Singapore Airlines Adopts Life-Saving AmSafe Airbags

PHOENIX, AmSafe Inc.

The leading provider of restraint products to the aviation, defense and ground transportation markets, today announced that its AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint (AAIR(R)) system will be installed on every Business and First-class seat on 19 new Singapore Airlines (NYSE: SGF) Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This marks the first time a commercial carrier has equipped two full classes of passenger seats with this state-of-the-art aircraft safety system.

"Recent high-profile events involving survivable aircraft accidents, backed up by our own data demonstrating that airbags on aircraft save lives, highlight the wisdom of this decision by Singapore Airlines," said Bill Hagan, president of AmSafe Aviation. "Our agreement with Singapore Airlines demonstrates their commitment to the highest levels of passenger safety, and brings aviation airbag technology to a broader group of airline operators and the flying public. We are convinced that more airbags on aircraft will enhance safety across the industry."

Singapore Airlines, recently honored by Business Traveller Germany as the "Best Airlines to the Far East and the Pacific," will feature the AAIR system on 50 Business and First-class seats on each of its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
"As seating manufacturers and carriers seek out additional safety measures to enhance aircraft, and as more of the flying public become aware of the increased safety afforded by our AAIR system, it will only be a matter of time before airbag restraints are readily available nose to tail," Hagan said.

The AAIR technology is unique in that, unlike automotive systems, the airbag is integrated into the seatbelt such that when sensors detect an impending survivable aircraft incident the airbag deploys up and away from the seat occupant to protect the head and torso from injuries. In fact, the AAIR system is specifically designed to meet stringent head injury criteria or HIC, a predictive measure of the likelihood of a brain concussion and other injuries typical in a severe aircraft impact.

The AAIR is featured on a variety of seating arrangements on more than 20 commercial airlines around the world, including Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Air New Zealand, and has logged millions of flight hours since entering service 2001. For more information on AmSafe and the AAIR system, visit http://www.amsafe.com/.

About Singapore Airlines
As one of the world's premier airlines, Singapore Airlines is committed to providing its customers with the best flying experience, through innovative product and service offerings, as well as by operating a young and technologically advanced fleet of aircraft.

The Airlines has recently introduced a brand new suite of cabin products on its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft featuring the world's widest First and Business Class seats, as well as the latest eX2 in-flight entertainment system.

Singapore Airlines is also the launch carrier of the Airbus A380 super jumbo, took delivery of the aircraft at the end of 2007.

About the AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint System
The AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint (AAIR) is a self-contained, modular restraint system specifically designed to improve occupant protection from serious head impact injury during an otherwise survivable aircraft accident, thus enhancing the occupant's ability to exit the aircraft. When a crash is detected by the AAIR system's sensors, an airbag built into the restraint deploys up and away from the seat occupant, unlike an automobile airbag that deploys toward the occupant. The AAIR system, which adds just 1.5 to 2 pounds per passenger placement, provides a guaranteed solution for airframe manufacturers, seat manufacturers and airlines to meet the FAA 16g seat retrofit rule.

About AmSafe, Inc.
AmSafe Inc. and its affiliate companies are world leaders in safety and securement products for the aerospace, defense, and ground transportation industries. AmSafe's innovative products can be found on virtually every commercial aircraft in the world and include seat belts, restraints, airbags, cargo and barrier nets, tie-downs, and cabin interior textiles, just to name a few. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, AmSafe operates manufacturing and service facilities across the globe and is committed to providing quality products and timely, cost effective solutions to customers worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.amsafe.com/.

Airbags Help Airlines Meet New Safety Regs

Contrary to popular belief, most airliner accidents are survivable. Many crashes are relatively slow impacts where the forces on passengers are similar to those experienced in a car accident. For that reason, airlines are cribbing from automotive technology that has protected drivers for years — airbags. It could help them meet new federal safety regulations.

Bill Hagan is blunt in describing the problem with many seating areas in an airliner: “You have objects that are not friendly head-strike surfaces.” The former General Motors engineer is president of AmSafe Aviation, which makes 95 percent of the seat belts used on commercial airplanes. His company leads the way in implementing the use of airbags for airline passengers.

When you talk to somebody like Hagan who is responsible for designing safe occupant spaces in aircraft, you often hear terms like “head-strike surface.” At first these terms create an image that isn’t so pleasant. But new regulations that take effect later this month are aimed at increasing the margin of safety in a crash. That means many more airliners will minimize unfriendly head-strike surfaces by installing airbags in in problematic areas such as front row bulkheads and some of the reclining and bedlike seats often used in first class cabins.

The requirements take effect Oct. 27 and require all new airliners rolling off assembly lines to meet new FAA rules that say seats must withstand 16 times the force of gravity without deforming or detaching from the tracks securing them to the floor. That’s significantly stouter than the 9-g requirement in place since 1952. More importantly, passengers must be protected to this 16-g requirement. Many airliners already are equipped with the 16-g seats, but until now, only entirely new designs created after 1988 — such as the Boeing 777 — have been required to meet this standard. Singapore Airlines Adopts Life-Saving AmSafe Airbags

A large percentage of airplane crashes occur during takeoff and landing when speeds are relatively low and the aircraft usually meets the ground at a oblique angle. “Most are very survivable crash events,” Hagan says.
One of the problems is that in some seating areas the passengers are exposed to surfaces that do not absorb energy in an impact — the “not-so-friendly head-strike surfaces” Hagan referred to. In the event of a crash, most passengers are protected by the seat back in front of them which is designed to absorb much of the energy. But there is nothing to absorb that energy at the bulkhead or behind the immovable exit-row seats. Airlines could remove seats to meet the new requirement, but that would mean lost revenue. Many are opting instead for the seat belt-mounted airbag to meet the 16-g standard.

In the beginning, Hagan explains, the challenge facing engineers was how to mount airbags on the aircraft itself. You can’t mount them as you do in a car, where they’re installed in the dashboard, because “Every interior is different, it’s not practical.” The simple solution was to put the airbag in the seat belt. This not only simplifies the problem of where to place the airbag, Hagan said, but is a safer option. “The airbag inflates away from the occupant where it can’t induce an injury.”
In addition to protecting bulkhead and exit-row passengers, the seat belt airbags have allowed airlines to develop several creative seating arrangements. One example is the pod-type seats used by Singapore Airlines in the Boeing 777.

Singapore Airlines Adopts Life-Saving AmSafe Airbags

During development, the airline was having trouble meeting the 16-g requirement for the first class seats. “They had a lot of head-strike problems” says Hagan. But by using the seat belt airbag, the airline met the safety requirements. The airbags are now the norm on many airlines using similar premium seating arrangements.

