General

Category Archives for General.

Complete Guide to the EVA Air Hello Kitty Jet Experience

by Gary Leff

Jun 22 2015

EVA Air ran Hello Kitty flights from 2005 through 2008, and brought them back in 2011. They’ve been running Hello Kitty flights ever since, and current Hello Kitty routes have some of the highest load factors in their system (around 85%). Of course they make smart business decisions about the routes, and while the Hello Kitty livery draws some passengers it’s clearly planes they’re filling and drawing enough revenue that justifies the expense of the onboard product. For instance, one of their Los Angeles flights had been operated with Hello Kitty aircraft but no longer is. The Hello Kitty Fleet Here are the current Hello Kitty routes: There are a total of (7) Hello Kitty planes currently: (3) Airbus A330-300s (2) Airbus A330-200s (2) Boeing 777-300ERs Which Hello Kitty Planes Fly Where? Hello Kitty Shining…

Continue Reading »

Inside Star Alliance Member EVA Air’s 777-300ER Hello Kitty Shining Star Jet

by Gary Leff

airplane from the front looking back
Jun 21 2015

At the launch party for EVA Air’s Houston-Taipei service I had the opportunity to walk through their brand new 777-300ER Hello Kitty “Shining Star Jet” and have a look at all three classes of service.

Hello Kitty planes are a whole lot of fun. They offer a really nice enhanced soft product, bringing the Sanrio characters to life through video, meals, and a presence across the small items onboard like safety cards and even the toilet paper in the lavatories.

Continue Reading »

Lack of Award Space on American’s Own Flights: No Saver Awards to Buenos Aires From Mid-July Through End of Schedule

by Gary Leff

Jun 21 2015

I value American AAdvantage miles quick highly — but for redemption on their partners, like first class awards on Etihad, and not for redemption on American’s own flights. In fact, all things equal, I would rather not redeem miles to travel on American (unless it’s redeeming 4500 British Airways points for an American flight under 650 miles).

Nonetheless, the lack of award availability on American’s international flights has become even worse, sometimes and some routes impossible.

Continue Reading »

It’s Amazing — and Depressing — What We’ll Accept from US Domestic Airline Lounges

by Gary Leff

Jun 21 2015

I flew United to Houston for the EVA Air inaugural festivities on Friday. Just like when I flew them earlier in the year, they were fine though my return flight delayed just shy of two hours — first a late inbound aircraft, and then a decision to operate the flight with a different plane that was even later. That happens, goodness knows I’ve had my share of creeping delays on American MD80s.

I visited the United Club on the E concourse in Houston twice — once on arrival, since I turned up at the event early enough to handle possible delays and figured i could get some work done, and then again on departure when my flight delayed.

Continue Reading »