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Canadian Official Tries To Block United-Air Canada Venture

Home > News > Aviation 2011 Canadian Official Tries To Block United-Air Canada Venture By Jerry Limone June 29, 2011 Canada's competition czar has filed an application with the country's Competition Tribunal to prohibit a joint venture between Air Canada and United Continental Holdings. Star Alliance partners Air Canada and United already have laid the groundwork for a revenue-sharing joint venture for transborder flights. The airlines have antitrust immunity and were scheduled to launch the joint venture this year. Melanie Aitken, Canada's commissioner of competition, said the joint venture would enable Air Canada and United to "monopolize 10 important Canada-U.S. routes." She considers the joint venture to effectively be a merger between United Continental and Air Canada. "If allowed to proceed, consumers will face higher prices and even less choice on key, high-demand air passenger routes," she said. In addition to challenging the joint venture, Aitken is challenging agreements that allow Air Canada and United to coordinate pricing and scheduling and share revenue. "Through these existing agreements, the companies currently have the power to charge passengers inflated fares," she said. "Moreover, if these anticompetitive provisions are further implemented, with or without the joint venture, Canadians will pay even more for less choice and higher fares." In separate statements, Air Canada and United said they "strongly disagree" with Aitken. "United's transborder cooperation with Air Canada has provided customers traveling between Canada and the U.S. with more and better service," United said. According to reports, an amendment to Canada's Competition Act allows the country's competition commissioner to argue cases of alleged anticompetitive behavior before the Competition Tribunal, which can force a decision. Source: Travel Weekly

［原创］纽约州同性婚姻合法的意义

［原创］纽约州同性婚姻合法的意义 发信站: BBS 未名空间站 (Fri Jun 24 22:31:42 2011, 美东) 42年前，在纽约Stonewall Inn拉开了美国同性恋平权运动的序幕，1969至2011，等待是漫长的，来之不易的胜利是激动人心的。纽约是世界看美国的窗口，纽约州同性婚姻合法化是一个标志。 同性婚姻合法将会在三年之内为纽约州增加2亿美元的收入。生活在同性婚姻合法的州/地区的总人口将从一千六百万增加到三千五百万，生活在同性婚姻合法的州/地区的同性伴侣将翻一番，从6.9%增加到14.3%。 纽约州42，000对同性伴侣（包括14，000个小孩）将和异性伴侣在州级权益方面有了真正的平等。纽约从2008年开始承认州外的同性婚姻，州外结婚的住在纽约的同性伴侣可以享受很多异性伴侣享受的州级权益，但不是所有的权益。比如异性伴侣可以继承对方的遗产，而不用交税，而同性伴侣则必须交税（这是Windsor v. the United States 的由来）。能在HOME　STATE结婚的象征意义也是不言而喻的。 今年上半年MD和RI合法同性婚姻的努力意外受挫，NJ的类似提案也因共和党州长的上任而蔫了，纽约的成功一定会为这些州打一剂强心针。 纽约的成功的特殊意义在于它是两党合作的结果。CAMPAIGN资金来源于左右两派，一些传统为共和党捐款的右翼人士对这个CAMPAIGN的贡献很大。NewYorkers united for marriage equality coalition 是两党组织的联合，共和国的同性恋组织LOGCABIN是成员之一。更不用说有4个勇敢的共和党议员投票支持同性婚姻。共和党反同的堡垒有了瓦解的迹象。纽约的榜样既给了其他州支持LGBT平权的温和派共和党人以鼓励，也为仍然口头或心里反对同性婚姻的民主党人（包括OBAMA本人）增加压力，也许很快LGBT就不一定是民主党呼之即来招之既去的铁票了。有竞争才有进步嘛。 感谢CUOMO州长，让我们见识了什么是LEADERSHIP，没有他的决心和能力，是不可能在不到两年的时间里转败为胜的。在美国历史上，还没有一个STRAIGHT　POLITICIAN 象他这样把同性恋平权当做自己的事。 纽约州同性婚姻已经合法，加州反PROP　8的官司也胜利在望，DOMA之争的天平已向我们大幅的倾斜，很难想象DOMA还可以支撑很久，DOMA's days are numbered。我们等不及了。 CUOMO州长会迫不亟待的签字的，５８％的纽约人支持同性婚姻，纽约的公投很难，靠公投来推翻同性婚姻几无可能，加州和MAINE的历史不会重演。法庭上有一仗是肯定的，但是他们还是一样会输的。 大家洗洗开心并放心的睡，做个结婚(而不是形婚）的美梦吧。

