The President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) has told Congress it is critical that “food and beverage services continue to be held to absolute minimums” and that lowering masks to eat or drink places flight attendants in...
Must A Captain Always Side With A Flight Attendant?
Resident pilot 121pilot, a captain for a major U.S. airline, authors a new column on Live and Let’s Fly called Ask Your Captain. His mission: demystify the flight deck and an answer any question you may have on the...
Flight Attendant Union Suggests Mask Mandate Should Be Permanent
Sara Nelson, the powerful president of the Association of Flight Attendants, has told Congress that passengers need to be coercively conditioned to wear masks, similar to how airlines eliminated smoking onboard. Flight Attendant Union: Keep The Mask Mandate The...
United Airlines Predicts Robust Return Of Business Travel This Fall
Speaking at United’s first quarter earnings call, CEO Scot Kirby told a story about business travel. His bottom line: United Airlines believes business travel will return quickly and in many markets be even stronger than before the pandemic as...
Prince Harry Chose American Airlines First Class Over British Airways
Prince Harry, now a California resident, recently flew to London and back to take part in the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. But instead of flying a British carrier, the British royal flew on...
Emirates Suspends Service From India
UPDATE: An earlier version of this story incorrect reported that Emirates was suspending all passenger service to India. From Sunday, Emirates will suspend passenger service from India to Dubai for 10 days as Indian coronavirus cases continue their disturbing...
Review: American Airlines 777-200 Premium Economy
I didn’t fly in premium economy class, but I did fly in a premium economy seat. For reasons I cannot explain nor understand, American Airlines does not market its premium economy cabin as a separate class of service on...
The Problematic US “Do Not Travel” Advisory For 80% Of The World
Here’s the problem: if you tell people they should not travel even with a vaccine, they are less likely to get vaccinated. Trust me, I’ve been speaking to the skeptics. Lengthy “Do Not Travel” List Will Lead To More...
Photo Essay: TWA Hotel
I consider the TWA Flight Center at New York Kennedy Airport, designed by Eero Saarinen, to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It is now a hotel and I recently spent my layover at JFK...
New United Airlines Ad: “Let’s Get Reunited, World.”
United Airlines is out with a new ad to draw attention to its three latest international routes additions. Although the new catchphrase, “Let’s Get Reunited, World,” seems a bit premature, it is incredibly poignant. New United Airlines Slogan: “Let’s Get...
Treffpunkt Flughafen, An East German “Reality Show” On Flying Interflug
While moseying though airliners.net, I stumbled down a rabbit hole…a 1980s East German TV services called Treffpunkt Flughafen (Airport Meeting Point) that explores the life of an IL-62 crew flying for Interflug, the flag carrier of the DDR (East...
My Scary Road Rage Incident In Los Angeles
Ok, this is only tangentially related to travel, but I want to reflect upon a road rage incident in Los Angeles that occurred over the weekend. Road Rage In Los Angeles Sunday afternoon I was driving through a two-lane...
American Airlines Sees A Business Case For Political Activism
I’m fascinated by how airlines have become involved in political issues and the reasons they provide for doing so. The latest example: how American Airlines CEO Doug Parker justifies his carrier’s vocal role in opposing Republican-led efforts to change...
American Airlines Moves In Right Direction With Service Resumptions
American Airlines has announced full beverage service will be restored to first class next month and later to economy class. Buy-onboard snacks and meals will also return this summer. It’s a small step, but a step in the right...
Own An Ex-Lufthansa DC-8 For As Little As $22,500!
A former Lufthansa Cargo DC-8 is on the auction block this week, with an opening of price of about $22,500. Could this be the “guest house” you’ve always dreamed of or perhaps a new restaurant to compete with the...
Summer In Europe? Americans Welcomed In Greece, Soon In France
It looks like 2021 will not be another lost summer of travel for U.S. citizens. In addition to widespread domestic re-openings, Iceland and Greece are now open and France has indicated vaccinated Americans will be welcomed this summer. Summer...
United Airlines Attacks Southwest Airlines In Denver Ad Campaign
United Airlines is stepping up its advertising in Denver, with a new citywide ad campaign intended to highlight United’s ties to the Mile High City and distinguish it from Southwest Airlines. United Airlines Launches New Denver Ad Campaign Over...
United Airlines Adds Service To Croatia, Greece, Iceland
United Airlines is ramping up service to three nations that are welcoming vaccinated U.S. citizens with new summer service to Athens (Greece), Dubrovnik (Croatia), and Reykjavik (Iceland). United Airlines Adds Washington – Athens Service From July 1st through October...
Qatar Airways CEO Mocks British Airways: The Power Of Shame
Sometimes shaming is a powerful tool to move others toward corrective action. I admire what Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker set out to accomplish in powerfully shaming British Airways. Qatar Airways CEO Shames British Airways Qatar Airways owns...
Collateral Damage from American Express Centurion Lounge Change
The blogging world was atwitter with condemnation over a change in 2023 for AMEX cardholders, but few have mentioned the collateral damage from the new American Express Centurion lounge charge. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a...
