Category Archives for Airlines.
Several readers have complained recently that Qatar Airways simply has not been releasing business class award seats to and from the United States. My refrain has been that this is typical, not something new. Qatar releases business class awards in batches. It’s feast or famine.
On Thursday American Airlines flight 5916 from Charlotte to Gainesville, operated by their wholly-owned regional carrier Piedmont, experienced a cabin pressurization issue about 200 miles out from Gainesville. Oxygen masks deployed in the cabin, and pilots initiated an emergency descent in order to get down to 10,000 feet.
The American Airlines flight attendants union reports that more and more American Airlines have been failing their continuing qualification requirements.
Mexicana, which shut down 13 years ago, will be re-launched by the Mexican government and run by the military. They will start selling tickets next month, take delivery of 10 leased Boeing 737-800s in September and October, and launch flights in December.
On Wednesday police raided a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and arrested the ringleader of a flight attendant sex ring. Officers there “found three active flight attendants in bed with different men.”
If there’s one thing that differentiates Southwest Airlines from other carriers, besides bundling checked bags into the fare and not assigning seats prior to boarding, it’s that their employees don’t seem to hate their jobs. This comes out most clearly on board with flight attendant hijinks, whether it’s hiding inside of overhead bins, making crowns for passengers out of snacks, or offering a creative twist on safety announcements.
NTSB found that the captain, who hand-flew the takeoff, called for flaps to be reduced from 20 to 5. However the first officer “thought that he heard the captain announce flaps 15.”
The cause of the incident was attributed to “[t]he flight crew’s failure to manage the airplane’s vertical flightpath, airspeed, and pitch attitude following a miscommunication about the captain’s desired flap setting during the initial climb.”
According to an internal memo reviewed by View From The Wing, starting August 15 they will no longer offer Early Bird Check-In for all flights, routes, or dates.
Southwest Airlines hasn’t given a date beyond “soon” but all customers will be eligible to stand by for free on another flight, the way that elite, full fare, and customers who buy up to Wanna Get Away Plus fares can do. Additionally, those buying the most expensive Business Select fares (which currently includes being in the first 15 boarding positions (A1-15) and a free drink) will receive free inflight wifi as well.
Saudi Arabia announced a new airline last year, Riyadh Air. They placed an order for up to Boeing 787-9 jets for it back in March. They won’t be flying until 2025. There’s no way for a customer to buy a ticket, or even join a frequent flyer program. But they’re already sponsoring European football, inking a partnership with Spain’s Atlético de Madrid.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
