Airlines

NWA is just jumping on the band wagon. US Air started it a month ago, then UA, and DL joined. In most cases, this only applies to tickets booked after a certain date, but double check their website to make sure.

Edited: Actually UA started it, then US Air followed.

As of yesterday, AA and CO weren't charging it, but they probably will, soon enough.

[B]If you are an elite member, they don't charge this fee, or if you're flying in Business/First Class! [/B]

AFAIK, this fee is only for domestic flights.

[QUOTE=Sportsman]AFAIK, this fee is only for domestic flights.[/QUOTE]North America from what I'm seeing so far, so Mexico, Canada and maybe part of the Caribbean. I just found out that AA is on the bandwagon too. So make sure you check the website if you're flying with a bunch of stuff. What often happens is they start with Domestic, and then slip in International at a later date.

There are some interesting fares on Avianca from Atlanta to Lima and Santiago, Chile, with a forced stopover in Bogota. So far, the fares look like a bit over $300 RT. 3 day minimum, 1 month maximum.

You can look at the Flyertalk thread, if you want more info.

[url]http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=806362[/url]

Hi Jaimito.

I already have my ticket booked for October 2008.

I will be bringing 2 suitcases. Since I already booked my ticket, will AA have the right to charge me extra for the 2nd bag when I fly in a couple months?

Just Curious. And thanks again for the information that you provide to this board!

Best Regards.

Smuler

[QUOTE=Smuler]I will be bringing 2 suitcases. Since I already booked my ticket, will AA have the right to charge me extra for the 2nd bag when I fly in a couple months?[/QUOTE]If it's a flight to EZE, then you should be fine, as all changes so far have only been to flights in North America. I checked AA's website, and there are no changes for domestic flights yet, so perhaps their plan isn't fully in place yet.

I'd check their luggage info page,

[url]https://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp[/url]

A few weeks before you go.

In most cases, if you buy a ticket before a rule goes into effect, then you should have the old rules for your flight. Delta has announced that ALL flights, May 1st and later, will go under the new rules. This violates their contract of carriage, so it's possible they will back down from this.

Again, most international travelers won't have to worry about this.

Sidney PMed me about the new Delta promo for double EQMs (Elite Qualifying Miles) that they just released. This promo doesn't give you double miles that you can spend, but counts the miles you need to be elite as double. So, with one trip to BA, you can be a silver elite, and get some benefits out of it.

You have to be a Delta Skymiles member, and register. Only counts for flights from April-June, and you've got to buy the tickets by the end of April. [B] If you're going to fly at least 12,500 miles in this time frame (domestic or international), it would be a good deal to become elite.[/b] Here are the full rules:

ACHIEVE STATUS 2X FASTER.

Book at delta. Com and earn double MQMs.

Register Today!

Island hopping? Yes, please. Web site hopping? No, thanks.

Skip the hassle and head straight to delta. Com, where you'll earn double Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) when you book a flight between March 31 and April 30, 2008 and travel by June 30, 2008.

Then start racking up the MQMs for Medallion® status, which enables you to enjoy exclusive perks like complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, mileage bonuses, preferred seating and Crown Room Club® discounts.

And regardless of your status, you'll receive VIP treatment at delta. Com, where you can take advantage of:

An industry-leading Best Fare Guarantee backed by a $100 travel voucher.

No direct ticketing charges or online booking fees.

Flexible searches by schedule, fare or airport location.

Convenient check-in options at home, on-the-go and at the airport.

Seamless flight, car, hotel and trip amenity reservations.

Register by April 30, 2008 and then get the most bang for your booking at delta. Com.

Register Today!

Terms & Conditions.

Eligibility:

You must be a new or existing SkyMiles® member with a U. S. Mailing address in your SkyMiles account to take advantage of this offer. To participate in this offer, eligible members must register online at delta. Com / double between March 31, 2008 and April 30, 2008.

Offer:

Earn double Medallion Qualification Miles / MQMs on all Delta-coded flights booked and purchased on delta. Com between March 31, 2008 and April 30, 2008 and flown between March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008.

