The three major global airline alliances aren't for everyone, including several airlines represented at this week's Phoenix Aviation Symposium. Representatives from those carriers pointed to the costs associated with alliance participation, tech challenges and other concerns.
Virgin Atlantic turned the tide slightly in class wars by announcing that economy-class passengers pay lower fuel surcharges than more pampered premium-class travelers. The differentiation is a departure from the standard industry protocol of applying the same surcharge to all passenger tickets for a given flight.
Re:
5Q with Virgin's Sir Richard Branson
Richard Branson always shoots "straight from the hip" and I have always respected him for that. He has shown how diverse his success can be, notwithstanding his committment to the future. If only the deadwood running many of the world's airlines had such a forward-thinking, open-minded attitude to their businesses.
~ HB Travel senior vacation specialist Mike Lane
