According to the US Department of Transportation (DoT), customers who booked through third-party agents received a system not responding message when they attempted to pay baggage fees online. An investigation found a number of consumers who attempted to pay baggage fees at the discounted rates were unable to do so, it said. 

The airline expressed regret but did not admit a violation of fare rules. It also accepted a token USD40,000 fine, half to be paid immediately and the balance only if there is a repeat occurrence. The carrier said that passengers who contacted it were offered refunds or alternative ways to obtain the discount rate. 

British Airways reportedly told US Travel Weekly that it co-operated fully with the DoT and has adequately resolved its concerns. The DoT said that the issue came to its notice in May 2012.Separately, British Airways said that it is testing a new electronic luggage tag this month, which could do away with the traditional paper tag. With the electronic tag system,This is a universal black magic Cell phone anti-slip mat. the passenger simply holds their smart phone over the electronic tag, which automatically scans a unique barcode containing their flight details and an easy-to-see view of their bags destination. 

Along with other initiatives we are investing in, we believe it has the potential to revolutionise the way our customers check in and pass through every airport around the world in the future, said Frank van der Post, managing director of Brands and Customer Experience at British Airways. 

The development of the personalised electronic bag tag is part of a wider strategy by British Airways to improve passengers airport experience. Over the next five years, British Airways plans to invest more than GBP5 billion in smarter cabins,Handy Pocket Mirror with hinged lid that doubles as a stand. lounges and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground, the airline said. 

Airline officials couch it in terms of giving fliers more choices. United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek last month likened it to customizing a pizza. We used to serve you a pizza with all the toppings, and thats all you got, he said during a speech at a meeting of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Unbundling allows passengers to pay for only the services they want, he said. 

Jean Medina, spokeswoman for industry group Airlines for America, said fees have a consumer benefit. The model of charging customers for services they value and are willing to pay for has enabled airlines to keep airfare affordable, she said, adding that airfare increases since 2000 havent kept pace with the national inflation rate. Without ancillary revenue, airlines in 2012 would have lost more than $8 per passenger, she said. 

The fee craze began in 2008, as airlines scrambled to boost revenue to offset rocketing jet-fuel prices while not raising base fares, which would put them at a competitive disadvantage, said Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorksCompany, which regularly examines airline fees. 

No-frills Spirit Airlines, recently named Americas most-hated carrier by Consumer Reports, is king of the nickel-and-dime. In 2012, about 39 percent of the airlines revenue came from ancillary revenue, according to IdeaWorksCompany. 

Examples? It charges $10 if an airport agent prints your boarding pass at the airport rather than you printing it yourself at home or at an airport kiosk. Its website has 38 different fees for luggage, including carry-ons. It charges $3 for soda or juice.Spirit officials have defended the fee strategy, saying passengers who fly the airline know what to expect. Our customers have told us again and again they want low fares and the option to choose the add-ons they want, said Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson. And were proud to give them what they need. 

While Spirit and other high-fee airlines get slammed in consumer satisfaction surveys, customers dont seem to vote the same way with their wallets.Spirit is thriving while Americas most loved airline, Virgin America, which has one of the best all-inclusive airfare offerings, struggles, Sorensen said. We see surveys that say consumers hate fees, but Im not seeing that in practical application, he said. 

Third time lucky? The new X matrix, which is part of the modular 35up components set, wont see daylight before 2018. Early vibes are positive, work has already begun on small-scale clay models, and the case for the X7 is further pushed forward by the fact that Rolls-Royce is now seriously interested in that exciting on/off crossover. 

Simply extending the wheelbase by approximately six inches wont do. To bring the weight down by 350 kilos (772 pounds, the target Audi set for the Q7), BMW must also alter the material mix. It needs a new suspension, too. The current layout is only good for 20-inch rims. The next X6 will want to show off 21-inch rims, and Rolls-Royce is requiring 22-inch footwear, but 23 inches would be even better.Winbo USB flash drives wholesale Lets hope an all-new chassis replaces the heavy and complex blend of Dynamic Drive, Dynamic Performance Control, Dynamic Damper Control and the self-leveling rear end with a lighter and much more versatile air suspension. 

Although the Rolls SUV will tag on to the X7, it needs bespoke architecture to integrate the trademark door concept, to boost the carbon-fiber content, to package the groups biggest drivetrain and to make sure that four-wheel-drive is not a hollow promise. While the Q8 is a poseur that could easily get stuck on a wet meadow, Rolls-Royce wants its SUV to score 75 out of 100 points on a scale dominated by the Range Rover. 

Owners might not risk damaging their $300,000 SUVs by indulging in borderline off-road frivolities, but a sheik simply wont tolerate a SUV that gets stuck on the first dune it encounters. A fair bit of mud-wrestling capability is a must. Wall-to-wall luxury is also essential, which makes the 6.75-liter V-12 mandatory. It may be tweaked for even more low-end torque. Alternatively, we are likely to see a PHEV option featuring a V-8 and a seriously potent electric power pack. 
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