心中的感觉不知该怎么形容... 总之，很激动！

纽约州刚刚通过了gay marriage法案！好激动！太棒了！So cool! 法案的通过剛好和纽约市一年一度的gay parade撞在一起，真是不能再完美了！想起Madonna的Celebration. Yeah, time to celebrate! 要是此时身在纽约，定会去NYU旁边的West Village和人们一起狂欢！ 很怀念前两年在NYU时参加LGBT Office的各种活动、聚会的好时光... 也很想念14年前北京的Half & Half酒吧，还有时常不断的private gay parties. It was really exciting! 感谢上帝，这么多年下来，相貌没有太大变化，体重没增反从61公斤降到现在的57公斤，还是那么清瘦。看来从高中时就开始的注意饮食、体重监控和皮肤护理还是很奏效的。在NYU时，比我小一轮的同学还以为我跟他们同龄，心中还是不免有些小窃喜的。去買酒、或去酒吧时，还要被carded确认年龄，心里还小有一丝成就感。 因为特别喜欢james marsden演的影片，马上看存在DVR里一段一个小时长的27 Dresses。To me, he's soooo sexy and good-looking!

Lady Gaga - Monster

在强劲的旋律、动感中透着一种孤傲、冷酷和淡淡的忧伤、感伤， 是我最喜欢的风格了。 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwmg02S3dAM

轻松一下

最近每天都听好多好多遍的歌是Gaga上张专辑The Fame Monster里的Monster这首歌。好喜欢这首歌的旋律。 如果它要是作为国歌，那那个国家就太酷了。 J.Lo的新专辑LOVE? 个人觉得没之前的专辑好，但整体制作水平还算平稳，没失水准。倒是超喜欢这张专辑的封面及内页的照片。很酷、很炫、很漂亮！

Airlines seek six more months to comply with new DOT rules By Jerry Limone  June 14, 2011 http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airlines-seek-six-more-months-to-comply-with-new-DOT-rules/ U.S. airlines have asked the Department of Transportation for an extra six months to prepare for compliance with the DOT's new consumer-protection rules. Airlines need more time to "overcome substantial technological problems and properly train their employees," according to a document submitted June 7 by the Air Transport Association of America, the Regional Airline Association and the Air Carrier Association of America. The rules, introduced in April, include a requirement that advertised fares and air-inclusive packages include all taxes and fees, in print and online. The airlines said this requirement will be the most onerous of all. "We note that the Department has changed its position on full-fare advertising after 25 years of permitting posting of air transportation prices separate from government taxes and fees," the airlines said. "Carriers have relied on this government policy and built their advertising practices around it. Dismantling the current advertising system and reassembling it to meet the new standards will take multiple steps and will be difficult and time-consuming." The requirement of full-fare advertising is scheduled to take effect Oct. 24, but the carriers said they need 180 more days to accommodate the "thousands of hours" it will take to code and test new solutions, integrate those solutions with IT systems and implement them. The airlines also want 180 more days to incorporate changes to denied-boarding compensation rules, which are due to take effect Aug. 23. Among the new requirements is higher compensation for being bumped. If the passenger can be rerouted to arrive within two hours (four hours on international flights), the compensation is 200% of the fare, to a maximum of $650; otherwise the payment is 400% of the fare, to a maximum of $1,350. "Each covered U.S. and foreign carrier will have to incorporate these changes into its company policies, procedures and training programs, and will require substantial systems changes and programming," the airlines said. Also, airlines must list specific charges for baggage fees in all e-ticket confirmations by Aug. 23. The airlines said they are in favor of a hyperlink to baggage fee information on their websites, but not actual fee charges for passengers in the confirmation. Since an individualized solution is more of an IT challenge, the airlines are requesting another 180 days to complete the job.

