A week ago I wrote about American’s super gross ‘barbecue chicken sandwich’ that they sell in coach. I suggested that for an airline based in Texas this is doubly embarrassing since it doesn’t even constitute barbecue.
At American’s ‘Crew News’ employee forum on Wednesday a Lima-based flight attendant asked about the airline’s plans to send new aircraft to Lima — the 757s and 767s they’re getting just aren’t reliable. The airline’s CEO Doug Parker began answering by saying “there are challenges with Lima because of the altitude” (although it’s worth noting that British Airways, Air France and KLM all fly Boeing 777s there) but they recognize that the Boeing 767 “doesn’t look like the rest of the airline” in terms of customer experience. Parker has talked in the past about the need to get rid of the Boeing 767s from the fleet although while I think the business class experience is subpar coach is roomier. American Airlines Boeing 767 Business Class The airline ordered 787s which will replace 767s in a…
This makes awards and upgrades super difficult on the aircraft (awards are nearly impossible now in business class as it is). A 20 passenger business class cabin is a loss of 28% of the business class seats on the aircraft. In contrast United’s Boeing 787-8s have 36 business class seats. British Airways 787-8s have 35 business class seats.
Recently I saw someone’s comment on my Facebook feed that what you think about American Airlines corresponds directly to whether you fly mostly international business class and premium cabin transcon flights (New York – Los Angeles / San Francisco) or whether most of your travels are on their domestic network. That seems right to me.
American Airlines has made a huge investment in its product — but not where most people sit. Internationally we get good fully lie flat business class seats, better bedding, and better lounges while domestically even in their premium cabin we get less legroom and removal of seat back entertainment. They’re moving seats closer together throughout their aircraft which they say they’re making up for with thinner, less comfortable seats that have less recline.
The fine is because he and his wife “harm[ed] these economically and environmentally important natural resources” however they weren’t asked to put the sand back because it “would have been counterproductive during turtle season.”
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Delta, Air France KLM, and Virgin Atlantic filed their request for anti-trust immunity for a transatlantic joint venture yesterday.
Joint ventures seek anti-trust immunity to allow airlines to work together on schedules and pricing, and to split up the revenue they earn together on designated routes. This removes competitors, since members work together instead.
Delta is offering a 50% bonus for earning miles with `hotel, car, and retail partners through September 30, up to 10,000 bonus miles.
You have to register by Tuesday July 24 and only US members are eligible.
A father sat up in business class and left his 8 year old kid back in coach. Many think that’s inappropriate, though kids fly as unaccompanied minors all the time.
What if the kid was a teenager? What about a husband traveling in business class with the wife back in coach?
At this week’s employee Crew News forum, an American Airlines captain asked the carrier’s CEO Doug Parker what he thinks about United’s growth strategy which is at double the rate of American’s.
Comparing United’s position in Chicago to American’s at DFW, he offered this perspective his airline’s strategy.. United is growing its neglected hubs. American would never let another airline offer flights from DFW that they don’t match.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
