Satisfaction Study: Air Canada 5th Overall in North American Airlines...

J.D. Power and Associates just released their "2010 North American Airline Satisfaction Study", and Air Canada placed 5th in Overall Satisfaction.

The survey was based on responses from over 12,300 passengers who flew on a major North American Airline from April 2009 to April 2010. The results show that all Airlines improved in Overall Satisfaction by about 15% from 2009.

Here's the Article and Results from the J.D. Power and Associates Website:

Article: 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction Study

A recent study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates shows that overall customer satisfaction with airlines in North America has increased notably, with 10 of 12 airlines improving from 2009.

The 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction Study measures overall customer satisfaction based on performance in seven measures (in order of importance):

* cost and fees;
* flight crew;
* in-flight services;
* aircraft;
* boarding/deplaning/baggage;
* check-in;
* reservation.

Carriers are ranked in two segments: traditional network and low-cost. Traditional network carriers are defined as airlines that operate multi-cabin aircraft and use multiple airport hubs, while low-cost carriers are airlines that operate single-cabin aircraft with typically lower fares.

The 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction Study measures customer satisfaction of both business and leisure passengers with major North American carriers. The study is based on responses from more than 12,300 passengers who flew on a major North American airline between April 2009 and April 2010. The study was fielded between May 2009 and April 2010.

Here are the Rankings from the Study for Overall Satisfaction:

Traditional Network Carrier Rankings

1. Alaska Airlines
2. Continental Airlines
3. American Airlines
4. Delta Airlines
5. Air Canada
6. United Airlines
7. US Airways

Low-Cost Carrier Rankings

1. JetBlue Airways
2. Southwest Airlines
3. WestJet
4. AirTran Airways
5. Frontier Airlines

For the full detailed results, visit Traditional Network Carrier Rankings and Low-Cost Carrier Rankings on the 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction Study section of the J.D. Power and Associates website.

In regards to Air Canada, it had the following ratings from the Study:

Overall Satisfaction: 3/5 - Average
Reservation Experience: 3/5 - Average
Check-in Experience: 2/5 - The Rest (as in, Not The Best)
Boarding Experience: 3/5 - Average
Aircraft Experience: 4/5 - Better than Most
Staff Experience: 3/5 - Average
Service Experience: 4/5 - Better than Most
Cost and Fees Experience: 2/5 - The Rest (as in, Not The Best)

So, if you don't count the Check-in Experience and the Cost and Fees (see related article: 18% of Torontonians Crossing the Border to Fly), Air Canada Ranked Average or Better.

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Last-Minute Airfare Bargains

Standard travel advice is to plan ahead, book ahead, and get everything nailed down months before your departure. And generally, that’s good advice. As your travel date nears, rates will tend to creep up, so booking six weeks ahead will almost always save you some green.

But some of the best vacations are those that we don’t plan for. Surprise your spouse, and indulge your fun and adventurous side with a spur-of-the-moment trip to the warm, clear beaches of Bali, or a last-minute shopping spree in Hong Kong! And the good news is, last-minute trips don’t always cost more. And even better, sometimes they cost less.

Why do last-minute bargains exist?

It’s simple supply and demand. Prices are low six or more weeks ahead of departure time, then they gradually creep up as seats get sold. A week before departure, there are fewer seats, so demand is higher, and they will get sold for more. But a day or two before, the airline may still have some empty seats, and suddenly they face the possibility of unsold space. And so, the last-minute special was invented as a way of helping the airlines to make sure that every possible seat on the plane gets sold. Most airlines and travel sites have “last minute deals” advertised on a regular basis, so if you’re feeling adventurous and have a little flexibility around your vacation plans, keep a watch on these deals. Sign up for email alerts. And be ready to go when just the right deal presents itself.

It’s a Secret!

The airlines have last minute deals to make money, but at the same time, they don’t want them to be too widely advertised, lest too many customers wait till the last minute and stop booking ahead of time altogether. As a result, many consolidators and flight Web sites will offer these deals without revealing the name of the airline. The advantage is a remarkably cheap deal, but the downside is that you won’t know which airline you’re flying on until after you’ve already paid. But if you’re willing to take pot luck, then you can get the deals that nobody else can get.

