After probing this story further, some of my outrage has dissipated. Yet I am still fuming at all parties involved. A 95 year-old woman in Florida in the terminal stages of leukemia, weighing only 105lbs and bound to a...
British Airways Captain Throws Mobile Phone Out Cockpit Window
I am having trouble deciding whose side I am on in this story, which occurred on Friday evening. A British Airways flight from Edinburgh to London Gatwick was already delayed. On the taxi out, a mobile phone was found...
New Livery + Business Class for LOT Polish Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines, a Star Alliance member, will be the first European carrier to take delivery of Boeing’s 787 aircraft. The program is two years behind schedule, but the kinks finally appear to be ironed out and LOT is...
Don’t Blame Delta for Saudi Foreign Policy
The Rabbi Jason Miller is not happy with Delta Air Lines. In a poorly-written article published in the Huffington Post, Miller bemoans that Saudi Arabian Airlines will soon be a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, the airline group that...
Earn and Burn American Airlines Miles on Etihad Airways
Award earning and redemption options just got a little better on American Airlines. As of 01 June, American Airlines AAdvantage miles can be earned on most Etihad flights. Three notable exclusions are flights between Abu Dhabi and New York,...
This Southwest Captain Hates "Gays and Grannies and Grandes"
I would feel sorry for the Captain, if he wasn’t such an idiot. Apparently a Southwest Airlines captain didn’t know his microphone was stuck on the “on” position and broadcast to the FAA and everyone else within earshot a...
Naked Man Barricades Himself in Lavatory on Iberia Flight
Excessive alcohol and flying just do not mix–I’ve made that abundantly clear in previous posts. But sometimes passengers are just crazy (recall the deranged passenger that caused my United flight to divert to Omaha last year). Take the German...
United to Close Denver Hub?
A piece ran in the Denver Post yesterday speculating on the future hub status of Denver, implying that United is ready to axe it. I see no cause for concern just yet. The rumors stem from internal UA documents...
Delta Flight Diverted After Flirting Man Pulls Out "Poisonous" Gas
A guy name Bryan Sisco finds his Delta flight from Dallas to Atlanta is delayed and heads to the bar, where he consumes a few too many–but is not visibly hammered. Though the midst of going through a messy divorce with his...
The Door to Cuba Has Opened for Americans
While some snobby Canadians and Europeans will no doubt be dejected by this news, I am happy to report that the United States has further loosened travel restrictions to Cuba, making it possible for almost any American now to visit the communist island...
Singapore Airlines Plans Long-Haul Budget Carrier
When Air Canada announced plans for a new low-cost subsidiary last month, many were left scratching their heads. In a climate of high oil prices and an industry trend of cutting capacity, what would motivate such a move–especially with the high failure rate of...
New Role for the TSA: High School Prom Guards
Coming soon to a high school near you: the Transportation Security Administration. Two girls at a New Mexico high school recently sued their school district, claiming that they were "groped" on their way into their prom earlier in the...
Why "Free" Airline Award Tickets Cost So Much
From time to time, I have blogged about the increasing cost of award tickets, particularly when using frequent flyer programs outside the United States. Scott McCartney nicely highlights this issue in his weekly column, demonstrating that for many seeking to book an airline...
Ryanair Bikini Ad Banned
The British Advertising Standards Authority has banned the Ryanair ad below for…lying. Arguing that the “sunny” destinations wouldn’t get much warmer than 6-9ºC (42-48ºF), the government body has banned Ryanair from publishing similar “misleading” ads in the future. “We considered...
Thoughts on the Failed Alitalia Hijacking Attempt
A knife-welding Kazakh attempted to hijack an Alitalia flight from Paris to Rome Sunday night, demanding the plane be diverted to Libya. Passengers onboard said the man whipped out a knife and held it closely to the throat of...
Alaska Airlines Aircraft Evacuated After Toilet Paper Found…in Lavatory
Add this story to the paranoia file. A FA walks into the lavatory, sees a few white specks on the counter, believes it to be anthrax or some sort of bomb material, and freaks out. The Alaksa Airlines jet...
Watch Out! Flight Attendants Get Kung Fu Training
When the flight attendant says to obey all lighted signs, placards, and crewmember instructions, tuning her out with your iPod while smoking a cigarette on your way to the lavatory as the plane lifts off the runway is probably...
Should Airlines Keep Bag Fees When They Lose Your Bags?
The U.S. Department of Transportation is mulling over a number of new regulations that will affect air travelers, including mandating that airlines allow passengers to cancel airfare without penalty for up to 24 hours after booking and requiring that...
Exclusive: TSA Admits to Storing AIT Images
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport screener has admitted that the TSA stores images obtained from full body scanners. The 23-year old screener works at Ronald Regan Washington National Airport and posted the following in the course of an online...
Your Laptop is NOT Secure or Private at U.S. Borders
I am training to be a lawyer, afterall, so let’s take a break from frequent flyer news today and focus on a recent court decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the confiscation of personal computers...
