Blaming the British Airports Authority for squeezing it dry, British Midland Airways (BMI) announced plans to axe its Glasgow-London Heathrow route in April. The carrier blamed ever-increasing airport taxes that have recently gone from £13 to £20 on domestic flights departing from Heathrow and...
Awesome Twilight Landing at LAX
I may be in Frankfurt for the time being, but LAX will always be my “home” airport. Earlier today, a colleague e-mailed me the video below and I was so enamored by it I felt the need to share it with...
TSA Prohibits Expansion of Screening Partnership Program
In a move that some are calling another TSA power grab while others are calling a logical and sound judgment call, Transportation Security Administrator John Pistole has rejected Springfield-Branson Airport’s application to opt-out of TSA-administered airport screening. More importantly,...
50,000 Miles for a Continental MasterCard
While this deal has been floating around the travel blogosphere all week, it is noteworthy enough to mention here. Chase is offering 50,000 Continental bonus miles for signing up for their MasterCard OnePass credit card. Even better, the miles...
The Travel Begins…
The last two weeks have been quite abnormal for me: I have stayed put in one city. While it has been nice getting acquainted with Frankfurt, I have been itching to start traveling again. Today, the travel has begun....
A Ride on the S-Bahn with a Frankfurt-Based United First Officer
My commute to work each day includes a 10-minute train ride between Frankfurt’s central railway station and the airport. Usually it’s a dull affair–thankfully my iPhone keeps me occupied–but my ride home this evening was a little more interesting....
Next Destination for Lufthansa A380: San Francisco
Right in the middle of our podcast tonight, Ben suddenly blurted out “Holy cow! Lufthansa just announced that SFO is getting the A380.” This was followed by furious typing then a quick quip, “Guys, they haven’t loaded in the...
Alaska Airlines Retires Horizon Air Brand
Save for a small label here and there on the fuselage, Horizon Air’s brand identity will soon be retired. Acquired in 1986 by the Alaska Air Group, Horizon was and will remain a separate entity, serving smaller airports and...
Man Arrested by TSA for Failing to Show ID Cleared of All Charges by Jury
Justice is sweet. I am grinning this evening because after a gruesome semester of Evidence (a standard law school course that most students take during their second year), I once again have a little faith in our jury system....
New 12-Hour Mandatory Hold Rule on United Mileage Plus Star Alliance Award Bookings?
Some on Flyertalk are reporting that United reservation agents are quoting a new 12-hour mandatory hold rule when booking a Star Alliance award. But United, an airline I love to call consistently inconsistent, doesn’t seem to be strictly enforcing...
Save $100 on a JetBlue Vacation Package
While not quite as lucrative as the $300 off Expedia deal to New York City, Cancún, or Las Vegas, JetBlue is offering $100 off any vacation package purchased through their "Getaways" website. If you are Southern California based and...
Passenger Finds JetBlue Pilot’s Lost Handgun at JFK
…and unknowingly takes it onboard with him before realizing his error! Another day, another problem with TSA’s Federal Flight Deck Officers program. I actually think the FFDO is a beneficial program that does more to promote security than any...
Air New Zealand Acquires Partial Ownership of Virgin Blue
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is not about to let Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand merge, but NZ turned some heads today after declaring plans to purchase a 14.99% stake in Virgin Blue. NZ says it is...
Family Sues US Airways and CLT for Death of Son—A Wheel Well Stowaway!
A family is suing Charlotte Douglas International Airport and US Airways for the death of their teenage son, who was found dead in Boston. A preliminary investigation suggests he breached security at CLT then crawled into the wheel well...
Mexicana Plans an Ambitious Return to the Skies
I just finished reading an article entitled Mexicana demise is hardly missed and was preparing to blog about how other carriers have stepped in to fill the void left in the wake of Mexicana’s sudden shutdown last August. But stop the presses! To my surprise,...
UPDATE: Man Appears in Court for Defying TSA Agents
Back in November 2009 I blogged about a man arrested at a TSA checkpoint at Albuquerque Airport for refusing to present his identification to TSA agents. He was charged with: concealing identity disorderly conduct refusing to obey an officer criminal...
Judge Nixes Ryanair’s €40 Airport Boarding Pass Policy
For most tickets purchased from Ryanair, you are levied a €6 fee to print your boarding pass online. Don’t like it? Your only other option is to pay 40€ to print your boarding pass at the airport. Yes, you...
Will Delta’s Silent Auctions for Oversold Flights Catch On?
What’s the least you would be willing to accept to take a later flight? Delta is testing out a new auction-style method for dealing with oversell situations. When you check-in online or using an airport kiosk, you are asked...
One Step Closer to Eliminating Travel Restrctions to Cuba
The Obama Administration is rolling back some of the restrictions on travel to Cuba, making it easier for schools, churches and cultural groups to visit the island. While those wanting to travel to Cuba will still have to obtain...
Southwest Airlines Demonstrates That Some Things Are More Important Than An On-Time Departure
Despite reading about it in The Sun, the following story really moved me: A hero pilot held up an entire flight so a devastated passenger could say goodbye to his dying grandson. The man had been rushing to visit...
