Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for March 2019.

British Airways Unveils Their New Business Class Seat, Suites With Doors

by Gary Leff

airplanebed
Mar 18 2019

The airline that pioneered lie flat seats in long haul business class hasn’t really refreshed their product since 2006. The current-generation British Airways seat is well past its prime, and is still going to be flying for many years.

The new ‘Club Suite’ will debut in their new Airbus A350s with 56 business class seats which start arriving in July and flying long haul October 1. They’ll be using the B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seat from Rockwell Collins (fully flat with direct aisle access) with a door added on.

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Inflight Fight Leaves Blood Splatters After Woman Tries to Go to Lavatory Without Shoes

by Gary Leff

ryan air plane landing
Mar 17 2019

A Saturday Ryanair flight (natch) from Glasgow to Tenerife in the Canary Islands saw a fight break out after a woman went to the lavatory without shoes on.

A “very drunk man pulled her up about it, saying that someone would stand on her toes” according to another passenger. Then the woman’s boyfriend got involved. And more alcohol got involved.

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Southwest Airlines May Have Just Solved Its Reliability Problem With New Mechanics Deal

by Gary Leff

southwest plane
Mar 17 2019

With Southwest Airlines now selling tickets to Hawaii they should be flying high. Not only is this a new desirable market, it should support credit card acquisitions because customers can now spend their points for more aspirational destinations.

But the carrier has been hobbled by mechanics slowing down the airline and the grounding of the 737 MAX.

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Hyatt Testing ‘Make a Green Choice’ – Points for Skipping Housekeeping

by Gary Leff

hyatt bonus points promo
Mar 16 2019

When a property wants to split the savings for skipping housekeeping with you rebating points that’s fair. Starwood was known for their Make a Green Choice program offering 500 Starpoints per night you skipped housekeeping. Marriott still offers a similar, albeit less rewarding, program.

Hyatt is now testing 250 points for skipping housekeeping.

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A New Reason for American Not to Offer Predeparture Beverages

by Gary Leff

lavatory
Mar 16 2019

There are two things American Airlines believes affects premium passenger perception of service: flight attendants referring to them by name, and offering predeparture beverages.

American Airlines flight attendants are inconsistent about offering beverages prior to push back. And there’s no consequence if they don’t. If they don’t consider themselves to have time, they can skip it.

One flight, though, finally had a good reason not to offer them — and even to skip most inflight beverage service too.

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Loophole to Buy Some Southwest Flights Over Half Off Through End of Month

by Gary Leff

southwest plane
Mar 16 2019

Southwest Airlines does not charge customers change fees. However if you change your flight you take your original ticket cost and use it as a credit to buy a new flight. Southwest is apparently now waiving any increase in fare when you change flights.

And that lets you buy a cheaper ticket than the one you want to fly, and just change to your preferred trip — but that original booking must be in March.

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British Airways Teases Their New Business Class Seat With Photos

by Gary Leff

person sleeping airplane bed
Mar 16 2019

British Airways pioneered lie flat seats in long haul business class. The seats weren’t wide or private, but they were classy with blue fabric and brown leather. I actually liked the old lie flat business class seat that I flew a decade ago (‘New Club World’) more than the current iteration that feels like a sea of impersonal corporate cubes (‘Next Generation Club World’).

The current seat is well overdue for a refresh. The basics of the current seat began rolling out in 2006.

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