Bestfares.com: One Year Later, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Travel Recovery
Press Release: Bestfares.com
September 11, 2002
ARLINGTON, TX -- "What a year," says Tom Parsons, CEO of Bestfares.com. "I have never seen this
many major changes in the 20 years we have been monitoring the travel industry."
Following the terrorist events of Sept. 11, 2001, and an unprecedented three-day shutdown of American airspace,
most U.S. airlines began to make substantial changes in the way they did business.
"From huge cutbacks in service to major airlines charging for amenities; and from paper tickets becoming obsolete
to travel agents being run out of business due to commission cuts, the way John Q. Public traveled prior to Sept.
11, 2001, is remembered as the 'good, old days.' Many flyers long for those days to return, and those days aren't
likely to return," says Parsons.
One year later, Bestfares.com has identified 50 issues that affect the travel. The top 20 appear below. (For the
complete list, see http://www.bestfares.com/travel/desks/story.asp?id=73216
.)
"There are two certainties: changes will continue, and Bestfares.com will continue to monitor those developments,"
says Parsons.
Parsons, founder of Bestfares.com, one of the most sought-after travel industry experts in the United States, has
been chasing down hidden travel bargains and bringing them to the traveling public for nearly two decades. Parsons
averages more than 150 media interviews monthly and regularly appears on NBC's The Today Show, ABC's Good Morning
America, CBS's The Early Show, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC, as well as nationally syndicated radio, such as
ABC, CBS, CNN and AP Radio Network.
Top-20 Travel Industry Changes
- 1. After tragedy struck, millions of travelers are stranded with some international passengers not able to
return home for as much as 10 days.
2. When commercial air travel is allowed to resume, changes in security are immediate and chaotic, varying from
airport to airport and security screener to security screener.
3. Gate areas are secured with only ticketed passengers allowed access.
4. The Department of Transportation restricts passengers to one carry-on bag and the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) revs up random searches. Flight attendants and passengers assume in-flight security front line positions
as the U.S. Sky Marshal program is expanded.
5. Airlines are required to improve their cockpit security. JetBlue responds by retrofitting doors with armor and
placing video cameras in aircraft cabins.
6. A two-hour window for airport arrival is enforced. Currently, it can take from five minutes to one hour to pass
through security.
7. Decreased bookings cause airlines to offer major discounts worldwide; roundtrips to Europe for $198 roundtrip
and Hawaii from over 100 U.S. cities for $330 roundtrip, or less.
8. Passenger-to-bag matches are mandated on all except connecting flights.
9. Most airlines (except Southwest) trim schedules and staff, by more than 100,000 employees to save money. Additionally,
all major airlines and most regional carriers cut standard travel agent commissions to zero.
10. Passengers who pay for tickets with cash or by check are automatically targeted for increased scrutiny.
11. Airlines initiate paper ticket charges of up to $25 in a major cost- cutting initiative.
12. Checked baggage is restricted to two pieces (with one carry-on) and additional and oversized bags incur fees,
typically $80 to $180.
13. Major restrictions are placed on non-refundable tickets and stand-by policies. Consumers risk losing the value
of their tickets if they miss their flight and do not change their tickets (with payment of a fee) prior to departure.
14. Major U.S. and international airlines increase change fees for transatlantic travel from $150 to $200.
15. Airlines cut meal service to reduce costs and consider fees for snacks and drinks (some drink service on international
flights has already gone to a fee basis). Special meals are largely discontinued.
16. Long-standard 10 percent discounts on all published airfares for seniors 62 and older, and their companions,
are discontinued.
17. Senior coupon books for air travel are discontinued by all airlines, except America West.
18. Airlines discontinue their hidden (and sporadically applied) $40 fuel surcharge.
19. The government bailout program for the airlines ($5 billion with a $10 billion reserve) is so far granted only
to major carriers. To date, all low-fare carrier requests have been refused.
20. The TSA discontinues mandatory check-in questions in place for 14 years.
For the complete list, see http://www.bestfares.com/travel/desks/story.asp?id=73216 .
Source: Bestfares.com