Exercise On The Fly

Lowest time to buy airfare? Six weeks before flight

2012-01-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

According to a story in the LA Times, a recent study (comparing millions of transactions over the last four years) by the Airlines Reporting Corp. - a company that handles ticketing transactions between the nation's airlines and travel agents - found that passengers pay the lowest price, nearly 6% below the overall average fare, if they buy six weeks before their flight. The study also showed that ticket prices begin to soar dramatically about a week before the day of travel, and can rise nearly 40% above the average price if passengers buy the ticket on the day of the flight. But that later trend should be fairly obvious.

The LA Time story went on to say that Airlines Reporting Corp stated, "We're not advising people to purchase tickets only at this time during the cycle as there is no guarantee they will receive the lowest price of the year," said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data and analytics for the firm. "It is just that the data indicates we have seen this pattern over the last four years."

But you know how this goes.. now that this has been printed and floated in the media, the airline industries will likely alter their algorithms if they catch wind of the fact the consumer was informed of a pattern.

Stop SOPA and PIPA Bills! Bad news for those that value the internet

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Imagine a world without Google, Craigslist, Reddit , Wikipedia, [add your favorite sites here]...

SOPA and PIPA bills should concern you. Don't just read about it, do something about it! Send your government reps an email. It is all automated at the below link - put in your zip, get your list of reps, it will send them the email for you.. how much easier can it get? JUST DO IT and get involved as these bills threaten to alter internet life as you know it, use it, expect it and have come to love it!

Click here and take action in less than 3 minutes

If your life includes the internet at all, then you have likely heard of the SOPA and PIPA bills that if passed by Congress, could essentially ruin your online experience forever. The initial goal of them was to stop foreign websites from hosting and distributing pirated works, but as these bills have evolved, the world has realized that they will do much more than that. Both website owners and their users will face some pretty severe punishments should you be found to at all be involved in distributing copyrighted material. Now, at first glance, that sentence probably doesn’t scare most of you, however, once you read the vague and grey mess of these bills, you may realize that you are probably already violating in some way.

As you cruise around the web today, you will notice that sites like Google and Mozilla have “blacked out” their front pages to show that they are firmly against both of these bills. While I cannot and will not tell anyone how to act when it comes to the political environment, I will say that if you are not familiar with PIPA and SOPA, that you educate yourself today. This is serious stuff, and as with any major political movement, it is in your best interest to learn all that you can.

A good NYT article..

Tricky airline revenue method.. pay EXTRA to sit with your kids

2011-12-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

As the title says, one of the lessor obvious revenue methods is to allow you to sit with your kids IF your willing to pay extra to do so. As we know, some airlines like American Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Spirit Airlines charge for virtually every seat reservation on the plane, even if you're in economy class. And, the issue is not so much whether the airlines should (or can) be charging for economy-class seat reservations since they technically have the right to, the issue is that for parents, in the end, they are paying extra to sit with their own kids under these allowable rules. And it happens because airlines reservation systems are not optimized to keep traveling families together; they're programmed mostly to eek more revenue out of their passengers where possible. In doing so, they logically break up the traveling family and the only way to put them back together is to pay extra to get a block of seats together or move (up) into a class of seating that has a block of seats together. And thus, more revenue generated by you wanting to keep your family together.

Interesting Q&A with an "Airline Revenue Manager"

2011-12-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

FoxNews.com just had a very interesting article on the inner workings of pricing of airline tickets that changes moment by moment. It is based on an interview with an Airline Revenue Manager - the person who adjusts airfares throughout the day, depending on route, season, demand, supply, and other factors and supersedes the algorithms the computers use.

The article talks about dispelling myths on airline ticket pricing like the best days to buy tickets or the slowest days of travel so best days to fly and how the system of ever changing pricing we see - which can often contradict the sales and specials advertised we go hunting for - truly works.

The topics covered...

