Post by Kingpin on Sept 25, 2009 18:01:50 GMT -5
American Airlines, 4 other carriers add $10 surcharge on busy days around holidays
From Wire and Staff Reports
Five major U.S. carriers have added $10 surcharges for most of their tickets for travel on three busy days around Thanksgiving and New Year's holidays.
Also Online
Blog: Airline Biz
More: Get the latest news on the airline industry
Deals: Cheap flights from D/FW Airport and Love Field
Interactive graphic: Extra fees
According to FareCompare.com, American Airlines Inc. and United Airlines Inc. this week, added the charge - technically, a fuel surcharge - for most of their fares for travel on Nov. 29, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, as well as Jan. 2 and 3.
On Friday, US Airways Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Inc. joined in.
Spokespersons for Southwest Airlines Co. and Continental Airlines Inc. both said they had not added the surcharge.
FareCompare noted that the Sunday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year, and that the two dates in January are heavily traveled as well.
Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com said the airlines probably added the charge because it was a quick, targeted way to charge more on busy travel days.
"The bottom line this year for consumers is that it's pretty clear that if you procrastinate on your holiday travel, you're going to get stung," he said.
Shares of American parent AMR Corp. rose 26 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $8 in afternoon trading. United parent UAL Corp. added 50 cents, or 5.7 percent, rising to $9.33, and US Airways Group Inc. was up 9 cents to $5. Delta Air Lines Inc. rose 22 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $9.14.
Dallas Morning News staff writer Terry Maxon and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
From Wire and Staff Reports
Five major U.S. carriers have added $10 surcharges for most of their tickets for travel on three busy days around Thanksgiving and New Year's holidays.
Also Online
Blog: Airline Biz
More: Get the latest news on the airline industry
Deals: Cheap flights from D/FW Airport and Love Field
Interactive graphic: Extra fees
According to FareCompare.com, American Airlines Inc. and United Airlines Inc. this week, added the charge - technically, a fuel surcharge - for most of their fares for travel on Nov. 29, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, as well as Jan. 2 and 3.
On Friday, US Airways Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Inc. joined in.
Spokespersons for Southwest Airlines Co. and Continental Airlines Inc. both said they had not added the surcharge.
FareCompare noted that the Sunday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year, and that the two dates in January are heavily traveled as well.
Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com said the airlines probably added the charge because it was a quick, targeted way to charge more on busy travel days.
"The bottom line this year for consumers is that it's pretty clear that if you procrastinate on your holiday travel, you're going to get stung," he said.
Shares of American parent AMR Corp. rose 26 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $8 in afternoon trading. United parent UAL Corp. added 50 cents, or 5.7 percent, rising to $9.33, and US Airways Group Inc. was up 9 cents to $5. Delta Air Lines Inc. rose 22 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $9.14.
Dallas Morning News staff writer Terry Maxon and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