Image and video: AmSafe Aviation

FAA Sled Test Without Airbag



FAA Sled Test With Airbag




http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/10/airbags-help-airlines-meet-new-safety-standards/

Why We Screen Wheelchairs Part II

Our officers work in what some have referred to as a large fishbowl. Everything they do is being observed by passengers. So, when they screen veterans & active military, children & seniors, and people in wheelchairs, people notice. It doesn’t sit well with them and we often hear about it. All wheelchairs must be screened and it's important to remember that some people, including terrorists are looking to sneak things through, by pretending to have a disability.

Lynn wrote the last “Why We Screen Wheelchairs” as a result of a passenger trying to smuggle two packages of cocaine onto a plane. Wherever you can hide drugs, you can hide bombs and other items, so we thought it was a good example to help explain why we screen people in wheelchairs. In this most recent case, a gentleman came through the checkpoint at Milwaukee’s MKE airport in his wheelchair and whoops -what’s that??? Underneath the cushion of his wheelchair was not one, but two firearms. Our officers found the following:

It turns out that the gentleman didn’t have any nefarious intentions(He forgot the guns were there) but it is yet again another example of why we screen wheelchairs and the people in them.

To help us better understand how to screen persons with disabilities (PWDs), TSA established a coalition of over 70 disability-related groups and organizations with disabilities and medical conditions. These groups have assisted TSA with writing our policies to help us thoroughly screen PWDs while ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect. Our officers are regularly trained on screening people with disabilities.You can go to TSA.gov to read more about traveling when you have a disability.

Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm

One of the primary goals of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to provide the highest level of security and customer service to all who pass through our screening checkpoints.

Our current policies and procedures focus on ensuring that all passengers, regardless of their personal situations and needs, are treated equally and with the dignity, respect, and courtesy they deserve. Although every person and item must be screened before entering each secure boarding area, it is the manner in which the screening is conducted that is most important.

In order to achieve that goal, TSA has established a program for screening of persons with disabilities and their associated equipment, mobility aids, and devices. Our program covers all categories of disabilities (mobility, hearing, visual, and hidden). As part of that program, we established a coalition of over 70 disability-related groups and organizations to help us understand the concerns of persons with disabilities and medical conditions. These groups have assisted TSA with integrating the unique needs of persons with disabilities into our airport operations.

Since the initial total ban on liquids, gels and aerosols took effect on August 10, we have learned enough from the UK investigation to say with confidence that small, travel size liquids are safe to bring through security checkpoints in limited numbers. We are confident in our increased security measures throughout the airport. Therefore, passengers can purchase drinks in the secure boarding area and bring them aboard their flights.

TSA's checkpoint security screening procedures for persons with disabilities and medical conditions have not changed as a result of the current threat situation. All disability-related equipment, aids, and devices continue to be allowed through security checkpoints once cleared through screening.

Additionally, we are continuing to permit prescription liquid medications and other liquids needed by persons with disabilities and medical conditions. This includes:
All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes;
Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

However, if the liquid medications are in volumes larger than 3 ozs each, they may not be placed in the quart-size bag and must be declared to the Transportation Security Officer. A declaration can be made verbally, in writing, or by a person's companion, caregiver, interpreter, or family member.

Declared liquid medications and other liquids for disabilities and medical conditions must be kept separate from all other property submitted for x-ray screening.

For more information on these measures, please read our letter outlining this policy --

Changes in Allowances for Persons with Disabilities at Airport Security Checkpoints (pdf, 101Kb)

Watch the pilot!

Screenshot from Patrick Smith
Approaching a runway at JFK airport in New York.

Oct. 16, 2009

View the landing of a Boeing 767, from the cockpit. Behold the glory of approach lights at dawn.

Something new this week: videos! This lofts us to a whole new level. For nearly a tenth of a century, Ask the Pilot has virtually defined the vanguard of artistic and technological innovation on the Web, but always it lacked a certain visual flourish. Starting today, thanks to the help of YouTube, a Flip HD camcorder and some duct tape, my usual savvy explanations are enriched by the thrilling accompaniment of choppy, low-resolution video, coming to you live, as it were, from the cockpit.

Would there be a problem with hooking up a nose camera so we could experience the same view as the pilots? It'd be very cool to see the takeoff and landing as the cockpit crew sees it.
A number of airlines already have this, connected to the seat-back screens on their 777 or Airbus series aircraft. I've experienced it myself on at least two carriers -- Air France and Emirates. On Emirates, the system allows you to switch back and forth between a nose view and one that points straight down, showing what the plane is passing over. (The latter resulted in a rather silly controversy in Britain when nude backyard sunbathers worried that overflying passengers were getting a free peep show.) Iberia Airlines is among those offering a backward-facing view -- a somewhat dizzying perspective that lets you see the departure runway slowly falling away.

I am not aware of any U.S. airlines with these features. But who needs them when you've got me. Behold the glory of approach lights at dawn in this two-minute video.

Otherwise, the closest we have anymore is the audio feed on United Airlines, which allows you to eavesdrop on the conversation between pilots and air traffic control. They call it "channel 9" in honor of its position in your armrest dial. It's either fascinating or tediously indecipherable, depending on your level of infatuation with flight.

It is sometimes unavailable, at the crew's discretion, because of the unfriendly letters people send and the litigation they threaten when it's perceived the pilots have made some "mistake." Also, passengers not familiar with the vernacular may misinterpret a transmission and assume nonexistent or exaggerated troubles.

Let's say a controller is spacing a series of aircraft and asks, "United 537, um, do you think you can make it?" This is a query pertaining to whether a plane can hit a specific height or speed at a specific fix. Depending on the controller's intonation, or the pilot's reply -- "No, I don't think so" -- such innocuous exchanges might have a passenger bursting into tears and picturing his wife and children.

In the late 1970s, American Airlines had cameras in the cockpits of its DC-10s that would allow you to watch the crew performing takeoffs and landings. I remember seeing it a few times as a kid. How quaint the idea seems today. The footage was grainy, projected on the old-fashioned bulkhead movie screens. It looked something like this.

Note the fellow with the baseball cap and glasses. Pilots often wear ball caps while flying because it helps with the glare. Others of us wear them because we don't want the camera showing how bald we are.

Bangor may owe jet owner for failed deal

By Judy HarrisonBDN Staff

BANGOR, Maine — A federal jury will decide whether the city of Bangor must pay additional damages to an Indiana firm because more than two years ago an airport worker accidentally pumped 100 gallons of lavatory fluid, or “blue water,” into the toilet of a private jet instead of the 7 gallons it could hold.

The trial began Tuesday in U.S. District Court and is expected to last all week.
U.S. District Judge John Woodcock, who is presiding over the trial, this summer decided many of the issues in the case after considering summary judgment motions.
Woodcock found that the city was liable for the repairs to the airplane performed by Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek, Mich., immediately after the May 24, 2007, incident. The city has reimbursed Aquila LLC of Bloomington, Ind., which owned the aircraft, more than $130,000 for that damage, according to court documents.

