British Airways says today that the airport regulation system has failed in
allowing BAA to increase landing fees at Heathrow and Gatwick.
It will mean, intones the airline ominously, that Heathrow passengers will
have to pay 17 per cent more. What BA carefully doesn't say is that the 17
per cent increase will have to be in fares.
Because it won't. For a decade, fares have been driven lower and lower, to the
point that a five million seat sale by Ryanair et all barely registers on
the traveller's consciousness.
Fares will not rise but the extras will. The 17 per cent will be accounted for
by airport charges, baggage fees and other extras which airlines now
desperately keep off the line titled "fare."
The Office of Fair Trading does, of course, insist that airlines bundle in the
extras with the fare when advertising a headline price.
But airlines will always breakdown the overall figure, thereby saying they are
really cheap but it's the others who make you pay - airports, immigration
and security, even - in Ryanair's case - the bloke who provides the
wheelchairs.
But BA is right - of course airport regulation has failed.
It has failed for many reasons, not least because there are too many old
school airlines like BA scrapping for customers with low-cost upstarts. BA
initially relied on its reputation, service levels and generous ticketing
rules but soon learned that headline pricing is the only game in town.
It cost £400 to fly to the Cote d'Azur a decade ago, now we all expect to pay
a tenth of that. And so BA has been forced to accept that a hot breakfast
and beer on tap doesn't make up the difference. It'll even charge you to
carry a surfboard now.
But regulation has also failed because BAA was bought by a Spanish airport
company with loads of debt and ambition - but which, in the words of a livid
regional airline, Flybe, "clearly has no interest in the well-being of
the UK economy."
The company, Ferovial, can hardly be blamed for years of neglect in airport
infrastructure, however. For starters, it has to repair a crumbling
Heathrow, pay for T5 and cater for new generations of aircraft. It also has
to provide terminal comfort for twice the number of travellers predicted a
decade ago, thanks largely to airline pricing.
BAA/Ferovial can also point its own finger at the successive governments that
have proved fabulously gutless in deciding where to build the extra runways,
terminals or even a new airport that London and Britain have clearly needed
in the past 25 years.
So at whose doorstep does the accusation of airport regulation failure really
lie? Well, it's not at the feet of the traveller, who has been highly
delighted in being able to fly to Rome for a tenner, and then felt righteous
about their lost bag at Heathrow or Stansted passport control nightmare.
Yet the game is nearly up. The number of us who fly has narrowed to near zero
growth in the past year. Even the number of continental jaunts will hit the
red within the next year.
The baggage failures and passport queues do leave a nasty taste. Travellers
really don't like paying to take skis or a slightly oversized weekend bag.
They resent having to leave their terminal cappucino at the gate and buy a
£2 freeze-dried coffee on the plane.
Then there are the neglected enviromental issues. Pressure on parents from
their right-on kids is driving them to camping and rail holidays.
Guilt-ridden Stansted weekend warriors will rediscover Southwold.
Fuel surcharges will bite harder (because the airlines haven't protected
themselves against oil price increases) and the headline fare will rise,
even without BAA.
And isn't it all about time? The South Sea Bubble of £10 flights has never
been sustainable in the long-term, and we should look back on the first
decade of the 21st century fondly as that ridiculous time we all flew to
Krakow for a penny because we could.
Airline prices have to rise to keep everybody happy: the enviromentalists, the
airlines, the government and the lobbyists against airport expansion.
Honestly, travellers won't mind paying more and getting a hot breakfast
again. Say £250 to Cannes? Fair enough.
I absolutely dread the prospect of mobile phones being used on flights by inconsiderate people shouting and swearing their personal business into their handsets
terry dunne, Keston, Kent,
Although I am American and from San Francisco, California, I live in
Innsbruck, Austria.
I am a folk singer-songwriter married to an Austrian.
I have been preparing, getting loans and making MAJOR arrangements to head
to America to finish my long-awaited new CD.
I chose to fly British Airways because they are the only airlines that
treat professional musicians and their instruments with respect.
We are allowed to carry on our guitars, which is huge considering most
airlines treat musicians and their instruments very badly.
I was excited about this trip even more so when we arrived to the Munich
Airport British Airways desk to be greeted with a glass of champagne.
Although it was after 9:00am, we were happy to be part of something so
big.
My husband saw me off soon thereafter and I was off.
Well, almost.
I passed through security only to wait about an hour delay for my flight
to leave.
