Cheapest fare might be on carriers’ sites

Cheapest fare might be on carriers’ sites

NEW YORK

Some airlines are making travelers work harder to find a deal.

Carriers are offering more deals to passengers who book flights directly on their websites. It’s an effort to steer people away from online travel agencies such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity, which charge the carriers commissions of roughly $10 to $25 a ticket.

While travelers save money, they also must do without the convenience of one-stop shopping.

Frontier Airlines is the latest carrier to jump into the fight, announcing Wednesday that it will penalize passengers who don’t book directly with the airline. Those fliers won’t be able to get seat assignments until check-in, and they’ll pay more in fees while earning half as many frequent-flier miles.

Contracts with the online travel agencies prohibit airlines from offering lower fares on their sites. Instead, airlines such as JetBlue Airways Corp., Spirit Airlines Inc. and Virgin America often provide discount codes in emails to their frequent fliers or through Facebook and Twitter.

McDonald’s to post calorie counts

NEW YORK

McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. soon will get a new menu addition: The number of calories in the chain’s burgers and fries.

The world’s biggest hamburger chain said Wednesday that it will post calorie information on restaurant and drive-through menus nationwide starting Monday. The move comes ahead of a regulation that could require major chains to post the information as early as next year.

“We want to voluntarily do this,” said Jan Fields, president of McDonald’s USA. “We believe it will help educate customers.”

GM China chief to retire Oct. 31

DETROIT

The head of General Motors’ operations in China, India and Southeast Asia has decided to retire.

Kevin Wale, 57, who has led the Asian operations since 2005, will step down Oct. 31, the company said in a statement Wednesday.

He’ll be replaced by Bob Socia, 58, who is now head of global purchasing for GM. Socia will start work in China on Oct. 1, the statement said.

Wale began his career with GM in Australia in 1975, spending time in Asia and Europe before becoming managing director of the China Group in 2005.

Spokeswoman Lori Arpin said Wale has spent seven years building GM’s Asian operations, often working day and night to keep up with the company’s growth. “He’s ready to go. He’s ready to have his life back,” she said, adding that Wale plans to retire in his native Australia.

From wire reports