flying

Your bathroom scale could carry a lot of weight for your next flight.

A Norwegian economist is recommending that airlines charge passengers according to their weight. People with a little more to love would pay more and those that don’t would save a few bucks.

Some airlines already require heavier passengers to pay for an extra seat but so far no one offers a discount for taking up less room. The man behind the proposal says heavier passengers cause an airplane to weigh more, forcing it to use more fuel. He says charging passengers according to weight could benefit everyone because it would inspire people to drop a few pounds and would help airlines save money.  read more »

Your next flight delay could come from the cock pit.

According to Plane and Pilot Magazine a serious pilot shortage is looming on the horizon. Recently Boeing released its current market outlook for the next year. This report is considered to be the most respected and the most accurate forecast in the world.

It said that as global economies expand and new jets are produced the demand for people to fly those planes will sky rocket. Unfortunately because of the declining number of student pilots and new requirements to actually become a pilot that demand might not be met.  read more »

By now passengers are used to removing shoes, belts and jackets at the airport; but what about your skirt, shirt or dress?

This spring a woman was flying out of Las Vegas on Southwest airlines when she says an airline employee confronted her for showing too much cleavage. In another incident a passenger complained that an American airlines pilot lectured her for a shirt with an expletive on it. She was allowed to board after covering herself with a shawl.

First amendment lawyers say airlines have every right to enforce a dress code. They say the constitution prohibits government from limiting your rights but it does not apply to private companies. In short; if they don’t like your ensemble you might not fly.  read more »

Feel like the airlines are flying off with your hard earned money? You could be right.

You may hate arriving at the airline ticket counter only to find out your luggage isn’t going to land safely unless you shell out more money. But the airlines love it; in fact some say those extra fees are the only revenue they’re bringing in.

Last year the airlines made $3.4 billion in baggage fees. This is up 29% from last year. A small consolation for airlines when you consider the price of jet fuel has climbed 39% since last year. And as the cost for them to fly rises; so does the cost for your seat.  read more »

Many factors can be blamed for a plane crash; pilot fatigue, mechanical failure or poor equipment. But just one accident shows how vulenarable the system can be in a weak economy.  read more »

Today’s consumers are frustrated with the airline industry for their extra fees and declining service. But what about the problems that could cost you more than your paycheck?

According to CBS Travel Editor Peter Greenberg over twenty six thousand flights take off and land every day without incident. Statistically that means the U.S. is seeing its safest era in aviation history. But Greenberg says we are flying towards a perfect storm of disaster and airlines aren’t scoring higher than an “f” when it comes to aviation safety.

“Think about this, an aging aircraft fleet, poor pilot training, understaffing air traffic control towers, equipment that they’re using that’s 20 years to old, outsourcing of maintenance without proper oversight. Need I say more?”  read more »

We all have our favorite hobbies that we wish could also be money-making careers. Mine have always been broadcasting, writing and flying. So it hurts to see these most enjoyable of pursuits being hit by an economy that is bleeding jobs at an alarming rate.

In Broadcasting, local advertising that helps pay for the news you watch, is drying up. Traditional advertisers such as retail, auto and finance are drastically cutting back marketing budgets. So there is a lot less money to support local radio and TV newsroom budgets. Right now new jobs in journalism are non-existent. And those lucky folks with jobs are often being asked to take a big pay cut.  read more »