American Airlines is launching an Express Seats service allowing travelers to purchase seats in the first few rows of coach (economy) - including bulkhead seats in that cabin.
Travelers who purchase an Express Seat are able to board with ‘Group 1’ of General Boarding for their flight, allowing them the convenience of being among the first coach travelers on and off the plane.
Express Seats are available to all American Airlines’ travelers and can be purchased exclusively via airport self-service check-in machines at anytime from 24 hours to 50 minutes before scheduled flight departure for travel wholly within the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Introductory prices for Express Seats (based on distance) start at $19 per flight. Examples of starting prices on popular routes: St. Louis to Chicago O’Hare, $19; San Francisco to Dallas/Fort Worth, $29; Boston to Chicago O’Hare, $29; New York JFK to Los Angeles, $39; Chicago O’Hare to Honolulu, $39.
There’s nothing new under the sun, they say. Some twenty years ago, the Canadian carrier Wardair (long since subsumed by Air Canada) offered quality at reasonable prices with a single standard of cuisine and service throughout the plane and a ‘Big Seat’ option. No matter how much you paid for your ticket, you could trade up to a Big Seat in the front of the cabin for about 50 Canadian dollars.
Talk about traveling with pets. Here comes British budget hotel chain Travelodge with news that it has found 75,000 teddy bears left behind by their errant owners at its 452 hotels within the last 12 months.
In response to this staggering finding, Travelodge surveyed 6,000 Britons to investigate the nation’s fascination with cuddly bears. The survey revealed that more than a third (35%) of adults admit they sleep with their teddy because they found cuddling their bear comforting; and the calming feeling of a bear hug also helps them to de-stress after a hard day – which aids sleep.
A quarter of male respondents reported they take their teddy bear away with them when traveling on business. As it reminds them of home and a bear cuddle helps them to nod off as they miss a bedtime cuddle from their partner. In addition, over a quarter of adults 26% use a teddy bear hot water bottle so that they can have a warm bear hug to help them nod off.
Psychologist Corrine Sweet says: ‘Cuddling a teddy bear is an important part of our national psyche as it evokes a sense of peace, security and comfort. It’s human nature to crave these feelings from childhood through adult life. This is why 35% of British adults sleep with their teddy bear. It’s not surprising, then, that taking a cuddly bear on a business trip is so popular, even among men (25%). A bedtime bear evokes the secure feelings of home and warmth, which can aid sleep – just like in childhood.’
‘We have never had as many as 75,000 cuddly bears left behind in Travelodge hotels before,’ says Shakila Ahmed, a Travelodge spokeswoman. And our staff has worked extremely hard in reuniting the bears with their owners. Amazingly, the owners have not just been children – we have a large number of frantic businessmen and women calling to say they have forgotten their teddy bear.’
Well, yes. A lady psychologist I know says that teddy bears represent ‘safety objects.’ In the absence of a real human being, hugging a bear in bed is ‘soothingly tactile and comforting.’
‘A teddy bear on a man’s bed,’ she adds, ‘shows his sensitive side to a lady visitor – although more than one cuddly animal may not be quite so cute.’
I don’t know about that. But I don’t think, Vanessa, my life-size inflatable doll would like a teddy bear around.
From the beginning of September 2010, the cost of an economy ticket will include a single check-in item of luggage with a maximum weight of 23 kilos. The previous limit was 20 kilos. The maximum permitted combined measurements of the bag (height plus length plus width) will be 158 centimeters.
The aim of the new rules is to serve customers better and to clarify the procedure,’ said Anssi Komulainen, Finnair’s SVP Customer Service. “Economy Class passengers can now take a heavier bag on their flight than before as part of the price of the flight.’
Business Class passengers, Finnair Plus Platinum, Gold and Silver members, oneworld tier members and holders of more highly-priced economy class tickets will be permitted to take two items of baggage, each weighing a maximum of 23 kilos, totalling 46 kilos.
Finnair is also extending the option of paying for excess bags and weight online and in advance. From 1 September 2010, payments of excess baggage and weight fees paid on the Internet will be as much as 30% cheaper than when paid at the airport.
The new rules apply also to passengers who buy only flight tickets on Finnair leisure flights (AY2001-AY3000) on or after 1 September 2010. The rules for passengers traveling as part of a tour operator package will change 1 April 2011.
Rules for carry-on baggage remain unchanged:
-Business Class, Finnair Plus Platinum, Gold and Silver members and Finnair Club members: one bag with the maximum outside dimensions of 56×45x25 cm or 22×18x10 in., plus one briefcase or laptop computer, regardless of travel class. A total of two pieces, with a maximum combined weight of 10 kg or 22 lbs.
-Economy Class: one class-flights, flights within Finland and leisure flights: one bag with the maximum outside dimensions of 56×45x25 cm or 22×18x10 in. One piece only, with a maximum weight of 8kg or 17.5 lbs.
Caveat emptor is the watchword for airline travelers in whatever class to check carefully rules for both checked and carry-on baggage – especially if they are ‘interlining’ from one carrier to another on multi-sector flights – especially when transferring from a legacy carrier to a no-frills operator.