United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and his wife Kathleen attended the White House State Dinner last Thursday in honor of French President Emanuel Macron. Kirby’s presence demonstrates how effectively United has cozied up to the Biden Administration. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Rubs Shoulders With World Leaders At White House State Dinner Kirby shared glamorous […]
Sara Nelson Takes Partisan Victory Lap Over New Extended Rest Period Rule For Flight Attendants
Flight attendants are celebrating new FAA duty rules which now require more statutory minimum rest between duty periods. While flight attendants should certainly celebrate this victory, Sara Nelson’s choice of words yet again strikes me as unnecessarily partisan. Nelson Misses The Forest In The Trees With Paristan Victory Lap Over FAA Minimum Flight Attendant Rest […]
United Airlines And Emirates Pledge Powerful Partnership
United Airlines and Emirates have announced a new partnership that is currently more aspirational than practical, yet could evolve into a powerful new axis between former bitter rivals. Details: United + Emirates Partnership Today United and Emirates announced a new partnership at a hangar event at Washington Dulles. Live and Let’s Fly was present and […]
German Government Sells Its Lufthansa Stake, Earns $760 Million Profit…While U.S. Taxpayers Left Holding The Bill
To those who blanketly pan “European socialism” I wonder how you feel about Lufthansa paying back its government bailout in full and now the German government completing a sale of its stake in the airline for a profit of $760 million? While German Taxpayers Profit From Lufthansa Sale, U.S. Taxpayers Will Not See Similar Returns […]
As United Airlines Goes On Hiring Spree, Should It Recall International Flight Attendants?
While taxpayer bailouts protected all U.S. airline jobs during the pandemic, United eliminated its international crew bases and many of those flight attendants are still without a job, even as United is now hiring new flight attendants. Should United hire these flight attendants back even if they cannot legally work in the USA? Time For […]
American Airlines Combats Pilot Shortage By Reducing Passenger Ratio
American Airlines, like other US carriers, has made an investment in VTOL (helicopter-like aircraft) but it means reducing the passenger ratio dramatically despite a grim pilot shortage outlook. 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 […]
Analysis: Why Did Scandinavian Airlines Fail?
Despite government bailouts during the pandemic and a strong surge of demand in recent months, SAS recently collapsed, seeking bankruptcy protection in the USA and claiming its business model was broken. What really led SAS to fail? Why Did SAS Fail? SAS finds itself in a very bad situation for many reasons, some within its […]
Rumor: American Airlines May Eliminate Free Standby For Non-Elites
In the airline industry, there is no such thing as a permanent change. A very trusted source shares that American Airlines is considering eliminating complimentary standby for passengers without AAdvantage elite status. While not surprising, it would mark a customer-unfriendly move and likely mark the first step on the road toward the reintroduction of change […]
Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott Show True Colors Amid Travel Boom
Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott were struggling to keep their doors open during the pandemic, but now that the revenge travel boom is in full effect, they are showing their true colors. 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 […]
Fuel Crisis At Johannesburg Airport Nears Conclusion
South Africa’s Central Energy Fund plans to deliver an extra 1.5 million liters of jet fuel to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to protect against further supply shortages. The announcement comes as the fuel shortage crisis slowly stabilizes after weeks of disruption. Fuel Crisis Improving At Johannesburg Airport, With Government Promising Extra Supply At […]
Pilot Shortage First Casualty Essential Air Cities, Who’s Next?
The airline industry has been warning the world of an upcoming pilot shortage that has finally arrived. The first casualty is Essential Air Service cities, but who’s next? 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 […]
United Airlines Finds Itself At War With Flight Attendants Union
In all my years of covering United Airlines on Live and Let’s Fly, I cannot recall ever seeing such a public and bitter war of words between the airline and the union representing its flights attendants. But is the union anger justified? And might there actually be a clandestine civil war going on within flight […]
You Didn’t Give Us Taxpayer Funds Fast Enough – How Airlines Are Defending Delays And Cancellations
A note to Congress from America’s most prominent airline lobbyist helps us to understand why we experienced so many delays and cancellations in 2021: we just didn’t get airlines taxpayer money quickly enough. Oh yes, and security breaches. How Airlines Are Defending Poor Operational Performance The House Committee on Transportation sent a note to Nicholas […]
I’m Shedding Crocodile Tears For Ex-Alitalia Flight Attendants Staging Protests In Rome
Don’t mistake my crocodile tears for a complete lack of empathy. I understand how hard it is to lose what you have worked so long and hard to build…and yet at the same time, I don’t know what the latest Alitalia protests in Rome were aiming to realistically accomplish. Alitalia Flight Attendants Engage In Beautiful […]
Qatar And European Union Sign Open Skies Agreement – Fifth Freedom Flights Not Allowed
COVID-19 has leveled the playing field when it comes to airlines squabbling over state subsidies. In an era of widespread bailouts, Qatar and the European Union have signed a long-awaited Open Skies Agreement. But the agreement still maintains protectionist aspects that benefit European carriers to the detriment of consumers. New Open Skies Agreement Signed Between […]
Why Marriott CEO Is Praising U.S. Airline Industry
Marriott CEO Tony Capuano looks to the U.S. airlines industry as a source of inspiration, praising it for so effectively and efficiently securing government funding during the pandemic. Is this what Marriott aspires to? Marriott CEO Loves U.S. Airlines, But It’s Not For The Service… Capuano was lobbed a softball question in an interview with […]
Airlines Show Signs Of Slowing Down Again
US airlines are showing signs of slowing down again but this time there shouldn’t be a taxpayer bailout. 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. Airlines Slowing Down Again Some carriers have outright […]
United Airlines Will Return Turboprops To Fleet With New Electric Aircraft Order
United Airlines and its regional subsidiary Mesa Airlines will each buy up to 100 ES-19 aircraft from Heart Aerospace, an electric turboprop that hopes to transform short-haul regional flying. The acquisition comes in addition to an investment from United Ventures, United’s new corporate venture capital fund. United Airlines Invests In Heart Aerospace ES-19 Aircraft Heart […]
Warning: Air Canada Refund Request Deadline Is Approaching
While booking an Aeroplan ticket last night, I noticed a green banner on the top of the Air Canada website warning of an approaching refund deadline. If your flight was cancelled due to the pandemic, you must request a refund by Monday, July 12, 2021 or face being stuck with a voucher rather than refund […]
Frontier Airlines Rescinds “Covid Recovery Charge”
UPDATE: Frontier Airlines has rescinded its Covid Recovery Charge. A spokesperson noted: “Frontier Airlines has made the decision to rescind its Covid Recovery Charge of $1.59 per passenger per segment that was implemented in May. “The charge, which was included in the airline’s total promoted fare versus an add-on fee, was meant to provide transparency […]