Buckle That Seat Belt!

Image courtesy of Aeroflot

You just sat down in your seat on the plane. As you get settled, you squirm a bit to get comfy, get out your book, or electronic device and you are good to go. Oh wait, here's the announcement from the deck, "Please fasten your seat belts." The flight attendants come through the cabin and do that little spot check with their eyes and catch a few offenders. Begrudgingly, they buckle up.

Finally the captain turns off the seat belt notice and you feel free, well as free as you can in the plane. You grab your book or device, put headphones on and wonder when your beverage will arrive. Meanwhile, the cabin crew advises you keep your belt fastened while you are sitting in the event of sudden turbulence.  'Forget about it' you think to yourself. 'I don't need no stinkin' seat belt.  What's going to happen?'

This week, passengers on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow bound to Thailand learned the important lesson of sudden turbulence. The flight departed Moscow filled with passengers ready to enjoy some holiday time in Thailand. The flight was smooth and captain made no announcements about turbulent weather ahead. Unfortunately, just as we don't expect to be in a car accident, we don't expect a bumpy ride in the sky. Before you know it, and sometimes before the pilot knows it, the aircraft comes into an air pocket or sudden turbulence. By the time it happens, it's too late to buckle up.

The moment you are jostled out of your seat, you become not only a liability to yourself, but also to others on the flight. As you are thrown around, your body will come into contact with your seatmates around you. Even if they are safely buckled in, you have the propensity to become a fly object. When you land, chances are you will fall on another passenger injuring them as well.

Image courtesy of passenger on Aeroflot/CNN

According to reports the turbulence only lasted about 10 seconds, but was severe enough to eject passengers from their seats. On this particular flight, 27 injuries were reported. They in ranged from bumps and bruises to fractured limbs. One passenger reported 'it was like being in a washing machine.' Another passenger took a photo of blood on the overhead compartment where a passenger's head came into contact. Not a great way to being your vacation.

Perhaps on your next flight if you are not in the habit of securing your seat belt this will change your mind. If you don't think anything can happen to you, please be considerate of your fellow passengers.

Basic Economy Airfare For 2017 - What You Need To Know Before Booking Your Flight

 

The major airlines will change their reservation choices with a new option, Basic Economy fare class beginning 2017. American, Delta and United announced their new programs as an effort to be more competitive with low cost airlines such as Spirit, JetBlue and Frontier.

On the outset it looks great, but there will be even more hidden or choice pay-to-fly options associated with these fares. Even now, while reserving flights, I am finding less and less no charge seating options. The free options are showing up in back half of the aircraft with middle row seats. For window and aisle seats, your options are few and toward the last rows of the plane.

Each of the major airlines will have slightly different rules for their new fare class, so you need to be an educated consumer before you are wooed with what appears to be a bargain price flight. Cheap can become very costly.

The three major carriers share some similar rules and restrictions. Most notably, you will not be able to choose your seat prior to your flight. Your seat will be assigned to you at check-in. So, if you are traveling with family or friends, do not count on sitting together. These fares are non-refundable, non-cancelable, non-changeable. This means either use it or lose it. With traditional fares, if you need to cancel your flight, you can use your ticket within a year of purchase if you chose to pay the change fee plus any difference in fare. Also, you cannot make a same day reservation or standby reservation. Also, these fares will be very restricted. There will be a finite number of seats on each flight available.

Rules for United's Basic Economy will restrict passengers from bringing carry on luggage aboard. Anything personal item brought on board must fit under your seat.  Your other luggage must be checked-in with the prevailing fee. If you look to accrue frequent flier mileage to achieve a higher status, your points with this ticket will not help you either.

On Delta, you will be able to use overhead bins for your carry-on luggage. However, since Basic Economy passengers will be boarding last, this may be a difficult task. If there is no room in the bins, you may have to check your carry on at an additional cost.

Suffice to say, take a very close look at the fares you choose for your flights. The difference between the basic economy fare and economy or economy plus fare may be just a few extra dollars and worth the investment for your next flight. Carefully calculate the luggage and personal carry on items you generally take when you travel. Consider the fact you may be in that tight middle seat for your 5 hour flight or in the very last row closest to the lavatory.