When it did, I sat next a great British bloke by the name of Colin. We had
a really fun amazing conversation and it was one of those connections that
you just know will be a life-long friend.
So I thought, OK - so far so good!
Fast forward to the runway in London.
We ended up sitting about an hour somewhere on the runway, with Terminal 5
in clear view.
The funny thing is, I was thinking, "Wow, look at all those planes. They
look kind of back-logged or something." and almost took a photo. But I
didn't. I figured it was just another day at another airport.
Boy could I get any more wrong?!
After finally docking and getting us all off the plane, I said goodbye to
Colin and made a mad dash for the connections desk!
It was 13:45 at this point and that was the scheduled departure of my
flight to San Francisco, so I knew it wasn't looking too good.
People walked around everywhere with t-shirts reading, "Can I help you?"
but when you asked, they clearly had no idea what to tell you or where to
go.
Each time I asked one for help or direction, I was either told to go to
the gate, not to the gate but to sit down and wait for an announcement, to
talk to someone with a badge or gee, maybe I need to stand in that line
over there.
*sigh*
I finally spoke to someone that said yes, my flight was still there but it
was closed to new passengers. I later found out that flight was also
canceled.
I counted myself lucky because when I was told it was closed, I was sent
right to the connections line.
Now, this wasn't lucky for me in the end and I will get to that but at the
time, it was because all those passengers that did make my connecting
flight to San Francisco, I realize now were probably 3-4 hours behind me
in the connections help line.
Sometime after 17:00, I finally made it to the desk and got some help. And
let me tell you, the line was not slowing down and by the time I reached
the front of the line, they had only 2 employees running the desks!! Let
me add that the First Class line had never short of 4-6 people helping
them and were breezing through.
I was one of the lucky ones to get a hotel room and although the hotel
lobbies were mayhem too, I did manage to get a quiet room which I am
counting my blessings for.
I watched on the news that people were being given letters that, "maybe
they would be compensated for hotels but that British Airways had no more
vouchers" and cringed for them. I know what I had just come out of and it
was not pretty.
On the 'hotel hopa' (bus ride) over to the hotel Renaissance were they put
me, I met some new friends also in the same situation.
We all agree to meet for dinner in the lobby at 19:00. It was also agreed
I would bring my guitar and we would write a song about Terminal 5.
When I arrived for dinner, it seemed everyone had fallen asleep except me
and one German passenger stranded after a flight from Hong Kong, trying to
get back to Berlin.
Funny enough, while waiting for my companions, I met a group of men having
beers.
I told them about my day and my plans with my new friends to write a song
about Terminal 5.
And I say funny enough because it turned out they were some of the
builders, there to celebrate the opening at a party!!
I nearly fell off my chair when they said this.
They were in good spirits agreeing it wasn't their fault. They all agreed
it was human error.
I went on to have dinner with my friend but noticed I wasn't feeling good.
I went back to my room and by the way, had to pay 17 pounds (which with
their rate was $40 US!) to get online and email my ride and others about
not arriving on time. Of course it would be that my computer shut down
very shortly after paying this 17 pounds for internet. My power cord was
in my checked baggage.
When I woke in the morning, I realized I was sick and quickly started
drinking what little special throat tea I had with me.
You see, my career and new CD is depending on my voice.
I have waited 5 years and my husband and I have taken out 20,00 EURO's in
loans to get this new CD done.
I am telling you this because thanks to British Airways, the overheating
(no water was given by the way, nothing) and stress of the loooong day in
Terminal 5 got me sick.
I did finally make it out on Flight 285 on Friday but like everyone else,
without my bags.
In my bags are not only of course my favorite things and clothes (not to
mention I came from the snowy alps and am now in California!) but all my
stuff needed for my new CD. Including my voice teas, remedies and more if
I were to get sick. Everything.
When I arrived in San Francisco, the baggage area was chaos and lines for
British Airways lost baggage long.
I received one of the many letters handed out, with a file number and a
number to call to start the claim.
It turns out if you are a resident of this country landing, you "may get
compensated" but they try to word it like you won't.
If you don't live in the country you are landing in, you if you are a
little all normal traveler like me, get a whopping $50 worth of stuff to
get by! Oh boy, how generous!
So here I am, one week away from needing to sing and play on my new CD. I
have nothing I need for my voice, for the weather here, for my CD graphics
etc... It's ALL in my bags.
I keep calling the 800 number, only to be told by a computer, "No new
information can be located on these bags."
