US Airways to start charging for bags

photo by TypophilesLess than a month after United Airlines announced that it would be charging most passengers $25 to check a second bag, US Airways has announced that it would do the same, starting on May 1. US Airways claims that higher fuel costs are partly to blame and said that this new luggage fee will give the airline $100 million in additional revenue. It's a sign that the à-la-carte baggage trend is continuing throughout the major carriers...

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Presidential candidates and their airplanes

photo by Drewski2112With all the recent news about Super Tuesday in the US, I thought it would be interesting to see what airplanes the candidates are using. Apparently, Democratic front-runners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are both chartering Boeing 737-800s from ATA (Clinton has already dubbed hers "Hill Force One"). On the Republican side, now-former candidate Mitt Romney used a chartered Xtra Airways Boeing 737-400 (and even though he also...

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Delta-Northwest, United-Continental mergers soon?

photo by Cubbie_n_Vegas The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a merger deal between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines could happen as soon as next week. Talks between the two were previously strained as the senior management of both carriers disagreed over whom would keep high-ranking management positions, but they have since come to an agreement.As a result of Delta and Northwest's merger potential, merger discussions between United Airlines...

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United's luggage fees: a mixed bag

photo by kpishdadiUnited Airlines recently announced that, "as part of its continuing effort to offer customers choice, flexibility, and low fares," it will start charging passengers who purchase nonrefundable economy tickets for US/Canada flights $25 to check a second bag (the first one is still free). Exempt from the fee are passengers who have Premier or higher status in Mileage Plus/Star Alliance will be able to go by the old rules of checking...

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Branson to start Virgin Russia

photo by Cubbie_n_Vegas The man that brought you Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America, Virgin Blue, Virgin Nigeria and others is preparing to do it again.Billionaire Richard Branson has announced plans to start an airline in Russia, tentatively called Virgin Russia. He plans to take advantage of the oil-fueled Russian economy, which has given the average Russian more money (and an airline market that's growing at around 10 percent a year). "We hope to...

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