US Airways revamps fare policy, perks to cut costs By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY US Airways is tightening restrictions on its lowest fares under a new=20 policy that may push business fliers to pay for higher plane tickets. The=20 changes, which mostly took effect with their announcement Tuesday, are the= =20 latest effort by a major, full-service airline to deal with staggering=20 losses and competition from discount airlines. Last week, Continental=20 Airlines said it plans to begin charging fees to low-fare fliers for=20 certain services. US Airways also has asked the federal bankruptcy court=20 overseeing its reorganization to allow it to overturn some labor contracts= =20 if it cannot negotiate reduced labor costs. Its most significant changes=20 Tuesday involve non-refundable tickets. Passengers who can't take their=20 scheduled flight must make changes before the flight leaves or lose their=20 money. US Airways, like many airlines, used to allow fliers to apply the=20 value of unused non-refundable tickets to new ones for up to a year =97= minus=20 a $100 fee for most flights. "It's an attempt to be more realistic to=20 consumers about what you get for what you pay," says Ben Baldanza, a senior= =20 vice president at US Airways. Other changes affecting passengers on non-refundable tickets: =B7 They will be unable to fly standby for alternative flights. =B7 They will earn frequent-flier miles, but as of Jan. 1 those miles= =20 won't count for eligibility in the perk-rich top tiers of US Airways'=20 Dividend Miles program. =B7 Corporate discounts will not apply to certain non-refundable= fares. =B7 US Airways also will charge $25 for paper tickets when electronic= =20 tickets are available. It will end free alcoholic drinks in coach on=20 trans-Atlantic flights. The changes could boost revenue. People whose plans may change =97 such as= =20 business fliers -may buy pricier refundable tickets. By forcing fliers to=20 make changes before departure, it also may sell more last-minute seats at=20 higher fares. The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ The Trinbago Site of the Week: (TnT Medical Assn.) http://www.tntmedical.com/ (Trinidad & Tobago Medical Association) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************