Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Brilliant: China Southern Makes Cash Payment to Flight Crew For Avoiding Fatal Incident

by Gary Leff on December 1, 2019

Dec 01 2019

In the case of air travel it’s expected that flight crew have the same incentive as passengers – to get where they’re going safely. However there can be pressure to stay on time or get out ahead of bad weather, there can be a tendency to misjudge risks, and it’s crucial to make clear there’s a corporate culture of safety.

China Southern is taking that to the next level. They aren’t just saying ‘safety first’ and that employees won’t be punished for raising safety concerns that lead to delays, they are rewarding crew for raising safety issues.

Desperate Hong Kong Airlines Shuts Down Inflight Entertainment System, Can’t Pay Employees

by Gary Leff on November 30, 2019

Nov 30 2019

Hong Kong Airlines was troubled long before protests erupted in the Chinese Special Administrative Region, keeping travelers away. Parent HNA Group was under strict orders to deleverage, with the government concerned about over $100 billion in debt.

HNA had problems paying for fuel. They had problems meeting interest obligations. They missed a $43 million debt payment last year and offered travel vouchers instead of cash to repay its investors.

Why Southwest’s Open Seating Policy is a Windfall for New Parents

by Gary Leff on November 30, 2019

Nov 30 2019

Not only does Southwest offer ‘family boarding’ when you’re traveling with a child under 4 years old — boarding with elites who don’t have A group boarding passes — but if you are traveling with a lap infant and the flight isn’t 100% full you can almost always get an extra seat for your baby without having to buy them one.

When Can You Pick a New Flight During an American Airlines Flight Delay?

by Gary Leff on November 30, 2019

Nov 30 2019

Whenever there’s a flight delay I’ve been able to get agents – whether on the phone or in an Admirals Club – to get me rebooked. However being an Executive Platinum helps, having lounge access helps, and it can be difficult for many passengers to get through to an agent when flights go bad.

The airline has a tool to let customers rebook themselves onto new flights. It’s available on the website, using the airline’s mobile app, or at kiosks and launched two years ago. But when does the ability to rebook oneself onto a new flight become available?

TODAY: KLM Flight Headed Back to Amsterdam After It Had Already Made It To North America

by Gary Leff on November 28, 2019

Nov 28 2019

KLM’s Amsterdam – Mexico City flight turned around back to Amsterdam when it had already made it to North America on Thursday, sending passengers back to where they started.

If I were a passenger on the flight I certainly wouldn’t second guess the judgment not to take risks. However I’d hope to land somewhere closer to where I was headed.

American Airlines Finally Provides Domestic Refunds Electronically (No More Paper Vouchers!)

by Gary Leff on November 28, 2019

Nov 28 2019

American Airlines has spent a lot of time moving around little green pieces of paper. Starting this month though the paper burden has been reduced.

How New Lease Accounting Standards Make Airlines Look Healthier Than They Really Are

by Gary Leff on November 27, 2019

Nov 27 2019

Just as it’s important to remind industry watchers the role that frequent flyer programs play in driving airline profitability it’s important to realize that’s not in the numbers as well as what’s included – although I believe that in some measure the market actually prices these things in fairly already.

My own controversial belief, not fully supported by data, is that there’s a lot of ‘slop’ and misreported estimates in corporate accounting – entirely apart from and beyond the airline industry – and there are potential land mines hidden in plain sight all over the place because gaming of numbers and willful blindness are problems that replicate themselves across decisions throughout companies.

How Southwest Airlines Bullies Websites That Try To Help Passengers

by Gary Leff on November 27, 2019

Nov 27 2019

Southwest doesn’t want people automatically checking in 24 hours out, because it might cut into Early Bird check-in revenue. They don’t want people automatically checking price changes, because consumers might save money. They want self-service to be hard. And it’s both fine and reasonable to want those things. It’s neither fine nor reasonable for the government to subsidize those things by threatening innovators who want to use publicly available information.

Yikes: Warning Lights That Help Planes Avoid Hitting Tall Structures Found “Exposed to the Open Internet”

by Gary Leff on November 27, 2019

Nov 27 2019

Lights placed on tall structures so that planes see them – and don’t hit them – are vulnerable to hacking. They can be turned off. Remotely. Via the internet.

There hasn’t been an incident, but the vulnerability was uncovered by security researcher Amitay Dan and confirmed by an FAA official.

Four Basic Reasons Thai Airways is Floundering on the Verge of Collapse

by Gary Leff on November 26, 2019

Nov 26 2019

In October the President of Thai Airways told employees that the airline was on the verge of shutting down with only a month’s runway to execute a turnaround. The airline promptly worked to walk that back, suggesting it was hyperbolic, but it nonetheless underscored that Thai Airways is underperforming and in financial difficulty, propped up by the Thai government.

There are four major underlying issues faced by the flag carrier.

Airlines

Brilliant: China Southern Makes Cash Payment to Flight Crew For Avoiding Fatal Incident

Desperate Hong Kong Airlines Shuts Down Inflight Entertainment System, Can’t Pay Employees

Why Southwest’s Open Seating Policy is a Windfall for New Parents

When Can You Pick a New Flight During an American Airlines Flight Delay?

TODAY: KLM Flight Headed Back to Amsterdam After It Had Already Made It To North America

American Airlines Finally Provides Domestic Refunds Electronically (No More Paper Vouchers!)

How New Lease Accounting Standards Make Airlines Look Healthier Than They Really Are

How Southwest Airlines Bullies Websites That Try To Help Passengers

Yikes: Warning Lights That Help Planes Avoid Hitting Tall Structures Found “Exposed to the Open Internet”

Four Basic Reasons Thai Airways is Floundering on the Verge of Collapse

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About Gary Leff

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