Downgraded: The image of the pilot
The recent hearings surrounding the Colgan Air crash in Buffalo have focused on lack of training and cross-country commutes. But they have also brought attention to the low pay that starting pilots receive at the commuter airlines. Salaries for first officers at regional airlines can be terrible: $25,000 a year for starters, and only $33,000 on average after three years. See also this graphic, listing the average salaries by category.
Upgraded, but not quite enough: Kayak’s search engine
A month ago, I reviewed the airfare aggregators or metasearch sites. I gave TripAdvisor’s new engine the win, largely because of its ability to estimate ancillary fees like luggage fees. Now, Kayak is adding a baggage fee estimator as well, as pictured below. But it’s not quite to the level of TripAdvisor’s engine, which takes into account factors like elite status, and allows for a more granular approach to fees than simply asking about number of bags.
Downgraded: Nicknames and Abbreviations
TSA is rolling out the first phase of its “Secure Flight” policy, which means your plane tickets will have to match your identification more precisely than in the past. “During this phase of the Secure Flight program, passengers are encouraged to book their reservations using their name as it appears on the government-issued ID they will use while traveling.” And that means that, at some point (though not today), you won’t be able to use a middle initial on your ticket if your ID uses your full middle name. Which will piss off thousands of passengers while doing absolutely nothing for security. Asinine.
Downgraded: Hotel searches for Columbus, Georgia
If you’re staying in the town of Columbus, Georgia, you won’t find much in the way of hotels if you search the major online travel agencies. Why the boycott? Expedia was ordered to pay occupancy taxes to the city on the basis of the displayed room rate (the one paid by customers booking on the site). Previously, they had been paying the occupancy tax on the basis of the wholesale rates which they had negotiated with the hotel. So, now the major sites are simply not listing hotels in Columbus, GA at all. I’m no lawyer, but I can see the agencies’ point here: It makes sense to me that local taxes should be based on the rate paid locally — in this case, at the wholesale rate. I’m sure Columbus hoteliers are thrilled…
Downgraded: InterContinental brands
InterContinental is downgrading their properties’ service requirements. Gary Leff has the rundown, which, depending on the brand in question, includes delaying the purchase of new beds, cutting restaurant hours, cotton towels, and overnight front desk service.
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May 21st, 2009 at 8:21 am
When I read your downgrade about hotel searches in Columbus, Georgia, I was initially in agreement with the online travel agencies. Then I saw the front page of my home town newspaper, The Island Packet (Hilton Head Island, SC), where it’s reported the town has filed suit against discount travel web sites because “in many cases, the companies turn over bed tax money based on the wholesale cost of the room, even if they charge customers the tax on the full retail price of the room.” Now I have to question whether Columbus’ case was similar in nature.
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/851276.html
May 21st, 2009 at 10:53 am
Thanks for that, Dino. Here are a few crucial snippets from the article:
You’ll notice that, when booking a (typically prepaid) hotel room via an Orbitz, Expedia, or Priceline, you see “taxes and fees” rolled into one number. When it’s a wholesale rate that’s being booked, the taxes are (supposedly) paid by the agency at the going rate, using the wholesale price for the room. Once you back that out of the “taxes and fees,” you’ve got a markup. Much like “shipping and handling” from mail order merchants exceeds the cost of the shipping alone. I think the same thing is happening here, and it’s a big reason why online travel agencies are loath to break out the taxes and fees.
If the agencies are collecting TAX on the full amount, then the cities and states that are raising a stink are fully in their rights. If it’s not tax, but fees, it’s a lot shakier.
I’m curious to see how this will play out, and if agencies will start to boycott Hilton Head reservations. Thanks for bringing it up!
May 21st, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I’m concerned about the impact of my hyphenated last name on the TSA rigamarole. Airline ticketing systems can’t deal with it, but my driver’s license sure is hyphenated.
May 24th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Think travel search engines are getting higher weight in traveler’s trip planning. So like kayak, tripadvisor keep improving their technology.
Have you graded any tour guide service? Since 2008, there appeared many websites providing personal tour guide services.
http://www.OurExplorer.com
Travel through the eyes of a local
May 28th, 2009 at 6:47 am
I too am curious how this plays out. If you’d care to see the local newspaper editor’s opinion on this, check out http://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/story/857788.html
November 12th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
[...] been sympathetic to the agencies on this front since I first posted about it in May. But the agencies aren’t doing themselves any favors: The problem for Orbitz and their peers [...]