March 28, 2024

Practical Traveler: An Update on Holiday Air Travel

This season, planes will be even more tightly packed as airlines continue to cut capacity through the end of the year and into the next, even as more passengers take to the skies. But thicker crowds aren’t the only differences that holiday travelers can expect this year. Some changes, including modified security screenings for children, will be welcome, others won’t.

Below, some of the most notable changes that have been introduced over the last 12 months, as well as a few new options to help avoid long lines and luggage fees.

Airport Security

The big news this holiday season is that children 12 and under can leave their shoes on when going through security. The policy change, which began as part of a test in August by the Transportation Security Administration and became official last month, also curtails, though doesn’t completely eliminate, pat-downs of children. Now, children may be sent through detectors or image machines multiple times or hand swabs may be used to check for traces of explosives, in lieu of a pat-down.

Adults must still go through the usual drill of removing shoes, jackets, belts and watches; taking out laptops and cellphones; and making sure their 3.4-ounce tubes of toothpaste and shaving gel are safely sealed in a quart-size plastic bag.

The T.S.A. has also installed new software on certain body scanners designed to improve privacy by replacing the virtual nude images of passengers, previously used, with a generic, computer-generated outline. Passengers are now able to view the same image online that the security officer sees on a computer screen as they pass through security.

This fall the T.S.A. plans to test the same software on full-body X-ray scanners, which still use actual images of passengers that show the contours of the body and reveal foreign objects. Currently, there are nearly 510 imaging scanners at some 90 airports nationwide, with additional units planned for later this year.

Passengers willing to pay for access to expedited security lines will find that more airlines are offering the service as an add-on. In June, JetBlue introduced Even More Speed, which offers passengers who, depending on the flight, pay $10 to $65 extra for a seat with more legroom, as well as a spot in an expedited security line at 15 airports, including Newark Liberty, San Francisco and Kennedy. United has been selling expedited security and preboarding (from $9) for a couple of years now.

And American has been expanding its Five Star Service program to more airports including Boston and San Francisco, which offers expedited security lines along with other V.I.P. services like lounge access, preboarding and assistance with things like check-in, bags and airport connections for $125 a person.

Boarding

Compounding confusion at the gate, a couple of airlines have changed their boarding procedures this year. American, which used to board back to front, now randomly assigns travelers without elite status to boarding groups. Coach passengers can buy their way into the first group, behind first class and elite frequent fliers, for $10. The carrier says the revised process, which it introduced in May, has improved boarding times 5 to 10 percent and reduced the number of bags checked at the gate.

United, which had switched to boarding by row from back to front, returned to window-middle-aisle boarding zones this summer. It will switch its Continental Airlines unit, which boards back-to-front, to window-middle-aisle next year.

Fees for Checked Bags

Prepaying for checked bags online this season? Don’t expect a discount. Airlines like Delta, United and Continental that used to knock $2 to $5 off for prepayments eliminated those price reductions, bringing the cost for checking one bag on many domestic flights to $25, and $35 for the second, whether they are paid in advance or not. To avoid paying those fees, some passengers have been lugging more belongings onto already crowded planes — and will no doubt continue to do so over the holidays. JetBlue still offers the first checked bag free and Southwest still offers two.

Travelers who try to avoid the carry-on mess by stuffing holiday gifts in checked bags may be caught off guard by increased fees for excess luggage. “In some cases the fees are shockingly high,” said George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. In March, for example, United doubled fees for overweight luggage weighing 71 to 99.9 pounds to $400 each way for bags on most international routes, up from $200, and $200 on domestic routes, from $100.

Oversize bags on United measuring more than 62 linear inches are now $200 extra on international routes, up from $100 previously. Similarly, US Airways now charges $175 each way for overweight bags from 71 to 100 pounds on most international flights, up from $120, according to industry experts.

Some airlines also added or increased fees for a second checked bag on international routes. Delta recently began charging $60 each way for a second checked bag (if paid online) for flights between the United States and South America, Asia, India, Australia and New Zealand. In February, American began charging $30 each way for a second bag between the United States and the Caribbean and Central America.

New Credit Card Perks

One way to improve your airport experience and decrease luggage fees is to sign up for a new credit card, as more card issuers are offering a wider range of benefits. Just last month, Delta added priority boarding and 20 percent off in-flight food, beverages and movies to the range of perks it offers Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles American Express card holders. The card, which comes with an annual $95 fee, had already included the first checked bag free for up to eight traveling companions.

In July, Chase introduced the United MileagePlus Explorer Card, which includes priority boarding, two United airport club passes a year, the first checked bag free and other benefits for a $95 annual fee. Also in July, Citibank introduced the American Airlines-branded Citi Executive AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard, with a roster of perks, including lounge access, expedited security and priority boarding and free checked bags, for a $450 annual fee. And this year, American Express added some perks for Platinum Card holders who pay annual fees of $450; benefits include Priority Pass Select airport lounge access in more than 300 cities worldwide (normally $249 for 10 visits), and free membership to Global Entry, which offers expedited security clearance for preapproved travelers entering the United States. The card also offers $200 a year in reimbursements for airline fees.

Article source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=971ea03bcc0751ce3acf13b95585f827

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