Travel Period:

Travel must be between March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008. All travel must be completed by June 30, 2008.

Validity:

Medallion Qualification Miles are based on a multiple of distance flown and fare class purchased for qualifying flights and do not include bonus miles. Medallion Qualification Miles are used for Medallion status qualification and are based on calendar year activity. For this offer, members must book and purchase tickets on delta. Com between March 31, 2008 and April 30, 2008 and fly between March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008 to be eligible for the offer.

Additional Restrictions:

Medallion Qualification Miles will post to the SkyMiles account of the qualifying member 6-8 weeks following the end of the promotion (June 30, 2008) Taxes and fees for Award Travel are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is booked. Award Travel seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. All SkyMiles program rules apply. To review the rules, visit delta. Com / memberguide. Offers void where prohibited by law. Other restrictions may apply. Offers subject to change without notice.

For those who want to visit the land of Inca Kola from LA-LA land, Avianca fucked up and is selling tickets for $36 round trip, plus about $200 in taxes. You've got to connect in Bogota, which could be good or bad depending on your view of it.

Ticket by April 13th, start your trip by the end of November. 3 day minimum. A lot of days have been scarfed up by rabid Flyertalkers, so it's not an easy one to find. Some guys have even found an add on fare to Cusco for $4 more, but it's probably going to be a tough one to find / figure out.

[url]http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=807966[/url]

This deal will probably evaporate real quick.

Aerolineas Argentinas suspended operations for 4 hours today. Hopefully this isn't a start of the dismemberment of this airline. I don't know the fiscal shape of the airline, but two domestic US airlines have gone under this week.

Similar deal from ATL to Santiago. I booked for $250. Looks like it must be in May.

Someone at Avianca is going to get fired.

[QUOTE=Jaimito Cartero]For those who want to visit the land of Inca Kola from LA-LA land, Avianca fucked up and is selling tickets for $36 round trip, plus about $200 in taxes. You've got to connect in Bogota, which could be good or bad depending on your view of it.

Ticket by April 13th, start your trip by the end of November. 3 day minimum. A lot of days have been scarfed up by rabid Flyertalkers, so it's not an easy one to find. Some guys have even found an add on fare to Cusco for $4 more, but it's probably going to be a tough one to find / figure out.

[url]http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=807966[/url]

This deal will probably evaporate real quick.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=SmokersRule]Similar deal from ATL to Santiago. I booked for $250. Looks like it must be in May.[/QUOTE]Uh, yeah, I mentioned it in post 486.

Uh, good point.

Uh, my reported price, however, was $50 lower:)

[B]Continental Airlines is implementing a $25 fee for customers checking a second bag when traveling on certain Economy fare tickets. The fee will be apply for tickets purchased on or after April 5, 2008 for travel commencing on or after May 5, 2008 within the 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Certain customers will be exempt from paying the new fee and will be allowed to check second bags free of charge (bags must meet weight and size restrictions). These customers include:

* OnePass Elite members
* SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members
* Any customer traveling on a ticket purchased in Y class of service
* Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card holders
* Active military personnel traveling on orders

Customers traveling with the above exempt customers are also exempt as long as they are traveling in the same reservation. This exemption will not apply to group reservations including 10 or more customers.

All customers may continue to check one bag free of charge. Additionally, there is no charge for car seats, strollers and wheelchairs.[/B]

[url]http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/checkbag.aspx[/url]

Is it possible that Avianca is having cash flow problems with fuel costs escalating. Buying tickets for November could be dicey.

[QUOTE=Black Shirt]Is it possible that Avianca is having cash flow problems with fuel costs escalating. Buying tickets for November could be dicey[/QUOTE]You're protected on a couple of fronts with any airline purchase. First if you go through an online agency, that will afford you some protection. Second, by charging it with your credit card, they will almost always refund the money, even if they're out the money.

Looks like the DL merger is going through. Expect more notices of merging (CO-UA) in the next weeks. It's probably going to be bad for those purchasing tickets. No more cheap tickets, or not as cheap as we'd like. :(

[url]http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=11034[/url]

Actually, this merge has a number of significant hurdles to overcome before the two prosepctive airlines can begin operting as one and reap the economic benefits that a single unified operation presents.

