I’m not saying, I’m asking: is there a direct link between the battle for a new contract and pilot’s refusal to fly to China at American Airlines? American Airlines Pilots Fight For New Contract I’ve written about the ongoing...
Delta Fined $50,000 For Removing “Suspicious” Muslim Passengers

The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined Delta $50,000 for two incidents of profiling that adversely impacted Muslim passengers. Delta maintains it did nothing wrong. Incident #1: Delta Flight Attendant “Uncomfortable” With Passenger Who Did Not Smile A Muslim...
FAA Whistleblower Alleges Southwest Airlines Favoritism

A whistleblower from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has alleged that regulators cut corners and neglected safety concerns in an effort to aid Southwest Airlines. The Office of Special Counsel, which investigates whistleblower complaints from federal agencies, “Found a substantial...
California Teachers Sue Delta For Fuel Dump

Four elementary school teachers are suing Delta Air Lines for a fuel dump that showered them with jet fuel. California Teachers Sue Delta Claiming “emotional and physical distress” because the pilots did not follow protocol, four female elementary school...
Should This Model Have Been Denied Access To Qantas Lounge?

First it was ugg boots, now it is fitness attire. Qantas is in the news again over its comparatively strict lounge dress code. Does this dress code discriminate on the basis of sex? Should an American fitness model have...
Dutch Airline Executive Captured In Italy, Extradited To USA

A former Dutch airline executive was arrested in Italy and has been extradited to the USA over conspiracy charges to fix prices on airline cargo routes. Maria Christina Ullings served for many years as the Senior Vice President of Cargo...
Creepy American Airlines Employee Stalked Female Passenger At Airport And Onboard, Offered Her Free Flights

An American Airlines employee is in big trouble after misappropriating personal passenger information in a manner which can only be described as super creepy. Imagine you are sitting in the gate area and all of a sudden receive the...
Delta Air Lines Should Capitalize On Atlanta Smoking Ban

The indoor smoking ban at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has officially gone into effect. Delta should capitalize on the restrictive new law with an innovative use of its SkyClub patio in Terminal F. I read through the language of the...
“Lucky” Airline Passenger Fined $17,000 For Good Luck Stunt

I feel very sorry for Lu Chao. An innocent act has landed him in a heap of trouble with a fine he claims he cannot pay. Airline Passengers Fined For Tossing Coin Into Aircraft Engine Last February, I wrote...
Analysis: American Airlines Sues Delta Over “Flagship”

American Airlines has sued Delta over its use of the term “flagship” in its brand marketing. I wouldn’t call this a frivolous case, though I am not certain American Airlines can show consumer confusion, a key hurdle for winning...
EU Court: Airlines Broadly Liable For Coffee Spills Onboard

The European Union’s highest court has held that airlines are responsible for scalding caused by hot coffee tipped over for “unknown reasons” unrelated to turbulence or flight attendant negligence. A six-year-old girl is at the heart of the lawsuit....
American Airlines Mechanic Pleads Guilty To Sabotaging Aircraft

A long-time American Airlines mechanic has pleaded guilty to tampering with an aircraft, but strongly denied there was any link to terrorism. In a U.S. federal court in Miami, Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani pleaded guilty to attempted destruction of...
A Crass Billboard At LAX

I’m amused at a pair of new billboards that has sprung up above the ridesharing pick-up lot at Los Angeles International Airport… As you drive into or out of LAX, you’ll be met with all sorts of billboards. Most...
Female Pilots Sue Frontier Airlines For Punishing Pregnancy, Motherhood

Eight female pilots and flight attendants are suing Frontier Airlines, claiming the budget carrier discriminates against pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding. Take Randi Freyer. She’s a Frontier Airlines pilot and a mother of two. Two months before...
Emirates Interrogates + Denies Boarding To Woman Allergic To Apples

A woman who alerted Emirates that she was allergic to apples was instead interrogated by Emirates employees upon check-in and ultimately denied boarding. The incident took place last year, but was discussed in the New York Times’ “Tripped Up”...
Woman Forced To Remove “Hail Satan” Shirt On American Airlines

A woman was forced to remove her “Hail Satan” t-shirt on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Las Vegas. Was this appropriate or another case of a flight attendant going too far in policing wardrobes? Swati Runi Goyal...
Fired Flight Attendant Accused Of Stealing Milk and Cereal Bowls Sues Delta, Claims Discrimination

A 79-year-old flight attendant is suing Delta for firing her under false pretenses. She argues jealous colleagues targeted her because of her high salary. But Delta is standing by its termination. Veteran Flight Attendant Sacked By Delta Ida Gomez...
Genius: Hoping For Upgrade, Woman Fakes Medical Emergency On Single-Cabin Aircraft

A woman was arrested after admitting to faking an emergency onboard in hopes of securing an upgrade. Small problem, though: the aircraft had no premium cabin. The incident took place on American Airlines flight 3508 from Pensacola to Miami last...
Amtrak Won’t Let You Sue, Even After A Crash

You buy an Amtrak ticket. Your train derails. You are severely injured. And you can’t sue. Why? Blame the fine print in your ticket rules. Back in January, Amtrak quietly revised the language of its ticket terms and conditions....
Man Impersonates Lufthansa Pilot For Free First Class Upgrades

Catch me if you can? The man has been caught…and wait till you hear his defense. Man Arrested For Impersonating Lufthansa Pilot Rajan Mahbubani is a self-identified frequent flyer. The 48-year-old acquired a Lufthansa’s pilot uniform and fake ID...