Readers of my blog know that I have very little tolerance for irrationality. Such irrationality is often manifested in the actions of the TSA, but sometimes passengers or flight crews are to blame, like when a flight attendant overreacts to...
Flawed Radiation Readings Force TSA to Reevaluate Full Body Scanners
I have flown through Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, and San Francisco the last couple days and been (pleasantly) surprised that each time I have come across a full body scanner, it has not been in operation. In Chicago...
Delta Downsizes Memphis Hub
Only 330 miles away from Delta’s fortress hub and world headquarters in Atlanta, it was only a matter of time before service cutbacks at Memphis would occur after the Northwest/Delta merger. Although Delta promises that Memphis will remain a...
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...
Jeff Smisek Addresses United’s "Service" Problem
While Glen Tilton, former United Airlines CEO, may not have been as bad as some made him out to be, he seemed to have a lot of trouble with empathy. He often gave the appearance that he could care...
Putin Offers United States "Visa-Free" Travel to Russia
One of the highlights of my journey around the world in 2007 was my three day stop in Russia. Moscow and St. Petersburg are great cities and I’ve often wanted to go back, especially now that I am relatively...
Texas Lawmakers Attempt to Ban TSA Full Body Scanners
A posse of Lone State lawmakers has a message for the TSA: Don’t mess with Texas. Republican State Representative David Simpson has introduced two bills targetting the TSA. Here are the highlights: HB 1938 …(b) An airport operator may...
Virgin Atlantic Lounge Masseuses Sue Airline
In typical tabloid fashion, we read about the plight of two Virgin Atlantic lounge masseuses: Beauty therapists Jayne Evans, 40, and Michelle Hindmarch, 35, each developed chronic muscular strain – including pain in their shoulders, upper back and wrists...
Kobe Bryant, the Armenian Genocide, and Turkish Airlines
I have been a big fan of Kobe Bryant since his NBA rookie year in 1996. Although I haven’t followed any sort of professional sport closely while living in Philadelphia or Frankfurt the last couple years, as a Southern California...
Continental Eliminates Free Snacks in Economy Class
If you are a big fan of pretzels or biscoff cookies while flying on Continental Airlines, you better bring your own. On Tuesday, the carrier eliminated these free treats on all routes that do not feature BusinessFirst seating. Among the...
As it Considers a Makeover, TSA Lets Man Slip Onto Plane with Three Box Cutters
Washington, DC is my favorite city in America and other than family and friends, that is the thing (well, place) I miss most as I enter my third month in Germany. DC is a bustling city filled with great...
Breaking: Two Dead in Frankfurt Airport Shooting
No confirmed details yet, but I am getting word that two people are dead and two are seriously injured after a shooting at Frankfurt International Airport just minutes ago. A Kosovarian suspect is under arrest. With an office right in the...
Would You Buy an Airline Ticket that Fluctuates with Fuel Prices?
Nevada-based Allegiant Air has written a letter to the Department of Transportation stating its intention to introduce a new whole new meaning to the definition of a flexible ticket: When making a purchase, consumer would be able to choose...
See, I Told You So! TSA Full Body Scanner Fails to Detect Gun in Bra
Last March, the Government Accounting Office warned Congress that full body scanners have not been tested and may not be able to detect the very type of explosives material the machines were procured to detect. Few listened, as most members...
Air New Zealand’s Corporate Responsibility on Display in Christchurch
Another massive earthquake struck New Zealand today, again centered near Christchurch. 65 are reported dead and hundreds are missing. The 6.3 magnitude quake struck at midday, at a time when many were out and about. When natural disasters occur, it is...
U.S. Senate Agrees to Loosen DCA Perimeter Rule
Negotiations have been ongoing for many months, but the Senate has finally hammered out a tentative deal that would further loosen the perimeter rule at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. I provided a background on the history and politics...
United Grounds Boeing 757-200 Fleet
If you were scheduled to fly on a United Boeing 757 yesterday afternoon or evening, you likely encountered a delay or cancellation. In a move reminiscent of American Airlines’ grounding of their entire MD-80 fleet when found to be...
Mobile Lounges: Redefined in Geneva
Ask any U.S. frequent flyer who passes through Washington Dulles what the phrase “mobile lounge” conjures up and you’ll likely be met by swearing, complaints, and the occasional horror story. I mean, just look at these things: Admittedly, I...
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...
