The New Rules of Airline Travel

The glamour of the Jet Age may have faded, but Kendall Hill has some practical tips on how to survive the new, and often confusing world, of airline travel.

In bygone days the glamour of the Jet Age was captured in commercial posters depicting elegant passengers in exotic climes. These images epitomised a bold new era of convenience and leisure far removed from today's volatile air industry, where constant changes to rules and regulations, cost-cutting and expedience can leave passengers bewildered and confused rather than refreshed and rewarded. The only remaining sophistication in air travel is that required to keep abreast of an industry in constant upheaval. In an effort to decipher just where we're at now, here are some of the new rules of flying. Just bear in mind they might change at any time...

1. More fuel you

As fuel prices surge ever-upwards and airlines scramble to protect profits, passengers are repeatedly being stung with increased taxes designed to offset the cost of kerosene. In Russia, for example, some air fares have risen 50 per cent this year thanks to heavy-handed fuel surcharges. And after Japan Airlines recently increased its fuel surcharges on the Sydney-London route to more than $1000, travel giant Flight Centre predicted passengers could soon be paying as much for fuel as they do for their base fare.

2. Tread lightly

By some estimates, the global travel industry is the fastest-growing contributor to CO2 emissions. Hence the websites of any eco-aware airline or travel agent now come complete with an online calculator so you can see how much damage your next holiday will wreak on the earth, and how much you need to pay to "offset" that damage and assuage your guilt.

A key criticism of carbon-offset schemes in Australia is that they are unregulated. There is no central umpire monitoring whether these companies do what they claim to do (though many have been independently audited), nor is there a simple, practical way of assessing whether the moneys paid to offset emissions actually achieve that end.

Environmental groups often stress that tree-planting schemes can be of dubious merit – better to park your hush money in renewable energy programs or energy efficiency projects. Or, better still, concentrate on reducing your so-called carbon footprint. Modifying our behaviour – not paying for our sins – is the ultimate goal here.

3. Develop a pack mentality

That an airline should carry our luggage as well as ourselves has been an accepted right of passage since the dawn of aviation. Not any more. In a bid to reduce costs several airlines – such as Aer Lingus and Ryanair – have begun charging passengers for the privilege of checking in bags on flights. Others, such as British Airways, have restricted luggage allowances and introduced scorching new fees for any extra kilos you'd like them to load on for you. One way around these punitive new rules is to fly business or first, as premium passengers almost always score extra luggage allowances. Ditto if you are a treasured member of an airline loyalty scheme. If not, check your carrier's website before take-off to avoid any rude, and costly, shocks at check-in.

4. Know the evils of all routes

Slashed services are the twin evil, along with fuel surcharges, of the out-of-control oil price. When airlines are under financial stress, unprofitable routes are the first to go. Hence Qantas announced in May it would axe 5 per cent of its domestic flights. Struggling US airlines are taking even more drastic steps – United has flagged an end to several of its major transcontinental routes, including the Denver and Heathrow service it launched with much fanfare in March. Stand by for more interruptions to once-regular services.

5. Get an e-ticket to ride

Amid the gathering clouds there are a few silver linings. One was the decision by IATA, the International Air Transport Association, to phase out paper tickets from the end of May. Not only does the move help protect our forests for future generations, it also signals an end to the angst of lost or forgotten plane tickets. While airlines may still insist on a printout of your e-ticket, they can no longer charge ridiculous fees to reissue a lost one.

6. It's not a classless society

Recent flyers may have noticed there's now an alternative to turning left or right when you enter the plane. Just plonk yourself on those comfortable looking seats midway between business and economy and help yourself to complimentary champers.

Qantas is the latest airline to join the "premium economy" push, carving out an elite niche in its cabins where passengers enjoy extra legroom, more attentive service, streamlined check-in and extra baggage allowances.

This "new" cabin class (Virgin Atlantic pioneered it in 1992, and it is now the carrier's most profitable cabin) is aimed primarily at older flyers and business travellers who can afford to splurge a little on comfort. The cost of a long-haul seat in premium economy is roughly double that of economy and half that of business. Other airlines offering this upgraded option out of Australia are Air New Zealand and British Airways.

7. Extras, extras, read all about it

After years of hacking into their in-flight hospitality, some carriers seem to have had a Scrooge-like epiphany; instead of always pinching pennies they're pampering flyers with unexpected extras. Emirates blazed the trail with an extensive in-flight entertainment system that had rival carriers scrambling to play catch-up. Other examples include Gulf Air's innovative Sky Nanny program to ease the strain on harried parents, and Air New Zealand's new in-flight concierge service, where hotel-style helpers are on board to handle passengers' travel needs and queries.

8. Surrender your liquid assets

Given the blanket publicity that greeted the tough new hand-luggage rules on liquids – and the fact those rules have been in place since March last year – it's surprising how many people still get ambushed at airport security. So here's a gentle reminder: all individual liquids and aerosols must be 100ml or less, and sealed in one (and only one) plastic bag with a volume of 1 litre or less. Breach these guidelines and you will be made to offload the excess into the nearest bin. That goes for just-purchased duty free, too. Always buy alcohol and perfumes after you've run the gauntlet of airport security, not before.

9. Be upwardly mobile

The sweet silence of ringtone-free aircraft cabins came to an end in March, when Emirates Airlines relayed the first commercial mobile phone call from a plane to the ground. The Dubai-based airline's actions opened the floodgates – a month later the European Union passed laws allowing the in-flight use of mobile phones. Air France was one of the first carriers to introduce the service, then in July this year Air Portugal announced it would also launch a trial of in-flight calls from personal mobiles. Shenzen Airlines plans to be the first Chinese carrier to introduce in-flight mobile calls in time for next month's Olympics.

10. Help yourself

The advent of self-serve check-in kiosks seems a rare example of a win-win in the aviation game. The airlines benefit from reduced staff costs and delays, while grateful passengers avoid the sort of interminable queues only ever associated with airports and humanitarian emergencies. But while use of the kiosks is still largely voluntary, in parts of Europe passengers now have no choice but to check themselves in on a machine before an airline staffer will deign to deal with them (thanks, British Airways). As always, it's about the airlines, not us.