Airlines

[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!