Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Delta is Launching a Flight to India — and Obi Wan Kenobi Tells You Why

by Gary Leff

arch like building
May 24 2018

Delta announced that they will fly to Mumbai, India next year. They haven’t said where they’ll fly from, but presumably it’ll be Atlanta where they can muster plenty of connecting traffic. New York has competing flights already from United and Air India, great for non-stop traffic, but a less than ideal city for connections.

They’re doing it because they have a great new partner in Jet Airways and a more fuel efficient aircraft in the A350 but they want you to think it’s because of Donald Trump.

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Cathay Pacific Devalues Asia Miles With One Month’s Notice

by Gary Leff

first class cabin
May 24 2018

Effective June 22 they’re making changes to mileage earning and redemption. This matters to folks in the U.S. because Asia Miles is a oneworld frequent flyer program (earn and redeem on American, British Airways, Japan Airlines, etc.) and because it’s a points transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

To me the most important takeaway is that roundtrip premium cabin long haul awards are getting more expensive.

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United Should Stop Calling Out Passengers Who Steal Business Class Bedding

by Gary Leff

first class bed
May 21 2018

A year ago United directed flight attendants to keep a watchful eye over passengers who might ‘steal’ business class bedding.

United’s Polaris soft product does have nice bedding, in fact I don’t know any airline business class whose bedding is clearly better. That’s an amazing statement to make. It would have been hard to imagine two years ago that anyone would have wanted to take a business class pillow or blanket off of a United flight.

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Emirates Says No to Merger With Etihad, Is The Ruling Family of Dubai Telling the Truth?

by Gary Leff

people boarding from tarmac
May 11 2018

Etihad was an airline that started when Gulf Air eliminated its Abu Dhabi hub and the ruling Al Nahyan family sought to preserve and grow the capital of the UAE as a center of aviation.

But cash and ambition was never going to be enough to turn around carriers like Alitalia and air berlin. They were basket cases. And the ruling Al Nahyans finally decided to stop lighting money on fire as the price of energy fell. They axed the CEO of their airline who, ironically, they had poached in the first place from Gulf Air.

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US Government Will Audit Its Own Safety Oversight of American Airlines and Allegiant

by Gary Leff

american plane
May 10 2018

Under pressure to ‘do something’ the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General is going to audit the FAA’s oversight of American Airlines and Allegiant. This is a change in focus of an existing audit launched at the behest of Democrats in Congress last summer.

It’s a concern, apparently, that the FAA takes a collaborative approach to safety rather than focusing on finding violations it can fine.

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Since American is Taking Out Seat Back Video, Prepare With an Amazon Tablet for $20

by Gary Leff

back airplane tv
May 09 2018

American Airlines is getting rid of seat back video from its domestic fleet. As part of their “Project Oasis” retrofit even planes that have seat back screens are going to have those removed.

While American claims 90% of customers bring their own devices, so screens are unnecessary, that number can’t possibly be right unless “devices” include “flip phones.” Older travelers and children frequently don’t have their own devices. A family of five probably doesn’t own five tablets.

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