Can airlines survive by selling air tickets alone?
Recently, a survey of 175 airlines worldwide, jointly completed by consulting company IdeaWorks Company and transportation technology platform CarTrawler, found that global airlines' sideline income hit a record high in 2018, reaching US$92.9 billion (sideline income includes additional luggage, better seats, more delicious food, VIP rooms and other services).
In order to make more money, airlines have also fought hard. Some people cancel first class cabins and increase the attendance rate of affordable cabins; some people secretly charge baby service fees; and some people also need to "pluck" the name of the air ticket. Anyway, if you can take a plane, you can just collect more.
Picture description: Korean Air will cancel first class from June. Image source: South Korea Asia Daily
The first class you take has been cancelled
Korean Air recently stated that from June 1, 27 international routes will be cancelled, which means that 70% of Korean Air International's flights will no longer have first class.
According to South Korea's Asia Daily, from June 1, Korean Air will change the cabin layout of 27 international routes from third-level cabin to two-level cabin, that is, from the three levels of "first class-business class-economy class" to two levels of "business class-economy class".
At present, Korean Air operates a total of 111 routes, of which 49 are arranged in two-level cabins. After June 1, the two-level cabin routes will increase to 76, while only 35 routes will retain first-class cabins.
The first class routes that were cancelled this time are mainly concentrated on medium and short-haul routes, while long-distance routes to Europe and the United States are still retained.
According to analysis, Korean Air's seat adjustment this time is to operate passenger plane seats more effectively and improve profitability. Korean Air said that the company has adjusted the layout of two-level cabins for tourism routes with less demand for first class and routes with greater demand for business class.
Picture description: Ryanair is no longer free for babies. Image source: European Times Italian version
babies also charge
Following the charge for hand luggage, Ryanair recently added another paid service - "baby fee".
According to the Italian version of the European Times, the "baby fee" launched by Ryanair this time is aimed at all children under 2 years old. Previously, children aged 0 to 2 had no charge when taking cheap flights from the company. But now, this free service will be changed to pay 25 euros.
According to the latest regulations of Ryanair, newborns are not allowed to take flights of the company only after the 7th day of birth, and the infants (8 days to 23 months) on the flight must be accompanied by an adult. However, the new regulations were introduced a few days ago and were criticized by passengers. It turns out that after selecting the neonati option when booking online, the website will not prompt any information about the charge of 25 euros infancy fees, but in the final payment stage, the fee will be calculated in the total air ticket amount.
In addition, the new regulations also stipulate that passengers with babies can bring 2 pieces of baby items (a folding stroller, baby travel bed or heightened seat) for free. Other baby items can be checked, but the baby/children's supplies fee is required, and the weight is limited to 20 kg.
It is reported that this is not the first time that Ryanair has been caught in a public opinion storm. Previously, it was fined 3 million euros by the Italian antitrust department for charging for hand luggage; and recently, in addition to the "baby fee", there are rumors that Ryanair intends to rent out space on passenger boarding passes for advertising.
Picture description: The charges for renaming tickets in different airlines are also different. Image source: Ouhua.com
It is better to buy a new one than to change the name of the air ticket. Everyone knows that once there is any error in the name when booking the air ticket, you may not be able to board the plane normally. If you want to change your name, it sometimes costs a lot.
Passengers purchase cheap air tickets. If they want to change their names, the payment fees will be different. Ryan Airlines (Ryan again!) stipulates that the online change fee is 110 euros two hours before the plane takes off, and the manual change fee is as high as 160 euros when the phone or check-in is performed.Vueling can change the name for free, but it costs 50 euros to change other errors. In addition, the ticket price shall be subject to the day when the name is changed. If there is a price increase, the air ticket price difference must be made up. EasyJet (EasyJet) does not charge any correction of any name typos. Norwegian Airways and Binter Canarias stipulate that no charge is charged for errors within 3 letters.
Most traditional airlines can apply for correction of their names through telephone service. For example, KLM stipulates that passenger names can be corrected for free 30 hours before the plane takes off. Spanish National Airlines (Iberia), British Airways and Air France stipulate that if there is a letter error in the name, no correction fee will be charged. However, if there is a difference in airport tax, fuel tax, etc. on the day of changing the name, passengers will need to pay the difference fee.
Xinmin Evening News reporter Mei Yingdi
