News and notes from around the interweb:
- British Airways plans version 1.2 of business class Club Suite to roll out first on their Airbus A380.
1. The doors will be slightly higher to offer improved privacy
2. The red latch, which passengers consistently grab, will be hidden
3. The storage “cupboard” in the Suite, will lose its door (they’re always scratched). It will be replaced by straps instead.
4. Improved materials on the seat itself.
- Alaska Airlines suspends red-carpet ceremonial fly-out of first Copper River king salmon (HT: Joe R)
- This hassle is honestly enough reason not to visit Nashville for any discretionary trips.
[Nashville] airport is about to get pretty unfriendly with Uber, Lyft, and other ride share companies…they will no longer be able to drop off at the Arrivals curb and will instead need to dump passengers at the Ground Transportation Center which adds about a 10 minute walk, while dragging your bags along.
- New American Airlines limited-edition Brandon Blackwood amenity kits hopefully I’ll see this on a flight later in a couple of days, but presumably the contents are still virtually the same in premium economy and Flagship first class kits which is kind of sad.
- Flagship® First and Flagship Suite® Preferred seats: A compact travel version of Blackwood’s trademark Portmore handbag, featuring the same structured design in denim and wraparound zip closure
- Flagship® Business and Flagship Suite® seats: A travel pouch with flair, the black kit features red accents along the zip closure and Blackwood’s recognizable checkered pattern on the interior
- Premium Economy: Featuring Blackwood’s checkered pattern on the exterior in blue and white, this kit is a statement piece for all
- Flagship® First and Flagship Suite® Preferred seats: A compact travel version of Blackwood’s trademark Portmore handbag, featuring the same structured design in denim and wraparound zip closure
- They promised us flying cars, and all we got was… United’s chatbot.
the future is here @united pic.twitter.com/lmg8NiAWIV
— Kylie Robison (@kyliebytes) June 2, 2025
- Doctor who trains on responding to inflight medical emergency responds to an inflight medical emergency:
In-flight emergency on @delta flying home from Europe…
✈️Flight attendants overhead for medical personnel, somewhere over the Atlantic…
The toddler is sleeping and hubs has the baby, so I head on back
⚕️⚕️⚕️A neurosurgeon, a pediatric NP, and I (ER doc) show up
♂️Patient is… pic.twitter.com/YknAaIeJgz— Amy Faith Ho, MD MPH (@amyfaithho) June 2, 2025
On the BNA rideshare situation, that’s reminiscent of what JFK is doing for certain terminals, like T1, T4, T5 during construction, forcing most to walk further or take a shuttle to a pickup area, unless you pay substantially more for ‘Curbside’ which is lame. I’ve taken the Airtrain to T8 where the rates are more ‘normal,’ or just opted for the MTA as a result.
Not that I would ever necessarily recommend this, but I have found that if you get stuck in an AI doomloop like the picture shows, typing and sending a curse word seems to generally be programmed to get you out of purgatory.
If an amenity kit sucks but has flair then it suddenly becomes much better. Nice to see that American is making such great strides in becoming a premium airline.
a year ago AA’s amenity kit had SHINOLA – Detroit at the bottom. Flimsy kind of cloth, like one layer of muslin, contents cost maybe $1. I just sent the last one to a friend, so he could enlighten his teenagers about the difference between SHINOLA …
Good to see BA -380s getting a much needed make over, even with last seasons biz class seats is still a huge improvement.
Don’t worry, it’ll get ‘better’ re: airport pick-up/drop off. I was offended to find out that at least some UK airports actually charge $ to be able to drop off a pax curbside. Not sure if other country’s airports do this ( or even in this great country ). In retrospect, I’m surprised this isn’t already prolific in the United States, where every effing thing is commoditize/monetized. Just don’t forget to TIP as you pay your curbside access fee !
PS – I miss those eco-friendly AA ‘cardboard’ amenity kits !