For months, American Airlines flights have been filtered from search results on Expedia and Hotwire due to a longstanding dispute over fees. American demanded to bypass central airline reservation systems and deliver the information to users directly, not only...
Flight Lands Without Guidance in Washington, DC While ATC Sleeps
Isn’t it a comforting thought that air traffic controllers at major airports sleep on the job? It is not the first time this has happened and I know it won’t be the last, but it is always newsworthy when it does occur. Earlier today, just after...
DOT Fines American Airlines for Deceiving Passengers
Back in August I stopped by an American Airlines’ ticket counter at SNA to book a ticket for a client using a voucher. Unbeknownst to him (and me), I found that AA levies a $30 fee to book at...
Up to 100,000 Miles from American Airlines on Facebook
In a brilliant move to boost its Facebook friendship count (another avenue of inexpensive advertising), American Airlines is offering between 100 and 100,000 AAdvantage award miles to link up on Facebook. Simply follow this link to Facebook, add AA as...
Delta Air Lines Introduces Premium International Economy Comfort Class
Delta Air Lines has made good on its promise to roll out an enhanced economy class product with details emerging today about a new "Economy Comfort" section coming to Delta international flights this summer. Benefits will include: Complimentary alcoholic beverages [beer, wine, and...
New York Pops: Coming Soon to American Airlines
I love classical music, especially on airplanes. It helps me to fall asleep on redeye flights and relax at other times during the day. United Airlines, for example, recently transitioned from XM to Microsoft Zune audio and offers a...
Oneworld Alliance Relocates Headquarters to New York City
Oneworld, the global airline group featuring airlines including American, British Airways, JAL, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific, is moving from Vancouver to New York next summer. The new headquarters will be in the low-rent district of Manhattan, on 2 Park Avenue. Former...
Joint Venture May Be Key To Wooing LATAM Into Star Alliance
The push for metal neutrality continues! During an airline conference in Houston today, United CEO Jeff Smisek announced that United Airlines is interested in forming a trans-border joint venture with Air Canada and a joint venture with an airline or...
Reconsidering American Airlines’ "Your Choice" Boarding and Flexibility Package
Back in June, I wrote a blog entry entitled American Airlines adds “Your Choice” service, i.e. pay for what used to be free. I was critical of AA’s new “Your Choice” program, bemoaning that the airline was charging for what...
Double Elite and Redeemable Miles on American Airlines between LAX/SFO and DFW
As Virgin America prepares to enter the Dallas market, American Airlines is offering double elite qualifying miles (EQMs) and redeemable miles (RDMs) on flights between Los Angeles/San Francisco and Dallas/Fort Worth from November 29, 2010 through February 28, 2011....
$5 Drinks During "Happy Hour" on American Airlines
If you find yourself behind the curtain next month on American Airlines’ during the five o’clock hour, you’ll have a chance to take advantage of AA’s "5@5" happy hour promotion. Currently, if you want an adult beverage on AA you’ve...
Four AA Baggage Handlers Charged with Theft at Philadelphia International
Ah, the City of Brotherly Love. My home away from home. And apparently "brotherly love" includes sharing the contents of your checked baggage with AA’s finest employees at Philadelphia International Airport. There are many reasons I don’t check bags...
AA Pilots Revolt Against the TSA
Check out this letter from Captain Ed Bates, president of the Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents 11,000 American Airlines pilots: Fellow Pilots, In response to increased threats to civil aviation around the world, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has...
American Airlines and Lufthansa Celebrate Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest starts in a couple days and American Airlines and Lufthansa are celebrating. American is offering 275,000 miles to the winner of their "Leder Posin’" Okotberfest contest. Simply take a picture of yourself, your friends, or even your pet...
Virgin America’s Questionable Growth Policy
Usually when you think of low-cost airlines, you think of point-to-point routes serving secondary cities and smaller airports in larger metropolitan areas. Then there’s Virgin America. Though the airline has yet to report a profit, its been a good...
American Matches Delta’s Triple Miles Offer
American has matched Delta’s offer of triple RDMs on select fares between New York Kennedy and Los Angeles/San Francisco from September 1st through December 31st. Like Delta, only premium tickets (first and business class) plus high-end economy fares apply....
Earn Triple Miles on Delta Transcons
For nonstop flights between LAX/SFO and JFK from September 1st through December 31st, Delta is offering triple redeemable miles on BusinessElite and select economy fares. Economy fares included in the offer are only Y, B, and M so forget...
More Seats and Overhead Space on American Airlines’ 737-800s
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...
