RudyMaxa.com: Commentaries

March 10, 2010

Commentaries:

Will We EVER Be Able to Speed Through the Airport?	July 11, 2006
For several years now, private companies and the federal government have been working on a system to allow frequent flyers to avoid long lines and extra security checks at airports by paying a fee and providing additional information about themselves. You've heard so much about it, you may think it's an existing program. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says, "Not unless you're in Orlando."
How Your Boarding Pass Could Hurt You	May 17, 2006
What do you do with your boarding pass after you settle into your airplane seat? If you've followed the advice of our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, you keep it to make sure you get credit for your miles. But many of us leave it on our seat, tuck it in a seatback pocket, or toss it in a nearby wastepaper basket when we deplane. VERY bad idea, says Rudy.
The Luxury Hotel Boom	April 06, 2006
The president of China is visiting Washington this week, and this country's annual $200 billion trade deficit with China will be very much on the table. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says one bright spot for American companies is a spike in the construction of luxury hotels by companies such as Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Hilton and Starwood, owners of brands including Sheraton and Westin. In fact, luxury hotels are springing up like daffodils all over the world.
Hotels Strive To Be Special	March 22, 2006
These days, it seems that one US airline is pretty much like another. Airlines have become commodities, interchangeable products, which means consumers often buy tickets based mostly on price and schedule. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says another piece of the travel equation is trying deperately not to become like the airlines.
What's That Airline Ticket REALLY Cost?	March 08, 2006
Most advertised airline fares don't tell the whole story. Read the small type at the bottom of an ad, and you'll find mention of various fees and surcharges that can add $100 or more to what you'll pay. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says things may be about to get worse.
Flying With Fido	February 22, 2006
Recently, a three-year-old whippet known as Champion Bohem C'est La Vie, or "Vivi," escaped her kennel while being loaded on a plane for a flight from JFK airport to LA. Pet lovers around the country reacted with indignation. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says the entire relationship between pets and the airlines is a changing and complicated one.
Beating Airline Security Lines: At What Price?	January 25, 2006
By the end of June, frequent flyers may be able to slip through airport security checkpoints faster thanks to a Registered Traveler program that's been successfully tested at several airports. But our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says the definition of background checks is expanding, and that may not be a great idea.
Advertising Aloft	October 05, 2005
Advertisers have found a new way to grab the eyeballs of a captive audience: By advertising on the tray tables of airlines. That's right--drop your table, and you may see a pitch for VISA, Mercedes-Benz, the History Channel, or Bank of America. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, asks, "Why stop there?"
As Fuel Prices Rise, Airline Profits Plummet	September 06, 2005
Airline fares shot up again last week after Hurricane Katrina caused a sharp uptick in the price of jet fuel. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says this is just the beginning . . . and maybe the beginning of the end of at least one major airline.
Buying Into the Suite LIfe	August 24, 2005
It began a few years ago: Guests in posh hotels could buy almost everything in their rooms to take home--the sheets, the beds, artwork, furniture and, even, at W Hotels, the plants. But that was child's play, says our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa. Now you can move right in.
The New Etiquette Aloft	August 10, 2005
These are new times in the passenger airline business, as airlines cut out pillows and pretzels in an attempt to make money. Add the fact that more people than ever before are flying--in July, JetBlue reported 91.1% of its seates were full--and our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says it's time for a new etiquette.
Taxing Airline Passengers for African Debt?	July 27, 2005
In the US, passengers pay an average of $45 in taxes every time they buy an airline ticket, up about six per cent since 1993. Now, finance ministers from France and Germany have a creative, new tax we can pay. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, explains.
The Bright Side of Airport Delays	June 15, 2005
Instead of canceling flights this summer due to bad weather, the FAA says the airlines will simply delay them. And the government predicts long delays will get worse before they get better. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says he doesn't necessarily mind hanging out at airports.
Competition & Airfares	May 18, 2005
In airline parlance, when a single airline dominates a local market, that city is called a "fortress hub." There aren't many fortress hubs left as Southwest, AirTran and JetBlue keep expanding. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, takes a look one year later at what happens when the walls of a fortress hub crumble.
Coach Prices Up, Biz Class Down	May 03, 2005
Recently, airlines have raised coach fares by $5 or $10 per ticket, and the strangest thing is happening: The competition is following, meaning the increases stick. But for those who can afford to fly in the front of the plane, it's a very different story. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, explains.
Ba-Da-Ding! Southwest's New Internet Sale Idea	April 06, 2005
Have you been dinged lately? That's Southwest Airline's word for a whole new way of offering airline deals. The catch is, you have to be on line at the right time, and you have to move fast. Will everyone else have to play catch up? Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, reports.
Work & Play in the Hotel Room of the Future	March 09, 2005
Generation Xers--folks born between 1965 and 1980--are driving changes in the way hotel rooms look and feel. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, attended a Marriott general managers' meeting in Orlando this week in which room designs of the near future were unveiled, and he tells us the lines between work and sleep are blurring.
Should You Visit Tsunami Territory?	February 09, 2005
The nightly film clips of last month's tsunami are beginning to subside, but there's a quiet debate within the travel industry: Should Indian Ocean resorts still in business advertise for guests? And should the ethical traveler book a ticket to, say, Phuket, Thailand? Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says, "Yes."
The Gym In Your Hotel Room	January 26, 2005
The hotel business is coming back strong, as occupancy increases and room rates rise. That means a return to amenity wars, as hotels try to lure guests with perks. But it's not only about fancy beds and Wi-Fi. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, tells us turning your room into a gym may be the newest trend.
Is the Hotel Room Next Door a Meth Lab?	January 12, 2005
Travel not hazardous enough out there this winter? Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, tells us the website "Hotel Interactive" has shed light on another possible snag for road warriors, especially for those who stay at long-term hotels.
