Anyone who has visited LAX will recognize the iconic Jetson-esque structure (officially called the “Theme Building”) in the center of airport that houses the Encounter Restaurant. What you may not have known is that above the restaurant sits an...
Ryanair Showcases "Standing Room" Vertical Seats
Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary is scheduled to announce a formal proposal today for “vertical seats”, which will provide standing-room spots on short-haul flights for as little as £5. These seats have been in the works for years, but...
CAUTION: Your Airline Meal Could Be Tainted
Earlier this year I blogged about the problems discovered in LSG Sky Chefs’ flight kitchen at Denver International Airport. Unfortunately, it appears the problem is more widespread: Many meals served to passengers on major airlines are prepared in unsanitary...
United’s fuel-saving "green" flight deemed a success
Earlier in the month, UA tested a new fuel savings maneuver on a Chicago-Frankfurt flight in which pilots were given greater leeway in setting their flight path. This allowed them to better utilize favorable winds. While 900 gallons of fuel...
United pilot detained for showing his underwear in Brazil
I have not had the pleasure of visiting Rio de Janeiro yet, but it seems they take airport security even more seriously than the TSA: SAO PAULO – A United Airlines pilot was briefly detained at the international airport in Rio...
United loses liquor license at SEA Red Carpet Club for serving alcohol to minors!
If you are flying though Seattle-Tacoma International over the next five days, don’t bother to pull out your drink chits if you stop by United’s Red Carpet Club. UA’s liquor license has been suspended for allegedly serving alcohol to...
An airline horror story: Trapped On A Plane
Imagine boarding a delayed flight from London to Newark. With nerves already frayed, you are told that all the mechanical issues have not been resolved and the air conditioning onboard is not working. You wait a little longer for...
The Soviet Era is over for Aeroflot
I had the pleasure of flying on Aeroflot three times in late 2008 and have become a big fan of the airline that many bypass simply because of its Soviet-era reputation. Aeroflot understands it still has some work to...
New Munich-Baghdad flights coming on Lufthansa
Lufthansa, through its PrivatAir partner, will begin service from Munich to Baghdad four times a week this fall. The flights will utilize a Boeing 737 and compliment service to Arbil (in Northern Iraq) from Frankfurt and from Vienna (on...
A return to airline regulation?
Some members of Congress are worried about what the CO-UA merger will mean for the consumer and are considering introducing a bill to restore airline regulation if the merger goes through. Deregulation has been credited with making airline travel affordable...
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...
More capacity to Australia courtesy of Qantas’ A380s
After starting A380 service between Los Angeles and Australia last year, Qantas will soon be doubling A380 flights on its Los Angeles-Melbourne route. Right now, QF uses an A380 to fly from Los Angles to Melbourne three times a week....
United & Continental Pilots Moving Closer to New Contract
Some good news for a change on the labor front: United and Continental airlines are on course to wrap up a new contract with their pilot unions by fall, a critical step if their megamerger is to deliver the...
British Airways’ CEO Turns Down Huge Bonus
Times are tough for British Airways, but I have a lot of respect for Willie Walsh. British Airways’ chief executive Willie Walsh has turned down a six-figure bonus for the second year as the carrier struggles with losses and...
Delta Sends Unaccompanied Minors to Wrong Cities
First dogs, now kids on Delta. Delta Airlines says a paperwork mix-up resulted in a boy being sent to Cleveland and a girl being flown to Boston by mistake. Can you imagine waiting for Jimmy in Boston and Sally shows up...
Austrian Airlines to Launch Vienna-Mumbai Route
Austrian Airlines will be starting Vienna-Mumbai service this October and increase service to New Delhi from five to six flights per week. I’ve never had a chance to fly Austrian Airlines (though I am considering a trip to Iraq...
Emirates Orders 32 more A380s from Airbus
Emirates, a rising star among airlines, ordered 32 additional A380s from Airbus this week. Airbus recently received its 10th A380 delivery and augments its previous order of 58 super jumbos. The deal, worth $11.5 BN, was announced at the...
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...
Airlines Work to Update Technology
…[I]f you’ve ever been stranded at an airport during a raging thunderstorm, chances are you will end up standing in a long line watching a gate agent typing furiously on an outdated computer. Isn’t that the truth? Here’s the...
United’s Secret Plan to Cut Fuel Costs
Well, it’s not a secret anymore. United Airlines will become the first airline to conduct two trans-Atlantic flights using state-of-the-art flight planning to reduce environmental impact and save fuel. The flights, which will be flown on June 5, 2010...
