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Last year saw a drastic rise in the cost of air travel flights. The rise in oil prices was followed by the rise in air fares, both in domestic and international flights. Today air travelers do not just have to pay a higher price for their tickets; they also have to pay several surcharges.

If you are going to fly, it is best to be aware of these new airline surcharges. This will help you set a proper budget for your airline tickets.

Bags Will Cost You

If you are going to travel in the coming months, be ready to pay for your bag(s). Most airlines had started charging for the second bag a while back. American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, AirTran, United Airways and US Airways are all going to charge you $25 for that second bag. However, now you will also have to pay an added fee for checking in even a single bag. At present, only Southwest allows two free checked bags on domestic air travel flights.

A point to note here is that you would be paying these fees each way on the roundtrip flights.

Now you cannot get around these fees by overloading your first bag because if you do so that would cost you too. For example, Northwest charges you $25 each way for your second bag and will charge you $100 for excess baggage fee even if your bag is one pound overweight. The allowed weight limit is 50 pound.

Phone Reservation Surcharge

Now if you are thinking about making a phone reservation for your domestic airline or international flight, you will have to pay a surcharge. Right now, the fees range from $5 (Northwest) to $25 (Delta).

Customer Service

Some airlines are also charging for providing customer service. Air Canada requires you to pay $25-$35 per booking if you are interested in getting speedy access to specially trained customer service agents.

Premium Seat

Now when you are paying for your flight fare, you will have to pay extra if you request for your choice of seat. Some might say that this has always been the case. After all, first class costs more than business class. However, this is not what I am talking about. Recently, United Airways has been offering premium seats for some extra bucks. If you look a little closer, these premium seats are coach class ones. The only difference is that they offer a little bit of extra leg space.

Some Tips To Help You Save

When you add up all the surcharges, the cost of your air travel flights is going to increase drastically. I know that if you have a tight budget, it is going to be pretty hard; however, with these few simple tips you will manage to save considerably on your airline tickets.

-Book early to save on airfare

-Research online for the cheapest airfare

-If you are a frequent flier, you can use your frequent-flier miles to upgrade. A domestic upgrade costs 15,000 miles each way. If you are traveling New York - San Diego, a first class ticket would cost you around $2030. A coach ticket on American Airline is around $320. If you upgrade, you will get more than 5 cents per mile. Therefore, for a few hundred extra bucks, you get to travel first class.

-Many airlines offer flight discounts to senior citizens.

The key to finding cheap airfare is to do your research properly. You will be amazed at how much you can save. After all, air travel flights do not always have to burn a hole in your bank balance.

Before booking your next flight online, visit us at Airlines Traveler for valuable tips and advice for getting the best air travel deals possible. http://www.airlinestraveler.com

Could low-cost airlines be to blame for the downfall of more expensive airlines? The news that XL Airways had folded was expected to cause quite a stir among the tourism-dependent areas it served. Malta did not receive as much air traffic from XL Airways as other, less expensive airlines. When XL Airways closed, they cancelled flights and immediately grounded all aircraft. Several thousand passengers were stranded abroad and seeking to make last-minute travel plans.

Today’s economic woes stretch world-wide. The more expensive something is, the fewer people will be able to afford it. Airlines that offer lower cost airfare will ultimately carry more passengers and create more revenue than their more expensive counterparts. Low-cost airlines could be the underlying cause of the increase in tourism on Malta. In fact, some airlines claim to be more responsible for travel to and from the island than others.

Air Malta

Air Malta believes they are primarily responsible for Malta’s increase in tourism. About 77,000 more tourists flew from points in Europe to Malta in the first half of 2008 primarily because of Air Malta’s new pricing packages. A staggering 57 percent of those tourists traveled via Air Malta.

Chief Officer Commercial, Brock Friesen said, “We are building on the positive results registered last winter, when, for the first time in history, Air Malta transported over half a million passengers.” He also said that tourism to Malta was strongly benefitting from Air Malta’s increases in traffic.

Ryanair

In August, Ryanair reported carrying more than 40,000 passengers to or from Malta during the month of July. Ryanair spokesman Alessia Viviani said, “While Malta airport registered traffic growth of only 1.3 percent in July 2008 compared to July 2007, Ryanair has increased its traffic volume by 116 percent, making a vital impact on the Maltese economy.”

easyJet

easyJet is another low-cost airline laying some claim on the increase in tourist traffic to Malta. easyJet offers inexpensive flights to and from Malta and a variety of hot tourist spots throughout Europe. Since the first flight to Malta in March of 2008, easyJet has seen an increase in traffic to the island as well. The airline plans to continue several flights per week to Malta in the coming years.

