Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi Everyone,

Is it just me, or does air travel just seem to be getting worse? What are your experiences traveling as a small business owner? How do you make it more relaxing and cost-effective? I`d love to here your tips and suggestions.

Melanie

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Melanie Rembrandt
CEO, Rembrandt Communications®, LLC
Visit www.rembrandtwrites.com for valuable PR tips and SEO copywriting help!
Twitter: @RembrandtWrites

Melanie,

We just booked our first trip using www.Kayak.com. They are a search based system that searches multp. travel providers then refer you to the site to book your trip. Instead of going to the airlines websites and then to expedia and travelocity they search them all for you.


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Thanks for your input. I have heard of that site and it`s nice to know it will save some time!

Melanie

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Melanie Rembrandt
CEO, Rembrandt Communications®, LLC
Visit www.rembrandtwrites.com for valuable PR tips and SEO copywriting help!
Twitter: @RembrandtWrites

I recently read an article about Virgin Airlines which is trying to break into
the US domestic market. The US Department of Transformation (which of
course has ties to US airline corporations) is putting up legal walls to stop
them.

What am I doing to improve airline travel? I`m promoting the Virgin
America cause to let another competitor in our domestic market to
hopefully stir things up a bit. The airline industry is so commoditized.
I`m not sure that Virgin is the answer but I bet a newcomer would
certainly help make things better for travelers at all airlines.

Check out their site and even sign the e-petition.
Virgin America

I know you weren`t asking about the long term position of air travel but
that`s my answer. Those U-shaped neck pillows help out too!

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Steve Lowtwa

Thanks Steve. I`ll check it out.

Melanie

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Melanie Rembrandt
CEO, Rembrandt Communications®, LLC
Visit www.rembrandtwrites.com for valuable PR tips and SEO copywriting help!
Twitter: @RembrandtWrites

I always use kayak.com first to search travel, but they don`t include Southwest in their search... and as much as people may complain about Southwest, I`ve flown them several times in the past and thought the service they provided was actually a lot better than many of the other major airlines. So as long as you print your boarding pass a day early and find a decent seat, I think Southwest is a good choice (it`s also usually more affordable). I also fly JetBlue a lot, and love them (even after their little fiasco this past winter) because they have, by far, the most comfortable seats and leg room - lots of space for the laptop, or if you don`t feel like working, you can just sit back and watch TV. 

I liked ValuJet.  Sure they crashed and destroyed their company but I miss them.  The service was excellent for any airline, big or small, low-fare or not.  And their logo was a cartoon airplane!

I`ve only stolen a few things in my entire life and all came from airlines.  (Hmm, I just realized this.  What does that mean?)  Anyways, I have several sets of actual metal silverware from various airlines.  I also have a safety information card from ValuJet.  Now that`s a keeper!

Has anyone heard much about this new Clear Card service?  I don`t know much about it but you can buy a membership to get through airport security faster.  Or so I understand.


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Steve Lowtwa

I also enjoy Southwest, not only for the ease of website booking but also if you have a change in plans, it is really easy to rebook or make changes to your ticket without incurring the regular penalty that almost every airline charges.

Southwest also now offers shuttle bookings directly from it`s website. That`s a plus if you are not renting a car, and prefer to book everything in advance.

Service will only improve with the older airlines when customers start asking for the improvements. Some other perks, not necessarily improvements I have noticed are ease in moving luggage to your hotel, directly from the airport (McCarren/Las Vegas, and I think Denver offers this service also).

Don`t even get me started!  The airlines in Southwest Florida hate (or love to over charge) small businesses.  If you book your flights 30 days a head you might find some semi-good rates. What business knows where they going to need to fly even 2 weeks ahead of time?  Most of the problems are the fact that the airlines has got filling planes down to an art and it requires 30 days notice to do it right.  Then they sock it to the business traveler for last minute travel.  At least that is how it is flying out of Southwest Florida.  All the Internet web sites in the world cannot fix this problem.  Believe me I have tried.  It is the airlines that must make the first move and they are too busy making money.  It cost me over $900 to fly from Fort Myers FL to Asheville NC round trip coach just last week.  That would choke any business’ budget.  What is even worse is a round trip ticket in reverse from Asheville to Fort Myers would have been less!

Sorry, a sore subject with me...

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Bert at Harvey Software, Inc.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Software and Supply Chain Solutions for Internet Retailers

Also a provider of free shipping information and resources at Harvey Software`s Parcel Shipping Blog along with free tracking solutions at TrackingPage.com...

Hi all,

 

Yes i certainly agree with you all, all suggestions are really very nice and helpful.

thanks for sharing your informations!

Side Turkey, Side Holidays