travelnews: United Airlines

UNITED INCREASES BUSINESS-TRAVEL FARES & TICKET-CHANGE FEES

United Airlines is now requiring Saturday-night stays in about 65 percent of markets it serves. This means higher fares for business travelers who don’t spend weekends on the road. The carrier is also upping ticket-change fees to $150 from $100. Last week, United boosted its fuel surcharge by $20 round trip in markets that already had a fuel fee. A $10 surcharge was added in markets where no fee had been in effect.

“The Saturday-night stay requirement is harkening back to a period when airlines really squeezed business travelers, and the change fee will spread its pain to all travelers,” said David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association.

U.S. airlines have been adding fees, cutting capacity and raising fares to cope with jet-fuel prices that have risen 80 percent in the last year. US Airways on April 16 said it will begin charging $5 or more for fliers to ensure they get a window or aisle seat in the first several rows of coach.

Carolyn Wooley

University of Oregon

Travel Coordinator

cwooley@uoregon.edu

541-346-3158 ph

541-346-2393 fax