Survey of Frequent Fliers, U.S. Airlines Get Thumbs Down From Frequent Fliers

The annual survey of frequent fliers by Seatguru.com, the popular online guide to airline seating, doesn’t have a lot of highlights for U.S.-based airlines.

U.S. carriers serve the worst food — if they serve food at all, that is — and have the least comfortable seats, the survey of 1,600 fliers found.

Meals on American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways were considered the worst of the bunch.

The best? Singapore Airlines, followed by British Airways, Houston-based Continental Airlines and Air France. Many U.S. carriers have eliminated meal service on domestic flights.

One domestic carrier, JetBlue Airways, did come out on top for the most comfortable economy-class seats, according to the survey, while Singapore Airlines led the field for business class. The least comfortable: American, United and US Airways.

The survey also asked which airline had the rudest flight attendants, and again United, American and US Airways topped the list. Singapore and Southwest airlines were voted as having the most polite attendants.

“Domestic airlines have been making strides in recent years to better compete with international airlines, but it is clear that they still have a ways to go in the eyes of fliers,” said Matthew Daimler, founder of Seatguru.com.

Most of the people surveyed flew at least eight times last year.

A timely upside to the downturn

Travel experts insist that there has never been a better time to fly, and they may well be right. The latest air travel data show that the recession-induced travel slump is not only lowering fares but also causing fewer flight delays.

With fewer planes in the air and even fewer passengers flying, U.S. carriers are posting some of the best on-time performance numbers in 15 years. The industry’s performance for the first three months of 2009 was the third-best since the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics began keeping track.

Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance, with 91% of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of schedule. Comair, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, had the worst at 68%.

Among the nation’s largest carriers, Southwest Airlines was on time most often, and Continental Airlines had one of the worst records.

Among major airports, Los Angeles International jumped from 11th to fourth in the nation, with 86% of the flights taking off within 15 minutes of scheduled departure, while Newark, N.J., fell to last place. Salt Lake City again topped the list.

Northwest Airlines Flight 803 from Atlanta to Honolulu was the most frequently delayed, being late a whopping 96% of the time.

Love is in the air in New Zealand

Air New Zealand is launching what it says is the world’s first matchmaking flight.

It will fly American singles from Los Angeles to Auckland on Oct. 13 to find a partner there. Included in the flight package, which starts at $795 for a round trip, is a preflight gate party at LAX and then themed food, drink and entertainment during the flight.

Waiting at Auckland will be a singles-only party at a convention center, along with accommodations at the Skycity Grand Hotel.

To increase chances of a match, ticket holders can upload an online dating profile and start connecting before the flight.

“Air New Zealand is always looking for fun ways to improve our customers’ experience,” said Roger Poulton, Air New Zealand’s vice president for the Americas. “And let’s not forget our charming Kiwi accents. What more could an American want?”

More than a quarter of the New Zealand adult population is unmarried, according to the airline.

The quirky airline is known for some unusual marketing campaigns, including an all-gay “Pink Flight” last year in which flight attendants dressed up as drag queens accompanied passengers from San Francisco to Australia for Sydney’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

It recently began a television ad campaign featuring employees, including its chief executive, wearing only body paint to make the point that the airline has no hidden fees in its fares.

Carry-ons

United Airlines is moving up the start of its nonstop flights between LAX and Pittsburgh to Aug. 18, the same day that US Airways drops its service. . . . Russian carrier S7, formerly Sibir Airlines, joins American Airlines and British Airways in the Oneworld alliance, making it easier for U.S. travelers to fly to Eastern European countries such as Armenia, Kazakhstan and Moldova. . . . Bucking industry trends, Korean Air is spending $200 million to upgrade business-class cabins with larger video monitors and roomier seats that can fold out to become fully flat beds.

Airlines Worker Strike : Philippine Airlines Crippled by Labor Strikes

Philippine Airlines workers on strike, resulting in paralysis of aviation services to some of the usual flight route is served by Philippine Airlines.

Government and Philipin Airlines seek foreign airlines to serve the remaining unserved flights.

