INTRODUCTION:  

Where are we now and what services are offered?

Ask students to raise their hand in response to the following questions.  How many have flown with a commercial airline?  How many have checked baggage?  What type of baggage was checked?  How many have ever pre-reserved a seat?

OBJECTIVES:

                The student will be able to:         

ü                Name two amenities offered by large airports

ü                  List two measures approved by the FAA to tighten security at U.S. airports

ü                  List at least four airline services provided by most airlines.

INSTRUCTOR NOTES:  

ü                  Have students refer the Travel Career Development (TCD), Chapter 4)

Civil Aviation  

The United States is home to the largest Civil Aviation system in the world.  Civil Aviation refers to all air service that is offered to the public for sale.  Air services could include passenger, cargo, charter and scheduled airlines. 

Charter airlines schedule flights for a group of people or a tour operator such as a group going to Las Vegas.  These are services which consists of flights for designated routes and available to be purchased according to a published timetable.   

   Types of Airlines

Today, scheduled service falls into two main types:  Major airlines and Regional airlines. The three largest airlines that fall into the Major airline category are American, United and Delta. Major airlines fly the     long-haul scheduled flights.

The largest Regional airline is American Eagle, a subsidiary of American Airlines.  Atlantic Southeast Airlines, (ASA), is a partner with Delta Airlines.  Regional airlines typically have propeller driven aircraft with fewer than 40 seats, flying routes usually less than 350 miles and are operated by smaller airlines even though they carry the name of a major airline.  Some regional airlines are now ordering and flying what are called,  “regional jets”.  The regional jets may carry up to 70 passengers.

Today smaller airlines “code-share” with the major airlines.  When airlines code-share, they combine their schedules and marketing efforts and enter into agreements for reservations and ticketing.   

To sense the vastness of the U.S. Civil aviation, just think that it contains more than 260 airlines that serve 460 U.S. airports.  To put that into perspective, 14 of those U.S. airports are part of the 20 busiest airports of the world. 
   
 

Airports Amenities and Design

Since cities, counties or states own airports, the airlines pay a fee to land and take off, as well as, rent the space they occupy.  Other vendors also pay a fee to do business at the airport.  Airports have not typically, been one of the most entertaining or comfortable places to be.  So many airports are now offering health clubs, business centers for computer hook-ups, faxing, etc. and mini-hotels.  Airline clubs offer lounges for members who pay an annual fee.   

The lounges may contain comfortable easy chairs, free newspapers and magazines for reading, shopping, meeting and conference rooms.  The passenger can check in for his/her flight at these clubs without standing in line. However, most people want to be able to get in and out of the airport as quickly and easily as possible, with parking close to the terminals.    

 Security  

Federal security managers oversee passenger protection procedures.  Some security measures approved by the FAA and implemented in recent years are: passing through metal detectors, no parking within 100 feet of a passenger terminal, unattended baggage is subject to confiscation. They also request photo I.D. at check-in, allow only ticketed passengers beyond the gate area and search carry-on baggage of those who meet a particular profile.  

Classes of Airline Service

Typically, most flights offer two classes of service. Domestically, these two classes are called First Class and Coach.   The classes of service onboard the planes are called cabins or compartments. Movable walls or partitions, known as bulkheads, are used to separate cabins.  The bulkheads offer some privacy between the first class and coach passengers.  On longer flights, however, a third class is offered and that is Business class.  An example would be on a transcontinental flight between Los Angeles and New York.  

First class is always located in the front of the aircraft.  Since the fare is the most expensive, passengers are offered such amenities as: Free alcoholic beverages, larger and plush seating, more leg room, elaborate meals served on china, and depending the length of the flight, free movies and headsets.  

Business class is between First class and Coach on the airplane. The cost is slightly higher than Coach seating.  Business meals are more elaborate than Coach but not as much as First class.  Liquor may or may not be included in the price, but the seats are bigger and plusher than Coach.  Legroom is more ample.  Other amenities may be available by airline and routing.  

Aircraft Configuration

The layout of the aircraft cabin is called configuration. The airline specifies what amenities they want on their airplanes.  Seat spacing is one of the most important factors.  Every airline requires different spacing and what is more, each airline may have different requirements for the same aircraft type.  There are three factors that determine seat spacing:  Pitch, seat width, and configuration.  

Pitch is the front-to-rear spacing of seat rows.  Since seats are mounted on tracks, they can be moved easily.  The normal spacing between seats on either domestic or international can vary anywhere between 31-40 on domestic up to 60 for first class international.  Seat width is the number of inches across the seat cushion or at chest level.  Since any given airplanes width of the cabin cannot vary, the number or width will not vary much.  However, seats on the same airplane can vary from row to row and even seat to seat.  

Each airline chooses how many seats will be placed in first class, coach and business, how much room for crew rest areas (international flights), where lavatories are located and how many movie screens, etc.     