Overbooked? Your Rights As a Passenger	December 14, 2004
Despite all the red ink, the nation's airlines have been filling planes as never before. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says he's noticed more and more flights overbooked, which means not every ticketed passenger gets on board. With another round of busy holiday travel coming up, we asked him what recourse a bumped passenger has.
US Airways Troubles	December 01, 2004
Airlines' efforts to slash workers' wages and benefits have run into trouble at US Airways. Flight attendants there are considering striking or other actions to disrupt the airline's operations. Already, some passengers at the airline's Philadelphia hub have experienced two-hour waits for their luggage. So management has come up with an interesting carrot. But is it worth it? Marketplace's Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, explains.
Calling Around the World For Free	October 20, 2004
You�ve probably heard of the new way to make cheap long distance calls with VoIP, or voice-over-IP. AT&T and Verizon have copied smaller companies such as Vonage and introduced the service that uses a high-speed Internet connection to route calls for about $30 a month. That�s $30 too much, says our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, who�s found a service that�s ideal for road warriors on a budget.
After the Fall: What If an Airline Folds?	October 06, 2004
With two major airlines in bankruptcy�United and US Airways�and another, Delta, flirting with it, you can be forgiven if you worry about buying an airline ticket too far in the future. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says there�s another concern on the horizon, as well.
No-Frills Airlines: Taking It To the Max	September 14, 2004
Everyone knows US airlines are trying to figure out how to slash costs. And no one is more ruthless in that department than one of Europe's largest discount carriers, Ryanair. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says it's time for low cost airlines to go one step further than Ryanair.
Airport Slot Wars	June 30, 2004
So-called "legacy carriers," the big-name airlines that have been bleeding red ink for three years, may have few advantages left over low-fare, sometimes smaller, competitors. But they have one trump card: They control lots of gates at lots of big airports. Now, competitors are petitioning the Department of Transportation to force the Big Boys to give up some of their landing slots. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, tells us what that means to you.
Independence Air Takes Wing	June 16, 2004
On Monday, the mayor of Lansing, Michigan, declared it was "Independence Day" to honor the start of flights to Lansing by a new airline called Independence Air. When airlines are losing millions, how can a new airline.and a low-fare one at that.hope to make any money? That's what we asked our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa.
Futile Fuel Surcharges	June 02, 2004
When the cost of fuel oil rises, so do prices at your local gas station. But in the world of airlines, repeated attempts to raise ticket prices to cover sky-high fuel prices keep failing. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, explains why.
On-Line Behavioral Marketing by American Airlines	May 19, 2004
Ad Age had an interesting travel marketing story this week. The magazine reported that American Airlines had great success advertising to readers of the Wall Street Journal.s on-line edition. Software allowed American to know who read articles about travel so the airline could target ads at those on-line readers, even as they browsed different departments. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, had some thoughts on that.
Missile Defenses on Commercial Planes	May 05, 2004
Two years ago, two shoulder-launched missiles missed an Israeli commercial airliner taking off from an airport in Nairobi. Last year, lawmakers in Washington proposed legislation to equip US airliners with anti-missile devices. We asked our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, if we.ll all soon be traveling in flying fortresses.
Screening Airline Passengers	April 20, 2004
Ever since airports increased security after September 11th, the government has been trying to develop a way to screen airline passengers. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says he's all for the voluntary system, or so-called "trusted passenger" system.
Rail Security in the U.S.	April 06, 2004
The ongoing investigation of the terrorist attack on Madrid's trains turned up alarming finds: stashes of explosives and blasting caps that, if deployed, could have paralyzed Spain's transportation system and resulted in hundreds of more victims. Marketplace travel expert Rudy Maxa says it's no secret our public transortation systems are equally vulnerable.
Hidden Requirements of Airline Offers	February 25, 2004
Ealier this month, Northwest Airlines launched a promotion: Fly three round-trips by June 15th and get a free, domestic ticket you can use between September first and the middle of next June. So far, so good, says our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa. But as in all things involving most airlines, offers are never as simple as they seem.
Behind Airline Mergers	February 11, 2004
European authorities are poised to approve a merger between Air France and KLM that will result in one of the world's largest airlines, at least in terms of revenue. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says this is just one of the sea changes that will alter the face of the airline world in the near future.
Uncle Sam Revises Airline CRS Rules	January 08, 2004
Once upon a time, buying an airline ticket was fairly simple. Since individual airlines didn't tell you what their competitors offered, the only easy way to comparison shop was by calling a travel agent who checked Computer Reservation Systems, or CRSs. Uncle Sam kept an eye on those CRSs, but new rules from the Transporation Department are changing that--and not necssarily to your benefit. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, explains.
Airline Security Failures	December 03, 2003
'Bowser, Big Man and T' isn.t the name of a new rap group or the title of a buddy movie. They.re the nicknames of three of 20 airport baggage and cargo handlers arrested last week at New York.s JFK airport and charged with running hundreds of kilos of cocaine and marijuana into the US via planes from Guyana and Jamaica. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says the arrests should worry counterterrorism experts as much as drug officials.
Visiting Cuba	November 19, 2003
As far as the White House is concerned, Cuba is the Country That Isn.t There. For 41 years now, Americans have been forbidden from visiting Cuba. To be more precise, we.re not allowed to spend any money there, which, of course, makes visiting very difficult. Still, thousands manage to go every year. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, explains how.
New Passport Realities	July 23, 2002
Whether you've never applied for a passport of whether you've had one for years, the rules for obtaining a new passport or renewing an old one are changing. If you're planning to travel abroad, our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says there are a few important things you should know.

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