American Airlines is Having a Hard Time Delivering Their New Extra Legroom Product With Free Drinks

by Gary Leff

airline drinks
Jun 26 2018

American Airlines now offers free drinks in Main Cabin Extra seating. First class and Main Cabin Extra also have reserved signs on the overhead bins, though this isn’t something flight attendants are expected to enforce and I watch customers walking to the back of coach storing their backs up front all the time.

Last week at an employee town hall a flight attendant brought up to the carrier’s CEO Doug Parker that they’re having difficulty delivering the free drink benefit to customers in extra legroom seats.

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Why an Aisle Seat is Always Better — And How to Make Sure You Get One

by Gary Leff

airplane seats
Jun 25 2018

I always prefer an aisle seat because I want to be in control of my own destiny. I can lean into the aisle for extra room (but watch the drink cart!) and I can get up for the lavatory whenever I wish. Crucially, I also have at least one armrest I don’t have to fight for.

This means giving up being able to gaze out the window (lost Instagram opportunity), and an obligation to get up when someone else wants to use the restroom, but those are easy tradeoffs.

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American Will Start Catering More Drinks Onboard in August

by Gary Leff

plane docked
Jun 25 2018

American Airlines hasn’t fully integrated its operations for the amount of beverages they’ll stock on board. American Airlines used to actually stock fewer beverages than US Airways. And they reduced beverage catering in Phoenix down to the old American Airlines levels.

Fortunately that’s being reversed and come “late August” we’ll start seeing more beverages catered in first class across the system.

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Who Knew? You Can Buy an Empty Middle Seat For More Space on All the Big US Airlines

by Gary Leff

insideairplane
Jun 24 2018

The single most important factor in whether or not you have a good flight is having an empty seat next to you. The food or snacks seem better. Flight attendants seem friendlier. It’s less stressful overall.

So regardless of your size, if you feel more comfortable buying extra space, it’s something to consider especially when the price is right. Airlines don’t just sell extra legroom seats — who knew they sell extra width too?

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Why Locals Can’t Eat on United’s Marshall Islands Flights That Are Over 4 Hours

by Gary Leff

man passing bag to passenger
Jun 24 2018

First Hawaiian bank, owned by a French banking group, is pulling out of its relationship with domestic banking there due to regulatory risk even though there’s no indication of money laundering. This makes cashing paychecks from the US military base problematic.

Western Union has one branch in the capital, which may leave residents taking a trip hundreds of miles by boat or air to receive funds from the rest of the world.

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