Aquila is owned by Sherman Rogers of Bloomington, Ind. The company buys, refurbishes and then sells corporate jets. It is seeking the difference between the $12 million its attorney claims Aquila would have received in a deal to sell the plane allegedly made a few days before the accidental overflow and the $11.2 million the plane actually sold for after the incident.
In addition to the $800,000, Aquila is seeking reimbursement for the nearly $400,000 it paid for a presale inspection before completing the sale in December 2007.

Information about who eventually purchased the plane is not included in court documents.
Aquila bought the 68-foot-long Canadair Challenger, a twin-engine, nine-passenger jet (Not the actual aircraft in Photo), from Caterpillar of Peoria, Ill., in 2006, the company’s attorney, Brendan Collins of Washington, D.C., told the jury Tuesday in his opening statement. In May 2007, Rogers took the plane, which had been refurbished, to the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland, in hopes of selling it.

In a “handshake deal,” Aero Toy Stores LLC, a firm that markets new and used corporate aircraft, agreed to buy the plane for $12 million, Collins said. The plan, the attorney told the jury, was to take the plane to Aero’s home base in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and complete the sale on May 29, 2007, without a presale inspection. That went awry on May 24, 2007, when the plane landed in Bangor to go through customs, take on fuel and have the blue water in the toilet replaced, Aquila’s attorney said, and Aero backed out of the deal.

Aero’s owner, Morris Shirazipour of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., later offered $11 million for the jet and Aquila declined to sell the plane for that price, according to court documents.
Martha Gaythwaite, the Portland lawyer representing the city of Bangor, told the jury in her opening statement that Bangor “has apologized” for the overflow and reimbursed the company for the cost of repairs that resulted from it. She said that Rogers discussed selling the plane with Shirazipour, but the two did not have a deal that was legally binding.

“Mr. Shirazipour was interested,” she told the jury, “but not interested enough to put money down toward the purchase or sign a sales agreement.”
Gaythwaite also told the jury that the intensive cleanup of the plane the city paid for included replacing carpeting, carpet padding and insulation. She said that once that work was completed, the market value of the plane was not reduced as Aquila claimed.

Win or lose, the cost of the lawsuit is not expected to fall to taxpayers, Paul Nicklas, Bangor’s assistant city solicitor, said in March, shortly after it was filed. He told the Bangor Daily News that because the airport is run through a separate city enterprise account, no cost would fall to taxpayers.
jharrison@bangordailynews.net

7 Ways to Annoy a Flight Attendant

An anonymous flight attendant has worked for a well-known commercial airline for 12 years. She dishes on what irritates her most in passenger behavior. I also added my input which are in Italics.

Read, learn and enjoy!!!

1. Bring your pet on the plane and then act like an animal.

Over the years, I've seen a pet on a passenger's lap, a pet tucked into a seat back pocket, (yes there are rules regarding putting anything in the seat back pocket in front of you) and a pet loose in the aisle (I nearly hit one with my beverage cart). All of this is against federal regulations. People tell me how well-behaved their pet is, but they can't follow the rules themselves! Your pet must stay in its carrier while you're on the plane. Yes, even if you've paid a "pet-in-cabin" fee.

Although many people love animals they are not children...whether you have kids or not and they don't get the same privileges as people traveling with children. Your dog is just that, “a dog” and in an airplane cabin your pet although may be cute it should stay in it's kennel and feeding it food from the in-flight meal is not cute or tolerated. Please have some kind of home training and remember not everyone in an aircraft’s cabin is like minded when it comes to our furry friends!

Remember too that if you feel the need to act stupid on an airplane or give a crew member a hard time, that's the fastest wat to get complimentry accomodations at the nearst city government hotel! (Jail) Interfering with a flight attendants duties or hindering them from keeping other passengers safe and free from injury is an easy way to get fined and or put in jail and the airline will not care if you don't fly them ever again because they don't want you on their airplane anyway! Be cool, control your alcohol intake and know when to say when and enjoy yourself not annoy others with loud comments of happiness or displeasure because it just creates more tension in a really confined area!

2. Shove your bag into the first bin you see and then walk to your seat in the back of the plane.

You think you're clever, I know. You expect to grab your bag on your way out of the plane, but you're selfishly inconveniencing others. I can't lie and say we flight attendants don't take some small satisfaction when we tell you, "We couldn't identify the bag's owner, so we sent it to cargo." It's a security issue, for real. Carry-ons need to stay near their owners! So don't look so shocked when we say, "The signs will direct you to baggage claim. You can pick up your bag there."

Don't get shocked if when you exit the airplane after landing that your bag is not there. If we cannot identify a bag before departure then it will get put off and at the very least put in the baggage compartment. It may not seem like much to you but security is very serious and crew members don't care how you feel when it comes to safety and security in today's flying world! We don't do it to piss you off and we don't get up in the morning trying to figure out who we are going to inconvenience that day. The airplane is not your private jet so remember you will have to share the space and your bags belong in overhead bins closer to you for safety and extreme circumstances! 

3. Think that because you're on an airplane you're off-duty as a parent.

Stop expecting us to have spare diapers, formula, medicine, toys, playing cards, or batteries for DVD players or Game Boys. It's an airplane, not a 7-11. Take your kid to the restroom before you board. Leave the dry cereal and Lego's at home and bring snacks and toys for your kids that won't make a horrible mess.

Ok, you knew you had a kid traveling with you when you began your trip and if your so trusting that you will turn your child over to someone you don't know then you shouldn't be a parent. Not to say all crew members don't like children but in America people like to sue for the darnedest things and the airline corporately doesn't take to kindly to a soft hearted crew member who was willing to hold a child for a moment and then drops the child or something bad happens. The crew member won't be protected by the airlines corporate legal team and that crew member can't afford to play in the legal system because of a kind heart. Also if your child is sick whether you know it or not that crew member cannot afford to be sick after holding your child. We are already susceptible much more so than you the traveler to getting sick so don't put us in a compromising situation. 

4. Drag on an oversize bag that's too heavy for you to lift by yourself.

I won't be compensated for any injuries I might sustain if I heft your bag into the overhead compartment for you. (And other passengers shouldn't have to step up and take the risk either.) The guideline is simple: You pack it, you stack it. Try this at home as a test (and this is to you ladies, especially): After you've packed your bag, put on the shoes you plan to wear on the plane and see if you can lift your bag and place it on top of your refrigerator. You can't? Pay the fee and check the bag.

