Unsporting

Written by Admin on October 1, 2008 – 3:11 am -

British Airways is apparently ready to follow the lead of some low-cost carriers in charging passengers extra to carry skis and golf clubs.

Ryanair, for example, currently charges £64 ($118) on a return ticket for sports equipment, and easyJet has a levy of £50 ($92). BA hasn’t set a fee yet, although a charge of £25 has been considered.

A spokeswoman for the Ski Club of Great Britain said the proposal could make British Airways less attractive. “BA was favoured by skiers as it had routes to places like Innsbruck, Geneva and Zurich. Those passengers might look at other options - some might even think of taking the Eurostar (through the Channel Tunnel).”

BA’s move to consider charging for sports equipment is the latest sign of the airline industry’s growing cash crisis.

But whatever hardships and extra costs you’ve had when flying, at least you didn’t have to get out and push the plane. That was the fate of some of the passengers in China when their aircraft broke down shortly after landing at Zhengzhou.

It took the passengers and airport staff nearly two hours to shove the CRJ7 plane half a mile to a side lane.

by Andy Moreton

Posted in Luxury Travel |