American Airlines’ is retrofitting its 76 737-800s in a move that will double the capacity of the overhead bins, bring electrical outlets to more seats, enable WiFi, add drop-down LCD screens, and decrease legroom. Yes, the airline that once...
Delta Challenging AA: Planning Heathrow Service from Boston and Miami
In a move showcasing Delta’s emphasis on international expansion, the airline has announced plans to begin twice daily service from Boston to London Heathrow and daily service from Miami to Heathrow. With the recent approval of a joint venture...
Airport Ticketing: Comparing AA, UA, and US
My uncle will be embarking on a multi-city trip to visit extended family members this winter and asked me to find and book the airfare for him, specifying only the days and times he wanted. He has no airline...
What NOT to wear when you are flying in first class!
Maybe the guy was just protesting intrusive TSA search protocols or lost a poker bet, but I have to question what motivates someone to wear this on a plane. Then again, I am they type of traveler who won’t...
US Airways Matches American and Delta: Double EQMs and RDMs in Select Markets
US Airways is offering double EQMs and RDMs in select markets through the end of the year, including MSP, RDU, BOS, STL, RIC, and PIT. This offer mimics promotions by Delta and American that began last month, with one exception. While the fine print of the...
Discounted Shorthaul Awards now Available on AA too
Responding to United’s recent promotion, American is offering discounted awards for trips of 700 miles or less (each way). Travel must conclude by December 15 and tickets must be booked by August 31. At 17,500 miles roundtrip or 8,750 miles one...
Up to 10,000 AA Miles for AAdvantage Program Referrals
This appears to be a targeted offer I received from AA today, but it won’t hurt to try signing up yourself if you already have a AAdvantage account. Dear Matthew, As one of our most valued American Airlines AAdvantage® members, we are sending you...
Full Meal Service Returns to Competitive ORD-LGA Route on United
Last month, United altered their meal service program in North America. For the most part, the changes were good, but one sore spot was the elimination of fruit and cheese plates from flights between Chicago and IAD, DCA, PHL, HPN, BWI,...
AA Matches DL Double EQM / Triple Bonus Mile Promotion (ex-RDU, STL, PIT, BNA)
Last month, Delta introduced the following promotion for flights originiating and terminating in the following cities: Raleigh-Durham (RDU), St. Louis (STL), Pittsburgh (PIT), Nashville (BNA) 5,000 bonus miles plus double MQMs when you fly to Delta hub cities—Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit,...
United Express Coming to DCA
The cancer continues to grow. United Express is expanding to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport next month. Two flights a day are transitioning from mainline to E-170s operated by Shuttle America between Chicago and National. United has not addressed...
Victory for United (and JetBlue and Virgin) as American suspends SFO-BOS service
Although AA is spinning the announcement that they will be suspending non-stop service between San Francisco and Boston, claiming that they are simply focusing on their hubs in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, New York, and Miami, any astute observer...
American Airlines adds "Your Choice" service, i.e. pay for what used to be free
American Airlines has a new "Your Choice" program that is nicely sugar-coated to make you think that you are saving money. The initial "Your Choice" offering is a "Boarding and Flexibility Package" that: Places you in Group 1 of General...
Changes to North American Premium Class Meal Service on United
Changes are coming to domestic First and Business Class meal service on United, and overall, I’d say they are good changes. Here’s the new meal service descriptions: United First® Flights between one and two hours in length (a distance...
Route through Chicago if you want a bump this summer?
Continuing on the theme of bumps, Chicago O’Hare (ORD) might be a wise airport to connect in this summer if you are looking for a bump. It also might be the airport you want to avoid if you are...
Car Takes Flight at DFW
Boeing and Airbus now have a new competitor: Ford Motor Company. The woman, who was drunk, claimed she had only one vodka-cranberry the night before. That must have been some vodka… I hope she’s not expecting a 500-mile minimum...
Fierce Competition for Loyalty in Lucrative NYC Airline Market
Bloomberg had a nice piece yesterday on the über-competitive NYC airline market. At stake is a bigger slice of the $13.6 billion spent each year by passengers who start or end trips in New York, which no carrier dominates. More...
Los Angeles to Memphis on American Airlines – $156 r/t
For all you Oneworld mileage runners (or for anyone looking for a cheap vacation), AA’s got a deal for you. American is offering r/t airfare from LAX-MEM for $156 a/i for September-December travel. Sample routing: LAX-ORD-MEM-DFW-LAX. As always with these...
AA Flight Attendants: We are NOT the highest paid and least productive in the airline industry!
Yesterday, I blogged about AA’s assertion that its FAs are the highest paid and least productive in the airline industry. Not surprisingly, the AFPA doesn’t agree and offers this response: Convincing?
American Airlines’ Flight Attendants Authorize Strike
What is it with OneWorld and strikes? First BA, now AA? American Airlines flight attendants authorized their union leaders today to call a strike against the second-largest U.S. carrier if they are freed from further negotiations. About 97 percent...
Bad News For Us: A Discussion on Airline Mistake Fares
Nicholas Kralev’s mistake fare column was superior because it featured yours truly, but Scott McCartney’s latest column on mistake fares is well done. I particularly liked this: UAL Corp.’s United Airlines, Continental Airlines Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., JetBlue AirwaysCorp. and Singapore Airlines all say their policy is...