The Impact of Low Cost Flights to Malta

Because the Maltese economy is reliant primarily upon tourism, low-cost flights to the island have become just as important. The current state of the economy world-wide could cause people to reconsider vacations and weekend getaways. They may even cut them out of their budget entirely. The introduction of low-cost flights to and from Malta has actually increased the number of tourists the island entertains per year. Many tourists are repeat visitors who say they would not abandon their vacation to Malta, even if it means tightening the budget to accommodate it.

Some travel agents seek low-cost airlines and hotels to book more affordable travel packages for their clients. Clients often look toward professional travel agents to find the best cost for their favorite travel destinations. When resorts, hotels and airlines work together to combine great deals for their guests, travel agents promote those great deals to ensure more repeat business.

The impact of low-cost flights to Malta has been astounding. In 2003, about 1.2 million tourists visited Malta. In 2005, the island attracted nearly 1.5 million international tourists. Each year, Malta’s tourism statistics jump as much as 13 percent. The first six months of 2008 have already seen more than half a million visitors, effectively breaking Malta’s previously held record within the same time frame.

Flights to Malta and information about the island’s Luqa Airport are available with online travel guide yourmalta.com and they include Malta flight times.

For accommodation they feature a range of hotels in Malta and also have Malta holiday news and updated holiday Malta deals.

If you ever fly on a private jet, you will understand that charter flights are the best way to fly. Charter airlines provide the greatest customer service and the best benefits to their passengers. After I took my first charter flight, I realized very quickly that charter flights represent the future of the airline industry.

There are a few reasons why charter airlines are so wonderful. First, they provide passengers with amazing customer service. Second, companies that seek to charter flights will be able to save time and money by renting private jets. Third, several charter airlines have lowered their prices significantly, and they are competing with commercial airlines for business. Many large and small companies used to buy large packets of first class and business class tickets on commercial airlines, whereas now they are renting private jets and charter flights because it is more economical and a lot more pleasurable.

The Customer Is Royalty

Charter airlines treat their customers like royalty. Charter airlines hire only the best-trained, most effective staff to run their private jets. Jobs in the charter flight business are very competitive, so managers of charter flights find only the best of the best to work for them. These people dedicate all of their time to ensuring that you have a great time when you fly.

In addition, when you fly on a charter flight, you plan the travel itinerary, you choose your breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can decide when the lights go off. You are the master of your domain. I remember how nice and accommodating the airplane staff was on my first charter flight.

Many charter airlines want to cultivate long term relationships with their clients, so they ensure that they treat their clients with the utmost respect. It is beneficial for both companies when a charter airline and a small or large business decide to join a long term business relationship, because both companies benefit from this partnership. The charter airline receives a frequent customer, and the business gets to fly on private jets for a huge discount.

The Economic Advantage

Charter airlines enjoy a large economic advantage over commercial airlines. Commercial airlines are charging more and more, whereas charter airlines are charging less and less. Charter flights cost nearly half as much as they did in the 1980s, adjusted for inflation. Many individuals and businesses are seeing that renting a private jet is way more economical than buying a ticket or a pack of tickets on a commercial airline.

Also, your dollar goes way farther when you charter flights. But few companies are offering a new deal in which they offer memberships to their customers in exchange for big discounts. You save a whole lot of money flying this way, so these companies are enjoying great success by employing this strategy.

Conclusion

Charter airlines are the future of the airline industry. Trends show that more and more savvy business owners are buying tickets with charter airlines so that they may save money and enjoy the pleasurable experience of flying on a private jet.

It is fun, relaxing, and peaceful to fly on a private jet, so people are starting to realize that this is the best way to fly. Check out companies that are offering a competitive pricing and membership based sites.

Seomul Evans is Dallas search engine optimization consultant with Air Compair, a Private Jet Rental company providing Air Charter Services.

If you are planning to take a trip that involves flying you should give some thought to where you sit. If you do not travel often you may not be aware that there is a big difference between seats even within the economy class. Some people prefer window seats so that they can have a view and lean against the wall. Others prefer an aisle seat so they can get up without having to climb over the people sitting next to them.

Seats near the front are desirable because you can be one of the first off the plane and are usually one of the first people served if meals are included on your flight. Seats in the back are desirable to some people because there is less traffic. No matter what type of seat you prefer there are some things you can do to ensure you get the seat you want.

