I have a QUESTION

All your travel-related questions answered by a panel of CWT experts

Q: ARE WE SOON GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE CELLULAR PHONES ON BOARD AIRCRAFTS?

A: “Your cellular phone must be switched off at all times as electronic devices interfere with navigation systems.” Or do they?

While the American regulator recently confirmed the ban of on-board cellular phone usage, its European counterpart took the opposite direction by clearing the use of mobile phones and BlackBerry devices for passengers while flying.

Air France is the first carrier to move ahead with a mobile offering: last December the carrier launched a six-month trial on its Airbus A318 fleet. In the first stage, passengers will be allowed to send and receive SMS and email messages. In the second stage, passengers will be able to make and receive phone calls. Feedback from the trial will determine whether to launch this service on all flights.

Close to a dozen carriers have announced similar plans for 2008 – although some, such as Qantas, intend to limit service to SMS and email only, not voice.

This step-by-step approach confirms that the cellular phone debate is fundamentally not a technological question, but a cultural one. Are passengers ready to let their phones intrude on the last refuge of tranquility?

Air France has warned that service will be “regulated to maintain passengers’ comfort and wellbeing”, but the on-board telephone etiquette is still to be established.

Note that every airline has a different policy as to when cellular phones and PDAs can be turned on after landing, so listen closely to the announcements on your flight.

Q: AS A FREQUENT FLYER, HOW CAN I REDUCE MY CARBON EMISSIONS?

A: Air travel generates only about 2% of global CO2 emissions, a seemingly modest amount. However, each air traveller bears a much larger responsibility. A single seven-hour round-trip on a large jet emits about 400kg of carbon per passenger, which is roughly equal to the total amount per year per person that the Earth is capable of absorbing – and about half the current rate generated per person per year.

Flying a newer aircraft will reduce your emissions. Another factor to consider is that carbon emissions are three to six times greater during take-off and landing than during cruise stage. By flying a direct route rather than connecting flights, you can therefore reduce emissions by up to 30%.

Ultimately, nothing will spare more carbon than avoiding the trip altogether – an ideal-world scenario unrealistic at present. Bundling two or more purposes into one single journey will maximise the use of your own time, and significantly improve your carbon balance. An increasingly realistic alternative to travelling, teleconferencing has greatly benefited from technological advances in the past few years. A number of companies are now investing in such “tele-presence” technology for their high-flying executives.

Lastly, if you are interested in keeping track of your carbon impact, contact your company’s travel manager to see whether carbon emissions forms part of the reporting provided by your travel management company.

Q: AIRLINES SEEM TO USE DIFFERENT CLASSES AND PRICES FOR THE SAME BUSINESS CLASS SEAT. HOW CAN I MAKE SURE I GET THE CHEAPER FARES?

A: Airlines utilise a complex system of pricing, and “fare types” are identified by a single letter in inventory management systems’ (GDS) booking codes. These lead to a range of prices for the same type of seat (i.e. business class) on the same flight. Each airline allocates a different number of seats on each flight at each code/price level. There are usually a few differences in conditions of use, such as whether the ticket is refundable, but from most travellers’ perspectives, the main difference is the price paid.

Airlines determine the seat allocation for each flight across these various price categories and monitor it as time progresses towards the date of the flight. This practice, called yield management, aims at ensuring the optimal utilisation of the aircraft. In times of slow demand, airlines release more inventory on discounted fares and reverse the trend during peak demand.

A few years ago, in the aftermath of 9/11 and SARS, a large proportion of trips across the Asia Pacific were on discounted fares, which left airlines struggling to fill capacity.

Today, load factors are at historical highs and airlines are allocating fewer seats to these discounted classes. To maximise your chances of securing a cheaper ticket, the best option remains to book early. On busy routes, discounted seats will typically sell out three to four weeks in advance. Be an early bird and plan ahead.

Email your travel questions to cwtconnect@carlsonwagonlit.com for publication in a future issue