With a Continental merger drawing near, the LA Times featured a great article yesterday on the struggle over the re-branding of United. I won’t quote from it, but it discusses the ongoing debate over the livery of the merged...
What NOT to wear when you are flying in first class!
Maybe the guy was just protesting intrusive TSA search protocols or lost a poker bet, but I have to question what motivates someone to wear this on a plane. Then again, I am they type of traveler who won’t...
Another Unique Air New Zealand Safety Video
Air New Zealand has fun with its safety videos. Last year it was body paint, this year: rugby. Take a look at NZ’s new safety video below. You’ve got to give them an A for effort and a few...
Waited too long to burn my Hyatt "Big Welcome Back" nights…
Ugh. I knew I waited too long too call… I’ve got a couple free nights left from Hyatt’s spring "Big Welcome Back" promotion, where you could opt to receive one free night at any Hyatt hotel worldwide for every...
New Landing Procedures on United Airlines?
I’ll take to the air again on Monday to see for myself, but was dismayed to read on FT today that UA is revising its landing procedures. Right now, usually around 20-30 minutes prior to landing, a double chime...
RE: Buying Airline Miles –> Scott, You didn’t do your research!
Scott McCartney, author of the weekly Middle Seat column in the Wall Street Journal, is one of my favorite travel writers. Almost every week his columns provide an insightful look into many facets of the commercial airline industry. Once...
JetBlue Flight Pass Sold Out
If you haven’t purchased your JetBlue flight pass yet, you waited to long. Just two days after bringing back the popular promotion, B6 announced this afternoon that all passes were sold out. If I wasn’t going to be in...
No Three Perfect Days in this Airline Magazine
Airline magazines are generally easy reads. Packed with travel-related articles, propaganda promoting the airline, crossword puzzles, and mostly advertisements, even the best mags in the industry hardly leave a lasting impression. I do appreciate United’s Three Perfect Days feature...
Bedbugs Inflict United Airlines Passenger
Not a very comforting letter published in yesteday’s NY Times: To the Editor: Re “This Bedbug’s Life,” by May Berenbaum (Op-Ed, Aug. 8): I recently flew back to Los Angeles from Washington, D.C., business class on United Airlines. In...
Southwest Airlines Considers Investment in 737-800
Southwest Airlines, America’s largest domestic carrier, is thinking big. Their fleet of 737-300, -500, and -700 series aircraft have served them well, but slot restrictions at airports like BOS and LGA have limited their ability to grow in key...
Steven Slater is a Liar!
Well, at least that’s what some passengers are saying. Then again, they could just be trying to get their 15 minutes of fame like Mr. Slater has very successfully done. Nevertheless, the news hasn’t been good for suspended JetBlue...
Sun Country Airlines Matches JetBlue, Offers Unlimited Flight Pass
After JetBlue announced the return of their popular flight pass this morning, Sun Country introduced a similar promotion. The MSP-based airline will offer unlimited flights to all 16 of its destinations between September 5 and October 13 for $499. ...
Airlines Raiding Desert Boneyards as Passenger Traffic Increases
Last week I booked a Sunday night redeye from Los Angeles to Chicago on United and was pleasantly surprised to see that the flight would be operated by a 747-400. Like Kevin’s experience last week, the aircraft featured the old...
747 Transformation (Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic)
Last week I blogged about Virgin Atlantic’s plan to repaint all 38 of its aircraft with a special metallic paint that will be more durable and require fewer coats than would conventional paint products. Now you can see how...
Review: Hyatt Regency Montreal
Below is a brief review of my recent stay at the Hyatt Regency in Montreal. Its brevity can be explained: about the only thing I did at the hotel was sleep. I arrived in Montreal on an early morning...
Star Alliance or Oneworld? LAN and TAM to Merge
LAN and TAM have announced their intention to merge into a new South American mega-airline group, LATAM. If the merger goes forward, the new company would boast 40,000 employees and transport more than 45 million customers a year to 115...
Air Canada Introduces Lifetime Elite Status
For those who have racked up at least 1,000,000 elite miles on Air Canada or Jazz flights, new benefits are coming your way: 1 million status miles = lifetime Elite status (mid-tier, Star Gold) 2 million status miles = lifetime...
Ex-Gangbanger and Inner-City Cop Flying First Class on Singapore Airlines
I’ve already blogged about the folly of assuming someone doesn’t belong in first class, but this story takes the cake. I love trip reports that read like a suspense novel and Flyertaker macabus has proven himself a fine raconteur. Click...
Leaked JetBlue Memo Reveals that Steven Slater May Have Fabricated Story
The AP has obtained an internal JetBlue memo admonishing the actions of Steven Slater and warning FAs not to try anything similar. Most interesting is this: JetBlue Chief Operating Officer Rob Maruster says in the memo that the airline is still...
Another Thaw in StarNet Blocking – My Award Trip is Now Complete
It’s too early to tell if StarNet blocking is gone on UA or just on another hiatus, but I was able to book transatlantic Lufthansa flights today–a marked change from last week. As I mentioned in an earlier post...