Although many travelers are not aware which seats are the best, airlines know and frequently reserve desirable seats for frequent flyers and other elite travelers. It is not always possible to book specific seats when you make reservations but that does not mean you cannot get the seat you want. Most airlines will only allow you to book a specific seat closer to the time of the flight by gate agents.

If you want to be assured of getting the seat you want make sure you find out the airlines policy on seat assignments. If you can book your seat in advance of boarding make sure you call or contact the airline at the soonest possible time because seat assignments usually go in the order they are requested.

If you cannot request the seat you want during the reservation process before boarding, make sure you arrive at the departure gate early and speak with the gate attendant. It is common for discount airlines to prohibit specific seat assignments before boarding so get there early to request the seat you want. You can also get on the plane late and try to snag an unoccupied seat that is better then your seat.

Flying in economy class long distances is not always the most comfortable way to travel. By finding out which seats have more leg room, such as the ones behind the bulkhead, or which ones have extra space such as the two seat row in between the three seat rows, you have a better chance of getting a seat that will give you a comfortable flight.

Ron Subs is a marketing consultant for www.compareairlinefees.com. For more information visit http://www.compareairlinefees.com

If you are a frequent flyer you know how much comfort can vary from one seat to another on an airplane. Although most people would assume that all the seats in the economy section are the same this is not true.

Some seats in the economy section offer more room than others and some have added benefits or drawbacks such as the inability to recline, moveable armrests, or a good location for exiting. Before your next flight consider which seat will afford you the most comfort.

Some airlines reserve the first few rows in their economy class for frequent flyers and those who are members of their frequent flyer club. These front seats are considered by most to be the best seats because when you are seated in the front you can be one of the first to exit and one of the first served.

Sitting in the very first row also gives you more legroom because there are no seats in front of you, just the bulkhead or dividing wall. Most airlines do not allow you to reserve these premium economy seats when you make reservations, although because they seldom sell out of these seats you may be able to call and change your seat 24 hours before your flight if you would prefer more room.

Although economy seats are notoriously cramped and uncomfortable, your flight can be more pleasant if you have the added room or a vacant seat next to you, especially if you are traveling long distances. It is not too difficult to ensure that you will have an empty seat next to you if you are traveling with a companion.

If you book two seats on a row that only has three seats odds are likely in favor that the airline will not be able to sell the last single seat and you will be left with plenty of room to stretch out. Booking two seats in a center row of three is your best bet because the middle seat in this row is the hardest to fill.

Seats in the front are popular because they give travelers easy access to the exit when it is time to exit, and seats in the back have their advantages as well. Although the proximity to the bathroom on most planes means that people in the back seats will have traffic going by, back seats make it easier to get situated during boarding when many people are trying to get by as you stow your luggage.

Ron Subs is a marketing consultant for www.compareairlinefees.com. For more information visit http://www.compareairlinefees.com

Casual travelers are probably unaware that there are big differences in the comfort and convenience of airplane seating. Of course first class is much nicer than economy class, but the comfort of the seats within the economy class can also vary widely.

Not all seats have the same amount of leg room or the ability to recline, some get drafty or experience more turbulence, and there are advantages and disadvantages to sitting near the front, back, window, and aisle.

There is not one perfect seat for every traveler because everyone has their own preferences. It is important to consider the differences in seats so that you can get one that will give you the most comfortable trip possible.

There are many different passenger jets including Boeing, Airbus, CRJ, and Embraer. A Boeing 747 is one of the more popular commercial jets and one you will probably ride on even if you are a casual traveler. Here are some tips to get the best seat on your next Boeing flight.

Seats toward the front of the economy section have distinct benefits. You will be one of the first people off the plane when you reach your destination and you will be one of the first served which may mean more choices than the people in the back.

Choosing a seat behind the Bulkhead, which is a dividing wall, will give you more legroom. There will be no one in front of you to recline either which means more privacy. However, in seats directly behind the bulkhead tray tables are typically located on the arm rest because there is no seat in front so the arm rests usually will not raise up.

Seats over the wing experience less movement during turbulence than other locations. If you are a nervous flyer choosing these seats may give you a more comfortable ride, especially if you experience bumpy flight. Less movement from turbulence also means you will be able to rest if you are on a long flight.

Choosing an isle seat over a window seat is a personal choice and depends largely on your preferences. If you like to have easy access to the bathroom or like to stretch your legs, an aisle seat will allow you to get up easily but others sitting next to you will have to climb over you to get out. An aisle seat also gives you more elbow room but a window seat gives you something to lean against, as well as a great view.