First, it is not at all clear that Delta's institutional shareholders, who make up the majority of the ownership, will agree to the current proposed terms by management. Second, the Department of Justice will have to bless this marriage from an antitrust perspective, and that too is not a sure thing. Can two weak airlines be successfully combined into one strong airline without significantly impacting domestic competition negatively. Third, the politics of Minnesota losing jobs and Georgia gaining jobs will definitely become a political football. Finally, there is bound to be significant labor objections to this marriage from both Northwest's pilots and its machinists / mechanics. Remember, this deal fell apart just two months ago in February due to opposition from both companies pilot unions.

I really hope the merger does not go through. I can only see negatives from my end of the deal. However, I think they'll push it through while they have a friendly person in the White House.

NW and Delta have very different international routes. There is domestic overlap, but out of any possible US merger, it's about as good as it can get. I think the large stock holders are the ones who are really pushing this deal, so other than some minor bitching, will want the stock to rise, so they can get their payday.

It will be the end of this year, or early next year before we know for sure. The unions will be problematic, but they will throw them some bones, and they'll probably see the inevitability of the situation. Many of the really pissed off NW folk have already taken off. Give them a 10% increase, and they'll be much happier.

Domestic airlines have raised their prices 18% from today. That's 20% + 18% in the last twenty months!

Friday a friend of mine came from the US on American. At the last moment he was told that American wasn't flying to Buenos Aires because of the volcano. But American were flying to Santiago de Chile and Lan from there to BA. After putting all the Buenos Aires passengers on the Santiago flight it was still quite empty.

Another friend came on Thursday on American. It was less than half full with almost every passenger having a full row to himself.

Only a few months ago another friend missed his Saturday night flight back to the US. He couldn't get another seat till Wednesday.

I arrived here on the 12th, American. The flight was pretty full.

Aerolineas Argentinas no longer has a flight to New York. The route was canceled. I just found out by email late today, was supposed to leave tomorrow. They said they where calling the number I gave them when I brought the ticket, which is my NY number, I am in BA. Only got an email today. They have a flight from BA to Miami, and they can buy me a flight on a third airline to NY but the people who can buy ticket on another airline do not work on weekends, have to call them on Monday. I had called them at 8pm local time, they had left. So I have to stay until Friday.

I should be pissed but I am not. I got 6 more days in BA. Not in a rush to get home. Landlady does not have anyone yet for my apt. So I just pay her a little more. Get to have 6 more days with my favor chicas.:)

Tessan - Not a bad problem to have, being stuck in BsAs For an extra 6 days!

I just spent the past 2 weeks fly fishing in San Martin de los Andes and Bariloche and the Bariloche (BRC) airport has been closed for 10 days ("due to ash in the atmosphere"). I took a bus from Bariloche to be. A. For 19 hours, just to make sure I catch my flight back to CA on Monday night.

Weird thing is, the San Martin de los Andes Airport (Chapelco) is open and it's only about 60 miles North of BRC. Chalk one more up to the "Well, that's the way it is in Argentina" category.

They'll probably re-instate the AA BA To NYC flight the day after you leave for Miami.

Just got back from BA, flew Mexicana from Mexico City. Flight was pretty sucky, got exactly the same three piss poor films on the way back as on the way out.

Whatever you do, don't accept a seat in files B or F (aisle seats) Under each chair, where your feet should go, is a metal box which takes up half the room. Some of the seats in files C and E also have these boxes, but not every single row. These boxes suck, they really piss you off on a 9 hour flight. Choose window or file D seats to be sure of avoiding them.

I've not flown AeroMexico to BA, but I flew with them to Sao Paolo last year and that was a much better flight (choice of movies on an individual screen for one thing, wine available with your meal etc) Anyone flying down to BA from Mexico direct should probably choose them instead.

Suerte!

Looked at Orbitz, AA in June from NYC to EZE round trip is $589, but after adding the tax, is $1057, what fuk!

