prices and boost their profits on selling these extras to a captive audience.

After all, nobody really has to fly, there are ships, trains, buses, cars and hitch-hiking as alternatives. Airlines are severely clouding the actual ticket price cost and confusing their customers the travelling public.

A separate fee, for what used to be included, air services appears more and more like a con game where greed is in and honesty is out. The main retort from the airline executives to customer dissatisfaction is shop around and pay for what you use. This is not a new phenomena. Read this 20 year old commentary on selling paint as the airlines sell tickets.

I guess it’s a sign of the times. Every business or government is trying to polish their bottom line by shifting the pea from one walnut shell to another. It wasn’t as bad when the shill had three walnuts to cover his slight of hand, now we have to look under all kinds of walnut halves before we find the actual charges in total for almost anything we have to pay for these days. The computer was supposed to help make sense of the masses of data for the general public. It seems business “leaders” are many steps ahead in creating the “baffle data” that makes a mockery of truth, fairness and honesty. There are statistics and damned statistics. The airlines and others are using statistics to rob the damned public. They champion their actions as truly, fair and honest ways of making a profit for the shareholders and securing their golden bonuses.

Not flying is not an option.

More Info:

• Interview with Ben Baldanza, Spirit Airlines’ chief executive
• Elliot.org
• Spirit Airlines’ April 6 Announcement
• By unbundling, airlines make a bundle
• Transportation Secretary Ray Hood
• Airline Reviews
• Flyer Guide

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• Fewer bags, more cash, big savings for airlines (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Senator vows to stop airline’s carry-on fee (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Airline Unveils Charges To Stow Hand Luggage (news.sky.com)

Do airline customers have a right to know taxes and fees before buying their ticket?

The above headline appeared as the United States debate over disclosure of all fees and charges.

• “After a long day of negotiations between Senate aides and committee staffers over wording regarding when passengers will get to know what taxes and fees will be added to their airfares, there was no final agreement.” 1

Ontario travel retailers must include by law all fees, taxes, befor the advertisement begins. Travel agencies registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario TICO must include full disclosure of all costs covered by the advertisement including but not limited to applicable airport taxes, departure fees, arrival fees, port fees and taxes, fuel supplement fees, provincial and national taxes, applicable service fees, etc. In other words the bottom line must be quoted and not in the fine print on page 57 of the advertisement.

• the Menendez amendment mandates that travelers get to know all applicable taxes and fees before they begin the purchase process.” 2
• “shall establish rules to ensure that all consumers are able to easily and fairly compare airfares and other costs applicable to tickets for air transportation, including all taxes and fees.” 3

Currently, airlines in the U.S. can hide their fees. They are allowed to mislead its consumers until the final stage of purchase. At least one online discounter also denies the customer much knowledge about their flight purchase until after the non refundable price is paid.The Mendendez amendment will end this deception. The U.S. airline lobby is opposed to laws that will make them tell the truth up front.

The best way to insure transparency in airline ticket pricing is what TICO mandates from Ontario travel retailers.

Most veteran travellers are aware of fees involved in travel. They can be quite hefty. Airlines, consolidators and wholesalers can advertise big bold discount prices but have to include disclaimers. So you will still see many misleading headlines that leave lasting impressions on the vacationers subconscious. Ontario residents are subjected to American ads too. $39 flight to Florida doesn’t indicate $130 airport fees. Read beyond the headline.

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• Two laws could help fight travel fees (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Frustrations with travel consumers rant (travel-rants.com)
• Fliers’ Rights in the EU, Canada, U.S. (online.wsj.com)

When my son told me about a funny incident in the Vancouver airport, he added it’s probably not true. In checking online the first link was to the Toronto Star article “Air Canada learns that hockey trumps flying” It’s a typically Canadian story.

What’s the funniest, strangest reason you have encountered for a runway take off delay?

• A giant rat?
• Delayed and prosecuted because of blindness?
• Can’t deice plane? Oh okay, it’s Florida.
• Secretary called in a bomb threat to delay the takeoff because her boss was running late.
• Passenger Avoids Delay By Fixing Plane Himself.
• Horses, deer, cows, etc. discussed.

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• Plane strikes bird, returns to Vancouver airport (canada.com)
• Air Canada flight idled for Olympic hockey fans (ctv.ca)

Use a Travel Agent? We’ll Get You, Somehow!

In a punitive move that is wrong and greedy with no justification at all, Delta Airlines is extorting an extra fee for clients who change any ticket originally booked by a travel agent. The normal $150 change fee is squeezed from its own customers and if they used an agent to help book Delta now wrings an extra $50 fee.

Obviously Delta is trying to force its passengers to book online without help of a knowledgeable travel professional or at least to force online booking sites (Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc.) to make the changes on the tickets they issue.

Airlines have used online booking bonuses, internet only fares, etc. to lure passengers into booking for their own flights and by passing the agents. But Delta Air Lines has this new hustle. They don’t just compete, but penalize their customers who wish not to book it all by themselves. It makes no sense because Delta doesn’t pay any commission to travel agencies in the first place. Long ago, and becoming more and more widespread, some airlines began reducing or eliminating commissions to their travel agents. Some agencies have already quit dealing with airline tickets all together.

A good friend and travel professional, John R. of  Galaxsea resists selling air with his specialty sea cruises because of the hassles and little or even negative returns on time invested.

United Airlines, American Airlines already charge a Servicing Fee of $25 for voluntary changes of travel agent bookings.

Airlines are creating a system to encourage passengers to make their change with online agencies such as Expedia or ITravel2000. The personal service travel agent is caught in the middle. With no money for booking and punishing a travel agent’s customer are causing many travel professionals to ask why bother with booking air at all.

Customer service is a term the airlines use with tongue in cheek. Travel agents are the latest prey to cross the (self)destructive sights of the airline executives and bean counters.

Are Canadian airlines far behind?

This might be the time to extol the virtues of using a travel agent.
Source and more details at Consumer Traveler

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• Save those Stubs! (timesunion.com)
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• 11 reviews of Mexicana Airlines (rateitall.com)
• Reservation Servicing Fees and Underqualified Travel Agents (flightwisdom.com)