• Is there a best time of the day or best day of the week to buy airline tickets?
• What is your role as a revenue manager?
• Do ticket prices really change four times a day?
• Why is it that sometimes I can wait until the last minute and find a cheap fare, but other times the fare goes up?
• Why do airlines advertise sales and then I can never find the tickets available at the stated price?
• Why are there so few award seats out there? Each time I try to use my miles, I cannot.
• Who is more profitable to you: a connecting passenger or a nonstop passenger?

For a short article, it is rather insightful with some valuable tidbits dropped in if you read carefully. Read the full story here.

Legislation to allow passengers to check one bag for free?

2011-11-28T14:44:00.000-08:00

It was reported by the LA Times that a Louisiana senator - Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) - proposed legislation last week that would allow airline passengers to check one bag for free on each flight. The legislation would also guarantee that passengers can bring carry-on bags at no extra charge.

As she put it, and who wouldn't agree, "Passengers have been nickeled-and-dimed for far too long, and something has to be done about it.''

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano recently suggested that airlines let passengers check one bag for free to reduce the number of carry-on bags packed into overhead bins. She said carry-on bags slow the screening process and increase the screening cost nationwide by $260 million a year.

Landrieu's bill has been sent to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for a hearing, but don't expect to much to come from it as an airline industry spokesperson states, "Obviously we don't think it's appropriate for the government to regulate what services a private industry should offer to customers and at what price."

Can you kick in for gas money? No, we're serious.

2011-11-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

What your about to read is not from the Twilight Zone or a parody skit from a late night TV show. It really happened. This is an amazing story if you think about it.

It is being reported that passengers traveling from India to Britain were stranded recently in Amritsar, India, by the charter airline Comtel, which was asking them to kick in money to cover the cost of fuel and fees. Literally. It was reported that the crew told the passengers they would have to come up with 24,000 pounds ($38,000) between them. Thirty-eight-thousand-dollars.. cash... did you get that?

It appears there is footage floating around that shows a flight attendant saying, "We need some money to pay the fuel, to pay the airport, to pay everything we need. If you want to go to Birmingham, you have to pay." The story then goes on to say that many passengers were allowed to leave the plane to get to ATM machines in Vienna to get the money!

They apparently actually raised the money and the plane took off and made it to their destination, but not without this final slap in the face comment from Bhupinder Kandra, the airline's majority shareholder, "This is not my problem," he said. "The problem is with the agents."

Spirit Airlines.. Now THIS is How To Fee Travelers to Death

2011-11-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

Wow, it seems Spirit Airlines - a "budget" airlines - is taking the concept of feeing the customer to death to a whole new level with one of the reportedly "sneakiest fees" in the industry by trying to give it a term that will bamboozle users - "passenger usage fee". Flyers will now have the joy of paying an exorbitant $34 just for buying tickets on the internet! They always had a fee mind you, but it went from $8.99 each way to $16.99. In certain cases, this "passenger usage fee" could equal 40% or more of a ticket's total price. But sure, you can avoid this fee, by going to the airport and standing in line and buying ticket. Can you imagine that? Isn't that what we did like 20 years ago?

It does not end here, Spirit Airlines also charges fees such as:

- carry-on bags
- placing a carry-on bag in the overhead
- having a glass of water onboard
- $5 for each boarding pass a ticket agent prints

Obnoxious in cabin advertising... the next airline revenue stream

2011-10-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

If you use a metro much in travels, you are use to the ubiquitous advertisements plastered all over the inside of the metro trains. Well, the airline industry is starting to take a page from this book and institute in cabin advertising - and doing so in pretty gaudy ways.

For example:

- Spirit Airlines sells advertising opportunities on overhead bins, tray tables and (drum roll please) air-sickness bags as well as bulkheads, boarding passes and ticket jackets.

- It was reported that advertisements are also appearing on seat backs and tray tables as well as on flight attendants' aprons, snack boxes and napkins they hand out!

- Advertisements, or commercials really, are also creeping into flight announcements by flight crews and even in pre or post the safety videos!