If you can't lift it what makes you think the flight attendant is going to do it? Especially if they have to do it for many passengers over the course of several flights throughout the day? Our backs won't be feeling all the great that's for sure. Learn to pack and if you can't lift it easily then suck it up and check it or pack lighter. You can always send it via FedEx and UPS if your not traveling on business and you going to be there for a bit. It may seem a little more expensive upfront but it will be cheaper in the long run if the airline happens to misplace or lose your bag! Lol So think a head on what your taking and how to pack. There are many tricks to packing for multiple days efficiently and you have the perfect teachers on the aircraft....your flight attendants and pilots are very good at this and you might just learn a few tricks!!! talk to them and see! 

5. Gripe that you haven't been seated in a roomy exit-row seat.

The exit rows weren't created as a reward for people who are tall, overweight, or just plain nice. They were designed to help passengers get out of the plane in an emergency. The people seated in an exit row must be able to see and speak clearly, open the emergency door, and help others. I prefer to see uniformed military, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, or off-duty pilots and flight attendants sitting in those seats. While the gate agent may assign exit-row seats first, the flight attendant makes the final determination about who gets to sit in them. And the quality of our choices is one of the frequent concerns of Federal Aviation Administration officials when they audit airlines for safety practices. So please don't complain. I'm just doing my job.

Exit row seating may be roomy but it comes with responsibility and you better be ready to step up if the need arises in an emergency situation! “If you want to play, you've gots to pay!” So if you want to sit in the roomy seats it's best that your not traveling with a family member or someone you care about because sitting in the that seat your considered an “ABA” or Able Bodied Assistant” and it's usually reserved for service people like firefighters, police officers, military personnel and crew members in or out of uniform. The gate agents are suppose to ask you if your willing to except the responsibilities if the need arises before assigning you the seats.

6. Act like you don't know the meaning of the words "under the seat in front of you."

Someday I will be muttering "under the seat in front of you" in the old-age home for flight attendants. What is it that you don't understand? To be clear, items should not be stowed behind your calves, under your feet like a footstool, in the open seat next to you, or in your lap. It's under the seat in front of you. And it applies to everything you carry on board. Items stored carelessly can trip others, or dislodge during takeoff and get lost, or inconvenience others. And while I'm on the topic: Please don't wrap your purse (or umbrella strap) around your ankle to keep from forgetting it. What will happen in an emergency, when every second counts and there's no time to disentangle yourself from your precious bag? Will you drag it ball-and-chain-style down the aisle of a burning plane?

It's simple, your feet and a small bag that will not let you sit as comfortably as you would like is the definition and the size of a bag “in front of you!” Laptops, purses or baby bags is about all you the room your going to have without hearing too much from the flight crew about bag space. Remember because you put that bag in front of you and you in a middle seat or on the aisle you are potentially impeding someone who sits by the window from exiting the aisle quickly in an emergency situation. Again it's not all about you so remember that when you travel...less is more and safer in the long run.

7. Whine about the high price of flying.

When I hear people complain about coach airfares, I know they're not keeping up with the news. Fares have rarely been cheaper. In recent years, it's not uncommon for you to be able to cross the continent for under $130 each way, with a maximum of one layover. It's a bargain! At that price, you're barely paying for the fuel to get your body there—never mind the cost of shipping your 50 pounds of gear. You're already on the gravy plane. People point to first class ticket holders and want to know why they don't get the same treatment. Wake up folks: You're getting a great deal. If you want even more, pay more!

This is my favorite line to hear from passengers because no matter how bad you hate the service or how displeased you are with a flight, airline or employee of a particular airline you more than likely will end up on that carrier in the future. Some cities have airlines that dominate their cities and you practically have no choice of carriers to choose from. So your forced to ride them to get out of your city or drive to next nearest city with airline service to get you where your going. You pay a premium because you went to a different city bigger or smaller. So the best way to make sure you have an enjoyable flying experience is to be proactive and plan for the worst things to happen ie. Delays, cancellations, diversions and weather issues! If you need ideas and suggestions look on the net or hit me up and I will be more than happy to give you some insight on how to make the best of any unplanned situation when flying.

The smartest and best fliers are the ones who know how to schedule their flights around weather for the type of year, city of departure and arrival, packing skills, plans for arriving in an unplanned city with limited or no access to food and lodging and of course aircraft type which always can make a difference in how comfortable your travel experience will be.

Good luck and remember to “Be Proactive and Not Reactive” and you will be able to enjoy whatever your flying adventure may be!!!

BlkAv8tor2003 

Fliers Stuck In Plane 6 Hours

The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - Forty-seven passengers were forced to sit in a cramped, smelly plane on an airport tarmac for six hours after their flight was diverted because of bad weather.The Friday night Continental Express flight from Houston to Minneapolis was scheduled to take just 2 1/2 hours, but the plane was diverted to Rochester because of stormy weather and landed about midnight.
Instead of allowing passengers to disembark and spend the night in the secure section of the terminal, however, the airline decided to keep the passengers onboard the aircraft, airport officials said Monday.

"It's not like you're on a Boeing 747 and you can walk around," Link Christin, a professor at William Mitchell College of Law, told the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune. "This was a sardine can, with a single row of seats on one side of the plane and two rows of seats on the other. And they've got about 50 people inside, including babies, for the whole night. It was a nightmare."
ExpressJet Airlines, the flight's operator, couldn't allow passengers to disembark because the airport's security screeners had gone home for the night, company spokeswoman Kristy Nicholas said.

Airport officials said the airline could have allowed people into the secure section of the terminal. Continental Airlines issued a statement Monday apologizing to the passengers, calling the incident "completely unacceptable" and saying it was offering refunds and vouchers.
and later reboarded the airplane for their flight to Minneapolis.

Passengers were allowed into the terminal at 6 a.m., six hours after landing — that Flight 2816. "It was almost a surreal quality that kind of developed during the night," passenger Link Christin said. "It felt like you were trapped in a cave underground."

In the end, it took 12 hours and a new flight crew for Flight 2816 to complete its journey. There have been longer waits on airport tarmacs in recent years — passengers on a February 2007 JetBlue flight waited 11 hours at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport — but the Flight 2816 delay gives the airline industry another black eye and could give a lift to legislation aimed at preventing such nightmare scenarios.

Continental Airlines on Monday deferred most questions to ExpressJet Airlines, the regional carrier that operated the flight. But Continental did issue an apology to passengers, calling it "completely unacceptable" and offering refunds and vouchers for future travel. Flight 2816 left Houston at 9:23 p.m. Friday, scheduled to arrive in Minneapolis by midnight.

Instead, severe weather forced air controllers to divert the plane south to Rochester, where it landed after midnight.In Minneapolis, Continental's dispatchers decided to wait out the storms rather than cancel the flight and bus passengers the remaining 85 miles.Christin said a female voice shouted back asking if anyone wanted a drink.