A few caveats

Last-minute deals can be fun as well as cheap, but there are a few things to know ahead of time. Many of the departures may be mid-week, when the airplanes are less likely to be filled with customers paying full fare, and the fares may be non-refundable. And because you’re taking the leftover seats that haven’t sold, it is less likely that you’ll be able to sit together. You may be getting two single seats in the middle of the aisle, on opposite sides of the plane.

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Senior Air Fare Discounts

Senior air fare discounts can be found on some airlines for several Asian connections. If you are approaching your senior years you can probably still visualize Dennis Hopper waving his arms around as he tells you about retirement planning , claiming that “60 is the new 40.” But it’s important to have a plan.
Have a Flexible Plan

When it comes to air fare discounts, you need to do some serious planning. Gone are the coupon booklets and standard 10% off discounts once you hit sixty-five. Senior air fare discounts are easy to find on some airlines like United Airlines, but for other senior air fare discounts, you have to hunt. Not all airlines offer them. Often, independent airline ticket websites are your best choice for finding senior discounts, although you will find that several of the major sites do not offer any senior discount fares at all. If you’re buying tickets online, check multiple online sites to find the best discounts.

If you are serious about finding the best fares, you need a plan based on a good amount of research. Every airline has a place on their website advertising “deals”. Some have “deals of the week” and some have deals for flights to different locations. It pays to search out and compare deals for the destinations you are considering; sometimes the special deals will be better than a standard fare with senior discount. Flexibility is the key. This means flexibility in both destination and timing. This can be especially true for travel to Asian countries.

Today, some of the best deals for travelers at any age can be had if you don’t care when you go or where you land. Some of you may be saying, “what’s the point of traveling to someplace if you are never sure if you are ever going to get there?” But the nature of the fierce competition common to the airline business changes things so quickly that an open and flexible attitude towards travel attitude may be the best “plan” to have.

Follow these rules of thumb

Plan ahead, but not too far ahead. One month ahead works better than one week ahead but, ten months ahead doesn’t always mean cheaper tickets.

Shop around directly on the airline websites.

Some airlines offer a website box to check for 65+, which sometimes gives you a better price. If you use ticket aggregators to find senior air fare discounts be sure to note the flight number for your choice and then go direct to the airline website. Sometimes you’ll find a cheaper fare or better discounts when you buy direct.
Don’t forget to compare between aggregator websites, since some show discounts for senior air fares and others do not.
Due to intense competition, fares at every fare website change daily, or sometimes even hourly. If you find a good deal, take it—it might be gone by tomorrow. If you think you can do better, keep searching and checking back. You could be rewarded with cheaper fares and discounts for your efforts.

Also, take advantage of any memberships (such as AARP) that may offer special benefits or discounts for senior travel.

It can pay to do the research for International flights. A small discount can still mean big savings for senior air fare discount as you head to that exotic dream vacation.

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How to Save on Airfare with Open Jaw Tickets and Circle Trips

Among those who travel often by plane, there are only a handful of frequent travelers who know that there are more savings to be had if they book through Open Jaw Tickets or Circle Trips. People typically travel or buy tickets using Round Trip mode, but these two websites circumvent the process and generally end up saving the purchaser money in the long run.

Using Open Jaw Tickets and Circle Trips is a relatively simple process. With an Internet connection and basic navigation skills, you can benefit from the same discounted tickets that these frequent flyers already know about if you follow these simple steps.

1. Understand what Open Jaw Ticket is and does. A quick Google search shows that Open Jaw Ticket deals with airline tickets wherein you travel from Point A to B and then travel back to Point A by another route, Point C. Travel between Point B and C is done over land or water. For purposes of discussion, we’ll call Point A your Home City, Point B your Destination City, and Point C your Departure City.

2. Determine your Destination and Departure Cities. Usually they are just neighboring airports or at least in the same area or country. It cannot be farther away, since this distance should be shorter than the total distance of Point A + Point B and Point C + Point A. Otherwise, it doesn’t qualify for an Open Jaw Ticket.

3. Meet the conditions of Open Jaw Ticket. To get the cheapest Open Jaw Ticket, certain circumstances must be met. First, all flights taken should be with the same airline or at least partner airlines like Northwest and KLM. Second, the departure and destination cities must be near one another as explained in step two. Finally, the fares for both flights (Home City to Destination City and Departure City to Home City) must conform to airline rules, although they can be combined so that both fares follow the more restrictive fare rule. You save money because each leg of your trip costs less combined than roundtrip ticket fares. It takes the average cost of two round-trip fares, therefore saving you more money.

