Air travel: 6 things to watch this summer

Travelers at Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport
Travelers make their way to the check-in area Thursday, Apr. 23, 2015 at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
Jennifer Simonson | MPR News file

If you're planning to travel by air this summer, you'll be one of more than 220 million U.S. airline passengers this season.

As you prepare for your next flight, MPR News' Kerri Miller talked to two travel experts about major news in the airline industry and what you can expect.

6 things air travel passengers should know

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1. Be mindful of your fellow passengers and aware of air rage

The No. 1 complaint on our show today: Lack of legroom and reclining seats on planes. Our guests said air rage is a problem and not something to take lightly. Find airlines that offer more legroom and read these tips to have a calmer experience.

"The seeds of air rage may be planted way before your trip, and you may be bringing a nearly fully developed case onto the aircraft," wrote Katia Hetter. "Sometimes it's an eruption of the simmering stress of rushing to pack, arriving at the airport late, getting hung up in security and running out of time for your pre-flight rituals."

2. Increasing demand could lead to more capacity, but don't hold your breath

Being in a plane that's more than 90 percent full is like being in a "flying tomb" said Catharine Hamm. But don't expect that to change quickly. This business model works for the airlines, but not for consumers.

From The New York Times:

As anyone who has flown recently on a packed plane should realize, as long as capacity is limited, there's no incentive for airlines to reduce fares, no matter how low fuel prices or other costs go. The airlines respond that they set prices based on demand, as is the case in almost every other industry.

"That's fine in an industry where you have competition and consumers have a choice," Professor Scott Morton said. "But on most airline routes, consumers have very little choice." She noted that only since the recent wave of consolidation among airlines have they been able to set prices significantly above marginal cost. "That's great for the industry but not for consumers," she said.

3. Delta is trying to speed up boarding process by loading your carry-ons

From Skift:

Delta's Early Valet service will offer to have airline employees take carry-on bags at the gate and put them in the bins above assigned seats. The airline wants to see if its own workers can load the bins faster than passengers.

The service began.. on about two dozen flights, and that number is expected to rise steadily during June, Delta spokeswoman Morgan Durrant said.

Early Valet will be offered through August on some departures from Delta's busiest airports -- Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

4. If you're flying discount air carriers, study their policies

While you might find a good ticket deal on carriers like Spirit or Ryanair, make sure you thoroughly read their policies so you don't get charged more later. Most of these air carriers are a la carte, so be prepared to shell out extra cash if you want something to drink, a checked bag at the terminal or a reprinted ticket. Those fees can easily bring your ticket price above other carriers.

5. Watch for fare wars

As Southwest Airlines adds capacity, the airline industry is watching for a potential fare war after peak travel season ends. The competition is already fierce in Dallas, according to the Dallas Morning News, where some airlines are price matching.

Southwest Airlines has boosted its flights and destinations significantly out of Dallas Love Field, and Virgin America has started service from Love Field to five cities - all with introductory fares that haven't returned to pre-Oct. 13 levels. American has had to match, as has ultra-low-fare carrier Spirit Airlines and other airlines flying out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

6. Smaller carry-on size requirements could go mainstream

The International Air Transport Association is asking for airlines to require passengers to bring smaller carry-on bags.

From The Hill:

The proposal calls for limiting the size of bags that are carried onto flights to a size of 21.5 by 13.5 by 7.5 inches. Most U.S. airlines currently allow bags that are up to 22 by 14 by 9 inches.

Tom Windmuller, IATA's senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security, said the move to adopt a smaller standard for carry-on luggage would streamline the boarding process for flights that are increasingly bogged down as passengers search for space in luggage bins.