major U.S Airlines have little luck raising fares
Gone are the days when U.S. airlines could raise fares at their whim to cover added costs. Instead, major network airlines now find themselves wedged between oil prices near 13-year highs and an abundance of low-fare carriers that have undercut their ability to pass on rising costs to consumers." It's just not going to happen with across-the-board airfare increases," said airfare expert Terry Trippler. "Those days are pretty far behind us for a while, because the low-cost carriers are really calling the shots right now and they're enjoying their position."

As loft jet fuel prices stare them in the eye and threaten to push profitability beyond their reach, network carriers have tried a handful of times in the last year to raise fares by tacking fuel surcharges onto ticket prices. But only one fare hike, about a year ago, stuck, and even then only in a few markets. Pricing power has nearly evaporated with weak travel demand and the proliferation of discount carriers. Competitors on longer race to match fare hikes as they once did. Instead, with major airlines facing competition from discount carriers on as much as 70 percent of their routes, network carriers now worry that passengers will turn to lower-fare rivals rather than endure higher ticket prices. Fare increases have met success only in some of the remaining markets that do not compete with low-cost carriers. In those cases, passengers often pay a premium to fly from smaller cities that are not served by multiple carriers.
 

U.S. to begin testing registered traveler program
The government wants to begin testing a program this summer that would allow low-risk frequent fliers to avoid extra security inspections at airports.
Passengers could volunteer to pay a fee and submit to government background checks, but if they were not found to be potential threats, they would avoid being randomly selected for the follow-up screening at checkpoints where carry-on bags pass through metal detectors.
The goal would be to move law-abiding and non-threatening travelers more quickly to their planes and permit screeners to focus more on people about whom the government has less information, said David Stone, acting chief of the Transportation Security Administration.
"TSA believes in this, "Stone told a House Transportation subcommittee on Wednesday. "It's a high priority." The program, which could begin in June, is expected to appeal mostly to frequent travelers who would think the cost would be offset by the time saved at airports. Testing would last 90 days.
 

northwest offers self-service standby option for earlier flights
Northwest Airlines now offers customers the ability to stand by for earlier flights the same day through nwa.com Check-in and airport self-service check-in kiosks. New technology expands the speed, convenience and efficiency available through these check-in options.
When an earlier flight is offered on the same day within six hours of the customer's original domestic or U.S.-Canada scheduled flight, e-ticketed customers using Northwest's nwa.com Check-in service or an airport kiosk will be asked if they would like to stand by for an earlier flight. This will occur during the check-in process. If a customer indicates that they would like to stand by, Northwest's self-service technology will either provide the documentation necessary to proceed to the departure gate or a boarding pass with a seat assignment for the requested earlier flight.
Northwest does not charge its customers to stand by for earlier flights on the same day that their original domestic or U.S.-Canada flight is scheduled, and nearly all of its fares permit same day standby.
Customers who have already checked in, but later decide they would like to stand by, can also utilize the new service. Northwest self-services allow customers to "re-enter" the system and request standby on an earlier domestic or U.S.-Canada flight.

Northwest Airlines announces Daily Roundtrip service reinstated between Amsterdam and atlanta
Northwest Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will resume daily roundtrip service between Amsterdam and Atlanta, Georgia, on October 31, 2004. The flight will be operated by KLM with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

Delta air lines and alitalia will launch year-round service from Cincinnati to rome beginning May 1, 2004
The daily nonstop flight to Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport is part of the alliance between Delta and Alitalia and will operate as a code-share between the two carriers. The Rome flight offers convenient new access to Alitalia's European hub. The new flight to Rome (Flight # 32) will be on a Boeing 767-300ER that will depart Cincinnati at 7:05 p.m. daily. The return flight (# 33) will arrive in Cincinnati at 2:50 p.m.

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A & I Travel has a negotiated rate of $5.97 per day plus tax (total $7) at Airport Fast Park, 2201 Winchester Road in Memphis. To obtain this special rate, please advise the parking lot attendant upon departure that you are a client of A & I Travel. 

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