Ron Subs is a marketing consultant for compareairlinefees.com. For more information visit http://www.compareairlinefees.com

If you want to charter a flight or rent a private jet, you have to consider a few important things before you charter the flight. First of all, you need to make sure that it is worth it. If you are one individual flying alone, then it is possible that you can find a better price on a commercial airline. However, if you are traveling with a company, it is almost always a better deal to charter a flight. Second, ask around to determine which charter airline is the best, because you want to make sure you get great customer service. Third, make sure that you take part in a membership program so that you can get great discounts.

1. Find An Affordable Charter Airline

Nowadays, charter airlines are lowering their prices because many small and large companies know that flying on a private jet is a very pleasurable experience. These companies are choosing to fly with private jets instead of on commercial airlines. Just like any other business, there is a lot of competition in the private jet industry. Therefore, do your research. It simply makes better business sense. Look around for prices, but understand that while the prices will be competitive with commercial airlines, charter airlines offer way more benefits than commercial airlines.

2. Read Testimonials and Ask Around About Their Customer Service

Make sure to look around for the best airline. Read testimonials and customer reviews to make sure you’re flying with the right airline. The truth is, you can find the greatest customer service in the world if you find the right charter airline. If you ask the right people, they will honestly report their experience with any charter airline. Charter flights must provide benefits that exceed the price you pay, because this is a premium way to fly. Charter flights are known for providing great customer service, and most charter airlines do provide this, but make sure you choose the right one.

3. Enroll In A Program

While some charter airlines still offer the standard pricing system, some have branched out and now offer better deals. If you are a small or large business and you have found the charter airline that you like, then it makes a lot of financial sense to enroll in a membership program. Many companies, such as AirCompair, offer membership programs wherein customers become members in exchange for discounts. This is a great way to fly, because you can cultivate a long term relationship with the charter airline and receive huge discounts. It’s a great program pioneered by the people over at AirCompair, and other companies have copied the practice.

4. Set A Plan For Your Flight

Since you are chartering a flight, you are in charge of the itinerary. Set a relaxed but quick itinerary, and then choose your meals. Many charter airlines offer catered meals. Then, plan meetings for the flight. One benefit of private jets is that you can hold meetings during the flight. This is a great facet to flying, so you should use it. Flying on a private jet is very conducive to business.

Seomul Evans is Dallas SEO expert with Air Compair, a Private Jet Rental company providing Air Charter Services.

Flying in a private jet has become relatively economical and comfortable way to travel the skies. Although many people believe that private jets are an expensive luxury, the truth is that private jets have become extremely affordable. Commercial airlines rip you off and provide low quality service, whereas charter flights cost less and give you a wealth of wonderful perks while you are flying. First of all, flying on a private jet is very comfortable and relaxing. Second, private jets give companies opportunities to do work in the air. Third, the customer service on private jets is the best you will find in the airline industry. Finally, flying on a private jet now makes a lot of economic sense, if you look at the numbers.

Relaxation in The Skies

You will enjoy relaxation and comfort in a private jet. You will have enough space to do whatever you want. You can choose your exact itinerary, you can decide when you want to eat, you can decide when you want to sleep, and you can basically decide exactly how you want the flight to progress. You can even decide whether you want to have layovers, and if you do, you can decide how long you want to stay in your layover city, in case you want to visit friends or family. Private jets are quiet and comfortable, and they are great places to do business. Instead of stress, you will be relaxed. Charter flights are such wonderful ways to travel.

Business In The Air

When you fly on a charter flight, you can have meetings while in the air. You can prep employees about the next big meeting, and you can accomplish a lot of tasks while you fly. This is a great advantage, because you simply can’t do that on commercial airplanes. However, businesses have caught onto this phenomenon, and because of it, they are chartering flights instead of buying bulk business class tickets. Charter flights build their flights so that they can give companies a professional atmosphere. Private jets are great places to do business.

They Work For You

The employees of charter airlines are the best of the best. They work diligently to ensure that you have the best flight possible. This is because charter airlines want to enter into long term business relationships with their clients, so they do whatever they can to treat their clients very well. The flight crew on any private jet is at your beck and call, and they will provide you with such wonderful service that you won’t be able to fly commercially again. I remember how amazed I was when I took my first charter flight. The staff was so helpful and friendly, and they were relaxed also, although they were very professional. They worked hard to make sure I had a good flight. I really appreciated that, and other people have caught on to that as well.