- On receipts printed out by handheld credit card readers when customers buy meals or drinks.

These airlines have no shame selling advertising space on virtually any available space INSIDE the cabin. It is bad enough we are inundated by ads everywhere in the travel process from taxis, metro, inside the airport, the boarding gate, to electronic ticket kiosks, in the jetways as we walk to the plane, on baggage carousels and I have even seen them IN the little plastic personal effects/shoe boxes at the security lines that we slide through the x-ray machine.

Gross.

How much checked baggage am I allowed & what will it cost me?

2011-10-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

iflybags.com is a new site that makes it easy for you to determine how much checked baggage your allowed to take on your flight and what it will cost you for the honor. According to Farelogix - the company behind the new site - the interactive site is a "baggage calculator that takes the guesswork, frustration, and mystery out of airline checked baggage allowance and fee information". The web site works by instantly accessing the most current airline baggage allowance rates and fees which is based on the specific travel details like the number and weight of your expected checked bags/items and itinerary specific information like airline and flight details.

According to Farelogix, their system can evaluate, optimize, and present the best combination of checked bags for multiple travelers on a single itinerary, taking into account traveler frequent flyer status with the end goal of, "Ensure that no traveler arrives at an airport without knowing what their checked baggage allowance and fees will be."

A Selection of Laughable Airline "Fees"

2011-10-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Do these really need any explanation? Many, if not all, airlines utilize most, if not all, of these fees currently. Those that do not are likely just around the corner.

1. Booking by Phone
2. Printing Your Boarding Pass AT the Airport
3. Checking Your Luggage - 1st AND 2nd pieces of luggage
4. Carry on luggage
5. Seat Selections
6. Priority Boarding
7. A Pillow or blanket
8. Snack packs

When you consider some of these, you simply can't help but think that there is a team within each airline whose sole job is to sit around a room and think of ways to turn previously free services into pay services or exhort new fees all while spinning the PR as though is keeps your travel costs cheaper in the end.

RANT: Why I Hate Renfe - Spain's Main Train Provider

2011-10-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

I have had the blessing of being able to travel the world. I have visited arguably more than 20 countries across Asia, Europe, SE Asia, and Latin America in nearly 20 years of international traveling. In all these travels I have traveled about every way you can imagine: bus, metro, mini-bus, boat, plane, car, animal, scooter, bike, walk.. did I miss something? That being said, the most common method of travel outside of the USA is train. I have taken short trains, overnight trains, every class of train and every quality from top of the line 1st class in Europe to almost off the rails in Latin America. I love train travel and know it well. So, to say I was shocked by the recent horrible train service experiences in Spain with Renfe would be an understatement.

Here's why:

1. They run it like an airline - it is as bloated and inefficient system as I have ever seen for a train system. Automated Kiosks rarely worked so you had to speak with a representative. This could only be achieved by standing in huge lines and getting one of those numbered tickets like at the local DMV or seen in the deli stores in the movies. 10 windows but understaffed like the USPS. Then you have to go through several layers of security, cue up and go through boarding, walk through a boarding gate, and board a train as though it is a plane. I have never seen this many layers in simple train travel. Normally you buy a ticket, champ it on the platform, get on the train and find your seats. Not with Renfe.

2. The costs are exorbitant. A 3.5 hour train in 3rd class for 2 people was a whopping $330 USA! I was stunned into silence when I was told the price. I think this comes down to a lack of competition and a horrible economy means they know if you want to travel, they have you by the balls and will charge you what they want as I can promise you that train trip was not in any way, shape or form worth the outrageous fare AND we flew back for nearly half the price of the train fare! I have traveled much longer (miles and hours), in 1st class for dramatically cheaper in other parts of the world. Not with Renfe.

