Consumer Traveler Today: March 17

Consumer Traveler Today: Clear Airfare amendment can use help now, call your Senator
 
 
Clear Airfare amendment can use help now, call your Senator
BA strike — the good, the bad and the ugly news
What we’re reading: FAA wants 777 software upgrade, BA strike schedule, body scanner complaints
Consumer Travel Alliance supports Menendez amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act
Busted! How to ensure your luggage survives a trip
Will SkyTeam membership ruin Vietnam Airlines?
Clear Airfare amendment can use help now, call your Senator
Posted: 17 Mar 2010 05:58 AM PDT
As with everything in Washington DC, there is time to push hard and a time to wait. The Consumer Travel Alliance is in the push-hard part of an effort to force the airlines to tell travelers all of their fees upfront in the ticketing process. The Menendez amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act, being debated today, will mandate that airlines and travel agents disclose the full price of a ticket, including taxes and fees, right up front.
       

BA strike — the good, the bad and the ugly news
Posted: 17 Mar 2010 04:24 AM PDT
Holiday travelers dodged a bullet when a judge issued an injunction against a proposed British Airways strike last December. Unfortunately that bullet was reloaded and has come back with the British Airways cabin crew union (Unite), calling a strike again, this time in two parts, March 20-22 and March 27-31.
       

What we’re reading: FAA wants 777 software upgrade, BA strike schedule, body scanner complaints
Posted: 17 Mar 2010 03:16 AM PDT
FAA says 777 must get new software, BA sets strike schedule, US travelers complain about body scanners
       

Consumer Travel Alliance supports Menendez amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act
Posted: 16 Mar 2010 11:57 AM PDT
The Consumer Travel Alliance strongly supports the Menendez amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act. As noted below, this amendment will compel the airlines to be upfront about their various fees. The airlines should present all fees prior to the point where customers have already completed a portion of the purchase process.
       

Busted! How to ensure your luggage survives a trip
Posted: 16 Mar 2010 07:30 AM PDT
Here are four luggage horror stories, and some tips on how to cope with them.
       

Will SkyTeam membership ruin Vietnam Airlines?
Posted: 16 Mar 2010 06:30 AM PDT
Vietnam Airlines is joining the SkyTeam affiliation. SkyTeam includes: Air France-KLM, Delta Air Line, Korean Air and more smaller carriers. Today, I worry that being a member of an alliance will bring down the level of service that I have come to expect from Vietnam Airlines.