BA Introduces ‘Penalty Cards’
British Airways passengers who are disruptive or abusive to ground staff will be issued with “football-style yellow cards”. Passengers who cause trouble at the airport will be warned to moderate their behaviour otherwise they could be banned from flying with the carrier or the police might be called. BA is the first airline to issue such warnings, as the number of “ground rage” incidents increase. The system is intended to stop the stressful situation escalating at 30,000 feet.

Online Booking Cos To Test Auto E-Ticket Exchanges
A handful of corporate self-booking providers have said tests on self-service online e-ticket exchanges would commence no later than early next year. Such features have had limited presence in the marketplace despite clear demand from corporate users who change roughly 15 per cent to 20 per cent of their ticketed itineraries. Sabre’s GetThere subsidiary has announced plans to begin beta testing online refunds and exchanges in the first quarter of next year for “restricted or unrestricted tickets, on virtually any airline, for both domestic and international trips.” Worldspan, whose pioneering work on automated reissues and exchanges in the global distribution system recently helped enable both Northwest Airlines and Expedia to offer the feature on their websites, said its Trip Manager corporate booking tool would be equipped similarly in the next two months, with international itineraries included next year. Outtask said it would focus on such support during the first quarter of 2003, including a voice component. A spokesperson for Galileo said its Highwire division “considers it a priority.”

Restrictions On Pets’ Travel In UK To Be Lifted
Quarantine restrictions for cats and dogs travelling to Britain from the United States and Canada are to be lifted. The news will please various pet-owning celebrities who have pressed for the change, including the artist and dog-lover David Hockney who spends time in both California and London. The US president, George Bush, who likes to fly with his Scottish terrier, Barney, or his springer spaniel, Spot, could also benefit from the new law. The present restrictions have been in place for 100 years. The change will mean that cats and dogs, which now have to spend six months in quarantine when entering Britain from the US, will be allowed in directly if they are fitted with an owner’s microchip, and have been vaccinated and blood-tested to ensure they do not increase the risk of rabies in Britain.

Kenya Airways Upgrades In-Flight Services
Kenya Airways marked its 25 years of service with the launch of ‘Premier World', with added in-flight luxury services. The ‘Ultimate Comfort Zone’ features a new 180 degree recline flat bed, a prime attraction for business class passengers. Among the other features for an enhanced in-flight experience, the airline has incorporated in-seat laptop power adapters, complimentary stationery, and special KQ sales offices worldwide. The airline is also working on telephone check-in facilities in India. Commenting on the subject, Catherine Mwangi, Director, Communications Worldwide, Kenya Airways, said, " We recognise that among other things, we need to offer our passengers world class service that offers them an ambience that is closer to home." In an attempt to Indianisation, the airline had recruited Kenyans of Indian origin as part of its in-flight crew and also has plans to invite chefs from leading Indian hotels to design the in-flight menu. "We have also updated and diversified our in-flight entertainment programme and now have about 14 video channels and 10 audio channels. We are also working towards a five-star fine dining experience on board,” concluded Catherine Muigai Mwangi, Director Communications Worldwide, Kenya Airways.

  Express Computer