(Consumer Advocate Column) Airlines Give Customers the Run-Around
As airlines enter code-sharing agreements and buy seats off each other, customers are finding it difficult to get refunds from the right airline. The Times Union’s consumer advocate, Nadja Drost, penned the story of how an Albany, New York, couple tried to get a $150 refund from a 3-leg trip with 3 different airlines in her post, “Airlines Give Customers the Run-Around”. [Read more]
Perspectives on United's Lawsuit against Pilots
On July 30, United Airlines filed a lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction against the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and a group of UA pilots for allegedly abusing sick-time.
Holly Hegeman at PlaneBuzz.com offers some perspectives on the allegations. [Read more]
American Airlines baggage meltdown
American Airlines made headlines at New York’s JFK Airport this week when a “software glitch” crippled the airline’s baggage handling system. This baggage meltdown left thousands of passengers without their luggage.
Click HERE to view a picture of the baggage meltdown and read more.
photo credit: Marcin Wichary
New Report Urges Conditions For Airlines Subsidies
LOS ANGELES – A new study released today by three California groups finds that conditions for passengers and workers have eroded while airlines have received nearly $8.5 billion in taxpayer subsidies since 2001.
“Shortchanged: How Airlines Can Repay Taxpayers for Billions in Subsides by Improving Jobs, Security and Services” shows that the airline industry has benefited from enormous taxpayer support yet has failed to provide a fair return on the public’s investment, creating poor quality jobs and providing inadequate security and services for passengers. [Read more]
Airline Service Workers Hand Out Cleaning Wipes to Passengers
Early Wednesday morning, service workers at LAX and SFO airports handed out sanitary cleaning wipes to passengers in the airline terminals, telling them that they deserve to know about the challenges they face that prevent them from properly cleaning the planes. According to workers, chronic understaffing and a lack of proper equipment are some of the key barriers to cleaning the planes well. Some report having to work without proper cleaning supplies, often cleaning bathrooms with only water because they have no disinfecting cleanser. [Read more]
US Airways Kicks Skycaps to the Curb
On July 9, the day US Airways began charging $15 per passengers’ bag checked, hundreds of skycaps across the country are scrambling to find jobs in a turbulent economy.
The skycaps, employed by third-party contractors, earned meager wages and had little or no benefits at work. In the past, they were able to supplement their income with tips [Read more]
American Airlines Flight From Miami to New York Grounded After Angry Passengers Scare Crew
With cuts to service, fees for everything you can imagine, last place for on-time arrivals for the 3rd month in a row, is it any wonder that American Airlines passengers are getting angry?!
According to a FOXNew.com report:
A holiday weekend flight from Miami to New York never got off the ground after the crew arrived more than an hour late and angry passengers intimidated them so much that they refused to work.
American Airlines Flight 1908 was scheduled to leave Sunday evening from Miami en route to LaGuardia Airport in New York City. But the flight crew arrived an hour and 15 minutes late, prompting impatient and irate passengers to boo — and worse, MyFOX New York reported.
One witness said some people used “harsh language” with the gate attendants and were “really kind of like being a mob about it. It was scary.”
When a few of the crewmembers refused to work because of the “hostile environment,” American tried to find replacements — but to no avail, according to MyFOX New York. The airline had to put everyone up in a hotel and fly them out Monday afternoon.
Adding insult to injury? Flight 1908′s passengers flew into LaGuardia, but their bags arrived at JFK.
photo credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas
Bring a book: US Airways unplugs in-flight movies
In addition to $15 for checked first bag, $25 to book on the phone, $5-$30 for sit in the front, near the window, or the aisle, $2 for sodas or coffee, and the end of free pretzels and curbside check-in, US Airways announced it is removing its in-flight movie systems from domestic aircraft. [Read more]
Skycaps Losing Big Time As Airlines Charge Baggage Fees
Tracing their history back to the tradition of the Pullman porters during the railroad era, skycaps used to be decent-income jobs for African Americans who supplemented their meager wages with tips – enough to buy their own homes and send their children to college.
Today, that reality is becoming more like a dream for skycaps across the country, according to a Los Angeles Times article. [Read more]
3 Incidences of Mechanical Problems on 2 Aircrafts … on 1 Day
Ever had a flight delayed because of mechanical problem? Sure, we all have. But what blogger Beth found out on her US Airways flight was that it can happen – not once, not twice – but THREE times on one day. [Read more]