If you are a parent and traveling with kids who constantly pester and scream throughout, air travelers may not take this kindly and you will be looked upon derisively. The recent survey conducted by an air travel research firm might make you sit up and take notice, and ultimately lead to a rethink. According to the survey that was conducted recently, the parents that let their kids scream and go nuts during the flight now top the list among the most annoying etiquette violators while in the air.

The survey indicated that those parents who are traveling with loud kids are considered to be more annoying. Such passengers have left the other etiquette violators far behind. Among other etiquette violators are the passengers with nasty odors and those who kick the back of the seats. The survey pointed out that even those passengers who tend to take off their shoes and socks in the airtight cabin are considered less offensive. The study was conducted involving 1,001 U.S. travelers who fly frequently.
 
According to the survey, 41 percent of the respondents ranked the parents traveling with screaming and naughty children as the most annoying airplane etiquette violators. The survey said that 49 percent of those interviewed said that they would prefer to pay extra for being seated in a dedicated “quiet zone” that would be free of screaming kids.

If you travel frequently by air or flying for the first time and concerned about your calories intake, don’t worry any more now. Simply forget about counting your calories now as a study has recently done the groundwork for you. In a recent survey conducted by a research firm, the food offerings by many leading airlines has been compared.

According to the survey, Virgin America and Air Canada have emerged as the best airlines in providing the healthiest snack options. Alaska Airlines followed closely behind these carriers. The study pointed out that during the current holiday season some 5.53 million travelers are expected to take their flights in and out of the various airports. The study said that the average number of calories per food item this year dropped to 360 from 388 calories in the year 2012.
 
When taking Virgin America flights the customers can look forward to some of the best meals that the airline provides in the U.S. aviation industry. According to the study, the customers can look forward to savor the arugula salad and roasted pear along with almond and fig mustard dressing. The study has however cautioned the customers of United Airlines to avoid taking the Savory and Classic snack boxes and the cheese plate. For those taking short-haul flights on United Airlines, the customers are recommended the Tapas snack box, but refrain from taking in the cheese spread that comes along with it.

It’s a widely acknowledged fact that whenever there’s an increase in competition among various airlines, the airfares go down significantly. However, something strange is happening in the U.S. aviation industry with the advent of low-cost carriers which is only growing by the day. The influx of low-cost carriers in a big way in the U.S. airspace is causing tremendous worries to the legacy carriers. A recent study conducted by Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business has come with interesting findings. The study said that something unexpected is happening with a large number of low-cost carriers entering the aviation market to pose a tough challenge to big airlines.

The study said that the way in which low-cost carriers have stepped up the competition it seems that the big airlines are now being adversely impacted with their on-time performance. The study dwelt at length the current impact after studying various low-cost carriers and taking up Southwest Airlines as a case study.

The study has been co-authored by Jeff Prince, Associate Professor of business economics at Kelley School of Business. Apart from Southwest Airlines, some 275 examples from 1993 to 2005 were taken into account. The study cited the market behavior when there were talks of Southwest Airlines entering the market and what happened with its final entry. According to the study, with the Southwest Airlines’ entry it was found out that the airline’s competitors had a tough time with a higher percentage of flights getting at least 15 minutes late. Prince said that the late flights rating had increased 3.2 percentage points. The study however did not attribute the specific reasons behind the delays.

A nutrition survey published recently has rated U.S. and other international carriers on the basis of healthier foods that they had been providing to their customers on board the flights. The study pointed out that though all airlines are not reputed for serving great food, there are still some of them that definitely provide healthier food than what is provided by other airlines in their comparison. The survey is conducted every year by a renowned dietician named Charles Platkin.

Media reports citing the survey said that the survey is primarily conducted by dietician Charles Platkin each year in which nutritional information is provided about the meals that are served to the economy class passengers on domestic flights. The airline’s food was rated on a five-star scale, with five star being given to the healthiest food provided. Accordingly, the survey rated Virgin America and Air Canada among the top as they came out with flying colors with 4½ stars each. However, Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines performed poorly with a rating of 1½ star each. Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines received 2 stars. Other carriers like American Airlines, US Airways and Delta Air Lines performed appreciably somewhere in the middle.  

