Section B · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, December 3, 1998
Commentary
Standby flights often create more hassle than service
By Chris Hutchison Special to the Kansan
It was the end of the 1997 fall semester, and I was really looking forward to some time off. All throughout finals my mind was in one place: Terminal A on Dec. 18. The first flight to Chicago was to leave shortly after 6:30 a.m. and, by God, I was going to be on it.
I have relatives that work for American Airlines and can get free tickets anywhere in the country – but only as a standby passenger. In case you're unfamiliar with flying standby, it is kind of like every high school dance I ever attended. The girl I'm dancing with always looks around to see if there's someone more important she should be with. I'm considered pretty dispensable.
So back to the story. I got my groggy self to the airport 45 minutes before takeoff with a grin on my face and my fingers crossed behind my back. I was confident as they let first-class passengers aboard, patient during back-of-the-plane loading, curious for the middle seats and anxious as the last passengers got on.
When they shut the gate, I was depressed. It was another 90 minutes until the next flight, and I had to spend the time at Kansas City International Airport.
Disappointment accompanied the 8 a.m. flight as well as I sat a bit less straight up in my chair. I was 0 for 2 and very tired. The next plane wasn't scheduled to leave for another couple of hours, thus a little nap was in order.
I overslept the 10:20 flight. If you were there, I was the guy walking up and down the terminal chastising myself out loud.
The following flight brought new hope. The agent at the counter told me I had a good shot at getting on this one, I, in turn, took that to mean, "You'll be in seat 23B."
I went back to the main desk and checked my suitcase. Just as my
name was to be called, five heavyset suits came rumbling through security and onto the plane.
Flights at 1:45 and 4:30 p.m. camed and went without much fuss.
I don't think I was fully aware of my futility until I saw my roommate enter the airport. He was set to leave for Chicago at 5:55 p.m., the second-to-last flight of the evening. People were overflowing out of the gate. There was no way I was getting on this plane, I thought. Six o'clock came, however, and nobody was on board yet. "We have a slight delay," the agent said, "and it'll only be a few more minutes."
As a few minutes became an hour, people began filtering out. Another hour, and the gate wasn't full anymore. At 8:45, the agents loaded the plane. At 9:15, they emptied the plane with this message;
"There could be one of two things wrong. Either the light-bulb indicating the flaps is burned out, or the flaps themselves are malfunctioning, which means if the plane takes off, it'll quickly crash. So, please stay patient while we see what the problem is."
Within seconds, passengers flocked to the desk wanting to exchange their tickets. A couple hundred passengers became 40. I'm thinking, where did these guys go to school? Who tells a roomful of weary travelers that there's a chance their plane will crash? But what did I care . . . I was on my way home.
As I got aboard, I almost kissed the stewardess and cartwheeled my way down the aisle. We didn't get off the ground until 12:30 a.m., didn't arrive until 2:00 a.m. The flight was bumpy, and the service was poor, but I had a pillow under my head and two seats to myself.
Nineteen-and-a-half hours. I could've made it home by foot in less time. My winter break seemed to go by quicker than the trip home. On an ironic note, the standby flight home went much faster - I got on the first plane available. As if I was in a rush to get back here.
Long lines, over-booking, stay by-last, lost baggage and missed connections all plague holiday airline travelers. Kansas City International Airport played host to these problems during Thanksgiving break, as KU students waited in line to catch their flights. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
Early purchase can keep ticket price low
Supply, demand affect holiday airfare pricing
By Chris Hutchison Special to the Kans
Special to the Kansan
Mike Beth is a smart guy. He does well in school, has many friends and a good life in front of him. But in December 1996 he made a mistake he won't forget.
He waited until the last minute to buy his plane ticket home and, as is the result with many students, took a severe blow to his wallet.
"Five hundred and forty dollars," said Beth, Urbana, Ill., junior. "I had to pay $540 — a first class ticket — to get home to Chicago for Christmas. When I got home, I was greeted with hoards of laughter by my brothers and that 'tsk-tsk' sound moms make. My dad, mincing few words, let me know I should be better prepared next time."
Because the airline industry does not offer guaranteed fares for its routes, supply and demand dictates ticket prices. When Beth called for a seat with only a few days notice he faced an uphill battle. With states like Texas, Minnesota and Illinois providing KU with close to 10 percent of its enrollment each year, it's a battle students fight quite often.
"It was my freshman year — my first winter break — and I was supposed to get a ride home with a buddy of mine, but plans fell through about three days before my last
final," Beth said. "I left a message with my aunt, who's a travel agent, to see if she could dig up a ticket to Chicago for a decent price. When she called back, however, I got the bad news."
Beverley Totten, travel consultant at the Lawrence Travel Center, 1603 W. 23rd St., said Beth's experience was not uncommon for students who procrastinate in their planning.
"Although I can't say for sure how much fares increase week-by-week as we approach the holidays, there can be over 90 different fares offered for a flight from Kansas City to Chicago," she said.
Depending on when flights are reserved, Totten said, expected prices can range anywhere from $60 to $1400 for a round-trip ticket to the Windy City. But there are steps you can take to avoid paying an extravagant amount.
