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Chris Zagorski Archive for April, 2010
Travel news that’ll pinch your pocketbook
Spirit airlines begins charging for carry-on luggage
Spirit announced recently that it will become the first airline to charge for carry-on luggage. You read that right…a charge for carry-on luggage. The airline is set to charge up to $45 for individuals who bring carry-on luggage that needs to be stored in overhead bins. A reduced fee of $30 could be paid in advance by those who already know they will be bringing luggage that is too large to be stored under the seat.
But with the announcement comes spin. The company has said that it reduced fares across the board, meaning that most passengers who pay a carry-on fee will not see an increase in their total flight price. The company also stated that this move will help the airline empty the plane faster, which would make passengers happier, right?
I don’t know if I buy that. It seems like the itemization of costs will only create a sense of being “nickel and dimed.” The company already charges for checked bags, and those fees are cheaper than the newly announced carry-on fee. I wonder if the company is really trying to increase revenue by encouraging individuals to save money by checking a bag over passengers bringing bags on the plane. What do you think? Will this influence your decision to fly Spirit?
Ryan Air contemplates charge for in-flight restrooms
Be sure to have some change handy next time you fly. Ryan Air, a popular budget airline in Europe, is considering charging passengers to use the restroom.
The company is pondering a small charge (currently equivalent to US $1-$2) for using the bathroom on flights that last less than one hour. Passengers would insert money into a coin-operated bathroom door to gain access. Although the company has announced the consideration, no decision has yet been made.
I could see how this concept might be more accepted in Europe than the US, since many public restrooms are not free. But, do you think this would “fly” in the United States?
Battle to be first electric car “sparking” hot
In all of my excitement to report about Nissan’s March 30, 2010 press release on the all-new Nissan Leaf, I totally overlooked an announcement from General Motors. On the eve of the 2010 New York Auto Show (the same day Nissan issued its press release), General Motors announced that the new 2011 Chevy Volt would be available on showroom floors in November 2010. How could I have not blogged about this at the same time?
For those of you who don’t know, the Chevy Volt is also an electric car that, according the company’s website, can create its own electricity. When fully charged (accomplished by plugging the car in overnight), the car can run 40 miles on pure electricity. After about 40 miles, a “range-extending gas generator” kicks in, which recharges the battery and adds up to 300 drivable miles on a single tank of gas. The ability to have a car re-generate energy will be a strong selling point in why consumers should pick the Volt over the Nissan Leaf. A jump start on sales won’t hurt either.
So I have to ask: who has been holding out to be a part of the first generation of electric car owners?
Apple, the company that never sleeps
While certain organizations can’t escape the spotlight at the moment (Toyota, the Vatican, Goldman Sachs), another company is enjoying the limelight as much as it can: Apple.
With the launch of the iPad considered a success, Apple appears to be on top of the world. While many within the company are celebrating a strong product launch, don’t assume that anyone is taking much of a break. Since the April 3, 2010 release of the iPad’s WiFi version, the company has been busy…to say the least. Apple plans to introduce a 3G version of the iPad in late April, but that’s hardly soon enough for admitted Apple fanatics.
Why don’t we discuss a few other impressive advancements from Apple?
Less than a week after the iPad release, Apple dropped the bomb that a new operating system for iPhones will be available to consumers as early as this summer. Not to mention that faster MacBook Pros will hit stores on April 13, 2010.
Add to that the recent buzz surrounding a patent application for 3D glasses, and Apple is poised to provide the public with enough tantalizing technological fare to leave them panting through the summer. The company is definitely unstoppable at this moment and consumers have a lot to look forward to in the next few months. Kudos to them.