"For the next five hours, there was no offer of drink or food," said Christin, a St. Paul resident returning from visiting his father. The flight was cleared to take off at 2 a.m., but the storms started up again. The passengers remained calm, Christin said. But he described a difficult environment where sleep was scarcely possible, with babies crying out every 5 to 10 minutes and not enough blankets or pillows to go around.

Passengers on another flight that had been diverted to the airport in Rochester, Minn., because of storms were allowed to disembark and were put on a bus that would take them the 85 miles to Minneapolis. And the terminal, where passengers could at least stretch their legs, breathe fresh air and use the vending machines, was a mere 50 yards away.

Adding to the frustration were periodic announcements that led passengers to think they would soon be moving. One announcement said a bus would soon arrive to take them to Minneapolis; an hour later, passengers were told the bus wasn't ready. At 5 a.m., the flight got clearance again. But by then, its crew had worked more than the legal limit of hours. Another crew had to be flown in.

It wasn't until 6 a.m. that ExpressJet let the passengers off the plane to enter the terminal. And it took 2 1/2 hours for the passengers to re-board the same plane — still with a full, smelly toilet — to head to Minneapolis. They landed at 9:15 a.m., almost a half-day after leaving Houston. Kristy Nicholas, a spokeswoman for ExpressJet Airlines, said passengers couldn't go to the Rochester terminal to wait out the storms because they would have needed to redo their security screening and screeners had gone home.

The airport's manager, Steven Leqve, said that wasn't true. Leqve said passengers could have waited in a secure area until their plane was cleared to leave."This is not an airport issue. This is an airline issue," he said. The Rochester airport took in another diverted flight, a Northwest plane from Phoenix, just before Flight 2816 landed. The more than 50 passengers on that plane were placed on a bus and made it to Minneapolis by 1:30 a.m. Leqve said the Delta manager in Rochester offered space on the bus to Continental, which declined.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee's aviation operations subcommittee, said the incident underscored the need to pass legislation setting a three-hour limit for an airplane to sit on the tarmac without passengers being allowed off. A so-called passenger bill of rights that would do just that recently passed the Commerce Committee and awaits action in the full Senate."There needs to be some common sense used in these cases and it seems to me these folks have a right to complain very seriously about what happened," Dorgan said.

The Air Transport Association, which represents a group of airlines that includes Continental, has resisted the legislation in the past. Spokeswoman Elizabeth Merida said the group continues to believe the legislation "will ultimately end up inconveniencing passengers rather than helping them."Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the bill would be considered by the Senate "at some point in the fall."

Republic Wins Bid for Frontier, Beating Southwest

August 14, 2009, 5:54 am — Updated: 3:28 pm -->
Republic Airways won the bankruptcy court auction for Frontier Airlines on Thursday, buying the Denver-based carrier for almost $108.8 million after Southwest Airlines’s rival bid was rejected.

Southwest said its $170 million bid was deemed unacceptable because the carrier would not back down from a requirement that its pilots and Frontier’s work out their integration before the deal would close.
Frontier said Republic made several improvements to its original June bid and has already received federal antitrust approval for the deal. A bankruptcy judge had approved Republic’s earlier bid but left open the door for another bidder.
Frontier said the plan calls for it and regional unit Lynx ”to maintain normal operations” as a stand-alone Republic subsidiary. Because of that, Denver travelers may see little change. But the deal is huge for Republic.

Until now, Indianapolis-based Republic has strictly been an operator of regional jets for big airlines like Delta, United, and US Airways. Now, between Frontier and its recent purchase of Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines, it’s jumping into the business of competing for passengers and setting its own schedules and prices.
That may not be so bad, said a Jesup & Lamont Securities Company airline analyst, Helane Becker.
Republic is well-run, she said, and anyway the old regional airline model is suffering as big carriers squeeze their regional partners and cut capacity, including regional flights.
”The major airlines can just crush these guys like a bug” in the regional business, she said.
Republic’s bid has it buying all of Frontier Holdings when that company emerges from Chapter 11 protection, which is expected later this year. It also agreed to waive any recovery on its $150 million general unsecured claim. The plan calls for current Frontier shareholders to receive nothing.
”Frontier has made impressive strides in returning to sustained profitability in a challenging and uncertain economic environment,” Republic’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, Bryan Bedford, said in a written statement.
Republic had loaned money to Frontier during its Chapter 11 reorganization, which began in April 2008. In June it offered to buy Frontier out of bankruptcy.
Southwest’s surprise bid, which eventually reached $170 million including repayment of Republic’s loan, looked likely to win. Southwest had enough cash to simply write a check for Frontier, and it had the motive. Southwest has turned Denver into one of its crucial airports, but it faced strong competition both from Frontier and UAL’sUnited, which has a hub there. Buying Frontier would have eliminated one of those competitors outright.

No Real Man Would Wear Them!!!

Family, There's a song, a dance and the clothing line to support this fashion (wonder???)

Skinny Jeans on men!!! (Black Men at that are wearing them!)Is this some new form of Homo-Thug or just straight up gay way to dress!!!

Even real gay men don't dress like this!!! It's one thing if the fellas give you crap about it but women are saying the samething!!! Men have no business wearing these and then sagging to boot!!! OMG!!!!

I got it, this is the new "Emo-Thug" look!!!There is a reason these jeans/pants died in the 80's!!! If you haven't seen the video the link is below!

Your a Jerk Video

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly on Bid for Frontier

Mon, 08/10/2009 - 13:30 — Paula Berg

A press release was issued today announcing that Southwest Airlines has submitted a proposal to acquire Frontier Airlines, which will be sold at auction in bankruptcy court this month. The following memo was sent to all Southwest Airlines Employees from our CEO, Gary Kelly.

This morning Southwest Airlines submitted a bid of more than $170 million to acquire Frontier Airlines, which has been in bankruptcy since April 2008. We understand an auction will commence later this week in New York. Once the auction is concluded, the bankruptcy court must approve the selection of the winning bidder.

So really, we just don’t know when it will be that we’ll hear about these results, but I commit that we’ll keep you informed as we go.
We believe Southwest’s bid represents the best possible longterm scenario for Frontier, its Employees, and the Denver traveling public. Southwest brings to the table the most consistently profitable airline in commercial aviation history, the best Customer Service record in the industry (as repeatedly determined by the Department of Transportation), an Employee-centric Culture, and low fares.

If we are successful in our bid, Southwest will offer a financially stable, Customer friendly, low fare alternative to the dominant carrier in Denver into the future.
I have seen and read speculation and reports as to why Southwest would be interested in acquiring Frontier. Simply enough, Frontier is for sale, and purchasing them would allow us to increase our Customer base in a city where we want to grow. Frontier also is a stellar airline with a great reputation known for quality Customer Service, passionate Employees, and low fares. Sound familiar?

