Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

American’s Letter to Employees: Taking the Mechanics to Mediation

by Gary Leff

american airlines hangar
Sep 12 2018

American Airlines gave employees across the board raises without insisting that the pay changes be part of a contract. The airline says that’s made it harder to get mechanics to agree to a contract. American mechanics have already gotten much of the money they’re going to get with a new contract, so there’s less incentive for employees to agree to rules changes the airline wants.

American has asked for a federal mediator to get involved and wrap up a contract with mechanics. Here’s the airline’s letter to employees about the move:

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American’s First Boeing 787 is in the Shop to Have Some Business Class Seats Removed

by Gary Leff

small airplane seat
Sep 12 2018

The first Boeing 787-8 that American Airlines received is the first one to be receiving a premium economy retrofit, and will become the first one in the fleet with only 20 seats up front.

On September 4, American’s Boeing 787-8 registration number N800AN arrived at Chicago O’Hare from London Heathrow. Then it flew the next day to Everett, Washington’s Paine Field. And it’s been sitting in the Pacific Northwest ever since.

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Passenger Shares What It Was Like to Be on United Flight During Reported Bomb Hoax

by Gary Leff

people with hands up in air on plane
Sep 11 2018

Four hundred British schools were evacuated in March and a United flight from London to San Francisco was quarantined because of a rash of bomb threats which a teenager admitted to making. He was also responsible for a denial of service attack on ProtonMail.

One passenger on United flight 949 shares his perspective on the incident, arriving in San Francisco and being take off the aircraft.

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Aeroplan is Working to Restore Option to Book Awards on Several Star Alliance Airlines

by Gary Leff

airplane seat
Sep 11 2018

On or about August 25 Aeroplan, the frequent flyer program that was spun off from Air Canada that the airline is buying back, began having issues booking award tickets on several Star Alliance partner airlines.

I reached out to Aeroplan to find out why redemption on carriers such as Thai, Swiss, Air New Zealand, and LOT Polish has become unavailable.

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Turkish Introducing New Business Class Next Year, Possible Suites With Doors

by Gary Leff

turkish airlines plane
Sep 11 2018

The Chief Marketing Officer for Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines, who outlines plans for their new business class which will be introduced for Boeing 787 and Airbus A350s which will be entering the fleet, beginning with the 787s in 2019.

They’ll be moving from 2-2-2 seating to four-across direct aisle access. And since “High privacy is our priority,” there’s the possibility of suites with doors. However the seats are still under design.

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Failing to Communicate During Delays Disrespects Your Customers

by Gary Leff

flight plan
Sep 10 2018

It’s been over 3 years since I wrote about American’s ‘Goldilocks Problem’ boarding planes too early (before stated boarding time on boarding passes) and updating customers about delays too late.

I find that American won’t post flight delays until boarding time for an aircraft, even when those delays are blindingly obvious. And they won’t update delays until revised departure times have passed. That’s an issue because it wastes customers’ time.

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Up to 48% Star Alliance Asia Redemptions Using Cheap Avianca LifeMiles

by Gary Leff

people in airline seats first class
Sep 10 2018

Star Alliance member Avianca LifeMiles has Star Alliance Asia awards on sale. There are discounts up to 48% — with US-Asia awards in business and first class up to 20% off on designated routes.

This discount is available for bookings made by September 18 though you can travel any time in the future through end of schedule. Availability on many of these routes is amazing.

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