Airlines Need to Increase Fares to Break Even

American Airlines to Test “Flying Store”

Whining Baby? Not Near This Plane Seat

“The Gap Year Traveler” To Be First Interactive Reality Travel Series

AIRLINES NEED TO INCREASE FARES TO BREAK EVEN - USA Today
The alarming spike in fuel prices means domestic airlines must raise their fares by 15 percent to 20 percent, if they want to break even, according to chief executive of Delta Air Lines. An increase in airfare costs, though, likely will decrease demand and encourage airlines to reduce their flight schedules even more. BestFares.com reports that since December 20, airlines have increased fares nine times. Southwest Airlines is the only large carrier that made a profit for the first quarter. Anderson and Northwest Airlines Corp. CEO Doug Steenland will meet with lawmakers holding hearings Thursday regarding the proposed merger; both Anderson and Steenland believe the Justice Department will not request the airlines to relinquish the gates or routes that overlap due to ample competition.

Link: USA Today

AMERICAN AIRLINES TO TEST “FLYING STORE” – Star-Telegram (Dallas/Fort Worth)
American Airlines flight attendants may be peddling all sorts of goodies to passengers, besides beverages and food, on some transcontinental and Hawaiian flights. To compensate for increasing fuel prices, Skybus tried a similar tactic, but it didn’t keep the carrier from buckling. According to AA’s spokesperson Tami McLallen, the flight attendants will offer a wide range or products, and they even will earn a commission. Leslie Mayo, spokeswoman for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, does not think this concept is a good one. “This new ‘flying-store’ concept will further increase the workload on board for flight attendants. The idea of piling more work on to augment executives’ bank accounts must seem a reasonable move by this well-paid management team,” she said. The carrier will test this new service on fewer than 50 flights.

Link: Star-Telegram

WHINING BABY? NOT NEAR THIS PLANE SEAT - MSNBC
At one time or another, most of us were banished to the kid’s table at large family gatherings, so the idea of separating the little ones from the adults is not a novel idea. According to a poll conducted by Airfarewatchdog.com, 91 percent voted that it was a good idea to separate children from adults on flights. Parents, such as Jesse Kalisher of Kidsafefilms.org, think the idea would benefit those who want to shield their young ones from viewing movies like “Shooter” and “300,” both R-rated movies that were screened for passengers during flights. Though airlines are not currently considering any child-only sections, the airlines claim their flight crews make every attempt possible to ensure passenger satisfaction.

Link: MSNBC

“THE GAP YEAR TRAVELER” TO BE FIRST-EVER INTERACTIVE REALITY SERIES – Information Week
On May 21, the social media network Bebo will release the first-ever interactive reality series entitled The Gap Year, which will follow a band of 20-somethings on an extensive globe-trot through places including Iceland, South Africa, the Amazon, Russia, and Machu Picchu. Headed by a 24-year old broadcast journalism major from Chicago, the group of travelers will include Andre Tardiff from Manitoba, and soon-to-be-announced winners from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Bebo’s 40-million users will be able to help “influence the trip” by adding comments to the travelers’ blogs and video diaries.

Link: Information Week

Want to see other recent Travel News Roundups? Click here.

Or, check out more travel news you can use in our main Travel News section.

Looking for even more in-depth news coverage of the week’s top stories? Visit our Travel News Analysis Category.