Airline passenger news and views

I agree with the principle but just cannot see how this works in practice. Most people simply cannot afford to budget for open ended costs and that is why they pay for insurance. I know that it would make insurance more expensive but really what I would expect, when I take out insurance is that I have enough cover to get me and my family home. If cannot afford the insurance, then I should not travel - but I cannot be expected to anticipate events such as this.

I would be in favour of selective screening and even letting passengers have a say in the people they have concerns about. The sad fact is that I now do look at people in Muslim dress with suspicion. I am not religiously bigoted but saddly this sense of discrimination is something that Mulims have brought on themselves through the actions of a small number and the inaction of many.

I think the EU have been looking at these charges, which is why the rates are low or zero within the EU. The credit card companies get squeezed in one area and so introduce new charges in other areas. I find that you have to keep checking and going for the best deal. Loyalty is a thing of the past.

I too find this to be a problem. It is not just you, I had one very large woman sit in the seat behind me and her knees were constantly banging into my seat back. When she tried to get up, she pulled herself up using my seat back and I thought it would give way.
I am sorry, but think they should not be allowed to board.

I only know of one person who had this but it happened about two months after an operation. She had asked the doctors and they said give it six weeks post-op before you fly (which I understand is pretty standard advice).
She says she was careful, moving about as much as she could and keeping her fluid levels up. Then about a fortnight after the return flight, she was back home and the problems started. She ended up back in hospital. She recovered pretty quickly but it does show what can happen.

This sounds like a good idea. It might be good to extend it beyond just ash and to cover other delays and problems.

What a great idea, I would love to be able to hire a comfort pack for a long journey. But, I do see the difficulties and I do not think it will be taken up by the airlines. Christine Lamont's (above) cabin crew experience is, sadly, probably true. People try to steal things and once they have hired them will try not to give them back. I have seen people try to snaffle headphones so i know it happens.

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There is something just so nice about old films where people sat with a napkin and silver cutlery to have a meal served by a uniformed stewardess. Move on to JetBlu the cheap (and efficient) US airline that gives you a paper bag with a can of coke and a packet of foul-tasting blue crisps to take onboard with you.
Is this what we call progress ?

We do need to invest in regional airports but we cannot do what they do in the USA as we just do not have the space. Our big advantage is (or perhaps was) our rail network. Why do we not try and reestablish that to connect airports?

Where will this end? I am not against monitoring or clever computers that look for out of the ordinary behaviour. I suppose that is similar to what happens at customs and immigration where officers look for nervous ticks etc. If it keep me save from terrorists that I am generally for this.
However, and this is, for me, the big worry, will this technology be abused?
We have already seen anti-terrorist legislation used to check up on parents trying to get their children into the best schools and even for people putting out their rubbish bins and bags. How do we know that this behaviour analysis will not be abused in this way.
I do not like tax dodgers or benefit cheats and I think they should be brought to book but I am not sure that I want to see this level of surveillance technology used for that purpose.

I think it is tremendous that a woman has been appointed. This is not just a women's lib or glass-ceiling viewpoint; I genuinely believe that the approach of a woman to a customer service industry will be refreshing. If she can get it right, this could be a very clever appointment.
I am also pleased to read Amanda Bentley's comment above. I too worked for a man who had a public persona somewhere to the right of Sir Alan Sugar but he too was a superb boss.

Some of the blame for this type of situation should fall on the government for the awful way in which they handle VAT reclaims on expenditure in other EU member states.
This should be simple and no more difficult that reclaiming UK input tax. If the government can make this hard then you cannot blame the budget airlines for trying to do the same.

I am very worried about the whole process of consolidation. It must damage competition and will push up prices.
I do appreciate that air travel is bad for the environment and the green lobby would want us to travel much less frequently. I also accept that globalisation has probably gone too far and we waste money and resources moving people and goods around the world. However, cheap ravel has been good for the average person - no frills airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet have opened up Europe. Consolidation will change this and I think it will be for the worse.

This is a growing option in America. My sister uses it when they travel back and forth from Chicago to Florida.
I do not know if it will catch on here (or in Europe) but it does sound like a very good idea.
And, I do agree with Kayte that baggage limit kills the fun of planning evening outfits !

Many people will see this as having religious overtones. I hope that BA and the other airlines resist the move.