"If you're hoping for a discount fare, like the $60 price, you need to make the arrangements at least three weeks in advance," Totten said. "From then on, it's really like first-come-first-serve. You've got to be ready to do some investigation."
Todd Langley, Chicago sophomore, has discovered a way to let someone else do the exploration.
"Instead of calling the airline or dealing with a travel agent, who may or may not have some kind of loyalty to a particular carrier, I make my plans through a service over the Internet."
The service Langley uses, Priceline.com, is an online company that takes a price you
AIRLINE FARES
American Airlines $69
Southwest Airlines
Trans World Airlines $70
United Airlines
Vanguard Airlines $60*
(* denotes Midway Airport)
Fare quotes for a round-trip flight from Kansas City International to O'Hare International in Chicago as of Nov. 19 leaving Dec. 18 and returning Jan. 19.
name and checks with airlines across the country to see if they'll release seats at your price. You are notified of the results within an hour, 24 hours for international flights, and, if not successful at first, you can increase your price much like in an auction.
"You're basically bidding for the cheapest fare," Langley said.
Beth also has learned from past travel experiences.
"I now make my reservations one month beforehand," he said. "Christmas, spring break, Thanksgiving, it doesn't matter. Thirty days no matter what. It just sucks that I had to learn the hard way."
Many students take advantage of month-long winter break by relaxing, traveling
Speciol to the Kansan
By Skip Reynolds
"After finals everyone deserves a vacation," said Kristy Fraser, Lee's Summit, Mo., junior.
"Iam looking forward to going there for Christmas. I have never been away from my hometown over the holidays. We still plan to have all the family traditions, like opening presents."
As winter break approaches, students not only are preparing for final examinations but also for vacations. This year, students will have an extra week of vacation because spring semester classes do not begin until Jan. 19.
The month off from classes gives students a chance to get away from their studies and go on vacation. Students said they would be going to the beach, on cruises, skiing or spending time with their families.
"I see a winter vacation as going to the mountains, relaxing in a log cabin and going skiing," said Jessica Uthe, Ingalls sophomore. "I also would like to go to Hawaii and spend the days sitting on the beach tanning."
break activity for students.
Skiing always is a favorite semester
"My favorite place to ski is Vail, because I like the Back Bowls," said Rob Hagg, Palantine, Ill., freshman. "My family goes to Vail every year. They enjoy Vall and Glenwood because it has a nice family environment."
"It's my grandparents present to everyone in the family," Hansen said. "I am
Other students plan to visit warmer parts of the country.
Matthew Hansen
Red Cloud, Neb., freshman
Matthew Hansen, Red Cloud, Neb., freshman, said he planned to go to North Padre Island, Texas, for Christmas.
looking forward to going there for Christmas. I have never been away from my hometown over the holidays. We still plan to have all the family traditions, like opening presents."
Other warm weather seekers plan to do more than just stay near the beach. Natasha Winn, Leawood junior, said she was going on a cruise to the Bahamas with her mother, brother and aunt.
"It is a Christmas present to my brother and me from our mom," Winn said. "She has been saving to go on this trip for a long time. We just wanted to
try something new and maybe start a new family tradition for the holidays."
Winn's family plans a five-day cruise that will begin in Orlando, Fla., and will visit the Bahamas.
"We plan to do several things like scuba diving," she said. "We hopefully will play the tourist and buy little things like souvenirs."
While some students may be vacationing during break, others are simply going home to rest or work. For some, going home is a chance to have good home-cooked meals, see old friends and make money for the spring semester.
"I am going to stay with my uncle's family in Miami and work for Zynyx Marketing," said Brent Mueller, Wichita senior. "This will be my third time going down there. I also plan to go to the Orange Bowl and hang out with old friends from the University of Miami."
Other students who love the college
football season and plan to attend to a bowl game over the New Year's holiday
"I am going to the Rose Bowl because I used to live in Pasadena and my dad just always buys tickets," said Dan Truesdale, Overland Park junior.
"We go out to the Rose Parade in the morning and go to the game in the afternoon. Going to the game really makes my vacation a lot more fun," Truesdale said.
Some students, like Kristy Fraser, are fortunate enough to visit other countries.
"I am going to visit my mom and step dad because he works for the FAA and he was transferred to Belgium," Fraser said. "I am flying to Brussels and then we are going to the Canary Islands for six days.
"I am hoping that it will be nice weather to get a tan. I mostly plan to kick back eat good food and drink champagne."
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GET IN OVER YOUR HEAD!!! FOR FREE!!!
Scuba diving trips for Spring Break now forming!
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INCORPORATED
Call for details 749-0500
Open M-F 11-7, Sat. 9-5
1301 E. 25th
(2 blocks south of 23rd and Ponderosa Dr.)
Watkins Health Center Winter Break Hours:
**Effective December 18-January 12**
Monday-Saturday 8:00-4:30
Sunday 12:30-4:30
CLOSED: December 25-27 & January 1-3
To Make an Appointment Call:
864-9507
Have a Great Holiday Season!