Those are the three main ingredients that Southwest Airlines was founded on more than 38 years ago, and those three values remain at the core of our DNA today. While there are obviously some differences in our companies, we also see a lot of similarities.
I have also seen some speculation as to why this move makes sense for Southwest Airlines. Southwest is a growth company. Who would have ever thought 38 years ago that we would grow from offering service between three Texas cities to carrying more passengers than any other carrier in the United States?

Pretty remarkable, and even more remarkable is the fact that we have grown while being profitable for 36 consecutive years – a feat unmatched and unheard of the airline industry!
We began serving Denver in January 2006 with just 40 Employees and 13 daily nonstop flights. Today, we have nearly 400 Denver Employees and operate 113 daily nonstop flights to 34 destinations from the Mile High city, making Denver the fastest growing city in our history, and already among our top 10 airports (out of 66 and growing) that we serve in terms of daily departures.

It’s clear Colorado Customers appreciate our low fares, great service, and convenient schedule to places they want to go.
If our bid is successful, we will return to growth mode in the midst of a deep recession, expand our network in Denver to include many attractive destinations that we don’t currently serve today, and offer Denver travelers a stable, low fare airline with legendary Customer Service to compete against the dominant carrier at DIA.

Through this acquisition, Southwest will continue to provide Denver a financially stable source of its historically low fares well into the future. There should be no doubt; the bankruptcy process will require some change to Frontier in any scenario. Given Southwest's history and track record of running a successful airline, we believe that our bid is the best option on the table for Frontier, Southwest, and the traveling public.

A successful acquisition of Frontier Airlines by Southwest will expand our network of legendary low fares to additional cities, add jobs into Southwest through growth, and strengthen low-fare competitive pressure in Denver and other cities.

To listen to a conference call held today to discuss Southwest’s bid proposal with Ron Ricks, Executive Vice President Corporate Services and Corporate Secretary, and Bob Jordan, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Planning, please click HERE.

Shannon Is First Euro Airport with Full U.S. Pre-Clearance

Western Ireland’s Shannon Airport has become the first airport outside Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean to provide full U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) pre-clearance facilities for transatlantic flights to U.S. destinations.

Shannon Airport had been providing U.S. immigration pre-clearance since a successful initial trial in 1986, but customs and agriculture inspections for each flight’s passengers still had to be performed upon their arrival in the U.S. However, signing of a pre-clearance agreement on November 14, 2008 in Washington D.C. by Irish Transport Minister Noel Dempsey and senior U.S. officials paved the way for Shannon to become the first airport outside of the U.S., Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean to provide full U.S. pre-clearance facilities.

Shannon Airport immediately began work on a new passenger screening area; inspection area; post-clearance passenger holding lounges; a secure and segregated baggage holding area; and staff offices. All were required for the new facility. The facilities were designed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Shannon Airport in western Ireland has become the first airport outside Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda to offer full U.S. Customs and Border Patrol pre-clearance facilities for flights to U.S. destinations

Dan Rooney, the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, visited Shannon Airport today to welcome passengers travelling with Continental, Delta and US Airways to the United States. These were the first passengers to be cleared through Shannon’s new US pre-clearance service facility. The passengers encountered no further checks at Newark, JFK and Philadelphia airports, the respective destinations of the three airlines’ flights.

Martin Moroney, Shannon Airport’s director, says the service will open up very significant opportunities for business development for Shannon.

“This is an historic day for our airport and, indeed, a milestone moment in Irish-US relations,” says Moroney. “Shannon is the first airport in Ireland to have these facilities in place, and [it] represents a major upgrade of the pre-inspection which commenced in 1986. It is a very proud moment for us and we look forward to maximising this opportunity in the years ahead.”

While the pre-clearance service began today with commercial flights provided by major US carriers, preclearance for general aviation flights, including corporate jets, is scheduled to begin later in the year. Shannon Airport says the attractiveness of the service is already reflected in British Airways’ decision to have a transit stop in Shannon and avail of pre-clearance at the same time on its new all-business service from London City to New York JFK, which starts in September.

Pat Shanahan , the chairman of Shannon Airport Authority, said last November that the pre-clearance agreement would create a significant advantage for Shannon over other European airports, as well as raising the profile of the Shannon Airport and the West of Ireland brands considerably throughout the world.

In addition to fast-tracking access for passengers flying from or through Shannon to U.S. international airports, pre-clearance would also enable services to be established directly to any domestic US airport, he said. This would make Shannon an ideal airport for low-cost transatlantic carriers and open the way for significant executive-jet business into any location in the US.

Shannon Airport's ability to offer full U.S. CPB pre-clearance facilities means that commercial and business-aviation lfights alike will be able to fly to any U.S. airport from Shannon as long as its runway is long enough, not just international gateways

“This agreement has the potential for Shannon to emerge as a major transatlantic aviation gateway. It has the potential to significantly increase the number of transatlantic flights daily in and out of Shannon, which will strengthen revenue through increased landing and handling charges and support employment levels at the airport in the process,” Shanahan said in November.

Moroney added that having full pre-clearance at Shannon would also reduce processing costs and connection times for airlines, enhancing the airport’s attractiveness to carriers ― not least those already operating transatlantic services at Shannon ― and also business-aviation operators.

Full U.S. CBP pre-clearance facilities are also due to open at Dublin airport by November 2010, according to the Irish Times.

by Chris Kjelgaard
http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com/airports/shannon-is-first-european-airport-to-offer-full-u-s-pre-clearance/

Continental flight 128 to Houston Makes Emergency Landing in Miami

Severe turbulence forced a Continental Airlines flight to land at Miami International Airport (KMIA)

Monday morning after at least 26 people were hurt, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesman Elkin Sierra.

Continental flight 128 was heading from Rio de Janeiro (SBGL) to Houston (KIAH) with 168 people on board, said MIA spokesman Marc Henderson. According to the Federal Aviation Association, the plane reported turbulence around 4:30 a.m. and landed safely in Miami KMIA at 5:30 a.m.



Of the 26 injured, 14 were taken to area hospitals. Twenty-two are said to be in stable condition and four are in serious condition.

From Sky 10, rescue crews could be seen using catering trucks to move the passengers off the plane and onto the tarmac where several ambulances waited to transport the injured to the hospital. The catering trucks were used as elevators to prevent further injury to passengers once they were stabilized, Sierra said.
Eight people were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital and three to Mercy Hospital with non-lifethreatening conditions. It is not yet known where the others were taken.
A passenger on the flight told Local 10 the remaining passengers were taken off the plane.

Where To Legally Join The Mile High Club

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

So if you were ever wondering about what goes on in the aircraft bathrooms on the red-eye flights from the West Coast to the East Coast, here is a easier way to get your groove on at 35000' feet! join the Mile High Club and there are airlines that actually exist to test your freakier side! Flying for the airlines I have seen my fair share of people who feel the need to "do the do" and have something to talk about with each other for years to come. Now the airline bathrooms are about as big as a pantry closet in your home but cleanliness is not exactly what I would call it that's for sure!