If it weren't for the fact I am taking cold medicine and pretty out of it,
I would be at their office here in California all day waiting. I am really
worried I will never see my bags again and according to British Airways
help line and internet help, they are not responsible.
However, if my bags do not make it to me and my voice does not recover in
time for recording April 7, my career is as good as over and I will have
British Airways to thank for that.
You think maybe after all of this they will sponsor me?
Thanks for letting me vent and I hope I can help in some way. By the way,
I did take a small video. Let me know if you want it. However, I will need
the cord in my bag to upload it to you.
I'm happy to send ya' a copy of the letter if you want it. I don't need my
bags to scan and fax, thank goodness.
warmest,
Christene LeDoux
http://www.ChristeneLeDoux.com
Christene LeDoux, San Francisco, California
"Airline prices have to rise to keep everybody happy".
Writers for The Times may think this but hard working families don't. easyJets average fare is £43. Of which the government takes a third.
I like easyJet. They get in my face, sell their product, deliver it AND have a 100% safety record. You cannot say that about the ferries, the roads or the rail.
Martin Edwards, gloucester, UK
Seems like BA have come up with a new and unique customer-winning formula for airtravel - choose your own baggage waiting time by terminal number - from only 1 hour in T1 up to 5 (or more). in the new high-tech T5 - and if you are lucky the ability to travel without any baggage at all. Truly inspired and world beating - as well as an open gift to BAA if they can get their act together and open up the inward travvel shops and lounges whilst lucky reciients wile away the soporific hours snatched from busy schedules by such irresistible marketing genius!
Definitely time to buy BA shares....... and to award the boss another pay rise!
Ron Akhurst, Chipstead, Surrey, UK
For those of us, still young enough to remember; the latest catastrophe that is BA at Terminal Five, is a throw back to the days of when it was BOAC..and then, deemed "better on a camel".
Reg Joseph, Stafford, UK
To Brian Varney , London
I had no idea that there was an airport in the heart of Paris. Can you please tell us where it is and what it is called? Thank you.
Iain, glasgow , UK
While everyone acknoledges the annoyance and frustrations of modern day airports, I feel people are being too quick to forget when one flew Dublin to london for 250 pounds back in the eighties/early nighties; a time when the airlines penalized people who didnt stay overnight- a deliberate ploy to target the business traveler who couldn't stay overnight. Airline prices are significantly cheaper now than they once were, and while we all (rightly) get annoyed at the extras, we have to recognize that it's still cheaper with them. Also, on a seperate point, the reason we can't bring out coffee on to the flight has nothing to do Ryanair but is tha result of 9/11 et al. The lower flight prices in recent years show how much we were getting ripped off and has allowed a sizable proportion of people to see the world. I personally dislike flying Ryanair but for the moment at least, I will do it because it's worth it. You get what you pay for. If you want great customer service then expect to pay.
Jonathan, New York,
You are of course dead right. The service declines because the margins are no sufficient to offer a reasonable service to the consumer. BA slashes and is a commodity airline, make no mistake about it and to pay more is to elect for substance over hype. But its not just the money that does it.
Easyjet started to compete on of strategic "no-frills" direction and differentiation basis by they actually compete on the value afforded by the customer of convenience and, lets face it, not going to LHR and getting buggerred about (despite the best efforts of BAA at LUT and STN). If they wise up and charge another ten quid for a flight, hardly a seat would be lost - they are just too good at turn-arounds and ease of operation for anyone not to choose them.
To effectively use LHR, much higher prices must be charged and used to offset the bloody mess that is slot delays, parking delays, sticky carpets, endless chavs, armies of italian schoolkids and saga outings and the feckless airlines.
Steve, Cambridge,
In response to Tony Jenkins's query I would suggest a wing and a prayer!
Chris, Ashford, Middlesex, UK
For Richard Green
My sister and I would like to visit ( or even stay at ) either or both the monasteries of St. Catherine ( Sinai ) and St Antony in Egypt, perhaps using Sharm el Sheikh as a base, preferably flying from Manchester as I Iive in Altrincham, Cheshire .
Which companies would you recommend and what would be the best time of the year to go ? Thank you in advance.
Tony Jenkins
Tony Jenkins, Hale near Altrincham,Cheshire, England
I remember flying to the south of France for just over £90 out of Gatwick there and back in 1989, I suppose £180 in todays money. In my experience air fares haven't really changed that much (although I do fly club and first more often - one benefit of advancing age). I still prefer BA since in an emergency (Heaven forbid) I prefer experience over youth.
Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK
Perhaps we should take a leaf from the Spanish government who are now now no longer investing in the construction of new roads but are investing billions in new high-speed trains around the country, arguing that this will improve Spain's 'carbon footprint' etc etc and also make internal Spanish flights obsolete. (Oh and by the way, if your train arrives more than 5 minutes late the cost of your ticket is refunded!)
John Alford, Madrid, Spain
Low cost carriers broke the cartel of the 'full service' airlines and forced them to be competitive. It then became a cycle where the main criterion for many people was finding the 'cheapest' fare and this led to deceptive advertising. One example was the 'World's Favourite Airlne' (not mine) advertising a one way fare at a low rate and then stating in the tiny print : "Only saleable on a round trip basis." Then it's not a one way fare, dodo!
Similarly, low base fares are advertised by many of the conventional carriers and then hefty fuel surcharges are whacked on. A fuel surcharge is not a government imposed tax, it's imposed by the airline who also determines the amount. Thus it should be an integral part of the fare.
Short haul flights should be banned in favour of surface transportation, which should be government subsidised. This would help to reduce carbon emissions but above all would relieve congestion in and around airports.
Michael R Preston, Weybridge / Cape Town, UK / SA
I have always chosen to fly where possible with one of the major airlines rather then use the likes of Ryan Air etc. Yes I do pay more for the fare but is it a great deal more ? No, I can fly from the city airport to the heart of Paris, for less then I can with the likes of the low cost carriers , in more comfort , allocated seat and no charge for my coffee or luggage !!!
Brian Varney, London, UK
how about taxing aviation fuel properly? and an environmental surcharge? and fines for overbooking?
sure, we've got "bloody foreigners" running our airports, but can anyone honestly feel any sympathy for b.a.?
jem, london, uk
Will a hair shirt and self flaggelation also be a requirement. Domestic white goods are cheaper now than they were 10 or 20 years ago as are computers, does that mean we should stop using them and keep our food in the garden shed and return to the quill pen ?
andrew wakeling, London, uk
Its about time these stupid cheap flights stopped. If the poor were meant to fly, coaches woundn't exist. Hopefully there'll be a few more landing slots avaliable for my jet now.
Briggs Randoph, Reading,
Why should i foot the interest bill because Ferrovial borrowed so much money and overpaid for BAA. It seems we now have to foot the bill and guarantee there shareholders a return. We have the absurdity of a company who are not allowed to own airports in there home country being bailed out by british taxpayers. Break BAA up now.
Paul, Portsmouth, GB
For rich travellers 250 quid is reasonable to Cannes because they are often time poor and don't want to see chavs and have to queue with them. They are against all budget flights but obviously they will keep flying wherever they want to go. Perhaps Steve Keenan finds work flies him everywhere or is not much interested in travel anyway.
tony regan, brighton, uk
I am a regular traveller to Eastern Europe and use Wizz Air and Easyjet primarily because of the ticket price but also for the ease of flying from Luton. The success of my business venture in Poland is partly due to being able to travel so cheaply in the early years of the business - typically €60 to €80 return (all in) up to about 2 years ago
Ticket prices are now more than double that with the ever increasing add on's for taxes / bags / food / water / speedy boarding / extra legroom etc.
Cheap BA deals were available but the nightmare and cost of using Heathrow negated any benefit of having an allocated seat or free sandwich!
I for one am happy to pay a fair price for travelling, the industry really needs to self regulate and sort out the simple things like managing airport queues and waiting times, improving value for money on the "add on's" so we don't feel like we have been mugged when we buy our sandwich! Long term success needs better customer service NOT cost cutting
Russell Edwards, Leighton Buzzard, UK
But why is it reasonable? So, the cost of fuel is rising and infation is begining to take hold but...£250?? That'd mean a lot unjustifyable rises.
Its very easy for someone such as, i'm guessing, the author to suggest that it is 'about time' that airfare prices rise, and easy to bemoan the loss of the 'old school''s monopoly on airtravel.
However for the average person it has made the world accessible and affordable.
I for one will not be cheering to if BA and others claw their way from the coffin of their own complacency and aspire to rule the sky once again.
Nick, London,
Spot on. People haven't got the loss leader plan of Ryanair etc. They wanted to change the habits of holidaymakers not provide more choice. You're last sentence sums your argument up brilliantly; 250 quid is reasonable to Cannes!
Richard, kinshasa,