3. Their people are rude and their policies are overly restrictive for no logical reason. This is where all the badness started. After flying and traveling roughly 20 hours, we had to catch a train to get to the town my race was in. This train trip was about 5 hours and I planned it and handled like I have a dozen times before when traveling for racing: I showed up, bought my ticket (after standing in a Godawful long line, which was so common for Renfe), waited for the train, went to the platform, went to board AND GOT TURNED AWAY! Why? Because of my bike case. Now, I have traveled on smaller and bigger trains all over the world and never, ever, ever been turned down due to my bike case. I have even traveled in between cars just to sit with my bike case. These Renfe trains are the size of any large Amtrack train and have PLENTY of space for a bike case and storage bins at the beginning and end of each cabin. So, I was shocked to be told a flat out, "no". I almost went to jail over the issue as there were 5-6 other athletes expecting to do the same thing and I tried to argue on our behalf these points, they couldn't have cared less. And what is worse, the employees that sold us the tickets KNEW we had bike cases and knew they were selling tickets that we could not use. So in the end, we lost time waiting for a train we could not take, had to bicker about getting our money back, had to bicker about the ridiculous policy of not allowing bike cases - but you could take a bike mind you (just not in a case) and people rolled right past us with luggage nearly as large as my bike case! It was a fiasco and I told them they should be ashamed and that they could see we were in need and they could bend the rules and help travelers in need, but they showed absolutely no concern or caring for our predicament. In the end, we had to team up with some other travelers and rent a car at the last minute just to get out of Madrid and move on to our destination.

Given this experience with Renfe, we used the only power we had to fight back and that was with the wallet. Every chance we could we opted for methods of travel other than Renfe to spend our money with. That included flying within Spain as it was cheaper than their trains!

Google Flights Takes Off - Find Flight Prices, Times & More!

2011-09-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

So, one of our favorite technology juggernauts just launched their online effort to take on the known airline travel search sites like Kayak, Hotwire, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc.

Google Flights lets you compare, get pricing and book airfares between US cities. From a first look that we took, at least the web site sticks to the classic clean and simple uncluttered Google layout (unlike their competitors that clutter their pages with endless ads and distracting banners). The interface is easy to use and very intuitive and will even try t deduce your departure airport given your location from where you conduct your search. You can select your destination airports, select nearby airports and you will get flight durations, arrival & departures times, 1 way or round trip and costs across multiple airlines. It is also possible to compare by certain FF airline alliances. There are a number of other cool useful little functions like the ability to search using more than 1 airport at the same time (as seen above). Once you select your flights, Google Flights takes you directly to the airline's website for booking. POW!

Then, once you find your flights, you can head on over to AirportGyms.com and see if there is an Airport Gym in or near any of the airports you will be using; just in case there is an unexpected delay in your travel.

The Google Flights flight finding service is not available for international flights and you cannot yet select business or first class fares.. yet.

Airline Passengers Bill of Rights Go Into Effect

2011-08-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

On August 23rd a series of new airline rules came online that will better inform travelers what exactly they are paying for when we buy a ticket. Airlines are now required to clearly disclose & make easily findable on their websites all fees and charges that cover; baggage/luggage, canceling or changing reservations, seat selection, meals and food choices, or seat upgrading.

According to the DOT (Department of Transportation) these new rules are in response to the growing number of traveler complaints regarding online price comparison and ticket shopping. However, even with these new rules that aim to clarify pricing, there is still apprehension that consumer will be confused by airline industry verbiage and jargon.

Another new rule that was introduced in this Bill of Rights is the increasing of the compensation amount for being involuntarily bumped from an oversold flight. Travelers are now eligible for double the one-way price of their tickets, up to $650 max, for "short" delays (those defined as being within 1 to 3 hours of the originally scheduled arrival time for domestic flights, and 1 to 4 hours for international flights). Passengers who face "longer" delays are eligible to receive payments of up to four times the one-way value of their tickets, up to $1,300 max.

