CHAPTER 2B

Taking to the Skies: Airports, Airfares, and Air Tickets

OBJECTIVES:

Define airline industry terminologyExplain how types of aircraft differCategorize airline typesDescribe what factors affect air ticket

pricesDecipher the codes of major airportsDescribe airport procedures

First you arrive: in car, taxi, bus At curbside: give luggage to Skycap-

luggage handler who will check your bags (expects a tip) or…

Keep your bags and stand in the regular line at check-in counter (some airports have self-check in lines) (some have business and first class lines which are faster)

The Airport Experience.

The Airport Experience.

You show photo ID to a service representative

Service rep prints a boarding pass and gives to you

You take luggage to security screener where luggage is screened and sent to the plane

You are then directed to the gate where the flight will depart

The Airport Experience.

You may shop at some of the airport stores

You go to security, show boarding pass, ID, and your carry-on bag is scanned

You go through a metal detector

You may shop more at other stores near the boarding gate

The Airport Experience.

You are seated at the gate for 35-50 minutes for boarding to commence

You are directed to board the plane according to row numbers starting from the back of the plane

You show your boarding pass as you board the plane-take your seat-have a nice flight-enjoy the view

The Airport Experience.

If you were on an international flight you would have to show a passport

You would have to go through Immigration which deals with citizenship, people, purpose of trip etc.

You would have to go through Customs which deals with things such as items purchases abroad

Airport and Aviation Management

Divided into 4 main groupsAirport ManagementFixed-base OperatorsAirport Ancillary ServicesGovernment Organizations

Management Fixed-base Service Ancillary Government

Airport Management

Makes the operations of an airport efficient, safe, and profitable

Some airports are owned by the govt. some are private

Some duties include: administration, operations, marketing, finance, maintenance, safety security, policing, firefighting

Management

Fixed-base Operators

Companies that provide ground services and support

Provide aircraft repair and maintenancePilot trainingAircraft sales and rentalsDe-icing servicesCabin cleaning services

Fixed-base Service

DEFINE: Ancillary

SupplementaryAuxiliarySecondaryAdditional

Airport Ancillary Service

Any other airport-related servicesAirline caterers, stores, restaurantsPrivate security firmsTaxisShuttles and limosAirport hotelsCar rentalsBus companies

Ancillary Services

Government Organizations

Cities or counties that own airports

FAA which monitors the air travel system for safety and manages air space (part of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation)

TSA manages airport safety

Government

Codes

Each airport and city has a three-letter code for ticketing and air traffic control

Cities with only one airport usually have the same code for the city and airport

Some codes are obvious, some are obscure

Codes

Examples of codes:ATL = Atlanta, GABOS = Boston, MACUN = Cancun, Mexico IAH = HoustonDFW = Dallas, TXSEA = Seattle, WADCA = Washington, DC-Regional

Airfares

“Every person on the plane may have paid a different fare!”

Full Coach: no discounts, almost as much $ as

business or first classunrestricted, you can make

changes to your itinerary

Airfares

Promotional FareDiscounted priceAlmost always in coach classMay have a “catch” to them

(must fly on certain days or nights, must stay overnight, must pay for tickets early, usually nonrefundable, must be round trip)

Airfares

Generally: the farther in advance you buy the less you pay

7 days or less from departure are usually “full price”

A reservations does not “lock in” the price

Price is guaranteed when you make the purchase

Airfares: when you buy…

Airfares: when you buy…

Coach almost always costs less

Many times a travel agent can find a special price that is lower

Some airlines use a consolidator which specializes in unsold ticket inventory (like outlet stores for airlines)

Add-ons and Fees

Fuel surchargeSegment taxDeparture taxAirport taxSecurity fees(all may add to the

price of your fare)

Other factors on fares…

“Fare War” Which airport you are flying to Which route you are taking What time you are flying (morning,

afternoon, night) Which airline you use How many passengers on the plane International flight What company you work for Do you have frequent flyer miles Are you with a group: senior adults,

children, military Travel professional: employees fly free

CRS or GDS

Computer Reservation System (CRS)Global Distribution System (GDS)

These systems allow you to book plane reservations as well as hotels, tours, cruises, car rentals and buy other travel products

Tickets

Rarely printed on paper or cardstock today

Mostly electronic tickets or e-tickets

Boarding passes are issued at the airport to allow boarding

Who sells tickets?

Airlines: prime supplier of ticketsTravel agencies are the prime

distributorsMay change because airlines no longer

pay commission to agencies

Miscellaneous Facts

Smoking is permitted only on a few airlines

Jet streams are bands of wind that circle the earth from west to east-thus a flight from west to east takes less time that from east to west

Jet Lag is a psychological and physiological discomfort caused by flying long distances over multiple time zones

Miscellaneous Facts

Stand-by passenger: may take another flight if there are enough no-shows for a seat to be open (some airlines do not accept stand-by customers, others charge a fee, some do not charge)

Most passengers in first or business class are flying free with mileage awards or are airline employees

Miscellaneous Facts

Most airlines and airports make special arrangements for disabled, children flying alone, pets, seeing-eye dogs, people with special meal requirements

Miscellaneous Facts

An airline must pay a passenger denied boarding compensation if the plane is delayed because of mechanical difficulties or the passenger with a confirmed reservation arrives on time but is “bumped” and the airlines cannot get them to their destination within an hour of the original scheduled time

Miscellaneous Facts

Shipping cargo is added revenue for many airlines

If luggage is lost…they try to find it…if not found, the passenger is compensated

Most luggage is not “lost” and is usually delivered to the passenger within a few days