Delta reportedly plans to add premium economy cabins on international routes. Have you ever flown premium economy? Do you think it represents good value for the fare premium? Would you like to see more U.S. carriers offer it?
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last week that Delta Air Lines is planning to add a premium economy seating section to its long-haul international fleet in 2011. As its source, the newspaper cited “an internal website” at Delta. A Delta spokesman would not confirm or deny the report.

As the Transportation Security Administration continues to deploy more of its full-body scanners to airports around the country, passengers are being advised that they do have the option of submitting to a physical pat-down if they'd rather not be scanned by the devices - which can essentially see through clothing. But those who do request a pat-down will be getting a much more comprehensive going-over than in the past.

Business travelers are probably more aware than most people about the truth of the old adage "time is money." But just how much money? When it comes to airline flight delays, the answer is $16.7 billion a year. That's the estimate of costs to passengers in a new study commissioned by the Federal Aviation Administration and led by researchers from the University of California at Berkeley. Using data from 2007, the researchers calculated that the total economic cost of domestic airline delays that year was $32.9 billion; that included $16.7 billion in costs for passengers, $8.3 billion for airlines, $3.9 billion from lost demand for air travel, and $4 billion in the impact of delays on the gross domestic product. Where did they come up with $16.7 billion in costs for delayed passengers?

Members of United's Mileage Plus and Continental's OnePass frequent flyer programs are getting some new reciprocal benefits now that the two airlines are part of the same parent company, United Continental Holdings. Effective immediately, Mileage Plus elite-level members have access to domestic first class upgrades on Continental, as well as access to extra-legroom (bulkhead and exit row) seats and preferred seating (first few rows) in the economy cabin of Continental flights.

American, British Airways and Iberia kicked off their joint venture, saying it will mean lower fares and more flight options for customers. New transpacific and U.S.-Canada joint ventures also took steps forward. Do you really believe these antitrust-immune ventures will mean lower prices for passengers? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

Last week, we noted that Southwest's planned acquisition of AirTran will mean the end of checked baggage fees, ticket change fees, assigned seating and business class on AirTran. Since AirTran is Delta's biggest competitor at its primary hub, we asked readers how they think Delta will (or should) respond to these changes. Among the replies:

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia have formally launched their long-awaited transatlantic joint venture, announcing new routes, a wide expansion of code-sharing, and new benefits to members of their frequent flyer programs. At a meeting of the three airlines' CEOs in London, they announced several new routes to be added to their transatlantic schedules in April 2011, including New York JFK to Budapest and Chicago O'Hare to Helsinki, both to be operated by American; San Diego to London Heathrow, to be operated by BA; and Los Angeles to Madrid, operated by Iberia. In addition, American will add a second daily Miami-Madrid flight. Customers of each airline will also have access to greatly expanded flight options on both sides of the Atlantic through additional code-sharing: American's code will go onto 322 British Airways and Iberia flights to 101 cities, while BA will put its code on more than 2,000 American and Iberia flights to 181 destinations, and Iberia's code will go onto 354 American and BA flights to 96 destinations. "There will be further opportunities to increase code-shares in the future," they said. In an interview with Bloomberg News, American president Tom Horton said the combined American/BA schedule between JFK and Heathrow in the evenings will be "like a shuttle service," with departures every 30 minutes.

Southwest's planned acquisition of AirTran will mean the end of checked baggage fees, ticket change fees, assigned seating and business class on AirTran (see this week's story). Since AirTran is Delta's biggest competitor at its primary hub, how do you think Delta will (or should) respond to these changes? Will it be forced to match them, or will it continue to focus on being a full-service, full-fee airline? How else might Southwest's purchase of AirTran change the competitive picture? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

A new study suggests that airlines' increasing sale of ancillary services and amenities will tend to blur the distinction between economy and business classes in the future, creating a variety of "virtual" classes instead (see this week's story). What do you think of the airlines' current class structure - are the benefits of business class worth the fare differential from economy? Is the growing ‘premium economy' trend a good compromise? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.


Last week, we noted that Ritz-Carlton Hotels, a Marriott subsidiary, has created its own loyalty program. We asked readers if hotel loyalty plans are as important to them as airline frequent flyer programs, how many hotel programs they belong to, and what they usually do with your hotel program points. Among the replies: