Big Changes Coming In 2017 For Airline Travelers

Don't you just hate it!!! The way the airlines are talking, it's obvious they don't really care about the ones paying the fare for service.

United made the recent announcement where they said that customers who bought its cheapest fares would not be assigned seats until the day of departure. Also, those low-fare customers will be limited to one carry-on bag that fits under a seat. In addition, you would not be able to accrue miles toward elite status at this fare level. Now, if you paid a higher fare or wanted a particular aisle or window seat, then the ticket fare would increase, of course.

This is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2017; tickets will be able to be purchased at some point in the first quarter.

Delta Air Lines also made a recent announcement that some time this year they will be going the “cheap ticket” route and they will prohibit itinerary changes and seat selection.

The scuttlebutt is also out that American Airlines is expected to launch its “basic economy” fares some time in the first quarter of 2017.

The idea is to offer these wonderful fares, but with restrictions, in hopes that they will be able to upsell the amenities once the conditions are revealed. Also, since customers will not be taking all those large carry-ons with them, the boarding process will speed up.

Of course the airlines mantra is that customers are wanting more choices and this is what they are giving them, but it looks like the airlines are taking away some long-expected traveling privileges and then charging you for all those possible choices.

For several years now the airlines have been raking in huge profits with the lower fuel charges and flying at over 80% occupancy, even higher occupancy during the holidays, Mondays and weekends. It seems they are copying the models of the low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier, even though those two airlines rate lowest in customer satisfaction in a recent airline survey.

If you were looking at some of the pictures of the terminal madhouse at some of the cities in the United States this past weekend when a combination of bad weather and computer failure joined together to really mess up vacationers holiday, you'd think that the airlines would be doing everything in their power to make air travel pleasant. The only ones I hear compliments regarding treatment from the airlines are from the business and first-class passengers and the wheelchair travelers.

Just think about it though, for the most part, getting from point A to point B and back to point A in the quickest amount of time, especially if you don't consider possible delays, airline travel is still the best way to get to your destination. But, I'm like most of my customers, it's sure getting harder to “grin and bare it”.

Your experienced travel agents at The Travel Factory sell airline tickets every day and we do shop for the best deal for our customers, so give us a call at 698-1421 or toll-free 800-760-4040. We'd love to be of service.....and unlike some airlines I know of, you'll love the way you are treated.