Deputy Executive Director Porvenir Porciuncula CAB, said “We’ve talked to other operators about the possibility of a strike at PAL, and if they can fill that void. Government ready to give special permission for the Middle East, North America and Asian operators serving the same route to many Philippine Airlines international flights. ”

“Some airlines say they can take up part of PAL’s operations, but most say their resources are already overstretched just servicing their own routes,” he said.

Foreign carriers, in particular, also do not relish the fact that their services will be tapped on such short notice in case PAL’s workers go on strike.

“What we’re asking from them is very temporary but a lot of them are not so willing to commit,” Porciuncula said.

European airlines and airports were hit by a wave of strikes earlier this year. Various American airlines are also currently involved in contentious contract negotiations with their pilots and flight attendants.

Porciuncula said it might be easier to get local airlines to take PAL’s place. “Most of PAL’s domestic routes are also being served by other (domestic) airlines,” he said. However, the adjustments that would be needed in their flight plans to take in the sudden surge of volume may take some time, he added.

“If the strike happens soon, local carriers won’t be able to handle it,” he said, stressing the need for PAL management and the company’s workers to resolve their issues to avoid inconveniencing the public.

He said many airlines said they are still contacting their head offices regarding the government’s proposal.

Reallocating PAL flights and the adoption of an “open skies” or liberalized air rights regime are among the options the government is looking at in the event that discussions between PAL and its workers fail.

PAL president Jaime Bautista has welcomed the government’s moves to liberalize the country’s air industry as this would encourage more flights to secondary points like Clark, Cebu and Davao, easing the congestion at Manila’s airports.

“PAL is not against open skies,” Bautista said, noting that whatever air rights the Philippines gives to foreign carriers should be reciprocated by other countries.

“We hear the President’s call that we must find solutions to avoid any inconvenience to the riding public,” he said.

Air Travel Warning, Aussies Flee Thailand on Emergency Flight

An Emergency Qantas flight was to ferry Australians out of Thailand last night as tensions increased following the bombing of anti-government protesters.

In Bangkok, where the siege of the city’s airport continues, a grenade blast injured 50 anti-government protesters at the office of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. Mr Somchai, whom protesters are trying to dislodge from office, is holed up 700 kilometres from Bangkok in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Several people were critically wounded.

Mr Somchai renewed his demand that the protesters leave the airports. “The world community’s confidence in Thailand is gone,” he said.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said 380 Australians in 10 hotels have been stranded in Bangkok, awaiting flights out of the country since Tuesday’s takeover of Bangkok’s international airport.

Qantas was to fly a 297-seat plane from Phuket airport, 900 kilometres south of Bangkok, to Singapore last night.

The airline was to provide transport for passengers for the 14-hour bus trip from Bangkok to Phuket. Travellers arriving in Singapore were to organise connecting flights to Australia.

Seats on the special flight will be reserved for Qantas and British Airways ticket holders, with any remaining seats reserved for other Australian nationals.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith, who is in Britain, said the Federal Government was also putting increased pressure on Thai Airways and the Thai Tourism Authority to get extra flights out of Thailand.

“We are becoming increasingly frustrated with what’s happening in Thailand,” Mr Smith said on ABC television.

Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean has warned Australians to stay away from the occupied airports.

A spokesman for Qantas said yesterday the special flight was “a once-off at this stage but it all depends how long Bangkok airport remains closed”.

The rush of Australians could be relieved if extra commercial flights are allowed to leave from Utapao military airport, 150 kilometres from Bangkok.

Yesterday there were reports that Thai Airways flights to Sydney from Utapao were taking off half-full despite the large number of people still stranded.

It is estimated there are more than 100,000 international tourists in Thailand.

The protesters want Mr Somchai — brother-in-law of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra — to stand down by December 5.

Qatar Airways Receives Delivery Boeing 777 Aircraft

Qatar Airways has taken delivery of its 5th (of 32 on order) Boeing 777-300ER and will boost the airline’s capacity to SE Asia. The new 777 is expected to operate on the busy Doha-Manila route where Qatarv Airways already operates 11 flights per week.

