Ten top US airline trends
1. Internet airline tickets sales have been around since the mid 1980s, but this year they will be more popular than ever, representing more than half of all travel bookings, according to various sources.
2. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) created after 9-11 altered forever passenger carry-on rules. Coming up: more restrictions.
3. Ticketless air travel started in 1995 when Southwest began selling paperless tickets via its own computer system. Other airlines followed. Sooner than later, there will be no paper tickets, according to various predictions.
4. One of the few good news items for airlines in recent years has been the rolling, vertical carry-on. It started in 1987 when Northwest Airlines pilot Robert Plath affixed wheels and a pull out handle to create the first model of luggage that gets more popular all the time.
5. When Northwest Airlines banned smoking in 1988, it was the first major US carrier to end the practice. Ashtrays may remain on some planes but smoking will never come back.
6. Pittsburgh’s airport in 1992 started the concept of airport shops and restaurants. The practice has escalated all across the US.
7. Self-service ticketing kiosks started as early as 1979 when Southwest had a few outlets. These have proliferated to the point where the kiosks are virtually everywhere.
8. In the mid 1980s, the government allowed one airline to sell seats on flights operated by partners. “As a result, passengers could book fights on their preferred carrier and accrue its frequent-flier miles without every actually boarding one of its planes,” says USA Today.
9. When Northwest Airlines tested the first in-seat video system in 1988, it launched an arms race in seat-back entertainment that continues with the rollout of video-on-demand and live TV. That race is expected to continue to escalate.
10. The low-cost concept, with its simple fare structure, single passenger class, limited in-flight service and use of secondary airports, soared when Southwest Airlines expanded nationwide in the early 1990s. Low-cost carriers now fly worldwide. New entries keep popping up.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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