4. Familiarize yourself with Circle Trips. Booking with Circle Trips also means flying between three cities: Point A to B, Point B to C, and Point C to A. You save fares on circle trips because each leg of your journey is considered a one-way flight, which costs less than roundtrip air fare. However, like Open Jaw Ticket, some rules apply to avail of Circle Trip savings. First, all flights must be from the same airline or its partners. Second, the second leg or flight of your journey must be the shortest of the trip.

5. Go to sites like Travelocity or Orbitz which offer these kinds of fares. You need to choose a multi-city or multi-destination option. On Expedia, you can first choose one-way and then choose multi-city afterward to book Circle Trips or Open Jaw Tickets.

Tips and Warnings:

• Most airlines will have and permit these kinds of travel fares. However, they may not always be the cheapest flights due to the advent of budget airlines. Double-check and compare prices before booking.
• Circle Trips and Open Jaw are great ways to explore more than one city and still save money.

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Airline Consolidators - How to get the Best Consolidator Ticket Deal

Consolidator tickets are tickets on airlines that are for international travel. Flying with consolidator tickets is pretty much the same as flying with standard tickets, with the primary difference being that consolidator tickets are cheaper. This is because consolidators get discounts from airlines for buying tickets in large volumes.
This is how it works: The airline sells empty seats to consolidators to fill up the flight. If the plane flies with empty seats, it is lost profit for the airline. Consolidators market these "cheap seats," and the airline returns the favor by giving low contract rates.

How Consolidator Tickets Help You

Air travel consolidators help you to compare flight fares between airlines for a specific flight route during the same period, allowing you to save time and money. You can also decide which airline and flight schedule suits you best. Securing a consolidator ticket generally cuts between 10% and 70% or more off the airlines’ selling prices. At airfare sales, you can get a cheaper ticket with a published rate, although this does not happen all the time since fares go up during the summer and holiday seasons.

Consolidator tickets normally do not have the same restrictions that airlines have on advanced air fare purchases. By using a consolidator ticket, you can fly into one city and exit from another. Moreover, consolidator tickets do not require advance purchase and are refundable with little penalty.

How to Use Consolidator Tickets

1. Find an online consolidator you trust, because the relationship counts a lot. When you work with a consolidator you trust and who trusts you back, it is possible to get a fair deal. Inquire about the yield management system that is used to calculate your airfare. A yield management system computes the selling price of an airfare based on factors such as season, point of departure, time, local and international events, and market forces.

2. Make sure to find out the rules before you buy your ticket. Consolidator tickets are treated the way standard tickets are treated, but there may be special rules that apply in certain situations.

3. Ask about the details of the seat and the flight in general. When you fly with a consolidator ticket, you are supposed to get meals and other benefits you would normally get with a standard ticket.

4. Buy your ticket as early as possible. The population of online travel consolidators is growing, and the result is a vibrant online travel industry. Because of this, there is pressure on offline travel consolidators to go online as well. When you use an online air travel consolidator’s service, you can compare air fare prices between airlines and consolidators as well. This will allow you to get the best deal to suit your needs.

Where to find consolidators

Most Sunday travel sections of big news newspapers publish consolidator contacts and links. In the United States consolidator centers are located in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Portland, Honolulu, Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, and Minneapolis. International consolidator hubs are also based in England, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Israel, Australia, Thailand, and Canada.

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Saving Time and Money with Alternate Airports in the US

Airport alternatives provide options to travelers based on what is most convenient for them. Choosing an alternate airport can save you a significant amount of money from your airfare.

San Francisco Alternate Airports

1. San Francisco International Airport — this airport is located about 9 miles south of the main city. Almost all international airline carriers have scheduled flights to San Francisco every year. Some of the major airlines served by the airport include Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Northwest Airlines.

Although this airport enjoys a great location at the rim of the San Francisco Bay, the place can be foggy at times, which often reduces visibility on the runways, resulting in flight delays when only one of its two runways can be used. Because of the potential delays at San Francisco International, international travelers often choose alternate airports. Flights to alternate airports can be less expensive, but just as convenient.

Taxis are available at the designated taxi zones near the Arrivals and Baggage Claim Areas in all terminals. The airport also has “air trains” which are free of charge.

