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E L L I O T T' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

January 19, 2004

Northwest Released Passenger Data
Northwest Airlines provided information on millions of passengers for a secret U.S. government air-security project two years ago, raising more concerns among some privacy advocates about the airlines' use of confidential customer data. The nation's fourth-largest airline asserted in September that it "did not provide that type of information to anyone." But Northwest acknowledged Friday that by that time, it had already turned over three months of reservation data to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Ames Research Center. Northwest is the second carrier to have been identified as secretly passing travelers' records to the government. Washington Post | Posted 6:45 a.m.
-- Northwest: We had "no knowledge" of project
<-- Army quietly opens JetBlue probe
<-- NPR: Hasbrouck explains JetBlue scandal
• Why did Northwest lie about sharing information with the government? More important, which other airlines coughed up confidential information about passengers? Send us your comments.

Auto Rental Companies Hike Rates
The Cendant Car Rental Firm announced that effective Feb. 15, it would be raising its car rental rates across all booking channels for both its Avis and Budget brands. Rates will increase by $5 per day or $20 per week on all vehicle types, from subcompact to premium-class autos. Hertz announced that it would match that move on the same date and at the same increase. There is no word as yet whether the other car rental firms will follow suit. Travel Agent | Posted 6:50 a.m.

Flying the Friendlier Skies
Low-fare carriers are no longer simply competing on ticket price, they are also raising the bar with the services they offer. While the Big Six airlines (American, Delta, Continental, Northwest, United and US Airways) struggle with high costs and dissatisfied passengers, small, low-cost airlines like JetBlue, AirTran, Frontier and Spirit have learned to please customers, make money and grab market share, all at the same time. They have become major players in the industry. Low-fare carriers, including pioneer Southwest Airlines and the improved America West, account for 30% of the market, compared with just 5% a decade ago. Time | Posted 6:50 a.m.
-- NPR: Airlines should end bogus deals

• I toooooold you. Send us your comments.

-----------------------------------

• And finally ... which airport offers travelers the worst concessions? The bulletin-board chatter's verdict: my hometown airport, Miami. Runner-ups include Boston and Dallas. Some of these names are familiar to regular readers of this site. Posted 5:50 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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