Buckle Up for Higher Airfares

'Unintended Consequence' fee intended to chide transportation department

(NEWSER) - Spirit Airlines is angry over a new Department of Transportation rule—and it's making sure customers know it, by slapping a $2 "Department of Transportation Unintended Consequence Fee" on all tickets. The new rule, which went into effect last week, requires airlines to give customers a full refund, without additional fees, if the customer requests one within 24 hours of booking a flight, USA Today explains. More»

...Memphis International Airport

(NEWSER) - Memphis, Tenn., is no place for thrifty travelers, or at least not those who prefer the open sky to the open road. The average price of a ticket at the Memphis International Airport is the highest among the top 100 largest airports in the US, according to a report released Tuesday by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In Q2 of this year, passengers departing from and returning to the airport on a domestic flight paid an average of $476.22. More»

Soaring fuel prices have made small planes least profitable for airlines

(NEWSER) - The big airlines may be pampering their first-class passengers more than ever , especially on international routes, but around the United States, small-plane service to small cities is increasingly getting the ax, reports the AP . Over the past two years, the big airlines have cut service entirely to 27 US cities, and more shutdowns are coming. "I don't know if they really care about (passengers) in the small markets," says one frequent flyer based in Pierre, South Dakota, where Delta is set to cancel service in mid-January. More»

Airlines ramp up discounts in promotional offers

(NEWSER) - The latest airfare deals aren't online or at travel agencies—they're targeted promotional fares, being emailed and tweeted to customers who sign up to receive them or who enroll in frequent-flier programs. These under-the-radar offers, an inexpensive form of advertising increasingly popular with recession-battered airlines, range from 10% discounts to buy-one-get-one-free ticket deals, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

Cabin will be more comfortable, less noisy

(NEWSER) - There’s plenty for airlines to like about Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner (it goes farther, faster, on less fuel), but you might not have heard about the upgrades it holds for passengers. Via the Christian Science Monitor :

• Windows aren’t just 65% larger, but passengers can adjust the tint from transparent to opaque rather than pulling a shade.
• Larger overhead bins.