What seat do you think is best and why?

Passenger Baggage  

All commercial passenger airlines provide for passengers to carry baggage along with them on the plane.  Baggage means such articles, effects and other personal property as are necessary or appropriate for your wear, use, comfort or convenience in connection with your trip whether checked in the cargo compartment or carried in the passenger compartment of the aircraft.  Baggage policies vary from airline to airline.  Often, the size of the aircraft will dictate the number of pieces, weight and size of baggage that it will accept.   

There are basically two concepts of baggage acceptance:  Piece concept, generally accepted in the U.S. and weight concept.  The piece concept is fairly standard in the U.S.  Most domestic airlines allow 3 pieces of baggage total.  

If a passenger carries one piece of baggage onboard, then two pieces can be checked.  The FAA has instituted a policy that passengers may not take more than two bags onboard in the cabin.   

These bags may not exceed the size limit acceptable by the carrier or aircraft type.  If a passenger wants to take more baggage than what is allowed, excess baggage will be charged.   

If any piece of baggage is larger than the maximum permitted size by airline, (or flight), then oversize baggage rates are charged.  If a single bag weighs more than the maximum allowed, the passenger will need to pay for overweight baggage.  Charges for excess, overweight or oversized baggage will vary among airlines.  

All checked baggage must have an identification label, containing the owner’s name and address and phone number.  Airlines advise passengers that an additional baggage tag should be placed inside the luggage, just in case the one on the outside comes off.  

Airline Services  

Since airlines are in the business of transporting passengers and their baggage, as well as mail and cargo, the main things that set one airline apart from the rest are the services provided and, of course, customer service.  

Seating, as previously discussed is one of the key airline services.  Most frequent flyers will prefer to fly an airline that offers wider seats with more legroom.  Other items include:  Advance seat assignments, special meals, pet acceptance, movies and music, frequent flyer programs.    

Pre-reserved Seats  

Advance seat assignments allow the passenger to pre-reserve a seat in the area of their choice.  People, who fly frequently, generally have a special seat in which they like to sit. Aisle seats are preferred for easy access to the lavatory and generally do not have a “closed in” feeling.  Window seats are preferred so that the passenger can watch the scenery or lean against the wall for comfort.  Exit rows and bulkhead rows are preferred for more legroom but exit rows could be undesirable because they do not fully recline, as FAA regulations require a clear exit.   

Special Meals  

Airlines offer special meals for a variety of reasons; therefore, there are many types of meals.  Most airlines offer children meals, low calorie, low/no salt, low cholesterol, diabetic, and vegetarian.  Religious or ethnic meals are offered, such as:  Kosher, Muslim, Hindu and Oriental.  Not all airlines offer all types of meals.  Very often the places an airline will fly will determine the types of special meals offered.  For example, United may offer Oriental meals on their flights to Tokyo but not on flights to New York.   Special meals must be ordered 12 – 24 hours in advance of the flight so that they may be prepared and boarded on the proper flight.  There is no cost for a special meal.

Pets  

As passengers travel, so do their pets.  Depending on the airlines’ regulations, some will allow small pets in the cabin, if they can be safely maintained in a kennel that will fit under the seat.  Most airlines have adopted a rule that only one pet can ride on a flight per cabin.   

Pets must have reservations, too, and it is on a first-come first-served basis. Almost always, pets will be considered as excess baggage and charges are incurred.  Cost frequently is dependent on the size of the animal.                  

Pets that can be taken in the cabin or as checked baggage generally fall under the category of household pets; dogs, cats, birds.  Rarely do airlines carry other types of animals.   Most airline regulations prohibit the transport of exotic animals.  Passengers should check with their veterinarian for inoculations necessary for the pet to travel state to state and most definitely when out of the country.   

Movies and Music  

Airlines will offer the opportunity for a passenger to obtain head phones to either listen to prerecorded music or watch an onboard movie.  Generally there is no charge in first class, but there is usually a small fee in coach.  Most of the time, passengers are glad for the opportunity to do something different for a couple of hours.  

Frequent Flyer Programs  

There is tremendous competition within the industry between airlines.  So to encourage loyalty to an airline, (sometimes regardless of the fare), frequent flyer programs have become one of the best ways of rewarding passengers for flying their airline.  American Airlines’ AAdvantage Program was the first of its kind and is still the largest having had approximately 29 million members in 1996.  Rewards usually entail free or low cost upgrades from coach to first class, two-three days of free car rentals, to free (no cost at all), air travel.  After a passenger has accrued a given number of miles, different rewards are offered. 

   
Activity  

Directions

Have students answer the following questions, using the TCD, Chapter 2 pg. 95 for assistance.  The following questions are general.  Remind students that not every airline is the same.  The students may work together in teams or by themselves.  

       Link to Air Travel Questions Chapter 5