Dr. Platkin said that Virgin America continues to do a fantastic job by providing healthier meals to its customers just like it did in the past year. He said that the airline offered its customers a range of snack boxes and healthy meals. Air Canada also offered snack items of higher calorie. Alaska Airlines was closely behind Air Canada in providing the healthier Mediterranean Tapas box.

Leading Chinese and U.S. carriers are trying to make sense on how to expand their respective profitability base on China-U.S. routes. Considering the fact that flights between United States and China have become quite lucrative, the carriers from the two countries are increasing capacity or introducing new flights. Media reports recently said that Chinese and U.S. carriers are aggressively trying to increase their market share and earn big revenues for themselves.

The reports said that the U.S. carriers are greatly concerned with the extensive efforts being put by Chinese airlines during the recent years. American carriers firmly believe that the Chinese carriers have made a major dent in their revenues with the rapid increase in their market share on the profitable U.S.-China routes. So far, the U.S. carriers were the major beneficiaries by making profits on flights between the two countries, but of late the introducing of new flights and increasing of capacity by Chinese carriers have made the U.S. carriers quite worrisome.

During a recent survey conducted by a reputed research firm it was pointed out that American carriers accounted for 53 percent of the flights between the United States and China this year. The study showed that the U.S. carriers faced a decline in their revenues on China-U.S. routes by 59 percent as compared to 2012. The Chinese carriers however succeeded in garnering the remaining 47 percent market share. Currently, four major Chinese carriers including Air China, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and China Eastern Airlines conduct flights on China-U.S. routes. The U.S. carriers that operate flights between the two countries include United Airlines, American Airlines and US Airways.

Leading U.S. carriers are now facing a growing and real threat. The challenge is being thrown by carriers based in the Middle East and Asia. This is making the American carriers jittery as they come to terms with the new challenges. America’s leading airlines US Airways and American Airlines, which have merged finally forming the largest airline in the world, are finding it tough and emerge winners in the face of global competition.

Dough Parker, Chief Executive of American Airlines, recently told mediapersons during an interview that the threat is real. The fact cannot be discounted that it’s a global business and there’s pertinent need to compete globally. He said that the two airlines, which have now merged and will now function under American Airlines Group, are fully aware of this fact and simply can’t turn blind eye to any global threat. Parker however said that there should be a level of playing field and his company cannot be asked or pressurized to compete on different terms. Parker said that the major challenge is coming from carriers mostly based in the Middle East, India, Korea, Turkey and elsewhere.

American Airlines Group is not the only one to face the heat. Even another leading carrier Delta Air Lines is finding the going tough. Delta Air Lines is battling it out in an Italian court asking it to rein in new flights between New York and Milan that was launched by Emirates Airline in October this year. Delta Air Lines has even gone to the extent of seeking a stop on billions of dollars lending by a U.S. bank to foreign airlines at below-market rates. One suit has already been dismissed by the U.S. Court of Appeals, while a federal court in Washington is yet to consider a pending trial.

If you are traveling on a European carrier and eager to use your mobile phones, smart phones or other electronic gadgets whenever you want to throughout your flight, then here’s good news that’s sure to make you happy. British Airways has now become the first European carrier to allow its customers make use of their handheld electronic devices throughout their flight. Effective from 19th December 2013, the airline permitted its customers to use their electronic gadgets be it mobile phone, e-reader or iPod during taxi, departure or arrival on the condition that the device is in ‘flight mode’.

British Airways had so far been permitting its customers to use their electronic devices only during the ‘cruise phase’ or when the aircraft was flying above 10,000 feet. But with the new policy being effectively in use, the customers boarding British Airways flights would now be allowed to make phone calls, and send and receive text messages, after the aircraft has landed and left the runway.