Most people opt for the under the blanket, in the back couple of rows, dark late flights or overnight international flights to get a little stress reliever. The buzz kill is if you get caught it can be very embarrassing or even valid enough to have you arrested and or jailed! So that's where Mile High Club type airlines come into the picture.

One airline is in Australia and a little more real working airline and one that does it in Arizona for the Burning Man event in the dessert and that looks like a guy who knows Jimmy Buffet, happens to have a plane and will let you and your significant other play for about an hour! It's not for everyone but most people do think about it and if you have, read on and see some of the history and what still is a thrill and taboo in the world of aviation and the airlines!

BlkCigarCzar

Now it has never been more difficult to join the Mile High Club than it is today. Even if two of you successfully make it into the bathroom, that darn space has gotten so small that you can barely go about your usual business; forget sexy affairs.

In response to these hassles, at least two aviation groups have sprung up, solely specializing in flights for Mile High Club membership:

Erotic Airways

A legit (enough) operation out of Queensland, Australia, they'll fly lovers up in twin-engine Beech H-18S from Redcliffe Airport, Nathan Road, Redcliffe Peninsular. Flights for a couple start at $570 for a 40-minute flight, and include champagne, chocolates, a safe sex kit, and a certificate of Mile High membership.

Tack on another $63 per extra passenger, until the onboard double bed is packed full, should you desire. The semi-NSFW website is worth a glance, if only to be highly entertained at their copious use of the words "sexperience" and "sexpedition."

Mile High Club at Burning Man

When the desert frolickers at the Burning Man festival aren't creating and then destroying giant sculptures, they're making time for novelty sex. This is not as concrete an operation as Erotic Airways, but with Burning Man coming up at the end of this month, we figured some of you might want to keep an eye out.

Here's what the airplane, airport, and terminal look like, and it's piloted by the "pilot" in this picture. Judging from that last picture, heading up in the skies to over Black Rock City will yield you a certificate of Mile High Club membership as well.


We've got no leads on pricing or timing of this one, but if you happen by "Fractal Pilot" while in the desert later this month for Burning Man Black Rock City, do let us know ... for research reasons. Right? Research reasons!

Airline grounds 'mile-high club' aboard new giant jet

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/airline-grounds.html

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the A380 super-jumbo jet. Fasten your seat belts and be sure your seat back and tray table are in the complete upright position. And please — no sex."

Though you're not likely to hear that over the intercom, Singapore Airlines today asked that prospective A380 passengers stow their airborne ardor until they land, the BBC and Reuters report.

The announcement comes just a week after the airline became the first carrier to fly the monster plane, traveling between Singapore and Sydney. The first-class cabin contains 12 private suites with double beds, an almost irresistible temptation for MHC frequent fliers. Trouble is, they're not totally sealed or sound-proofed. (Hey, what do you expect for $14,320?)

"All we ask of customers, wherever they are on our aircraft, is to observe standards that don't cause offense to other customers and crew," the airline's statement said.
Earlier, we wrote about that for some folks, it's join the mile-high club, go directly to jail.

Aboard SQ A-380, Nicer than most apartments but aboard a plane!

Mile high club (History)

The mile high club (or MHC) is a slang term applied collectively to individuals who have engaged in sexual intercourse while on board an aircraft in flight. There is no known formally constituted club so named. However, since "membership" of the "club" is really a matter of an individual asserting they have qualified, the qualifications for membership are open to some interpretation.

Some people attribute the allure of the club to the lower atmospheric pressure in the flight cabin, which they claim increases the intensity of orgasms.[citation needed] Another explanation is the vibration of the airplane, which may make arousal easier.

Others say they have fantasies about pilots or flight attendants, or a fetish about planes themselves. For many others, perhaps the majority, the appeal of joining the MHC is the thrill of doing something taboo and the thrill of the risk of being discovered.

A website using the name Mile high club humorously claims the "club's" "founder" as pilot and design engineer Lawrence Sperry along with "socialite Mrs. Waldo Polk" citing their possibly anecdotal flight in an autopilot-equipped Curtiss Flying Boat near New York in November 1916.

The American transportation authority NTSB reports a documented case in which sexual activity is at least partly responsible for an aviation accident.

H-16 Curtiss Flying Boat circa 1917

UPDATE: Another operator out there offers MHC flights!

Well FYI, here is some updated info on MHC operators and it's called Mile High Flights! It's based in the UK and they actually have a nice airplane with plenty of room. The Cessna Grand Caravan is a very good airplane and suitable for providing this kind of service. Looks like they thought it through, from pillows and plankets down to the roses and an aircraft length curtain for some privacy! Now regular rules apply for take-off and landing so that's the only thing that makes this flight like any others at least with one major exception! Check this one out because it looks a little more legit and well thought out!

MILE HIGH FLIGHTS

We have tried to make Mile High Flights as accessible to everyone as possible and there are options to suit every budget.

There are 2 options to choose from. You can add deluxe packages to these and if you require something a little more extravagant we are more than happy to help you out.

This is our most popular flight. The experience will last just over 1 hour with 40 minutes in the air. This gives you plenty of time to relax and get into the mood and enjoy the views inside and outside the aircraft.

This is the most exclusive of our standard packages. The whole exerience will last about 1hr 30 mins with a full 60 minutes in the air. This will provide you and your partner ample time to indulge in your ultimate fantasies and experience an adventure fit for Hollywood

On arrival at the Gloucestershire Airport (Staverton) you will be met by your 'Captain' who will help put you at ease and answer any questions you have. Before boarding, your Captain will run through the simple but essential safety instructions.

Once on aboard, If you have opted to sample from the 'Deluxe' option, your chilled Champagne and Strawberries will be waiting for you to get you in the mood before the captain lets you know when it is safe to begin your initiation.

The fast climbing aircraft will be one mile high within 5 minutes of takeoff. At that time, you will have between 25 and 35 minutes of privacy to take in the views outside and of course...... those private views inside.

You and your loved one will remain totally undisturbed except for the hum of the engines and the sunlight through the cabin windows. We have provided a comfortable mattress with sumptious duvets, pillows, cushions and blankets to relax on.

After the flight you will be presented with a Mile High Flight 'Certificate of Initiation' before pausing for a photo to remember your adventure by.

A perfect trip for any romantic couple and a wonderful way to celebrate any event from Birthdays, Anniveraries, Engagements or just to let them know... you love them.

This is no ordinary 'little' plane.

Were not talking 4 seater. Were not talking 6 seater... You will be flying in the largest single engine aircaft in the world.
The Cessna Grand Caravan is a unique plane perfect for this adventure providing ample space, luxury and privacy.

