“Once I stopped worrying about my career, my career took off.” So says Doug Parker, the CEO of American Airlines. In a wide ranging interview with the New York Times, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker offered extended thoughts on...
Swede Busted In Australian Airport With Lethal Drugs In Lining Of Suitcase…
A Swedish man was caught trying to smuggle over $8 million worth of drugs into Australia using the lining of his suitcases. The man had originated in Turkey and was traveling with two suitcases. Officials pulled him aside for...
Any Interest In A Cubana IL-96 Trip Report?
I’m planning a trip to Argentina, and as I always do, am checking my flight options. One option–via Havana on an Ilyushin IL-96–has really caught my eye. Cubana Ilyushin IL-96 Cubana operates a fleet of four IL-96 aircraft. It...
WOW! Let’s PLAY An Icelandic Airline Game
As WOW Air transitions to a cargo airline and PLAY seeks to be the latest low-cost upstart, one has to wonder just what is going on with Icelandic aviation. Let the guessing game begin. Introducing PLAY: A New Low-Cost-Carrier...
Lufthansa Slashes Meal Service In Economy + Premium Economy (As Competition Improves)
Lufthansa is “optimizing” the pre-arrival meal service in economy class and premium economy class on longhaul flights. That’s bad news, since Lufthansa was already lagging behind its competition. Effective November 28, 2019, Lufthansa will only offer a cold vegetarian...
How A Cockpit Photo Outraged China
A pilot lets his girlfriend sit in the cockpit. She posts it on social media. A blogger notices and complains on Weibo. Outrage grows. Many are punished. The pilot is banned for life. But was the reaction a bit...
A Weekend In The Heartland Of California
I spent Saturday in a part of California I previously did not even know existed. It felt like another country…and it was wonderful. California is such a diverse place. Not just the population, which represents cultures from around the...
Hyatt Globalist Room Service Shenanigans
Is consistency at a hotel too much to ask, especially at the Hyatt I frequent most often? Regular readers know that the Hyatt Regency Mainz is the Hyatt hotel I stay at most often. It’s an easy drive from...
Norwegian Air Launches New Credit Card For U.S. Customers
Norwegian Air is entering the credit card market with a new product for U.S. consumers. Norwegian Reward Card Details + CashPoints Norwegian Air uses an award currency called CashPoints, which can be applied toward flight purchases, seat assignments, and...
“LAXit” Will Expand After Rough First Week
Los Angeles International Airport will significantly expand its new “LAXit” pick-up lot for rideshare vehicles and taxi after a chaotic rollout last week. One week ago, LAX banned taxi, Uber, and Lyft from picking up passengers curbside at LAX....
A Disastrous Debut For New LAX Rideshare Pick-Up Lot
You’ve endured your flight and now you’ve sat in a shuttle which has taken you to a parking lot adjacent to the airport. You summon an Uber…and see there is a one-hour wait for a car. Welcome to Los...
Thai Airways May Restore Gas-Guzzling A340-600 To Fleet
If you can’t sell it, restore it? That’s the decision facing Thai Airways. Thai Airways’ A340-600 Problem Five years ago Thai Airways retired its last Airbus A340 aircraft. The four-engine planes were used for intercontinental travel, but relatively fuel...
So Cool: Final EL AL 747 Flight
Yesterday, EL AL operated its final Boeing 747-400 flight. The sendoff included a “special” routing enroute from Tel Aviv to Rome. Via Flightradar 24, take a look at the flight path of LY1747. The 747 “drew” a 747 over the...
My Perplexing Egg Dish On Ukraine International Airlines
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. Would you...
Sad: American Express Centurion Lounge Crowding Getting Worse
I don’t know about you, but American Express Centurion Lounge crowding has been particularly bad lately for me. Sadly, it may not even be feasible for American Express to take more drastic action to curb the crowds. But it...
When Does An Airline “Joke” Impermissibly Cross The Line?
When does a joke cross from crass to simply inappropriate? When does it becomes grounds for a lawsuit. Those are the leading questions emerging from a flight attendant lawsuit against Southwest Airlines. For Renee Steinaker, a Southwest flight attendant...
I Stumped United CEO And President With A Softball Question
As we end the week at Live and Let’s Fly, I want to conclude on a lighthearted note. Last week at United’s media day, I stumped both United CEO Oscar Munoz and President Scott Kirby with an easy question....
Why? Lufthansa Ready To Invest 200 Million Euros In Alitalia
Alitalia is out of cash (again) and Lufthansa stepping up to offer 200 million euros ($223MN). Since when is Lufthansa in the business of losing money? While Lufthansa has officially said, “We are not commenting on this,” numerous reports...
South African Airways May Dismember Itself To Survive
South African Airways just received its first Airbus A350…and another government bailout. But this one comes with a few more strings attached, at least potentially. Among them: explore selling off its SA Express subsidiary. There was never much doubt...
American Express DOUBLING Annual Fee for Centurion (Black) Card
American Express will double the annual fee on its Centurion card, colloquially called the “Black” card, while adding additional benefits. Is it worthwhile? While the Centurion card is considered by many to be a status symbol more than anything...