2. San Jose International Airport — located 60 miles south of San Francisco, this airport is another alternative for those traveling to the city. Although quite far from the center of San Francisco, this airport is a good pit stop if you will be traveling down to Carmel, Monterey or any area south of San Francisco. You only have to rent a car or take a shuttle to your destination. Major airline carriers that have regular trips to the airport include Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Air.

3. Oakland International Airport — this airport is located about 25 miles from the city of San Francisco. The airport is easily accessible for locals through shuttle buses and taxis. Major airlines such as Delta, Alaska Air, United, Southwest and America West have regularly scheduled international flights to this airport. This is a good starting point for those who plan to travel to Yosemite, Sequoia, Napa and Lake Tahoe.

Los Angeles Alternate Airports

1. Los Angeles International Airport — this is the main airport serving Los Angeles, California. It is located 16 miles from the downtown core. Since it is the most famous among all airports in Los Angeles, it is easily accessible by bus or taxi cab. Flights are sometimes delayed due to passenger traffic, as it serves around 60 million passengers every year. Some of the major airlines that the airport serves include Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, Avianca, Hawaiian Airlines, KLM, Northwest Airlines, TACA, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Volaris and WestJet.

2. Long Beach Airport — relatively smaller than the main international airport, the Long Beach International Airport is located about 11 miles from the city’s core. It has limited daily flights, and most of them are 90 percent on time. Good shuttle and taxi services are available, although there are very limited domestic and international passenger flights served by the airport.

3. Ontario International Airport — this is another one of the alternate airports surrounding Los Angeles, although it is quite far from the center of the city. It is located 35 miles from the center of Los Angeles, or approximately a 30-minute drive from L.A. It has poor shuttle and taxi services compared to the two previously mentioned airports. Some of the airline carriers that fly to the airport include United Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Us Airways, Aeromexico and Horizon Air.

4. Palmdale Regional Airport — this is ideal for domestic flights to Los Angeles. Although located 65 miles from the center of the city, flights to this airport can be relatively cheaper than those offered to the main airport of the city. Plans for expansion are currently in progress, although there is such high potential for the airport because of the land area it covers.

Chicago Alternate Airports

1. O’Hare International Airport — considered “the best airport in North America” for ten years, this airport is located about 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. With an average of 2,500 flights per day, air traffic is sometimes the cause of delay for many domestic and international flights. This airport is accessible by bus or shuttle, depending on your preference. All major airlines from America and many major airlines carriers from other countries have daily scheduled flights to this airport.

2. Chicago Midway International Airport — this airport is known as the Midway Airport or simply the Midway for many locals. It is located 8 miles from the center of the city. This airport is more heavily used by low-cost airlines, although some flights from major international carriers are also available.

Airline traffic is fair, and flights are usually on time. Airlines that are supported by the airport are AirTran Airways, Delta Connection, Shuttle America, Northwest Airlines, Northwest Airlink, Compass Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Porter Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

The airport is served by the Transit Authority of Chicago. Upon arrival, passengers can board the Orange Line trains at the airport terminal bound for several destinations within Chicago.

3. Gary/Chicago International Airport — located 25 miles from downtown Chicago, this airport has inconsistent international flights to a number of destinations. Currently, the airport has temporarily ceased their service for domestic and international flights because of ongoing expansions.

4. Chicago Rockford International Airport — an international airport serving several airlines, this airport is located 68 miles from Chicago. Because of the distance, a small number of international airlines serve the airport. Some of these include Allegiant Air, Aeromexico Travel, Direct Air and Virgin America. Although shuttle buses and taxis are available for passengers, the distance from the center of the city makes it the least preferred airport for travelers bound for Chicago.

New York City Alternate Airports

1. John F. Kennedy International Airport — this airport is located around 8 miles from Manhattan. It is currently the leading gateway to the United States, which is why you can expect that almost all flights bound for this airport can be relatively more expensive than those bound for other airports. It is also the base for major airlines such as JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Flights are 90 percent on time.

You can expect good taxi and shuttle services available from the airport. It is accessible for international and domestic travelers.

2. Newark Liberty International Airport — located about 15 miles from the core of Manhattan, this airport serves good public transport and easy cab access to travelers. Some of the major airlines that fly to this airport include Air Canada, Air Trans Airways, American Airways, United Airlines, US Airways, Miami Air International and JetBlue Airways.