My guess is that some of those taxes are not really taxes at all, although the airlines might like you to think that they are. A fuel surcharge is not a tax; it is just a price increase dressed up in a pretty little outfit. These airlines are a bunch of lying motherfuckers.

But that is still not too bad of a price.

The huge markup between 'ticket price' and 'total you pay' on an American Airlines ticket purchased on Orbitz is not just "tax" but is for "taxes and fees." And that "taxes and fees" includes AA charges of the fuel surcharge variety, which Dickhead had prior identified as a part of the ticket price with a cute little outfit on.

This Dickhead sounds like a smart fellow. Maybe I will buy him a beer sometime.

I will buy you a beer on June first. June first. June first. I feel bad about that.

I usually go to BA late to mid April each year. Do you guys think it is a good idea to buy tickets now to prevent future rate increases or wait?

Also, has anyone looked at deals on Travel Zoo. They have pre-arranged trips that go to BA and other deals where you go to Rio, Foz de Ignazu and BA for a few days in each city. Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Mongers-

I just started looking up flights for my annual Christmas time return to the NYC area, and, quite predictably, prices are sky high as a result of the price of jet fuel. My usual EZE-JFK flight on AA that cost me $800 USD last year is now be quoted at an astronomical $2300 USD. However, it looks like Delta is starting a non-stop EZE-JFK flight as well, and that showed up around $1600 USD (still outrageous) Maybe Jaimito Cartero can come out of hibernation and give us the scoop if this is really the case, as it would be welcome competition to AA in this market. I am not going to book anything now because I honestly believe that prices cannot get any higher than they are currently quoted. UPDATE: I just googled and got information saying that Delta is indeed starting a EZE-JFK route starting December 18th; I may never fly on AA again.

Suerte,

Rock Harders

Airlines are like hookers, prices should reflect supply and demand but they don't. Flights that are far in the future don't have much interest, either to travelers or airline pricing execs. As the dates get closer and the flights remain empty, the bosses ask why? Then like a hooker that has rent coming they become more open to negotiation.

Companies like Orbitz, Travelocity, and Priceline bought their seats last year, they buy the unused seats on flights, so their costs are pretty much unaffected by fuel price. On the legacy airlines, figuring a 767 with a max fuel load of right at 24,000 gallons, and 160 people for a full load of passengers gallons an increase of 1 dollar a gallon is 150 bucks a seat, 2 dollars a gallon is 300 a seat. 800 bucks for the round trip prolly will not happen this year, but 1000-1200 I think would be within reasonable expectations for a 1 stop flight.

Be prepared to buy, keep checking prices, use their notification options regarding pricing and you will get a decent deal. Decide what a good price is and buy it if it gets close to that number.

Priceline should be the company of last resort as you can't earn miles on their tickets. Right now Taca has a flight, through Travelocity, with a butt fucking ugly itin through Peru and Costa Rica, leaving BsAs 16 Dec returning 1 Jan for 1285 bucks taxes included.

Jaimito uses this site [url]http://www.zuji.com/web/content/splash_index.html[/url]

[QUOTE=Rock Harders]Mongers-

I just started looking up flights for my annual Christmas time return to the NYC area, and, quite predictably, prices are sky high as a result of the price of jet fuel. My usual EZE-JFK flight on AA that cost me $800 USD last year is now be quoted at an astronomical $2300 USD. However, it looks like Delta is starting a non-stop EZE-JFK flight as well, and that showed up around $1600 USD (still outrageous) Maybe Jaimito Cartero can come out of hibernation and give us the scoop if this is really the case, as it would be welcome competition to AA in this market. I am not going to book anything now because I honestly believe that prices cannot get any higher than they are currently quoted. UPDATE: I just googled and got information saying that Delta is indeed starting a EZE-JFK route starting December 18th; I may never fly on AA again.

Suerte,

Rock Harders[/QUOTE]Rock Harders,

Try this website, there airline consoliders and sometimes have good deals.

I just checked and from my home town the fair has gone down.

[url]http://www.carbone-travel.com/[/url]

Exon

I wonder what they are after taxes and fuel charges.