Industry Update
ANCILLARY CHARGES SKYSCANNER KLM
CELEBRITY CRUISES
Paying the difference
A recent report in USA Today quoted air travel consultant Jay Sorensen on the subject of ancillary charges. “Network airlines such as United, American, and Continental have realised that they have an attractive asset called ‘services’ they provide to elite travellers. They have learned they can sell these on an à la carte basis to any consumer.” These include paying to walk on the plane with
elite status members and selling day passes to use the First class lounge. There certainly are perks that will now become available to passengers who normally would not qualify for them based on the amount of flying they do,” he commented. Some observers see premium coach as the fastest-growing segment of the business and leisure market. This often involves a group of travellers that “Is looking for a product that’s more than coach but doesn’t want to pay for Business,” said Robin Hayes, executive vp for JetBlue. American Airlines this summer has a new package dubbed “Your Choice,” which involves a US$9-19 cost to be among the first to board.
www.usatoday.com
Families only
A poll by Skyscanner has revealed that 59 per cent of travellers would like a ‘families only’ section onboard flights. The survey of 2,000 people followed the recent furore over a woman who claimed a baby’s screaming made her ears bleed on a Qantas flight. It found that 68 per cent of non-parents particularly liked the idea, but less than a third of parents surveyed were in agreement. The poll also found that: just eight per cent of child-free respondents thought people should be entitled to sit where they like; almost 70 per cent wanted to sit as far away as possible from children; almost 25 per cent of non-parents said that they would prefer flights that were free from children altogether; 45 per cent of parents said they didn’t want a families-only section because they didn’t want to sit next to other people’s children; 24 per cent of parents disagreed with the idea because they felt that people should be able to sit where they liked. Other suggestions put forward by Skyscanner
users to solve the problem of noisy children on flights included the provision of a baby nursery. And Skyscanner’s Mary Porter said: “If passengers are prepared to pay extra for child- free flying, perhaps the solution is a premium adults-only section, rather than a pre-allocated families section, giving airlines yet another extra they can charge for.”
www.skyscanner.com Photo kindly supplied by Sky Supply
Schiphol gets iPad
KLM now offers iPads to passengers at both the Schengen and non-Schengen Crown Lounges at Schiphol Airport. Each iPad has apps and interactive games as well as some of KLM’s inflight entertainment. Said vp marketing and brand, Adriaan den Heijer:”It’s great that we could make the iPad available in the Crown Lounges at Schiphol so quickly.”It’s fun for our premium customers and it can also work as a driver for our ambition to serve as an active player in consumer technology and travel experience.”
www.klm.com
Wine-tasting cruise
Guests onboard a Celebrity cruise departing until early December will enjoy a variety of exclusive wine-related events, including the cruise line’s second annual onboard Wine Harvest celebration. Said Jacques Van Staden, vp of culinary operations: “A high percentage of our guests are wine enthusiasts, which is why we offer up to 480 wines per sailing year-round and a number of wine-focused Celebrity Life activities.” Highlights of the Wine Harvest event include an emphasis on French food, wine and spirits, presented in partnership with the French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, during November.
www.celebritycruises.co.uk
Extra services at a price 12
www.onboardhospitality.com
Is there a need for children-only areas on flights?
KLM is able to offer iPads to some of its Schiphol lounge guests
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76