The Cessna Caravan has an unrivalled safety record and is widely regarded as one of the best 'small' commercial aircraft in the aviation world. You might say its perfect for safe sex !!
Your captain has over years and miles of experience and will make your take-off, flight and landing an exciting, relaxing experience you will never forget.

A full safety briefing will be given prior to boarding the aircraft. Seatbelts must be worn during take-off and landing. You will be notified by the Captain when you may remove your seatbelts.
All flights are only suitable for consenting adults (aged 18 and over).

If there are adverse weather conditions (e.g. low cloud) your flight may have to be postponed. Please make sure you call the 'terminal' prior to travelling to the airport to confirm that the flight is going ahead. If your experience is cancelled due to weather or technical problems you will be offered an alternative date.

Flights may be booked during daylight hours between May and October. Special flights may be available at Christmas and Valentines (plus other times) but cannot be guaranteed and may be subject to a premium.

Contact us for more information

If you would like to discuss any aspect of your future flight or you require any further information please contact us on: 07960 858 747 or emailinfo@milehighflights.co.uk

Please allow at least 4 weeks between your booking and flight dates.

The Air-Sickness Bag and Toilet Tax: Is the Airline Industry’s “Cheap Flight Revolution” Worth the Cost?

File Photo: MD-11 Taking Off (Not your no frills aircraft)

No-frills airlines have come under attack again for forcing passengers to opt-out of travel insurance when booking cheap flights —- a practice that contravenes European Union protocols.

Hidden Taxes

A few weeks ago the British the consumer watchdog Which? released a study revealing that budget carriers – including EasyJet, Jet2 and Monarch - automatically added travel insurance to online ticket purchases.

Selling insurance as the default option – whereupon customers must untick boxes to avoid paying for the insurance – is against European Union directives and is consequently banned. Lorna Cowan, editor of Which? explained: “With airlines still opting people into insurance, consumers could unwittingly buy a product which is of no use to them, and at up to £10 ( 16.44990 USD) per person this can add up,” she said.

“Buying insurance at the same time as your flights may seem like an easy and convenient option. But if you’ve already got an insurance policy, or it doesn’t provide the right amount of cover for you, it’s as useless as no cover at all.”

British Airways has also launched a website designed to illustrate the differences in service received by low-cost passengers when compared to more traditional airlines. Whereas everything from food & drink to priority boarding was included in the cost of a flight with BA, the airline is quick to point out, these represent additional costs of a ‘cheap flight’ with a competitor.

So, could this be the beginning of a backlash against charges which see passengers forced to pay for everything from checking-in at the airport to putting baggage in the hold and (perhaps most notoriously of all) using credit cards to pay for tickets at a cost of £5 ($8.22 USD as of 28 Jul 2009) per journey per person?

The Air-Sickness Bag and Toilet Tax

Unlikely. The cheap flights revolution is ingrained in the national consciousness to such an extent these days passengers are even willing to suggest which charges they would like to see introduced in the future.

When Ryanair suggested it would be able to cut the basic cost of tickets even further with the introduction of new charges, passengers were quick to endorse everything from a ‘fat tax’ for overweight passengers, corkage fees, and even a charge to smoke in a specially converted cubicle.

A plan to charge passengers to use the toilet – termed ’spend a pound to spend a penny’ – eventually triumphed, but was later rejected by the Irish airline. However, a plan to charge for sick bags has also been mooted of late.

So it seems not only do passengers begrudgingly pay the charges demanded of them, they would also be willing to pay more if it lowered the basic cost of a flight.

Are the “No-Frills” Carriers Here to Stay?

It seems the best course of action for dealing with low-cost carriers is to stoically bear the cost of travel. Think of a cheap flight as a ‘pay-as-you-go’ deal. While the original cost of travel – the flight – is included in the bargain, there are likely to be a myriad of other charges along the way.

By only using what you really need – and cutting costs, by carrying less luggage, for example – will the cost of travel fall. No-frills carriers are still likely to cost less than their flag carrier counterparts and, while this is the case, charges for everything for toilet paper to the use of a wheelchair seem likely to stay.

Southwest Airlines Plans to Bid for Frontier

Southwest Airlines Sports Illustrated Jet Landing In Phoenix

Southwest Airlines said on Thursday that it was preparing a bid, valued at a minimum of $113.6 million, for its low-fare rival Frontier Airlines, which sought bankruptcy protection in April 2008.
The Southwest bid potentially tops a $108.8 million offer for Frontier made by Republic Airways in late June, and which was given tentative court approval on July 13. Frontier confirmed that it had been notified of Southwest’s initial, non-binding bid.

Frontier Airlines In Denver

Under that plan, Frontier, which is based in Denver, was set to become a subsidiary of Republic, an airline holding company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America.

But Frontier was allowed to seek competing bids, and could terminate its agreement with Republic if it received a higher offer. The deadline for bids is Aug. 10, and an auction for the airline’s assets could be held in United States Bankruptcy Court in New York the following day.

If it is successful, Southwest plans to make a “substantial investment” in Frontier and operate it as a separate subsidiary, until the airline can be folded into Southwest, Ron Ricks, a Southwest executive vice president, said in a statement.

The airline did not say whether its offer would be in cash or if any financing would be involved. Mr. Ricks said Southwest is studying Lynx, a regional airline that is a subsidiary of Frontier, but did not know whether it would also try to acquire that carrier.

Like Southwest, Frontier is a low-fare airline that has been highly regarded within the industry for its customer service. But Frontier filed for bankruptcy last year after a dispute with its credit-card processor, although it has continued to operate since then.

“We are excited about the opportunity to submit a bid,” Gary Kelly, Southwest’s chief executive, said in a statement. “We see a strong fit between our company cultures, a mutual commitment to high quality customer service, and similar entrepreneurial roots.”

Frontier has 5,000 employees and 51 aircraft, while Southwest has 35,000 employees and more than 500 aircraft. One conflict between the carriers could be that Frontier’s fleet relies on aircraft made by Airbus, while Southwest only flies the Boeing 737.

Nonetheless, the purchase of Frontier by Southwest would greatly increase its operations in Denver, where Frontier ranks as the second largest airline, behind United, which uses Denver as a hub. United, however, would still remain in the lead, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

If Southwest is successful, it would mark the second time in two years that it has purchased the assets of a bankrupt rival. Last year, Southwest took over the assets of ATA Airlines, which ceased flying, a move that gave Southwest access to gates at LaGuardia Airport. Southwest began serving LaGuardia on June 28.

In 2004, Southwest and ATA set up a code-sharing agreement and Southwest acquired ATA’s gates at Midway Airport in Chicago.

Go to Southwest Airlines’ Press Release »