Airline executives, including United CEO Oscar Munoz, were hauled to Capitol Hill yesterday to testify before Congress about all the recent customer service mishaps that have grabbed news headlines around the world. I worked on Capitol Hill so I feel...
No Joke. American Airlines Wins Best Elite Program at Freddies
American Airlines took home the honor of “best elite program” for the Americas last night at the 27th annual Freddie Awards. I’m outraged. I am not an American Airlines flyer, but I certainly follow the AAdvantage program closely, both...
Is it Safe to Transport Pets on Airplanes? A Fact-Based Examination
Is it safe to transport pets on airplanes? I wrote about the dead bunny earlier today and about a dead dog recently. Horrific stories indeed. But are they just outliers? Let’s take a look at the facts. Each year...
Lawmakers Squabble over Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has been a hot political topic for decades. As Congress weighs loosening restrictions in this year’s FAA Reauthorization Bill, some are fighting back. Senators from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia have teamed up to...
United Airlines Regrets Leaving New York JFK
United left New York JFK in 2015, a decision it now regrets. I covered United’s departure from JFK extensively– United Airlines Leaves JFK, Moves p.s. to Newark United JFK Employees Say Goodbye to Home, Hello to Uncertainty Onboard Video...
Man Falsely Accused of Child Trafficking on United Flight, Humiliated
Imagine being accused of child trafficking because your children have lighter skin than you do. That’s what happened on a United Airlines flight. Disclaimer: just like I don’t trust Breitbart News, I don’t generally trust the Huffington Post. However, the...
Lufthansa Flight Diverts Due to Unruly Business Class Passenger
A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Toronto diverted to Manchester earlier today due to an unruly business class passenger. LH470 left Frankfurt six minutes ahead of schedule this morning. Shortly after takeoff, however, the 747-400 bound for Toronto circled and then diverted...
United Scraps NRT-ICN Flight, Last Intra-Asia Flight from Tokyo Hub
United Airlines is ending its service between Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon this autumn, eliminating its last remaining intra-Asia flight from its Narita “hub”. Currently United operates a 737-800 between NRT and ICN on the following schedule: UA079 / Tokyo...
Air India’s Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Win Back Customers
Somewhere in an Air India Executive Board Room in New Delhi, celebration is erupting. The Indian flag carrier claims that bookings to the USA have doubled since the in-flight electronics ban was announced– According to Air India sources, bookings to...
Breaking: United Ground Stop at Houston IAH
Multiple reports of a United Airlines ground stop at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airprot (IAH) have now been confirmed. A computer issue Here’s the official ground stop verbiage: CTL ELEMENT: IAH ELEMENT TYPE: APT ADL TIME: 2013Z GROUND STOP PERIOD:...
This Problem Cost Airlines $5BN Last Year
I suppose it should come as no big surprise, but airlines generate a lot more waste than I ever imagined. According to a Guardian report— Airline passengers generated 5.2m tonnes of waste in 2016, most of which went to...
Seatless in Seattle: United’s Polaris Problem
United’s seat problems continue. Two weeks after news that its new Polaris seats would face delivery delays due to “industrial issues” at Zodiac, United faces new short-term delays. The result: United is parking its brand new 777-300s in Seattle. “Short...
Who Did SAS Sell the LHR Slots to (for $75MN)?
SAS just sold two of its London Heathrow slots to an unspecified buyer for $75,000,000. Under the deal, SAS will have use of the gates for up to three years. SAS drops from 19 daily slot pairs to 17, but the...
How Does Hyatt’s Spring Promotion Compare?
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Hyatt introduced their second quarter promotion this morning, Scott has more on that release....
Details on New Cathay Pacific – Lufthansa Partnership, Including Reciprocal Frequent Flyer Benefits
Lufthansa and Cathay Pacific announced a partnership yesterday that will go beyond mere codesharing. Here is how Lufthansa describes the new partnership: Cathay Pacific Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines, sign code-share and frequent flyer agreement Shared flights will mean...
United Leggings Incident: What REALLY Happened Yesterday
I will offer pointed commentary later this morning on the events surroundings #leggingsgate, but want to use this post to succinctly lay out a timeline of what REALLY transpired yesterday. Someone needs to. Here is what we know: Incident...
Uh Oh! Uber Self-Driving Car Crashes in Arizona
Uber has really had a tough year. I just posted a story called Double Standards and Dirty Tricks from Uber? about contradictory messages the company is sending to its drivers and riders. Now a self-driving vehicle has crashed in Tempe,...
Alaska Airlines Will Bury More Than Virgin America Brand
Alaska Airlines will retire the Virgin America brand by 2019. The news is hardly surprising considering the royalties involved in using Sir Richard Branson’s trademark brand, but Alaska will do much more than repaint aircraft. Changes Coming to Alaska Airlines In...
Emirates Will Gate Check Your Banned In-Flight Electronic Devices
While the in-flight electronics ban prohibits items larger then mobile phones on U.S. bound flights, it does not specify how airlines must implement the ban. Emirates has come up with a clever solution: gate checking larger electronic devices. Bloomberg reports–...
More British Airways First Class Cuts
More cuts at British Airways, this time in the first class cabin. Amuse-bouches – CUT Fresh flowers in lavatories – CUT Amenity kits – DOWNSIZED Slippers + blankets – ONLY UPON REQUEST Three minor cutbacks, but another sign that British...