The European Aviation Safety Agency had recently said that the tablets and smartphones could be safely used during landing and take-off. Even the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority had favored the use of gadgets on board the flights and sought easing of the rules.

The travel experience of customers on Dragonair flights is all set to get a boost with brand new First Class seat and a host of in-flight products. Hong Kong-based Dragonair recently announced the launch of its new First Class cabin along with a range of products to offer great on board experience. The announcement of new in-flight products was made at a recently concluded media event, which was addressed by Patrick Yeung, Chief Executive Officer of Dragonair.

Yeung said that airline wanted to provide modern, upgraded amenities to its customers so that they continue to be attracted and satisfied with Dragonair’s performance on the ground as well as in the air. Yeung said that the customers would even be more attracted to fly with Dragonair with a comprehensive cabin upgrades and new in-flight products. He said that Dragonair flights, apart from new First Class seat, will also offer newly designed seats in both Business Class and Economy Class. The new in-flight products include state-of-the-art StudioKA in-flight entertainment system. The airline will be providing full AVOD system in all its classes.

Yeung further said that Dragonair’s in-flight shopping is another attractive feature that has kept the customers attracted and made their onboard experience even better. The airline said that it will be unveiling a new line-up of products in the first quarter of 2014 that would be offered for in-flight shopping. Yeung said that there will be a complete range of above 350 products, with more than 140 new items, to be up for sale during January-March 2014 flights.

Here’s glad tiding for the travel and hospitality industries. Business travel has been growing at a frenetic pace and will keep up the positive momentum in 2014 as well. A new study conducted lately this year by a renowned travel magazine ‘Frequent Business Travel’ has outlined that there will be a substantial increase in business travel next year. The effect of this outcome will help in triggering growth in the hospitality and travel industries.

The study made some startling findings. The survey, which was conducted for the 2nd consecutive year, said that nearly 35.7 percent or one-third of business travelers participating in the survey said that in the next year they would love traveling even more than the present year. However, about 47.2 percent or almost half of the participants in the business travel survey said that they would maintain stability and would travel the same amount as they have done this year.
 
The study also covered different aspects related with the business travel and the emerging trends. These include traveler loyalty to hotel chains, frequent flyer membership, hotel loyalty programs, preferences to eat and work, and airline alliances. Nearly 1,323 frequent business travelers participated in the survey. Frequent Business Travel magazine along with FlyerTalk, the largest online travel community in the world, conducted the survey jointly during the last quarter of 2013. The participants in the survey provided some suggestions as well. According to surveyed business travelers, there is a need for hotels and airlines to do even more for a consistent experience for travelers, which is still lacking.

A recent study conducted by a travel firm ‘Which?’ published the latest findings that rated the top 10 airlines in the world as among the best and worst. The airlines that made it to the top 10 ranks in different categories include Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Emirates Airline, American Airlines, Thomas Cook, Iberia, Qatar Airways and Ryanair, among others. The study has been good for some, while it has been bad for others.

According to the study, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines were tied in first place among the best performers in the world aviation industry. Emirates Airline achieved the third place in the category of the world’s best airlines. However, the findings were not good for Qantas Airways as it was ranked in 10th place. This was however a consolation for Qantas Airways as it has been facing stiff competition on the trans-Tasman sector with a poor showing in the latest customer satisfaction rankings as against its rivals. The airline was ranked 24th among leading airlines flying on long-haul routes on the trans-Tasman sector. In the latest rankings that placed Qantas Airways at the 10th place, the airline received three stars out of five and was voted negative for its seat comfort and legroom offered to its customers.

Among the worst airlines included Manchester-based carrier Thomas Cook and American Airlines. Iberia was also not up to the mark in terms of its performance and was given only one-star rating. The airline received negative vote for its poor food and drink service and customer service. The airlines received the ratings based on 13 criteria, which included customer service, baggage allowances, in-flight entertainment, food and drink, cleanliness, seat comfort, punctuality and value for money.