Overly long tarmac delays and waiting has been addressed as well for international flights as it had been for domestic flights. The new rules - which if not followed can lead to airlines receiving hefty penalties and fines - allows for a 4 hour time limit on tarmac delays for all international flights at U.S. airports while the 3 hour delay rule for domestic flights is still in effect. Four hours still seems pretty long to us, especially when an international flight could be 10-15 hours itself once the delay is over.

Lastly, airlines will now be required to refund your checked baggage fee for any lost, damaged or delayed luggage, on top of a previous requirement for compensation.

Airlines Keep FAA Saved Taxes & Don't Pass On The Savings

2011-07-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, Congress failed to approve the extension of a bill to keep the FAA in business. This means that the agency no longer had the authority to impose the various federal taxes that airlines add to the price of each ticket we buy. These taxes average somewhere between $25 - $50 roundtrip (7.5 percent excise tax on all domestic tickets, $3.70 federal charge on each flight segment, $16.30 tax on each international arrival and departure). What one would expect, after all these years of recouping that tax they paid by passing on the cost to us buyers, they would pass on the savings to us and stop collecting the taxes they no longer had to pay. But to much shock and surprise (insert sarcasm here), they in fact did not stop adding the cost and pass the savings on to the consumer, but instead none lowered their prices and some bumped their prices on average about the same cost as the fees they no longer have to pay.

According to the NYT, "Airlines have long complained about the burden of taxes and government-imposed fees, which now add up to about $61 on an average $300 fare, according to the Air Transport Association. While airline revenue was 8 percent higher this June than in June 2010 — the 18th consecutive month of year-on-year improvement — growth had been slowed by rising fuel costs, the association said."

So in the end, at the very least, we are paying the same as we did before the FAA closed it's doors, despite the fact the airlines are saving in taxes they no longer have to pay.

TSA agent stole 50k worth of electronics from travelers

2011-07-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

It was recently reported that a TSA agent named Nelson Santiago - who worked Fort Lauderdale's Hollywood International Airport's - was caught red handed by a Continental Airlines employee trying to take an iPad from a travelers bag. In his subsequent arrest and interrogation he coped to the fact it was not his first time and that in fact, for 6 months or more he had been snatching electronics from peoples bags he was searching and selling them online. Authorities estimated he took in over $50,000 during this crime spree.

Taxes, Fees, and Surcharge Makeup Most of an Actual Ticket!

2011-06-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to go to Spain this year for the Duathlon World Championships in Gijon. So, I found myself doing that ticket searching dance we all do when looking for the best deal possible. Turns out that this time around, Continental Airlines earned my money as they had the best prices, available schedule to pick from and connections with the least amount of layover and overall flight times. Now, I have flown internationally many, many times and despite that, I can't say I have ever looked real close at the ticket receipt as I just consider the bottom line price naturally. So I have to admit I was a bit surprised when I looked at the detailed receipt Continental sends you and noticed how truly cheap the base air fair was.. and how crazy exorbitant the fees and taxes were.

Here are the actual shocking numbers direct from their receipt:

Base Airfare: 383.00
U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50
U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00
Spain Security Tax: 3.70
Fuel Surcharge: 420.00
U.S. Passenger Facility Charge: 13.50
U.S. APHIS User Fee: 5.00
U.S. Federal Transportation Tax: 32.60
September 11th Security Fee: 7.50
Spain Departure Charge: 15.70
--------------------
Total: $893.50

The airfare you paid on this itinerary totals: 383.00 USD
The taxes, fees, and surcharges paid total: 510.50 USD

I was shocked to see the actual breakdown and notice that 57% of this ticket price goes to taxes, fees, and surcharges! Really, is there much more to say?

Oh, yes there is... Continental Airlines charges a whopping $200 for a bike case.. ONE WAY!

Google +1 Us.. Spread The Word

2011-06-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

So, if your one of our regular users, or a new user who saw our site mentioned elsewhere or stumbled across the AirportGyms.com website via a google search, and find it useful, we would appreciate you using the newly released Google "+1" button to spread the word to others on the web. You can "+1" us in 2 ways.