Dollars and Sense

If you look at the prices of charter airlines and you compare them to bulk prices of business class tickets, you will see that charter airlines consistently offer lower prices than commercial airlines. In addition, they offer way better service and way more benefits than commercial airlines. Therefore, your dollar goes a lot farther with a charter airline than it does with a commercial airline. Also, some companies have pioneered a new type of flight charter. These companies offer their clients memberships. When their clients become members, these clients receive significant discounts on flight. That way, the company retains a long term client, and their client receives great prices on charter flights. It is a win-win situation for both parties. The company that has pioneered this is AirCompair, which consistently offers the best prices on the charter flight market.

Seomul Evans is Dallas Online Marketing consultant with Air Compair, a Private Jets Rental company providing Air Charter Services.

Booking a holiday is an expensive affair, forking out for flights, accommodation, car hire, airport transfers, insurance and spending money. Sure, you have your transfers planned at the other end, but have you considered the details of your journey from home to the airport on the day of departure? If you are lucky enough to have a friend willing to get up at three o’clock in the morning and take you to Heathrow, then airport parking won’t be a concern for you. However, if, like most of us you will need to make the journey in your own car, you will need to consider where to leave you car once you are twenty thousand feet in the air.

Like travel insurance, airport parking does seem to be one of those finer details that we tend to leave until the last minute. The day before we fly over to warmer shores, we realise we have nothing organised and face having our wheels clamped unless we book a car parking slot quick sharp, for the following fortnight.

In this last minute panic, it’s not uncommon for holiday makers to simply drive directly to the airport and pay through the roof for the convenience of parking at the on-site car park (within the airport grounds). However if you have ten minutes spare prior to leaving home, go online and find yourself a much more cost effective option, at an off-site car park (located off the airport grounds) . Surely you would prefer to spend less on your motor and more on sangria and souvenirs?

One of the biggest misconceptions about off-site airport parking is that the journey will take too long to get to the airport, adding extra hassle to the start of your holiday. Personally I have used both on and off-site airport parking and can honestly say the extra couple of miles spent travelling to and from the airport is barely noticeable and well worth the saving.

Off-site airport parking tends to be situated a couple of miles away from the airports and at a competitive prices to those on-site. Upon arrival at your off-site depot, you simply dispose of your keys at the office and jump on the shuttle bus which takes you directly to departures. You don’t even have to worry about parking your car in your allocated parking slot, the office will arrange all this for you. Upon return, you simply pick your keys up from the office and drive away. The airport shuttles tend to run every ten minutes or so and the ease of the whole process is well worth the financial saving.

Don’t throw un-necessary spending money away on your airport parking. Shop around and find the best deal for you. It is as quick and easy as any purchase on-line and once you have confirmed your booking, correspondence on the day is kept to a minimum, with paperwork already organised, leaving you plenty of time to get to your check in desk before gates close.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the travel industry.
Find out more about Airport Parking and why it pays to park your car off-site the airport grounds.

If you have ever traveled by air you would know that how tough it is to be in good state after the flight and that is especially if you have long haul flight you better be prepared for some harsh realities.

With that said, I would always vouch for the fact that it is better to be prepared than be sorry. There are a few things that you should keep in mind while traveling by air.

Airports nowadays are a mess with additional security measures and checks. So make sure that your reach the airport well in time and that means at least three hours before the international flight departure or at least two hours before if you are taking a domestic flight.

Then if you are carrying a laptop make sure that it is out of the carry on bag as it has to be separately scanned through the security camera. Also make sure that you have no knife or anything pointed in the carry on luggage.

Then comes the seat assignment nowadays all the airlines offer the online check in at least 24 hours before the flight. Take advantage of this facility as this will help you get the best of the best of the seats and you can have the journey in comfort. If you have an infant then make sure that you request for bulkhead seats in advance and also have the bassinet request put in. These are usually done on first come first served basis.

Next comes the meal requirement and that is especially true for people who want to have purely vegetarian or raw diet. You need to put in the request very early. For special dietary requirements you need to put in special request and it depends on the airline whether they will be able to accommodate the request.

In order to take proper rest during the flight make sure that you have a change of clothes and change into something lighter and comfortable as opposed to a business suit. So travel in easy clothes and then change back into formal wear just before the plane lands or after the plane lands. Make sure that to carry an IPod or a something which you can plug into ear. You can tune into airplane radio or TV also but usually they are very boring so it is better to have your own music device.

Hope these simple yet important tips will make your flight less stressful if not enjoyable.

The author writes about the special compression socks needed by air travelers as well in some cases it is needed by sports persons especially the athletic compression socks.