“Ego Air” to Take to Inflated Skies?

by Catherine Bodry on

Ryanair’s chief Michael O’Leary is considering budget transatlantic flights, but says he would create a new airline to run them. Name options include “something sexy like O’Leary Air or Ego Air,” he told a news conference to promote Ryanair’s latest flight deals.

All he needs is a fleet of new longhaul aircraft, which he’s going to hold off on purchasing. Aircraft prices are currently at a peak, but they can fall by as much as 30 – 40% in a typical cycle. And like other budget airlines, there will not be first class; about 80% of the seats would be economy with a service for business travellers at the front. Furthermore, the airline would serve secondary airports, as does Ryanair.

No talk of fare prices, but I’m certainly in for a cheap(er) transatlantic crossing. Now if I could only convince a budget airline to fly Anchorage – Shanghai…. Any takers?

[via USA Today]

Frequent Flyer Fare Sale on American et al.

by Grant Martin on

Several of the major carriers are currently in a frequently flyer mile fare war among short hop tickets. As many of you know, a normal frequent flyer ticket costs 25k miles or more. But as many more of you know, most of us have far less than that in our accounts.

In this case, many tickets (depending on the carrier) are about 15k miles. I just booked a ticket from Detroit to New York for a grand total of five dollars in taxes.

If you know your plans well enough in advance, book early. American Airlines, for example, charges an extra $50 in fees if you book inside of a 21 day window prior to departure. You’ll also want to check the market price for your ticket; since the price of mileage tickets has gone down, so have the cash tickets. It may be better worth spending the $130 on the airfare and earning the miles against blowing your load on a cheap mileage ticket.

But for those of you who earn miles at a snail’s pace or have 15k stranded miles in a random frequent flyer account, take this opportunity to get away for the weekend and visit some friends in New York for dinner.

American’s fare sale is here while other carriers have similar pages. Travel between September 1 and February 29th.

American Express, Lonely Planet, IgoUgo, and Travel & Leisure Unite Online

by Catherine Bodry on

That’s a lot of big names all together. And there’s one more: Travelocity. How are all these companies linked, besides under the umbrella of travel?

Answer: Amex’s new travel “sitelet” Local Color, which has destination-specific search capabilities using Lonely Planet, IgoUgo, and Travel & Leisure. Lonely Planet provides the destination guides, Travel & Leisure contributes articles about classic and up and coming destinations, and IgoUgo supplies travel reviews. If you want to book a flight, just click on the link and you’re whisked to the Amex-powered Travelocity site.

The site also has currency converters, access to “travel specialists,” and a travel support center. In fact, there are so many services that the site is practically overwhelming. But it’s fun to play around in and certainly informative.

Happy planning!

Airline Passengers Breathe a Sigh of Relief: Cell Phones Still not Allowed in Planes

by Grant Martin on

As our colleagues over at Engadget reported earlier this week, it looks like cell phones are going to stay in the off and stowed position in aircraft for at least the near future. Apparently, the several proposals that were on the table were shelved after a considerable ruckus was stirred among people who enjoy their quiet time up in the air.

And I totally agree. It’s bad enough to be sitting next to some schlub in Panera talking about how many used cars he sold this week — I don’t need to listen to it in an enclosed aluminum tube 30,000 feet in the sky. Wireless might be a reasonable alternative, as Catherine, Neil and Justin pointed out earlier this year, but if I hear any of you guys Skyping at from three rows away I’m dumping my seven ounces of cranberry-apple juice on your lap.

Boeing Delays Delivery of 787 by Six Months

by Grant Martin on

Alas, the long awaited 787 Dreamliner has been delayed, citing “challenges” in assembling the first products. Earlier this year, Justin reported the rollout of the first complete prototype, but even that was rushed to look nice for the media. For example, small gaps remained in the fuselage that the company glossed over for the purpose of the initial media blitz.

For those of you unaware, Boeing’s 787 is slated as the next generation of aircraft: lighter, faster, eco-friendly and more efficient than its 20th century counterparts. To date, its been the fastest selling widebody ever before its entry into service and expectations are high.

As we’ve learned from the Airbus A380 and its repeated delays, however, numerous suppliers, production issues and bureaucratic tomfoolery come into play when producing a new airplane. EADS has already been through numerous management changes due to scheduling tiffs while shareholders are screaming bloody murder.

What we don’t want to happen here is for Boeing to repeat these mistakes. More missteps and carriers will start dropping orders, more delays could occur and Boeing would take a hit on sales. And as one of the primary exporters in this country, our economy and the American people are counting on the 787 and Boeing’s success. Cross your fingers.