Relax. This is not going to be a union-bashing thread. But I’m not happy about the news today that America’s 40,000 Travel Security Officers (TSO’s) have been granted the right to collectively bargain. Before I get into all the...
Delta Agents Going Back to Charm School
It takes only one bad experience, one delayed flight, or one rude gate agent to permanently mar the reputation of an airline in the eyes of a disgruntled traveler. I suppose that is true for just about anything–take my short time...
Maybe I’ll Pass on the Air New Zealand Skycouch…
With great fanfare (and my heaping praise), Air New Zealand unveiled their Skycouch product, a row of three economy seats that transform into a lie-flat bad large enough for two people. Billed as the cheaper alternative to flying in...
U.S. Winter Storms Mean More Free Lonely Planet Travel Guide Apps
When snow pelted Europe last December, Lonely Planet offered free downloads of 13 European travel guide apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. With heavy snow hitting North America today, Lonely Planet is offering 13 free travel guides for the...
New Routes From Around the World
New airline routes and destinations pop up all the time and I often have trouble staying on top of these announcements. Thankfully, I no longer have to: I found a place where this information is consolidated. Here’s Air Transport World’s list...
Free Facebook Access on Gogo Flights in February
Seven airlines have teamed up with Gogo and Ford to offer free Facebook access on North American flights featuring in-flight wi-fi during the month of February. Participants include: Virgin America AirTran Airways Alaska Airlines American Airlines Delta Air Lines...
Next Frontier for TSA: Airline Call Centers?
A former British Airways call center employee has pleaded guilty to agreeing to take part in terrorist training/insurgent operations overseas. He also pleaded guilty to transferring funds for terrorist purposes. The key part of this story, however, is what Rajib Karim...
BMI Supsends Glasgow-Heathrow Route, Announces Service to Norway and Morocco
Blaming the British Airports Authority for squeezing it dry, British Midland Airways (BMI) announced plans to axe its Glasgow-London Heathrow route in April. The carrier blamed ever-increasing airport taxes that have recently gone from £13 to £20 on domestic flights departing from Heathrow and...
Awesome Twilight Landing at LAX
I may be in Frankfurt for the time being, but LAX will always be my “home” airport. Earlier today, a colleague e-mailed me the video below and I was so enamored by it I felt the need to share it with...
TSA Prohibits Expansion of Screening Partnership Program
In a move that some are calling another TSA power grab while others are calling a logical and sound judgment call, Transportation Security Administrator John Pistole has rejected Springfield-Branson Airport’s application to opt-out of TSA-administered airport screening. More importantly,...
50,000 Miles for a Continental MasterCard
While this deal has been floating around the travel blogosphere all week, it is noteworthy enough to mention here. Chase is offering 50,000 Continental bonus miles for signing up for their MasterCard OnePass credit card. Even better, the miles...
The Travel Begins…
The last two weeks have been quite abnormal for me: I have stayed put in one city. While it has been nice getting acquainted with Frankfurt, I have been itching to start traveling again. Today, the travel has begun....
A Ride on the S-Bahn with a Frankfurt-Based United First Officer
My commute to work each day includes a 10-minute train ride between Frankfurt’s central railway station and the airport. Usually it’s a dull affair–thankfully my iPhone keeps me occupied–but my ride home this evening was a little more interesting....
Next Destination for Lufthansa A380: San Francisco
Right in the middle of our podcast tonight, Ben suddenly blurted out “Holy cow! Lufthansa just announced that SFO is getting the A380.” This was followed by furious typing then a quick quip, “Guys, they haven’t loaded in the...
Alaska Airlines Retires Horizon Air Brand
Save for a small label here and there on the fuselage, Horizon Air’s brand identity will soon be retired. Acquired in 1986 by the Alaska Air Group, Horizon was and will remain a separate entity, serving smaller airports and...
Man Arrested by TSA for Failing to Show ID Cleared of All Charges by Jury
Justice is sweet. I am grinning this evening because after a gruesome semester of Evidence (a standard law school course that most students take during their second year), I once again have a little faith in our jury system....
New 12-Hour Mandatory Hold Rule on United Mileage Plus Star Alliance Award Bookings?
Some on Flyertalk are reporting that United reservation agents are quoting a new 12-hour mandatory hold rule when booking a Star Alliance award. But United, an airline I love to call consistently inconsistent, doesn’t seem to be strictly enforcing...
Save $100 on a JetBlue Vacation Package
While not quite as lucrative as the $300 off Expedia deal to New York City, Cancún, or Las Vegas, JetBlue is offering $100 off any vacation package purchased through their "Getaways" website. If you are Southern California based and...
Passenger Finds JetBlue Pilot’s Lost Handgun at JFK
…and unknowingly takes it onboard with him before realizing his error! Another day, another problem with TSA’s Federal Flight Deck Officers program. I actually think the FFDO is a beneficial program that does more to promote security than any...
Air New Zealand Acquires Partial Ownership of Virgin Blue
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is not about to let Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand merge, but NZ turned some heads today after declaring plans to purchase a 14.99% stake in Virgin Blue. NZ says it is...
