How To: get a cheaper flight to the US with Open Skies

On March 30, the Open Skies Agreement becomes effective and will reorganize flights between Europe and the US. Airlines may now fly to the US from any international airport. The European Union expects a significant decrease in prices due to the growing competition. Because in the future, not only Lufthansa but also Air France and British Airways may fly directly from Frankfurt to the US. Ever since the Dollar has become so weak, the shopping spree in New York or the trip to the casinos in Las Vegas has become even more fun for Europeans. And now the EU is also promising easier conditions and lower prices for the travel itself - from April to July alone the number of flights is supposed to increase by eight percent. However, those who will first of all utilize the options provided by the new agreement are, in fact, the American companies. Lufthansa want to "check its options." Offers to take off from London or Milan are not yet in the planning stages. So there probably won't be any big changes at the 53 great European airports in the near future - with one exception. The prices for flights between London's Heathrow Airport - from which significantly more American airlines will take off from now on - and the US are going to be cheaper, but probably not for economy class tickets. It was not possible to reduce prices for the cheapest class any further, said top dog British Airways. Travelers flying from Heathrow currently have to expect some difficulties, however. After the opening of the new terminal on March 27 a number of things suddenly went wrong and British Airways had to cancel hundreds of flights, and occasionally up to 15,000 pieces of luggage went missing. So the transfer of all long-distance flights into the new terminal that was planned for April 30 will now be delayed until June 4 at the very least.

CHEAPER FLIGHTS PRIMARILY FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS

This will primarily be an improvement for business travelers who are booking business or first class tickets. Up to now, only British Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin were allowed to fly from Heathrow to the US. Now, also their competitors Air France, British Midland, Continental, Delta, Northwest and US Airways are planning to take off from there, with destinations such as Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Newark and Seattle. British Airways is now concerned about its competitive advantage and decided that offense is the best defense - and set up the subsidiary Open Skies especially for flights from the European continent. Starting in June, they will offer flights every day from Brussels and Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to the metropolis on the American East Coast. The offer will be substantially expanded until the end of 2009.

The only thing that is not yet completely agreed upon are the security questions. Washington demands armed flight attendants - the so-called Sky Marshals - on flights from Europe to the US. Brussels is opposed to that. An agreement concerning the transfer of passenger data, however, has already been in effect since 2007. US authorities have access to 19 pieces of personal information that travelers have to submit when buying their tickets. That information includes the passenger's name, address and email, as well as credit card number, number of suitcases and the seat number on the plane.