First, you can do it from within an actual Google Search results if you found us via Google or want to go back to Google and search us.

Second, from the top of our site - on any page - you can click the "+1" button.

Airlines raking in BILLIONS from add-on charges

2011-06-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

The title says it all. According to an article recently on TheStar.com, "Worldwide, 104 airlines raked in $21.46 billion in extra revenue, which ranged from add-on charges for baggage and food to vacation packages. That’s a staggering increase from the $2.45 billion collected in 2007, when extra charges were largely just a discount airline money-maker." And guess what, it is forecasted to grow significantly more!

Then went on to state, "Hugely irritating to travellers and a source of increasing U.S. demands for upfront full disclosures of all charges, ancillary revenue leaped from discount airlines into the mainstream three years ago when United Airlines started charging for a second piece of luggage."

Finally they stated, "“As à la carte pricing methods are perfected and become more pervasive,” add-on revenue will increase in 2011, said Sorensen in his report. Aggressive discount carrier AirAsia X, for example, reaped ancillary revenue of $23.67 per passenger by pushing online à la carte booking."

High Summer Gas Prices = Highest Ticket Prices Yet

2011-05-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

According to a number of stories on the web in the past weeks, "airfares have risen this year at their fastest pace in years as airlines have had more success in passing on the higher cost of fuel to passengers". These increases average out to about 14% higher this past March as compared to year ago at that time. That is, reportedly, the biggest 12 month increase in at least 1o years! Even the well know cheap airline Southwest has pushed prices up 7 times since the middle of December and signaled that more increases are likely coming.

Some tips we read about from Tom Parsons (BestFares.com).. in the past six weeks he's seen summer airfare sales start to hit. He also recommends buying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, when fare sales often take place, and not buying on the weekend.

Lost or Delayed Baggage, Get Your Baggage Fee Refunded?

2011-04-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

The major airlines now collect more than $3 billion (yes B as in BILLION) in bag fees a year - and they still don't want to refund you if they loose or delay your bag and are aghast the government would want them to. The governments logical take, along with the rest of us, is that they should return the fee for failure of providing the "service" they charge for.

It was reported that the government wants to address two of the biggest complaints about the air travel industry with this new regulation: poor service and the ever expanding baggage fees. The airlines routinely charge $15 - $35 to check a bag, $20 - $45 to check a second and so on. Most airlines don't provide a refund for lost or delayed luggage, even if it takes days to return a passenger's baggage. It was reported that more and more travelers are carrying on their bags, making the airlines job easier (and asking the government to pickup the bill for all the effort it takes to screen all of these carry-on bags). Still, last year, more than 2 million bags didn't arrive on the same flight as their owner.

The new regulation would require airlines to refund the baggage fee if a bag is lost or not delivered in a "timely" manner, said to be within two hours of the passenger's arrival. As the American Society of Travel Agents stated, "Absent such a requirement [return the fee], there is little incentive to assure timely delivery."

Watch Out, My Favorite Tech Company is Getting Into the Travel Industry

2011-04-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

Google is getting into the air fare search game by buying ITA, 'the' company which specializes in organizing airline data, including flight times, availability and prices that many of the big online travel sites use. This $700mil purchase appears to have concerned some of the big online travel site names as it was reported that air travel search sites Travelocity, Expedia and Kayak were angling to block the Google purchase, claiming it would give Google too much power & control over the online travel market and lead to higher prices.

For the government to allow the purchase, Google agreed to allow all the online travel sites that currently use ITA's software - Hotwire, TripAdvisor, Kayak, Orbitz, Bing - to:

(1) extend their contracts into 2016 and to let new customers license ITA's software
(2) have access to the next generation InstaSearch product
(3) Google is also barred from entering into agreements with airlines that would restrct sharing of seat and booking class information with its competitors
(4) Google will be required to build a "firewall" that will prevent it from gaining access to competitors' proprietary software which runs on ITA servers

According to reports, "Google has said the ITA acquisition will help it create new tools that will make it easier for consumers to search for travel, compare flight options and prices and drive more customers to online travel agencies. Google has said it has no plans to sell airline tickets or set airfare prices."

