Randy Petersen: On the Fly

Continental Airlines Joins Star Alliance on October 25, 2009

Randy — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:25:36 +0000

After months of speculation, Continental Airlines is poised to announce the date in which it leaves the current SkyTeam global alliance and forges ahead with its entry into the Star Alliance which included unspecified new relations with United Airlines. Among the benefits are reciprocal frequent flyer program benefits with both United Airlines, US Airways, Air Canada and Lufthansa as well as SAS.

With the merger of Delta and Northwest, Continental was no longer feeling the love and liked their chances with the new alliance which tends to outperform the SkyTeam alliance and is seen as a real coup for the Star Alliance to have gotten Continental.

Continental will end its relationship with the SkyTeam Alliance after the last scheduled flight on Oct. 24, 2009. This means changes for frequent flyers and I’ll be bringing you what you need to do and know over the next nine months.

WestJet to Add Frequent Flyer Program in early 2009

Randy — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:30:18 +0000

Reading an interview with the president and CEO of WestJet, the (somewhat) regional low-cost carrier in Canada reminded me again that those who think frequent flyer programs have overstayed their need in the airline industry should at least acknowledge that WestJet Airlines, is not alone in debunking that myth. Sean Durfy, the WestJet head executive hinted that the airline would formally launch their new program in the second quarter of 2009. What’s interesting is that the airline will no longer award Air Miles miles when booking flights with the airline after Dec. 31, 2008. This certainly means that rather than renew an existing contract with Air Miles, the airline decided to go without any rewards incentive for at least three months while they scurry to complete the technology portion of their new program.

It’s been a while since Air Canada has had any real competition for the business traveler in Canada and with this program in hand, at least one of the top three differentiators of choosing one airline over another will likely be somewhat mitigated. I say “somewhat” because it is clear that the new WestJet program, no matter how rich, has a real challenge against the behemoth Aeroplan and of course their previous partner, Air Miles.

While long ago the subject of jokes in Canada, today’s WestJet with expanding service into the U.S. and flights to Mexico, just could be that niche of a airline with a valid frequent flyer program that can compete with the basic reward demands of the average business traveler.

Mr. Durfy did hint at alliances - and of course the method of how they will pay for their frequent flyer program - a loyalty credit card!

This will be an interesting watch, given the news in early 2008 that WestJet and Southwest Airlines are going to do some codesharing.

Could It Be?

Randy — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:40:00 +0000

As a former clothing company merchandise presentation geek, I’ve always been amused at all the money that airlines spent on development and implementation of the standard silver chrome metal crate that airlines have at their various check-in counters to measure your luggage to fit their carry-on standards. Having designed and paid for similar racks to hold and display clothes in stores, that expense by airlines hasn’t been cheap, but unlike the stores in any mall around the world where those racks are actually used, I’ve yet to remember in the past 5 years ever seeing anyone actually stick their luggage in one of those sizers.

Now, it could have been you when I wasn’t on your flight, but in todays’ pile it high and deep method of carry-ons, I was absolutely elated to recently hear that American Airlines is eliminating those sizers because, “they are ineffective.” There’s simple proof for anyone thinking that the airlines don’t get it. But, then again, maybe the airlines really don’t get it because American now says that they are considering new designs that could handle different shapes. Trust me on this one, there is no sizer in the world that will hinder the most desperate frequent flyer from avoiding an extra baggage fee. So, American and other airlines around the world - “… come gather round sizers wherever you roam, and admit that the waters around you have grown…” Yes, the times really are a’changing.

Selective Government

Randy — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:55:55 +0000

Like many fellow travelers I know, we seek a fine balance of when our respective governments should be involved in our travel. For instance, some will say that they wish for governments to establish a basic set of passenger rights, while others will trump that let free enterprise rule passenger rights and only those airlines that covet and respect the passenger will eventually win out. The problem with that line of thought is that winning out can take decades of abuse of the basic passenger before an airline fails, leaving scores of innocent traveling minds left adrift. But, how does a private enterprise such as an airline become a public transit system? I’m not sure I know that answer, but recently reading that The European Parliament, concerned that many airlines are misleading passengers and that people end up paying a lot more for travel because of the extra fees that travelers haven’t been made properly aware of, agreed to ban airlines from marketing fares that do not include the taxes and surcharges that these travelers have to pay. While the airlines have until the end of the year to get in line with this change, it does seem that countries such as the U.S. and its dodgy approach to fair pricing of products like air travel again continues to slip behind in any leadership to this growing problem. We as travelers are getting a bit fed up with this practice and all we’ve ever asked for is “what will this trip cost us to travel?” Seems reasonable wouldn’t you say? But unfortunately it continues to fall on deaf ears in that country’s Congress. It takes more than one person to say, “I’m mad as hell and not going to take this anymore…”