News and notes from around the interweb: Linens return to domestic first class on American starting April 1. Peter Chang — the elusive Szechuan chef who used to cook for the Chinese embassy in DC (and has a history of disappearing from restaurants where he works) — has a new place in the DC area. Check out this review and make a beeline there before Chang disappears again! 25% off sale for the Westin Heavenly Bed. There are frequent discounts for the W Hotels bed, but some ask about the Westin version and that one is rarely on sale. A couple of status updates, of interest to those curious about ‘soft landings’: My MegaDO-granted Club Carlson Concierge status has expired. They provided a soft landing to Gold. I was an Intercontinental Royal Ambassador (and thus…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for March 2015.
(Post Update Coming Soon)
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We’ve Already Fixed Aviation Security. And the TSA Had No Part In It.
United flight 1074 from Washington Dulles to Denver returned to DC last night after a passenger apparently charged the cockpit. Several other passengers restrained the man until the aircraft made it back to Dulles. Police met the aircraft and took the individual to a hospital for evaluation. Here’s video from the incident:
A Pilot Drew an Air Traffic Control Phallus in the Skies on Thursday, and Now Is Famous on the Internet.
To continue last night’s Spirit Airlines theme, per Flight Radar on Twitter a private pilot made an air traffic control drawing in the skies between Orlando and Tampa on Thursday. [Insert Cocky Pilot Joke Here] Of course this happened in Florida. While this was quite near Disney World, of course, no one would have been the wiser on the ground waiting in line for It’s a Small World. To borrow an excuse from RyanAir, “art isn’t this pilot’s forte, as they’ve clearly forgotten to draw wings on their ATC airplane.”
Spirit Launches a ’69’ Sale. And It’s Exactly What You Think It Is.
Spirit Airlines took delivery of its 69th aircraft. And then proceeded to go there. Here’s the sale narrative: We’ve been waiting to hit 69 planes for years. It’s our favorite number – ever since we were twelve and found that magazine under our brother’s bed (the one with the fantastic articles). #69 is perfect: just the right size, with a cockpit that’s in your face (because it’s bright yellow). Use your mouth to spread the word: Spirit is in an even better position to get you where you’re going. I always thought the thirteen twelve year old boy humor in their ads was the work of Barry Biffle. But he’s now left the Spirit to become President of Frontier. Yet the hits just keep on coming. This one fits nicely into the Spirit pantheon, alongside…
This is the Real Threat US Airlines Need to Worry About
US airlines have been making a fuss that Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar receive subsidies and it’s unfair they should have to compete against those carriers. (Subsidies for US airlines are, of course, ok.) The airlines largely don’t compete with each other now, with a couple of flights to Dubai between them the US carriers and a couple of flights to India. The big worry is an expansion of service like Emirates’ New York – Milan flight. Although ironically, of the 3 the weakest case they have is against Emirates. While their eye is on the 3 big Gulf carriers (and not on Kuwaiti which flies New York – London, or Delta partner Saudi), the real competitive risk that they face comes from low cost carriers who will outcompete US airlines on price and where that…
Avis Launching New Elite Program
Avis has been working on a new elite program for some time. It looked imminent to launch in the fall but was delayed. It appears that Avis in Europe is now emailing out details of the new program to members, and the Bonusfeber site has the scoop.
Delta Flies “Crap Airplanes”
A month ago I offered the simple political truth that When Your Airline CEO Adversary Commits Political Suicide, Just Stand Back and Let Him. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker, however, doesn’t know — or simply cannot — do this. Instead he feels the need to make incendiary claims that shine the spotlight back on himself.. to his detriment. At a conference today he reiterated his take on the ongoing row with US airlines over subsidies received by the largest Middle East carriers. “I think Mr Anderson (CEO of Delta, Richard Anderson) doesn’t know the difference between equity and subsidy. We never receive any subsidy,” Baker said. “The state of Qatar is the owner of Qatar Airways and whatever funds are put into the airline is as equity, which is quite legitimate. “The unfortunate thing is…
Credit Card Experiments and a New 70,000 Point Signup Bonus
News and notes from around the interweb: Consumers paying by credit card tend to spend more. Here’s an interesting experiment on how to get them not to. (HT: Marginal Revolution) Self-control in this regard is critical for benefiting from credit card rewards. The Marriott Rewards co-brand small business card is available with a 70,000 point signup bonus Air India held open interviews for Captain positions and literally no one showed up US airlines claim Emirates’ 2-for-1 promotion is proof of unfair competition. Not one has said the same thing about Virgin America’s 2-for-1 promotion. How TripAdvisor Changed Travel (HT: Marginal Revolution) Those free Qantas first class tickets? A scam.
Review: Westin Arlington (Best Value in the DC Area on Weekends)
The hotel opened in spring 2006. The hotel is in the DC suburbs — but located just two blocks to the Ballston metro, Orange line straight shot into the city. It pulls high rates during the week, it’s a business hotel that brings people visiting the FDIC, the EPA’s Fish and WIldlife Service, and DARPA and various other government agencies and consulting firms doing business with government agencies. On the weekends though? Dead. And the rates show it. Which makes it a great place to base DC tourism. The hotel just dropped from category 5 to category 4, so award nights are 10,000 points — a good deal when the property is pulling ~ $300 during the week, not a good deal when it’s in the $100 vicinity of course. I certainly like this hotel…
