Business Travel Tips

Delta Air Lines announced it will add a fuel surcharge to SkyMiles Award Tickets originating from the U.S. and Canada, starting August 15.

The SkyMiles® program will add:
a $25 surcharge for flights to domestic destinations and Canada;
a $50 surcharge for flights between the 50 states/Canada and all international destinations.

The airline expalins that this fuel surcharge will not apply to passengers who have existing ticketed award itineraries or award tickets issued prior to August 15, 2008, regardless of the date of travel. (source)

Early June a similar move was announced by US Airways. Beginning August 6, US Airways will add $25 to redeem frequent flier miles for flights to domestic destinations and Canada, $35 for flights to Mexico and the Caribbean, $50 for flights to international destinations.

On June 17, 2008, Continental Airlines updated its policy regarding same-day flight changes for restricted tickets.

According to the new policy, flyers holding restricted tickets can change to another Continental flight departing within 12 hours from when the request is made — previously it was three hours.

The fee for same day changes will be $50, or $25 for OnePass Platinum and Gold Elite members. These charges will apply to standby travel, but will not be charged until a seat assignment is cleared. (see Continental’s Same-Day Flight Changes).

Those who are flying on an unrestricted ticket, can make changes free of charge so long as there are seats available.

Southwest Airlines initiated the 20th fare increase of 2008, raising by $10 to $20 roundtrip for travel starting 2-Nov-08.

United Airlines and Delta Air Lines followed Southwest later in the day.
Delta increased fares by $20 - $30 roundtrip and United raised prices by $20 - $40 roundtrip. (source: FareCompare.com)

Southwest Airlines is now taking reservations through early January.

The airline also announced that despite the industry downturns it will discontinue just two nonstop markets, Oakland-Tucson, and Kansas City-Sacramento (source).

Southwest says it will retain service in all of its other markets and add six new nonstop markets, concentrated on Denver and Florida.

In order to know flight frequencies in each of Southwest’s markets and the changes coming up for November, click here.

Last week, Delta Air Lines, in partnership with Transportation Security Administration (TSA), began testing paperless mobile check-in for domestic travel from New York-LaGuardia (LGA) to any U. S. airport.

Checking in online from the comfort of home or office has become quite popular, but Delta’s paperless mobile check-in means that, the check-in process can take place from anywhere, at any time within 24 hours of flight departure.

If the test will be successfully completed in LaGuardia, Delta will leverage paperless check-in across its domestic system, to and from any U. S. airport. (source)