Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Biden’s Nominee To Lead The FAA Must Make A Personal Sacrifice To Be Confirmed

by Gary Leff on March 2, 2023

Mar 02 2023

Phil Washington, head of the Denver airport, has been nominated to become FAA Administrator by the Biden administration. His experience in aviation is limited, Democrats concede, but his backers argue that he is a good manager of public sector bureaucracies.

That management is in question based on his involvement in a corruption scandal from his time at L.A. Metro, and a discrimination lawsuit involving his leadership in Denver. However it is neither his skills nor his management that have the potential to derail the nomination. It is his 24 years of military service.

10 People Hospitalized After Device Fire Breaks Out On Spirit Airlines Flight

by Gary Leff on March 2, 2023

Mar 02 2023

Spirit Airlines flight 259 from Dallas to Orlando diverted to Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday afternoon as smoked filled the cabin of the aircraft when the battery of a passenger’s electronic device caught fire in an overhead bin. Once on the ground, 10 passengers and crew were hospitalized.

Smoke also reportedly filled the cockpit. A retired fireman assisted cabin crew in dousing the flames. Meanwhile, air traffic control gave the flight’s captain a direct routing to get on the ground.

Severe Turbulence Sends 7 Passengers To Hospital As Flight Goes Into “Free Fall”

by Gary Leff on March 2, 2023

Mar 02 2023

Lufthansa’s flight from Austin to Frankfurt hit severe turbulence on Wednesday, diverting to Washington Dulles airport and sending seven passengers to the hospital.

Passengers on board the Airbus A330 were screaming on board flight 469 as they were taken by surprise and food and personal items went flying through the cabin.

Southwest Airlines Has 3 New Promotions To Score Elite Status Faster

by Gary Leff on March 1, 2023

Mar 01 2023

Southwest Airlines is out with a double elite qualifying offer on paid tickets, allowing award travel to count towards status as well, and pairing it with increased status-earning from spend on a Southwest Airlines credit card all between March 1 and May 31, 2023.

Do Airline Pilots Deserve To Make Over $300,000 A Year?

by Gary Leff on March 1, 2023

Mar 01 2023

Traditionally a pilot at a regional airline might start out earning less than $50,000 per year, but get hired on by a major airline and that goes up quickly into the six figures, and well over $300,000 for senior captains flying widebody aircraft overseas. Some earn over $400,000.

Yet we’ve heard a lot of complaining by pilots recently. Contracts are open for negotiation at American Airlines, Southwest, and United.

AAdvantage Members Waited 5 Hours On Hold For Help As New Status Year Came To A Close

by Gary Leff on March 1, 2023

older gentleman taking a selfie with smartphone

Mar 01 2023

With the window shutting to earn status for the new year closing on Tuesday night, customers were calling in. This is a new system (Loyalty Points) and a new cutoff (February 28, not December 31). And telephone hold times became excruciating, as numerous customers shared to social media. Wait times stretched in some cases over 5 hours.

American Airlines Becomes First Airline To Guarantee Families Sit Together In Its Customer Service Plan

by Gary Leff on February 28, 2023

Feb 28 2023

American Airlines became the first U.S. airline to offer a guarantee that families could sit together, by writing it into its customer service plan. That’s a commitment which is enforceable by the Department of Transportation.

Conservatives Target American Airlines For Being Too Good At Diversity Hiring

by Gary Leff on February 28, 2023

Feb 28 2023

Conservative groups have targeted American Airlines over its push for diversity hiring and that’s… a little weird?

The publicity is actually good for American Airlines, burnishing its credentials with a group like the NAACP which had previously issued a travel warning against the company. And it’s odd for conservatives who used to believe that companies should be free to hire as they wish.

Lufthansa Unveils Incredible New First Class But Only Ok Business Class Product

by Gary Leff on February 28, 2023

Feb 28 2023

When Lufthansa first started teasing their new first class product, it didn’t look especially impressive. Details began leaking out that suggested it was going to be very nice and indeed they’re out with a lot more information now and it looks awesome.

However new first class will be on some of their Airbus A350s, and those that have it will offer just a single row of three seats. Do not plan on flying this with your points.

Why Fewer United Airlines Passengers Fly Using Points: Behind The Scenes Of MileagePlus

by Gary Leff on February 28, 2023

Feb 28 2023

United Airlines MileagePlus is somewhat less lucrative for the airline than American’s and Delta’s frequent flyer programs. You can get some insight into the economics of their loyalty program from their latest SEC 10-K filing as well as disclosures made around raising debt backed by the revenue from its mileage offering.

Airlines

Biden’s Nominee To Lead The FAA Must Make A Personal Sacrifice To Be Confirmed

10 People Hospitalized After Device Fire Breaks Out On Spirit Airlines Flight

Severe Turbulence Sends 7 Passengers To Hospital As Flight Goes Into “Free Fall”

Southwest Airlines Has 3 New Promotions To Score Elite Status Faster

Do Airline Pilots Deserve To Make Over $300,000 A Year?

AAdvantage Members Waited 5 Hours On Hold For Help As New Status Year Came To A Close

American Airlines Becomes First Airline To Guarantee Families Sit Together In Its Customer Service Plan

Conservatives Target American Airlines For Being Too Good At Diversity Hiring

Lufthansa Unveils Incredible New First Class But Only Ok Business Class Product

Why Fewer United Airlines Passengers Fly Using Points: Behind The Scenes Of MileagePlus

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