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Reading Eagle, Pa., Charles J. Adams column: Online convenience may become costlyMay 24, 2009 (Reading Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- THE LEAD LINE in the US Airways press release was positive and promising: "US Airways announced today that it will begin offering its passengers the convenience of prepaying to check their bags online at usairways.com." How nice -- making a nuisance convenient! As I read through the rest of the release, I realized that the good folks at US Airways not only know how to fl y, they know how to spin. "Customers who check in online," the release continued, "will have the option to prepay $15 for their fi rst checked bag and $25 for their second checked bag." The airline also noted that Web check-in is available within 24 hours of scheduled departure time. How nice again -- a little bit of packing pressure for the "convenience." Perhaps the public relations spin doctors thought the next line might slip through the "convenience" crack: "Passengers who choose to pay for checking their bags at the airport will be charged an additional $5 service fee per bag." Service fee? For what service? Is not the same bag checked at the same gate for the same fl ight? Pardon me while I try to fi gure out what warrants that "service fee." Incidentally, the fees will be waived for upper-level frequent fliers, first-class passengers, trans-Atlantic passengers, unaccompanied minors and active duty military. The news release continued, "The ability to prepay for checked bags online adds to the airline's self-service convenience features including the ability to check fl ight status, process upgrades, and Web Check-In 24 hours prior to departure." And, that begs the question. How long will those "convenience features" be complimentary? When will US Airways come up with a way to charge passengers for online check-in, flight status updates, etc., etc., etc.? In other news from the airline industry, two lines -- AirTran and Allegiant -- are reportedly making many maneuvers behind the scenes to be "wheels up" as soon as travel restrictions between the U.S. and Cuba are lifted. Initially, the easing of the U.S.-Cuba restrictions would provide charter service air links for families with relatives in the two countries. But, those two and other airlines are said to be eyeing charter and/or group tour service to and from Havana Among the first American gateway cities for such service would be Las Vegas, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and New York City. Some travel industry observers urge that governmental and industry offi cials alike exercise caution when they allow tourists to visit Cuba. They say it might open a floodgate the island would not be prepared to withstand, as 50 years of Communist domination there has eroded its tourism infrastructure. . To see more of the Reading Eagle, or to subscribe, go to http://www.readingeagle.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Reading Eagle, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |