[QUOTE=Steve Jones;9389]I have heard that the 737 capacity being dumped by Virgin will be (at least partially) being taken up by Pacific Blue. QUOTE]

I think that is definately the plan!

godfrey mentioned whilst the domestic market has excess capacity, their yields are quite good on all their international routes out of Aus.

I hate to see them start this charging for basic baggage thing. We are doing it here in the US and it simply just adds additional chaos to an already chaotic and overtaxed system.

People understand that based on the crazy prices for oil we are seeing these days the cost of a ticket must go up...so instead of charging people $15 or whatever for the first bag just add that amount to the cost of a ticket..or even add a baggage handling surcharce to each ticket.

The current process just adds insult to injury...and all it has achieved is to back up both the security lines...and the boarding process as people now try to carry bags on the aircraft that they previously would have checked. Some have resorted to gate checking their bags so they can avoid the charges...used to work but doesnt anymore.

Bottom line is the carriers have simply screwed themselves by now adding additional delays and destroying what was/is one of our key operational metrics...on time departures and arrivals. When you miss your departure time im most cases you loose your ATC slot which means you have to refile then go sit on a taxiway somewhere so that you can be ready to roll if an earlier clearance becomes available.

SO, the mess continues..hopefully some operators will learn from the less than brilliant management decisions that are being made here.:rolleyes:

Regards
MS