Configured in two classes the 777ER will accommodate 42 passengers in Business Class with every seat offering a very spacious 78 inch seat pitch. Economy class passengers, all 293 of them, will have to squeeze into a seat designed for “not very tall people or those who practice Yoga” as they will get a seat with a slender 32 inch pitch. Or should that be 32 inch pinch!

All passengers will benefit from stste of the art in-flight entertainment with more than 700 entertainment choices.

Qatar Airways is partway through a massive expansion programme and currently has orders in place for over 200 more aircraft.

The airline operates a very young and modern fleet of 65 Boeing and Airbus’ which serve 83 cities throughout the Mid East, Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. By 2013 Qatar plan to have increased the fleet to 110 aircraft including the mighty A380 double-decker which is due for delivery in 2012.

South African Airways Celebrates 75 Years of Service

To Celebrate, Share Africa and Take a Companion for FREE When You Purchase a Round Trip Ticket on SAA for Just $1,399*

South African Airways is celebrating its 75th Anniversary of service with the “Share Africa” fare, which invites passengers to share the allure and excitement of Africa with a companion. The first passenger pays $1,399* round trip, excluding taxes and fuel surcharges, while the second passenger pays only the taxes and surcharges.The fare is on sale now through Jan 31st, and is valid for travel from New York JFK or Washington, D.C., to Johannesburg or Cape Town, South Africa, or Dakar, Senegal, for departures between Jan. 23rd-March 31st, or Oct. 1st-Nov. 30th, 2009.The “Share Africa” fare is also available for travel from New York or Washington, D.C., to Windhoek, Namibia, for just $1,990* round trip.Fare rules and restrictions apply.To book tickets, passengers may call 1-800-722-9675, or their travel agent.

South African Airways was founded in February 1934, and since then has led the way in offering world-class service from Africa to the world.This attention to service throughout the years has resulted in the airline consistently being named “Best Airline to Africa” by numerous travel experts and publications.Among its firsts, South African Airways was the first airline to offer service from South Africa to the United States, launching service 40 years ago in 1969, from Johannesburg to New York.Since then, it has offered the most convenient service from the U.S. to the most points throughout the African continent.Today, it is poised to continue this tradition of excellence by continuously enhancing its product offering, including non-stop service from New York JFK to Johannesburg, commencing May 1st.For more highlights on South African Airways’ 75-year history, visit www.flysaa.com, and link to “About Us.”

“To celebrate 75 years as Africa’s premier airline is something we’re particularly proud of, as it took a long commitment from many outstanding employees throughout the years to make it happen.It also took the patronage of many loyal passengers – something we’re especially grateful for,” said Marc Cavaliere, South African Airways’ executive vice president for North America.“We treat our mission – that of bringing the world to Africa and taking Africa to the world – with the utmost importance, and we consider it a privilege to be able to do so.We hope that our customers will join in and celebrate this milestone with us by flying over and experiencing majestic Africa with a companion.”

*Fare excludes taxes and fuel surcharges.Seats are limited.Companion must travel with ticket purchaser on the same date and flight. Minimum stay of 5 days, maximum stay of 1 year.

South African Airways features the only nonstop service from the U.S. to South Africa with daily departures from Washington, D.C. (until April 30th, with a stop in Dakar commencing May 1), and daily direct service from New York (operating non stop effective May 1) that offer travel convenience and award-winning service. Travelers in premium class enjoy 180° fully flat-bed seats, and in economy class enjoy the most legroom versus competitors.Every seat on board offers an individual on-demand entertainment system, plush pillow, warm blanket and amenity kit.SAA’s unrivaled network, featuring seamless connections to more than 20 destinations within South Africa, and more than 20 cities across the rest of the continent, makes the airline the savvy traveler’s “gateway to Africa.”As a Star Alliance member, South African Airways is able to offer its customers 912 destinations in 159 countries and more than 16,500 flights daily, including convenient connections from more than 25 cities in the U.S. through code share service with Star Alliance member United Airlines. Members of United’s Mileage Plus, US Airways’ Dividend Miles and Air Canada’s Aeroplan programs are able to earn and redeem miles on all SAA flights.For more information on South African Airways, please call (800) 722-9675 or visit www.flysaa.com, where travelers can sign up to be notified of other great travel deals and vacation packages.