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...
Dear United, Do The Right Thing For Lifetime United Club Members
Dear United, Tomorrow marks a new era for United Club members. Staring November 1, 2019, all United Club users, including members and their guests, must be traveling on a same-day United, Star Alliance, or partner flight. This applies to...
Will Norwegian Add Russian Jets To Fleet?
Are 40 historically unreliable jets worth access to valuable airspace that would allow low-cost flights between Europe and Asia? That’s the question Norwegian is pondering. Norwegian is considering a lease of Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft for operations within...
How To Reconcile IndiGo’s Massive Airbus A320neo Order
If you wondered why IndiGo placed a firm order for 300 Airbus jets this week, start by looking at India’s aggressive five-year airport growth plan. IndiGo’s order of 300 A320neo family aircraft is huge. Not only is it huge...
A Cool New Airline Book For My Coffee Table
Maps and airlines are two of my favorite things. A new book maps the history of airline route maps. When driving home from my son’s swimming lesson yesterday, I had Marketplace on and caught a segment on a new...
Brazil Wants JetBlue To Offer Domestic Brazilian Service
Brazil wants foreign carriers to operate domestic routes and has stepped up its recruiting, targeting three airlines including JetBlue. I’ve written before the changing landscape of Brazil’s domestic commercial aviation market. Due to a recent change in Brazilian law,...
ANA Struggling To Fill Business Class As Profit Slumps
Even with a beautiful new business and first class product, ANA is struggling to sell premium cabin seats and facing an unexpected dip in profit. Blaming tightened corporate travel budgets, ANA is expected to report a decline in profit...
Exciting New LATAM Route To Falkland Islands
LATAM is expanding its service to the Falkland Islands with new widebody service from São Paulo, Brazil starting next month. The seasonal service will run from Brazil’s largest city to Mount Pleasant, the Royal Air Force base that serves...
The Two Most Popular Meals On United Airlines
For all the talk about healthy options and vegetarian dishes, United passengers love their comfort food. During his presentation at Flight Plan 2020 last Friday, Toby Enqvist, United’s Chief Customer Officer, talked about new plant-based options, expanded choices, and the...
Los Angeles To New Zealand For 5,000 American Miles? Don’t Be Fooled.
As nice as redeeming 5,000 miles to fly from Los Angeles to New Zealand using AA miles sounds, please don’t take your eyes off the bigger picture. These gimmicky redemptions come at great cost. Last night, American Airlines ran...
Southwest Comes Out Swinging Against Flight Attendant Who Alleged Voyeurism
Southwest Airlines has vowed to “vigorously defend” against a flight attendant lawsuit which alleges two pilots placed a hidden video camera in an aircraft lavatory on a flight to Phoenix. After initially failing to directly address the matter, Southwest...
Will Qatar Airways Bail Out Malaysia Airlines? I Doubt It.
Qatar Airways has been named one of three airlines on a shortlist to invest in troubled Malaysia Airlines. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has sent mixed signals, making clear it will not acquire the airline, but leaving open the possibility of...
United Will Introduce Three Big Changes To Domestic First Class Meal Service In 2020
United Airlines will expand first class meal pre-selection, offer additional choices, and offer more plant-based and healthy food in 2020. #1 – More Plant-Based + Vegetarian Options Expect dishes onboard including vegan chili, stuffed grape leaf with dolma infused...
Southwest Flight Attendant Catches Pilots Live Streaming…The Lavatory
Southwest Airlines flight attendant Renee Steinaker is suing Southwest, claiming retaliation for reporting two pilots who allegedly placed a hidden camera in an onboard lavatory. This is a really bizarre story. It begins onboard a Southwest flight from Baltimore...
United’s New 3D Seat Maps Take Mystery Out Of Seat Selection
United Airlines will soon let you see your plane before you step on it, with 3D, high-definition virtual cabin images that allow you to see the plane that you will soon step on. Unveiled by Linda Jojo, United’s Chief Digital...
Woman Fakes Pregnancy To Avoid Carry-On Bag Fee
Some travelers will go to great lengths to avoid ancillary fees levied by airlines. An Australian woman faked her own pregnancy to avoid carry-on fees on a budget carrier, and almost got away with it… Rebecca Andrews is an...
United’s New Domestic & International “Shuttle” Service
United Airlines will offer an hourly service from Newark to both Washington, DC and London in 2020. While not a formal rebirth of United Shuttle, the new flight schedule hearkens back to days of old. Andrew Nocella, United’s Chief...
What Is United Premium Plus Like On Transcontinental Flights?
What is United’s new Premium Plus product like on domestic transcontinental flights? I’ve reviewed United’s new premium economy “Premium Plus” product on an international flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt, but United recently introduced Premium Plus on select premium...
Thai Airways Excoriates Press, Downplays “Crisis”
Calling comments suggesting imminent demise devoid of truth and taken out of context, Thai Airways has hit back at reports suggesting that it is truly in crisis mode. Twice this week I have reported on Thai Airways, first citing...
JetBlue’s New Fee For Checked Carry-On Bags May SAVE You Money
JetBlue’s solution to insufficient overhead bin space is to entice people to pay just a little bit more to check-in their carry-on bag and avoid the hassle. That presents an opportunity to save money for the budget-concious traveler. Currently...