3. LaGuardia Airport — this is the smallest among the three primary airports of New York. It serves international flights from airlines such as Continental Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Air Canada and several other international airline carriers. Taxis that serve the airport are licensed by the city government. As you arrive at the airport, uniformed taxi dispatchers will assist you with your ride.

4. Westchester County Airport — this airport is located 30 miles from the center of Manhattan. The airport has two major runways that serve a number of domestic and international flights. Today, the airport is served by 8 major airline carriers bound to a range of destinations in the US and Canada. Some of the international airlines that it serves include the American Eagle, Air Canada, Cape Air, Delta Connections and United Express Airways.

This airport is ideal for those who are traveling to nearby cities of New York. The airport has a rather poor provision for cabs or shuttles.

Boston Alternate Airports

1. General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport —this is the main airport of Boston. It is located approximately 4 miles from the core of the city. It is simply known as the “Logan Airport” to many locals. Travelers to Boston are most likely to be brought to this airport. It is included on the list of the 20 busiest airports in the United States, with over 27 million passengers every year. It serves almost all major international airline carriers in the world.

Taxis are accessible within its perimeters. All transportation is coordinated and licensed by the airport. Taxis, shuttle buses and limousines are available at their designated terminals.

2. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport — called the “Manchester Airport”, this airport is located 3 miles from the center of the city. It bears the reputation of never surrendering even under extremely bad weather. It serves regional and interstate flights served by the major airlines in the US. Taxi cabs and shuttles are easily accessible.

3. Portsmouth International Airport — this was formerly known as the Pease International Airport before its name was changed. Located 50 miles from the city of Boston, this is also one of the nearest airports from the city. It provides services to international and domestic passengers and offers free parking and no traffic, which means less hassles and flight delays. The amenities of the airport were built according to international airport standards.

4. Worcester Regional Airport — this airport can be found 28 miles from the core of Boston City. The airport has three runways that mostly serve domestic flights within the United States. Passenger flights to a range of domestic and international destinations are being served in this airport. They provide safe, secure and efficient services both for passengers and aircrafts.

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How to Survive Airport Problems, Travel Simply and Have a Better Trip

Your holiday fun starts with a smooth flight. We have a few tips to help you enjoy your travels.

Traveling Light - A Joy Many Never Experience

Depending on your complete itinerary, try to travel with the minimal amount of baggage. If you can travel light, the ease of going through the airport, traveling with your baggage will be make your travels much more enjoyable. Yes, packing light is a skill but worth the effort. Anything bulkier than your backpack or carry-on should be left out if you want to try this out. Think how long your holiday trip is and the number of times you will change your clothes. Simplify. Take only what you need, and plan to dress comfortably. Dress down, since you are unlikely to attend a Cannes Film Festival awards night.

At The Airport

Arrive early. The golden rule is to get to the airport two hours early for domestic check-in and two and one-half hours for international flights. When you are at the airport ahead of time, you can double-check your bag, make calls to friends and family, and relax before boarding.

Know airport and airline rules, which can vary from facility to facility. Know which rules are in place at your point of departure, and read and understand pertinent information such as e-ticket and airport announcements.

Know where you are and where you need to go. Check the flight boards regularly, locate your gate, and do not hesitate to ask airport personnel if you need help locating something.
Keep your identification and boarding pass easily accessible at all times. You will need both from the time you check in until you board the plane. So you do not lose them, insert them in a book or magazine you are reading. Again, read your boarding pass before boarding the plane.
Keep your cool. If the “D” word (delay) happens because of a lengthy security check, tell yourself it is for your own good. Putting on an attitude and ridiculing airport management can annoy other passengers. Neither should you comment about bombs nor terrorists in an already tense situation, as those are very sensitive issues in airport security.

On The Plane

Be kind and polite to airline staff and fellow passengers. Keep in mind that the flight attendants are doing their best to make your flight as comfortable as possible. If you believe you complaint is legitimate, state it politely.

Occupy yourself. It can be painfully boring on a long-haul flight if all you do is sit and stare at nothing in particular. Get your brain cells working by reading a book or magazine.
Get up and stretch once in a while. Drink water or juice on the plane: The recycled air in the cabin can cause dehydration, so avoid drinks with too much caffeine like coffee and colas.

If you sleep on a long flight, try to wake up about an hour before arrival and wash your face in the bathroom. You will feel much more refreshed and presentable when you disembark.

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