DOT says U.S. airlines collected $5.7 billion in fees last year By Kris Fronzak   June 14, 2011 http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/DOT-says-U-S--airlines-collected-$5-7-billion-in-fees-last-year/ According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. airlines collected nearly $5.7 billion in fees in 2010. The number includes baggage fees ($3.4 billion) and reservation change fees ($2.3 billion). With an estimated $952.3 million over the course of the year, Delta led the way in revenue from baggage fees. American Airlines was second ($580.7 million), US Airways third ($513.6 million), Continental fourth ($341.6 million) and United fifth ($313.2 million). Delta also was tops in change fees at $698.6 million, followed by American ($471.4. million), United ($321.5 million), US Airways ($253.1 million) and Continental ($237.4 million). Airline revenue from reservation change fees fell 3% in 2010 compared with the prior year. But revenue from bag fees continued a sharp rise, increasing 24.5% from 2009. Compared with 2008, airline revenue from bag fees nearly tripled in 2010. According to DOT, bag fees and change fees are the only fees paid by passengers that can be identified separately. All other fees paid by passengers are included in larger categories with other types of revenue.

U.S. Airlines Collected $5.7B In 2010 Bag, Change Fees

JUN 13, 2011 -  U.S. airlines in 2010 collected roughly $5.7 billion in revenue from baggage and reservation change fees, up from $5.1 billion in 2009 , according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The airlines last year received $3.4 billion in baggage fees, compared with $2.7 billion in 2009. From reservation changes, the airlines garnered $2.3 billion in 2010 versus $2.4 billion in 2009. Delta Air Lines in 2010 obtained the most revenue from both baggage and reservation fees, collecting $952 million and $698 million, respectively.

U.S. airlines collect $5.7 billion in fees

U.S. airlines collect $5.7 billion in fees Mon, Jun 13 2011 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. airlines collected 10 percent more in fees last year to check bags and change reservations, raising more than $5.7 billion that helped them hold down losses from sharply higher fuel costs. Delta Air Lines topped both categories, accounting for more than a fifth of the total that was compiled and released by the Transportation Department on Monday. American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp, was second overall followed by United Airlines and Continental Airlines, which are now merged. Combined, those two carriers would top Delta in the generation of ancillary revenue. The overall airline revenue picture for last year was known to investors in January. But carriers do not as a rule break out fees for bags, reservation changes, and other services when reporting quarterly results. Most big airlines charge up to $25 for the first checked bag and more for a second. The practice began as a revenue bridge when travel fell sharply during the 2008-09 recession and fare increases were hard to pull off. But ancillary fees, including those to change reservations, have stuck and are now an important part of the revenue stream for airlines wrestling with high fuel costs and trying to keep their recovery aloft. Additionally, transparency on bag fees and fares is a hot-button issue. U.S. airlines want the government to push back deadlines requiring easily accessible bag fee and fare information as well as a mandate to boost compensation for passengers involuntarily bumped off flights. Those summer and fall deadlines were included in a rule finalized in April and driven by consumer and political frustration with airline service, including flight delays and complaints about the true cost of travel. Trade groups for major, low-cost and regional carriers last week asked the Transportation Department to delay compliance until as late as next spring in certain cases so airlines can train employees and update information technology systems. (Reporting by John Crawley, editing by Maureen Bavdek and Matthew Lewis) Photo: A passenger waits for his flight near a Delta Air Lines logo at Detriot Airport November 20, 2010.