News and notes from around the interweb:
- Air France KLM Flying Blue promo awards have Austin – Amsterdam business class on sale 25% off. Book in September for travel through February 28, 2023 – and you can connect anywhere in Europe. All major transferable currencies can be moved to Flying Blue. Oh and this flight lets you use the gorgeous Delta Sky Club that was opened before the pandemic.
- The cost of a Western lifestyle in Luanda, Angola is high. More surprising to some may be that it’s possible. But if you want great pizza in Juba you can get it – because people who want it travel there (including through international aid organizations) and they have the ability to pay. And Angola has oil.
- United’s ConnectionSaver, which helps customers make connecting flights when their inbound aircraft is delayed, doesn’t get enough credit or attention. 25% of United’s flights are expected to arrive 10 minutes early so their computers will decide when it makes sense to hold a flight for connecting passengers.
Good Leads the Way in Frankfurt, DE as we activate ConnectionSaver @united. Departing at the right time for the customer allows us to save the day for more customers while arriving downline on schedule. @AndreaNPunited @StephenMcUA @kerrysaidWHAT @MikeHannaUAL @chahin_hector pic.twitter.com/Z1jN5TWuT4
— Jay Fulmer (@jfulmer_ao) August 31, 2022
- Fact Check: Did Smuggled Crocodile Cause Plane Crash in the Congo?
- Have to give United credit for their virtual cabin tours, you don’t need to be surprised by something like this.
@AmericanAir nice work on the seating layout here. I was really looking forward to staring at a wall for four hours. 10/10 no recommendations for improvements. #fail pic.twitter.com/w0JaNodxk7
— wenmouth (@wenmouth) August 31, 2022
- Oy vey.
9 cancellations, 2 landings x aircraft failure. In the 2nd, 2 hours without air conditioning, losing almost all the oxygen in the cabin. At least 2 people convulsing. Panic crisis, hypertensive crisis and more.
@AmericanAir 9 cancelaciones, 2 desembarcos x fallas en el avión. En la 2da, 2hras sin aire acondicionado, perdiendo casi todo el oxígeno de la cabina. Al menos 2 personas convulsionando. Crisis de pánico, crisis hipertensivas y más. #CHVNoticias #MeganoticiasActualiza pic.twitter.com/8kn3uQlmKI
— natalia zepeda (@nataliazepeda16) August 31, 2022
- Though it has its defenders, I actually think the business class greyburger looks worse.
.@United needs to step up their international flights food offerings. Twice in one week in Reddit. I mean the food looks gross. Polaris/Economy respectively. Please make it at least edible. pic.twitter.com/7s3ZFjNsuH
— andy (@hiandyyyy) September 1, 2022
What is that wenmouth guy, a toddler? Adults don’t need a window for entertainment. You can peek out the windows of other rows, for one.
What a whiny b*stard. Gives Philadelphians a bad name.
I mean, are luffas even digestible?
As for the American flight “without oxygen,” I suspect there is a bit of hyperbole or they would all be laying on the floor or have oxygen masks on.
As for United’s international business class food, Delta just announced new menus for domestic first class with hot meals out of Atlanta created by Mashama Bailey’s Savannah restaurant Port City southern featuring dishes like oyster with fumé blanc, green apple, bok choy and potato or short ribs with kanni sauce and smoked collard greens.
Maybe United needs to talk to McDonald’s once again about how to make and serve hamburgers if they are going to serve them.
@ Sukwinder Dixit
Lots of insoluble fiber.
“United. Cleaning your colon when you fly with us!”
Still don’t understand why anyone eats the “prepared” food placed in front of them on an airplane. 90% of it is garbage.
If any readers here fly United Business Polaris, they would agree that the food is terrible. I don’t mean to whine, but it has been so bad. Unfortunately, fliers who fly Polaris don’t comment much about the horrible foods United serves so it keeps serving almost nothing in the Polaris cabin.
I flew once on the Houston Express from Luanda c2014. Contrary to the video description, the angled biz class seats reminded me of a sorry DL config circa 2008. Not the worst flight but nobody would have confused these seats with the lie flat coffins that were then offered by others. And this required braving the yellow-fever mosquito infested Luanda airport. On the plus side, each flight earned 5k RDM on UA (but alas no EQM)
Regarding Polaris food, I agree it is terrible, but on another blog for UA,, someone commented that they thought it was better than all that fois gras, duck, veal and other “frenchy” food you get in AirFrance business class. To each his own, I suppose.
I agree with @James N, people get on airplanes to eat weird faux gourmet meals from some “famous” chef listed on the menu that they have never heard of when all they really want is something normal. It’s hard to get a decent piece of chicken or steak, yet you can get Honey-Lime infused Asian fusion Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoe curry or some such dish.
United has, hands down, the most disgusting food, in any class of service, among the US carriers. On a very recent Polaris flight from Milan to Newark, the side salad consisted of walnuts, dried apricots, and cashews, with no dressing. No greens. It is as if they emptied out the snack vessels in the lounge and made a meal out of it.