Airline Quality Rating report released - see who sucks the most

2011-04-11T15:56:00.000-07:00

According to the recently released Airline Quality Rating report, which ranked and graded 16 USA airline carriers on the key indicators that lead to pissed-off passengers, some of the best known airlines just plain get it wrong.

According to the Time News Feed, the study indicated the following high-points:

Worst Major Airline: United
Customer complaints pushed United over the edge, with the second-highest number of frustrated fliers out of all airlines surveyed.

Worst Overall Airline: American Eagle
According to the study, passenger complaints nearly doubled in 2010, and their sky-high lost luggage rating showed only slight improvement.

Most Likely to Be Late: Comair (Delta Express)
Delta's commuter airline was the slowest in the skies with just 73.1% of flights arriving on schedule. This number falls way short of the industry average of 80% on time.

Most Likely to Lose Your Luggage: American Eagle
With a mishandled baggage rate more than double the national average, those baggage-checking fees become even harder to swallow. American Eagle lost or damaged 7.15 suitcases per thousand in 2010, the study says.

Most Complained About Airline: Delta
Delta took the most flack from fuming fliers in 2010, citing two complaints per 100,000 passengers, the report shows.

New AirportGyms.com Website is Here!

2011-04-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

Well, it did not take as long as I expected and the NEW AirportGyms.com website is up and running.

I am sure we will make some small tweaks here and there over the coming weeks, but we hope you enjoy the changes. Start using it today!

Changes:

100% new more modern look and feel

New graphical search by map feature

Several new gym listings added and several gyms updated

Easier overall navigation

More SEO friendly and less kb usage

In listings print option

Government absorbs cost for extra baggage screening while airlines pocket baggage fees??

2011-03-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

A Reuters story reported today, "...screening the bags carried onto a plane instead of being checked costs an extra $260 million." So what, the airlines are not helping foot that bill? Stupid me for assuming so. Forcing people to pay for checked luggage naturally leads to us all packing lighter to be able to carry on our luggage (I recently got my backpack down to carry on size and 23 pounds for 30 days in Thailand). So would it not seem logical that the airlines would help foot the bill for the extra work the TSA - who screens about 2 million passengers a day - has to go through to screen all these extra bags being carried on and slowing things up? Ha - what were we thinking? The greedy airlines just passed that related cost on to the government, which is us. A nice double dip for the end user if you think about it.

It was further reported that the U.S. Travel Association, comprised of the hotel, car rental and amusement park industries, was pushing the Obama administration to try to step in and force airlines to allow all travelers to freely check 1 bag as part of the base fare paid - hmm, that rings a bell - as a way to cut down on this cost and in turn, the time it takes for us to get through security as all of these extra carry on bags get scanned. Seems reasonable, but we all know that the airlines will not give up that gouge of a checked bag fee without a serious fight. Heck, it made the top airlines nearly $906 MILLION this past year, and is set to increase.

2 other considerations being tossed around:

- allow passengers arriving from international flights and who are considered to be a low risk, be allowed to connect to domestic flights without going through screening again. This PITA dog-and-pony-show has negatively affected me more than once

- create a Trusted Traveller program for those of us who are considered to be a low risk and can prove it. Thereby allowing a faster moving security line.

2 New Gyms Added to the Alberta, Canada Listings

2011-02-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

Thanks to one of our users, we have been able to add a new airport to our listings - Edmonton International Airport, YEG - and added 2 listings for the Alberta area in general. Thanks! It is because of users like this that our database of airport gyms and airport fitness centers continues to grow. Both listings are for Airport Gyms located near the Edmonton International Airport.

You can see them listed here under the Canadian airport gyms section of Airportgyms.com